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sandtreeSo last year for Canadian History class, I had to do an assignment on Martin Frobisher. I went to Wikipedia to find out who exactly this guy was, and found that someone had messed with his article.
THIS is Martin Frobisher. I had thought that the articles of men from the 1500s who explored Canada might be obscure enough to not be targeted, but clearly I underestimated the power of bored school children.
Vastly underestimated.
This is the first edit I found. I think it's from about February 2007.
Until tonight, I had thought that was it. But, out of curiosity, I went back into the history of the article, and found more edits. Many more:
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What you say.
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Oh really.
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That's not very nice.
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The first appearance of 'Mike' Frobisher.
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Someone edits the vandalism to correct the capitalization.
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Elizabeth I herself could not have put it more eloquently.
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No!
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This is why teachers tell you not to use Wikipedia as a source. Even for something as seemingly innocent as Martin Frobisher.
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Return of the moose.
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More tomfoolery. Note that his father's name is still set as 'Mike Frobisher'. These edits were taking place over a period of months. Annoyed members of Wikipedia were erasing the vandalism, but they failed to catch 'Mike Frobisher'.
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***
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Oh dear.
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Five hundred rapidly increases to five million, his father is still Mike Frobisher, and someone has helpfully added a table of contents for what appears to be a Spider-man video game.
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The 'Justin and Kerri' period.
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Kerri mysteriously disappears.
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Really?
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The Martin Frobisher fanclub arrives.
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That's nice.
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Hi.
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I thought he was a very nice man?
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I know, man, doesn't Martin Frobisher ~blow your mind~?
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Someone deleted his comment, so he felt the need to repeat himself.
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...I'm not sure what this one's trying to say. That the article isn't true? Maybe it's Martin Frobisher returned from the grave to tell us that 'this shit is wack'.
***
And finally:
These edits all occurred between February 2007 and around September 2008. There could have been earlier edits, but I didn't go that far back. One day perhaps I will, if I can work up the courage.
THIS is Martin Frobisher. I had thought that the articles of men from the 1500s who explored Canada might be obscure enough to not be targeted, but clearly I underestimated the power of bored school children.
Vastly underestimated.
This is the first edit I found. I think it's from about February 2007.
Until tonight, I had thought that was it. But, out of curiosity, I went back into the history of the article, and found more edits. Many more:
***
What you say.
***
Oh really.
***
That's not very nice.
***
The first appearance of 'Mike' Frobisher.
***
Someone edits the vandalism to correct the capitalization.
***
***
Elizabeth I herself could not have put it more eloquently.
***
***
No!
***
This is why teachers tell you not to use Wikipedia as a source. Even for something as seemingly innocent as Martin Frobisher.
***
Return of the moose.
***
More tomfoolery. Note that his father's name is still set as 'Mike Frobisher'. These edits were taking place over a period of months. Annoyed members of Wikipedia were erasing the vandalism, but they failed to catch 'Mike Frobisher'.
***
***
***
Oh dear.
***
Five hundred rapidly increases to five million, his father is still Mike Frobisher, and someone has helpfully added a table of contents for what appears to be a Spider-man video game.
***
***
***
The 'Justin and Kerri' period.
***
Kerri mysteriously disappears.
***
***
Really?
***
The Martin Frobisher fanclub arrives.
***
That's nice.
***
***
***
***
***
***
Hi.
***
I thought he was a very nice man?
***
***
***
I know, man, doesn't Martin Frobisher ~blow your mind~?
***
Someone deleted his comment, so he felt the need to repeat himself.
***
...I'm not sure what this one's trying to say. That the article isn't true? Maybe it's Martin Frobisher returned from the grave to tell us that 'this shit is wack'.
***
And finally:
These edits all occurred between February 2007 and around September 2008. There could have been earlier edits, but I didn't go that far back. One day perhaps I will, if I can work up the courage.
