For example, I would have no qualms about using the Writer Beware blog as a source. It's an important part of the SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America), a notable organisation in literature. I also wouldn't have problems with the blogs of reputed directors blogging about the filming process of their new work or the blog at the Newsround website. Random "My Life" blogs however, are not acceptable. Unfortunately, the distinction isn't always easy, especially when the notability of the person writing the blog (about themselves) is in question.
Self-published books aren't neccesarily bad sources either. I've heard about 2 guys who are writing a jazz encyclopedia and publishing it on Lulu. It might be a self-published source, but it won't promote their opinion. I'd see no harm in using their work as a source and I'm sure I'd have the same feelings with other self-published books.
Mgm
On 10/19/06, Rob gamaliel8@gmail.com wrote:
On 10/19/06, MacGyverMagic/Mgm macgyvermagic@gmail.com wrote:
Blogs are often self-serving or a platform for fringe opinions. People using self-published sources are usually out to promote their
opinion
instead of offering an unbiased article. These rules seem pretty clear
and
non-contradictory to me.
And often they are part of the reporting of a reputable news organization. Self-published blogs should be treated like self-published books, news blogs from a reputable news organization should be treated like other material from that reputable news organization.
Sorry for the hijack, but I just keep seeing the simplistic formulation of blog=bad over and over again, either by people who parrot policy and can't distinguish the two, or by people who use policy to further their agendas. _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l