• NiHaDuncan@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    Wikipedia is the most accurate encyclopedia to date; its perceived unreliability as to its correctness is largely a misunderstanding that arose from misconceptions as to why one can’t (or shouldn’t, depending on case) cite it in academia. People think that it can’t be cited because of its unreliability but in reality it’s simply because it’s a third hand source; i.e. a resource.

    Wikipedia is built near-purely on second hand sources, which is how all encyclopedias are intended to be constructed. As long as one ensures the validity of the second hand source used, encyclopedias are great resources.

    • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
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      19 days ago

      Wikipedia is the most accurate encyclopedia to date

      How did you determine that?

      Wikipedia is built near-purely on second hand sources, which is how all encyclopedias are intended to be constructed. As long as one ensures the validity of the second hand source used, encyclopedias are great resources.

      True, but basically nobody does check that the sources are valid, and they often aren’t.

      • Crash@lemmy.ml
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        19 days ago

        How do you know they often aren’t? I’m an academic and regularly use wikipedia to find citations for sources. I’ve have yet to come across any citations that were wrong.

        • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
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          19 days ago

          Because I see the things they’re getting from Wikipedia and I am them, and they admit they didn’t actually check the sources.

          I’ve have yet to come across any citations that were wrong.

          How would you determine that a cited source was wrong?

            • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
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              19 days ago

              I’ll click on them and then read them.

              And how will that allow you to know if they’re right or not?

                • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
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                  18 days ago

                  Post truther is when you don’t believe that people have the magic ability to determine if something is true by pure gut feeling.

                  All the liberal-fascists here whine about misinformation and post-truth, and then through a fucking fit that anyone suggest that they actually be serious about that.

                  You people don’t want to combat misinformation, you want the misinformation you already believe to go unquestioned.

              • Crash@lemmy.ml
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                19 days ago

                Then I read them and use my critical thinking skills. For research I put trust in peer review articles by reputable journals.

                But regardless,

                Isn’t that a broader question as to what we consider truth and not something specific to wikipedia ?

                • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
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                  18 days ago

                  How are you able to determine matters of fact by pure critical thinking? Are you really claiming that you are immune to lies?

                  For research I put trust in peer review articles by reputable journals.

                  Great! I wish Wikipedia was held to that standard, rather than regularly using tabloids, think tanks, and literal propaganda outlets.

                  • NotSafeForWorld@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    18 days ago

                    I’m genuinely curious, what are your standards for truth? What are your standards for facts?

                    Does Wikipedia use tabloids, think tanks, and literal propaganda outlets?

                    Is there anything that’s not factual in Wikipedia that survives their current editing process?