Before I get rolling here, I need to insert a disclaimer. Wikipedia is one of the best things ever to happen to the internet. If I could figure out some way to have a neural implant that could search Wikipedia, it seems unlikely that I would ever talk to anyone again. As Randy of xkcd fame suggests, it has become sort of a consciousness extension, for better or for worse.
Which is why stuff like this makes me mad enough to decapitate babies. Veropedia may seem like a good idea on the surface. Who could argue with an independently verified version of Wikipedia? Only the cream of the crop: pristine, informative articles! And all verified by "experts"! "Why Sean," you'll say, "people have been suggesting this for years. It's great that someone finally made it happen!"
No it fucking well isn't. These people have a horrible idea for any number of reasons, and I am only going to mention a few, but I think if you start considering this on your own you will notice that this is an awful idea, too.
Point the First: "Experts?!"
What kind of "experts" do they have lined up here? Some jackasses with history degrees who couldn't find teaching jobs close enough to let them keep living in Mom's basement? Anyone with enough knowledge to verify an article I want to read about that knowledge probably has a job directly centered around that knowledge, and not proofreading shit for some goofy website.
Point the Second: "Pokemon Should Not Be In Encyclopedia Brittanica."
I agree one hundred percent. But it should be in Wikipedia. That's the whole point of Wikipedia. Anything can be added! While I may not agree with 47 page articles about Sonic the Hedgehog, I think that Wikipedia's agile knowledge aggregation model is a key proponent of its success. More than once I have logged in to look up some arcane piece of Star Wars trivia -- and it always had the answer. God bless those indoor kids.
Point the Third: "It's all about the Hamiltons, baby."
Veropedia is a for-profit company. They have ads on their site. Nothing like making money off the hobby and passion of others!
Okay, end of rant for today. Maybe later tonight I will post something less vitriolic, like a story abouts kittens or whatever.
RSS Feed