For more than two years, the people of Turkey have been unable to access or participate on Wikipedia—what Ege, a high school student in the country, calls the “source of the sources.”
And they’re not the only ones affected. Without Wikipedia, the rest of the world is missing the voices, perspectives, and knowledge of Turkey’s 82 million people. We’ve petitioned the European Court of Human Rights to lift this block, part of our continued commitment to knowledge and freedom of expression as fundamental rights for every person.
In light of all this, we wanted to know how people might imagine their lives would be different #WithoutWikipedia.
Hundreds of people responded on social media. Here are a few of their answers:
• • •
@manikesh15: “Are you kidding me? Wikipedia is the answer book for variety of questions, ranging from 1940s Telugu films to scholastic publications, Chemical elements to Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter adventures. It’s one place destination for all the queries.”
@buseyerlii: “It’s been hell for us without you guys. Turkey missed you❤️”
@DanGFSouza: “Wikipedia, despite its shortcomings, is the best collaborative project in the internet. It amazes me when people join together to build something for the benefit of all. I’d be very disappointed if it closes down or if my country restricts access to it.”
@AashirwadGupta7: “Trust me I can’t imagine life without Wikipedia. I remember the day when I started using internet and only thing I know was Wikipedia where I can find most probably ever answer to my questions it has changed the I act and think my prospective towards life has changed bcoz of it.”
@KC_Velaga: “If I had answered this question six years ago, I would have said; completing my assignments will be tough. Being a Wikimedian for five years now, I will say I would miss the wonderful experience of being part of this incredible community and even more delightful experience”
@iugoaoj: “Depressing. Browsing Wikipedia was my favourite (and maybe only) past time for a good chunk of my childhood”
@alphrho: “Going to library to find outdated encyclopaedias or paying an online subscription to access one of those.”
@GrungiePunkiePie: “Something BIG is missing #WeMissWikipedia”
@1stbullet: “Finding the result on google but not able to click is disappointment and ‘learned desperateness’”
@LeniLaniLucero: “I would not have instant access to knowledge when a question arises about most anything! I would probably pay more attention to the back stories of news stories, instead of waiting until it came up again, and then search for answers or data.”
@alexjstinson: “I would suck at Trivial Pursuit.”
“Wouldn’t know what to stare at (in bed) on my phone at 2.30am.” – @shreshthx
@Merolyn: “We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
And how we found
The same old fears
Wish you were here @Wikipedia”
