Scratch

Administrators cut out vandalism and block vandals. They try to keep it as true as possible.... I would know since I'm a member.

To the point: Yes, I think Wikipedia is reliable.

Last edited by cocoanut (2009-11-23 20:08:06)

In the past wikipedia got a bad reputation as people where editing it and giving pages incorrect infomation but while back wikipedia said that pages now have to displace at least some what of the truth and provide evidence for what was written.

It is a reliable source but in the past it was so unreliable teachers wouldn't mark work that came from Wikipedia.

Greatdane wrote:

Wikipedia has been proved to be better than even the Encyclopedia Brittanica. Why? Because even something has been vandalized, the 'vandal' can be banned and it will be fixed within 24 hours because there are so many good people who monitor.

Exactly.

Yeah seriously. Not many people vandalize it, and the administrators and bots check the recent edits and such. I think its very reliable, as far as information. As far as understanding it, it might be above my level, hehe, but still.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Wikipedia is AMAZING!

torterra wrote:

I would say it's reliable, cause the people, who edit the pages for real, know what they are talking about, right?

I've seen some of my professors who edit Wikipedia falsely on purpose. They do things like change the names and dates around. 

As a reference source, a Wikipedia article isn't that very reliable. But, if you want, you could always check the reference sources that the Wikipedia article uses (found at the bottom of the Wikipedia article). If those reference sources prove to be reliable, you can use list those reference sources for your own bibliography for your report. But always check the reliability of your sources first before using it. 

Last edited by cheddargirl (2009-11-23 21:36:31)

Wikipedia is definitely reliable.

martianshark wrote:

Wikipedia is definitely reliable.

Not always. Sometimes goofs change things on Wikipedia to something random.

TheSaint wrote:

. What they don't realize is that I can make my own website, put a bunch a BS info in it, and then cite it as a source.
I am just that evil. 

True, very true and they will give you a better grade (assuming that they mark you down for using wikipedia)

Depending on your teacher you should be careful when referring wikipedia as a source.

I always start my search with wikipedia so I know what I am really looking for.

Wikipedia is not reliable at all. It's a good site to read to get a general overview and for primary sources below, but can not be cited in papers, especially in high school. Last year I had a teacher who ripped up Wikipedia print-outs if a student used it as a "source." 

Oh P.S. there being so many members on wikipedia it means vandalism is removed in almost a second. The one thing you have to watch out for is when no one knows much about a topic so no one corrects the errors there.