Anyone can edit the information!
Just a couple weeks ago, my classmate edited Britney Spears' article, changing it to say that Britney is married to him. Sure, it's funny, but for the information that is NOT SO OBVIOUS that it's wrong, it'll get passed as true.
Wikipedia's definitely not a good source to rely on, and yet people worship it. So many answers on Yahoo! answers are cited to wiki...
2006-09-23 13:38:42 · 6 answers · asked by catchu 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
It's like how people used to believe everything they saw on television. People just assume that a source is useful because it's on the internet. Many people believe that .org websites are more reliable. Of course, Wikipedia is edited by just anybody so not everything on there is true but some people cannot differentiate between nonsense/semi truths and truth.
2006-09-23 13:47:29 · answer #1 · answered by OutTehWindow 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Those who have become educated learn that you do not automatically believe any one source. Until I achieve what I call "a reasonable consensus" I refuse to come to any conclusion about a subject. If this means waiting a very long time before forming an opinion, then so be it. This is why, as you achieve upper-level college coursework, that you often cite dozens of sources. Also, some sources are more reputable than others, and part of learning a field of knowledge is learning what is reputable and what is not so reputable and what is not reputable at all. Wikipedia is set up to where articles are reviewed by certain individuals. If there is an obvious mistruth, it will soon be corrected. I like Wikipedia, designed on the same collective consciousness model as Yahoo Answers. Often, the truths of life are out there and readily available. The problem lies in the fact they they exist in all the noise - a sea of mass confusion. An astute individual can find the proverbial needle in a haystack and get the information he/she needs.
2006-09-23 20:59:11 · answer #2 · answered by Morpheus 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wikipedia is believed to be a reliable source.
2006-09-23 20:41:17 · answer #3 · answered by Young M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It just like people believe everything the news media say.
2006-09-23 20:51:36 · answer #4 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they would rather believe what is already written about something than to go by people's experiences. (what a person writes) Go figure! I myself would rather read something coming from a person than a computer! oh well, to each his/her own! :)
2006-09-23 20:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by peg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i typically try to find my answer somwhere else before i go to wikipedia, then if im having trouble I will go there.
2006-09-23 20:47:43 · answer #6 · answered by wheels47012 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋