Wikipedia

1. What is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is a multilingual, Web-based encyclopedia project, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a nonprofit organization. (Cohen)
2. How reliable can a source be when anyone can edit it?
One favorite answer from Wikipedia's defenders is: "The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it can never work." More seriously, they put their faith in the "wisdom of crowds," believing that by having many people watching what appears there, errors and vandalism will be weeded out, sooner rather than later. (Cohen)
3. Who do the creators of Wikipedia place their trust in when it comes to weeding out information?
The people who view the site.
4. Why did founder Larry Sanger leave Wikipedia?
He thought it should give more authority to experts. (Cohen)
5. What would abuse or vandalism look like on a Wikipedia page?
Personal thoughts on the subject, slanderous comments, and information that has nothing to do with the topic.
6. What do stats quoted in the 3rd paragraph reveal?
It reveals that since if someone is searching for something in Google, Wikipedia is most likely the first site on the search, then the people who want to know about the topic they are searching for will most likely read Wikipedia for that information.
7. Why do you think Wikipedia is so successful?
Because it is easier to read than a journal article and it lists references at the bottom on the page and allows you to get background information on the topic quickly and easily.
8. Why might Wikipedia's creators not want to accept advertising?
I think because it would make it look less reliable in that if a topic on there went against their advertiser's beliefs or viewpoints they would want the article not to be on there.
9. How does Wikiscanner help increase the reliability of Wikipedia entries?
it makes people and organizations responsible for what they edit on Wikipedia therefore not letting personal opinions taint the article.