Wikipedia: Encyclopedia or Kama Sutra?
Written by Adam Tornes (contact - e-mail) -- May 31st, 2007 | Share - Save - E-mailWikipedia can be a great source of information on a range of topics. The user generated universe is infinite and the people that contribute and seek information within this exchange have created one of the most vibrant information communities I have seen in my lifetime. But, I wonder, “What specifically do people tend to use Wikipedia for?”
As you would expect many of the top subjects relate to current events and cultural phenomena. For the month of April some of the top subjects included “Don Imus”, “Virginia Tech massacre”, “global warming”, “Naruto” (a Japanese comic and anime TV series) and “Sanjaya Malakar” of American Idol fame.
In addition to these predictable terms, there was a substantial volume of sexual terms. Apparently Bobby’s parents forgot to have the Birds & Bees talk with their son…as did the parents of Billy, Johnny, Julie, Tommy and Susie. Wikipedia is essentially an encyclopedia, so one would assume these searches are for research and learning purposes – a virtual Kama Sutra of sorts.
We categorized the top 100 Wikipedia terms for April into six general categories to figure out what the major search themes are on Wikipedia. As you would expect the greatest number of searches (28%) are within the research category. This includes terms like “Columbine High School massacre” and “American Civil War.”
The two surprising categories are Anime and Sex:
Anime (26%)
There is a tremendous amount of interest in learning about Pokemon and Naruto. Perhaps these are parents who want to know what their kids are going crazy over. My Mom didn’t know what “He-Man” was until I was a grown man reflecting on how silly Castle Grayskull was. My mom could have used Wikipedia in the 80’s.
Sex (16%)
What’s interesting about the top sex related terms on Wikipedia is that they do not appear to have gratuitous intent. The top terms include very straightforward inquiries on human reproductive ‘parts’ and basic concepts of what sex is and how it is performed. It appears many people are learning about what sex is and how to have it by referencing Wikipedia.
Did you like that post? You'll love these.
Done reading? subscribe: To get an automatic feed of all future posts subscribe here, or to receive them via email enter your email address in the box in the right column.
Link to This Post:
Get the 
June 1st, 2007 at 9:32 am
For further interesting information also take a look at Leon’s Wiki Charts.
June 4th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I’ve done the same work but for 5 months based on Anselm Spoerri analysis.
It’s available on my blog with also a pie chart but it’s more focused on entertainment split.
http://ulik.typepad.com/leafar/2007/04/what_is_popular.html
We need to dig wikipedia more in this kind of way.
Thanks, ;-)
June 4th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I think you may be drawing the some skewed conclusions from that graph. By only taking the top 100 searches, there’s going to be a bias towards subjects which have more common search terms. That is, it could be that 75% of all searches are general research, but each individual search isn’t common enough to be in the top 100 searches.
Of course, it’s been a long time since my lower division statistics course, so who knows.
June 4th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Brittany we are not saying its the full picture but only a quick overview. You can dig further in wikipedia but you will be surprise by the amount of traffic generated on entertainement. That’s the reason why i was asking for more digging.
June 20th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
rnstm wkisxtj qihsbkzv frqbyn iwqd wradbl gvezh
June 21st, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! ykktkdjauja
September 20th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Hi, great article..although the stats are from only one month so you could choose what month to show based on what you want to show right?
Thanks, fuser
October 31st, 2007 at 4:36 am
Samanth
This was one time where I have to agree to disagree
December 28th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Hey, Anime is Great! My five year old son told me that “Japanese cartoons are better than American Cartoons” and that he “only wants to watch Japanese cartoons.” Japanese
government employees got in trouble for writing wikipedia articles about anime on the job.
That said, the Japanese Government does promote anime on official web pages aimed at kids in the US. Unfortunately I don’t think they’ll get “Pretty Cure Five” or “Sergeant Frog” licensed in the US, but so what… We can get ‘em online.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:30 am
hello all, I have read this post and found it to be very informative and gained allot from it. I appreciate the efforts involved in creating it! Thanks for sharing it with us
March 17th, 2008 at 12:35 am
naruto is fun
i love sakura
i have naruto video at comtoon blogspot
Naruto
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
alternative wikipedia… will be very interesting
September 8th, 2008 at 7:11 am
I think this info in this post is very usefull for utalizing Wikipedia optimizingly.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:52 am
I am always finding on wikipedia for some World War 2 information and there are lots of it, so to that graf is needed to add War contect and that take minimal 20 or 15 percent so then sex have only minimal percents, i think 5 or 10 percoent.
November 27th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Cheers!
I made with photoshop animated myspace pics.
take a look at them:
http://tinyurl.com/5vbof5
Thanks 4 your website ;-) xoxo
May 19th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
hi, msj 325 wonderful blog 325 share
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
que susedio con los españoles residentes en colombia despues de la independencia fueron criollos tambien fusilados,devueltos a dejaron vivir libremente sus vidas
August 26th, 2009 at 10:17 am
hi, my name is basan.com.tr BASSAN loadcell.your wonderful blog, 355 blog. tnx. Msj number . 355
August 28th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Who is Bill Bartmann? From Homeless at 14 to Billionaire, then Bankrupt, then Bouncing Back, Bill Bartmann has had his ups and downs
Bill Bartmann truly understands the concept of risk and reward
Bill Bartmann is a self-made billionaire who has been through more ups and downs than the Demon Drop at Cedar Pointe; yet, few people have ever heard of him. Inspired by the roller coaster of events that have defined his career, Bartmann is the founder of the Billionaire Business School. His seminars, workshops and materials are designed to show people that anyone can become a billionaire in spite of any obstacles that may be in the way.
Bartmann was one of eight children in a family that moved around a lot, often living in unfit homes. His father was a janitor; his mother cleaned houses to help make ends meet. Bartmann left home at the tender age of 14 and joined a street gang. He worked many low-wage jobs during his teen years, including logging, laying sod and washing cars. At the age of 17, he became intoxicated, fell down a flight of stairs and was paralyzed from the waist down. His doctor said he would never walk again. With determination and hard work, Bill Bartmann walked out of the hospital five months later!
“Sometimes you need a negative motivator to build your self-esteem,” Bartmann says. He explains that if you have a positive self-image, you can separate specific failures from who you really are. “Any failure can be overcome if you don’t over-generalize it,” he says. “You have to see it as something that happened to you. It doesn’t determine your real value. The main cause of failure is the inability to deal with self-doubt.”
Bartmann worked hard to grow and develop into a successful entrepreneur. He took the high school equivalency test, went to college, graduated law school in 1975 and practiced law for 5 years before starting his first company in real estate development. This gave him the experience needed for his grand entry into the oil and gas drilling business.
During the mid 1980’s, Bill Bartmann took over a bankrupt company, Hawkeye Pipe Services, a pipe manufacturer for oil rigs. He acquired bank loans to fund the business, making sales of $1 Million per month until October of 1985 when prices fell dramatically, forcing him to close the company, $1 Million in debt.
Bartmann was in deep trouble; creditors were hounding him, threatening lawsuits and re-possession of his car. He was determined to make good on his debts; with the help of his former chief operations officer, he began scanning business opportunity ads.
Bartmann was able to convince a bank to loan him $13,000 and he went into the debt collections business, building a successful business worth an estimated $3 to $5 billion! In September, 1998, he appeared on the cover of Inc. Magazine with the headline, “The Billionaire Nobody Knows.”
Unfortunately, just one month later, Bartmann learned that a business partner embezzled millions of dollars; soon the accusation of fraud was made and his bonds became liabilities. By July, 1999, Bartmann declared bankruptcy. “When sharks smell blood in the water, it’s too late,” said Bartmann.
By December, 2002, Bartmann was indicted for fraud, even though his partner swore that he had no knowledge of the embezzlement. After spending $4.5 Million to defend himself, he was cleared of all charges one year later.
Bill Bartmann is a fighter! “I’m not bitter because look at what I still have,” he says, referring to his wife, two daughters, two grand-kids and money in the bank. “This is what success is really about,” he tells audiences at his Billionaire Business School seminars, which drew 280,000 attendees in 2007.
Bartmann says that most people do not possess the basic business management skills needed to maintain a business, which is why many new businesses fail. His mission is to combat this problem which is why he recently launched Billionaire U which offers online courses for the low cost of $100 per year. Bartmann said, “I’m not making as much money as I did with my last company, but I’m having a lot more fun.”
Bill Bartmann is a firm believer that failures are just detours that can be overcome with effort. He offers tips and advice on how to dust yourself off and give it another shot. Bill Bartmann bouncing back is proof that anyone can succeed.
buy herbal Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann without doctor
buy Bill Bartmann with mastercard
Bill Bartmann no prescription
buy discount Bill Bartmann
purchase Bill Bartmann online
buy cheapest Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann c o d
buy Bill Bartmann without rx
buy Bill Bartmann free consultation
online pharmacy Bill Bartmann
where can i buy Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann drugs
where can i buy Bill Bartmann online without a prescription
buy cheap Bill Bartmann under without rx
generic Bill Bartmann online
buy Bill Bartmann without prescription
buy cheap generic Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann buy Bill Bartmann
canada Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann uk sales
medikament Bill Bartmann
online pharmacies Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann for sale
uk Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann buy online in stock
buy Bill Bartmann cheap without prescription
buy Bill Bartmann pills
where to buy Bill Bartmann by cod
Bill Bartmann cheap
cheap Bill Bartmann uk
buy Bill Bartmann online cheap
buy Bill Bartmann diet pills
wholesale Bill Bartmann cheap
buying Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann overdose
Bill Bartmann uk
Bill Bartmann without a prescription
best buy Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann no rx
Bill Bartmann effects
purchase generic Bill Bartmann online
online Bill Bartmann purchase
buy Bill Bartmann cod
where to buy Bill Bartmann without a prescription
uk Bill Bartmann cheap
Bill Bartmann no prescription to buy
Bill Bartmann overnight
order cheap Bill Bartmann online
purchase Bill Bartmann
prezzo Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann prix
buy Bill Bartmann fed ex
want to buy Bill Bartmann in malaysia
purchase cheap Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann cash on delivery
buy cheap Bill Bartmann no prescription
Bill Bartmann purchase online
Bill Bartmann without prescription
buy Bill Bartmann epharmacist
buy Bill Bartmann in the uk
Bill Bartmann buy
Bill Bartmann without rx
Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann prescription
el Bill Bartmann generico
buy Bill Bartmann online with a debit card
Bill Bartmann buy online
buy pharmacy Bill Bartmann waterview
buy cheap Bill Bartmann without prescription
buy Bill Bartmann online no prescription
buy Bill Bartmann in mo
buy Bill Bartmann online us pharmacy
Bill Bartmann apotheke
order Bill Bartmann online
order generic Bill Bartmann online
buy cod Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann to buy
Bill Bartmann online order
buy mail order Bill Bartmann
uk order Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann uk
cheap Bill Bartmann usa
buy next day Bill Bartmann
order Bill Bartmann usa
cheapest place to buy Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann shipped cod
buying Bill Bartmann
prescription Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann bestellen
Bill Bartmann drug
buy Bill Bartmann online no rx
online prescription Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann toronto
Bill Bartmann canada
discount Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann usa
buy Bill Bartmann where
Bill Bartmann online purchase
Bill Bartmann tablets
Bill Bartmann order online
buy Bill Bartmann with no prescription
buy Bill Bartmann diet pill
online Bill Bartmann
uk buy Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann price
generic Bill Bartmann uk
where buy Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann cash on delivery
no prescription Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann preis
generic Bill Bartmann usa
purchase cheap Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann prices
order buy Bill Bartmann online
buy generic Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann rezept
Bill Bartmann pharmacy
order Bill Bartmann uk
how to buy Bill Bartmann without a prescription
buy Bill Bartmann online without prescription
buy Bill Bartmann usa
where to buy Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann purchase
buy cheap Bill Bartmann online free consult
Bill Bartmann buy on line
Bill Bartmann order
Bill Bartmann sale
buy Bill Bartmann no prescription low cost
online Bill Bartmann order
Bill Bartmann best buy
online Bill Bartmann buy
Bill Bartmann mexico
buy in Bill Bartmann uk
Bill Bartmann espana
buy cheap Bill Bartmann with dr. prescription
Bill Bartmann on line
no rx Bill Bartmann
order generic Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann buy cod
cheap Bill Bartmann online
Bill Bartmann from india
what does Bill Bartmann look like
buy Bill Bartmann pay cod
buy Bill Bartmann without a credit card
cheap generic Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann tabletten
buy cheap generic Bill Bartmann online
buy Bill Bartmann without a perscription
what is Bill Bartmann
buy Bill Bartmann in england
pharmacy Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann generic
buy Bill Bartmann no prescriptions
Bill Bartmann oral
buy Bill Bartmann doctor prescription
where can i buy Bill Bartmann without prescription
buy Bill Bartmann without a rx
buy cheap Bill Bartmann free fedex
where to buy Bill Bartmann
uk Bill Bartmann generic
Bill Bartmann cheap mexican
where can i buy herbal Bill Bartmann
Bill Bartmann suppliers
buy Bill Bartmann canada
August 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Hi, We have been manufacturing stair. 255 merdivenci 255
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
Hello Webmaster Very nice article! Thanks for this!..
October 30th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
hi webmaster
thanks for this
December 12th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
hi, blog vey nice stair and trappen255 merdivenler ahsap merdiven
December 13th, 2009 at 11:48 am
merdivenciler STAIR Treppen Merdiven 255 ATILIM Merdiven sistemleri