Why does wikipedia update so often ?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • polish_aristocrat
    Too lazy to set a custom title
    • Jul 2002
    • 40377

    #1

    Why does wikipedia update so often ?

    ok, serious question

    It's been pointed out several times how quick Wikipedia is to update articles on individuals involved in current events, like Zidane, Hussein, Obama etc

    that's great for sure

    But I don't quite understand why the articles about people who aren't on the spotlight anymore, are updated often almost as often.

    F.e sportsmen who retired etc.. I sometimes check on them in wikipedia, but there are obviously no news.. and yet still wikipedia says the article updated last 2 days ago. Seriously, wtf? Nothing new gets added, just the wording changes here and there...

    I understand how wikipedia is run, but this still kinda doesnt make that it's right. If nothing happens regarding some ex-celeb anymore, then why update the article on him every 5 days? Why not wait 6 months until something happens?
    I don't use ICQ anymore.
  • mattz
    Confirmed User
    • Dec 2001
    • 7697

    #2
    why is the sky blue

    Comment

    • websiex
      Confirmed User
      • Aug 2004
      • 987

      #3
      Originally posted by mattz
      why is the sky blue
      The sky is blue because air scatters short-wavelength light in preference to longer wavelengths. From ROY G BIV (visible spectrum) - All the colors before blue just pass through, and because the human eye cannot detect indigo/violet light in presence of light with longer wavelengths, we are left with blue - and that is what color the sky appears as to humans.

      Comment

      • Splum
        Confirmed User
        • May 2003
        • 6195

        #4
        Originally posted by websiex
        The sky is blue because air scatters short-wavelength light in preference to longer wavelengths. From ROY G BIV (visible spectrum) - All the colors before blue just pass through, and because the human eye cannot detect indigo/violet light in presence of light with longer wavelengths, we are left with blue - and that is what color the sky appears as to humans.
        So in other words robots and dogs would see the purple sky?

        Comment

        • craigant01
          Registered User
          • Feb 2005
          • 87

          #5
          wow i thought it was blue coz of the reflection from the sea, thats what my old science teacher told me the lying bastard!!

          Comment

          • aico
            Moo Moo Cow
            • Mar 2004
            • 14748

            #6
            If you understand how Wikipedia works, then why are you asking the question? It's updated as often as someone makes an edit or addition.

            Comment

            • websiex
              Confirmed User
              • Aug 2004
              • 987

              #7
              Originally posted by Splum
              So in other words robots and dogs would see the purple sky?
              I'm not sure how a dogs eyes are made up, it could possibly see blue, indigo, or violet (judging it can see colors to begin with, isn't known.). All depends on the make up of the eye.

              Comment

              • Jace
                FBOP Class Of 2013
                • Jan 2004
                • 35562

                #8
                wasn't there an article on this in some magazine like a month ago?

                there are some wikipedia editors that have contributed like a million edits a piece or some shit....some guys literally sit in their off time and edit wikipedia, that is ALL they do...and there are hundreds of them

                Comment

                • polish_aristocrat
                  Too lazy to set a custom title
                  • Jul 2002
                  • 40377

                  #9
                  Originally posted by aico
                  If you understand how Wikipedia works, then why are you asking the question? It's updated as often as someone makes an edit or addition.
                  yeah but a recent update date may create the impression that something significantly has been added

                  the whole thing makes wikipedia less of an encyclopedia - I mean if a totally non controversial topic has already a comprehensive article on it, then editing it for no real reason adds absolutely no value to the user
                  I don't use ICQ anymore.

                  Comment

                  • FuqALot
                    Confirmed User
                    • Dec 2001
                    • 3817

                    #10
                    Originally posted by websiex
                    The sky is blue because air scatters short-wavelength light in preference to longer wavelengths. From ROY G BIV (visible spectrum) - All the colors before blue just pass through, and because the human eye cannot detect indigo/violet light in presence of light with longer wavelengths, we are left with blue - and that is what color the sky appears as to humans.
                    finally an interesting gfy poster again

                    Comment

                    • UKJack
                      Confirmed User
                      • Jan 2007
                      • 139

                      #11
                      The reason people make slight edits is because they want to keep there edit count up its a status thing among editors also they have edit wars where the info in constantly changed because one person wants to keep it one and another wants it another way

                      Comment

                      • crazyforyou
                        Confirmed User
                        • Jan 2007
                        • 172

                        #12
                        it should be often

                        Comment

                        • Rhesus
                          Confirmed User
                          • Aug 2004
                          • 2009

                          #13
                          That wasn't your smartest question to date...

                          Comment

                          • polish_aristocrat
                            Too lazy to set a custom title
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 40377

                            #14
                            Originally posted by UKJack
                            The reason people make slight edits is because they want to keep there edit count up its a status thing among editors also they have edit wars where the info in constantly changed because one person wants to keep it one and another wants it another way
                            ok that explains it
                            I don't use ICQ anymore.

                            Comment

                            • Rhesus
                              Confirmed User
                              • Aug 2004
                              • 2009

                              #15
                              Wikipedia is a social project. Its hallmark is that it's in continuous flow... It's fluid, not solid. The editors are so numerous that for every seemingly uninteresting celeb there will be 10 fans jumping to add their input.

                              Comment

                              • Lazonby
                                Confirmed User
                                • Feb 2006
                                • 2262

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Jace
                                wasn't there an article on this in some magazine like a month ago?

                                there are some wikipedia editors that have contributed like a million edits a piece or some shit....some guys literally sit in their off time and edit wikipedia, that is ALL they do...and there are hundreds of them
                                Damn right. I tried to linkspam some of the articles and got caught out by some bastard who spends all his free time making sure the ********** category is devoid of commercial links.

                                Funny thing is, the links I tried to add did actually add some value and relevance, but he was so strict he didn't allow any links at all to sites with any commercial aspect.

                                So I looked at his profile. He is in his 40s and is fat and ugly. No wonder he has time to spend his life moderating Wikipedia updates.

                                Anyway, Wikipedia is just as corrupt as DMOZ imo.

                                Comment

                                • foe
                                  Confirmed User
                                  • May 2002
                                  • 5246

                                  #17
                                  It's the same concept as GFY and post count

                                  Comment

                                  • Kimo
                                    ...
                                    • Jan 2006
                                    • 11542

                                    #18
                                    them people are crazy
                                    ...

                                    Comment

                                    • StarkReality
                                      Confirmed User
                                      • May 2004
                                      • 4444

                                      #19
                                      Yep, getting my mainstream sites linked from wikipedia is a pain in the ass...although they make perfect additions on some topics, some people there think all commercial sites are just evil spam...

                                      Comment

                                      • King of Queens
                                        Confirmed User
                                        • Aug 2006
                                        • 1288

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by craigant01
                                        wow i thought it was blue coz of the reflection from the sea, thats what my old science teacher told me the lying bastard!!
                                        Emails = $3.50 each | girls gone wild | Big Booty | Big Booty Videos

                                        Comment

                                        • Klen
                                          • Aug 2006
                                          • 32235

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by StarkReality
                                          Yep, getting my mainstream sites linked from wikipedia is a pain in the ass...although they make perfect additions on some topics, some people there think all commercial sites are just evil spam...
                                          Yep,many sites doesnt allow links to commercial sites.

                                          Comment

                                          • Rochard
                                            Jägermeister Test Pilot
                                            • Dec 2001
                                            • 75733

                                            #22
                                            When Anna Nicole Smith had died Wikipedia had it up in less than twenty minutes. The news broke as I was leaving work for lunch and I came home and looked up some information on her and it was already up.
                                            Herschel Savage
                                            Brooklyn, NY

                                            Comment

                                            • KrisKross
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Jan 2006
                                              • 5025

                                              #23
                                              Originally posted by Rochard
                                              When Anna Nicole Smith had died Wikipedia had it up in less than twenty minutes. The news broke as I was leaving work for lunch and I came home and looked up some information on her and it was already up.
                                              Yep. Many editors update articles related to breaking news almost live. They sit and watch CNN, read the news wires and update the article. In some cases, its better to read the Wikipedia article than to watch the news as the Wikipedia article is constantly being updated by multiple editors all watching different broadcasts.

                                              Comment

                                              Working...