Why Do You Edit Wikipedia?
October 30, 2007 - 5:55pm — bexAltruism and humanitarian concerns.
8% (3 votes)
Responding to requests by friends or attempting to engage in an activity viewed favorably by important others.
8% (3 votes)
Chances to learn new things.
8% (3 votes)
Preparing for a new career or signaling knowledge to potential employers.
3% (1 vote)
Addressing personal problems, such as guilt at being more fortunate than others.
3% (1 vote)
Ego needs and public exhibition of knowledge.
13% (5 votes)
Ideological concerns, such as belief that information should be free.
26% (10 votes)
Fun!
32% (12 votes)
Total votes: 38
ACM results
In case you missed Laurence Hart's comment, the ACM paper gave this breakdown:
Fun: 6.1
Ideology: 5.6
Values: 4.0
Understanding: 3.9
Enhancement: 3.0
Protective: 2.0
Career: 1.7
Social: 1.5
That's doesn't totally jive with the above breakdown (what's "protective?") but interesting nonetheless. Fun and ideology trump personal and professional glory... or any social concerns.
In a strange, strange way, Wikipedians are actually selfish!
I'm sure some meme-head is going to take this to the next level...
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