Colbert's New Word: Wikiality

Heh. As of August 1, 2006 at 9:34pm, "wikiality" receives NO Google hits. It receives 3 from Google news, including this article from CNET. I wonder how that will change over the next few weeks. Stephen Colbert featured it as his "Word" of the night on July 31, 2006.

I like this term, since we've needed something catchy to fully describe the organism that is humanity assembling information collectively. Wikipedia features a completely different way of assembling information than in the past.

Or...thinking aloud, IS it that different? Is Wikipedia merely a hyperversion of how "truth" or "knowledge" is constructed? I will obviously admit that experts with time and resources, coupled with fact-checking and peer review, assemble more reliable information than the masses collaborating together. Yet, I've noted in the past that Wikipedia fills a void for obscure topics. Whereas any encyclopedia would ignore cult TV shows and video games, Wikipedia covers them in such detail as to be relatively awe-inspiring. Its level of detail about the series of Final Fantasy games, for example, is stunning.

I think Wikipedia is merely a phenomenon - another addition to the way people create and share knowledge. But remember...it IS "wikiality" - not necessarily facts, truth or definitive information on a subject.