Wikipedia's open-source label conundrum

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Confusing software with content

This article appears to confuse the CONTENT of an application with the software that underlies the operation of the application. Wikipedia IS open-source software - no different from thousands of other open-source codeing efforts where contributions by CODERS of the project are strictly controlled and monitored. Contributions by USERS of the application (content) are what comprise the articles, and that is most definitely NOT the same thing as open-source software. But most applications do not allow open content and sacrifice input from the broad base of knowledge available in the world in the name of control of content (e.g., the author "knows" what is correct, so others must be prevented from modifying articles). Wikipedia's choice is to relax the control in order to gain the benefit of everyone's knowledge/opinion about any particular subject. Yes, that can get ugly when it is exploited, but if all readers are aware of that danger and read with that in mind, it is an acceptable risk compared to the loss imposed by restricted input.

Of course, if what I have entered here is not correct, please feel free to modify it.

Posted by: hchelette@...   Posted on: 12/09/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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