picchick Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 Wikipedia and Lab Tests online saved my life in school. Both were very easy and accessible. I used it mostly on school assignments that didn't matter. However, that being said, some of the stuff on the site is incorrect and should not be used for research or to back one's statements. I never used it on a paper.
Nihil Obstat Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 I'd never use it for sources, but it's a good way to get a general idea on a topic, and springboard into legitimate sources.
Vincent Vega Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 Completely positive. I use it for tons of things. I never cite it, but identical information is usually found on the cited sources (of course, if a page has no sources, it's not hard to learn to ignore it and others like it).
elizabeth09 Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 i think that Wikipedia is okay, but anyone can change it.
elizabeth09 Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 i think that Wikipedia is okay, but anyone can change it.
eagle_eye222001 Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1929056' date='Jul 22 2009, 11:40 PM']I'd never use it for sources, but it's a good way to get a general idea on a topic, and springboard into legitimate sources.[/quote] ditto. ---------------- Now playing: [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/hans+zimmer+%26+james+newton+howard/track/im+not+a+hero+(album+version)"]Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - I'm Not A Hero (Album Version)[/url] via [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/"]FoxyTunes[/url]
rachael Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 i was never allowed to use it on research papers, but on small papers i usually got away with it. it's fun to browse when bored....
Nihil Obstat Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='rachael' post='1929096' date='Jul 22 2009, 10:54 PM']i was never allowed to use it on research papers, but on small papers i usually got away with it. it's fun to browse when bored.... [/quote] I can literally spend three or more hours on there tabbing... done it before. If I get on a roll on a particular subject, no problem.
Fidei Defensor Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1929101' date='Jul 22 2009, 09:55 PM']I can literally spend three or more hours on there tabbing... done it before. If I get on a roll on a particular subject, no problem.[/quote] That happens to me all the time. I can't help but expand my knowledge when I'm there.
Nihil Obstat Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 I once spent an entire evening, which was three or four hours, linking through physics topics. Can't understand any of it, but quarks and black holes and further dimensions are SO COOL to read about.
Resurrexi Posted July 23, 2009 Author Posted July 23, 2009 The thing that I don't like about Wikipedia is that their articles relating to Catholicism are often incorrect.
Vincent Vega Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='Resurrexi' post='1929146' date='Jul 22 2009, 11:18 PM']The thing that I don't like about Wikipedia is that their articles relating to Catholicism are often incorrect.[/quote] In what sense?
Resurrexi Posted July 23, 2009 Author Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1929147' date='Jul 22 2009, 11:19 PM']In what sense?[/quote] I would say in the same sense that the secular press often gets things wrong about Catholicism.
philothea Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='Resurrexi' post='1929146' date='Jul 23 2009, 12:18 AM']The thing that I don't like about Wikipedia is that their articles relating to Catholicism are often incorrect.[/quote] Do you make corrections? You really should. If the phorum isn't giving me enough debate entertainment, I sometimes check the "discussion" areas of Catholic pages. People get soooooo upset that those topics are even up!
zunshynn Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 Wikipedia scares me. It knows too much. About everything. And yeah... it's wrong alot.
Nihil Obstat Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='philothea' post='1929191' date='Jul 22 2009, 11:47 PM']Do you make corrections? You really should.[/quote] I concur. Your pedantic personality is a force to be reckoned with on Wikipedia. Just make sure you can use the word 'cogent' in normal conversation. When I used to contribute, that was the buzzword everyone seemed to throw around.
LouisvilleFan Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 (edited) Wikipedia is shown to be equally or even more accurate that traditional encyclopedias, especially on controversial topics due to the great amount of attention they receive from people giving input from every point of view. When you read a traditional encyclopedia, you're reading about a topic from the stance of only one or maybe a few people and regardless of how well educated they are and removed from bias they try to be, there is always some bias and even ignorance that wikipedia is able to compensate for. No encylopedia is sufficient as a source for academic research, but then wikipedia can hook you up with sources that are sufficient. I find wikipedia to be an incredible wealth of information. It's impressive how quickly we can find answers or research topics in a matter of minutes that would have required a trip to the library to flip through books only ten years ago. Comes in very handy when engaging workplace debates Edited July 23, 2009 by LouisvilleFan
ReinnieR Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 why are people complaining about the content of wikipedia? if you think a certain content on the site is false then edit it. what's the problem?
Resurrexi Posted July 23, 2009 Author Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='ReinnieR' post='1929380' date='Jul 23 2009, 09:36 AM']why are people complaining about the content of wikipedia? if you think a certain content on the site is false then edit it. what's the problem?[/quote] Why bother editing what someone else will probably come along and re-edit in a few weeks?
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