WiKiPeDia pRos AnD CoNs...

Pros:

- It's huge. HUGE. You can find pretty much anything you want on Wikipedia, and even if the information isn't completely comprehensive it's still a good starting block.

- It's free. There are few databases that offer similar amounts of information which simultaneously don't charge their users a penny.

- It can be edited. If you see something wrong, feel free to hop on and change the information to suit the truth. Feel free to fill in article stubs, as well, and provide the in-depth explanation desired by Wikipedia users.

- It's an excellent springboard for research. I always start researching a topic with Wikipedia, since it provides a nice overview on all the main points and gives me an idea of where to go next. This is especially true of articles that provide lots of citations, as you can then move on to thecitations and access information that may not have appeared on Wikipedia itself.

- It's easy to use. As long as you know how to type in your subject of choice you'll be able to find it on Wikipedia. More, Wikipedia entries almost always come out on top on search engine queries, so you'll get results really quickly.

- It's always accessible. As long as you have an Internet connection you can use Wikipedia. The site seldom goes down, and if it does it's not for long.

Cons:

- It can be edited. Yes, this was a pro, but it's also a con since it can be edited by anybody. This means that the uninformed and generally mischievous can hop on and type in whatever they want. And while misinformation is usually disposed of quickly by Wikipedia's editing community, the material probably won't disappear too quickly - and in that time, somebody somewhere is going to read it.

- It's not considered a reliable source of information. I don't know of many teachers who accept Wikipedia as a source on their papers. Same goes for employers all over the place. Nobody will take you seriously if all your info comes from a place that anybody, be they scholars or not, may contribute.

- Editing is inconsistent. Some topics have developed huge communities of dedicated editors who will keep topics on the ball. Others, though, aren't so lucky, and may sit with incorrect information for months on end.

- It's too easy. Sounds strange, yes, but for researchers the ease of Wikipedia stunts researching skills something fierce. If you've relied on Wikipedia exclusively for years, what will you do when somebody asks you to write something - but forbids the use of Wikipedia? Will you know how to do the necessary research? Probably not.