But studies have shown that the quality (i.e., error rate) of Britannica is only somewhat better than Wikipedia -- they're both of similar magnitude.
I fear that the stigma really stems from academia (right down to elementary school) believing in a top-down model, a priesthood of experts who dictate to the masses, whereas WP stands for power from the ground up.
-CWuestefeld
While I can agree in spirit with that argument (academics having much to answer for) I still worry about the current trend towards confusing consensus with fact and proof. I've seen too much scientifically determined fact dismissed with comments like: "Well, that's just your opinion." or "I'm sorry, but we don't see it that way." to be too anxious to toss out our entire qualified peer review system in favor of mob rule when it comes to creating reference materials.
And while crowd sourcing may be all the rage, I can't help but wonder why the opinions of experts or scientific research is now often considered less reliable and acceptable than the off-the-cuff collective opinion of 400 laymen, a talk show host, or a badly designed and conducted poll.
Small surprise we now see things like over 500 locales authoritatively listed as the number one place (singular) for starting a business in America - if the magazines can be trusted. Or how worries about carbon and global warming are dismissed by our policy makers because their is no 'scientific' consensus to support the concern.
Not to say that everyone isn't entitled to their opinion.
It's just that I think its both naive and potentially dangerous to think that everyone's opinion should automatically be given equal weight.
Call me crazy, but from what I've seen, something like 80% of what's out there talking (i.e. the "All I know is______" crowd) isn't entitled to an opinion because they simply don't know enough (and usually can't be bothered to learn enough) to be qualified to even have an opinion worth listening to.
-40hz
There's ^^^ which you describe above. And on the other side of the spectrum, there are those very intelligent, very learned people who either can't or won't explain whatever it is they know so well. For example, there are those that don't realize that most people haven't spent a lifetime poring over the specific thing that they are experts at, and they are unable to communicate their knowledge in a beneficial way. Then, there are those who simply won't be clear because they don't want to "give something away" (it's true...I've seen it).
Another thing I've noticed in the very "smart" crowds, especially the ones that really need the PhD label before they listen to anything...if they think you are not qualified, all they do (because they are very smart and clever) is take your opinion, and disagree with it. It's a form of bullying in my opinion. So if I ask "So do you think the Great Pyramids were built by aliens?" they'll answer "Well, perhaps they were built by slave labor." And they go on to explain how that's possible. But had I asked "So do you think the Great Pyramids were built by slave labor?" well now they'll answer 'Well, perhaps they weren't slaves but respected artisans and engineers." And this is fine, but I've seen too much that they are doing this general tactic to disagree. They just will not agree. Even if they agree, they have to sort of stick in that last word...the but-how-about-this comment. And the whole thing really boils down to that all they are trying to do is appear smart. it's not an honest and open exploration of a topic. I have really been turned off by this attitude in the universities I have attended. And even more so in the workplace.
And then there's this legalistic they do about changing your mind. I change my mind constantly, especially as i dig deeper into a subject. And a lot of these guys I describe above like to bully you about changing your mind, because anyone who changes their mind is immediately not credible any more.
I know I'm bitter and defensive about this. But it is something I have struggled with much of my life and I'm only understanding it on a personal level now. A lot of my family came from areas where you just couldn't ask questions freely. And that's never really gone away for a lot of them. And I had to sort of balance all that out with the fact that I'm also a born and raised American. It's that 1st generation thing. It's crazy. In the end, I just don't want people making me feel guilty or bad about exploring a subject, and I think that's something this country is (should be? was?) great at.
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