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A Wikipedia Game; If you're feeling bored
Topic Started: Oct 17 2007, 11:18 PM (315 Views)
Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
*pats Spudmunchkin on the back*

Yeah so have I. It gives a bit of satisfaction to know that you've contributed, even if it is something minor as removing some spam or crap that others have submitted.
-Nibby
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lara
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Kopi Luwak
Nibby
Oct 29 2007, 10:03 AM
Hmm yes, but that doesn't make Wikipedia bad, it makes those reporters bad.

Very good, Nibby. Gold star and an A+ in media literacy for you.
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
Wot? Come on, sure it makes the reporters bad, but the fact remains that Wikipedia suffers as a result. That there are other clones that have the same lofty aim of being more accurate only seem to reinforce the idea.
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
:coot: Wikipedia doesn't suffer, because there is not a single other site out there where I can search for the most arbitrary topic, and get nearly all the information I need, most if which is even highly accurate. Sure there are fuckers out the messing it up, but that's nothing compared to the humongous stream of information supplied by those who happen to know about a subject, but couldn't share before.

As for those other sites, which strive for accuracy, it immediately comes to attention that they have nowhere near the amount of information, and not remotely as many topics as Wikipedia.

But I think my best argument would be, Wikipedia has made me a smrtr person :smart:
-Nibby
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
And I would go back to my original point, that unless you are an authority on the subject in the first place you don't know what's accurate/right etc in which case you may think you are smarter from perusing Wiki, but are in fact just more misinformed!
Now, that doesn't detract in any way from the idea of Wiki, which is a brilliant one, but as with so many things, in the execution and the practicalities it has shortcomings and they are real ones that are virtually impossible to overcome.
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Spuddywinks
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hello :)
Personally, my favourite thing about Wikipedia is the occasional linkage I find to high-quality sites I never would have searched for myself. There are too many fools changing the articles to include things they saw on TV or read in an old book that has since been researched and found wanting, but sometimes you do really find good leads elsewhere, and for that I am in gratitude.

I have no idea what I'm trying to say, apart from "some things be good there."
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
Krazy
Oct 30 2007, 12:02 PM
And I would go back to my original point, that unless you are an authority on the subject in the first place you don't know what's accurate/right etc in which case you may think you are smarter from perusing Wiki, but are in fact just more misinformed!
Now, that doesn't detract in any way from the idea of Wiki, which is a brilliant one, but as with so many things, in the execution and the practicalities it has shortcomings and they are real ones that are virtually impossible to overcome.

Sure, if you're talking about Fukuoka or something like that ;p

However, I doubt there are a lot of people 'qualified' enough to spread disinformation about computer booting sectors ;)

And as the Spudmeister said, there are very good links to be found as well. Yesterday I reached a very good article about the invasion of Finland by the Soviet Union after finding the link in the Wikipedia article about Molotov cocktails.
-Nibby
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
Yes, I agree there is some great stuff in Wiki, and on a tagent, I'm glad to see your terrorist training is coming along so well, Nibby :P

True, you also make a fair point that some areas of knowledge are going to be less prone to errors and mistakes, but I still think my point still stands that there is no real control (yet?) over making sure the information is accurate and trying to control those wags who are ruining wiki for everyone.
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Spuddywinks
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hello :)
No there's certainly no control over who does what, or even much checking on whether the articles have been mauled or not. A week or two ago I found some crap that had been distorted to hell a couple of years ago and still hadn't been "reverted" or rewritten or cleaned up, or whatever phrase they're using.

Nibs, you should have talked to family about that; I have a few who got medals for that particular winter. (And to compete, I was sent on a massive detour through old Irish and Scottish chronicles about dastardly Viking deeds. Spent hours there and still didn't come even a third through it.)
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lara
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Kopi Luwak
Spuddywinks
Oct 30 2007, 11:29 AM
Personally, my favourite thing about Wikipedia is the occasional linkage I find to high-quality sites I never would have searched for myself. There are too many fools changing the articles to include things they saw on TV or read in an old book that has since been researched and found wanting, but sometimes you do really find good leads elsewhere, and for that I am in gratitude.

I use Wikipedia quite a lot, as a starting point. I look for links and names to Google, then I go looking for reputable sources. If I find two reputable sources that confirm what I found on Wikipedia, it's all good.

And that, in my opinion, is what Wikipedia is fabulous for.
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bnf
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Hot Chocolate
Meh, I played the Wikipedia Rally game with Menigal like two years ago, it's a good idea but it just doesn't work well.
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