General Discussions

**Learning Newbie** · 09-06-2007, 07:05 PM

Apparently WordPress has a new psychic mind reading module. I started writing a post about Wikipedia and whether or not it deserves our trust, what role it plays in society, how many homework reports it powers, and so on. Come back over here for a visit, and what do you know? Someone else beat me to the punch, and maybe even did a better job than I would.

Can you Trust the Wikipedia - Blog Post by VanGogh

"Do you trust Wikipedia" is a big question. So for the purpose of this thread, let's "narrow it down" and say if you're on any given page, something you need to learn about, would you trust the text in the Wiki article? I know you can go into a section on something you're an expert about, and find 100 things you agree or disagree with. But for the purposes of this thread and poll, the question is if you're on some random page in Wikiland, do you trust what you see?

Sorry to be launching all these new threads, but there are two deleted spam posts at the bottom of the front page of this forum, so I figured why not ask a question and see how my fellows think, but also push the spams a notch closer to falling off the page? Sort of kill two birds with one stone. (Vegans don't kill me!)

**joder** · 07:17 PM

I can't say 'Yes' or 'No'. It's according to what article I'm looking at. If they are on a disputed topic such as religion, politics or some history, I've found some that are really bad.

But it always pays to cross-check the information on Wilkipedia or anywhere else.

EDIT: BTW Learning Newbie, I love your blog.

**Christopher** · 09-06-2007, 10:21 PM

I trust it for the use I put it to, which is nothing serious. If I really need to research a topic then Wikipedia is not something I rely on (i.e., research papers will need more definitive sources). But if I want to quickly look something up then the content I find on Wikipedia has never let me down.

**seolman** · 09-06-2007, 10:21 PM

Some Wikipedia info is helpful but it's tough to trust anything where the public adds what it wants. The idea that site users will police the information reminds me of having the Fox guard the Chickens. Those willing to police the data don't have the time to keep up with the content providers and content providers frequently input what is in their interest.

**jon8105** · 09-06-2007, 11:24 PM

I use it to gain general information on things, but I always search around and make sure that what I read on Wikipedia is actually true!!

**Aadriyah** · 09-07-2007, 12:34 AM

Wikepedia is true, though sometimes I need to make 2 or more researches.

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-07-2007, 12:49 AM

Honestly, this is a non-issue for me. The only thing I ever use Wikipedia for is when I'm trying to put myself to sleep. I look up wrestler names and then go on one of those old-school click on a link to a link to a link to a link mystical journeys.

Then I'm tired and go to bed without remembering a thing I ever read.

**Kuldeep2195** · 09-07-2007, 12:58 AM

I believe Wikipedia provides very relevant and concise information
on a large number of topics. While searching for a subject, if I
think Wikipedia is likely to have some information on the subject,
I deliberately add the word "Wiki" to the search, so that I get
the specific Wikipedia page, if it exists.

**Learning Newbie** · 09-07-2007, 12:23 PM

More no votes than yes ones, but a good number of both.

What does everyone think of the "trust highlighting" program VanGogh tells us about? Where the less algorithmically trust-worthy a word is, the darker orange is shows?

**ForrestCroce** · 09-09-2007, 12:41 AM

For technical documentation, I tend to believe a good deal of what I read there. That's pretty easily testable, though.

**Trex-Hunter** · 09-09-2007, 01:05 AM

I do, actually. There are more reliable people and good people than there are opposite. I think that 99% of the info in wikipedia, especially pertaining to geography/english/history are accurate.

**letsjoy** · 09-09-2007, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Do you generally trust info found in Wikipedia articles?

Yes my answers is

**dansgalaxy** · 09-09-2007, 11:49 AM

I have to say yes, i have yet to see a single page on wikipedia which i have found not to be true

Wikipedia has to be the best one around its VERY well moderated and topics which people vandal are locked (ie the naughty words...)
so that problem is fixed.

and they have the great system of the messages saying when a topics info is not enough or that people disagree with it etc.
Dan

**fitnfree** · 09-09-2007, 11:53 AM

Since you asked...

... no, dont trust Wikipedia any more. I used to think it was a great reference until I learned that a 13 year old in the city I reside in was allowed to be an "editor" and no one bothered to verify anything he posted. The crap is still on their site, too and I don't know how many attempts to alert Wikipedia by many different people have been totally ignored. So they lost ALL credibility with me.

**dansgalaxy** · 09-09-2007, 12:01 PM

What did he post which wasnt suitable?

**fitnfree** · 09-09-2007, 12:07 PM

He posted stuff about city government and some elected officials and was totally clueless. I don't know if he thought he was doing something really neat or what, but it was not well done and not all accurate.

**CSS4Life** · 09-09-2007, 01:22 PM

For the most part, I trust Wikipedia. There are some inaccuracies, but for the most part, I've found it to be useful and interesting

**jim1228** · 09-09-2007, 02:43 PM

Yes and no, because I have found info to be incorrect.

**Giselle** · 09-09-2007, 04:59 PM

For the most part yes I trust Wikipedia, I suppose nothing is always perfect or flawless. Just the other day I couldn't find the information anywhere else, I wanted to know what other books Kirk Douglas had written, was more interested in his novels that he had written. I put in Kirk Douglas at Wikipedia and the information was very thorough, all about his movie career, family, ect. and a list of all the books he has written....

**Chronicle** · 09-10-2007, 04:46 PM

For the times that I needed information about something wikipedia has never let me down but I always double check the infos I get....so I guess, I trust them to a point....IMO, you can not always put your full trust to anyone or anything...