Adjusting Quote by James Gleick
“Because everyone in the world has the power to edit, Wikipedia has long been plagued by the so-called edit war. This is like a house where the husband wants it warm and the wife wants it cool and they sneak back and forth adjusting the thermostat at cross purposes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Information by James Gleick, 2011
Edit wars illustrate how collective control over shared knowledge can lead to conflict when participants have opposing preferences.
In simple terms: Conflicts arise when people disagree on how to manage shared information.
Key Takeaway
Seek collaborative consensus in shared projects.
Themes
conflict
collaboration
knowledge management
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
informational
critical
When to use this quote
- online encyclopedias
- team projects
- open source
Key Concepts
collective editing
information governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can platforms balance diverse viewpoints?
- What mechanisms reduce edit wars?
A Different Perspective
Consensus can be hard to achieve in large, diverse groups.
