[WikiEN-l] Wikipedia used in the courtroom?

[WJhonson at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/15/2008 10:40:08 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
saintonge at telus.net writes:

taken to  extremes when they 
expect proof for "facts" that are a part of common  knowledge.  This is 
not to say that all common knowledge should go by  unchallenged, but real 
challenges should be based on genuine doubt rather  than a mere absence 
of documentation.>>


---------------------------------
This is already handled in-policy.  We have had long discussions about  
exactly what sort of trivial deductions, observations, etc. we *can* make  without 
a source.  Our NOR policy page does state that.  If it's not  clear then 
perhaps it could be clarified further.
 
I often cite the fictitious photograph with a caption "This is a cat" in my  
discussion of OR.  We don't need a source to say "The sun is hot and you  
can't walk on it." it's a trivial observation and deduction.
 
If you're being plagued with people needing sources for "John Lennon was a  
man" then you could bring the specific concern to the Talk page of the NOR  
policy page.
 
Will Johnson



**************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy 
Awards. Go to AOL Music.      
(http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)