June 7, 2007 Wikipedia is one of the most popular Web sites in the world, with mirror versions available in 251 languages. HOWEVER, due to faults in its open-content structure, Wikipedia’s influence has been a menacing one at times. For example, on March 10, 2007, comedian/actor Sinbad was falsely reported dead on his Wikipedia entry. This news was taken as fact and spread quickly, even convincing Sinbad’s family and friends. Although the site can be a good starting point for research, there are many other alternatives, including the seven sites listed above. As Wikipedia’s detractors grow in numbers, so will online encyclopedias with better business models and editorial staffs. Touting itself as “the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit”, it’s no wonder that Wikipedia has garnered so much bad press lately. After all, it is hard to imagine that millions of anonymous users could accurately maintain a factual and unbiased living encyclopedia. Wikipedia is a non-profit site that is policed by hundreds of volunteers, yet very few of these volunteers have the experience and knowledge of a professional writer/editor. A cultural bias has seemed to have washed over many entries on the site, as general consensus replaces cold, hard facts. There is also a matter of vandalism, which the site is susceptible to. These problems, coupled with the almost obsessive behavior of many of the volunteers (try placing an external link on the site without having it removed), have led people to other sources for information. If you are looking for a different kind of online encyclopedia, try the seven alternatives to Wikipedia listed below. oedb.org/ilibrarian/top-7-alternatives-to-wikipedia/
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 05:12:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015