Author Topic: Wikipedia  (Read 735 times)

Offline Penguin

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Wikipedia
« on: June 14, 2011, 01:01:15 PM »
Hey guys,

I've been wondering, what do you think of Wikipedia?  I know my stance on the issue, but I don't want to muddy the waters, so to speak.  Here are some pros and cons to the site:

Pros:
Absolutely massive, there is an article on just about everything you can think of
Anyone can add information, or remove it if it is incorrect
Constant updates and no need to wait for annual revisions
Instant, free access from around the globe in at least fifteen major languages

Cons:
Not all articles are equally well written
Some articles are inaccurate, some blatantly poorly so
Vandalism on unprotected pages
Depends on having an internet connection

What are your feelings on it?  Do you think that it should become the de facto scholarly information source or removed entirely from scholarly works?  Should it be easier, harder or impossible for the average person to edit the site?  Furthermore, do you edit or donate to it yourself?

-Penguin

Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2011, 01:03:16 PM »
Wikipedia is a great place to start research, it should never be an end all answer for citing sources though.
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Offline Pigslilspaz

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2011, 01:15:39 PM »
I personally love it, it's great for giving you basic information right away, and (for the most part) it actually sources its information, which in turn provides additional reading, which is very useful.

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Offline MaSonZ

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2011, 01:33:00 PM »
Teachers at my school dont recomend it. my English teacher i believe this year said it was almost as accurate as the Britannica, but i find that hard to believe since anyone can add/remove information.  not a bnig fan of using it as an end-all im done with my research site, but sometimes its the only way....  :uhoh
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Offline gyrene81

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2011, 01:36:35 PM »
i just refer to this "disputed" article regarding wikipedia's reliability...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia

knowing that between any number of written works on the same subject there can exist discrepancies...an anonymously editable online source with innumerable reference links that cannot be checked for accuracy or existence is not a valid source for academic reference.
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Offline AWwrgwy

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2011, 01:46:23 PM »
Paul Revere rode to Lexington ringing bells to warn the British that someone was coming to take their guns away.

 :neener:



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Offline MaSonZ

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2011, 01:48:50 PM »
Paul Revere rode to Lexington ringing bells to warn the British that someone was coming to take their guns away.

 :neener:



wrongway
except it wasnt JUST Paul..hada couple buddies with him... Paul was theo nly one to make it. as far as their names, I'm drawing a blank.
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Offline Westy

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2011, 01:58:37 PM »

Whaddyaknow. It's accurate about something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_potato

Offline AWwrgwy

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2011, 01:59:08 PM »
except it wasnt JUST Paul..hada couple buddies with him... Paul was theo nly one to make it. as far as their names, I'm drawing a blank.

Something in the news recently involving a bus tour and Boston that I will not mention as I will get Skuzzyfied.

I've probably already gone too far.

 :bolt:


wrongway
71 (Eagle) Squadron
"THAT"S PAINT!!"

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Offline Westy

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2011, 02:00:42 PM »
maybe but funny as hell Wrgway :)

Offline gyrene81

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2011, 02:01:58 PM »
Something in the news recently involving a bus tour and Boston that I will not mention as I will get Skuzzyfied.

I've probably already gone too far.

 :bolt:

wrongway
i'd hit it...just sayin.  :devil

that whole thing was quite amusing to follow...a few historians even got a chuckle out of it.
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Offline kilo2

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2011, 02:05:14 PM »
Wikipedia is a great place to start research, it should never be an end all answer for citing sources though.

+1

Very quick and easy to get a bearing on which direction to research.
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Offline druski85

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2011, 02:06:01 PM »

Cons:
Not all articles are equally well written
Some articles are inaccurate, some blatantly poorly so


I hate to nitpick here, but that's not well written either.  

Anyway, Wikipedia has it's uses in everyday life but keep it separated from academia when possible.

Offline BrownBaron

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2011, 02:06:56 PM »
except it wasnt JUST Paul..hada couple buddies with him... Paul was theo nly one to make it. as far as their names, I'm drawing a blank.

He's referring to a historical boo-boo made by Sarah Palin.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 02:18:34 PM by BrownBaron »
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Offline BrownBaron

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Re: Wikipedia
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2011, 02:09:58 PM »
I hate to nitpick here, but that's not well written either.  

Blatantly poorly so, I might add.
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