[WikiEN-l] SOS -- Save Our Sources

[charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com]

"Thomas Dalton" wrote

> > I'm not thinking about mathematics here. I am thinking about giving verbatim quotes in footnotes: I thnk this can  be clarifying, and can add to the article. I wouldn't suggest any extended quoting that doesn't clearly add value.
> 
> I don't think verbatim quotes in footnotes would add any value. If
> people want to read the source for themselves, they can do so.

Well, no. This thread is about disappearing sources, no? Having verbatim what is being referred to could help:

(a) in replacing a source by a close equivalent;
(b) in localising exactly what point is being made, so that further sources can be added;
(c) in not needing to go to a library that was available;
(d) for the billions who don't have a handy academic library, not leaving them out in the cold with a mere reference.

> Standard academic conventions are to cite the source and simply give
> enough detail for someone to be able to find it for themselves, not to
> quote the source (unless you are actually discussing the source, in
> which case the quote goes in the main text). 

Wikipedia's readers are not only academics, and we do not aim at academics. We aim at a treatment superior to almost all journalism, but we do not assume the reader has the academic resources available. 

>I don't see why quotes
> would add to Wikipedia when they are clearly not considered to add to
> academic papers and books.

Because our articles are not academic papers.

Charles

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