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'''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 | '''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 humor. | ||
Stated goals are: | Stated goals are: | ||
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RationalWiki has about 4,041 registered accounts, of which 504 (or 12.47%) have [[Sysop]]s rights, which are awarded very liberally by the [[bureaucrat]]s. | RationalWiki has about 4,041 registered accounts, of which 504 (or 12.47%) 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 | 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 also has a namespace dedicated to [[Conservapedia]]. | RationalWiki also has a namespace dedicated to [[Conservapedia]]. | ||
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{{Size | {{Size | ||
| statistics URL = http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Statistics | | statistics URL = http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Statistics | ||
| pages = | | pages = 4132 | ||
| wikiFactor = 23 | | wikiFactor = 23 | ||
| wikiFactor URL = http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Special:PopularPages | | wikiFactor URL = http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Special:PopularPages | ||
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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 | 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 biases. 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== | ==RationalWiki today== | ||
While [[Conservapedia]] continues to be a major source of traffic to RationalWiki (Mainly, [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Conservapedia:What_is_going_on_at_CP%3F | While [[Conservapedia]] continues to be a major source of traffic to RationalWiki (Mainly, their [http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Conservapedia:What_is_going_on_at_CP%3F What is going on at Conservapedia?] page), 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, Jews, Muslims, or Odinists (among others) 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, {{tag|Creationism}}, {{tag|Astrology}}, "New Age" philosophy, and many others. It also comments critically on other Christian creationist wikis | The site works to refute a range of faith-based ideas and superstitions. They have critical material on Scientology, {{tag|Creationism}}, {{tag|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 [[RationalWiki:A_Storehouse_of_Knowledge| RationalWiki: A Storehouse of Knowledge]]). | ||
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 | 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 RationalWiki: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 RationalWiki:What is a RationalWiki article]''</Blockquote> | ||