Is Wikipedia Evil?

Wikipedia is the worlds first Open-Source encyclopaedia. Wikipedia is the worlds first Open-Source encyclopaedia. That means that anyone can edit it. That means that anyone can edit it. That’s both a good thing, and a bad thing, as you’ll see. That’s both a good thing, and a bad thing, as you’ll see. First, let’s take a look at what I mean… First, let’s take a look at what I mean…

First, an example…

For example Let’s say I want to edit the page for the First Earl of Shaftesbury. Let’s say I want to edit the page for the First Earl of Shaftesbury. Here’s what the opening paragraph looked like before I got my hands on it: Here’s what the opening paragraph looked like before I got my hands on it:

For Example Please note that at no time did Wikipedia ask how much I knew about the subject. Please note that at no time did Wikipedia ask how much I knew about the subject. Here are the changes I put in: Here are the changes I put in:

Trusting People You’ve Never Met Wikipedia operates on a level of trust that people will a) avoid vandalizing the site, and b) fix it if they find bad information Wikipedia operates on a level of trust that people will a) avoid vandalizing the site, and b) fix it if they find bad information There are no guarantees that people will actually do these things, and that’s the problem There are no guarantees that people will actually do these things, and that’s the problem

An excellent place to start… There are things to like about Wikipedia. Namely: In depth coverage In depth coverage Up-to-date Up-to-date Links and citations for more reliable information Links and citations for more reliable information A good place to develop questions for research A good place to develop questions for research

… but a lousy place to finish But there are some major problems, like: Inherently unreliable information Inherently unreliable information Information changes moment to moment Information changes moment to moment No peer review (editing by experts) No peer review (editing by experts) More information on “Dr. Dre” than thermodynamics (trivial subjects are covered in greater depth than ones of actual, scholarly importance) More information on “Dr. Dre” than thermodynamics (trivial subjects are covered in greater depth than ones of actual, scholarly importance) “Wikiality” “Wikiality”

“Wikiality” is a term coined by Stephen Colbert. Wikiality In a nutshell: If everyone agrees that it must be true, then it is true, regardless of the facts.

Still don’t believe me? Take a look at the following quote: Take a look at the following quote:

“The site is a wonderful starting point for research. But it's only a starting point because there's always a chance that there's something wrong, and you should check your sources if you are writing a paper.” Jimmy Wales, Time magazine, March 22, 2007 Jimmy Wales, Time magazine, March 22, 2007

Why should you care what Jimmy Wales says?

Who is Jimmy Wales? Jimmy Wales is the creator of Wikipedia, and of wiki technology in general. Jimmy Wales is the creator of Wikipedia, and of wiki technology in general. He’s the person you have to thank every time you log on to the “World’s Largest Encyclopaedia” He’s the person you have to thank every time you log on to the “World’s Largest Encyclopaedia” If he doesn’t think you should use it as a final source, do you still think it’s a good idea? If he doesn’t think you should use it as a final source, do you still think it’s a good idea?

Is Wikipedia Evil?

Not exactly. There’s still much to like about it. Wikipedia is an excellent place to go to form questions about what you want to study, provided you go to more reliable places for those answers. Not exactly. There’s still much to like about it. Wikipedia is an excellent place to go to form questions about what you want to study, provided you go to more reliable places for those answers. Just remember; Wikipedia is a great place to start research, but a horrible place to finish. Just remember; Wikipedia is a great place to start research, but a horrible place to finish.

The End If you have any questions about Wikipedia, or about research in general, please feel free to ask your friendly library staff. If you have any questions about Wikipedia, or about research in general, please feel free to ask your friendly library staff.ask your friendly library staff.ask your friendly library staff.