Comments on: Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias?

By: Wickedpinto

Wickedpinto — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 08:57:17 +0000

Wiki is for the nowist in all of us. I need info NOW!

Britannica is for the occasional intelectual, or reseach oriented portion of us that really works to understand something.

They each serve their purpose, and this quote Mr. Wales: Fitting words for an epitaph… is just offensive. I don't think encyclopedia's are exactly all about a proffit motive, I think they tend to be the place where serious people go to give or get the information that should be shared.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:18:49 +0000

Mr. Hoiberg: No, we don’t publish rough drafts. We want our articles to be correct before they are published.

LOL Outstanding! I'll have to remember that quote!

By: Kent G. Budge

Kent G. Budge — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:08:05 +0000

James, I think your analysis is spot-on. I go to Wikipedia first because it's there -- and also, quite frankly, because I find the biases, edit wars, inconsistency, and outright errors highly entertaining. Kind of like blogs. If an encyclopedia using the Britannica production model was freely available online, with or without advertisements, I'd doubtless go there first for serious information. I will grant Wiki this much: In topical areas that are noncontroversial and have a dedicated academic cult following -- such as certain branches of mathematics and physics -- I've found some really excellent articles. I've also found some awful ones, but I am educated enough in these fields to know which is which right away. I don't think the Wiki production model is completely broken, and I see signs that they are being compelled to adopt some of the changes to their production model that I think are inevitable if they are to survive -- but it's done kicking and screaming. Curiously, the changes I'm thinking of tend to take them in the direction of Britannica.

By: Old War Dogs

Old War Dogs — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:42:03 +0000

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By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:16:24 +0000

Well, they often don't work. And you have to reenter the login for every different computer and operating system. It's a pain.

Plus, being behind a login screen would mean it wouldn't be optimized in the search engines, so you'd have to go directly to their site to acccess the info, vice Wikipedia where it comes up along with other search results.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:13:09 +0000

Even if Britannica were available for a nominal subscription fee, the mere inconvenience of having to login would put it at a disadvantage.

You have something against cookies?

By: FireWolf’s Blog

FireWolf’s Blog — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

James Joyner over at Outside the Beltway had an interesting piece about the long term viability of print edition reference books versus the online Wikipedia-style formats. I for one was apprehensive about using Wiki mainly because it hasn’t always been a good non-biased reference source. I

By: INDCJournal

INDCJournal — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

"One of them is to unsuccessful candidates for the US presidency who cannot even convince their own people that they are right. The second place is the movie," he said, adding that the third was the Australian opposition. Ouch. (Via FC) *** Wikipedia vs. Britannica! Joyner hits the key note: We've come to the point where, for an increasing number of us, information has to be available quickly, easily, and for free online. It almost doesn't matter if the competition is "better" in terms of quality if it's hiding

By: » Gone Hollywood

» Gone Hollywood — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

[IMG working] [IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias? Sleeping Pill Ambien Cure for Persistent Vegetative State? Bill Clinton Meets Lefty Bloggers Keith Ellison First Muslim Congressman Primary Results Girls Gone Wild Exploiting Minors! Dixie Chicks: Bush a Dumb F