Anyone else ever edited the Wikipedia?

[jbuck919]

I've done it a few times, and only when it was a flagrant problem. I've never been called on it. Just this evening I noticed that their article on Douglas MacArthur called him a recipient of the Medal of Honor when he was famously no such thing (he was everything else but that). I fixed it. Weird how that system works.

[Lark Ascending]

I only discovered the Wikipedia last week when I was trawling the net for information on Shostakovich. It's now in my list of favourite sites, an excellent source of reference.

[jbuck919]

I only discovered the Wikipedia last week when I was trawling the net for information on Shostakovich. It's now in my list of favourite sites, an excellent source of reference.

It is, as Ralph among others has pointed out, very uneven. You might be interested to know that it is, er, peerless on the peerage and historical royalty of England/Great Britain/The UK. A lot depends on who wants to write the articles. I could submit one on Ralph M. Stein (don't worry Ralph, I won't), and it would probably sit there like some monument to him without any objection.

[Corlyss_D]

I only discovered the Wikipedia last week when I was trawling the net for information on Shostakovich. It's now in my list of favourite sites, an excellent source of reference.

You need to be conscious of the short-comings of such user-written content. Just last month there was a mild kerfuffle about politicians writing and editing their entries on Wiki, puffing themselves up, and their enemies coming by and messing with the content. I love it for the links, and often the info is spot on. But it's really just a giant blog with delusions of grandeur.

[Ralph]

Thank you Corlyss for proving my point that allowing anyone to edit on Wikipedia leads to false information.

My CATS know that Mac Arthur received the Medal of Honor for the defense of the Philippines. Whether he deserved it is another question.

Did it occur to the culprit to check before you MIS-EDITED an article?

[Ralph]

z_moh_army.gif (14215 bytes)

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

MacARTHUR, DOUGLAS

Rank and organization: General, U.S. Army, commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. Place and date: Bataan Peninsula, Philippine Islands. Entered service at: Ashland, Wis. Birth: Little Rock, Ark. G.O. No.: 16, 1 April 1942.

Citation:

For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.

[Lark Ascending]

You need to be conscious of the short-comings of such user-written content. Just last month there was a mild kerfuffle about politicians writing and editing their entries on Wiki, puffing themselves up, and their enemies coming by and messing with the content. I love it for the links, and often the info is spot on. But it's really just a giant blog with delusions of grandeur.

I would expect nothing less of politicians, whatever their persuasion
Thanks for the advice though, I'll bear it in mind as I browse.