"I hope that the internet, to provide people access to knowledge, making them less vulnerable", Jimmy Wales
We’re very excited for the Wikipedia community & the Princess of Asturias Award. Thank you! https://t.co/Vt4D28MwEo https://t.co/vaM4wUhtYAWith the Wikipedia won the Princess of Asturias prize for international cooperation. Another prize, are growing every year. Jimmy Wales: We are very happy with this prize for international cooperation, which is one of the aspects of Wikipedia, which is really important for us, because it's part of our culture, part of our community spirit and often is not recognized. Sometimes people think of us as an internet phenomenon, a technical phenomenon, but we thought to ourselves as a cultural phenomenon, internationally, of people working together, overall, that's good. Euronews: What we can see, Jimmy Walles, in Wikipedia? Jimmy Wales: Well, it's hard to say. I think some of the first values of Wikipedia are still present. I tend to be a person who epitomizes. I don't like political debates, people screaming at each other and everyone coming to an end. I like to say: "no, let's stop and understand things first". This is, obviously, a principle of Wikipedia, try to meet this neutral presentation, try to understand before you form an opinion. Euronews: Neutral? We want, surely, be stimulated, discuss. Advancing policy through discussion, debate. Jimmy Wales: I truly believe that people want both and, in fact, that's where the media are wrong, now I live in London and the newspapers spend their time criticizing each other. It attracts a lot of attention and, obviously, we know the online clickbait, i.e. the titles that write just to get the attention of Internet users, yet Wikipedia is the fifth most popular site on the internet in the world and we don't write outrageous articles to put to boil the blood of the people. So I think people want both. Some lively debate, but, in fact, want background information. For example, if we look at an issue like Obamacare, healthcare reform in the United States in any newspaper or television news, let's see editorial choices for and against. It is very difficult to understand what this is about, exactly, what are the reforms made. It was extremely complicated, but that's what Wikipedia offers. A basic description about what is. From there we can discuss the issue because we know what we're talking about. Euronews: Are to promote knowledge and knowledge is power. But give us all that power, all that knowledge is not a dangerous game? Jimmy Wales: Yes and that's great. I hope so, I hope that what we're doing is giving people the ability to access a lot of information, a lot of knowledge, to improve their lives learning more about culture, literature, science and political affairs. One of the things that we see throughout the world, is that the internet and new communication tools are giving rise to popular uprisings. We see people fighting, really, and saying: "look, in my country we have fraudulent elections and are the same people who govern the country for 40 years, in Europe and America â€" things could happen this way or that-finally can happen a change of Government, peaceful and ideals, supported by the people, begin to have expression. How do we get there? What's wrong with our institutions? This is a deep issue of political science that will not be answered leaving the street and protesting. Is answered saying: "Okay, how do we find the balance? As we formed a Government under conditions that protect the rights and freedoms of man? So on ... Well, we're just a little dot in the cosmos, but I hope that the internet, to provide people access to knowledge, making them less vulnerable to the demagoguery of the weak, all over the world. Euronews: When we were in school there were always those teachers who gave us incentive to learn. I don't feel it when I go online and, when I read the Wikipedia, I don't see anything that I call attention, in fact. Jimmy Wales: But people read it and are passionate about. I think many people are a little tired of the things ' inflamed ' and what they want, in fact, is just a simple, clear presentation of the facts. And on Wikipedia, as a whole, with all its contents, there is always something interesting to all. Whatever their interests. Euronews:Looking at your page on Wikipedia don't get to know the man, his dark side, nor its high moments. Jimmy Wales: One of the interesting things on Wikipedia is to say that we want to be the sum of all human knowledge, the sum means the summary, but the culture is much more than that. The experience of watching a play, fantastic, Hamlet is a distinct world of reading something about Hamlet on Wikipedia. On the other hand if you watch the Hamlet without any knowledge, any cultural understanding, will lose a number of details. That's why the two, side by side, are a fantastic experience is, therefore, that I think is important. If you want to understand a person, understand it truly needs more than a Wikipedia page. She gives you the basic facts. Euronews: Mention "the sum of all knowledge" and said he wants him to be available to every individual in the world. This is a monumental task. Jimmy Wales: And, interestingly, I think that's one of the reasons we have been successful. Is a bold and exciting idea and I think we're more limited people wouldn't be so inspired by her. But that's what guides us. We know that in the next five to 10 years we will have a few more million people online. We need to think, today, in ways to support them, which means, for people who didn't have access to almost any information, to have the entire internet in your pocket, why are online with their mobile devices. So, try to get to as many people as possible, in every part of the world, is really important to us. And, for me, what gives meaning to Wikipedia is that we can say that this is a moment in history when we have this fantastic tool.
If You Enjoyed This, Take 5 Seconds To Share It
