Buddhist Wikipedia Improvement Project

[gavesako]

It is nearly spring and time for some cleaning work. Looking at some of the pages about Buddhism on Wikipedia, they seem to contain many factual errors, spelling mistakes, etc. For example this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand

Another monk was thinking of how to improve the situation but ... "The problem is I am reluctant to much time into it because as soon as you've updated a page some know-nothing comes along and vandalises it according to his own prejudices."

There was already one call to do something about it on this blog:
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/08/b ... again.html

Would there be any volunteers here to help with this problem?

[tiltbillings]

There are a few good things on Wiki concerning Buddhism, but there are many gawd awful pieces of manure such as the article on anatta. It is a waste of time to try to correct the anatta article, given that Ken Wheeler, or one of his minions, will alter it back to the silly-assed drivel that he thinks is the truth of things.

[appicchato]

Would there be any volunteers here to help with this problem?

Give me some specifics as to what has to be done and I'll take a stab at it...

[BlackBird]

I used to do a bit of editing here and there. Unfortunately you get a few amateur Buddhologists on there, and they're in the nasty habit of reverting anything you say that conflicts with their idea of what Buddhism's about. Anyway, best of luck team - Hope the citation-spree goes smoothly

metta
Jack

[Ben]

Dear Venerable Gavesako

Stefan, a member here on Dhamma Wheel, seems to be active at Wikipedia. I know Stefan has contributed a few items, possibly lists and chronologies. You may consider inviting Stefan in any contributing/editing project.
kind regards

Ben

[effort]

off topic:
i love satipatthana section in wiki, thats really look well categorised.

[Stephen K]

I'll gladly help! Just tell me what to do (fix spelling, grammar, etc.) and the articles that need to be edited.

[gavesako]

It might be a good idea to take each Wikipedia article and look at it together, post quotes which are unclear or terms which are misspelled on this thread, and then through cooperative effort produce a better version. Maybe Stefan could be the one to do the actual Wikipedia updating.

[Mawkish1983]

I like that idea. Centralised, organised, deliberate wholesome improvement of a resource used by millions and all-too-often regarded as 'fact'. I thought as long as good references were used 'edit wars' were forbidden? What better reference for Buddhism is there than the Canon?

Should other wikipedia editors feel the need to erroneously change what we correct, we should report them for breaking the wikipedia terms of use. I did it once on the Piano article, and the system does work.

[Cittasanto]

I will help where I can!

I am busy most of the time at the moment but will do what I can

[Stephen K]

For starters, I think the article on the Four Noble Truths needs expansion — it's too short an article for such an important topic, I think.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths