“Unraveling the Mystery: A Thrilling Saga of Wikipedia’s Unsung Heroes”

Ars: I find it perpetually intriguing how, in general, each page surpasses my expectations. The pages for subjects like cryptocurrencies are really vibrant, possibly even “truth optional.” It’s a minor miracle that they remain so organized and logical as they do. Do you have any reflections on how, after 24 years, Wikipedia has managed to uphold that type of consistency?

Harrison: Indeed, there are numerous committed volunteers. If a page attracts considerable attention, like that of cryptocurrency, it becomes a focus of close observation. With the advent of mobile technology, people are now monitoring edits on their devices and can quickly switch to their laptops to revert erroneous changes.

(Harrison referred to an article he penned for The Outline about a Czech grandfather who was mainly in charge of the cryptocurrency page.)

As we approach the 24th anniversary, I wish to recognize the long-term contributors while also noting that Wikipedia has been welcoming newcomers. I genuinely hope that, even with the rise of AI and other potential challenges, Wikipedia continues to attract these individuals.

Because it’s truly a relatively small collective. Of course, anybody can edit, but in English, it has been determined that there are only about 1,500 primary contributors—quite limited overall. One aspect highlighted in the book is characters realizing that it resembles a close community. Individuals often recognize one another by their usernames. This mirrors life to some extent, as users begin to encounter the same usernames on Wikipedia or find each other on similar pages, thereby building a certain reputation. That, without a doubt, motivated me.

(The conversation shifts toward the scarcity of literature concerning the actual Internet.)

Ars: The Internet features in some significant books, yet they are not of or about it. Typically, it merely serves as a starting point.

Harrison: I have several hypotheses regarding this. Firstly, literature often seems to trail behind. As we near Wikipedia’s 24th anniversary, we now have the Wikipedia novel. However, it takes a while for us to fully comprehend the implications of what is transpiring.

Additionally, there might be a belief that it appears somewhat tedious, and I do perceive it as slightly non-physical, being a keyboard warrior, right? I needed to find a means to bring the characters together in person, rather than simply exchanging typed messages. Nonetheless, I believe it is crucial to create fiction that centers on the Internet, because storytelling is fundamentally about interpreting reality—unearthing significance and rendering it meaningful. If we fail to engage with the technology in our surroundings, we overlook one of our most vital tools for truly understanding the world.