Don't use Wikipedia! Well, not for everything, anyways...

[vikingshadow]

Wikipedia Owner says not to cite his website as a credible source...

It's interesting that with the easy accesibility people have to editing things on that particular site, students would actually think it's a credible source. As we (educators and students) continue to discuss the validity of online sources, this article really summed it up well. (Some of the comments were pretty humerous as well....)

I see, especially on online forums, that we too often are willing to take information at face value just because it's been published online. Wikipedia is a valuable resource, so long as you use it in context. For general knowledge, it's a pretty good site - trivia related information, etc...

However, in the interest of education and citing author's work, etc - it's best you just shop elsewhere.

Anywho, just thought it was interesting!

[shunut]

I've known that Wikipedia is not credible for a while. I like going there when I want and answer but I never quote anything on there.

[calebh]

that's what the footnotes are for. a lot of articles there have tons of footnotes. while teh wikeh is pretty reliable in those cases, i like having the original sources to cite.

i didn't actually read the article, but i think i know where it's going. the problem i have with teh wikeh is that there's so much information. john doe can add that information, but john doe doesn't know if it's actually credible information. so many people to edit, so few experts to police...

i also don't like how it's the ALWAYS the first search result if teh wikeh has an entry for whatever you typed in

[marvin-martian]

what you do is use wiki to find other people to cite. every page should have a list of sources at the bottom

[Hossy]

Originally Posted by shunut

I've known that Wikipedia is not credible for a while. I like going there when I want and answer but I never quote anything on there.

since like 8th grade my school hasnt let us use Wikipedia....
I still use it for a quick overview, but not for a research project or anything

[The Pumper]

ya we arent allowed to use wikipedia due to it being on the news.

[marvin-martian]

Originally Posted by The Pumper

ya we arent allowed to use wikipedia due to it being on the news.

its not a matter of "not being allowed to" as much as it is "contains false information, watch out"

[The Pumper]

ya, we cant even look at it in school...its locked

[Oscum Guy]

not everyone can edit it now. twas changed. i use it all the time at school and its always worked for me.

[Hob Hayward]

Wikipedia is god.

As many other said - yeah don't use it for a research paper but, you an look at the footnotes and see where they got the info from originally. Still, for anything else - wikipedia is amazing.