My Use of Wikipedia Articles

While I do not profess to be any Expert on Library Science, or the Media, or much of anything at all, I am aware that there is a perception in the general Population that Wikipedia, the Free Online Encyclopedia is less than trustworthy. That is an interesting idea, that needs to be at least briefly explored.

Wikipedia is unique in both design and function. It is can be edited by anyone who can access it, and the Articles are thereby constantly under review by any and everyone reading them. It is considered to be an Open Source Website.

The Origin of Wikipedia

The Reliability of the information in Wikipedia is often called into question. As it is an Open Source Project, as mentioned before, there are some who feel that it does not have sufficient controls on the accuracy of the information in the Articles. I find that an odd assertion. Conceivably, Experts from various areas of Research and Media can and do read Wikipedia Articles regularly. Does that not actually make Wikipedia ultimately MORE Democratic than other Sources? And be aware, Recorded Depictions of Reality are often the Product of Consensus,  so Facts are sometimes in dispute.

Wikipedia apparently as accurate as Britannica

With the recent rise of Websites that actually check the accuracy of information provided in the Media, and by Politicians and others, it probably should not surprise many People that it appears that we are not living in a World where accurate information is valued so much. Most of what we see and hear via Popular Corporate Media is provided under specific Editorial Guidelines. Does that imply impartiality, or the guarantee that the information is free of Editorial Slant? Not really. There could easily be an Agenda driving the completeness and manner in which information is presented.

Politifact Guide to Fact Checking

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting Website

If we consider that even Popular Corporate and Governmental Information Distribution Sources can be adulterated in their depiction of Reality, Wikipedia might be considered as viable a source as any. I personally use Wikipedia more as a starting point for any research than as a definitive source for Citation.

So, when I use a Wikipedia Article on this Blog, it should be with the understanding that, while it is no worse than any other source available, it is likely no better. We should never really simply accept information provided to us without double-checking, and should always do as much as we can to verify its accuracy. And no, the "I'm too busy" excuse does not cut it. Double-checking information is as important as any other primary task in Life.

We consume information, so we should be certain that what we consume is wholesome, and accurate. If we are fooled by those who mean to trick and harm us, we might just consider that we may not have exercised due diligence in checking on the accuracy of the information provided to us. I do not mean to blame the victim, but I am suggesting that it is better if we try to avoid becoming victims when it is wholly avoidable.

Peace and Compassion

Jeffrey

I am OFF Tuesday through Friday this Week

Much as I would LOVE to be able to produce my HATEFUL and HYPERCRITICAL Blog Posts 24/365, I am limited by the desire to have enough Money for myself and my family [yes, I have a Wife and Son] to Eat, Pay Bills, and continue Living Indoors. So, owing to an Injury [I will not bore you with the details] and an OVERLOAD of work, I will be taking a few days OFF from making new Posts. I will be back to my Maniacal Posts on the Weekend. But, in the meantime, I would be very happy if some kind Soul [no, I do not believe in an actual Soul, I am a Soto Zen Buddhist] would go to the Link on this Blog and donate enough Money so I could live with fewer Stressors. I would gladly make a long-winded and patronizing Post about that Person, and fall all over myself praising them in an unwarranted fashion. See you this Weekend!

Jeffrey

Diamonds are a Murderer's Best Friend!

"GORGEOUS DIAMONDS!"

Every year as we approach Valentine's Day, a horde of Commercials appear for the Gifts associated with LOVE. Flowers, Chocolates, Sexy Clothing, and Diamond Jewelry. If we love our Spouses, we must shower them with some Materials Token of that Love. While these Gifts are expensive, most do not know just expensive they actually are to many around the World.

United Nations Page on "Conflict Diamonds"

What harm could come from buying a few Shiny Rocks though? Well, the question turns out to be a complex one. In addition to Conflict Diamonds, Diamonds in General are associated with a number of different illicit activities.

Interesting Course for Law Enforcement on "Criminal Use of Diamonds"

Diamonds are used as Payment for, and Laundering of, innumerable criminal products and services. We are not just talking about Diamonds obtained illegally either. Legally obtained Safe Diamonds are routinely used as a less easily traced method of paying for things that criminals do not want Law Enforcement and/or Governments to know about.

Interesting Wikipedia Article on "Israeli Mafia"

Much of what most people know about Illicit Activities around the World comes from highly stylized depictions of those Activities in Fictional Movies. The Characters and Violence is often portrayed as very infrequent, and always Bigger Than Life. In reality, Violent Crime is actually extremely common. It happens in all 50 States of the Country, every single day of the year. Diamonds are used as payment for quite a bit of it, too.

United States Crime Statistics from 1960-2010

Chart above from: http://home.earthlink.net/~lsiemers/world.htm

Around the World, untold types of violence take place with Diamonds as either the payment for, or cause of, that violence. The Ads for these Valentine's Day Classic Gifts never mention this, however. They also do not mention the harm caused by the Mining of Diamonds that is done legally in places like South Africa.

Slightly older, but interesting Story on Diamonds in South Africa

South Africa's De Beers: The Most Unethical Corporation in the World

There really is not much more that need be said here. It should be obvious by now that I have a personal dislike of Diamonds, and the people who use them to garner Money. Am I of the opinion that Lovers should find some alternative method of demonstrating the Depth of the Love? OF COURSE I AM! Honestly, Diamonds are nothing but Shiny Rocks! Is all the violence and suffering and denial of Basic Human Rights worth it for Shiny Rocks? I sincerely hope that no one reading this is shallow or insane enough to answer that question with a "Yes." If you are, find another Blog.

Peace and Compassion to you.

Jeffrey

Super Bowl Commercials

Is there anything more distinctly American than the idea that certain commercials are actually awaited by a vast audience of eager American Consumers? During the National Football League's annual championship Bowl Game, known as the "Super Bowl," this is exactly what happens. It is a Wet Dream come true for the participating Corporations and Commercial Producers. For some of us, however, it is proof that Americans precipitate much of the oppressive Reality that is created by American Businesses and Government.

And we are like Moths to the Fire. Marketers concoct these horrible creations and Americans oblige by watching them attentively and purchasing the Products, Services, and/or Lifestyles sold in them. Few stop to realize that the Commercials would disappear if they did not produce results. But, they have become the backbone of American Capitalism.

Ever since President Richard Nixon took the United States off of the Gold Standard, our Economy has been driven more intensely than ever by Consumerism. Our entire Gross Domestic Product is dependent on Consumer Sales.

Wikipedia Article on the Gold Standard

For many of us, myself included, the question that continues to haunt us, relative to this Consumerism is: WHY? What could possibly have gone so wrong in the American Psyche that we believe that "buying shit" will make us Happier? [Yes, the term American Psyche is actually a link to a Book on the Subject that can be purchased at Amazon.com. Purchase it from the Amazon.com link on my Page, and I get some Payment as an Affiliate Seller.]

University of Southern California Page on Consumer Psychology

Link to a Google Books online copy of The Romantic Ethic and the Spirit of Modern Consumerism

Wikipedia Article on a Book by Chögyam Trungpa called "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism"

There does seem to at least a loose relationship between Consumerism and a lack of Spirituality in one's life. Experiencing a deeper sense of meaning in one's life can often negate much of the desire to fill that life with stuff instead.

A "New Age" Explanation of the Difference between Religion and Spirituality

While I am a Soto Zen Buddhist [Buddhism is actually 2,500 years old, by the way], and not a Practitioner of any New Age Spirituality, I believe that the Explanation at the Link above is actually a pretty good one. Religion represents much of the Ritual and Dogma that many people mistakenly associate with Spirituality.

There is clearly a relationship between Protestant Christianity and Materialism. One particular type of Protestant Christian Practice is most closely associated with Materialism: Calvinism. It is from Calvinism that the Protestant Work Ethic arises. In this concept, Material Prosperity is associated with Godliness, and Good Religious Practice.

To state this idea most simply, if God likes you, he makes you Rich. If you act as God wishes, he will like you. And thus, we have a natural Religious Progression towards spending. If God did not you mean for you to spend those Riches, then why would he give them to you?

http://www.amazon.com/God-Wants-You-Rich-Spiritual/dp/1416549277/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328484100&sr=1-3

The more that Capitalism has become closely associated with Americanism, and Americanism has become associated with Religion, the more people equate God and Country. There is nothing more American or Godly than spending.

Excerpt from a Book by American Economist Thornstein Veblen

Spending in a lavish and visual manner also serves to show how much God must Love us. If people cannot see the visible attributions of God's Gift of Wealth, then how will our Peers know how Good we are?

So, back to the Commercials during the Super Bowl. Can it be that the Sponsors of these Commercials are simply trying help Americans find God?

The likely answer is "No." If there is one thing that can be said about most Commercials that is that they are, by and large, self-serving creations of Marketers and Corporations. Do any of the actual Human Beings involved sponsoring and creating such Commercials even believe in a "God"? There is really no way to know. Would they be less Greedy if they did? Again, there is no way to know. History has shown us that belief in Deities does not necessarily prevent Greed. History is actually full of instances of Greedy Violence acted out in the name of Religion.

Back to the question of why are people drawn to Commercials? After looking at the information that I have presented, and doing some investigation on your own, I believe that it would be hard to come up with any answer to that question other than the following:

Commercials are a Contemporary Response to Primal Existential Tensions

People feel a need to Consume as a way to seek a Hedge against their own Mortality. If we have things, we may feel that we are less likely to Die - or at least less likely to notice that we are about to Die. If that seems like a less than Sane Reaction to a complex, and unavoidable component of life, that is because it is not Sane.

Watching ridiculous Commercials during the Super Bowl, and subsequently obeying their stated or implied commands, will not bring one Existential Relief. And even if we perceive such Commercials to be an interesting way to pass the time, we must remember that they were not designed to be merely Entertaining. These Commercials were designed to Sell and/or Persuade. They are a de facto form or Propaganda.

Propaganda works most effectively on its targets on levels that they are usually unaware of. We have our thoughts and actions influenced by it in ways that we are rarely aware of. I used to work at the National Security Agency, and I am fairly familiar with some of the worst of what it does. It is rarely used for good, and even more rarely understood by its targets.

My Blog Posts are themselves, actually a form of Propaganda. Though I make them to try and educate my Readers on subjects that I wish to express my Point of View on, many might consider my Posts to be deceptive and unduly persuasive.

I will neither dispute nor defend such assertions. My Posts speak for themselves. What I would expects my Readers [I have them?] be concerned about, as a Consumers of Information, would be the day that my Posts become part of Commercials during the Super Bowl. They might be just as cute, but who knows what I would be trying to sell you?

Peace and Compassion to you.

Jeffrey