What is the limit of notability?

The concept of notability, especially in the context of platforms like Wikipedia, revolves around determining what topics warrant their own entries based on a combination of significance and verifiability. Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, discussed this in the context of Wikipedia's growth and the inherent subjective nature of determining notability. He argues that while some may believe there should be no limits to what can be included, practical and philosophical considerations require setting boundaries.

Notability involves deciding whether there's enough verifiable information to support an article and whether the subject is of sufficient interest to the broader public. It is context-dependent; for example, the standards for a biography of a living person are more stringent due to potential sensitivity and the impact of misinformation.

As an example, Wales mentioned how almost everybody recognizes a classic BIC pen, which might warrant an entry due to its broad recognition and interesting history. However, an ordinary pen without any significant history or unique features, like the specific pen Lex Fridman was holding during their conversation, wouldn't qualify because it lacks broader relevance and verifiable significance 1 2.