The work of experts can be undone by a simple prankster, eh? > Sounds like a bad idea to me. Next time it won't be a prankster, > it'll be someone who isn't an expert but only THINKS he's an > expert -- and then who's to say what you believe?
Every Wikipedia entry has a "permanent link" that links to the article as it stood at the moment when you looked at it. Each entry also includes citation text in various formats so that an author can cite the article knowing it won't be changed later. Of course, any author citing a Wiki article should review it carefully for accuracy before citing it; but that can be said of any citation.
In my experience, Wikipedia entries are accurate and well-written. A favorite example: Wikipedia's definitions "geostationary" and "geosynchronous" are accurate, unlike WIRED magazine that never uses the terms correctly, and refuses to print my letter asking them to correct it.
Neal McLain