Sinbad Rises From Wikipedia Grave 110
A Chicago Sun-Times article passed to us by an anonymous reader pointed out the fact that the comedian Sinbad is still alive. This is notable, only insofar as Wikipedia thought otherwise. "Rumors began circulating last weekend regarding the posting, said Sinbad, who first got a telephone call from his daughter. The gossip quieted, but a few days later the 50-year-old entertainer said phone calls, text messages and e-mails started pouring in by the hundreds. 'Saturday I rose from the dead and then died again,' the Los Angeles-based entertainer said in a phone interview." Based on the article he seemed fairly okay with the mixup: 'It's gonna be more commonplace as the Internet opens up more and more. It's not that strange.' Wikipedia didn't comment for the Times piece, nor has it contacted the entertainer about the incident.
Too bad... (Score:0, Insightful)
WIki isn't news; neither is the Chicago Sun-Times (Score:4, Insightful)
I can't help but darkly suspect that this is mostly about a major newspaper trying to declare, "You still need us". And I think that we do, neither blogs (opinion) nor Wikipedia (rumor) replace news from organizations that have an interest in being first (or at least timely) and in being correct.
But non-stories like this make me wonder if the Chicago Sun-Times is one of those organizations.
Re:WIki isn't news; neither is the Chicago Sun-Tim (Score:3, Insightful)
Things on the internet may be false? YOU DON'T SAY (Score:5, Insightful)
And knowing all that, wikipedia is still a damn good source. So what if vandalism occurs. They are doing a pretty good job at controlling it. All these people who bitch and whine that wikipedia might not be true obviously don't use it on a regular basis. There's more information on wikipedia than most libraries and the info is a hell of a lot more updated. I'd go as far as to say wikipedia has the most (and most accurate for its volume) information in one single source than any other site on the internet. Complain if you want, but once you find me a source with better, more up to date, free, and accurate information as wikipedia, let me know. Until then I'll support them with my money.
At least wikipedia has peer review processes in place. If a piece of information is wrong in a traditional source, good luck getting it changed. It could take years for it to be changed and up to the sole discretion of one source.
If only . . . (Score:3, Insightful)
Blame b3ta, apparently (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:WIki isn't news; neither is the Chicago Sun-Tim (Score:2, Insightful)
"Let's don't become so tolerant than we tolerate intolerance." -Bill Maher
Religions that seek to spread the message of inferiority in atheists, women and homosexuals are incompatible with civilized society.
It's also just plain silly.