Comments on: The Weird World of Wikipedia http://www.bloggernews.net/116240 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Paddy Briggs http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-383171 Paddy Briggs Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:29:37 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-383171 Padstermac The Wiki entry on the "British Isles" says, rightly, that Ireland is one of them - which (geographically) it is. It doesn't suggest that Ireland, as a whole is <strong>British prop</strong>erty - which demonstrably it isn't!. The Wiki entry on the island of Ireland (which, may I remind you, is part British and part Irish politically) does not say that the island of Ireland is geographically one of the British Isles. Despite the fact that it is! It's very silly indeed - and makes Wiki look very silly too. Padstermac

The Wiki entry on the “British Isles” says, rightly, that Ireland is one of them - which (geographically) it is. It doesn’t suggest that Ireland, as a whole is British property - which demonstrably it isn’t!.

The Wiki entry on the island of Ireland (which, may I remind you, is part British and part Irish politically) does not say that the island of Ireland is geographically one of the British Isles. Despite the fact that it is!

It’s very silly indeed - and makes Wiki look very silly too.

]]> By: Padstermac http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-383017 Padstermac Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:15:06 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-383017 Irish people do not appreciate the term 'British Isles'. You cannot unilaterally impose a term on people which they do not accept. The argument that the 'British Isles' is merely a geographical term is specious. Why are the Channel Islands always included in the definition even though they are 'geographically' part of France? The simple fact is that the term 'British' has political connotations. We left the UK nearly a century ago, is that fact too hard for you to take? We're not even in the Commonwealth, so Mozambique has more of a constitutional link to Britain than Ireland does. Why do you persist in using such an outdated term? Irish people do not appreciate the term ‘British Isles’. You cannot unilaterally impose a term on people which they do not accept.

The argument that the ‘British Isles’ is merely a geographical term is specious. Why are the Channel Islands always included in the definition even though they are ‘geographically’ part of France?

The simple fact is that the term ‘British’ has political connotations. We left the UK nearly a century ago, is that fact too hard for you to take? We’re not even in the Commonwealth, so Mozambique has more of a constitutional link to Britain than Ireland does. Why do you persist in using such an outdated term?

]]> By: X-o-tic http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-381224 X-o-tic Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:29:45 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116240#comment-381224 "My own view is that Wikipedia should only allow changes to entries from approved editors who can demonstrate a reason why they have specialist knowledge on a particular subject." Great idea. Just explain how to make it work in practice, how to check the identities or credentials of thousands and thousands of users from dozens of countries. “My own view is that Wikipedia should only allow changes to entries from approved editors who can demonstrate a reason why they have specialist knowledge on a particular subject.”

Great idea. Just explain how to make it work in practice, how to check the identities or credentials of thousands and thousands of users from dozens of countries.

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