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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 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 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 apparent 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, 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. | 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 pro-atheist, 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. However, most of the regular contributers to RationalWiki are devout atheists. | ||
The site works to refute a range of faith-based ideas | The site works to refute a range of faith-based ideas as well as superstitions. They have critical material on Scientology, {{tag|Christianity}}, {{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. | ||
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Ex [[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".[http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/index.php?title=User_talk:Philip_J._Rayment&diff=14129&oldid=14127] | Ex [[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".[http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/index.php?title=User_talk:Philip_J._Rayment&diff=14129&oldid=14127] | ||
[[Libertapedia]] | Many of those critical of RationalWiki refer to the website as "RatWiki" or "IrrationalWiki." [[Libertapedia]] has a [http://libertapedia.org/wiki/RationalWiki page critical of RW] referring to it as "IrrationaWiki." | ||
[[Encyclopedia Dramatica]] is critical of RationalWiki. | |||
RationalWiki is blocked by many employers and educational institutions. | |||
Although [[Liberapedia]] is mostly supportive of the wiki, it is critical of its perceived conservative bias. | |||
==Satire== | ==Satire== | ||
Satirical Articles on Rational Wiki appear [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/RationalWiki here in] [[Uncyclopedia]] and [http://encyclopediadramatica.com/RationalWiki here] in [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]]. | Satirical Articles on Rational Wiki appear [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/RationalWiki here in] [[Uncyclopedia]] and [http://encyclopediadramatica.com/RationalWiki here] in [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]]. Uncyclopedia has a [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Play_RationalTroll page encouraging readers to vandalize the wiki]. | ||
==RationalWiki Foundation== | ==RationalWiki Foundation== | ||
In July 2010 ownership of the website transferd to a non-profit foundation called the '''[http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:RationalWiki_Foundation RationalWiki Foundation]'''. | In July 2010 ownership of the website transferd to a non-profit foundation called the '''[http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:RationalWiki_Foundation RationalWiki Foundation]'''. | ||