Why not wikis?

Every time you are assigned a school research project or even if you're just looking for some quick info on a person place or thing, the most efficient technological resources is the internet. Vast databases of knowledge are just a mouse click away. Infinite amounts of information are so easily found on the World Wide Web, but unfortunately not all sources are very accurate. This factor is affecting the validity of the site Wikipedia.org and other online encyclopedias. It's an online encyclopedia that can information can be added and edited by pretty much anyone. But because of the sites particular feature educators are debating on whether to let students to use "wikis" as a satisfactory source for information. On the one hand the site is composed of knowledge from the "wisdom of the crowds" giving the researcher to gain knowledge from every type of authority on the topic. For example you can be researching Pearl Harbor and the events that happened there. You could have posts from actual Pearl Harbor veterans who were eye witnesses to the events or you could have history professors telling of their knowledge of the events. Then there are those individuals who are out to ruin the fun for everyone and post false information to trick or throw off researchers. This is one of the many problems with the Wikipedia site the concerns educators. Even though the site is reviewed by the masses and false information is quickly removed information is changed daily. Something you may have gathered from the site may not be the same 2 weeks later. It is not a perfect source of accurate information but if you do find something useful in the site and you check more than one source (which should be one anyways) you should be able to use online encyclopedias for schoolwork. People spent time to upload useful information for others to use. But it seems that educators have too many problems with the flaws of the wiki databases. I don't see the approval of the wiki's to be legitimate authorities on information being passed in the near future unless we accept the pros and cons to online research.

Is there ever a right answer?

So many people in our society today can not feel comfortable making a decision without that tiny hint of doubt lingering behind. I mean let’s face it, rarely you will find someone who lives without regretting something in their life. There are many factors that can prove decision making to be not such a simple task. The pressure to choose what will be socially accepted by the people you look to for approval, the feeling of helplessness when faced with two logical answers and not knowing which to choose, or the fear of regret when a decision is made and not knowing if it was the right one. Women of all ages who encounter an unexpected pregnancy are the perfect examples of those who have a hard time dealing with the RIGHT solution to their impending situation. The two parties that create such a dilemma for unsure pregnant women are the pro-life and pro- choice activists. On the one side there are those who feel that once a woman becomes pregnant it is no longer her decision to abort the child. On the other hand there are those who feel it is the woman’s choice to do as they please with their unborn child. Both parties feel their way is the only way. The pressure from such activists can make any person become unsure of what is the right solution to their problem. An unsure decision could be quickly followed by a feeling of guilt or insecurity about one’s life changing choice. But in this particular situation there really isn’t one right answer. Factors like, rape, marital abandonment, or even unexpected diseases can be a reason for an abortion. These are selfless and unexpected reasons why some women would not or could not continue carrying a child to full term. If a woman is raped, I don’t see how you could expect her to carry an unwanted child to full term when the emotional and physical effects were not even desired in the first place. If a woman is abandoned during her pregnancy by her husband and feels she will not be able to support or care for the child she has choices like abortion or putting it up for adoption. If a couple is both HIV positive and they become pregnant the risk of passing the virus on to the child may be higher and an abortion may be requested. They will not want to burden a child with the struggle that comes with that disease. All these decisions are made with a heavy heart but all are possible because there is no ONE RIGHT answer to this situation. Not all things will have a concrete solution but there will be those factors like social acceptance, feeling helpless or unsure, which will influence a decision whether it be right or wrong..