Stephen Harrison
@stephenharrison.com
Current paper pusher (print advocate). Longtime Wikipedia beat reporter (Slate, NYT, WIRED). Author of THE EDITORS, a Wiki-inspired novel. stephenharrison.com
Pinned
It’s no coincidence that people are turning to handwriting on paper more and more. A.I. models regularly steal writers’ work. Anything posted online can be ingested without consent by the machines. The physicality of handwriting is a defensive maneuver, a strategy to protect the human voice.
Opinion | Paper-and-Pen Diaries Are Forever
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:21 AM
It’s no coincidence that people are turning to handwriting on paper more and more. A.I. models regularly steal writers’ work. Anything posted online can be ingested without consent by the machines. The physicality of handwriting is a defensive maneuver, a strategy to protect the human voice.
Philosopher Byung-Chul Han has been helping me think through why we identify with certain types of things (in my case, physical books) more than others.
For Han, we are living in “the age of non-things,” in which “there is something almost utopian about the notion of possession.” 1/5
For Han, we are living in “the age of non-things,” in which “there is something almost utopian about the notion of possession.” 1/5
November 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Philosopher Byung-Chul Han has been helping me think through why we identify with certain types of things (in my case, physical books) more than others.
For Han, we are living in “the age of non-things,” in which “there is something almost utopian about the notion of possession.” 1/5
For Han, we are living in “the age of non-things,” in which “there is something almost utopian about the notion of possession.” 1/5
At the local coffee shop this morning, reading “Non-things” and thinking about why sitting with a physical book feels so different from scrolling. There’s a calmness to print that the feed can never give you.
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
At the local coffee shop this morning, reading “Non-things” and thinking about why sitting with a physical book feels so different from scrolling. There’s a calmness to print that the feed can never give you.
Needed a break from thinking about Wikipedia so I’m reading this. The author is a rare books librarian at Oxford’s Bodleian and her little guidebook is delightful.
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Needed a break from thinking about Wikipedia so I’m reading this. The author is a rare books librarian at Oxford’s Bodleian and her little guidebook is delightful.
Why do some parts of the internet seem more robustly democratic than others?
"A big piece of it is that they have a higher purpose. Wikipedia editors, at their best, they really do believe that there’s something more than partisan politics—and that’s the accurate reflection of reliable sources."
"A big piece of it is that they have a higher purpose. Wikipedia editors, at their best, they really do believe that there’s something more than partisan politics—and that’s the accurate reflection of reliable sources."
Elon Musk Has His Own Encyclopedia Now. Well, We Read Some of the Entries …
He tried to buy Wikipedia. When that didn’t work, he made his own version—and it’s a mess.
slate.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Why do some parts of the internet seem more robustly democratic than others?
"A big piece of it is that they have a higher purpose. Wikipedia editors, at their best, they really do believe that there’s something more than partisan politics—and that’s the accurate reflection of reliable sources."
"A big piece of it is that they have a higher purpose. Wikipedia editors, at their best, they really do believe that there’s something more than partisan politics—and that’s the accurate reflection of reliable sources."
Big law firms were still doing this for interviews in 2013
If you are not in academia, you might not know this, but job interviews used to be held at conferences IN HOTEL ROOMS. Women candidates in a hotel room alone with often all-male committees. People sitting on beds! The horror stories I've heard.
I thing I sometimes thing about is that university departments were still doing job interviews in hotel rooms in the mid aughts
November 16, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Big law firms were still doing this for interviews in 2013
Key points in new Cornell Tech research:
56% of Grokipedia entries carry the Wikipedia CC license, suggesting wholesale ingestion
Grokipedia’s top 100 sources include fewer news outlets and more UGC (e.g. LinkedIn scraping)
Grokipedia has fewer citations overall, making it harder to check sources
56% of Grokipedia entries carry the Wikipedia CC license, suggesting wholesale ingestion
Grokipedia’s top 100 sources include fewer news outlets and more UGC (e.g. LinkedIn scraping)
Grokipedia has fewer citations overall, making it harder to check sources
Grokipedia cites a Nazi forum and fringe conspiracy websites
A site-wide comparison with Wikipedia sheds light on what Elon Musk is trying to do
indicator.media
November 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Key points in new Cornell Tech research:
56% of Grokipedia entries carry the Wikipedia CC license, suggesting wholesale ingestion
Grokipedia’s top 100 sources include fewer news outlets and more UGC (e.g. LinkedIn scraping)
Grokipedia has fewer citations overall, making it harder to check sources
56% of Grokipedia entries carry the Wikipedia CC license, suggesting wholesale ingestion
Grokipedia’s top 100 sources include fewer news outlets and more UGC (e.g. LinkedIn scraping)
Grokipedia has fewer citations overall, making it harder to check sources
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
If you want to chuckle about odd/delightful corners of wikipedia and hear a bunch of very funny lore behind the scenes, you should come to my show Monday in NYC! Hasn't sold out yet and anything could happen—maybe years of practicing the worm will pay off, truly who knows!!!
November 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
If you want to chuckle about odd/delightful corners of wikipedia and hear a bunch of very funny lore behind the scenes, you should come to my show Monday in NYC! Hasn't sold out yet and anything could happen—maybe years of practicing the worm will pay off, truly who knows!!!
Social relationships: reciprocal, mutual interaction & knowledge.
Parasocial relationships: one-sided emotional connection with someone who doesn't know you exist.
The internet trends parasocial but it doesn’t have to.
Wikipedia editors (even anonymous ones) are weirdly social by this definition.
Parasocial relationships: one-sided emotional connection with someone who doesn't know you exist.
The internet trends parasocial but it doesn’t have to.
Wikipedia editors (even anonymous ones) are weirdly social by this definition.
November 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Social relationships: reciprocal, mutual interaction & knowledge.
Parasocial relationships: one-sided emotional connection with someone who doesn't know you exist.
The internet trends parasocial but it doesn’t have to.
Wikipedia editors (even anonymous ones) are weirdly social by this definition.
Parasocial relationships: one-sided emotional connection with someone who doesn't know you exist.
The internet trends parasocial but it doesn’t have to.
Wikipedia editors (even anonymous ones) are weirdly social by this definition.
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
In 2008, Google created an ad-powered wiki encyclopedia called Knol, seen as a "Wikipedia killer" amid its highly-publicized launch. And the Wikimedia Foundation gave an unbothered response that I quite like: "the more good free content, the better for the world." Anyway Knol instantly flopped
October 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In 2008, Google created an ad-powered wiki encyclopedia called Knol, seen as a "Wikipedia killer" amid its highly-publicized launch. And the Wikimedia Foundation gave an unbothered response that I quite like: "the more good free content, the better for the world." Anyway Knol instantly flopped
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
The practice of building a new encyclopedia by directly pulling entire articles from extant competitors is by no means novel (Wikipedia originally did the same with the 11th edition of Britannica). #Grokipedia may, however, be the first encyclopedia in centuries to include zero cross-referencing.
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The practice of building a new encyclopedia by directly pulling entire articles from extant competitors is by no means novel (Wikipedia originally did the same with the 11th edition of Britannica). #Grokipedia may, however, be the first encyclopedia in centuries to include zero cross-referencing.
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia contains copied Wikipedia pages
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia contains copied Wikipedia pages
Ironic.
buff.ly
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia contains copied Wikipedia pages
wasn’t my most out-there take, but still… called it
October 28, 2025 at 12:22 AM
wasn’t my most out-there take, but still… called it
Excellent @willoremus.com piece about the launch of Grokipedia, Elon’s historical relationship with Wikipedia, and whether AI language models (as opposed to humans) are good enough to write a trustworthy encyclopedia. On that point, I agree with @jimmywales.bsky.social
Gift link: wapo.st/47PKzTd
Gift link: wapo.st/47PKzTd
October 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Excellent @willoremus.com piece about the launch of Grokipedia, Elon’s historical relationship with Wikipedia, and whether AI language models (as opposed to humans) are good enough to write a trustworthy encyclopedia. On that point, I agree with @jimmywales.bsky.social
Gift link: wapo.st/47PKzTd
Gift link: wapo.st/47PKzTd
Felt this was important to write for @slate.com to capture the experience of Wikipedia editors who were there in the room as the armed man took the stage at last weekend's Wikipedia conference.
Pharos and Fuzheado showed courage & quick thinking by taking down the gunman and averting tragedy.
Pharos and Fuzheado showed courage & quick thinking by taking down the gunman and averting tragedy.
A Wikipedia Conference Took a Dark Turn. Unfortunately, It’s Not a Total Surprise.
An armed man at a gathering of the website’s volunteers is just the latest reminder: Editing the internet’s encyclopedia has never been riskier.
slate.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Felt this was important to write for @slate.com to capture the experience of Wikipedia editors who were there in the room as the armed man took the stage at last weekend's Wikipedia conference.
Pharos and Fuzheado showed courage & quick thinking by taking down the gunman and averting tragedy.
Pharos and Fuzheado showed courage & quick thinking by taking down the gunman and averting tragedy.
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
“We’ll be here in 100 years and he won’t.” Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, recently discussed Elon Musk’s attacks on the platform, building trust online and more. Watch, read or listen to “The Interview.” nyti.ms/48ybyEJ
October 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
“We’ll be here in 100 years and he won’t.” Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, recently discussed Elon Musk’s attacks on the platform, building trust online and more. Watch, read or listen to “The Interview.” nyti.ms/48ybyEJ
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
“We have so many haters on Wikipedia,” Molly Stark Dean, a Wikipedian and conference organizer who was sitting in the front row, told Slate. “I was like, Which corner of the internet is this guy from?”
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
A Wikipedia Conference Took a Dark Turn. Unfortunately, It’s Not a Total Surprise.
An armed man at a gathering of the website’s volunteers is just the latest reminder: Editing the internet’s encyclopedia has never been riskier.
slate.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
“We have so many haters on Wikipedia,” Molly Stark Dean, a Wikipedian and conference organizer who was sitting in the front row, told Slate. “I was like, Which corner of the internet is this guy from?”
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
didn't post about this when it happened friday but..... heroes!
October 21, 2025 at 8:42 AM
didn't post about this when it happened friday but..... heroes!
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
Feeling very proud of my Wikipedian-in-Residence colleagues who tackled an armed suicidal man. Andrew Lih, Wikimedia Laureate 2022, prised a loaded gun from his hand. Richard and Andrew are bookish computer guys who work in libraries. That takes some guts.
Wikipedia Volunteers Avert Tragedy by Taking Down Gunman at Conference
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
Wikipedia Volunteers Avert Tragedy by Taking Down Gunman at Conference
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Feeling very proud of my Wikipedian-in-Residence colleagues who tackled an armed suicidal man. Andrew Lih, Wikimedia Laureate 2022, prised a loaded gun from his hand. Richard and Andrew are bookish computer guys who work in libraries. That takes some guts.
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
Wikipedia Volunteers Avert Tragedy by Taking Down Gunman at Conference
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
Wikipedia Volunteers Avert Tragedy by Taking Down Gunman at Conference
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Wikipedia Volunteers Avert Tragedy by Taking Down Gunman at Conference
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
By Andy Newman
At Civic Hall in Union Square, a man with a gun walked onto the stage at a Wikipedia conference.
Richard Knipel, CUNY's Wikimedian-in-Residence, jumped the gunman and, with others' help, saved the day. Gift link
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
At #wikiconferencena a man pulled a gun on stage wearing a "non-offending pedophile" sign, aggrieved, seemingly, that wikipedia doesn't allow him to write about that subject. Disarmed by hero Wikipedians Pharos and Fuzheado and arrested.
October 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM
At #wikiconferencena a man pulled a gun on stage wearing a "non-offending pedophile" sign, aggrieved, seemingly, that wikipedia doesn't allow him to write about that subject. Disarmed by hero Wikipedians Pharos and Fuzheado and arrested.
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
“The landscape thinks itself in me, and I am in its consciousness.” —Paul Cézanne
October 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
“The landscape thinks itself in me, and I am in its consciousness.” —Paul Cézanne
“Human beings in the late-modern society of work and information are not the only ones capable of multitasking. Rather, such an aptitude amounts to regression. Multitasking is commonplace among wild animals. It is an attentive technique indispensable for survival in the wilderness.” 1/2
October 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
“Human beings in the late-modern society of work and information are not the only ones capable of multitasking. Rather, such an aptitude amounts to regression. Multitasking is commonplace among wild animals. It is an attentive technique indispensable for survival in the wilderness.” 1/2