[WikiEN-l] The vexed issue of sources

[Thomas Dalton]

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Law_in_Star_Trek
>
> Most of the sources appear to be episodes.  I explained how
> interpreting episodes is original research, and asked for some more
> sources.  So they went and cited more episodes.  Either I am
> completely wrong here or someone needs to go and explain to these
> people patiently but in words of one syllable that "cite your sources"
> does not mean name the episode in which you saw the plot device which
> leads you to conclude something.

Episodes are perfectly valid sources, but they are primary sources, so
have the same issues as any other primary source. (Basically, they're
only useful for stating facts, any interpretation needs to cite a
secondary source.)