Wikipedia

Wokamuka said:
I, personally, believe that Wikipedia is an excellent source for a "springboard" of research. Go to Wikipedia and you will be introduced to many, many sources.

There are those who discount the value of Wikipedia. They believe, like those who believe within only faith, that Wikipedia is a faithless and, thus, non-viable source of truth.

I am not claiming that Wikipedia is the ultimate source of Truth, unlike those who cite Biblical verses and, by "honest" research values. Wikipedia is, to me, a springboard unto the Truth. By some and because, simply, I, at any time, use Wikipedia, my findings are refused.

Wikipedia is an inspiration of Democracy. Wikipedia inspires free-thinking. There are many who do not believe that Wikipedia, as a beginning source, is a horrible, horrible thing. Why? Obviously, they do not want you to THINK.

Discuss.
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I find Wikipedia as a general source of information fine on an informal basis. If I were to do in depth research, I'd use other sources that are considered creditable by the scholars and experts in the field if I want to have my research taken seriously. If I were to use Wiki as a reference, it'd be to give out the general info and then branch out to in-depth studies using other sources.

Sometimes I lurk in Infidels.org though I rarely post there and wiki generally is not accepted there because it's too broad and doesn't have enough depth to discuss certain matters like the development of the Bible.
 
jillio said:
The difference is, a print encyclopedia is edited and verified. Contributions come from people who are credentialed. Not so with Wiki.
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Yes, that's the most important part and I forgot to metion that in my post. That's a major reason why I'd rarely use wiki in research and I'd be careful not to use it as a single source of info.

It's why Infidels.org won't accept wiki in many of it's threads.
 
jillio said:
The difference is, a print encyclopedia is edited and verified. Contributions come from people who are credentialed. Not so with Wiki.
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exactly. Remember the incident where political party and the rival were editing each other's wiki to mislead people?? I remember while back in my class, this student who used handful of wiki for citations for research paper and obviously he flunked the course. :whip:
 
Wokamuka said:
Wikipedia is a starting point . . . for, even, those without democracy. It's value should not ever be less than the value of oil (which is more than I can say for those within acadamia).
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There was a college professor who got tired of students doing most of their research from Wikipedia. So, he devised a new curriculum. Instead of students doing research from Wikipedia, he had his students add new information to Wikipedia. This forced students to try to find something that Wikipedia didn't have and add it. ;)
 
VamPyroX said:
There was a college professor who got tired of students doing most of their research from Wikipedia. So, he devised a new curriculum. Instead of students doing research from Wikipedia, he had his students add new information to Wikipedia. This forced students to try to find something that Wikipedia didn't have and add it. ;)
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What a creative assignment. And actually got the students to research in some valid ways, as well! Good for him!
 
Yep, I'm gonna believe a slogan on a tee-shirt before I believe reputable sources such as academics.
 
I use wiki because I'm lazy. But, I'm also not writing a formal paper. If I was, then I'd do what most have already pointed out... Use it as springboard to other precise sources of information.
 
jillio said:
Yep, I'm gonna believe a slogan on a tee-shirt before I believe reputable sources such as academics.
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You're going to disbelieve the slogan on that shirt on the link that Boult included? I don't even know if the men noticed the slogan. :giggle:
 
deafskeptic said:
You're going to disbelieve the slogan on that shirt on the link that Boult included? I don't even know if the men noticed the slogan. :giggle:
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LOL! They didn't notice the slogan......that's part of the problem. Too distracted by the superficial to see reality.:giggle:
 
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