Wikidata is no different from any community, there are differences of opinion. Everybody has his or her own perspective but there are assertions that can be made that have a more universal resonance.
The assertions below represent the underlying arguments I use in my blog posts and in the discussions I take part of. They are the ones I feel are not necessarily "political" or have a negative impact.
Thanks,
GerardM
- There is no data store without problems, this includes Wikipedia and Wikidata.
- The data we hold is best understood by applying set theory. The data in Wikidata consists of many subsets; probably the most valuable subset for the WMF are the interwiki links.
- The error rate in each subset can be assessed and is by definition different from the overall Wikidata error rate
- The absence of data often indicates a bias in the data Wikidata holds. A good example is the lack of data relevant to the global south.
- Given the huge influx of data from Wikipedia, the biggest imports have been from English Wikipedia and it is one reason for the existing biases in Wikidata.
- An absence of data prevents the application of tools. Tools may suggest writing a Wikipedia article, tools may compare data with other sources.
- Concentrating on the differences between Wikidata and any other data source is the most optimal way of improving the quality of existing data in either data set.
- Having an application for the data in Wikidata is the best way for improving the usefulness for a subset of data.
- Each contributor to Wikidata works on the data set(s) of his/her own choice, these data sets interact in the whole of Wikidata. This may raise issues and this can not always be avoided.
- Examples of problematic data must be seen in the light of the total of the data set they are part of. Statistically they may be irrelevant.
- Never mind how "bad" an external data source is, when they are willing to cooperate on the identification and curation of mutual differences, they are worthy of collaboration
- Wikidata improves continually and as such it is "purrfect" but it will never be perfect.
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