If you're looking for a fact or need some info. to answer Yahoo Answers - people often resort to cut & pasting extracts of Wikipedia (I may have even done it....).
As it's open to anybody to edit, I think people should treat some the 'facts' in Wikipedia with caution.
Just how accurate do you think it is & have you seen anything blatantly inaccurate or biased?
2006-12-05 23:47:38 · 11 answers · asked by Mr Crusty 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Drugs are killers - I’m not “moaning” but asking a valid QUESTION… & as you are GULLIBLE enough to believe in the 9/11 conspiracy theories, I don’t think you’re in a position to lecture me thanks!
2006-12-07 01:11:50 · update #1
Hi Chris UK,
I just read all answers with much interest.
I use Wikipedia regularly (for answers and other day-to-day research), and just assume it to be reliable and accurate.
I have not run across anything that appears blatantly incorrect or obviously biased.
Your question is a good one, but could be directed at other electronic and printed works too.
Wikipedia themselves pretty much agree with everything you say.
From Wikipedia's Disclaimer (see I just can't help myself):
Wikipedia is an online open-content collaborative encyclopedia, that is, a voluntary association of individuals and groups working to develop a common resource of human knowledge.
The structure of the project allows anyone with an Internet connection to alter its content. Please be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information.
That is not to say that you will not find valuable and accurate information in Wikipedia; much of the time you will.
However, Wikipedia cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here. The content of any given article may recently have been changed, vandalized or altered by someone whose opinion does not correspond with the state of knowledge in the relevant fields.
2006-12-06 00:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by Yellowstonedogs 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I in no way voted on that query so i think i'm no longer lined in the fifty 3 p.c.. and that i've got been on the internet for years. you will desire to be careful on those polls and seem at how many human beings have been asked and responded it. Our government is there to serve and shield, no longer the information media. the information media is only an innovations provider, besides the fact that superb or incorrect they translate the innovations. everyone seems to be entitled to an opinion. My opinion is that the information businesses only care approximately drawing interest with despite memories seem to do it. i'm grateful for the information because it particularly is a source of public information. devoid of it, everyone may well be strolling around stupid.
2016-10-14 03:22:21 · answer #2 · answered by pereyra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Wikipedia is an encyclopedia collaboratively written by many of its readers" .... this line on Wikipedia itself defines it. An encyclopedia which is easily edited by any Tom, Harry or Dick can't be impeccably accurate, right?
As there are different "editors" from different countries, there is bound to be bias and blatant inaccuracy in the content. In many cases, Wiki even locks articles that are vandalised by various "editors" (eg: MS Dhoni, an Indian sportsman, whose article was locked coz of supposed P*kistani vandalisation).
There are lots of typo's as well (eg: Various WWE related articles are full of typo's).
Anyways, have u heard this quote - "To err is human.... " ? So we should take the best out of every article and trust our judgement. Nothing is perfect.
2006-12-06 00:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by Cristiano R 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I was looking up something on Wikipedia the other day, in the middle of one paragraph someone had inserted a tirade of very abusive language. If this can be done so easily, it does make you wonder what is fact, and what is not.
2006-12-06 00:00:07 · answer #4 · answered by Polo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not think it is completely accurate because it is people generated from other websites and not always websites that are authorities on the subject matter. I personally would not use it for a school paper or anything of that nature.
2006-12-05 23:56:31 · answer #5 · answered by BritLdy 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A fact is something that is the case. It is the state of affairs reported by a true statement.
2006-12-05 23:54:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wiki is actually one of the most accurate sources on the web. millions of people are updating it constantly...
Here's a little test, go on it, sign up, edit a page with some wrong info, and just see how long it takes for it to be corrected!
I think you'l find its not very long.
I like you
2006-12-05 23:50:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
don't trust it. Its edited by unmoderated people. Its the same as asking a random person on the street for the info....you take that risk.
See that drunk over there, would you ask him for his views on the GDP of Korea ? No, thought not.
i know, because I used to correct details about my interests. Including blatant lies from people who have thier own agenda. I ignore it now, its a waste of time, and i never accept anyone citing it as a source, its quality is totally random.
2006-12-05 23:59:54 · answer #8 · answered by Michael H 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Well, I don't quite take it as gospel, but It is very good. I've made some amendments myself, but they were only minor things.
2006-12-05 23:57:24 · answer #9 · answered by genghis41f 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wikipedia is a very reputable Encyclopedia. When there are articles which are a bit dodgy they warn you before you read it.
And it's free so stop moaning about it.
2006-12-05 23:52:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋