Template:RationalWiki: Difference between revisions

;<big>[[RationalWiki]] (RW) wiki sites in these [[:Category:Wiki Language|languages]]</big> ^{([[Template:RationalWiki|view]] / [[edit:Template:RationalWiki|edit]] / [[Template talk:RationalWiki|talk]])}

'''RationalWiki''' ('''RW''') is an open [[wiki]] site taking a [[:Category:Criticism|critical]] look at [[:Category:Pseudoscience|pseudo-science]], and '[[:Category:Conservative|Conservative]]' and [[:Category:Christianity|Christian]] fundamentalist [[:Category:Politics|politics]], through the use of side-by-side examinations and [[:Category:Humor|humor]].

Stated goals are:<ref name=RW-WhatIs>{{RW|RationalWiki:What is a RationalWiki article?|RationalWiki: What is a RationalWiki article}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>

As of January 2014, the original [[:Category:Wiki English|English]] language [[RationalWiki (en)|RationalWiki]] had about 395 active [[user]]s.  530 users had [[sysop]] rights; any sysop may add or remove sysop rights.  The [[block log]] is used as a chat line.<ref name=RW-BlockLog>{{RW|Special:Log/block}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>

RationalWiki runs a large collection of specially customized extensions, most of which were created by {{RW|User:Nx}}, implementing a wide range of features, such as: up-down voting (WIGO, or what-is-going-on), slider voting, a site wide intercom system, a signature checker, and easy [[:Category:Bible|Bible]] quotations.<ref name=RW-Version>{{RW|Special:Version}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>  The source code of many of these extensions has been made publicly available.

RationalWiki also has a namespace dedicated to [[Conservapedia]],<ref>[https://RationalWiki.org/w/index.php?title=Special:AllPages&namespace=100 All pages (Conservapedia namespace)]; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref> and a collection of recipes,<ref>[https://RationalWiki.org/w/index.php?title=Special:AllPages&namespace=108 All pages (Recipe namespace)]; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref> some of which are pseudo-recipes whose real purpose is to impart jokes<ref>{{RW|Recipe:Insanity}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref> or religious commentary.<ref>{{RW|Recipe:Atheist's Nightmare}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>  The site's slogan rotates among several dozen possibilities, some of which are weighted more heavily than others.<ref>[https://RationalWiki.org/w/index.php?title=Template:RationalWiki_Slogan&action=edit View source for Template:RationalWiki Slogan]; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>

RationalWiki started in [[:Category:Founded in 2007|May 2007]], after a group of [[editor]]s at [[Conservapedia]] were banned over [[:Category:Ideology|ideological]] differences with the authorities there.  Their edits had consisted mostly of debating on [[talk page]]s, attempting to counteract what they perceived to be overwhelming anti-scientific and [[:Category:Wikis with a strong viewpoint|far-right]] political biases.  Although the site was called RationalWiki to highlight the apparent pro-scientific [[:Category:Earth|worldview]] of the [[founder]]s, the content was largely weighted to the perceived lunacy of events at Conservapedia.  As of January 2014, voting was ongoing concerning whether to expand RationalWiki's mission.  It appeared unlikely that RationalWiki was going to explicitly embrace the idea of becoming a general encyclopaedia.<ref>{{RW|Forum:Expanding RW's mission#Less talking, more voting!|Forum: Expanding RW's mission – Less talking, more voting!}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>

While [[Conservapedia]] continues to be a major source of traffic to RationalWiki (mainly, their {{RW|Conservapedia:What is going on at CP?|What is going on at Conservapedia?}} page), RationalWiki have branched out into many areas of skepticism.  Many articles focus on unfounded [[:Category:Medical|medical]] claims, pseudo-science, and Biblical literalism.  Despite a seemingly [[:Category:Atheism|pro-atheist]], [[:Category:Religion|anti-religious]] stance, some [[editor]]s are practicing Christians, [[:Category:Judaism|Jews]], [[:Category:Islam|Muslims]], or {{Wp|Heathenry (new religious movement)|Odinists}} (among others); tending towards the more liberal aspects of their religion rather than fundamentalism.  However, most of the regular contributers to RationalWiki are atheists.{{Fact}}

The site works to refute a range of [[:Category:Faith|faith]]-based ideas, as well as superstitions.  They have critical material on [[:Category:Scientology|Scientology]], [[:Category:Christianity|Christianity]], [[:Category:Creationism|Creationism]], [[:Category:Astrology|Astrology]], 'New Age' philosophy, and many others.  It also comments critically on other Christian creationist wikis, like the relatively unnotable, if it weren't for their editors joining up to argue with the founder, [[A Storehouse of Knowledge]] (see {{RW|RationalWiki: A Storehouse of Knowledge}}).

Former [[Conservapedia]] sysop and [[A Storehouse of Knowledge]] founder [[Philip J. Rayment]] harshly criticized RationalWiki as; "[a] place of filthy and blasphemous language, replete with name-calling, smearing, innuendo, hypocrisy, and other undesirable attributes".<ref>[[ask:User talk:Philip J. Rayment/Archive 2#Invitation|User talk:Philip J. Rayment/Archive 2#Invitation]];{{DeadEL}} ''aStorehouseofKnowledge.info''; [[A Storehouse of Knowledge]]; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref>  RationalWiki is often criticized as intolerant toward minority opinions.  [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]] argues; "RationalWiki doesn't seem to realize that science is dynamic, and established theories may be rejected in the future."<ref>[[ed:RationalWiki#How to Trolling RationalWiki|RationalWiki - How to Trolling RationalWiki]];{{DeadEL}} ''EncyclopediaDramatica.rs''; [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]]; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref>

Many of those critical of RationalWiki refer to the website as "RatWiki" or "IrrationalWiki".  Although [[Liberapedia]] is mostly supportive of the wiki, it is critical of its perceived conservative bias.{{Fact}}  One of the more famous essays on this topic, linked by hundreds of pages and probably more by broken external links to the defunct [[RationalWikiWiki]] page, is "I thought this was supposed to be RATIONALWiki".<ref>{{RW|Essay: I thought this was supposed to be RATIONALWiki}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>  One of the more thorough critiques of RationalWiki's claims to rationality was [[Maratrean]]'s "Is RationalWiki really rational?"<ref>{{RW|Essay talk: Is RationalWiki really rational?}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref>  Customarily, one is entitled or encouraged or required to imbibe whenever someone complains that RationalWiki users' thinking or behavior is irrational, and that this is contrary to the ideals implied by the site's name.

Among the wikis that have articles positively or negatively critiquing RationalWiki are [[ChildWiki]],<ref>[[Archive.org:20140328075632/http://ChildWiki.net/wiki/RationalWiki|RationalWiki – from ChildWiki, the children's liberation encyclopedia]]; ''ChildWiki.net'', via [[Archive.org]]; archived 2014-03-28.</ref> [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]],<ref>[[ed:RationalWiki|RationalWiki]];{{DeadEL}} ''EncyclopediaDramatica.rs''; [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]]; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref> [[Liberapedia]],<ref>[https://Liberapedia.Fandom.com/wiki/RationalWiki RationalWiki]; ''Liberapedia.Fandom.com''; [[Liberapedia]]; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref> [[Libertapedia]],<ref>[[Archive.org:20130115093810/http://Libertapedia.org/wiki/RationalWiki|RationalWiki]]; ''Libertapedia.org'', via [[Archive.org]]; archived 2013-01-15.</ref> [[PolyWiki]],<ref>[[Archive.org:20140127055443/http://PolyWiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki|RationalWiki – from PolyWiki, the global storehouse of information about polyamory]]; ''PolyWiki.org'', via [[Archive.org]]; archived 2014-01-27.</ref> [[SuicideWiki]],<ref>[http://archive.is/0WtR8 RationalWiki – from SuicideWiki, the global repository of suicide reasons, methods and miscellany]<!--http://SuicideWiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki-->; ''SuicideWiki.org'', via [[archive.is]]; archived 2014-03-04.</ref> and [[TV Tropes]].<ref>[https://TVTropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Wiki/RationalWiki Rational Wiki];{{DeadEL}} ''TVTropes.org''; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref>  [[English Wikipedia]] has a brief description of RationalWiki in its {{Wp|Conservapedia}} article, along with a more recent substantive {{Wp|RationalWiki}} article.  [[Conservapedia]] seems to prefer to pretend that RationalWiki doesn't exist, and to treat it as an '{{Wp|Newspeak#Unperson|unwiki}}' (in the Orwellian sense).  Three RationalWiki articles have been hurled down the Conservapedia memory hole, and presently it is protected from being re-created.<ref>[http://www.Conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=RationalWiki Combined display of all available logs of RationalWiki on Conservapedia]; ''Conservapedia.com''; [[Conservapedia]]; accessed 2022-12-09.</ref>  This has been mocked at [[New Conservapedia]], whose RationalWiki article states, "We do not include a link. Pseudoscience must be censored beyond all coasts."<ref>[[Archive.org:20150316024118/http://Conservapaedia.Referata.com/wiki/IrrationalWiki|IrrationalWiki]]; ''Conservapaedia.Referata.com'', via [[Archive.org]]; archived 2015-03-16.</ref>

In July 2010, [[owner]]ship of the RationalWiki websites transferred to a [[:Category:Non-profit|non-profit]] foundation called the '''RationalWiki Foundation'''.<ref name=RW-RWF-RMF>{{RW|RationalWiki:RationalMedia Foundation}}; ''RationalWiki.org''; accessed 2018-08-01.</ref>  This did not entail a substantive change in the day-to-day running of the site.

In July 2013, the name of the Foundation was formally changed to the '''RationalMedia Foundation''', becoming a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the [[:Category:United States of America|United States]] Internal Revenue Code, following a unanimous vote of the Foundation Board for such change.<ref name=RW-RWF-RMF/>