A powerful obsession with Wikipedia. A wikiphiliac
may:
-turn to Wikipedia as the
first and only source of information for a topic
-relentlessly defend Wikipedia's factual accuracy
-become uncomfortable when hearing information that he/she has not read on Wikipedia
-access Wikipedia several times a
day-spend much more time on Wikipedia than originally intended
-Wikipedia
race-compulsively switch to other Wikipedia articles, using the hyperlinks within articles, often without obtaining the originally sought information and leaving a bizarre informational "trail" in his/her browsing
history (Such as from "Hmong language" to "list of most prolific serial killers")
-access Wikipedia for recreation
-enter a
trance-like state while reading that is disorienting to exit
-constantly disseminate information read on Wikipedia
Patient: Doc, I can't stop reading Wikipedia. I'm on it for hours a
day! My wife says she's going to leave me because I don't believe anything she says. I have to check it on Wikipedia first.
Doctor: It sounds like you have wikiphilia.
Patient: What's that?
Doctor: Look it up on Wikipedia.
