Steve Bennett wrote:
On 3/24/06, Steve Block steve.block@myrealbox.com wrote:
If reliable sources can't be cited, does that make the information original research? I mean, I can document periods of my life citing my
Depends what "can't" means. Information that has been published, but for which you do not have access to the source, is not original research.
website and other online sources, but those aren't reliable, are they? Therefore I'm creating original research, aren't I?
Arguably yes, but that's more of a collateral damage case than what WP:NOR is really trying to prevent. The information would more likely be removed for violating WP:V.
(as I understand it)
I have a hard time with the rigidity of NOR. It seems to me that the application of the current form of NOR is over-paranoid, and misguided, apparently from some fear of having to back up information. Print or other publication does not imbue information with validity. Limiting WP sources to published sources has some serious implication to the goal of being free and open and cataloging all human knowledge. It presumes that all worthwhile information is published (and likewise infers that all published information is worthwhile).
To me, "original research" is when I perform an investigative task involving the scientific or statistical methods to get information that has not been determined before.
Here's some examples.
1. I drive up to Seattle, and stand outside Boeing Field, and count the number of planes that fly in and out over the period of a day.
2. I call Boeing Field on the phone and ask them how many planes fly in and out every day.
3. I find a website, newspaper article, or book about Boeing Field and find the number.
To me, 1 is clearly OR, and 2 is not. And between 2 and 3, 2 is preferable because it is assuredly a) a primary source and b) current, which isn't at all assured with 3.
For some reason, though, contacting an authoritative source is OR, but finding a book from an authoritative source is not.
KT
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