2007/1/8, Frederick Noronha fred@bytesforall.org:
Maybe we should use some discernment, instead of the mechanical rule of 'number of links' on Google or where-ever. In journalism, it is always easy to make out what is a 'plug' for someone and what is a genuine news-item. Guess Wikipedia could depend on local teams to also offer some cross-checking. FN
That's definitely a possibility. As said before, I think that mechanically counting the number of links on Google is no good at all. The very least one should do, is set the limits differently depending on the subject - higher for western subjects, computer-related subjects and pop culture, lower for third world subjects or subjects that had their main popularity over 10 years ago.
But even better would be to check not the number but the nature of the links found. Or something similar to your proposal: If the Google search does not give a clear answer immediately, have a list of experts where one or a few can be chosen who should be able to render judgement.