# What are some good wikipedia articles to read? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236 "2006-09-02T20:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sad\_and\_Deranged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Sad\_and\_Deranged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sad_and_Deranged)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/1 "2006-09-02T20:40:31Z")
I’m finding myself to be really bored right now, and I want to read something on wikipedia. Tell which interesting but quite trivial pages there are to read, please! ---
**Author:** ![Alistair\_McCello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Alistair\_McCello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alistair_McCello)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/2 "2006-09-02T21:10:17Z")
Its a bit hard to suggest something not knowing where you’re interests lie, but I’ll post some of the stuff I’ve read today. The articel about [Pheidippides](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides) was quite interesting I thought. I also read through the one about [Louis XIV](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_xiv) of France. Once I got into the French history articles I read a few more, including the one on [Maximilien Robespierre](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robespierre). Not sure if those count as trivial or not, but interesting none the less. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/3 "2006-09-02T21:18:12Z")
I like looking up some of my favorite bands and reading up on them. There are usually links to sub pages on inividual songs, albums and band members too. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/4 "2006-09-02T21:25:52Z")
Ah yes! Time once again to post one of my favorite Wikipedia pages! > **[Wikipedia:Unusual articles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Unusual_articles)** > > Of the over six million articles in the English Wikipedia there are some articles that Wikipedians have identified as being somewhat unusual. These articles are verifiable, valuable contributions to the encyclopedia, but are a bit odd, whimsical, or something one would not expect to find in Encyclopædia Britannica. We should take special care to meet the highest standards of an encyclopedia with these articles lest they make Wikipedia appear idiosyncratic. If you wish to add an article to this ... > [@](#): > > This page is for Wikipedians to list articles that seem a bit unusual. These articles are valuable contributions to the encyclopedia, but are somewhat odd, whimsical, or something you wouldn’t expect to find in Encyclopædia Britannica. We should take special care to meet the highest standards of an encyclopedia with these articles lest they make Wikipedia appear idiosyncratic. Warning: you could be stuck there for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/5 "2006-09-02T21:44:20Z")
> [@Sad and Deranged](#): > > Tell which interesting but quite trivial pages there are to read, please! If you like [Star Wars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_wars) or [Star Trek](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_trek) you’re in for a treat. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/6 "2006-09-02T21:51:31Z")
Maybe you could start with [this page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Dope) I am so going to Hell for this ! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/7 "2006-09-02T21:57:40Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Ah yes! Time once again to post one of my favorite Wikipedia pages! > > [Wikipedia:Unusual articles - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Unusual_articles) > Warning: you could be stuck there for hours. That’s what I was going to suggest. As Hamlet said, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”. Most of them are listed in that article. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/8 "2006-09-02T22:35:09Z")
There’s this really awesome one called “Random Article”. There’s a quicklink to it on the left-hand toolbar, and every time I click in it they have completely revamped it with all new content. Never ceases to amaze me. ---
**Author:** ![some\_white\_dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@some\_white\_dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/some_white_dude)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/9 "2006-09-02T22:58:15Z")
[Scinetology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology) There’s some messed up stuff in there. For example, I had no idea that the Church owns a cruise liner that they use to teach members the upper-level courses. There’s definitely a good amount of creepiness in that article too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/10 "2006-09-03T01:20:31Z")
There’s always the saga of [Atlanta Nights](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Nights). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/11 "2006-09-03T01:40:56Z")
> [@detop](#): > > Maybe you could start with [this page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Dope) > > I am so going to Hell for this ! ::checks my list of damned souls:: No, you’re not. You’re going to hell for OTHER stuff. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/12 "2006-09-03T01:43:12Z")
> [@Skald the Rhymer](#): > > No, you’re not. You’re going to hell for OTHER stuff. At least **I** know where I am going 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/13 "2006-09-03T04:29:31Z")
[Typhoon Tip](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_tip) has a fairly scary diagram at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/14 "2006-09-03T21:52:30Z")
[QUOTE=detop] Maybe you could start with [this page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Dope) [/quote] Ya beat me to it. Dang you. Dang you to heck. > [@](#): > > I am so going to Hell for this ! Hey! Watch your language. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/15 "2006-09-03T21:54:49Z")
[Toynbee tiles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toynbee_tiles). I also started reading [Uncyclopedia](http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) recently. There’s some damn funny stuff there. One of their newest articles right now is on Pixellated Face Disease :eek: . ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/16 "2006-09-03T22:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Ya beat me to it. Dang you. Dang you to heck. [/QUOTE] Hey you could at least have recommended [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Adams) one or [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Zotti) one ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/17 "2006-09-09T03:22:26Z")
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_unusual\_deaths](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unusual_deaths) ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/18 "2006-09-09T03:34:56Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_unusual\_deaths](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unusual_deaths) [/QUOTE] It has even been updated: 2006: Steve Irwin, television personality and naturalist, died when his heart was pierced by a short-tail stingray barb while filming in Queensland’s Batt Reef. Stingrays are rarely lethal to humans: there have been fewer than 20 confirmed cases of people being killed by the fish. Steve was the third to be killed in Australian history. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bob\_loblaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@bob\_loblaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_loblaw)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/19 "2006-09-09T08:53:27Z")
i like to wikisurf… that is, i search wikipedia for some word, phrase, place, or name that has crossed my mind, then open new tabs for wikilinks that grab my attention. sorta like “six degrees of wikipedia” but without a goal & not necessarily limited to six clicks. it’s a good way to burn an hour – though if you are not careful, you could burn a lot more than one hour this way. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236/20 "2006-09-09T14:37:58Z")
Just recently read about [St. Petersburg Paradox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petersburg_Paradox). Just 'cause something is true in Math doesn’t make it useful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-wikipedia-articles-to-read/371236.md?page=2)