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Re: Wikipedia?

Why should we care?  The fundamental issue is that people seem to
confuse Wikipedia with a real reference source.  It's not (and never 
has been) in my view a serious professional reference tool. It's the 
online version of a large white wall in the South Bronx with a bin of 
magic markers and spray paint next to it.

Its main value is that it shows the real weakness of the web 
which is the ability of anyone anywhere to put up any information 
they want and have it accepted as truth by the readers -- simply 
with a shell on top that gives it the appearance of organization.

If someone would buy Wikipedia, limit the editing ability to a 
paid staff who knew what they were doing, they might (and I 
stress might) be able to make a going commercial proposition of 
it. An online encyclopedia that is constantly updated is a good 
idea.  Wikipedia just is using the wrong business model.

Karl Bridges
Associate Professor
Information and Instruction Services
Bailey Howe Library
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT  05405
<mailto:karl.bridges@uvm.edu>



Quoting "Joseph J. Esposito" <espositoj@gmail.com>:

> Surprising article in today's Slashdot summary:
>
> +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | Wikipedia On the Brink? Or Crying Wolf?                            |
> |   from the all-about-the-benjamins dept.                           |
> |   posted by CowboyNeal on Saturday February 10, @11:52 (The Interne|
> |   http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=3D07/02/10/1515233              |
> +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
> [0]netbuzz writes "Might Wikipedia 'disappear' three or four months
> from now absent a major infusion of cash donations? The [1]suggestion
> has been made by Florence Devouard, chairwoman of the Wikimedia
> Foundation. And while her spokesperson has since backpedaled off that
> dire prediction, there can be little doubt that the encyclopedia anyone
> can edit could use a few more benefactors to go along with all those
> editors."
>
> JE:  I find this to be astonishing.  If the Wikipedia cannot get
> widespread financial support on a volunteer basis, I don't know what
> can.
>
> Joe Esposito