The debate about the credibility of Wikipedia continues in both academic and popular culture. This recent Internet phenomenon created by Huntsville Alabama native Jimmy Wales, is a “free encyclopedia” written and enhanced by the collective online audience (along with some heavy-handed volunteer editors) and is a rich resource for most any subject. At the same time, it’s not without it’s own problems.
Even Jimmy things Wikipedia has some inherit problems. Jimmy has an important place in the world though. At least that’s what his bio on Wikipedia seems to suggest.
I wondered if anyone could create their own page. After all, that seems to be the trend among social websites. However, my own efforts to create an entry was lambasted for “self-promotion.” Feeling a bit embarrassed by the whole deal, the Wikipedians conversation has ended up a part of the digital record. At the same time, I had to ask myself – who really decides what becomes part of the Wikipedia database?
Each city has a record of “notable natives” and after looking at Kingsport, I discovered an online conversation about my friend Tom Bettini. The Wikipedias seem firm in their omission of Kingsport’s “only” platinum record recording artist and despite his place in the lexicon of MTV, Woodstock and the Guinness Book of World Records, Tom’s birth certificate, drivers license, DNA and well documented public life still has him overshadowed by these arbiters of information. Amy Dalley is presented as a Kingsport native and no offense – she barely has a footprint in the music business, but according to Wikipedia’s editors, Tom is questionable.
Even Kingsport’s reference on Wikipedia has a “What the…?” reference. If you haven’t looked, check out the Kingsport Trivia entry on Wikipedia. On page one, you’ll see our most dubious achievement – the hanging an the elephant – “Murderous Mary.”
Most people in East Tennessee know the lore about Murderous Mary. The circus came to town, an elephant killed her abusive trainer and was judged by Kingsport to die for her crimes. They transported the pachyderm to Erwin and Mary was hung not once but twice from a railroad crane.
Maybe someone from Erwin created the Kingsport entry in Wikipedia? Up until now, most of the stories about the elephant pointed to Erwin. There’s even a local hippy band from Unicoi County called, The Swinging Pachyderms.
What should be listed on Wikipedia’s entry for Kingsport? That is the question? Of course the other one is about credibility, but I’ll save that for other pundits. Once that’s decided, then perhaps we can figure out how to change an entry.
Here are my recommendations;
1. United States largest municipal park – Bays Mountain
2. Home of Eastman Global Headquarters and Polymer Plastics
3. Legendary Treaty Grounds of the Cherokee Indians
What’s yours?