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View Poll Results: How accurate is wikipedia?
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User beware 100% of the time!
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5 |
14.29% |
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Around 20% to 30% accuate.
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0 |
0% |
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Around 40% to 50% accuate.
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4 |
11.43% |
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Around 60% to 70% accuate.
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5 |
14.29% |
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Around 80% to 90% accuate.
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8 |
22.86% |
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95% or more accuate!
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13 |
37.14% |
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04-06-2013, 06:18
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#1
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CLM Number 221
Am Yisrael Chai
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: watching the Son rise again. ;)
Posts: 23,761
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Just how accurate is Wikipedia? Well, "99% of it is 100% accurate."
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... Instead of doing that, they just instantly discredit the entire [wikipedia] site, even when 99% of the information given is 100% accurate. ...
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Reading this on a different thread, it got me to wondering something; namely, how many people believe wiki is reliable to the point of being 100% accurate on 99% of its site?
Personally, I find wiki entertaining, practical, and informative, but not a good resource. Also, as well as myself doing it, I often notice HUNDREDS of other people on the internet that post an addendum, so to speak, when offering wiki as a cite by adding something similar to " Okay this is only a wiki reference, but..."
I'm wondering, to what degree do others rely on wiki?
__________________
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it.” - William S. Burroughs
"Nothing we're gonna do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that [our gun ban legislation] will bring gun deaths down..." - VPOTUS Joe Biden
"The object in quitting the Union was not to destroy, but to save the principles of the Constitution." - Alexander Stephens
Last edited by Peace Warrior; 04-06-2013 at 06:24..
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04-06-2013, 06:27
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#2
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transmogrifier
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 13,230
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Wikipedia is incredibly useful for objective topics...
I use it many times per day for a quick overview on various technical topics.
For that usage it has never steered me wrong.
__________________
June 28, 2012: the day the American republic died.
Uncontrolled, unaccountable government spending + Graduated income-tax = SLAVERY
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04-06-2013, 06:37
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Oh, USA
Posts: 9,201
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Never cite Wikipedia as a source. It is great however as a way to find other sources. I put a fair bit of faith in it due to the fact that so many people are constantly looking at it and challenging the articles. I would never base an opinion purely on wikipedia due to the fact that so many people are constantly changing the material and who knows if the information is correct at the instant you looked it up. I can however sit and click the random article link for hours reading about obscure towns, people etc.
__________________
Decent law abiding people must fear criminals and the law while criminals have nothing to fear.
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04-06-2013, 07:35
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#4
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Lifetime Membership
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 19,727
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I saw a study that had wiki as accurate as Encyclopedia Brittanica as long as you stayed away from the edit wars.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-5997332.html
__________________
"To spit on your hands and lower the pike; to stand fast over the body of Leonidas the King; to be rear guard at Kunu-Ri; to stand and be still to the Birkenhead Drill; these are not rational acts. They are often merely necessary." Pournelle
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04-06-2013, 07:37
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#5
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CLM Number 221
Am Yisrael Chai
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: watching the Son rise again. ;)
Posts: 23,761
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Thanks for the link, I missed that one in my bing search earlier.
__________________
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it.” - William S. Burroughs
"Nothing we're gonna do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that [our gun ban legislation] will bring gun deaths down..." - VPOTUS Joe Biden
"The object in quitting the Union was not to destroy, but to save the principles of the Constitution." - Alexander Stephens
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04-06-2013, 07:39
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#6
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CLM Number
Enforcerator.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Retired, but not expired.
Posts: 12,442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atlas
Wikipedia is incredibly useful for objective topics...
I use it many times per day for a quick overview on various technical topics.
For that usage it has never steered me wrong.
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Is there anything that is not a subjective topic in this day and age? 
I use it as a lead generator. It points me in the right direction, but I seen too many inaccuracies in it to ever cite it anywhere for anything.
__________________
Obama's administration did what? President Obama’s going to be angry when he learns about this on the news tonight.
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04-06-2013, 07:43
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#7
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Gold Membership
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 461
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Yeah but, they can't post anything on the internet that isn't true!.....right?....guys?....
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04-06-2013, 07:46
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#8
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CLM Number
Enforcerator.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Retired, but not expired.
Posts: 12,442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ezthumper
Yeah but, they can't post anything on the internet that isn't true!.....right?....guys?....
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Bon jour!
__________________
Obama's administration did what? President Obama’s going to be angry when he learns about this on the news tonight.
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04-06-2013, 08:28
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,164
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Sixty percent of the time, it's right every time.
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04-06-2013, 08:47
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Willoughby, Ohio USA
Posts: 3,867
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Wikipedia is a good primary source for references on hard sciences type questions.
It is very suspect when it comes to social sciences and other touchy-feely subjects that others are easily butthurt over.
__________________
G - Guns, PG - Plenty of Guns, PG-13 - More than 13 Guns.
Iron, Cold Iron is Master of Men All - R. Kipling
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04-06-2013, 09:33
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#11
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Señor Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Back in Podunk
Posts: 8,627
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Most of it, especially math and science portions, are perfectly fine. It is hard to put lies in with that many eyeballs watching. But you never just blindly trust any source. You verify the sources and find corroborating claims.
And lo and behold, any good Wikipedia page has a reference list. Use them.
Anyone who's writing a paper shouldn't be citing Wikipedia, but instead looking at the references the Wikipedia article uses.
Serious arguments made by linking Wikipedia should be verified by their reference sources before being linked. People who complain that even properly cited Wikipedia pages aren't allowable in personal debate are apparently incapable of using the references section.
__________________
I don't really think Atlas is going to shrug. It's just a vain dream of mine.
Last edited by jtmac; 04-06-2013 at 09:34..
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04-06-2013, 09:46
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#12
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transmogrifier
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 13,230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jtmac
Most of it, especially math and science portions, are perfectly fine. It is hard to put lies in with that many eyeballs watching. But you never just blindly trust any source. You verify the sources and find corroborating claims.
And lo and behold, any good Wikipedia page has a reference list. Use them.
Anyone who's writing a paper shouldn't be citing Wikipedia, but instead looking at the references the Wikipedia article uses.
Serious arguments made by linking Wikipedia should be verified by their reference sources before being linked. People who complain that even properly cited Wikipedia pages aren't allowable in personal debate are apparently incapable of using the references section.
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Very true...
May I cite you on that?
__________________
June 28, 2012: the day the American republic died.
Uncontrolled, unaccountable government spending + Graduated income-tax = SLAVERY
Last edited by Atlas; 04-06-2013 at 09:48..
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04-06-2013, 09:58
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Jupiter/Miami, FL
Posts: 1,604
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Any smart person realizes very quickly that you don't cite Wikipedia. You cite wikipedia's cites found in the footnotes.
Jtmac nailed it
__________________
Spes mea in deo est
Last edited by Hyksos; 04-06-2013 at 09:59..
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04-06-2013, 10:02
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: All over, United States.
Posts: 1,165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peace Warrior
Thanks for the link, I missed that one in my bing search earlier.
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Should've used google.
If you insist on only using one search engine, not choosing google is like passing up ranger ammo for WWB.
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04-06-2013, 10:16
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: So. Central US
Posts: 7,332
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Wikipedia is the antithesis of "accuracy". Anyone can join up and add any bit of (mis)information he/she desires and several times over the years I've witnessed "information" tug-of-wars on the same day, where one or more contributors adds something only to be countered later by another contributor(s). Like just about all electronic media these days Radical Left apparatchiks seem to have seized control over Wikipedia and are using it to promote their agendas.
__________________
Rocket Scientist
Last edited by unit1069; 04-06-2013 at 10:17..
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04-06-2013, 10:22
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#16
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You're Good!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,624
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Fairly accurate. I wouldn't base a contract or legal document on it, but it covers a lot of ground.
Also, when hacked or vandalized that usually makes news. on controversial stuff. Ordinary topics people, etc tend to be left alone.
I use it for entertainment. Good way to find out about movies and shows, actors and actresses, entertainment, history, etc.
Here s a mind blower:
Go to google and type: Wiki Tsar Bomba
Unbelieveable. but it happened.
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04-06-2013, 10:27
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY, USA
Posts: 16,161
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If I want 100% truth, I turn to GT 
___________
I joined the NRA, have you yet?
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04-06-2013, 10:30
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: All over, United States.
Posts: 1,165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ithaca_deerslayer
If I want 100% truth, I turn to GT
___________
I joined the NRA, have you yet? |
...and then just assume the opposite of what you read?
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04-06-2013, 11:09
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#19
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Platinum Membership
NRA
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,143
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It's still a better source than the usual public statements of: I think, I believe, I heard, Someone said, "they" say. Or anything that comes out of a politician's mouth.
Check sources for yourself. "Trust, but verify." RR
__________________
janice6
"Peace is that brief, glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". Anonymous
Earp: Not everyone who knows you hates you.
DOC: I know it ain't always easy bein' my friend....but I'll BE THERE when you need me.
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04-06-2013, 11:15
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,356
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It is accurate enough. I use it quite a bit and have never seen a reason to question it. If it is a subject that matters I check against another reference but I usually use it to get an idea of the size or a country or the like.
__________________
"How fortunate for leaders that men do not think."
- Adolf Hitler
Let me tell you, when a wild (you think) Bobcat jumps up, lays in your lap and starts purring, you by-God pet that Bobcat. - Eric
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04-07-2013, 07:32
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#21
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CLM Number 221
Am Yisrael Chai
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: watching the Son rise again. ;)
Posts: 23,761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by droidfire
Should've used google.
If you insist on only using one search engine, not choosing google is like passing up ranger ammo for WWB.
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So I should blaming search engines for my oversight?
Okay....... 
__________________
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it.” - William S. Burroughs
"Nothing we're gonna do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that [our gun ban legislation] will bring gun deaths down..." - VPOTUS Joe Biden
"The object in quitting the Union was not to destroy, but to save the principles of the Constitution." - Alexander Stephens
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04-07-2013, 07:34
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#22
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CLM Number 221
Am Yisrael Chai
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: watching the Son rise again. ;)
Posts: 23,761
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I have begun to have a little more respect for wiki after this thread. Guess a leopard can change its spots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ithaca_deerslayer
If I want 100% truth, I turn to GT
___________
I joined the NRA, have you yet? |
__________________
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it.” - William S. Burroughs
"Nothing we're gonna do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that [our gun ban legislation] will bring gun deaths down..." - VPOTUS Joe Biden
"The object in quitting the Union was not to destroy, but to save the principles of the Constitution." - Alexander Stephens
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04-07-2013, 07:40
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#23
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NRA Life Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: KY
Posts: 7,080
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I'm guessing you think it's pretty inaccurate since it says things like planes hit the WTC and we landed on the moon?
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04-07-2013, 07:43
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#24
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CLM Number 221
Am Yisrael Chai
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: watching the Son rise again. ;)
Posts: 23,761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 686Owner
I'm guessing you think it's pretty inaccurate since it says things [1] like planes hit the WTC and [2] we landed on the moon?
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Aye carumba! Stupid much?
1) Yes, planes hit the WTC 1 & 2.
2) No, you and I have NEVER landed anywhere together. (Hopefully never will based on your posts.  )
__________________
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it.” - William S. Burroughs
"Nothing we're gonna do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that [our gun ban legislation] will bring gun deaths down..." - VPOTUS Joe Biden
"The object in quitting the Union was not to destroy, but to save the principles of the Constitution." - Alexander Stephens
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04-07-2013, 08:05
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#25
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NRA Life Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: KY
Posts: 7,080
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peace Warrior
Aye carumba! Stupid much?
1) Yes, planes hit the WTC 1 & 2.
2) No, you and I have NEVER landed anywhere together. (Hopefully never will based on your posts. ) |
If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black.
If you are too stupid to realize that "we" is the collective hum race then I don't know how you found the power button on the computer. Must have passed by one already on.
Last edited by 686Owner; 04-07-2013 at 08:10..
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