Adding Devious Information

Description
This pattern represents the act of sharing inaccurate or unreliable information.

Examples
This pattern frequently occurs on Wikipedia where some users take pleasure in adding erroneous or overly humoristic information to otherwise seriously written articles. Another common thing is when users are adding unconfirmed (rumored) or unreferenced (without source) information about for instance the death of a celebrity.

These article edits are often deleted quickly by moderators on large articles. However minor articles and articles in another language than English are much more exposed to this behavior since they are not as thoroughly observed.

Pros and Cons
Although some users might find this behavior amusing most would find it rather disturbing and unwanted. It might jeopardize the credibility or seriousity of the site as well as provide other users with incorrect information.

Relations
Adding Devious Information could be seen as a Spamming behavior on Collaboration (Crumlish & Malone) and is a way to break Community Management (Crumlish & Malone).

The pattern could result in an Edit-War.

Contributors
Created by Patric Westberg.