Librarians Don't Like Wikipedia: Whaaaaaaaa?

Your source for all information about Optimus Prime.

I have been threatening to talk about Wikipedia for a while.  I will not say all I have to say, but today we talk about groundbreaking article that is about seven years too late.  This article tells the masses that librarians do not like Wikipedia as a primary, secondary, or as a general source of information.  Gasp!

Have we all used Wikipedia?  Yes.  If you are reading this right now on a computer, then you have used Wikipedia.  That is okay.  If you need quick information that is widely known or some bit of knowledge in pop culture to settle a bar bet, knock yourself out.  But if you are researching a paper and cite a Wikipedia article as a credible source you should be castrated with your laptop so the rest of us do not have to look at your dumbass children.

Does Wikipedia have a place in research?  Hell yes. Sometimes (better now than in the past) authors on Wikipedia cite their sources way down at the bottom of the article.  These sources can then often be used as legitimate reference points.

So, the next time you find yourself about to cite Wikipedia in a paper or any other writing/speech that is the least bit important, think about this:  The Wikipedia article for George Washington is about 8,800 words as of this writing.  The article for Optimus Prime is around 10,800 words.  The people who write for Wikipedia care more about the leader of the Autobots than for the first president of this country and you lazy bastards trust them with providing you research!