[WikiEN-l] Elimination of unreferenced articles drive?

[Skander -]

What exactly do you want with this? I personally agree that the
reference-tags on top of articles are overused, but of course, they are
necessary.

2007/6/19, David Goodman <dgoodmanny at gmail.com>:
>
> About 25% of the WP articles cannot be properly sourced without access
> to one of the about 250 existing research libraries (in the
> english-speaking world), and perhaps  a third of those can be done in
> only one of the top half of those, the ones with high quality pint
> collections.  Most WPedians clearly do not have such access, and most
> of those who do are clearly unaccustomed to using it for such
> purposes. Those who can do this, are not likely to assume the burden
> of sourcing a few hundred thosand articles in 5 days.
> And it is not just finding sources. It is necessary to find multiple
> sources in a thorough way, and see what part of the article can be
> supported, and then do the secondary research necessary to rewrite the
> article. How many WP editors know how to do this properly? How many of
> the enthusiasts working on popular culture actually know how to do an
> adequate job filling the gaps there?
>
> A drive to rapidly source articles will get low-quality sourcing--will
> get sourcing from what printed textbook happens to be handy which sort
> of covers the general subject. How were these articles written--many
> from the old Enc Brittanica, which in turn was written by people who
> did have access to the proper libraries. We cannot update them without
> similar facilities.
>
> On the other hand, examine the German WP-- most article are not
> sourced or are sketchily sourced, and yet of of an average quality way
> beyond us. Their popular culture is concise summaries of what's
> important, not long rambling sometimes careless plot summaries.  My
> German has been getting much better since I followed some good advice
> to check there when needed.
>
> Obviously we want higher standards, but we should not aim beyond our
> capabilities, and we should not ask for things beyond the actual
> interests of the WP editors in the project.
>
> DGG
> David Goodman, Ph.D, M.L.S.
>
> _______________________________________________
> WikiEN-l mailing list
> WikiEN-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit:
> http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
>