I would use Wikipedia to settle arguments over a drink, but not as part
of any presentation I would give nor report I would use.

Our friend and colleague Mr. Wilkins has described it as a "meritocracy"
during the most recent ARMA conference here in Toronto. I'd label it
more of an "endurocracy" or "bloody-mindedness-cracy". Whoever has the
longest wind, the most time to spend [waste]or the sharpest axe to
grind, will eventually win out. Such an environment does not foster
accuracy, facts, or truthfulness. It is a source of information where
the mob rules. And mobs, though they can shout down most opposition, are
not always right.

That said, the maintainers of Wikipedia have an elaborate set of rules
that anyone who wishes to edit or enter entries should follow
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents/Policies_and_guidelines].
They're quite good. I'm still working through it in order to adjust some
entries I found. Unfortunately, I'm just too busy to make any headway.

Ghyslain Sabourin
Director, Records Management
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Maarja Krusten
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2006 12:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [RM] OT: Friday postings, ? about Wikipedia as a general source

I caught up on List reading on Saturday morning after a busy day Friday,
when 
I barely had time to dip in to Archives List, much less Recmgmt-L.  So
much 
to look at here, and nary an OT header in sight!   Glad I didn't look at
this 
yesterday, when all the talk of food would have had me fighting the
temptation 
to run to the canteen or snack machine, LOL.

As to political correctness, after reading the consensus views expressed
on 
the List, I (ever the researcher, must be in my genes), clicked on 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness
to read what the entry says.  Interesting write up, as is the linked
talk 
forum discussion on the neutrality of the entry itself (!)  I have to
say I 
haven't used Wikipedia much, I'm still trying to get used to the idea of

collaborative presentation.  Have any of the rest of you used Wikipedia?
What do you 
think of it as a reference source, its strengths or weaknesses?

Happy Independence Day to my U.S. colleagues!  And thanks to our
colleagues 
abroad for your forbearance in wading through so many OT but 
unmarked-as-such-postings this past  Friday.  (You seem very patient
with us North Americans 
during periods around our national holidays, thank you for that, LOL).
It looks 
as if they were lighthearted, for the most part.  Too bad I didn't have
time 
to read them during the workday when I could have used a break or two.
Ah well.

Have a good weekend, all!

Maarja

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