Last night some one sent in this and this.
For people who are not very prominent, Wikipedia biographies can be an “attractive nuisance”. It says, to every troll, vandal, and score-settler: “Here’s an article about a person where you can, with no accountability whatsoever, write any libel, defamation, or smear. It won’t be a marginal comment with the social status of an inconsequential rant, but rather will be made prominent about the person, and reputation-laundered with the institutional status of an encyclopedia.”
Where living people are concerned, there is a cost-shifting aspect: instead of falling on Wikipedia’s poor quality control, any negative effects are usually borne by the aggrieved party, except in the very rare case where he or she has enough power to publicise Wikipedia’s failings.
It also allows those who don’t like history to rewrite it. Look at the link above on “Khaybar, Khaybar!” Wouldn’t it be useful to know what Khaybar means?