--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it…" description: "\"People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it is wrong. But because there it is on the Internet, they assume it's right. Rumor gets printed as fact. We may..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/ben-mezrich-26864_assuming_people-rely-on-wikipedia-and-a-lot-of-it_2756243.png" --- # People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it is wrong. But… ![“People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it is wrong. But because there it is on the Internet, they assume it's right. Rumor gets printed as fact. We may have lost our critical facility as a nation.” quote by Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/ben-mezrich-26864_assuming_people-rely-on-wikipedia-and-a-lot-of-it_2756243.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/ben-mezrich-26864_assuming_people-rely-on-wikipedia-and-a-lot-of-it_2756243.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/ben-mezrich-26864_assuming_people-rely-on-wikipedia-and-a-lot-of-it_2756243.png) > “People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it is wrong. But because there it is on the Internet, they assume it's right. Rumor gets printed as fact. We may have lost our critical facility as a nation.” [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People trust online sources without verification, leading to widespread misinformation. **In simple terms:** Blind trust in internet info spreads errors. Key Takeaway Verify before believing. Themes media literacy critical thinking trust information overload Mood skeptical concerned Type advice observational When to use this quote - research projects - news consumption - academic work - policy making Key Concepts epistemology cognitive bias digital age Questions to Reflect On - How do you check a source's credibility? - What habits improve critical evaluation? A Different Perspective Online info can be deliberately manipulated, not just mistaken. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rumor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumor/) ## Related quotes > [The fact that I lost my son permeates my being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/the-fact-that-i-lost-my-son-permeates-my-being/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [ Jennifer Palmieri and Joel Benenson and all these people on Hillary's \[Clinton\] side just can't come to grips with the fact that they lost. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/jennifer-palmieri-and-joel-benenson-and-all-these-people-on-hillary-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The core community is passionate about quality and getting it right. If you want to read some good criticisms of Wikipedia, probably the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/the-core-community-is-passionate-about-quality-and-getting-it-right/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I'm actually an optimist about what lies ahead. Are wikis reliable? It depends on the specific business. Is Wikipedia reliable? You bet. Wikipedia is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-saffo/i-m-actually-an-optimist-about-what-lies-ahead-are-wikis-reliable-it/) [Paul Saffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-saffo/) > [My personal fascination with the power of the crowd has been growing: Exactly what can a 'crowd' accomplish? We know crowds can raise billions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/my-personal-fascination-with-the-power-of-the-crowd-has-been-growing/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [Alphabetical order had to be invented to help people organize the first dictionaries. On the other hand, we may have reached a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/alphabetical-order-had-to-be-invented-to-help-people-organize-the/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [“The government researchers, aware of the information in the professional journals, decided to reverse the process (of healing from hysteric dissociation). They decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-hersha/the-government-researchers-aware-of-the-information-in-the/) [Cheryl Hersha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-hersha/) > [Individual web pages as they first appeared in the early 1990s had the flavour of person-hood. MySpace preserved some of that flavour, though a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/individual-web-pages-as-they-first-appeared-in-the-early-1990s-had/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [I don't believe Wikipedia about anything. I don't go there for anything but keywords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/i-don-t-believe-wikipedia-about-anything-i-don-t-go-there-for/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [ Our revolution is like Wikipedia, okay? Everyone is contributing content, \[but\] you don't know the names of the people contributing the content. This is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wael-ghonim/our-revolution-is-like-wikipedia-okay-everyone-is-contributing/) [Wael Ghonim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wael-ghonim/) > [Any resemblance is coincidentally pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/any-resemblance-is-coincidentally-pure/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Most of my work is, I get an idea, and, with the help of Wikipedia, I can write. I don't have to leave my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rich/most-of-my-work-is-i-get-an-idea-and-with-the-help-of-wikipedia-i-can/) [Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rich/) > [Many American TV actors employ agents, managers, business managers, publicists and stylists, and are now adding digital media manager to the list. Their job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/many-american-tv-actors-employ-agents-managers-business-managers/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [We are the WTF generation: Wikipedia, Twitter and Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-wtf-generation-wikipedia-twitter-and-facebook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## More by Ben Mezrich > [Behind every great fortune, there lies a great crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/behind-every-great-fortune-there-lies-a-great-crime/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I write about nerds who go the extra mile and become rock stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-write-about-nerds-who-go-the-extra-mile-and-become-rock-stars/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I certainly was a geeky kid myself, but to me, math and science were always these magical things- powerful tools you could use in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-certainly-was-a-geeky-kid-myself-but-to-me-math-and-science-were/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I see myself as an entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-see-myself-as-an-entertainer/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I believe Facebook is going all the way. They're going to reach a billion members and will be the biggest company in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-believe-facebook-is-going-all-the-way-they-re-going-to-reach-a/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“Below, he could see down the entire Strip, from the radioactive green lion at the base of the MGM Grand to the glowing spire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/below-he-could-see-down-the-entire-strip-from-the-radioactive-green/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [The idea that the story is true is more important than being able to prove that it's true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/the-idea-that-the-story-is-true-is-more-important-than-being-able-to/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I have an antique console stand-up radio that I bought in a yard sale, that I've always half-believed has magical properties. It's in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-have-an-antique-console-stand-up-radio-that-i-bought-in-a-yard-sale/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [In terms of a narrative nonfiction book, when you're describing scenes that you have multiple sources for, and that you have differing sources for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-terms-of-a-narrative-nonfiction-book-when-you-re-describing-scenes/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [Businesses should follow and learn from others successes and failures in order to better understand and predict their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/businesses-should-follow-and-learn-from-others-successes-and-failures/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I see myself as attempting to break ground. I definitely am trying to create my own genre here... I'm attempting to tell stories in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-see-myself-as-attempting-to-break-ground-i-definitely-am-trying-to/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [I've always loved adventure stories that involve brilliant kids using their brains to beat systems that seem unbeatable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-ve-always-loved-adventure-stories-that-involve-brilliant-kids-using/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [There's always going to be controversy when you write the way I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/there-s-always-going-to-be-controversy-when-you-write-the-way-i-write/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“Everyone had a story he believed was worthy of a best-seller; for me, reality was rarely interesting enough to take the place of fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/everyone-had-a-story-he-believed-was-worthy-of-a-best-seller-for-me/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) [Explore all 21 Ben Mezrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People rely on Wikipedia, and a lot of it is wrong. But because there it is on the Internet, they assume it's right. Rumor gets printed as fact. 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