On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 2:59 PM, Nathan <nawrich(a)gmail.com> wrote:
If the original source was reliable, and can be found
through archive.orgor
something similar, then the obviously best approach is to replace the
broken
link with one that works. If the value of the reference can't be
determined,
but the statement it was referencing is not controversial (i.e. Vermont is
a
state in the United States) then simply remove the reference, maybe with a
note on the talkpage. If it is an "amazing claim" as Will states, then for
once he's right - the dead and unverifiable reference leaves the claim
unreferenced, and a {{fact}} tag is appropriate.
Correct. Removing broken links without any effort to ascertain the
availability of replacement sources - not even a simple search at
archive.org or a quick Google - is if not irresponsible, certainly very
lazy. If you have enough time to open the link you have enough time to look
it up on
archive.org.
Johnleemk