Re: Wikipedia

Claudio Laferla
Claudio Laferla Member Posts: 6
edited November 21 in English Forum

Dear All,

Whilst doing research, I noticed that Logos mentions 'wikipedia' as a source of information. As a librarian, I never promote wikipedia as a scholarly source of information.

Personally I do not agree that wikipedia is mentioned as such in Logos resources.

Blessings,

Claudio

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Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,098

    Most users recognize that Wikipedia is not completely reliable nor is it an acceptable academic reference. However, its footnotes are often full of useful references, its linkage often leads to useful related items, and its articles are generally useful for an overview sense of a topic although not so at a detail level. It is also the only web resource I know that is accessible in multiple languages and requires no subscription. So I support the links to Wikipedia despite its limitations but I also appreciate your reminder of its limitations.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Rosie Perera
    Rosie Perera Member Posts: 26,202 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Personally I do not agree that wikipedia is mentioned as such in Logos resources.

    Please remember that Logos resources are books that are published by hundreds of authors and different publishers. Logos/Faithlife doesn't create the text and has no control over the content (other than how to display it) nor publication policies of those publishers. If some author decides to recommend Wikipedia as a source of information, and Logos happens to have the digital version of that book available in its library, then Logos users will see that recommendation. That is not a reflection on Logos or Faithlife the company. I don't know if they have anywhere on their website that "the views of the various authors do not represent the views of this company", but that is kind of understood in a digital publishing platform.

    Your cautions about Wikipedia are shared by many who would nonetheless find Logos resources useful and could ignore any references to Wikipedia if they think those don't belong there.

  • Ronald Quick
    Ronald Quick Member Posts: 2,965 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1256530#Comment_1256530

    MJ - I completely agree.  I tell my students that they are not allowed to use Wikipedia for one of their references, but the footnotes can be a great place to start looking.

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