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Talk:RationalWiki (en)/Archive2: Difference between revisions
Talk:RationalWiki (en)/Archive2 (view source)
Revision as of 00:23, 7 September 2009
, 7 September 2009WikiLinking, removed duplicate external links, shortened critisim and didn't think the outage information adds to this. - please revert as wanted
Huw Powell (talk | contribs) (→Tempory service outage: updating. can we unprotect and move this back tot he article space now?) |
MarkDilley (talk | contribs) (WikiLinking, removed duplicate external links, shortened critisim and didn't think the outage information adds to this. - please revert as wanted) |
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==Move to article page when agreed upon== | ==Move to article page when agreed upon== | ||
'''RationalWiki''' is an open wiki taking a critical look at the pseudoscience movement and extremist politics, through the use of side-by-side examinations and humour. | '''RationalWiki''' is an open wiki taking a critical look at the pseudoscience movement and extremist politics, through the use of side-by-side examinations and humour. | ||
Stated goals are: | |||
*Analyzing and refuting the anti-science movement, ideas and people. | * Analyzing and refuting the anti-science movement, ideas and people. | ||
*Analyzing and refuting the full range of crank ideas. | * Analyzing and refuting the full range of crank ideas. | ||
*Explorations of authoritarianism and fundamentalism. | * Explorations of authoritarianism and fundamentalism. | ||
RationalWiki has about 3,197 registered | RationalWiki has about 3,197 registered accounts, of which 359 (or 11.23%) have [[Sysop]]s rights, which are awarded very liberally by the [[bureaucrat]]s. | ||
RationalWiki runs a large collection of specially customized extensions allowing a wide range of features such as; up-down voting, slider voting, a site wide intercom system, and easy bible quotations. | RationalWiki runs a large collection of specially customized extensions allowing a wide range of features such as; up-down voting, slider voting, a site wide intercom system, and easy bible quotations. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
RationalWiki started in {{tag|FoundedIn2007|May 2007}} after a group of editors at [[Conservapedia]] were banned over ideological differences with the authorities there. Their edits had consisted mostly of debating on talk pages, attempting to counteract what they perceived to be overwhelming anti-scientific and far-right political bias. Although the site was called RationalWiki to highlight the pro-scientific worldview of the founders, the content was largely weighted to the perceived lunacy of events at Conservapedia. | RationalWiki started in {{tag|FoundedIn2007|May 2007}} after a group of editors at [[Conservapedia]] were banned over ideological differences with the authorities there. Their edits had consisted mostly of debating on talk pages, attempting to counteract what they perceived to be overwhelming anti-scientific and far-right political bias. Although the site was called RationalWiki to highlight the pro-scientific worldview of the founders, the content was largely weighted to the perceived lunacy of events at [[Conservapedia]]. | ||
== | ==RationalWiki today== | ||
While Conservapedia continues to be a major focus of RationalWiki, they have branched out into many areas of skepticism. Many articles focus on unfounded medical claims, pseudoscience and Biblical literalism. Despite a seemingly anti-religious stance, some editors are practicing Christians or Jews, tending towards the more liberal aspects of their religion rather than fundamentalism. | While [[Conservapedia]] continues to be a major focus of RationalWiki, they have branched out into many areas of skepticism. Many articles focus on unfounded medical claims, pseudoscience and Biblical literalism. Despite a seemingly anti-religious stance, some editors are practicing Christians or Jews, tending towards the more liberal aspects of their religion rather than fundamentalism. | ||
The site works to refute a range of faith based ideas and superstitions. They have critical material on Scientology, Creationism, {{tag|Astrology}}, "New Age" philosophy, and many others. It also comments critically on other Christian creationist wikis notably [[A Storehouse of Knowledge]], see [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/A_Storehouse_of_Knowledge RationalWiki | The site works to refute a range of faith based ideas and superstitions. They have critical material on Scientology, Creationism, {{tag|Astrology}}, "New Age" philosophy, and many others. It also comments critically on other Christian creationist wikis notably [[A Storehouse of Knowledge]], see [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/A_Storehouse_of_Knowledge RationalWiki's: A Storehouse of Knowledge]. | ||
Despite this branching into other areas, most of their traffic is to the page [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Conservapedia:What_is_going_on_at_CP%3F What is going on at Conservapedia?]. | Despite this branching into other areas, most of their traffic is to the page [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Conservapedia:What_is_going_on_at_CP%3F What is going on at Conservapedia?]. | ||
The website has a rather idiosyncratic sense of humour, which includes widespread intentional misspellings and other peculiar phrases. There are many "inside jokes", particularly in the material relating to Conservapedia, and the writing often has the tone of a close-knit social group. | The website has a rather idiosyncratic sense of humour, which includes widespread intentional misspellings and other peculiar phrases. There are many "inside jokes", particularly in the material relating to [[Conservapedia]], and the writing often has the tone of a close-knit social group. | ||
Example of RationalWiki’s perspective:- | Example of RationalWiki’s perspective:- | ||
<Blockquote>''As a site we have a point of view, and that point of view is that the scientific method and the information gained from its application is better than almost anything else humanity has come up with. We believe that the support of, profiting from and creation of pseudosciences is dangerous and wrong. [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/RationalWiki:Project_Whitewash/What_is_a_RationalWiki_article]''</Blockquote> | <Blockquote>''As a site we have a point of view, and that point of view is that the scientific method and the information gained from its application is better than almost anything else humanity has come up with. We believe that the support of, profiting from and creation of pseudosciences is dangerous and wrong. [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/RationalWiki:Project_Whitewash/What_is_a_RationalWiki_article (What is a RationalWiki article)]''</Blockquote> | ||
==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
Despite its claims to welcome contributors of all religions, many of its editors are hostile towards religion. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[RationalWikiWiki]] meta site for RationalWiki. | *[[RationalWikiWiki]] meta site for RationalWiki. | ||
*[[Liberapedia]] started as a parody of [[Conservapedia]]. It is a less formal wiki that is inclusive of both humor and serious content. | *[[Liberapedia]] started as a parody of [[Conservapedia]]. It is a less formal wiki that is inclusive of both humor and serious content. | ||