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SourceLimit
Above TheirInfluence
Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 596
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Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia
#5269921 - 02/06/06 03:30 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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http://news.com.com/2061-10796_3-6033082.html
"This juvenalia is, of course, thoroughly bipartisan"
Keep that in mind
Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia January 30, 2006 5:26 PM PST
We already know, of course, that politicians live primarily for re-election and typically view the truth as an impediment to the higher purpose of unfettered self-aggrandizement.
Still, we can be excused for feeling mildly nauseated when fresh confirmation of this distasteful aspect of modern politicking surfaces.
The latest episode appeared last week in the form of a report that aides to Rep. Marty Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat, deleted references to his broken term-limits pledge and massive campaign war chest on Wikipedia.
Then the trusty editors at Wikipedia got together and compiled a list of over 1,000 edits made by Internet addresses allocated to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The IP address subsequently was blocked and unblocked.
An extensive analysis reveals how juvenile official Washington secretly is, behind the mind-numbingly serious talk of public policy.
One edit listed White House press secretary Scott McClellan under the entry for "douche." Another said of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma) that: "Coburn was voted the most annoying Senator by his peers in Congress. This was due to Senator Coburn being a huge douche-bag."
(Keep in mind these are the same holier-than-thou political climbers tasked with writing laws telling the rest of the country how to behave. Or else.)
This juvenalia is, of course, thoroughly bipartisan. Another change to the Iraq invasion entry shows that the anonymous congressional editor played up the dubious connections between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.
It's true, of course, that the cretins who are behind the Wikipedia alterations can (and probably will) do this from their home computers in the future. But the difficulty in policing the political class shouldn't make us any less alarmed at the most recent evidence of its misdeeds. Posted by Declan McCullagh
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs



Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 3 months, 11 days
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: SourceLimit]
#5269952 - 02/06/06 03:37 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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That is hilarious, though it doesn't really suprise me.
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SourceLimit
Above TheirInfluence
Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 596
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Redstorm]
#5269967 - 02/06/06 03:41 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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..Congress, You been Banned!
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DoctorJ


Registered: 06/30/03
Posts: 8,846
Loc: space
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Redstorm]
#5270094 - 02/06/06 04:13 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I don't think its funny at all. It shows what kind of people we have leading us. Makes you wonder who those people are and the extent to which their shitty behavior effects job performance that effects millions of people. Makes you wonder what other lies they've told and records they've fudged. Could be things much more important than Wikipedia.
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krishnamurti
Stranger
Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 382
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: DoctorJ]
#5270110 - 02/06/06 04:16 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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WHAT THE FUCK?! well.. i guess i have to change my sig now
-------------------- I'll see you down in Guantanamo Bay Donate spores to FSRC or suffer the consequences!* Wikipedia Overgrow has been shut down check out www.icmag.com if you need MJ info *consequences may or may not be suffered
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!


Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 4 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: SourceLimit]
#5270266 - 02/06/06 04:57 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Wait, I'm confused. How can someone edit Wikipedia??
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Apple-Glass Cyndrome - Someday
Edited by Learyfan (02/06/06 04:57 PM)
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SourceLimit
Above TheirInfluence
Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 596
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Learyfan]
#5270471 - 02/06/06 05:34 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Wikipedia is completely open sourced. Have something to add or see a glaring error? It all can be edited by anyone from the main site.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: SourceLimit]
#5270590 - 02/06/06 05:54 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Most wouldn't consider Wikipedia to be an "authoritative source" in the first place.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Ravus
Not an EggshellWalker


Registered: 07/18/03
Posts: 7,991
Loc: Cave of the Patriarchs
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: badchad]
#5270613 - 02/06/06 05:57 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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But for an open source, I find most of the articles to be surprising true. At first I was wary of Wikipedia, but in fact it does seem to be a success, even though nothing's perfect.
You do compromise professionalism for speed and quantity, but it still fits my purposes as an introductory website to a vast number of different topics. Obviously you can't learn more than brief beginning on Wikipedia to most topics, and need to read actual books by the professionals to gain insight, but for its purposes Wikipedia is still impressive.
-------------------- So long as you are praised think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.
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RemainRandom50
Do You Need ToKnow Me?
Registered: 01/15/06
Posts: 1,695
Last seen: 14 years, 9 months
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: badchad]
#5270617 - 02/06/06 05:58 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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wow very insane.
-------------------- At times I get consumed by my everyday life and will leave the Shroomery. Yet, every time drugs come falling into my life for fun.....I always think about the Shroomery and then I'm back!
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SourceLimit
Above TheirInfluence
Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 596
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Ravus]
#5270732 - 02/06/06 06:24 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I agree, It has an excellent regular user base.
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: badchad]
#5270753 - 02/06/06 06:30 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: Most wouldn't consider Wikipedia to be an "authoritative source" in the first place.
actualy many people cite is as being the end all source for reference now until you point out that tomorrow it can read that the space program was started by monkeys and funded with drug money collected from grandma when she was dealing smack to the aliens
I've made a few changes to wikipedia to stress a point
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SourceLimit
Above TheirInfluence
Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 596
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Prisoner#1]
#5270759 - 02/06/06 06:33 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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WTF? You have it backwards. The aliens were dealing smack to grandma
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!


Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 4 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: SourceLimit]
#5270790 - 02/06/06 06:40 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Jesus Christ! I just made a change to a Wikipedia entry and it took! I'm surprised that people don't mess with Wikipedia to the point of it being completely useless!
I'm disappointed. I really thought that Wikipedia was fairly authoritative.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Apple-Glass Cyndrome - Someday
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: SourceLimit]
#5270804 - 02/06/06 06:42 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
SourceLimit said: WTF? You have it backwards. The aliens were dealing smack to grandma
maybe to your granny, where do you think they got theirs from?
leary fan, link us to your edit
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Ravus
Not an EggshellWalker


Registered: 07/18/03
Posts: 7,991
Loc: Cave of the Patriarchs
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Learyfan]
#5270838 - 02/06/06 06:50 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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If your edit is stupid, they'll usually change it back pretty quickly. There's a lot of people there who get pissed over vandalism.
-------------------- So long as you are praised think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.
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kake
The answer to1984 is 1776.



Registered: 05/06/99
Posts: 2,782
Loc: The 66th harmonic
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Ravus]
#5270857 - 02/06/06 06:57 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yeah, vandalism is immature and usually a waste of time unless you're 13 and think its cool. And vandalism to a useful source of information, doubly so.
-------------------- The answer to 1984 is 1776.
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DoctorJ


Registered: 06/30/03
Posts: 8,846
Loc: space
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Learyfan]
#5270867 - 02/06/06 06:58 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Learyfan said: Jesus Christ! I just made a change to a Wikipedia entry and it took! I'm surprised that people don't mess with Wikipedia to the point of it being completely useless!
I'm disappointed. I really thought that Wikipedia was fairly authoritative.
did you miss the part on the main page where it says anyone can write for it? Or the 'edit this entry' tags at the end of every entry section?
still, when you keep those things in mind, overall its a decent resource. Educational and entertaining. They have entries about musicians and things that normal encyclopedias don't have.
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Ravus
Not an EggshellWalker


Registered: 07/18/03
Posts: 7,991
Loc: Cave of the Patriarchs
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: kake]
#5270876 - 02/06/06 07:00 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
kake said: Yeah, vandalism is immature and usually a waste of time unless you're 13 and think its cool. And vandalism to a useful source of information, doubly so.
It is annoying. I always help Wikipedia by reverting vandalism whenever I found it, which is surprisingly not that often. I guess an entirely pessimistic view of humanity doesn't seem to fit in with Wikipedia, as assholes who delete articles seem to be the exception rather than the rule.
-------------------- So long as you are praised think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.
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Koala Koolio
TTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG

Registered: 01/07/04
Posts: 7,752
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Re: Congress caught making false entries in Wikipedia [Re: Ravus]
#5271381 - 02/06/06 09:09 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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The whole amazing thing about wikipedia is the stress for non biased articles in an open source manner. It's far from perfect, obviously, but the fact that it's doing so well, considering ANYONE can change it is really impressive.
Click the discussions tab on an article sometime. The wiki people fuss over the smallest details to keep articles well written. However, the more obscure you get, the less people there will be to fuss, and the longer an error will be around.
I believe they claim vandalism is fixed in an average of 5 minutes. There are some over the top cases, like one about a guy murdering someone he had nothing to do with, that stick for years though.
Take what you're looking at into context, and it's really great for simple background information on a subject you either know nothing about, or can't remember for the life of you. Just don't go writing your thesis based on it.
-------------------- You're not like the others. You like the same things I do. Wax paper, boiled football leather... dog breath. We're not hitch-hiking anymore, we're riding!
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