Comments on: Linking to Wikipedia is lazy and a disservice to someone else who really deserves the link! http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/ Changing the world. One blog(ger) at a time. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:33:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Son of Torkelhttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-81613 Son of Torkel Sun, 05 Dec 2010 23:20:11 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-81613 Linking to Wikipedia is a good choice, when you put your readers first, because Wikipedia is easy to read, in a format consistent across ALL of its pages, doesn't have annoying ads, and (as someone said) its links never change.I could go on and on about the reliability of Wikipedia being greater than what most people think. It has moderators, vandalism is removed almost instantly for most articles, and some common sense will tell you that moose do not "breathe fire" as you're skimming the article about the Moose. The important information in an article always cites its source, or else a note is placed that asks for a source. Linking to Wikipedia is a good choice, when you put your readers first, because Wikipedia is easy to read, in a format consistent across ALL of its pages, doesn’t have annoying ads, and (as someone said) its links never change.

I could go on and on about the reliability of Wikipedia being greater than what most people think. It has moderators, vandalism is removed almost instantly for most articles, and some common sense will tell you that moose do not “breathe fire” as you’re skimming the article about the Moose. The important information in an article always cites its source, or else a note is placed that asks for a source.

]]> By: Linkage #6: The Tangled Webs We Weave | r3dux.orghttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-64332 Linkage #6: The Tangled Webs We Weave | r3dux.org Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:07:23 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-64332 [...] good reasons to stop linking to Wikipedia as much. I grudgingly (because it’s more work for me) agree with his reasoning on the matter. [...] [...] good reasons to stop linking to Wikipedia as much. I grudgingly (because it’s more work for me) agree with his reasoning on the matter. [...]

]]> By: Slavahttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-50542 Slava Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:06:02 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-50542 Good post. Totally agree with you. I never link to them. Good post. Totally agree with you. I never link to them.

]]> By: Consultanthttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-50464 Consultant Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:01:13 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-50464 I think some of Wikipedia is good. I will never forget though the one time I took the time to apply as an editor and learn how to add to pages. I have a doctorate degree, years of work experience and some fairly specific knowledge in certain areas, so I thought here's a page that I can... not really so much correct but clarify a great deal by adding just a couple of sentences. It took me a bit to learn to do this edit, and I felt good having given something back. The next day I looked at the page while logged in and saw the previous editor of the page undid all of it. I went to the editor profile and saw what looked like a young kid sitting in a dorm room with a lot of stuffed toys on the dorm room bed in the editor profile picture. I won't waste my time again. Wikipedia is just as good as the editors of the page you land on. Maybe good enough, maybe not. I guess accuracy is in the eye of the beholder. I think some of Wikipedia is good. I will never forget though the one time I took the time to apply as an editor and learn how to add to pages. I have a doctorate degree, years of work experience and some fairly specific knowledge in certain areas, so I thought here’s a page that I can… not really so much correct but clarify a great deal by adding just a couple of sentences. It took me a bit to learn to do this edit, and I felt good having given something back. The next day I looked at the page while logged in and saw the previous editor of the page undid all of it. I went to the editor profile and saw what looked like a young kid sitting in a dorm room with a lot of stuffed toys on the dorm room bed in the editor profile picture. I won’t waste my time again. Wikipedia is just as good as the editors of the page you land on. Maybe good enough, maybe not. I guess accuracy is in the eye of the beholder.

]]> By: Nickhttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-47821 Nick Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:43:10 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-47821 Wikipedia ranks for some insane terms with very sub par content. Although there is definitely some very solid content on Wikipedia, there is no reason to feed this beast that everyone has decided is God of information. They are like Google in this regard - People believe that they are the all knowing heart of the web, when they simply throw up crap and call it gold now that they have an insanely powerful brand. /rant Wikipedia ranks for some insane terms with very sub par content. Although there is definitely some very solid content on Wikipedia, there is no reason to feed this beast that everyone has decided is God of information. They are like Google in this regard – People believe that they are the all knowing heart of the web, when they simply throw up crap and call it gold now that they have an insanely powerful brand. /rant

]]> By: Stephenhttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-47206 Stephen Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:14:32 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-47206 First of all, I love your site. Very nice.I find it weird that everyone seems to agree with you on this issue, though. I find myself unconvinced. I honestly don't give a hoot about being "fair" to certain web sites or that Wikipedia is being ranked "too high."Wikipedia gets ranked high for a reason. The articles usually have good accuracy (it depends on the profile of the article, but I can confirm the math and science articles tend to be quite good), they are well laid-out, they give a succinct overview of the topic, and they provide external links and references to learn more. I like finding Wikipedia articles at the top of my searches. Yes you have to take what you read with a grain of salt, but that applies to all sources. Knowing the credentials of a particular writer is historically a highly imperfect defence against wrong information.I found your blog while doing some research to try and make a middleware for my Django blog to automate making links to Wikipedia - so I'm firmly on the dark side :). Of course, absolutely nobody reads my blog so maybe I should care after all lol. First of all, I love your site. Very nice.

I find it weird that everyone seems to agree with you on this issue, though. I find myself unconvinced. I honestly don’t give a hoot about being “fair” to certain web sites or that Wikipedia is being ranked “too high.”

Wikipedia gets ranked high for a reason. The articles usually have good accuracy (it depends on the profile of the article, but I can confirm the math and science articles tend to be quite good), they are well laid-out, they give a succinct overview of the topic, and they provide external links and references to learn more. I like finding Wikipedia articles at the top of my searches. Yes you have to take what you read with a grain of salt, but that applies to all sources. Knowing the credentials of a particular writer is historically a highly imperfect defence against wrong information.

I found your blog while doing some research to try and make a middleware for my Django blog to automate making links to Wikipedia – so I’m firmly on the dark side :) . Of course, absolutely nobody reads my blog so maybe I should care after all lol.

]]> By: James Kircherhttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-2/#comment-46236 James Kircher Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:15:33 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-46236 Wikipedia is often deserving of a link. Information is only as good as the way it's presented, and I must say that too many websites are horridly laid out. I would link to wikipedia purely because of it's efficient layout. ie it's easy to read, and you are guaranteed not to be bombarded by ads, invitations to join the site, flash animations, pop-ups and other annoyances. If everyone who had something to say chose to display their information in an easy to read or standardised manner, perhaps then they would be more deserving of a link. Wikipedia is just too reliable for those who want their information right in their face.Otherwise I tend to agree with what you have said. Wikipedia is often deserving of a link. Information is only as good as the way it’s presented, and I must say that too many websites are horridly laid out. I would link to wikipedia purely because of it’s efficient layout. ie it’s easy to read, and you are guaranteed not to be bombarded by ads, invitations to join the site, flash animations, pop-ups and other annoyances. If everyone who had something to say chose to display their information in an easy to read or standardised manner, perhaps then they would be more deserving of a link. Wikipedia is just too reliable for those who want their information right in their face.

Otherwise I tend to agree with what you have said.

]]> By: Establishing Web Credibility | SEOptimisehttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-1/#comment-41971 Establishing Web Credibility | SEOptimise Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:56:46 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-41971 [...] Linking to Wikipedia [...] [...] Linking to Wikipedia [...]

]]> By: Rakebackhttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39637 Rakeback Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:17:21 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-39637 This problem has actually been getting worse and worse. While Wikipedia is a great resource, the epidemic of Wikipedia number one rankings has grown out of hand. Some of the rankings and information held on these Wiki pages are ridiculous and would be much better when given to sites who's content is far more merited based on its authoritative content rather than what is an undeserved backlink profile. This problem has actually been getting worse and worse. While Wikipedia is a great resource, the epidemic of Wikipedia number one rankings has grown out of hand. Some of the rankings and information held on these Wiki pages are ridiculous and would be much better when given to sites who’s content is far more merited based on its authoritative content rather than what is an undeserved backlink profile.

]]> By: | Glenn’s Network Media Bloghttp://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/comment-page-1/#comment-38672 | Glenn’s Network Media Blog Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:59:50 +0000 http://www.alistercameron.com/2007/07/13/linking-to-wikipedia-is-lazy-and-a-disservice-to-someone-else-who-really-deserves-the-link/#comment-38672 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] Allister Cameron argues that by doing this, bloggers are both being very lazy, and are doing “a disservice to someone else who really deserves the link”. [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] Allister Cameron argues that by doing this, bloggers are both being very lazy, and are doing “a disservice to someone else who really deserves the link”. [...]

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