Google or Wikipedia - Which is Your First Stop?

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google or Wikipedia - Which is Your First Stop?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday October 21, 2006 @03:26AM from the depends-on-the-topic-but-google-still-the-king dept.

dwarfking asks: "Over the last several months I have noticed that more and more often, when I am searching for information on the web, I find myself starting at Wikipedia instead of Google. It used to be that the first hit on many of my Google searches linked to Wikipedia articles, so I started going there first. I've found that except for searching for current events, by starting with Wikipedia I get a good explanation of the topic of interest and the pages generally have links to other good resources that are right on topic (without the need to scroll through dozens of hits). Are others of you seeing similar shifts in your search usage and if so, do any of you think this could become a trend for the larger community? If so, then what could that potentially mean for Google?"

8 of 171 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Google... Sort of. by Tyger · 2006-10-21 03:29 · Score: 5, Funny

I usually start with google and make sure I have the right spelling, then the appropriate Wikipedia article is one of the first links, so I click on that.
Holy Geekwar Batman! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-21 03:40 · Score: 1, Funny

tag this one vi.or.emacs :)
Easy! by Threni · 2006-10-21 03:50 · Score: 2, Funny

Wikipedia for a quick answer, but Google for the right answer!
Neither by wetfeetl33t · 2006-10-21 04:03 · Score: 3, Funny

I usually just write to Ann Landers

--
Register the editry.
Re:Neither by mgabrys_sf · 2006-10-21 04:41 · Score: 2, Funny

If every Slashdot reader sent a piece of snail mail to her, could you "Slashdot" Ann Landers?

Hmmmm....
Re:Google still wins by Jack+Pallance · 2006-10-21 05:06 · Score: 2, Funny

I prefer Google to find information on very specific searchs, like "Midget Wheelchair Porn". I look to Wikipedia for information on less specific searches, like "Porn", or "More Porn".
Actually, now that I think of it, I use BringBackThePorn.com for most of my searches...
Re:Google still wins by Das+Modell · 2006-10-21 09:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Someone is probably busy constructing a Wiki about midget wheelchair porn as we speak, and it's all your fault.
Re:Google still wins by kilonad · 2006-10-21 18:42 · Score: 2, Funny

What about it? Thousands of people sleep in the Paris Hilton every year!