Comments on: Wikipedia – from ‘anyone can edit’ to ‘any reasonable person can join us in writing and editing…’ http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/07/02/wikipedia-from-anyone-can-edit-to-any-reasonable-person-can-join-us-in-writing-and-editing/ Exploring How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: David M. Patt, CAE http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/07/02/wikipedia-from-anyone-can-edit-to-any-reasonable-person-can-join-us-in-writing-and-editing/comment-page-1/#comment-144029 David M. Patt, CAE Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:00:25 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/07/02/wikipedia-from-anyone-can-edit-to-any-reasonable-person-can-join-us-in-writing-and-editing/#comment-144029 The problem with Wikipedia is that people think it is a factual site, but it is really a conglomeration of opinions. The more people can author and edit, the less reliable it is as an authoritative site. I use it for background, not for facts. For example, the "social media" page links to only one consultant. The "List of Jewish American politicians" includes many prominent officials but also a current member of the Chicago City Council, who does not belong on that list. If anyone can post anything, then anything will be posted. Organizations that create wikis should clearly identify them as editorial opinions, not facts. The problem with Wikipedia is that people think it is a factual site, but it is really a conglomeration of opinions. The more people can author and edit, the less reliable it is as an authoritative site. I use it for background, not for facts.

For example, the “social media” page links to only one consultant. The “List of Jewish American politicians” includes many prominent officials but also a current member of the Chicago City Council, who does not belong on that list.

If anyone can post anything, then anything will be posted. Organizations that create wikis should clearly identify them as editorial opinions, not facts.

]]>