Comments on: Wikipedia, Whipping Boy

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:33:23 +0000

Seth -

Wikipedia is not a minefield.

The small number of errors are only a problem if you're expecting perfection. So don't. Problem solved.

Flames are inevitably unflamed.

Go in with your eyes open, and no one loses a limb.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:21:10 +0000

Tim: Imagine a mine field. It's 95% safe. See the problem?

Wikiepdia is far, far, too vulnerable to malice.

Whenever this point is brought up, there's an immediate cultish denial - There's errors elsewhere too, screams the Wikifanatic. Don't believe everything you read, they excuse. But the dead trees and the old media don't have systems where any random flamer can mess with an article. That's a problem.

By: Jim Harper

Jim Harper — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 21:47:33 +0000

Wikipedia has addressed this type of concern two ways: First, it generally recommends against citing Wikipedia. Second, if you do cite, it suggest citing specific versions of articles. If the article adopts errors or is defaced after you cite it, you don't incorporate those into your reference.

Wish I'd done that in my book . . . .

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 21:33:23 +0000

Seth -

Wikipedia is not a minefield.

The small number of errors are only a problem if you're expecting perfection. So don't. Problem solved.

Flames are inevitably unflamed.

Go in with your eyes open, and no one loses a limb.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 21:21:10 +0000

Tim: Imagine a mine field. It's 95% safe. See the problem?

Wikiepdia is far, far, too vulnerable to malice.

Whenever this point is brought up, there's an immediate cultish denial - There's errors elsewhere too, screams the Wikifanatic. Don't believe everything you read, they excuse. But the dead trees and the old media don't have systems where any random flamer can mess with an article. That's a problem.

By: Jim Harper

Jim Harper — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 20:47:33 +0000

Wish I'd done that in my book . . . .

By: NM

NM — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:25:46 +0000

I agree. It’s a great resource when you just want to get the jist of something and find links to better resources. I take it for what it’s worth and for me it’s sufficient.

By: NM

NM — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:25:46 +0000

I agree. It’s a great resource when you just want to get the jist of something and find links to better resources. I take it for what it’s worth and for me it’s sufficient.