"Documentation by paper"

[Richard Kenner]

    But again, why bother when there are already things like wikipedia and
    numerous texts which already define these basic terms.  Other folks
    have already defined these basic terms, probably in better verbage
    than we'd come up with.  Why recreate the wheel?

Once again, because:

(1) There are usually subtle differences between the definitions in these
"numerous texts" and we need to be specific which one we need.

(2) If you're taking some code to read on a plane (or similar), you
don't have access to "things like wikipedia and numerous texts".

(3) We have to explain our datastructures and functions anyway and
it's simpler to do so as part of a definition or explanation than
just referencing one and trying to stitch things in.