Sorry typo in my last message, it should be will NOT attract much attention.
I might add that it is important to follow Wikipedia etiquette (neutral point of view and citations for all statements, no original research allowed) and I do find the mark-up language fiddly especially the footnotes. Fortunately in my case a kind editor came along and tidied up my footnotes for me a couple of days later. If you do not feel up to changing the main text it is easier (and less open to challenge) to leave a message on the talk page behind the entry although whether any action is taken as a result depends how active the entry is and in the case of the history of science many of them might not be. You can also ask to be alerted to any changes to an entry if you are worried someone is going to mess up your good work. To be honest though I have largely given up editing entries partly because I am not sure anyone reads them and frankly Wikipedia editing is rather boring. But on the other hand far more people use Wikipedia than will ever read our papers.
Cheers,
Peter
Sent: 03 June 2015 09:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HSTM Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Swansea, 3 July
I don't think a mass edit from a single site is going to worry Wikipedia at all. In fact Wikipedia supports such mass edits. I went to one a year ago sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry last year and it went well. I edited a couple of biographies and the entry on mauveine without any problems at all (apart from getting used to Wikipedia's mark-up language). I would say, however, it is important (as at the RSC) to have experienced editors and Wikipedians on hand to help with the editing.
From my experience I would say Wikipedia is completely open. Yes, it is worthwhile to be logged on (although not crucial in my experience) and yes your changes will be scrutinised by the editors, but I have not had my changes blocked or challenged. Of course by the very same token there is nothing to prevent someone else changing it all, but again in my experience this has not happened. To be frank most of the entries historians of science would want to edit will attract much attention (Faraday and the Industrial Revolution are perhaps among the exceptions to this rule).
It is all too easy to see conspiracies in Wikipedia when (at least in my experience) there are none.
Peter Morris
Sent: 03 June 2015 08:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HSTM Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Swansea, 3 July
I had a similar experience to Matthew when I tried to correct the Faraday Wikipedia page – I was accused, by an automatic response of ‘vandalising the page’ and have never tried to do anything there since. Frank
From: Promoting discussion in the science studies community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fuller, Steve
Sent: 02 June 2015 17:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HSTM Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Swansea, 3 July
Since there is an intermittent discussion across the internet about the norms of Wikipedia editing (especially given its formal non-recognition of subject-area expertise), it might be good for this point to be posted on a relevant blog for further discussion and reflection.
Steve
Steve Fuller
Auguste Comte Chair in Social Epistemology
Department of Sociology
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
@profstevefuller
From: Promoting discussion in the science studies community <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of EDDY M.D. <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 02 June 2015 17:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HSTM Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, Swansea, 3 July
Dear James,
Many thanks for your note. You might want to see if some of the history of science articles are locked. I tried to correct a minor error a few months ago in the Industrial Revolution entry. Wikipedia would not let me do it and, upon investigation, I was told that it was one of the 1,000 ‘most important’ articles and that changes could only be made by an authorised Wikipedia editor (presumably those chosen by Wikipedia). I pointed out that I was a historian of science and that I really did know what I was doing. They were not convinced. I pointed out that their policy prevented the free flow of information. I received no response.
Best Wishes,
Matthew.
Dr Matthew D Eddy
Durham University, Department of Philosophy, 50/51 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN, United Kingdom. https://www.dur.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/?id=1715
On 2 Jun 2015, at 16:45, James Stark <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Apologies for cross-posting
List members might be interested in this event which is taking place at the BSHS Annual Conference in Swansea in July.
--
History of Science Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
Friday 3 July 2015, 2-4pm
Training Room 3 (Level 4), Library and Information Services, University of Swansea
To coincide with the annual conference of the British Society for the History of Science (www.bshs.org.uk), join us for an afternoon of communal updating of Wikipedia entries on subjects related to the history of science, technology and medicine. Wikipedia is one of the most high-profile and frequently-consulted public reference sources, and we want to make sure that the content is as high-quality as it can be. With well over 100 leading experts in the history of science heading to Swansea, it is the perfect time to bring along your ideas for Wikipedia pages which need creating from scratch, updating or expanding. We are especially keen for contributions on marginal, forgotten or missing figures or places, and some of the edited pages will be featured on the BSHS website. We will provide tutorials for beginner Wikipedians, so now is your chance to get involved!
Places are strictly limited, so reserve yours here: www.bshswikipedia15.eventbrite.co.uk
There will be computer terminals available for everyone who registers, but you are welcome to bring along your own laptop and power cord if you’d prefer. Join us for lunch beforehand from 1pm, then the editing starts in earnest at 2pm.
--
Dr James F. Stark | @KingTekkers
Research Fellow
The Making of Modern Anthrax, 1875-1920 (Pickering & Chatto, 2013)
"Rethinking Patent Cultures", an AHRC Research Network
Leeds Humanities Research Institute
University of Leeds
LEEDS LS2 9JT UK
Phone: +44 (0)1133432021
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