You can’t avoid it for much longer, that message at the bottom of the page you just searched for on Wikipedia. The one that asks you to donate three cash, that’s all, just $3.00.
Think about it, where else would you find the information you just searched for? A public library? Good luck finding any information on Migos’ career there, because you won’t.
The point is that nothing compares to a platform that holds 45 million articles of information in 288 different languages and is constantly updated.
In fact, there is no kind of information source like Wikipedia. One that allows access to that much information in a matter of seconds and is accessible through any digital device that has an internet connection.
All in all, Wikipedia is the truth. Sheesh, it’s the fifth most visited website on the planet. So, why does Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales even need to ask for our bread?
Love Wikipedia? Take one minute this #GivingTuesday to keep it ad-free. Visit https://t.co/gwKy8Ui5in and make your contribution today. pic.twitter.com/i6Z9ssw5RU
— Wikipedia (@Wikipedia) November 28, 2017
Unlike the other top 10 most visited websites in the world, Wikipedia stands out because it is is not a commercial enterprise. That means that without our donations Wikipedia would die.
Peep this excerpt of what Wales had to say in a statement regarding why Wikipedia has no ads:
“Wikipedia is something special. It is like a library or a public park. It is like a temple for the mind. It is a place we can all go to think, to learn, to share our knowledge with others. When I founded Wikipedia, I could have made it into a for-profit company with advertising banners, but I decided to do something different. We’ve worked hard over the years to keep it lean and tight. We fulfill our mission efficiently…”
The Wikipedia team is out here trapping stupid hard for the global community and we can’t donate a dollar? You know Wikipedia has been your go-to source for that last minute paper.
Imagine if college students didn’t have Wikipedia. Their heads would explode from the stress of going to the library and having to read “actual books with pages” in a matter of hours.
There’s not enough time, partied way too much, kaboom!
Fact is, we should all feel a little bit guilty about using the free source for 17 years. All of us should’ve at least contributed once. ONE TIME!
If you want to sleep better at night donate to Wikipedia, now.
Every night I lay in bed, tossing and turning out of utter guilt, that I could not bring myself to donate one dollar to Wikipedia that day
— ۟ (@neg3na) December 7, 2017
Cheeseburger delivery fee > Wikipedia? C’MON!
ubereats: it will cost £3.50 extra to send this cheeseburger to your house
me: ye ye ye hurry up gimmewikipedia: please donate to this website you find very useful or we will die
me: LMAOOOOOOOOOO— lolly (@lollyadefope) December 4, 2017
Don’t act like a stranger when times are hard.
me: i love wikipedia! so helpful and revolutionary!
Wikipedia: Hi reader! We need your help! Donate to keep us alive!
me: pic.twitter.com/2mMTUV0zLs— bharti b (@bhxrtishxrma) December 8, 2017
Come to your senses.
https://twitter.com/Yardycohen/status/938830721350643712
You’ll feel much better about yourself.
https://twitter.com/makeupmonster_/status/938547441783197697
We can’t lose out on this much information. How else would we find how much money Get Out made this year at the box office or who Henry VIII of England was?
See how vast the Wikipedia platform is. By the way, if we donate enough bread for the information platform to continue to thrive, founder Jimmy Wales might have another idea up his sleeve.
He’s looking to save the news with Wikitribune.com. Could be a look as it seeks to save the state of news consumed as we know it.