Do you think Wikipedia is a reliable source?

[Olivia]

Do you think Wikipedia is a reliable source?

Why or why not?

 

[Nebulous]

I think it is a reliable source for the most part but if I am researching something I will use multiple sources, not just blindly trust wikipedia.

 

[DaBoss37]

No, as information posted on Wikipedia can be edited by anyone at any time, vandalized, a work in progress, or simply incorrect.

 

[Nebulous]

No, as information posted on Wikipedia can be edited by anyone at any time, vandalized, a work in progress, or simply incorrect.

Its like word of mouth information. I know when I am chatting with people IRL, the stuff they are saying might be incorrect.

 

[passenger]

Yes, in my experience Wikipedia has been a very good and up-to-date source. Sure, jerks can mess with it, but overall my vote is yes. And, like Neb says, if it's something that really matters to me and needs other sources I'll do that.

 

[MrDawn]

I've used Wikipedia for years. I've never read about anything that checked out to be wrong or inaccurate.

 

[Daltonio]

I do and personally never understood when teachers claimed it wasn't.

Even in my younger years when I tried to edit some pages, the changes would be reverted within mere minutes even on less popular ones.

 

[MamaFrankie]

Wikipedia annoys me at times. Their idea of 'notable' is very skewed. For instance, in the birth and death lists, they list people like Hitler's sister who is famous only by association. As evil as her brother was, he was at least legitimately famous. Also they include reality idiots and when listing what someone was famous for they sometimes include something for which they are not famous.

 

[DaBoss37]

Its like word of mouth information. I know when I am chatting with people IRL, the stuff they are saying might be incorrect.

Yes, when talking to someone in real life what they tell you could either be correct or incorrect just like Wikipedia.

 

[MamaFrankie]

Wikipedia greatly annoys me.

 

[PsychoticThoughts]

It CAN be, but you have to be very careful with it. I have had my fair share of embarrassing experiences because I trusted it too much.

And, as a rule of thumb, I don't dare quoting it without doing my own, separated research if the topic is broader and/or more controversial than average.