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User:Bicycle Wheel/RationalWikiWiki OP
Operation Smoke and Mirrors[edit]
Operation Smoke and Mirrors was a page-bump operation carried out by the cabal that led to "Goat" being the #1 most-viewed article on Conservapedia.
Although the "humorous" promotions of ridiculous articles to the top of the most-viewed list were undone via deletion and re-creation of the pages, phase two was much more successful.
In phase two, the targets were Conservative's groaning heap of homosexuality-related articles. Eventually, nine out of ten of the "most-viewed" articles were on this topic, prompting a minor blogrush before people figured out that the numbers weren't "real".
For some unknown reason, Conservapedia did not undo this particular round of page-bumping.
"Law Terms D" was another popular target (being laughably empty of content), causing an increasingly exasperated Andy Schlafly to delete and recreate the article, instead of merely adding a few bland entries and trumpeting it as a widely-used web resource.
Political parties[edit]
In the wake of the Saloon Bar Putsch, after the recratting by Blue and Ty, some RWans formed political parties as a means of expressing their vision for RationalWiki and garner support for those visions. (Note: This is what some RationalWikians consider entertainment!)
The Parties[edit]
In order of founding:
RationalWiki Reform Society[edit]
MarcusCicero's political party which had existed before, but which he'd revived as a result of calls for reform resulting from the Putsch.
RationalWiki Progressive Party[edit]
Founded by a BoN, this party is arguably the most radical, calling for the merging of the WIGOs CP, aSK, and CZ, as well as a user rights set up "similar to other successful wiki's," (presumably Wikipedia?), and an anti-trolling policy, specifically targeting MarcusCicero.
The People's Front of RationalWiki[edit]
This group is arguably the most conservative, advocating for the maintenance of RW's traditional style of non-government. It was founded as a Monty Python reference by Human. It's a joke. Political parties on a wiki hellbent on anarchy or oblivion are for lonely 19 year olds who can't get laid.
Ten Thousand Butts Party[edit]
This party holds that debates over user rights are boring, and that the mobocracy presents a unique culture that must be preserved. It's name stems from the assertion that user rights discussions are as interesting as ten thousand repetitions of the word "butt." It was founded by AD.
The RationalWiki People's Front[edit]
Founded by Blue (who got the joke) as a foil to the People's Front of RationalWiki, this group believes in having less bureaucrats and stricter enforcement of the community standards.
RationalWiki Jacobins[edit]
Founded by Brxbrx in response to the Progressive Party's radicalism, their main difference with them is the desire to preserve WIGO:CP. They also are firmly opposed to trolling and flaming between editors, and desire the election of seven crats for life.
Response[edit]
Some users think the parties are silly, and there was some discussion between Nutty Roux and Brxbrx as to whether the parties should be in user space instead of project space.[1]
They've been forgotten, even by the few who cared in the first place.
Post-Conservapedia[edit]
Post-Conservapedia is a catchall term for things on RationalWiki that have moved beyond Conservapedia, or were never a part of it. It exists opposite anti-Conservapedia (pro-Conservapedia doesn't really exist, even with RobSmith, and pre-Conservapedia is somehow nonsensical).
When discussing the site, post-Conservapedia nebulously refers to the future of RationalWiki after Conservapedia "dies". This includes those articles that are neither in the CPspace nor created in reaction to something on Conservapedia, as well as the grander dilemma of RationalWiki's purpose after it moves on (if it can) from Conservapedia. For example RW's Expelled:Leader's Guide article is post-Conservapedia.
When discussing people, post-Conservapedia refers to those users who joined or who currently edit RationalWiki for reasons other than Conservapedia. Examples include EVDebs, Radioactive afikomen, and the late SusanG.
Given that many new users seem to start off their activities at WIGO Conservapedia (and some never leave it) the post-Conservapedia iteration of RW as a whole seems long off.
2011[edit]
In 2011, the movement has been gaining ground, especially with the demise of TK, and an essay by Blue about missionality in articles. RationalWiki appears to be attracting serious (but still snarky) editors who make massive contributions and template-making hyperactive maniacs who have suddenly started deleting articles that aren't vandalism.
With the increase of 403 blocks at Conservapedia preventing RW editors from even viewing it, they may be the only ones left if WIGO:CP closes down. Unfortunately(?) the blocks were reversed a few months later.