Fred Bauder wrote:
I think one viewpoint is that trivia and ephemera are fun and add interest to the encyclopedia.
I think we are somewhat protected by the obvious fact that before someone puts trivia or ephemera up it has to be interesting enough to get their attention; thus is likely to get the attention of others. The cat up the tree article just doesn't get written, but Mike the headless chicken does (and could in his time tour the country).
As evidence of the tremendous attractive power of trivia, there has always been the persistent popularity of "The Guinness Book of Records".
Ec