Every year, Wikipedia asks for donations. Like clockwork, I’ve been ignoring it — every year.
That’s all changing. This year I’m donating, and you should too.
Why the sudden change of heart? Wikipedia has transformed into a source rather than a website for me. Its inclusion into Spotlight search in iOS 9 has made it something I use more often.
As a result, I find myself checking there often when I’m not quite sure I’ve got facts straight, or need to find details not readily available on the Web at-large. It’s still not a citable source, but the information is typically correct.
I also believe that you should pay for apps or services you enjoy and believe in. There’s also something to be said for supporting something you use often; even if you’re just clearing your conscience, it’s worth a few bucks.
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Before iOS 9, I likely visited Wikipedia about three times a year. I can’t say I felt compelled to donate anything to a website I visited for no more than 10 minutes annually.
Now, I’m likely checking Wikipedia weekly. Sometimes it’s to learn a thing or two about a historical figure. Other times I’m checking for a distilled list of source information, which comes in handy as I do some deep dives on programming languages — and it saves me a lot of time.
I can’t say everyone will be compelled to donate to Wikipedia, but I am. I take advantage of what it has to offer, and often. If that sounds like you, I’d encourage you to donate as well.
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