January 16, 2011

Wikipedia – an unplanned miracle. "Every day since its birth 10 years ago, Wikipedia has got better. Yet it's amazing it even exists."
posted by homunculus 13 years ago
  • This ( http://monkeyfilter.com/link.php/17445 ) and this ( http://monkeyfilter.com/link.php/17464 ) and this very OP all make me feel quite optimistic, and even gruntled.
  • Wikipedia is amazing. I am still surprised at how reliable the great majority of the information is on there. It is a strange thing to be able to so easily find out so much information so quickly.
  • I saw a comment on Twitter that suggested since this anniversary is reported on Wikipedia it can't be true.
  • I'm with you 'nockle. Yes, WP certainly has its (occasional massive) errors and numerous problems--administrativly and otherwise--but what an incredible resource to have at hand! The posting speed and depth of background for breaking news events leaves me astounded (and much better informed.) I absolutely despise watching theatrical and repetitive news reports which continue for hours devoid of any useful content. If nothing else, I often use WP as a source for google phrasing until I can fine-tune what I'm looking for. As always, take your WP with a grain of salt and be prepared to pepper your hat. Being old and decrepit, I remember years of reaching for the budget-killing Encyclopedia Britannica we splurged on when the kids were first born.... I felt a mild twinge of pain when we finally hauled it down to the thrift shop a decade or so ago. (My smell chek has died, and durgs have left me witless. Deal, Spelling Nazis)
  • I happen to be a Spelling Nazi (bernockle is actually Swedish for "Spelling Nazi"), and it is not you who tells me to deal, Old Horse.
  • Wiki articles are peer reviewed, in the best and most egalitarian way. Everyone accessing a Wiki can input. If the Nazis must overcome all of that, well so be it. Not that I don't think BlueHorse's Will shall not totally overcome - I'm just waiting for the math. That is all.
  • Alright, here's my prediction: BlueHorse - 48, Spelling Nazis - 10. Because it's right. As we move forward into the 21st Century, the very spelling of the language will morph. All of us who pride ourselves on knowing the old, or even the current spellings... We will all be antiques. Should we learn text messaging spelling? Well, I guess. I'll need a few more decades to get it down probably.
  • Oh. Two's the maximum post du jour, Swoop? This one doesn't count, okay?
  • Nononononono, DF, the "two consecutive posts" rule only applied to the M.O.N.K.E.Y. game or other "game-like" threads, when it applied at all.
  • There has never been any rule limiting consecutive comments here...
  • ...especially when you post something and realize you're going to have to explain yourself.
  • And do it quickly.