cnn.com— Microsoft Corp. has landed in the Wikipedia doghouse after it offered to pay a blogger to change technical articles on the community-produced Web encyclopedia site.
Jan 24, 2007View in Crawl 4
I'd be interested in seeing the bloggers final product and base my true judgement on that! It's Microsofts own standard and whether there's imperfections (as there are in EVERY standard) I think Microsoft deserves "props" (damn, haven't used that since the 90's!) for catching it. I don't think there should have been a $$ exchange for whatever corrections MS was looking for because THAT is the underlying conflict of interest. But what other reasonable method could they have persued to get the job done? If I were a standards guy and really knew my sh*t, I wouldn't do what I do for free. Maybe Wiki should use a portion of that HUGE chunk of money to handle such disputes. Wiki pays a neutral versed party to be the judge. Of course, there's pitfalls in that too..... What do you do if someone posts inaccurate info about your business?
@MalshewSorry, but this argument has always bewildered me. Exactly what information *shouldn't* one take with a grain of salt? Wikipedia is no different to any other source (except that some articles are prone to (usually obvious) vandalism) in that you have to question what you read and not blindly believe what's said.
Wow you morons can debate it all you want but there is a simple proof that it isn't wrong. Example.HI WORLD!! I have a canvas that you all can paint on within limitation. If it gets to a point out of control we will take over a little and moderate it.Is Microsoft excluded? Hi my name is Bob, I make 'Bob's Cheese' but I can't say anything I know on the Wiki page about it. What is the definition if Wiki? Screw paying him to do it. I'd put it in for free if they told me what their issues were.I'm sorry folks but MS can't be the bad guy on everything you know, grow up. But of course we never hear anything good about Apple on digg...cough cough..What is it that is so many people's problem. Did MS take over the world? No. Linux is doing well and Apple is growing. You do all realize that people choose to buy MS products or at least torrent them etc. How many people do??? hmmm... a lot, even more than that really. The WHOLE world could choose Linux tomorrow......they still haven't. If the world chooses MS, deal with it.It's fine to advertise, but out right slander and conspiracy over lets say... EVERYTHING is getting far beyond ridiculous.I'm sure you will find something wrong with the way William Gates clips his finger nails.... Wouldn't be surprised to see a digg about it.I love digg, I really do. I'm starting to fear that it's so full of anti-MS bull that I may have to quit this wonderful site. Kind of like Wiki, another beautiful idea but when human bias etc gets in the way it makes the diamond dirty. Wikipedia has it's value still, but you do have to look past the dirt most the time. You morons keep ruining these sites with articles that are about what!?!?
"Wikipedia is a good mechanism. But it only really works when everyone who uses it has an intimate understanding of what they write. When you throw armchair sleuths into the mix, things don't work out very well."So, what you're saying is, democracy really only works when its amongst intelligent people?
superalamar,You are missing the point of Wiki. Wiki is not an opinion blog and opinions are edited out fast (even though some Wiki editors forget that) but an encyclopedia. Reviews don't belong on Wiki and I am 100% sure MS didn't pay him to review the software but add/update some missing information. In lame mans terms; MS wouldn't pay someone to praise/bash in the article because MS is smart enough to know that would just be edited out; hence being a waste of money.
Really, the articles don't look like they have a big bias, it was probably more of a way for Microsoft to inform people about XML standards etc. than anything else.
You dont get it, most digg users use Macs and Linux. (I?d love to see statistics)Its microsoft and its evil and thats it.lol. A site being moderated by a userbase of fanboys;
lvdrummerJan 24, 2007
I'd be interested in seeing the bloggers final product and base my true judgement on that! It's Microsofts own standard and whether there's imperfections (as there are in EVERY standard) I think Microsoft deserves "props" (damn, haven't used that since the 90's!) for catching it. I don't think there should have been a $$ exchange for whatever corrections MS was looking for because THAT is the underlying conflict of interest. But what other reasonable method could they have persued to get the job done? If I were a standards guy and really knew my sh*t, I wouldn't do what I do for free. Maybe Wiki should use a portion of that HUGE chunk of money to handle such disputes. Wiki pays a neutral versed party to be the judge. Of course, there's pitfalls in that too..... What do you do if someone posts inaccurate info about your business?
sephereniaJan 24, 2007
@MalshewSorry, but this argument has always bewildered me. Exactly what information *shouldn't* one take with a grain of salt? Wikipedia is no different to any other source (except that some articles are prone to (usually obvious) vandalism) in that you have to question what you read and not blindly believe what's said.
musicalgeniusJan 25, 2007
Wow you morons can debate it all you want but there is a simple proof that it isn't wrong. Example.HI WORLD!! I have a canvas that you all can paint on within limitation. If it gets to a point out of control we will take over a little and moderate it.Is Microsoft excluded? Hi my name is Bob, I make 'Bob's Cheese' but I can't say anything I know on the Wiki page about it. What is the definition if Wiki? Screw paying him to do it. I'd put it in for free if they told me what their issues were.I'm sorry folks but MS can't be the bad guy on everything you know, grow up. But of course we never hear anything good about Apple on digg...cough cough..What is it that is so many people's problem. Did MS take over the world? No. Linux is doing well and Apple is growing. You do all realize that people choose to buy MS products or at least torrent them etc. How many people do??? hmmm... a lot, even more than that really. The WHOLE world could choose Linux tomorrow......they still haven't. If the world chooses MS, deal with it.It's fine to advertise, but out right slander and conspiracy over lets say... EVERYTHING is getting far beyond ridiculous.I'm sure you will find something wrong with the way William Gates clips his finger nails.... Wouldn't be surprised to see a digg about it.I love digg, I really do. I'm starting to fear that it's so full of anti-MS bull that I may have to quit this wonderful site. Kind of like Wiki, another beautiful idea but when human bias etc gets in the way it makes the diamond dirty. Wikipedia has it's value still, but you do have to look past the dirt most the time. You morons keep ruining these sites with articles that are about what!?!?
glitch82Jan 25, 2007
"Wikipedia is a good mechanism. But it only really works when everyone who uses it has an intimate understanding of what they write. When you throw armchair sleuths into the mix, things don't work out very well."So, what you're saying is, democracy really only works when its amongst intelligent people?
iamspooJan 25, 2007
superalamar,You are missing the point of Wiki. Wiki is not an opinion blog and opinions are edited out fast (even though some Wiki editors forget that) but an encyclopedia. Reviews don't belong on Wiki and I am 100% sure MS didn't pay him to review the software but add/update some missing information. In lame mans terms; MS wouldn't pay someone to praise/bash in the article because MS is smart enough to know that would just be edited out; hence being a waste of money.
sammy22b06Jan 25, 2007
Really, the articles don't look like they have a big bias, it was probably more of a way for Microsoft to inform people about XML standards etc. than anything else.
cablitoJan 31, 2007
You dont get it, most digg users use Macs and Linux. (I?d love to see statistics)Its microsoft and its evil and thats it.lol. A site being moderated by a userbase of fanboys;