Jonathan Field - Maker of Random Stuff

Monthly Archives: August 2008

Wikipedia

I just realized one of my favorite things about Wikipedia is the occasional misinformation. I read from Wikipedia more than is normal or healthy I think. Probably several times per day.

Occasionally when reading I come across information that for one reason or another seems questionable to me. So I research it elsewhere, then correct the article if necessary. I feel that it helps develop my bullshit detector.

I’m not talking about vandalism and overtly ridiculous additions, which are easy to spot. I’m talking about the seemingly innocuous bits that are nonetheless untrue. I’m actually surprised how often it is possible to pick up on subtle cues. I guess I have no idea how many I miss, but I have sometimes suspected and researched things that turned out to be true. I take those false positives to indicate my suspicion threshold is at least in a reasonable range.

Misinformation seems rare enough in Wikipedia that it’s still a great source, on par with other single sources. I still start all my learning there. But as with most information sources, you really can’t just blindly trust.

So I posit that Wikipedia is good mental exercise as it openly requires you to stay on your toes.

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Music!

It’s been an amazing time since I last posted. I’ve driven from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and up to Portland. Along the way I visited many good friends and had some wonderful adventures. Sometimes I worry that if I don’t write things down I won’t remember them, but I’ll have to risk it as I’ve been too busy with actual living to document everything.

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