Williams describes errors as social constructs by describing the process of identifying the error. It’s the classic question; which came first, the chicken or the egg? To identify an error the error must first be made. The error can only be pointed out and corrected by a prominent editor for a solution to be created. The implications in written language today are far reaching. The social media and user created reference materials available today don’t typically pass under the eyes of a world-class editor. Thus the average reader today is exposed to errors that they internalize and repeat.
The question of errors in Wikipedia versus a traditional encyclopedia rests solely on the editors and writers. An elite few write and edit traditional encyclopedias where thousands of eyes pour over Wikipedia’s articles and point out flaws because, in a user created reference, they are expected. When a reader enjoys a novel by Stephen King they aren’t hunting for grammatical errors and thus many aren’t found. While reading the assigned article I found an error myself, “The most obviousest set of rules be those whose violation we instantly notes, but whose observation we entirely ignore.” The error is trivial and doesn’t affect the authors’ ability to make his point, but it’s there. And the fact it exists is what this article is about, where is the line between error and perfection, and who is to decide what is acceptable and what isn’t?
Your response brought forth a point which i found rather interesting. "Thus the average reader today is exposed to errors that they internalize and repeat", I never took into account that perhaps the media is in a sense brain washing me to accept errors and to over look them. It kind of puts a different twist on things, and shows that everyday there are many situations which affect and evolve our literary background.
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