I hold no particular torch for Wikipedia, but somethingabout Google's newKnol service smacks of slightly more than disinterested knowledge buildingon the part of Google.

It's classic empire building, and screw the amateurs andvolunteers who get in the way.

Attack on Wikipedia

It looks, talks and smells like an attack on Wikipedia, withGoogle taking on one of its major competitors for site traffic (number 1attacking number 8).

It'll get a massive traffic boost to its own servers bynot having to refer those links to Wikipedia, and by being able to leverage Google'sown PageRank to ensure Knol gets good visibility. And there's all that lovelyad money that will come with it, too.

But it leaves a slightly sour taste in the mouth. Google,which was successful thanks to the advocacy of the geek early adopter, is goingafter one of the Web's biggest geek-driven creations. Wikipedia is a poster child of thecollaborative, independent spirit that defines a major part of the web.

The wisdom of crowds

Eventhough Wikipedia has its faults, there is something powerful about the idea of lotsof volunteers contributing to the spread of knowledge, even if the actualexecution sometimes leaves something to be desired.

Compare this to how Google handled its integration of Usenetnewsgroups into its empire - done sympathetically and with an awareness of theculture it was taking over. If facilitating reliable knowledge was the keymotivator, there are other ways this could have been done. Google's approachsmacks of wholly colder considerations.

At least Google gets to flog ads against its own contentrather than someone else's for a change.

* What do you think? Agree or disagree with Nick? Email himtoday and tell him why at editor@techradar.com.