Post #641127 by AceExplorer on Wed, Jun 20, 2012 11:47 AM

AceExplorer wrote:
Re the earlier, very well-intentioned comment about Wikipedia: Unfortunately, Wikipedia is a waste of time and energy. Much of what is posted there is dead wrong. And if you bother to correct the wrong material yourself, someone is certain to go in and replace your corrections with MORE wrong information. As a historian, I'd love nothing more than to see Wikipedia disappear forever. I prefer books written by reliable experts that we've come to trust rather than "a million monkeys with a million typewriters."
(End Quote)

Hey, Chris, come on... That's a very broad generalization and assertion. So you're doing all this research, you're clearly interested in sharing information with the tiki community, but not with the rest of the world? Even in the face of what is, to me, a glaring omission by the contributors in Wikipedia who are tiki-aware, you're not interested in considering possibly enhancing it with information which you know to be "truer" and "more correct?" This is, to me, a bizarre refusal when you have such a great opportunity. I encourage you to consider putting down whatever resistance you have and at least consider putting your "better information" out there. Whether we personally like Wikipedia or not, it is for many people a potential avenue into tiki discovery in addition to Tiki Central.

And regarding your comment that you would "love nothing more than to see Wikipedia disappear forever. I prefer books written by reliable experts that we've come to trust rather than 'a million monkeys with a million typewriters.'." I would like to encourage and see you exercise the discernment and critical thinking skills required to evaluate primary and secondary material and treat it accordingly. "Researchers" who quickly dismiss things without giving proper and scholarly consideration may draw incorrect conclusions or generate incomplete works and thereby tarnish their credibility. In your case now, your ability to put up a map and toss up a bunch of pushpins is being challenged by others who seek more depth and more effort on your part. You should get used to that, it's what critical readers and thinkers are accustomed to doing, and this may just be the beginning of these types of requests for you. After all, you're among "big boys and girls of tiki" here on TC, and some additional depth and analysis (and value) is desired.

For the record, I did visit your site yesterday and found the same as the others. I "drove around alot" with my mouse and it wasn't productive or engaging enough to warrant using it for more than a few minutes. So I think the suggestion that it's a bit too general in nature and would benefit from more focus is valid feedback. A great idea, but a bit too general.

I would like to see the A-frame discussion continue, it's led to some very productive dialog, kudos to you for initiating that.

Just some friendly thoughts and suggestions, seriously not trying to be harsh, hope this message comes across that way.