That's good - I didn't know that the changelog existed. And of course there are errors in print resources as well.
I think for me what it comes down to for me is not that there are multiple authors -- most encyclopedias are like that, and that's the way it should be -- but that there doesn't seem to be any way to verify who wrote things or what their credentials are. Obviously, it doesn't mean that the people writing for Wikipedia are any more or less knowledgeable than the people writing for any other reference source, print or online, but that I don't know that, because I don't know who they are. I want to know who they are. I want to be able to look at the article on Beethoven and check what else that person has written.
I mean, whatever, I use it, I think it's great, but mostly as a jumping off point, like you said, or if I need a general idea about something. Because, exactly like they said in the bit you quoted up there, if it's something important, I'm always going to find a second source.
(I don't blame Wikipedia for people who are going to blindly believe everything they read there. I just worry, given what a massive phenomenon it is and the proven trend these days of students to get all their information off the internet without citing or questioning the integrety of the source, that it will become the only authority used.)
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Where I get all defensive for a moment and then flame out quickly
Date: 2005-10-27 05:47 pm (UTC)I think for me what it comes down to for me is not that there are multiple authors -- most encyclopedias are like that, and that's the way it should be -- but that there doesn't seem to be any way to verify who wrote things or what their credentials are. Obviously, it doesn't mean that the people writing for Wikipedia are any more or less knowledgeable than the people writing for any other reference source, print or online, but that I don't know that, because I don't know who they are. I want to know who they are. I want to be able to look at the article on Beethoven and check what else that person has written.
I mean, whatever, I use it, I think it's great, but mostly as a jumping off point, like you said, or if I need a general idea about something. Because, exactly like they said in the bit you quoted up there, if it's something important, I'm always going to find a second source.
(I don't blame Wikipedia for people who are going to blindly believe everything they read there. I just worry, given what a massive phenomenon it is and the proven trend these days of students to get all their information off the internet without citing or questioning the integrety of the source, that it will become the only authority used.)