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Writers should cite credible sources when sharing theories
DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to the letter “Krishna and Christ have different etymologies” published in the August 13 issue of SN. In the said letter, the writer consistently cited Wikipedia as their source of information.
While reading the said letter, I remembered when about a year ago I had read an article which reported that several college professors had banned students from using Wikipedia as a source for research.
This was done on the basis that many articles found on Wikipedia are open to readers for editing. Hence, Wikipedia could not be held as a credible source for academic research.
Since that incident more and more college professors and high school teachers have discouraged students from using Wikipedia as a source for academic research.
Sandra Ordonez, a spokeswoman for Wikipedia, said in an e-mail interview, “… it is not an authoritative source. In fact, we recommend that students check the facts they find in Wikipedia against other sources.
Additionally, it is generally good research practice to cite an original source when writing a paper, or completing an exam.”
Ordonez acknowledged that, given the collaborative nature of Wikipedia writing and editing, “there is no guarantee an article is 100 percent correct,” http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2007/01/26/wiki
Wikipedia, in its biography of comedian/actor David ‘Sinbad’ Adkins, admits to one time erroneously publishing that Adkins had died, “On March 10, 2007, Sinbad’s managers began receiving phone calls of condolence, after people began hearing unsubstantiated rumours of Sinbad’s death.
Hundreds contacted his managers and production studio, including Lionel Richie. This rumour spread to Wikipedia on March 14, 2007, when his biography was edited by an anonymous user to include the claim of his death.
The incorrect information was soon removed, but a fan spreading the initial rumour included a link to the old (and incorrect) revision of the article.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinbad (actor)
To date, Wikipedia continues to operate with many of its articles open to readers for editing.
I suggest that the writer of the above-mentioned letter use credible sources when endeavouring to give readers a lesson in etymology, or any lesson for that matter.
Ganesh Gupta
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