Amusing Wikipedia prank

Agent Intellect · 12th-May-2009, 11:09 PM

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Irish-...1451.html?.v=1

as if there wasn't enough stuff we can't trust these days already.

severus · 12th-May-2009, 11:59 PM

Oh Wikipedia, how I love thee.
--
Such lovely insight into journalism these days. And they wonder why we don't trust them.

Felan · 13th-May-2009, 12:02 AM

Fascinating read, thanks for that. In part I think it is reflective of the (human) world experiencing growing pains.

Venture · 13th-May-2009, 12:10 AM

I used to think about false information on wikipedia too.

I don't really find it as amusing though.

Ermine · 13th-May-2009, 12:46 AM

Part angering and part amazing. Angering that someone would post something totally false on a website with a reputation for reliability, but amazing that someone would stand up and make the media take notice and reexamine themselves.

flow · 13th-May-2009, 01:06 AM

this is why I fear the fall of newspapers..journalistic integrity is dying!

Artifice Orisit · 13th-May-2009, 01:38 AM

Does historical accuracy at such a trivial level really matter?

I think this just shows that we take our perceptions of validity for granted; that perhaps there is some sort of lesson about existentialism to be learnt from this.

Humans use fuzzy logic to understand the world and as a result our perception of truth can never be anything more than an educated guess.

Tyria · 13th-May-2009, 02:19 AM

I'm glad at least one newspaper stood up to the plate and took responsibility. It's a shame the others got defensive and didn't acknowledge their fault in the process of fact checking in journalism.

truthseeker72 · 13th-May-2009, 02:23 AM

The media, at least in my lifetime, has never been terribly concerned about reporting the truth. Rather, news outlets have always sought to accomplish two goals: i) adance an ideology; and ii) generate ad revenue.

Tyria · 13th-May-2009, 02:29 AM

Another goal of current news outlets:

Report about things that aren't really newsworthy.

I miss the days when the news was about... the news. I dislike reading tabloids and gossip; really good stories are not made that way (IMHO). There are more important things to cover that aren't being talked about.

Ermine · 13th-May-2009, 02:30 AM

@ Truthseeker: Which is sad because I bet there are enough people looking for the truth that one could make revenue by telling the truth, now that the truth is a rare commodity.

truthseeker72 · 13th-May-2009, 02:55 AM

Ermine:

Wikipedia's popularity tells us that a large segment of the population still values truth. After all, Wikipedia's administrators deleted the ficticious quote twice.

Kianara · 13th-May-2009, 12:57 PM

Great link, very interesting read.

It is indeed troubling that such a thing can be done and nobody would have noticed in the journalism world. In school, Wikipedia is at the top of the list for unreliable sources. After this, I have to wonder if the news articles that we are allowed to cite as a source are as reliable as good old Wikipedia.

Melkor · 14th-May-2009, 10:13 AM

Wonderful.

I've never trusted the press...Except maybe the times..but thats a clever and large paper, which tends to be totally unbiased about everyhting.

severus · 14th-May-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kianara

In school, Wikipedia is at the top of the list for unreliable sources. After this, I have to wonder if the news articles that we are allowed to cite as a source are as reliable as good old Wikipedia.

Yes, I hate how we're not allowed to use Wikipedia! At least their info is being double-checked.

Venture · 17th-May-2009, 01:39 AM

Think most of the stuff is quite easy to tell if it legitimate.
But of course not all.

quitejaded · 30th-May-2009, 11:32 PM

Heh... one day I'm gonna be a sociologist.

snowqueen · 30th-May-2009, 11:41 PM

well Wikipedia has done something right.

Razare · 31st-May-2009, 12:14 AM

The reason wikipedia is so great is because it is malleable, if it had to be 100% accurate, it would cost 100 times more to maintain the content that they do. You sacrifice 1 or 2 percent of accuracy for the product being offered for free, which is well worth it.

If you open up an old encyclopedia, it's full of errors and falsities because the world changes. The world changes faster than anything can accurately update the database of information. Their current system seems to be the best method so far because errors are eventually corrected and it offers a wider variety of content than those old encyclopedias used to.

Enne · 31st-May-2009, 04:29 AM

>=( Dammit that was MY idea!

12th-May-2009, 11:09 PM	Agent Intellect's time 12th-May-2009, 06:10 PM #1
Agent Intellect Absurd Anti-hero. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,101	Amusing Wikipedia prank http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Irish-...1451.html?.v=1 as if there wasn't enough stuff we can't trust these days already. __________________ My Facebook community page: https://www.facebook.com/TheCynicalPhilosopher Science, philosophy, social/political issues, religion etc... all the shit INTP's are supposed to like I guess. Check it out and "like"

12th-May-2009, 11:59 PM	severus's time 12th-May-2009, 04:00 PM #2
severus Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 519	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Oh Wikipedia, how I love thee. -- Such lovely insight into journalism these days. And they wonder why we don't trust them. __________________ Yes, I'm still alive.

13th-May-2009, 12:02 AM	Felan's time 12th-May-2009, 06:02 PM #3
Felan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Unauthorized personnel only Posts: 1,073	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Fascinating read, thanks for that. In part I think it is reflective of the (human) world experiencing growing pains. __________________

13th-May-2009, 12:10 AM	Venture's time 12th-May-2009, 04:10 PM #4
Venture Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 528	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank I used to think about false information on wikipedia too. I don't really find it as amusing though.

13th-May-2009, 12:46 AM	Ermine's time 12th-May-2009, 05:46 PM #5
Ermine is watching and taking notes Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: casually playing guitar in my mental arena Posts: 2,878	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Part angering and part amazing. Angering that someone would post something totally false on a website with a reputation for reliability, but amazing that someone would stand up and make the media take notice and reexamine themselves. __________________

13th-May-2009, 01:06 AM	flow's time 12th-May-2009, 07:06 PM #6
flow Audiophile/Insomniac Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,167	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank this is why I fear the fall of newspapers..journalistic integrity is dying! __________________ In between music and dreams. last.fm/user/bkelleher

13th-May-2009, 01:38 AM	Artifice Orisit's time 13th-May-2009, 12:38 PM #7
Artifice Orisit Formerly Cognisant Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 4,451	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Does historical accuracy at such a trivial level really matter? I think this just shows that we take our perceptions of validity for granted; that perhaps there is some sort of lesson about existentialism to be learnt from this. Humans use fuzzy logic to understand the world and as a result our perception of truth can never be anything more than an educated guess.

13th-May-2009, 02:19 AM	Tyria's time 13th-May-2009, 03:19 AM #8
Tyria Ryuusa bakuryuu Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,840	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank I'm glad at least one newspaper stood up to the plate and took responsibility. It's a shame the others got defensive and didn't acknowledge their fault in the process of fact checking in journalism.

13th-May-2009, 02:23 AM	truthseeker72's time 12th-May-2009, 09:24 PM #9
truthseeker72 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 219	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank The media, at least in my lifetime, has never been terribly concerned about reporting the truth. Rather, news outlets have always sought to accomplish two goals: i) adance an ideology; and ii) generate ad revenue. __________________ "The lowest form of depravity is a man without a purpose" - Ayn Rand King Louis XV to a group of eighteenth-century French merchants: "How can I help you?" French merchants: "Laissez-nous faire, laissez-nous passer, Le monde va de lui-meme." ("Let us do, leave us alone. The world runs by itself.")

13th-May-2009, 02:29 AM	Tyria's time 13th-May-2009, 03:29 AM #10
Tyria Ryuusa bakuryuu Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,840	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Another goal of current news outlets: Report about things that aren't really newsworthy. I miss the days when the news was about... the news. I dislike reading tabloids and gossip; really good stories are not made that way (IMHO). There are more important things to cover that aren't being talked about.

13th-May-2009, 02:30 AM	Ermine's time 12th-May-2009, 07:30 PM #11
Ermine is watching and taking notes Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: casually playing guitar in my mental arena Posts: 2,878	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank @ Truthseeker: Which is sad because I bet there are enough people looking for the truth that one could make revenue by telling the truth, now that the truth is a rare commodity. __________________

13th-May-2009, 02:55 AM	truthseeker72's time 12th-May-2009, 09:55 PM #12
truthseeker72 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 219	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Ermine: Wikipedia's popularity tells us that a large segment of the population still values truth. After all, Wikipedia's administrators deleted the ficticious quote twice. __________________ "The lowest form of depravity is a man without a purpose" - Ayn Rand King Louis XV to a group of eighteenth-century French merchants: "How can I help you?" French merchants: "Laissez-nous faire, laissez-nous passer, Le monde va de lui-meme." ("Let us do, leave us alone. The world runs by itself.")

13th-May-2009, 12:57 PM	Kianara's time 13th-May-2009, 05:57 PM #13
Kianara Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The inner reaches of my mind Posts: 391	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Great link, very interesting read. It is indeed troubling that such a thing can be done and nobody would have noticed in the journalism world. In school, Wikipedia is at the top of the list for unreliable sources. After this, I have to wonder if the news articles that we are allowed to cite as a source are as reliable as good old Wikipedia. __________________ I know what I know which includes who I am.

14th-May-2009, 10:13 AM	Melkor's time 14th-May-2009, 10:13 AM #14
Melkor Silent antagonist Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Béal feirste Posts: 5,578	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Wonderful. I've never trusted the press...Except maybe the times..but thats a clever and large paper, which tends to be totally unbiased about everyhting. __________________ "It's my duty. My duty as a complete bastard!" "I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart's core."

17th-May-2009, 01:39 AM	Venture's time 16th-May-2009, 05:39 PM #16
Venture Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 528	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Think most of the stuff is quite easy to tell if it legitimate. But of course not all.

30th-May-2009, 11:32 PM	quitejaded's time 30th-May-2009, 11:32 PM #17
quitejaded Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 33	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank Heh... one day I'm gonna be a sociologist.

31st-May-2009, 12:14 AM	Razare's time 30th-May-2009, 07:14 PM #19
Razare Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan - By Lake Michigan Posts: 632	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank The reason wikipedia is so great is because it is malleable, if it had to be 100% accurate, it would cost 100 times more to maintain the content that they do. You sacrifice 1 or 2 percent of accuracy for the product being offered for free, which is well worth it. If you open up an old encyclopedia, it's full of errors and falsities because the world changes. The world changes faster than anything can accurately update the database of information. Their current system seems to be the best method so far because errors are eventually corrected and it offers a wider variety of content than those old encyclopedias used to.

31st-May-2009, 04:29 AM	Enne's time 31st-May-2009, 04:29 AM #20
Enne Consistently Inconsistent Join Date: May 2009 Location: ;) Posts: 499	Re: Amusing Wikipedia prank >=( Dammit that was MY idea! __________________ yawn.

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