I am a big fan of the much-maligned Wikipedia. I say: Incomplete and suspect information is better than none! It is also, under certain circumstances, better than information you have to pay for or leave the apartment for.
Recently I met a famous author I really admire. We were both at a small party, and I was making the drinks.
It was a strange experience. I actually felt physically ill and unable to talk to her. I drank too much and sort of cowered in the corner,
conscious of a kind of force emanating from the author that I was unable to engage. Which reminds me of two things: the boy I had a crush on in fourth grade, and that Buddhist saying that we relate to the truth the way a dog relates to burning grease. You cannot eat it because it burns, and you cannot abandon it because it is too delicious.
To make matters worse, I had sent this eminent author a copy of my first novel, which I deeply regretted doing, as she must get loads of losers sending her their novels.
Someone at the party brought up Wikipedia. I said how much I love it and that I felt guilty for never donating. She said, "Donating articles?" And I said, "No, donating money. I use it a lot and I think I should donate." She made a sour face and said, "They already have all those ads. I don't think they need your money."
The weird thing is, there aren't any ads on Wikipedia.
But I thought that this was sort of the universe's way of telling me that I need to write an article on Wikipedia. I've been on the lookout for one ever since.
After re-reading my favorite novel for, like, the eighth time, I discovered that it was shockingly wiki-less. So here it is: my first Wikipedia entry. It needs editing, so please pitch in.
