20230123-wiki_copy_paste.txt
I was looking for info on the history of a foreign language keyboard.
I used DDG to search for it. To my chagrin, every single morsel on the
first two search result pages was an obvious copy/paste of the same
info found on the TOW page for it, just a date it was supposedly
implemented and no information on the actual creator/designer. What a
load. It's just so weird because the keyboard, IMO, is just the
opposite of ergonomic and sensible when it comes to key placement. It
also doesn't help that I can't find a layout that addresses my
concerns.
Anyway, it was quite annoying to search for this knowledge and get
over a dozen mimeographs of what is/was on the TOW page and likely
didn't start on the TOW page. It's hardly the first time I've run
across this plagiarism issue and it won't be the last.
I may have already written about it, but I'm not a fan of TOW. A big
reason is the sandbox nature of it. In theory, it works like a charm:
angels do not post incorrect information and all it does is get more
detailed and "better" as time goes on. Reality, on the other hand, is
much different. You have certain users with more pull, with vested
interests in gatekeeping and determining what is notable, accurate,
correct, fair, etc. The problem is these urchins are the LAST ones
that should be the stewards of knowledge: maladjusted, socially inept,
unpaid lemmings who have, for whatever reason, a vested interest in
what a given article says or doesn't say. All their guidelines are
worthless and seniority is more important when deciding disputes
rather than content or balance or truth. It's both amazing and sad how
many times TOW falls short of its mission and rules.
I realize it's a placebo effect, but I try to avoid TOW at all costs
and use Gopherpedia instead... or anything else. I know that
Gopherpedia is simply a different wrapping, so I don't use it much,
either. If only there were a better repository for knowledge on
Gopher, it would be much better. Shout out to Gopher ports of Urban
Dictionary (parazyd) and dictionary (Khzae).
