Wikipedia:How fast is "fast"?
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Recently, a term popped up which threw me into a degree of contemplation as to the literal interpretation of speed and logistical possibility when talking about an article. Someone said "This area is expanding so fast.. we can't possibly expect to keep up"; such paralysis of thought occurs when laziness also does – as usual, speed is a relation, but in a literal sense.. what to?
We look at the field of DNA and of other "rapidly" expanding topics, and it seems that the idea of rapid expansion relates to a great deal of change in the core principles or their development therewithin. What exactly is the precise meaning of speed in this instance? Are there new articles being published in such a vast number that it is logistically impossible for us to integrate them into the Wikipedia? The answer is a resounding NO.
Richard Feynman discussed the paralysis of thought when it came to the definition of scientific quantities, until it was resolved into a somewhat hilarious statement. Why bother trying to define your own shortcomings or to try and give shortcomings to others when you yourself have asserted no effort?
| “ | We cannot define anything precisely! If we attempt to, we get into that paralysis of thought that comes to philosophers, who sit opposite each other, one saying to the other, 'You don't know what you are talking about!' The second one says 'What do you mean by know? What do you mean by talking? What do you mean by you?', and so on. | ” |
Assume that in a year, we have 600 articles published within a "rapidly developing" field that bangs out articles quicker than the rate of a shithouse door banging in a gale; that's still only roughly 2 articles a day being published, and that must be a real PAIN to update. Once the majority of the information is added in, then you find the writing flows and it's there for everyone to use and add to when future journals come out.. again, but what about the shock-horror of updating an article when we are years behind? Well, let's use a corollary here;
| “ | What would good new books use for the foundation of their ideas, factual grounding and material? | ” |
So, to review – when you build up, from your own expectations.. the size of a task, it becomes larger the more you think about it, yet in reality is so much smaller when the job is on the go. Don't bother ASKING about how, or THINKING about how, just DO it, and FIND OUT.