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A comedian mocked me for paying $200 for this free service, but you should stump up too

James Panichi Journalist October 14, 2025 — 7.00pm

What are the chances of a comedian making an unexpected incursion into my niche wheelhouse? It was a Melbourne International Comedy Festival show at Trades Hall and revolution must have been in the air, because when the performer on stage started to complain about receiving unsolicited donation emails from Wikipedia, I had to speak up.

Who would ever donate money to an online encyclopaedia, she asked? My family members tensed up, knowing they couldn’t stop the train-wreck about to ensue.

I would, I shouted out. How much? the comedian asked. Fifty dollars every time they contact me, I replied. How often is that?

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