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FUD-Based Encyclopedias

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the knocking-it-after-trying dept.

blacklily8 writes "Someone has finally gotten around to offering an intelligent point-by-point rejoinder to an ex-Brittanica editor's lambasting of Wikipedia--which was covered in this earlier Slashdot post. Aaron Krowne, a mathematician and head of Emory University's library research department, argues here that established encyclopedias are using FUD to discredit what is actually a more reliable way to build an encyclopedia: 'McHenry's definition of quality seems to consist solely of presentational matters such as spelling, grammar, and text flow. These are of course important considerations, but I propose that there are other important facets of quality - for example, coverage.'"

3 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Re:information is not a democracy by NoseBag · · Score: 0, Troll

    You say "you assume that people are, generally, stupid, uninformed and/or not able/willing to check facts..."

    First:
    But what if (as is OFTEN the case) people are looking up something because they DON'T know? I know thats why I use an encyclopedia. Isn't that what its for?

    Second:
    Wp is confirmably biased - just try "correcting" factual inaccuracies in a political reference. I have tried. With backup statements, direct quotes, etc. They definitely have an agenda.

    Of course, I don't use Wp and never have, for precisely that reason.

    Facts aren't negotiable, nor are they reached by concensus. Nor are they "fair". They simply ARE.

    --
    Cloned foods give the statement "We had that last week!" a whole new meaning.
  2. But you forgot... by game+kid · · Score: 0, Troll
    Well that fits with MS's typical tactics -- 1) Wave money around 2) Figure out what they need to know 3) Copy the idea inhouse.

    add 4) tell those they couldn't acquire, whom they have now surpassed instead, the equivalent of "Blow Me" 5) run copied ideas in lucrative business 6) run occasional Windows-has-lower-TCO-and-outperforms-Linux banner ads on Slashdot 7) Profit! and it'll be good to go.

    --
    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  3. Re:information is not a democracy by DerekLyons · · Score: 1, Troll
    Wp is confirmably biased - just try "correcting" factual inaccuracies in a political reference. I have tried. With backup statements, direct quotes, etc. They definitely have an agenda.
    It's biased in more than politics as well.

    Try correcting an article where the 'facts' are incorrect a well known website and are correct only on one obscure one... Your edits will be reverted in a heartbeat.

    Try correcting articles on topics where you are knowledgeable, and where 'common knowledge' is mostly wrong... Your edits will be reverted in a heartbeat.