PSA

[yakalskovich]

Google might become evil eventually. The jury is still out on it. So we don't know if 'Google is your friend' indefinitely. Sadly.

But Wikipedia is different. It can't be corrupted. Via that encyclopedia article that I am translating for a German historian, I have become aware of the high-level discourse on the subject of Wikipedia. It is something unique, they all agree.

So I dare to claim, without any qualifications:

Wikipedia is your friend!

Comments

[sdelmonte]

There is an otherwise intelligent tech reporter on one of the radio networks here who would disagree. She claims that because anyone can edit Wikipedia, it cannot ever be trusted. And then to prove her point, she decided that the malicious attack on her via a false listing for her on Wikipedia is further evidence. The fact that it was immediately removed didn't impress her. I think she is quite wrong, but many agree with her POV.

I am not sure you can always trust Wikipedia. I wouldn't use it as a primary source for a serious report. But you are right in that so far, its "handlers" have no agenda, it offers much of what's good about the open exchange of information on the Internet, and no one to be making deals with China to block info.

[yakalskovich]

Yes, we saw her point of view very often in the course of that discourse which I follow only loosely; but the lady I'm translating that article for is in the thick of it. Actually, her article which shows much of how the traditional encyclopedias were compiled at the outset is a point in favour of Wikipedia - who says traditional printed information was accreted much differently? There were just fewer voices to be heard, that is all. She is going to put it up on the web eventually; I shall then gleefully link to it!

And in fact, that last point in your comment is what most inspires my trust in Wikipedia as a source of information, as opposed to Google...

[nazgulwears.livejournal.com]

I would like to add that Wookiepedia is your friend too. :-D

[yakalskovich]

What is that? The Wookie language is incomprehensible. They only ever go "Oooooo-RRRRRR-AUUUGHH!"