Wikipedia Delights

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t00fri
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Wikipedia Delights

Post #1by t00fri » 19.02.2009, 09:07

It is probably known that I am NOT a fan of Wikipedia. The main reason being not so much (average) quality related, but the fact that no personalized authors take responsability for what is written...

Here is a nice Wikipedia "incident" that went through the German press a few days ago:

A completely unknown polititian (from a noble family background) was surprisingly nominated German Minister of Economy by the conservative party. At this time, a malicious young journalist entered knowingly a WRONG further firstname for this new Minister into Wikipedia, trying to find out this way, how many leading German newspapers would blindly copy it, instead of using more solid resources ;-) .

Indeed, next day, three acclaimed German newspapers cited this minister with the additional INCORRECT firstname (note: nobles usually have many firstnames...).

Aha Wikipedia in action!!

Of course, the new minister's secretariat had that incorrect firstname eliminated from Wikipedia without delay... But not enough ;-) . An unknown person who had read that incorrect additional firstname in one of these newspapers believed in their high reputation and anonymously reentered the Minister's incorrect firstname into Wikipedia, hi hi... :mrgreen: :lol:

Fridger
Last edited by t00fri on 22.02.2009, 23:58, edited 2 times in total.
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ElChristou
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Re: Wikipedia Delights

Post #2by ElChristou » 19.02.2009, 10:11

Yep, that the kind of situation not so cool with Wikipedia.
Anyway I believe that once they solved the problem of cross control of entries, it will be a nice source of info. After all it's still a "young" concept needing some polishing...
I heard Britannica is thinking in using (finally)(-> they were against at first) the same concept but no anonymous authors will be accepted...
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