Preclass Reflection from Wikinomics Chapter 3

Wikipedia, the topic in this chapter that I thought was very interesting was about the London bombing and the use of Wikipedia. Every course I have ever taken and now when I teach courses we tell students to not use Wikipedia as the information is not reliable. Granted it is not a scholarly source, but if it is down to earth and a way to explore a completely foreign topic, I am thinking why not. I still would caution using it as an academic source, but why not a way to start exploring a new idea. Then you can do your academic resource from scholarly sources after you have an idea or background.