Use of Wikipedia in Academics

There is a big debate on use of Wikipedia in academics. I use Wikipedia when I write a paper or do my homework. Wikipedia is sometimes useful because it has a lot of information and international students can know American culture. However, it sometimes does not have enough information. I looked up ‘mixed capitalism’ in Wikipedia, but it does not have the term. It is difficult to decide if college students should use it or not for the above reasons.

Academics and college students should use Wikipedia for several reasons. It has both good and bad aspects; it has a lot of information, but anyone can compile the information on it.

First, there is no other Web site that can be an alternative Wikipedia. Wolverton (2007) said that Wikipedia is the ninth most popular Web page in the U.S., according to a firm that oversees Web traffic. This would be the biggest encyclopedia on the Internet. Therefore, students should be able to use it for their papers and homework.

Second, it would be more reliable for academics and other people if academics use it. According to Lengel (2006, para. 1), “The emergence of the World Wide Web as a source for student research is for many educators a worrisome development,” and make it look respectable. Academics and college students have more knowledge than the public, and they can add new information and correct errors on it.

Last, according to Martin (2008, para. 13), academics can prevent the fact that people post wrong information or censor Wikipedia. “Seven per cent of all internet users now visit the site every day.” Some people post wrong or malevolent information, but academics can help solve the problem if they use it. If academics start using Wikipedia, they would access it many times per week and they can correct wrong or inappropriate information. Another thing Wikipedia can do for solving the problem is to force people have accounts and sign in. Because it takes some time, fewer people would post bad information.

In conclusion, Wikipedia should be used in academic areas. Wikipedia is the encyclopedia on the Internet that has most accessibility. It would be more reliable and have less irrelevant information if academics start using it.

References

Lengel, J. (February 07, 2006). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved on April 23, 2008, from http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/article.shtml?ID=12

Martin, N. (January 21, 2008). Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’ editors. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on April 23, 2008, from http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/20/wiki120.xml

Wolverton, J. (January 22, 2007). Wikipedia Wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved on April 23, 2008, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141

Nike Is A First Company

Products of Nike Inc. contained toxic chemicals. In 1992, a German environmental magazine argued that Nike shoes had a strong greenhouse gas, SF6 (Holmes, 2006). Besides, Nike admitted that Nike football shirts had a little toxics in 2000 (BBC Sport, 2000).

Nike is a nice and ecological company. Nike acted responsibly and should be admired for three reasons.

The first reason is that Nike dealt with these problems. Some companies and even government never admit their faults, but the firm admitted their faults. In the first incident, they stopped producing Air Max, which had a greenhouse gas. In the second incident, the firm withdrew the shirts that had a toxic chemical from same stores. Nike coped with these problems quickly in both cases.

Next, they did not give up. They improved their products in safe ways. Nike has researchers. This is also a good thing because the firm can research any time it needs, can know whether its products contain toxic chemicals or not and can improve its products to safe and ecological ones if there are any problems. The researchers had researched for 14 years. To make new shoes, they faced a problem. New air pockets were easy to be broken. After many tests, they finally completed new shoes, Air max 360. Nike can keep making efforts for long time.

Next, the firm did the right thing to be green when they said they wanted to be that way. Nike knew that it would lose high profits by stopping producing Air Max. However, Nike stopped and researched for a long time because it had passions to be an ecological company and to offer high faculty shoes to athletes. Good companies have to have high motivation or goals to achieve. Nike did not care about its profits, and it can strive for what it wants to produce to people.

In conclusion, Nike had a few big problems in 2000, but they overcame the problems by dealing with them quickly, making efforts, and having strong passions. Nike can do many things. The company should be regarded as a reliable company.


References

BBC Sport. (2000, January 8). ‘No Danger’ of toxic traces shirts. BBC News.
Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/593721.stm

Holmes, S. (2006, September 25). Nike Goes For the Green; After 14 years, it
Figures out how to get greenhouse gas out of its sneakers. Business Week. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

What Nike Inc. Should Do

In BBC Sport’s (2000) article “’No Danger’ from Toxic Shirt Traces” the author states that Nike admitted that a little of a toxic chemical adhered to their shirts. The chemical, TBT, is used to kill bacteria and to prevent the bad smell of sweat. German researchers who examined the shirts announced that it is not dangerous, even for children, because the quantity of the toxic chemical is very small. Nike UK spokeswoman said that the company does not use the toxic chemical when it produces shirts.

Nike Company is a huge successful company in the world. Therefore, they have to take care of their products.

First, they should do checks on their products before shipping. I was disappointed about Nike’s lack of scrutiny. Many people, from adults to children, like Nike’s products. If a small child puts a shirt with a toxic chemical in its mouth, the condition of the child does not always stay the same. Big companies have to have more responsibility for their goods because many people buy their goods. Nike is one of the big companies, so the company has to examine their products a few times to prevent possible incidents.

Next, Nike has to inspect their factories. It is so strange that a toxic chemical was found in shirts; even Nike does not use the chemical. Some companies keep using old factories or old makers. The chemicals were maybe from machines. Therefore, Nike should inspect all of their factories and machines.

Third, Nike had to withdraw the defective goods. Nike announced the chemical is not harmful. However, consumers should not buy the goods because they are not researchers. They cannot judge whether goods are safe or not. Other shits might have more toxics adhered to them. When such accidents happen, Nike should collect their goods.

In conclusion, Nike is a big and rich company, so they should test their goods a few times and examine their machines regularly. Besides, they should collect their goods when incidents have happened. Everyone likes Nike’s products and its goods are not cheap. Therefore, Nike has to prevent incidents and supply safe goods to people.

Reference

BBC News. 'No Danger’ from Toxic Shirt Traces. (2000, January 8). Retrieved April 02, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/595722.stm