Ram Page

Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: Views

Lara Johnson

Technology has bred a generation of students who make comments such as "Facebook it," "Google it," to "Wikipedia it." Obviously, these internet applications (nouns) have become verbs- verbs whose entire meaning changes with the subject of the sentence.

For example, "Facebook it" has an entirely different meaning than "Facebook me."

There are even specific understood ways to use such verbs.

"I Googled it" is acceptable as well as "I found it on Google."

President George W. Bush, known for using words incorrectly is recorded as saying, "I found it on the Google."

This time Bush's incorrect use of words may not have been his fault. He's just old.

Why can't he say 'the Google?' There is no true explanation as to why it is wrong; it simply is.

For the current generation of students, the Internet is an essential part of life. Not only does the Internet provide necessary applications and ways for students to study for class and communicate with teachers, but students use the internet for social networking as well as finding out information about people and events in the past, the present and right now.

A common Internet application used among students is Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Students understand the Internet. They understand social networking, Internet communication and simply using the Internet. Many students, however, do not understand why they cannot use Wikipedia for many of their classes.

"I do use Wikipedia to gain a basic understanding, it helps to understand concepts," said senior Kiran Chawla. "I use it for myself, but I never use it for a paper. It's written at a level most readers understand."

Time after time, teachers tell students that Wikipedia is not a valid or reliable source because pages can be changed easily.

After hearing this for the fifth time this semester, I set out to find how easily I could change a Wikipedia page. I created an account, and read the rules. The site relies on users to get information for each page.

A user can add information and even edit information, however, all information must be referenced with a real source or it is "subject to removal." Allowing anyone to edit Wikipedia means that it is more easily vandalized or susceptible to unchecked information. While blatant vandalism is usually easily spotted and rapidly corrected, Wikipedia is more subject to subtle viewpoint promotion than a typical reference work, notes Wikipedia.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools