On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:11:50 -0700 Alan Dayley <alandd@consultpros.com>
writes:
> 
> I try to express these ideas:
> 
> - They are correct, it is likely that some of the information in
> Wikipedia articles is wrong.
> 
> - Since Wikipedia requires references and places that need them get
> flagged, references in Wikipedia can be used as a starting point 
> for
> research.
> 
> - Ask if they believe everything they read on websites but only 
> doubt
> Wikipedia.
> 
> - The same person can enter incorrect information in a Wikipedia
> article, that everyone can edit, and publish the same incorrect
> information on a website only they can edit.  Ask why the later is 
> more
> credible than the former.
> 
> - Having said that, ask if they have ever watched or read a news 
> article
>  that they knew to be incorrect.  Ask if they think it odd that 
> printed
> encyclopedia sets issue correction addenda from time to time.  
> Errors,
> or at least, mistakes are in all sources of information.
> 
> - Point out that waiting for addenda or a new addition is far less
> useful than an encyclopedia that can be changed nearly immediately.
> 
> - There is great value in "experts," even true experts, writing 
> peer
> reviewed articles.  There are many avenues such as journals and 
> other
> publications for their contributions.  There is also great value in
> allowing people with direct knowledge, though perhaps without 
> official
> credentials, to publish their knowledge to the world.  The
> democratization of knowledge sharing is very important in ways we do 
> not
> know just as Gutenberg probably only had a imagining of the power 
> of
> what he created.  Wikipedia, or at least such a concept, is an 
> important
> part of that.
> 
> - Change and incorrect information are everywhere, all the time.
> Wikipedia simply exposes that truth to everyone instead of masking 
> it,
> even if the mask is not purposeful.
> 
> That's all I can think of right now.  If all of that is to "high 
> minded"
> for you or them, just tell them it's fun to participate!
> 
> Alan
> 


Well said, Alan!  I love the democratization of Wikipedia.  

If anyone doubts the value of "open-source" information, they might want
to read "The Language Police," by Diane Ravitch.

Marvin
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