The Wisdom of Wikipedia, Russell's Theory of Descriptions Options

[Peter Damian]

The eminent philosopher Peter Smith (ex editor of Analysis) comments here

http://logicmatters.blogspot.com/2009/05/w...-wikipedia.html

I thought about leaving it as a bear trap for unwary students cribbing essays. But I couldn't, and it's been minimally corrected. It will interesting to see how long that lasts before some idiot changes it back.

I reply on my blog here

http://ocham.blogspot.com/2009/06/theory-o...cording-to.html

[edit] I notice even the great and good are not immune to the tempation of Professor Cruft:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=258011191

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: Thu 4th June 2009, 1:48pm

[Jon Awbrey]

I think you getilemons might just be the choice indiwikiuals to arssist me in the dispissation of my recent windfool, as testefied towit in the following connumique, lately receit by yours duly.

Subj: I Will Awit Your Response!!!

The Chambers of Richard Gilbert QC and Associates
2 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4BU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)555 555 0961
Fax +44 (0)555 555 1452
DX LDE 17
Email: barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

Attorney at Law
Faegre & Benson LLP, UK.

Office Hours: Monday — Friday 9:00a.m. — 5:00p.m. Evening Appointments Available

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Jürge Krügger. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jürge Krügger made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Thirty Million, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($30,100.000.00) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr. Jürge Krügger until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers.

According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Note: You are advise to contact me with my personal email address:
barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

I await your prompt response.

Yours in Service,

Barr. Richard GIlbert QC.
Tel: +44 (0)703 595 0961
Fax +44 (0)700 592 1452
Email: barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

It must be real and true — it's got umlauts 'n' everything!

Ja Ja

[Milton Roe]

I think you getilemons might just be the choice indiwikiuals to arssist me in the dispissation of my recent windfool, as testefied towit in the following connumique, lately receit by yours duly.

The Chambers of Richard Gilbert QC and Associates
2 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4BU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)555 555 0961
Fax +44 (0)555 555 1452
DX LDE 17
Email: barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

Attorney at Law
Faegre & Benson LLP, UK.

Office Hours: Monday — Friday 9:00a.m. — 5:00p.m. Evening Appointments Available

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Jürge Krügger. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jürge Krügger made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Thirty Million, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($30,100.000.00) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr. Jürge Krügger until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers.

According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Note: You are advise to contact me with my personal email address:
barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

I await your prompt response.

Yours in Service,

Barr. Richard GIlbert QC.
Tel: +44 (0)703 595 0961
Fax +44 (0)700 592 1452
Email: barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

It must be real and true — it's got umlauts 'n' everything!

Ja Ja

I believe I knew Jürge Krügger in Nigeria. Or maybe from our offices in the Ebene Cybertower in Mauritius. I'll be contacting his lawyers in Hong Kong also.

Back in 1997 I got a similar letter and put it in the mailbox of a particularly humorless and stuckup colleague, saying that I thinking I might be rich. She turned up all flustered to tell me that this might be a scam. This was much funnier in 1997.

I think she probably helped me get fired from that job, eventually. Figured I was making fun of her. Which I was.

She and all the rest of her crew soon followed me, since it was a sick business. I wonder what she's doing today? Probably something where she never smiles.

[sbrown]

Subj: I Will Awit Your Response!!!

The Chambers of Richard Gilbert QC and Associates
2 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4BU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)555 555 0961
Fax +44 (0)555 555 1452
DX LDE 17
Email: barr.richard_gilbert@yooha.com.hk

Its not very clever. You dont get QCs administering wills for clients and you dont often get London QCs with email addresses in .hk (unless our own HK knows better). He could at least have used names of London solicitors.