Weasel Words

I've long been aware of Wikipedia's devoted following of editors/original computer users, but I never took the time out of my busy day of gettin paid and gettin laid to really think about 'em. Then I came across this.

And now I'm starin at a bitch's bald spot and thinking, "Is Wikipedia becoming more of a game or a sport?" Either way, whoever argues for their own neutrality best or edited last is the winner. Individualism is the clear loser. Expertise is a vague loser and Orwellian dystopic monopolization of factual information in an easily manipulated database rides on the fog of a hobo's breath in winter.

According to that entry, these are all questions that "weasel words" raise:

• Who says that?
• When do they say it? Now? At the time of writing?
• How many people think it? How many is some?
• What kind of people think it? Where are they?
• What kind of bias might they have?
• Why is this of any significance?

And they're also the questions of an increasingly drunk and belligerent Wikipedia.

Wikipedia all slurring its way through, hand-conducting an invisible orchestra over a confused and disappointed editor. Wikipedia knows it's being kind of a dick, but it stopped caring about three tequila sunrises ago. It's mostly just talking to itself, anyway. (Click here to continue reading...)