Wikipedia changed the world. Before it came along, you had to go to the library to get the answers you sought. And you and your friends had to just agree to disagree on facts. And as the internet grew and commercialized, Wikipedia remains free and open.
In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating history and inner workings of Wikipedia, diving deep into how a crowdsourced encyclopedia became one of the largest websites in the world despite being built entirely by volunteers with no ads. They trace Wikipedia's origins from early web directories and wikis through its founding in 2001, explaining how the 9/11 terrorist attacks unexpectedly became the catalyst that launched Wikipedia to prominence when it became a reliable go-to source during widespread site crashes. The guys break down Wikipedia's five foundational pillars, discuss the platform's governance by volunteer administrators, and explain the community standards around editing and civility that somehow manage to make this chaotic system actually work—all while revealing why Josh has softened his previously skeptical stance on Wikipedia's overall reliability and credibility as a reference source.
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