# Wikipedia may have limitations but it's becoming a very powerful reference tool **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973 "2005-09-29T02:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/1 "2005-09-29T02:52:38Z")
Just saying. I’m amazed by the obscure and random stuff [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) now has articles on. It’s becoming an informational powerhouse. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/2 "2005-09-29T02:59:31Z")
I love Wiki, It is the most useful first reference on the Web (IMHO). Got a question, try Wiki first, Google second, Ask Jeeves third. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/3 "2005-09-29T05:49:17Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I love Wiki, It is the most useful first reference on the Web (IMHO). > Got a question, try Wiki first, Google second, Ask Jeeves third. Um, insert SDMB in there before Ask Jeeves. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/4 "2005-09-29T05:51:35Z")
I’ve become a big fan over the last 5 or 6 months. You can tell it’s geek-skewed, but I like it as a resource on controversial topics - even when it has that warning displayed - just because on the 'net, it’s so hard to find an honest appraisal of two sides of a debate. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/5 "2005-09-29T06:59:15Z")
I’ve recently come to love that place. It is great…But Jeeves? Really? I’ve never had any great use of that place. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/6 "2005-09-29T07:05:29Z")
I just set up an internal wiki for my project group within a very large company. It was a piece of cake. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/7 "2005-09-29T09:37:16Z")
I find so many mistakes and outright lies in some entries that I don’t yet trust Wiki. But I keep revisiting … ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/8 "2005-09-29T12:14:38Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Um, insert SDMB in there before Ask Jeeves. Please. The search engine needs to work better first. SDMB is the 4th choice as a general question however. As far as Wiki, I use it as a start, and make good use of the additional links it provides at the bottom of articles. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/9 "2005-09-29T12:21:52Z")
Among other Wikipedia curiosities is its extensive coverage of topics related to Poland. The Polish version Wikipedia is very active and many of the articles have versions in the English version as well. Great for me, since I have an interest in Poland. When I get board, I like to hit the random page link – I’m always suprised at how often some Polish related topic comes up. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/10 "2005-09-29T12:45:58Z")
I’ve also noticed that thing about Poland. They have articles for just about every reasonably large city. Not even America has that (then again, America has more large cities…). Wikipedia is pretty awesome though. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve thought to myself “They have an article for THAT?!” while looking up some horribly obscure topic. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/11 "2005-09-29T13:35:49Z")
When I get bored, I like to play 7 Degrees of Wiki. Pick two totally random things (Creatine and Don Knotts, ferinstance) and try and get from one page to the other in 7 clicks or less. Happy ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/12 "2005-09-29T13:36:28Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > Among other Wikipedia curiosities is its extensive coverage of topics related to Poland. The Polish version Wikipedia is very active and many of the articles have versions in the English version as well. Great for me, since I have an interest in Poland. When I get board, I like to hit the random page link – I’m always suprised at how often some Polish related topic comes up. Bush: “You forgot Poland!” Wiki: “Holy crap he’s right! We gotta get on this, guys!” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/13 "2005-09-29T13:43:10Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > I’ve also noticed that thing about Poland. They have articles for just about every reasonably large city. Not even America has that (then again, America has more large cities…). Dude, the English Wikipedia has an article for every town, village, county, city and CDP in the entire US Census database. They were imported _en masse_ years ago. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxbury,_Connecticut) is an example of a relatively intact version of the template they used. Naturally the more populous and interesting places get fleshed out more by contributors. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/14 "2005-09-29T14:08:48Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Dude, the English Wikipedia has an article for every town, village, county, city and CDP in the entire US Census database. They were imported _en masse_ years ago. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxbury,_Connecticut) is an example of a relatively intact version of the template they used. Naturally the more populous and interesting places get fleshed out more by contributors. What? Why did I not see this before? :S ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/15 "2005-09-29T14:38:37Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Dude, the English Wikipedia has an article for every town, village, county, city and CDP in the entire US Census database. They were imported _en masse_ years ago. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxbury,_Connecticut) is an example of a relatively intact version of the template they used. Naturally the more populous and interesting places get fleshed out more by contributors. Funny, I just amazed my wife with all kinds of town statistics on Saturday. She ask where I was pulling this from. She is beginning to realize why I use Wiki as my 1st reference. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/16 "2005-09-29T21:41:49Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > I find so many mistakes and outright lies in some entries that I don’t yet trust Wiki. But I keep revisiting … I hope you corrected them. If not, why the hell not? ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/17 "2005-09-29T22:54:13Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > When I get bored, I like to play 7 Degrees of Wiki. Pick two totally random things (Creatine and Don Knotts, ferinstance) and try and get from one page to the other in 7 clicks or less. See [Kate’s Six Degrees of Wikipedia Tool](http://kohl.wikimedia.org/~kate/cgi-bin/six_degrees). Only works for enwiki – writing it to cross interwiki links would be a real challenge… ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/18 "2005-09-30T02:53:46Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > When I get bored, I like to play 7 Degrees of Wiki. Pick two totally random things (Creatine and Don Knotts, ferinstance) and try and get from one page to the other in 7 clicks or less. See [Kate’s Six Degrees of Wikipedia Tool](http://kohl.wikimedia.org/~kate/cgi-bin/six_degrees). Only works for enwiki – writing it to cross interwiki links would be a real challenge… ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/19 "2005-09-30T10:40:55Z")
> [@KellyM](#): > > I hope you corrected them. If not, why the hell not? If I have time, and it’s a topic I know about, I correct it. Otherwise, no. I do a lot of editing, though, for grammar and punctuation on any topic. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973/20 "2005-09-30T10:53:16Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > If I have time, and it’s a topic I know about, I correct it. Otherwise, no. I do a lot of editing, though, for grammar and punctuation on any topic. You could at least mark articles you know to be wrong with {{disputed}} or one of the other content dispute tags (see [this list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_messages/Disputes)) so that editors and readers will know that the article needs attention, leaving a brief comment as to what’s wrong on the talk page so that someone can later fix the problem. (It is so hard **not** to use Wiki markup on here. I clearly spend [too much time](http://kohl.wikimedia.org/~kate/cgi-bin/count_edits?user=Kelly+Martin&dbname=enwiki) on the wiki.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-may-have-limitations-but-its-becoming-a-very-powerful-reference-tool/323973.md?page=2)