Wikipedia
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More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: land of the clanger
Wikipedia
From the Telegraph:
The digital encyclopaedia will voluntarily shut down for 24 hours tomorrow (18th) in a protest against internet piracy laws in the United States.
A major target of the protest, SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act), has already been effectively halted by opposition from the White House, but Wales said the blackout would go ahead anyway.
Opponents of SOPA and PIPA argue they impose unfair responsibilities on websites such as Wikipedia to check that no material they host infringes copyright. Under current laws if websites remove pirated content when they are notified by the copyright holder they are not liable for damages.
The proposed laws also make it easier for American copyright holders to cut off access to foreign websites hosting unlicensed copies of films, music and television programs.
The legislation has been backed by an intensive lobbying campaign by major media owners, including Rupert Murdoch, and opposed by the giants of Silicon Valley, including Google and Facebook.
The digital encyclopaedia will voluntarily shut down for 24 hours tomorrow (18th) in a protest against internet piracy laws in the United States.
A major target of the protest, SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act), has already been effectively halted by opposition from the White House, but Wales said the blackout would go ahead anyway.
Opponents of SOPA and PIPA argue they impose unfair responsibilities on websites such as Wikipedia to check that no material they host infringes copyright. Under current laws if websites remove pirated content when they are notified by the copyright holder they are not liable for damages.
The proposed laws also make it easier for American copyright holders to cut off access to foreign websites hosting unlicensed copies of films, music and television programs.
The legislation has been backed by an intensive lobbying campaign by major media owners, including Rupert Murdoch, and opposed by the giants of Silicon Valley, including Google and Facebook.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,052
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From: In transit
Good. I dislike Wikipedia because of the way it dominates internet searches. It can be useful, in fact, 99% of the time it is useful, and I am 'guilty' of quoting from it, as we all do, when it suits me, although I am sceptical about the quality of the information it contains.
It is time that other online references got a look in, and perhaps during the 24 hours that Wikipedia shuts down, people will realise that there are others out there.
It is time that other online references got a look in, and perhaps during the 24 hours that Wikipedia shuts down, people will realise that there are others out there.
Thread Starter
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: land of the clanger
I love it..its the ultimate quick info
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 62
From: Down under
does black out means shut down...I was under the impression its just gonna have black background in protest
I love it..its the ultimate quick info
I love it..its the ultimate quick info
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Personally I am comfortable with Wikipedia. One needs to have B/S filter <ON>, but then isn't that SOP with most internet ops? (This worthy forum excepted of course ..
)FoR!
Joined: Feb 1998
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,595
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From: Formerly of Nam
Wikipedia is a reasonable starting point to research stuff but
certainly not the final say. Also the managers of that site are
glaringly left wing.
It is excellent however in tracking down that favorite movie if
you recall the actor's name - the filmography is usually given
at the bottom of the page.
certainly not the final say. Also the managers of that site are
glaringly left wing.
It is excellent however in tracking down that favorite movie if
you recall the actor's name - the filmography is usually given
at the bottom of the page.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 62
From: Down under
Back again now - apparently they got the response they were hoping for:
SOPA/Blackoutpage - Wikimedia Foundation
F_O_R
SOPA/Blackoutpage - Wikimedia Foundation
F_O_R
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 0
From: Witnesham, Suffolk
Like others, I find Wikipedia a useful starting point. I have often found it subtly wrong in areas I know about - I occasionally get cross enough to go in and change it. It does seem to have a certain political bias, which is easily ignored.
Where it contains references (which it calls citations, like traffic offences) to other sources, those items are usually either accurate or so far out it's blindingly obvious.
It's an excellent place to start a search, but I would never (ever) quote it in an academic paper.
Where it contains references (which it calls citations, like traffic offences) to other sources, those items are usually either accurate or so far out it's blindingly obvious.
It's an excellent place to start a search, but I would never (ever) quote it in an academic paper.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 579
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From: Worldwide
Never before in human history have so much information been available to so many people.
The problem is that too many people equate access to information with knowledge, insight and understanding. All the while not knowing how much of the information is correct.
But hey, it has spawned a horde of instant experts who know everything despite having experienced nothing.
The problem is that too many people equate access to information with knowledge, insight and understanding. All the while not knowing how much of the information is correct.
But hey, it has spawned a horde of instant experts who know everything despite having experienced nothing.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
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From: Earth
Allow me to throw that load of FUD back at you Sir....
The same idiots who can't tell the difference between good and bad information on the internet are the same idiots who will fall for the stories told to them by bank managers, estate agents, care salespeople and treat what the newspapers say as gospel .....
The people who can't tell the difference in real life are the same people who can't tell the difference on the internet.
The benefits of the internet outweigh its disadvantages greatly.
Let's take financial products as an example. You can't trust the commission hungry sales people in your local bank branch who only want to sell you their own product .... so where can you find truly independent information on the whole gamut of financial products and their pros and cons .... at an affordable price ? Yeah, that's right, the internet.
When did you last book a flight or a train ticket face-to-face bricks and mortar ?
Just as there are a whole horde of so called real-life experts with qualifications and "experience" to their name who are a complete and utter waste of space.
( for the avoidance of doubt, that comment was not directed at you incase you think it was !).
The problem is that too many people equate access to information with knowledge, insight and understanding. All the while not knowing how much of the information is correct.
The people who can't tell the difference in real life are the same people who can't tell the difference on the internet.
But hey, it has spawned a horde of instant experts who know everything despite having experienced nothing.
Let's take financial products as an example. You can't trust the commission hungry sales people in your local bank branch who only want to sell you their own product .... so where can you find truly independent information on the whole gamut of financial products and their pros and cons .... at an affordable price ? Yeah, that's right, the internet.
When did you last book a flight or a train ticket face-to-face bricks and mortar ?
it has spawned a horde of instant experts who know everything despite having experienced nothing.
( for the avoidance of doubt, that comment was not directed at you incase you think it was !).
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 579
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From: Worldwide
( for the avoidance of doubt, that comment was not directed at you incase you think it was !).
I am not that insecure or defensive.
The remainder of your post appears to be a response to something other than what I said.
I am not that insecure or defensive.
The remainder of your post appears to be a response to something other than what I said.
