35 replies to this topic

[NergiZed]

Today I was going to try to do some calculus homework, when I read an article on on the diminishing population of Tasmanian devils due to some contagious facial cancer. Then I decided to go wiki 'Tasmanian Devils', you know, for curiosity's sake.

Three hours and many many many topics later I emerged from wikipedia realizing I had stuff I needed to get done. I had also realized that I had read an incredibly broad amounts of topics, ranging from mass extinction to deep-sea giangantism to sexual dimorphism to small pox.

This has actually happened to me several times before as well, once I had delved into nuclear fusion and all relating topics, and another time into the history of kaliningrad and things relating to it.

So, has something like this ever happened to you? Have you ever just randomly dived into some topic on wikipedia out of curiosity, but then going spontaneously to any relating topic that sparked the smallest bit of interest, completely vaporizing several hours of your life?

Also, is there a specific term for this? Like 'wikistorm' or something equally catchy?

[Pav:3d]

Oh yeah, I used to do this all the time, usually ended up on some sexually related topic

Also for a term.... wikiwacking?

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

I always do that without realizing, which can be quite annoying too...

[CodeCat]

I do it all the time. Sometimes even on purpose. It's fun.

[BeefJeRKy]

Ever tried wiki-racing with your friend? Start off at one subject and get to another only through links in other articles with no lists etc.. and no search. We got to myomeres from Ludz

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

LOL that sounds fun!

[Pav:3d]

Lul yes Ive done that xD

Also see what people end up in after 10 mins of wiki-ing

[TheDR]

Scope, on 1 Feb 2009, 21:16, said:

Ever tried wiki-racing with your friend? Start off at one subject and get to another only through links in other articles with no lists etc.. and no search. We got to myomeres from Ludz

Me and my friends used to do it at college, i was the champion

[BeefJeRKy]

Many a times have I wasted study time before an exam racing with friends.

[Alias]

I am personally quite a fan of the Random Article button.

Edited by Alias, 01 February 2009 - 21:35.

[NergiZed]

Alias, on 1 Feb 2009, 22:35, said:

I am personally quite a fan of the Random Article button.

I've never pressed that button before. I usually stem from a topic of interest, rather than a random one.

[Wizard]

Pav3d, on 1 Feb 2009, 20:57, said:

Oh yeah, I used to do this all the time, usually ended up on some sexually related topic

Also for a term.... wikiwacking?

Sorry but I nearly fell of my chair at the thought of Pav3d having a wikiwack. Masturbation with a creative common license (does that mean it's not wrong?)

Anyway back to topic, no I try and avoid going off tangent on wiki. It's bloody infuriating when you are trying to browse for something specific and you keep coming up against about 200 other articles, most of which are half baked and un-cited. I try and stick to the point. I can see the entertainment value though, more intellectual than My[whore]Space.

[Pav:3d]

Oh lul... :$

[Chyros]

I get lost in wiki quite often, partly because I'm interested in almost everything ^^ .

[BeefJeRKy]

Alias, on 1 Feb 2009, 16:35, said:

I am personally quite a fan of the Random Article button.

Ever tried StumbleUpon btw? Its a nice when you're bored. I tend to actually take 8/10 of those sites seriously.

[D.K.]

Hell, Wikipedia. It's like alcohol - You know it will pull you down, take your time and destroy everything you've been working on for the last few hours - but - you still like it, and you will play stupid games that include it.

Those things are surprisingly similar. Ending up in hospital with your stomach being cleaned, or in bed with "bloody" eyes - feeling is same.

[Destiny]

CodeCat, on 2 Feb 2009, 5:15, said:

I do it all the time. Sometimes even on purpose. It's fun.

Great minds...wiki alike





I'd admit, wiki is singlehandedly one of the most...useful/important thing...to me...that is in existence. I go from the Capella stars to Nuclear Fusion to Gadget to MOAB to Cows to Chickens to Harriers to Raptors to Gadflies to snails to love sticks and eventually those articles

[Dutchygamer]

CodeCat, on 1 Feb 2009, 22:15, said:

I do it all the time. Sometimes even on purpose. It's fun.

Same here

[TehKiller]

I just enjoyed a 40 min wiki reading...Started for a game called Europa Universalis and ended up at Apu from simpsons (dont ask me how i got there)

[Alias]

We should have Wikipedia races sometime.

As in, who can go from Domesticated Chimpanzees to Zero Hour in the fewest steps.

[Chyros]

Alias, on 2 Feb 2009, 21:52, said:

We should have Wikipedia races sometime.

As in, who can go from Domesticated Chimpanzees to Zero Hour in the fewest steps.

Deal .
Chimpanzees -> television -> technology trends -> media violence research -> video game controversy -> Need for Speed: Most Wanted -> Electronic Arts -> List of Electronic Arts games -> Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour.

8 steps.

[Zero]

ALL THE TIME!!!!

Destiny, on 2 Feb 2009, 9:19, said:

CodeCat, on 2 Feb 2009, 5:15, said:

I do it all the time. Sometimes even on purpose. It's fun.

I'd admit, wiki is singlehandedly one of the most...useful/important thing...to me...that is in existence. I go from the Capella stars to Nuclear Fusion to Gadget to MOAB to Cows to Chickens to Harriers to Raptors to Gadflies to snails to love sticks and eventually those articles

Yeah, I do that too, but usually MUCH more random.

Chyros, on 2 Feb 2009, 22:53, said:

Alias, on 2 Feb 2009, 21:52, said:

We should have Wikipedia races sometime.

As in, who can go from Domesticated Chimpanzees to Zero Hour in the fewest steps.

Deal .
Chimpanzees -> television -> technology trends -> media violence research -> video game controversy -> Need for Speed: Most Wanted -> Electronic Arts -> List of Electronic Arts games -> Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour.

8 steps.

I believe you cannot use lists, so its a fail.

Oh, and as for what I look up. Usually it is science related until I get to complex calculations I cannot understand. Either that, or something religious. I'm with Chyros, pretty much anything...

One time I spent almost 17 hours on Wikipedia !!!!!! My parents had to kick me off 'ma laptop!-Still think it wasn't fair....
Anyway, it IS like crack, almost like the forum. However, all I can say is cheers! Let's get drunk and sing some Danny Boy









......Oh, shit....give me a second to look up the lyrics first! *Wikis it*

[BeefJeRKy]

Zero, on 2 Feb 2009, 19:59, said:

One time I spent almost 17 hours on Wikipedia !!!!!! My parents had to kick me off 'ma laptop!-Still think it wasn't fair....

Well maybe with 17 hours it IS fair

Wikipedia is great for fun but its only use in research is to give me sources where I can find some more in depth knowledge.

[deltaepsilon]

Definitely. Not the most beneficial thing either if doing homework, but it'll sure as hell expand your general knowledge.

[Chyros]

I blame all exams I had to retry on Wikipedia .

Though I also praise it for guiding me through a few which I otherwise wouldn't've understood .