Value and Veracity

Tech Debug recently pointed out a big loophole in Wikipedia’s referencing system.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Make up a “fact.”
2. Write your fact on a Wikipedia entry without citing a reference.
3. Wait for a journalist from some “respectable” news organization to come along and mention your fact in a publication.
4. Edit the Wikipedia entry to cite the publication.
5. Watch as the world reels in confusion.

So this sounds pretty dumb, but apparently it actually happened with Sasha Baron Cohen’s Wikipedia entry (with the Independent being the “respectable” news organization), and now nobody in the world is sure whether or not he had a career in finance before switching to acting.

We probably underestimate how common this is. One little inaccuracy on Wikipedia can reach thousands of readers in a relatively short time. If the misinformed go on to replicate this inaccuracy, then the mistake becomes exceptionally hard to correct.

It appears that philosopher Paul Feyerabend, who advocated an anarchistic view of (scientific) knowledge, has won.

I have decided that the goal of this blog (at least for the time being) is promoting more intelligent procrastination. In that spirit, I will share links that help me procrastinate more effectively.

Edge releases an annual “World Question” along with answers from myriad distinguished intellectuals. My favorite response to this year’s question, “What have you changed your mind about?,” is from Charles Sheife, who argues that there is a conflict between science and democratic ideals.

Does tolerance impede the intellectual progress of society? Would this undermine the Millian defense of a “free market of ideas”?