Wasting time on Wikipedia

MinRaise · #1 03-26-2007, 10:15 PM

I was reading an article today on ESPN.com about a guy who has a huge influence on the AAU recruiting scene named William Wesley. The article piqued my interest enough to look for more information on Wikipedia. The Wikipedia entry had the tag "Mysterious People" on it. Of course, I clicked on that link which led to a list of people with the same tag. What resulted was over two hours of reading on The Zodiac Killer, D.B. Cooper, and Feral Children (children raised by animals).

This is not the first time I have looked something simple up on Wikipedia only to end up wasting a lot of time reading about unrelated things. My question to OOT, has anyone else done this? And if so, what interesting things did you end up reading/learning?

NLSoldier · #2 03-26-2007, 10:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
My question to OOT, has anyone else done this? And if so, what interesting things did you end up reading/learning?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes and I don't remember. I do remember that I thought I was learning a bunch of cool new stuff at the time. Guess I was wrong.

kyleb · #3 03-26-2007, 10:22 PM

A ton of stuff about Scientology, Masons, and other crazy cults.

Losing all · #4 03-26-2007, 10:26 PM

I do the same thing with IMDB. Go to check 1 quick thing and 3 hours are gone. Ed Norton turned down the part of Pvt Ryan. wtf ed

calmB4storm · #5 03-26-2007, 10:27 PM

Here's a game you can play if you ever get really bored:

1) Pick two arbitrary entries (ex: Tequila and Chingo Bling)

2) Open up the first entry (Tequila)

3) Try to get to the second entry (Chingo Bling) using as few links as possible (ex: Tequila -> List of Songs About Tequila -> Toby Keith -> American Country Singers -> American Singers By Style -> American Rappers -> Chingo Bling)

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Dynasty · #6 03-26-2007, 10:29 PM

If you're a Star Wars fan and really want to waste your time, you should visit Wookiepedia.

Here's the entry for Palpatine (Darth Sidious) on Wookiepedia. It's about 34,000 words.

SuperUberBob · #7 03-26-2007, 10:36 PM

Yes, about big-bust models.

nickg1532 · #8 03-26-2007, 10:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a game you can play if you ever get really bored:

1) Pick two arbitrary entries (ex: Tequila and Chingo Bling)

2) Open up the first entry (Tequila)

3) Try to get to the second entry (Chingo Bling) using as few links as possible (ex: Tequila -> List of Songs About Tequila -> Toby Keith -> American Country Singers -> American Singers By Style -> American Rappers -> Chingo Bling)

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

haha, i thought i was the only one who did this

tdarko · #9 03-26-2007, 10:42 PM

I waste way too much time on Wiki. I go for one thing and end up clicking on every link within the article and then all the links within those articles and then the snowball effect is in full force.

mosta · #10 03-26-2007, 10:45 PM

I look up on Wiki a lot too. I spend more time following links on amazon music. Hear song on radio. Either wait or call (I have several college stations in cell phone) or jot down a phrase and google the lyric. Listen on Amazon. Follow links for 'people also bought' or 'amazon recommends' or what I read in the reviews. I have about 200 things in my wish list to go back and maybe buy.