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Old 05-17-2012, 08:14 PM   #1
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Default Faking History

A contemporary story that seems relevant here on several different levels:

How the Professor Who Fooled Wikipedia Got Caught by Reddit

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Each tale was carefully fabricated by undergraduates at George Mason University who were enrolled in T. Mills Kelly's course, Lying About the Past. Their escapades not only went unpunished, they were actually encouraged by their professor. Four years ago, students created a Wikipedia page detailing the exploits of Edward Owens, successfully fooling Wikipedia's community of editors. This year, though, one group of students made the mistake of launching their hoax on Reddit. What they learned in the process provides a valuable lesson for anyone who turns to the Internet for information.
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:56 PM   #2
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A contemporary story that seems relevant here on several different levels:

How the Professor Who Fooled Wikipedia Got Caught by Reddit

Quote:
...

Each tale was carefully fabricated by undergraduates at George Mason University who were enrolled in T. Mills Kelly's course, Lying About the Past. Their escapades not only went unpunished, they were actually encouraged by their professor. Four years ago, students created a Wikipedia page detailing the exploits of Edward Owens, successfully fooling Wikipedia's community of editors. This year, though, one group of students made the mistake of launching their hoax on Reddit. What they learned in the process provides a valuable lesson for anyone who turns to the Internet for information.
You may have been fooled by believing that very story you found on the Internet.
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Old 05-17-2012, 09:08 PM   #3
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Golly. Imagine what is possible when the police power of the state is used to force an official version of history for more than a thousand years.
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:55 PM   #4
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Golly. Imagine what is possible when the police power of the state is used to force an official version of history for more than a thousand years.
That's just called hegemony. You've seen how easy that's been to spot.
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Old 05-18-2012, 06:04 AM   #5
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Truth can hurt, but lies destroy.
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Old 05-18-2012, 12:15 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Toto View Post
A contemporary story that seems relevant here on several different levels:

How the Professor Who Fooled Wikipedia Got Caught by Reddit

Quote:
...

Each tale was carefully fabricated by undergraduates at George Mason University who were enrolled in T. Mills Kelly's course, Lying About the Past. Their escapades not only went unpunished, they were actually encouraged by their professor. Four years ago, students created a Wikipedia page detailing the exploits of Edward Owens, successfully fooling Wikipedia's community of editors. This year, though, one group of students made the mistake of launching their hoax on Reddit. What they learned in the process provides a valuable lesson for anyone who turns to the Internet for information.


thats why its best to only quote wiki, if you already know the work ahead of time.


I have seen how some people want to create wiki history to further their own personal theology. [creating their own version of history]


there was a nutjob last year im sure here to on the garden of eden and "karsag" trying to manipulate wiki. so weak. it was all for finacial gain and I nailed him on it.
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Old 05-18-2012, 11:48 PM   #7
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If there's a simple lesson in all of this, it's that hoaxes tend to thrive in communities which exhibit high levels of trust.
Mussolini was trusted by his administration, and propagated "Big Lies".
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