Does anyone here actually read entire Wikipedia articles all the time?

Question

I find that I usually just skim articles of interest for particular pieces of information I'm looking for, or just to get the general idea of something from a Wikipedia article. I rarely read the entire articles, but then I realized this means I'm probably being not so smart ... so I can't help but wonder, do most people out there actually read entire Wikipedia articles from top to bottom? The reason I ask is because supposedly a lot info on Wikipedia is wrong, and I'm just wondering if anyone else feels like it's a waste of time to read the entire articles as they may contain a lot of wrong information?

Answer 1

I've occasionally read Wikipedia articles (other than stubs) from top to bottom, but it's not something I do on a regular basis.



Even if there are no factual inaccuracies (that I can detect), the writing is just so awful and painful to read. So often someone is like "Ooh, ooh, I have a fact I can put in," and they don't bother to check if the fact is already in the article. So they just stick it anywhere, possibly breaking up the flow of another paragraph (if it even had flow to begin with). Then people are rightly hesitant to delete it because they think the fact is true though misplaced.



Most people probably do what you do: skim an article for a particular bit of information they were looking for, and then get back to what really matters: updating their Facebook status. Wikipedia is not wrong all the time, and even when the information is correct, you might misread it and initiate a new myth.



You know those people who find mistakes in newspaper headlines and TV shows ("nitpickers")? If that's something you'd enjoy doing with Wikipedia, you can send in the mistakes you find to some Wikipedia Hall of Shame somewhere on the Web.

Answer 2

Since Wikipedia is user-generated information and it is user edited, a lot of the information is wrong. That's why I really don't read it for reference, just leisure. However, the only article I have read in entirety is the article on bohemian rhapsody. Its a useful website for things of interest such as music or entertainment, but for academic or research purposes it is next to useless. I say next to and not completely, because Wikipedia can be good on a research level as it can give you good ideas as far as how to break down an organize information, or it can give you main ideas to research further with a more reputable source.

Answer 3

Yeah i would read it just to see what there talking about. I dont believe everything on Wikipedia cause they couldve gotten that from anywhere. Sometimes i would actually read it all from top to bottom if i find it interesting. And at times i would just skim through to find interesting stuff or if im just bored.

Answer 4

I sure as hell do. Every time I read something on Wikipedia I always turn out smarter, and for some reason the information sticks. When I get lazy and I don't feel like reading the whole thing I read it any way. Than I feel great about myself.... LOL

JK

I scan over most things theres just too much information...

Answer 5

me... i even read the entire page of articles associated with that article

Answer 6

Do you recommend Duck Billed Platypus? And in certainty something of your question does not make plenty extra experience than that. the certainty that that creature exists in itself i do no longer in my view think of proves something much less smart layout.

Answer 7

I've read entire stubs...

Answer 8

Sometimes...