An introduction to Wiki's

Wikis are modifiable databases on the internet on a variety of topics, issues, people, other sites... you name it. Wikis are different from many other sites, in that they are a collaborative effort. So, one person starts the topic, and others add to it. There are a *LOT* of these Wikis on the Internet. Here are a few:

www.wiki.org
www.wikipedia.org
http://wiki.ehow.com

The first Wiki ever created started in 1995. These aren't new to the web.

So, why do I mention this? Recently, news reports of congressional aides changing history on Wiki pages for their congressmen have shown an inherent weakness in Wikis. People can REMOVE information from a Wiki and replace it with their own. People have been known to create hoax sites on Wikis, which eventually get debunked, or people add false information. Specifically, these aides are removing derogatory or highly charged issues from the pages that mention their congressmen. This is highly unethical, guys (I know... these are people with no ethics to speak of). Wikis are there to be an information source on all information on a topic. The Wikis that this happened to do not show tracking and changes. Other pages include EVERYTHING, including updates and changes, in a log, so people can see what transpired.

While the idea of a Wiki is a great one, there does need to be accountability in these pages.

FYI: Wiki stands for "What I Know Is".

Oh, there are some Wiki pages that I like a lot. Here is one that I wished had been around when Rory died:

How to Survive after the Death of a Spouse