Block, Siteadmin, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, delete, edit, move, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, protect, rollback, Administrators, template
293,693
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − [[RationalWiki and web traffic|RationalWiki.org]] is a [[leftism|left]]-leaning troll farm that promotes radical [[atheism]]/[[agnosticism]]. The website is under the auspices of nonprofit foundation the Rational Media Foundation. RationalWiki has a small fraction of the web traffic it had before October 2019 (see: [[RationalWiki and web traffic]]). The cited is frequented by [[ratroll]]s.+ − − The RationalWiki website lost a huge amount of web traffic in the latter part of 2019 and throughout most the first half of 2020 (see graphics below). In January of 2022, SimilarWeb.com reported that the RationalWiki.org website was dropping in terms of its global ranking of web traffic (see: [[RationalWiki_and_web_traffic#2022 state of RationalWiki.org in terms of web traffic and web marketing metrics|2022 state of RationalWiki.org in terms of web traffic and web marketing metrics]]). In the latter part of 2022, the RationalWiki website lost a very large portion of its Google referral traffic (see: [[RationalWiki and web traffic#From June 5, 2022 to November 5, 2022, the RationalWiki website lost a major amount of its Google referral traffic according to the leading web marketing company SEMRush|From June 5, 2022 to November 5, 2022, the RationalWiki website lost a major amount of its Google referral traffic according to the leading web marketing company SEMRush]]). − − As of December 5, 2021, a RationalWikian put a "this section needs updating" in the "scope and statistics" section of the RationalWiki web page describing itself.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki&oldid=2389486 RationalWiki], December 5, 2021</ref> But as of July 25, 2022, the "scope and statistics" section has yet to be thoroughly updated. Apparently, RationalWiki does not want its readers to know about the tremendous amount of web traffic it lost. − − On May 29, 2022, one of the founders of the RationalWiki website indicated "Currently the donations we get are sparse... We have not done a donation drive in a long time and have not been self-supporting for over a year....".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:Site_support&diff=2457044&oldid=2457020 Difference between revisions of "RationalWiki talk:Site support", Revision as of 17:15, 29 May 2022 (edit) (undo)]</ref> A global fundraising scam, Rationalwiki has not complied with non-profit reporting requirements for 7 consecutive years.<ref>''[https://archive.ph/YC96o#Is_the_Foundation_Defunct.3F Is the Foundation Defunct?],'' RationalWiki talk:RationalMedia Foundation/Archive2, 22:50, 26 August 2021. Rationalwiki.org.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and charity]] and [[Atheist organizations and fundraising]] and [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising]] − − In June of 2022, the RationalWiki admin [[GrammarCommie]] said that RationalWiki was "half dead".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:2friedeggs&diff=prev&oldid=2460941 Revision as of 03:49, 10 June 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)</ref> In reply, the RationalWiki user 2friedeggs said: "This site is dying for a reason" and he indicated that GrammarCommie was chasing good faith editors away. In addition, in June of 2022, RationalWiki user Neiltyson1fan called RationalWiki a "[[zombie]] wiki".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation&diff=2463835&oldid=2463826 Latest revision as of 10:07, 21 June 2022 (view source), Neiltyson1fan (talk | contribs)]</ref> On August 15, 2022, RationalWiki User: KarmaPolice wrote concerning RationalWiki: "...it's quite possible that by say, 2030 the RW 'TimeCube' page may be *only* surviving record of it's existence."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2477921&oldid=2477918 Latest revision as of 19:08, 15 August 2022 (edit) (undo) KarmaPolice (talk | contribs)(→Rationalwiki should tone down on the snark.)]</ref> On November 6, 2022, RationalWiki user Rairyu75 wrote: "See, what I'm trying to ask, in a really roundabout sort of way is... are you all confident this website will continue to exist? Not like into next week, or next month but like, next year, or 5 years from now? Cause I would kinda like to edit this place... and I just can't tell if it would be futile or not. Like fixing the engine of a car that's destined for the scrapheap. I just can't f@cking tell if one day, in the near future, I will type the URL into my search bar and I'll get nothing in response."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:RationalMedia_Foundation&diff=2499178&oldid=2494043 Revision as of 00:56, 6 November 2022 (edit) (undo) Rairyu75 (talk | contribs) (→You guys doing okay?: new section)]</ref> − − The data clearly indicates that [[woke]]ness has peaked in the [[United States]] and in the world and that it will eventually die (See: [[Woke]]). RationalWiki is a woke website that skews toward secular leftism. And woke and secular leftist individuals and organizations generally double down and are resistant to change (see: [[Atheism and intolerance]] and [[Atheism and groupthink]]). As can be seen via its block log, RationalWiki has a low [[Essay: Edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki|edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki]] which measures the close-mindedness/intolerance and groupthink of a wiki. − − − ==History== − RationalWiki was originally created by a group of cyberstalkers dedicated to the harassment of homeschoolers and their teacher, who had created Conservapedia. This behavior was noted in an article about Conservapedia published in the ''Los Angeles Times''. The rattrolls' behavior is not simply limited to documenting and anaylizing the activities at Conservapedia as they claim, it extends to blatant harassement, as demonstrated by the abuse of Conservapedia users by RationalWikians Pysgremlin, Paul Birkholz of Austin, Texas (Keegscee), and Arthur Kerensa of the United Kingdom (Dyskliver), just to name a few. Some RationalWikians became bored with their stalking of Conservapedians and expanded to trolling and harassment on other websites, such as Wikipedia. At least two members of RationalWiki (Keegscee and Dyskliver) have been banned from all Wikimedia Foundation projects by the WMF office for their harassment of Wikipedians. − − Beginning in the mid-2010s, some naive teenagers took the site's stated mission at face value and started to create serious content on the site, although a significant amount of NSFW content remains. With WIGO CP alive and well, the more serious content on the wiki could be considered a [[Front group|front]] for the criminal cyberstalking activities on the site. − − In 2024, the RationalWiki Foundation was sued by Hassim Haramein, represented by Aaron Cress of [https://latenightlaw.com/ Late Night Law Firm] for defamation. The organization's board of directors publicly acknowledged that the article was problematic and accepted a proposed settlement in which Haramein's article was permanently deleted from the website. They accepted the settlement after a short period of fleecing the site's viewership of a few thousand dollars supposedly to hire an attorney (knowing full and well that would not happen). <ref>https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:RationalMedia_Foundation&oldid=2681720#RationalWiki_has_been_sued</ref> − − Also in 2024, a respected member of the RationalWiki community suggested that President Donald Trump be sent to gas chambers and that conservatives be mowed down with machine guns, later admitting that he has mental health issues and specifically that he dreams of violence, though he claims he would never act on such fantasies.<ref>https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Chicken_coop&oldid=2681599#Luigifan_wants_to_talk_about_mass_shootings_and_gas_chambers_for_people_he_doesn.27t_like</ref> − − Until recent years, any discussion of RationalWiki was forbidden on Conservapedia. RationalWikians maintain many sleeper [[sockpuppet]]s in [[Conservapedia]], some who advanced in Conservapedia's [[meritocracy]] and are members of various civility associations. − − == RationalWiki and web traffic == − − See also: [[RationalWiki and web traffic]] and [[RationalWiki and Google referral traffic]] and [[Internet atheism]] − − === RationalWiki and Google referral traffic as reported by the leading web marketing company SEMRush.com === − − ''See also:'' [[RationalWiki and Google referral traffic]] − <br /> − <br /> − [[File:Rationalwiki semrush september 2025.png|thumbnail|center|1400px|According to the leading web marketing company SEMRush, RationalWiki has experienced a huge drop in Google referral traffic in the latter part of 2019 and as of September 17, 2025 it receives 36,500 monthly visits via Google referral traffic. − <br /> − <br /> − In addition, according to SEMRush, RationalWiki dropped from a 66 domain authority score on October 21, 2023 to a 44 domain authority score on September, 2025. Domains with low domain scores typically have less traffic, less authoritative websites linking to them and more lower quality websites linking to them. − <br /> − <br /> − Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]] − − − [[File:RationalWiki Google referral traffic according to SEMRush as of 6-30-2023.jpg|thumbnail|center|1400px|According to the leading web marketing company SEMRush, RationalWiki has experienced a huge drop in Google referral traffic in the latter part of 2019 and as of June 30, 2023 it receives 136,000 monthly visits via Google referral traffic. − <br /> − <br /> − In addition, according to SEMRush, RationalWiki dropped from a 66 domain authority score on October 21, 2023 to a 43 domain authority score on June 30, 2023. Domains with low domain scores typically have less traffic, less authoritative websites linking to them and more lower quality websites linking to them. − <br /> − <br /> − Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]] − {{Clear}} − [[File:RationalWiki Google referral traffic past 2 years SEMRush data October 21, 2022.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px||According to the leading web marketing website SEMRush.com, the website RationalWiki lost a large amount of Google referral traffic from November 2020 to October 21, 2022. − <br /> − <br /> − In November 2020, RationalWiki.org was receiving 413,529 web visits a month according to SEMRush.com. On October 21, 2022, RationalWiki.org received 152,236 web visits in the last 30 days according to SEMRush.com. Google referral traffic is commonly referred to as organic traffic by web marketing professionals. − <br /> − <br /> − Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]] − {{Clear}} − − === RationalWiki and Google referral traffic as reported by the leading web marketing company Ahrefs.com === − − [[File:RationalWiki Google referral traffic as of December 22, 2022 according to Ahrefs.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px|According to the leading web marketing website Ahrefs.com, the website RationalWiki has lost a huge amount of Google referral traffic since the latter part of 2019. As of December 22, 2022, Ahefs.com reported that RationalWiki.org was merely receiving 111,000 Google visits per month. − <br /> − <br /> − Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]] − {{Clear}} − [[File:RationalWiki.org Ahrefs monthly Google referral traffic last 6 months on 10-3-2022.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px|According to the leading web marketing website Ahrefs.com, the website RationalWiki lost a large amount of Google referral traffic from August 10, 2022 to October 3, 2022. Google referral traffic is commonly referred to as organic traffic by web marketing professionals. − <br /> − <br /> − Specifically, according to Ahrefs.com, on August 10, 2022, the website RationalWiki was receiving 240,713 monthly referral web visits by Google. By October 3, 2022, RationalWiki.org was merely receiving 131,083 monthly referral web visits by Google. − <br /> − <br /> − Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]] − − === August 2025 SimilarWeb data for RationalWiki: RationalWiki is losing global market share === − <br /> − [[File:Rationalwiki similarweb.png|thumbnail|center|1000px|In August 2025, SimilarWeb indicated that RataionalWiki.org was losing its ranking in terms of global market share of internet traffic. − <br /> − <br /> − Web marketing is often a relative strength game. Just because a website is gaining content or links does not mean that its competitors are not moving faster.]] − {{clear}} − − === RationalWiki lost a significant amount of its popularity from August 2020 to January 2023 according to the Mangools SEO tool === − − [[File:Popularity of RationalWiki from August 2020 to January 2023 according to SEO tool produced by the company Mangools.jpg|thumbnail|center|2001px|According to search engine optimization tool produced by the company Mangools, RationalWiki lost a significant amount of its popularity from August 2020 to January 2023.]] − {{Clear}} − − == RationalWiki's significant branding problem == − − ''See also:'' [[RationalWiki and its branding problems]] − − The Innis Maggiore Ad Agency, which works with major corporations, says concerning [[rebranding]]/repositioning: "When a brand’s meaning is strongly established in the mind, it’s extremely difficult — if not impossible — to change. It is possible to refine, adjust and hone a brand’s meaning when necessary. But repositioning a brand with a wholesale change? Hardly a chance."<ref>[https://innismaggiore.com/blog/jcpenney-showed-brand-reinvention-can-stretch-only-so-far/ Repositioning a Brand: JCPenney showed brand reinvention can stretch only so far] by Dick Maggiore at the Innis Maggiore Ad Agency</ref> − − [[Margaret Thatcher]] said: “Being powerful is like being a lady... If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.”<ref>[https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/margaret_thatcher_109592 Margaret Thatcher quotes]</ref> So perhaps the name RationalWiki was a poor website name if RationalWikians wanted to convey that its contributors and web content is rational. RationalWiki has been called irrational by so many people that it created an essay at its website entitled ''I thought this was supposed to be RATIONALWiki'' which is highly linked to on its website.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Essay:I_thought_this_was_supposed_to_be_RATIONALWiki Essay:I thought this was supposed to be RATIONALWiki]</ref><ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Essay:I_thought_this_was_supposed_to_be_RATIONALWiki RationalWiki web pages linking to the RationalWiki essay I thought this was supposed to be RATIONALWiki]</ref> RationalWiki, by its own admissions, has experienced various incidences of mental illness being displayed on its website (see: [https://www.conservapedia.com/Category:RationalWiki#RationalWiki_and_mental_illness RationalWiki and mental illness]). − − RationalWiki contributor User: User:TornadoLTS wrote: − {{Cquote|But to give a more complete picture, there is a concept in branding that "Everything counts". Everything that an organization does either creates and builds its brand or weakens and/or destroys its brand. If there are any incongruencies or inconsistencies, it is harmful to a brand. I will give an illustration. I was in communication with a RationalWiki contributor who was unhappy with the amount of dysfunction that was happening at RationalWiki at the time. He was complaining about User:Oxyaena, User: [[GrammarCommie]] and others. And he made the charge that there was a lot of mental illness among RationalWiki contributors. If his charge is true, that would be a brand incongruency/inconsistency for a website called RationalWiki.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2477671&oldid=2477669 Revision as of 15:51, 14 August 2022 (edit) (undo) TornadoLTS (talk | contribs)]</ref>}} − − === Los Angeles Times reporting that RationalWikians vandalize Conservapedia === − According to an article published by Stephanie Simon in the ''Los Angeles Times'' in 2007, RationalWiki members "by their own admission engage in cyber [[terrorism]]" in Conservapedia. So early on, RationalWiki had a branding problem.<ref>[Simon, Stephanie (June 19, 2007). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jun-19-na-schlafly19-story.html A conservative's answer to Wikipedia]". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.]</ref> − − In 2010 [[Conservapedia]] Admin [[User:RobSmith]] attempted to bring balance to the [[Wikipedia]] entry on [[Conservapedia]] which was created and "owned" by Rationalwiki editors. The entry contained loads of misinformation from the Stephanie Simon article, beginning with the false information given to Simon about the founders and owners of Rationalwiki. The Conservapedia discussion page on Wikipedia was also used to recruit [[vandal]]s and organize vandal attacks on Conservapedia. All this, of course, was in violation of Wikipedia's own policies. − − === Google data indicating that RationalWiki has a branding problem and RationalWikian commentary on this issue === − − [[File:Brand searches vs. domain strength and SEO.jpg|thumbnail|500px|center|According to the leading SEO and web marketing website MOZ.com, the number of brand searches for a domain is significantly correlated with a website's Google referral traffic - even more so than a website's domain strength (Domain strength is the quality and quantity of inbound links to a website.). − <br /> − <br /> − As can be seen below, the number of brand searches for the term "RationalWiki" is on a downward trend.]] − − [[File:RationalWiki worldwide Google trends data for 2-20-2023.jpg|right|800px|thumbnail|Google Trends worldwide data for the keyword "RationalWiki". Click the graphic above to see a duplicate of the graph. And then click the graphic a second time to enlarge it.]] − Seer Interactive is a big data digital marketing firm [https://www.seerinteractive.com/about/clients/ with many Fortune 500 clients]. − − Seer Interactive [https://www.seerinteractive.com/blog/3-ways-to-use-google-trends-for-marketing/ points out] "When branded traffic is down year-over-year or month-over-month but organic visibility has not fluctuatuated, this may indicate a decrease in either brand demand or brand awareness. By leveraging Google Trends, you can quickly understand if interest in your brand has changed." When Seer Interactive refers to "organic traffic" they are referring to a website's Google traffic going to its website. − − Snark is mocking in a sarcastic way. There is a logical fallacy called the [[Appeal to ridicule|appeal to ridicule logical fallacy]]. From a branding perspective, RationalWiki readers may have the perception that there is an incongruence between the name RationalWiki and a website that is overreliant on mocking. And because RationalWiki covers a lot of medical science topics, readers may feel uncomfortable with snark because it involves humor and the public doesn't usually associate science with sarcastic humor. − − The RationalWiki Moderator Bongolian wrote at RationalWiki: "Over time, RW has clearly become less snarky over time, particularly in 2017 when the Scientific Point of View became favored over the Snarky Point of View when there was any issue over SPOV." <ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2477600&oldid=2477597 Revision as of 06:33, 14 August 2022 (edit) (undo) Bongolian (talk | contribs) (→Rationalwiki should tone down on the snark.)]</ref> Historically speaking, atheists have a reputation for having an overreliance on mockery in terms of their rhetoric (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]). − − RationalWiki tripled its organic traffic from 2017 to late 2019 in a big way and then various things happened to cause a massive decrease in organic traffic in November 2019 and beyond (See: [[RationalWiki and Google referral traffic]]). [https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=RationalWiki Google Trends data] from 2017 to November 2020 indicates that worldwide Google searches for the keyword "RationalWiki" bounced between a somewhat narrow range between 2017 to June 2020 (The range on a relative scale varied between 67 and 90) which presumably was due to websites with large amounts of web traffic mentioning RationalWiki periodically during that time (see graph to the upper right in this section). Starting in June 2020, worldwide Google searches for the keyword "RationalWiki" saw a significant decline. − − The data does not support the notion that a change from a less Snarky point of view to a more Scientific Point of View made a big improvement in RationalWiki's brand awareness. RationalWiki's brand awareness stayed about the same from July 2014 to June 2020 even though its organic traffic tripled during some of this time period. And then, as noted above, something happened around June 2020 that caused RationalWiki's brand awareness to go significantly down. − − === Additional analysis: Google data indicating that RationalWiki has a branding problem and RationalWikian commentary on this issue (with additional SimilarWeb data) === − − See: [[RationalWiki and its branding problems#Additional analysis: Google data indicating that RationalWiki has a branding problem and RationalWikian commentary on this issue (with additional SimilarWeb data)|Additional analysis: Google data indicating that RationalWiki has a branding problem and RationalWikian commentary on this issue (with additional SimilarWeb data)]] − − =Criticisms= − == RationalWiki and its poor leadership == − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and leadership]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]] − − The godless have a reputation for having poor leadership (see: [[Atheism and leadership]]) and as can be seen below RationalWiki is no exception to this matter which helps explains its socially challenged atmosphere and impoverished state as well as it falling web traffic and falling influence. See also: [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]] − − User:RobSmith had suggested going after the Rational Media Foundation for noncompliance and violations of the US tax code, its improper reporting as a non-profit organization, its foreign influence with non-citizens residing outside the United States on its board of directors, and its violation of disclosures laws. The Rational Media Foundation was obviously an illegal [[money laundering]] scam, taking thousands of dollars every year from American donors, and for 7 years not complying with reporting requirements to the [[US Treasury]], donors, and an unsuspecting public. User:Conservative of Conservapedia ignored RobSmith's suggestion, preferring instead to focus on harassing and [[Obsessive compulsive disorder|obsessively]] [[demonizing]] his [[ideological]] opponents, as is wont to be his habit. − − On July 14, 2022, during the election process for the RationalMedia Foundation board of directors, RationalWiki users admitted that RationalWikians were offering weak candidates so far.<ref>[https://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2022/07/rationalwiki-users-admit-election-for.html RationalWiki users admit the election for its Board of Trustees is offering weak candidates so far], [[Examining Atheism]] blog, July 14, 2022</ref> − − === GrammarCommie === − − [[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|GrammarCommie is known for his bullying. − <br /> − <br /> − Research on the dark triad of personality traits ([[narcissism]], [[Machiavellianism]], and [[Psychopath|psychopathy]]) indicate a correlation with bullying.<ref>Chabrol H.; Van Leeuwen N.; Rodgers R.; Séjourné S. (2009). "''Contributions of psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic personality traits to juvenile delinquency''". ''Personality and Individual Differences''. 47 (7): 734–39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2009.06.020.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and narcissism]] and [[Atheism and psychopathy]] − <br /> − <br /> − Portrait of [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] by Santi di Tito.]] − ''See also:'' [[GrammarCommie]] − − [[GrammarCommie]] (GC) is largely a former RationalWiki administrator. He retired and vowed to never come back a few times (He came back a few times. His last post was July 13, 2022).<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/GrammarCommie GrammarCommie contributions]</ref> − − He formerly served on the RationalWiki Foundation board of directors until he had a mental health crisis which consisted of him threatening to cut himself and commit suicide in order to get his way at RationalWiki (See: [[GrammarCommie#Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie|Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie]]). He is an atheist and leftist. − − As noted above, GrammarCommie has anger management issues which sometimes results in him angrily posting abusive posts in all caps laced with profanity (see also: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and profanity]]).<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2399206&oldid=2399203 Revision as of 22:51, 4 January 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref><ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2399207&oldid=2399206 Revision as of 22:55, 4 January 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref> The RationalWiki admin who goes by the moniker CorruptUser wrote about GrammarCommie on March 25, 2021: "GC has this belief that there's a Certain Way you have to make arguments, and seeing anyone deviating from that Certain Way results in him losing control, and he has little ability to regain his composure. During this time he will write vicious screeds, make threats, or engage in blockwars including removal of rights."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation&diff=2303295&oldid=2303292 RationalWiki talk:All things in moderation - March 25, 2021 post by Admin CorruptUser]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence]] − − GrammarCommie frequently bans people which contributes to RationalWiki being a wiki that has a low [[Essay: Edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki|edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki]]. He also frequently reverts other editors. A wiki with a low edit to block ratio tends to be a closed-minded wiki that is dogmatic and intolerant (see also: [[Atheism and dogmatism]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]). − − He is also known for his bullying. Research on the dark triad of personality traits ([[narcissism]], [[Machiavellianism]], and [[Psychopath|psychopathy]]) indicate a correlation with bullying.<ref>Chabrol H.; Van Leeuwen N.; Rodgers R.; Séjourné S. (2009). "''Contributions of psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic personality traits to juvenile delinquency''". ''Personality and Individual Differences''. 47 (7): 734–39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2009.06.020.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and narcissism]] and [[Atheism and psychopathy]] − − In June of 2022, GrammarCommie was banning and unbanning himself. Before banning himself initially, GrammarCommie said that RationalWiki was "half-dead" and filled with "twits".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:2friedeggs&diff=prev&oldid=2460941 Revision as of 03:49, 10 June 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref> Specifically, he wrote: "You know what, fine. Take your half dead site, where most of you twits obsess over one or two articles and et the rest of the site rot, where I can't even perform basic category maintenance without someone getting on my ass, which by the way is why i haven't touched mainspace in ages, where trolls are humored as long as there's the barest minimum level of plausible deniability, and shove it right up your f**king *ss."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:2friedeggs&diff=prev&oldid=2460941 Revision as of 03:49, 10 June 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref> In reply, the RationalWiki user 2friedeggs said: "This site is dying for a reason" and he indicated that GrammarCommie was chasing good faith editors away. On July 3, 2022, the RationalWiki Moderator [[LeftyGreenMario]] gave Grammarcommie an ultimatum. He could either unblock himself and "contribute to the community without taking swipes at other people" or he could stay blocked.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:GrammarCommie&oldid=2467127#two_choices LeftyGreenMario's ultimatum to GrammarCommie]</ref> In response, GrammarCommie replied: "@LeftyGreenMario What, exactly, am I supposed to contribute? I try to deal with trolls and asshats, I get burned. I try to clean up categories, I get burned. So. What, exactly, am I supposed to contribute?".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:GrammarCommie&oldid=2467127#two_choices LeftyGreenMario's ultimatum to GrammarCommie]</ref> − − GrammarCommie often pontificates about politics and economics and sees himself as very knowledgeable about these areas despite describing himself as being lower middle class. On July 30, 2021, GrammarCommie wrote: "I asked for data, not random factoids. Just as we can't infer that every white person lives at the lower middle class level because I do...".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2348120&oldid=2348116 RationalWiki Saloon Revision as of 04:33, 30 July 2021 (view source) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs) (→Critical Race Theory)]</ref> He is also known for correcting people's grammar and being intolerant of people's grammatical errors.<ref>[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Grammar%20Commie Grammar Commie - Urban dictionary]</ref> − − GrammarCommie describes himself thusly, "Deeply [[cynicism|cynical]] and borderline [[misanthropy|misanthropic]]. Very much not [[Utopian]]. Unconventional left-winger. If you want more info engage me in a conversation. I'm an asshole, but I'm honest."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/User:GrammarCommie GrammarCommie user page at RationalWiki]</ref> GrammarCommmie is admin at RationalWiki, which is a wiki that intentionally lies about its web traffic statistics on its article about itself in that it greatly inflates its web traffic and global market share − − === LeftyGreenMario === − − ''See also:'' [[LeftyGreenMario]] − − [[File:LeftyGreenMario.JPG|thumbnail|right|500px|LeftyGreenMario (LGM) is a RationalWiki moderator. − <br /> − <br /> − LeftyGreenMario is not sure if she has bad judgment. She feels as if she is a bad person due to her gossiping about other RationalWikians at the RationalWiki Discord server. − <br /> − <br /> − The above screenshot was taken from the RationalWiki Discord server.]] − [[LeftyGreenMario]] (LGM) is a lady RationalWiki (RW) moderator and administrator. She is also a RationalWiki Foundation trustee. [[RationalWiki and web traffic|RationalWiki.org]] is a politically [[leftism|left]]-leaning [[wiki]] website that skews towards [[atheism]]/[[agnosticism]] in terms of its [[worldview]]. LeftyGreenMario became a RationalWiki moderator in January of 2018.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User:LeftyGreenMario&diff=1917739&oldid=1908438 LeftyGreenMario's post on her user page that she became a RationalWiki Moderator]</ref> − − LeftyGreenMario is a [[feminism|feminist]], self-described [[asexual]], [[atheism|atheist]], [[evolution]]ist, proponent of [[abortion]], [[environmentalism|environmentalist]] and a video game enthusiast.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/User:LeftyGreenMario LeftyGreenMario - RationalWiki]</ref> She works as a dental lab technician and driver.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:LeftyGreenMario&diff=2504324&oldid=2504120 LeftyGreenMario, works as a dental lab technician and driver.]</ref> − − LeftyGreenMario is a student of [[Herbert Marcuse]]'s [[partisan tolerance]], and almost singlehandedly destroyed what little bit of balance and tolerance of diverse viewpoints existed in the Rationalwiki community since its founding in 2007. As a Trustee of the RationalMedia Foundation,<ref>https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_nm/4330247</ref> LeftyGreenMario has led the project down the road of leftist intolerance. Many longtime contributors abandoned the project after her rise as a central figure. See also: [[RationalWiki and web traffic]] − and [[RationalWiki and web traffic#LeafyGreenMario and Google referral traffic|LeafyGreenMario and Google referral traffic]] − − Google has a number of quality indicators by which is rates a website. According to SEMRush, RationalWiki had 1.49 million monthly referral visits from Google in January of 2018 (which is when LeafyGreenMario became a RationalWiki moderator). According to SEMRush, RationalWiki's peak Google referral traffic was 3.5 million visits per month in August 2019. In June of 2020, according to SEMRush, RationalWiki had 464,000 monthly referrals from Google. In January of 2022, according to SEMRUsh, RationalWiki had 185,661 monthly referrals from Google. RationalWiki has lost a massive amount of web traffic since its peak in August of 2019 (see: [[RationalWiki and web traffic]]). − − LeftyGreenMario is not sure if she has bad judgment (see screenshot graphic to the right). She feels as if she is a bad person due to her gossiping about other RationalWikians at the RationalWiki Discord server. − − She was threatened with impeachment by a former RationalWiki Moderator and current Administrator of RationalWiki, who goes by the username Ace McWicked, due to her involvement in the RationalWiki GossipGate scandal (She gossiped about Ace McWicked). She apologized to Ace McWicked to turn things around, to no effect (see screenshot graphic to the right). − ==== LeftyGreenMario's disturbing behavior as a RationalWiki Moderator in 2023 ==== − − On March 4, 2023, the RationalWiki editor Ace McWicked wrote about the RationalWiki Moderator LeftyGreenMario: "You have no justification in blocking a user or reverting comments just because you say the conversation is done. We don't do that here... Are the rest of us just peons who must cease talking when a mod says so?".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:LeftyGreenMario&diff=2531062&oldid=2527930 Revision as of 01:47, 4 March 2023 (view source) Ace McWicked]</ref><ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:LeftyGreenMario&diff=2531078&oldid=2531071 Revision as of 04:02, 4 March 2023 (view source) Ace McWicked]</ref> The RationalWiki Administrator DuceMooseolini concurred with Ace McWicked's commentary about LeftyGreenMario's behavior and wrote: "This is actually very disturbing behavior to see from a mod."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:LeftyGreenMario&diff=2531085&oldid=2531084 Revision as of 04:42, 4 March 2023 (view source) DuceMoosolini]</ref> RationalWiki editor FairDinkum, who is in the midst of creating a series of essays on the academic discipline of argumentation based on the scholar David Zarefsky's lecture on the subject, wrote about LeftyGreenMario's disturbing behavior, "For once I agree with Ace."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:LeftyGreenMario&diff=2531669&oldid=2531666 Revision as of 16:21, 6 March 2023 (view source) FairDinkum]</ref><ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Essay:Argumentation_-_An_Introduction Essay:Argumentation - An Introduction] by RationalWiki editor FairDinkum</ref> − − ==== RationalWiki administrator Hastur on LeftyGreenMario's temperament being unsuitable for a moderator ==== − − [[File:LeftyGreenMario RationalWiki moderator.JPG|thumbnail|center|1500px|RationalWiki administrator Hastur on LeftyGreenMario's temperament.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation&diff=2399454&oldid=2399448 Latest revision as of 14:46, 5 January 2022 (view source) Hastur (talk | contribs)]</ref> According to RationalWiki policy, ill-behavior on the RationalWiki Discord Server is not a recallable offense. However, RationalWikians do ignore their policies and act arbitrarily. For example, a RationalWikian was permabanned from the RationalWiki website without a 2/3rds vote which by RationalWkiki's policies is required.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Chicken_coop&diff=prev&oldid=2296799 Revision as of 21:46, 11 March 2021 (view source) Christopher (talk | contribs)]</ref>]] − {{Clear}} − ==== LeftyGreenMario's influence on RationalWiki according to RationalWiki Admininstrator Ace McWicked ==== − [[File:LeftyGreenMario RationalWiki.png|thumbnail|600px|center|On May 23, 2020, a RationalWiki (RW) administrator who goes by the moniker Ace McWicked essentially admits that RationalWiki is becoming an echo chamber of its most prominent administrator. − <br /> − <br /> − In the above quote, LGM is an acronym for the lady, RationalWiki administrator LeftyGreenMario. See: [[Atheism and groupthink]] ]] − {{clear}} − − === RationalWiki and anti-feminist language by RationalWiki Moderator User: Spud === − − [[File:Sexist language used by RationalWiki Moderator User Spud.jpg|center|800px|thumbnail|RationalWiki is a pro-[[feminism]] website.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Feminism RationalWiki - Feminism]</ref> − <br /> − <br /> − Above is a screen capture of one of the instances of RationalWiki Moderator User: Spud using language that would be considered derogatory to women by some [[feminism|feminists]]. ]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWiki has less than 40 active editors == − − [[File:RW has less than 40 active editors.jpg|thumbnail|center|1500px|In December of 2022 RationalWiki had elections for a site moderators. The screeshot taken above shows that the vote tally revealed that RationalWiki is a [[wiki]] website with less than 40 active editors.]] − − RationalWiki has less than 40 active editors. Many double as active editors on [[Conservapedia]]. − {{Clear}} − − === Blocking vote for User: FairDinkum merely had about 20 voters after 5 days of voting === − − In March of 2022, a vote was held about blocking RationalWiki editor FairDinkum about whether to block him and for how long. After 5 days of voting, there were only about 20 people who voted.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Chicken_coop&oldid=2532960 RationalWiki:Chicken coop], March 2022</ref> − − == RationalWiki and closedmindedness == − − === RationalWikians and censoring, banning and permabanning === − − At RationalWiki users who post information contrary to [[secular]] [[Leftism|leftist]]/[[liberal]] ideology are vandal-binned, topic-banned and eventually put on trial and shunned/banned. All facts and opinions which are at variance with secular leftist/liberal ideology are reverted/erased/obscured at RationalWiki. The trials are not fairminded in terms of the application of the rules. For example, despite RationalWiki's rules requiring a 2/3rds majority to permaban a user, a RationalWiki user was permabanned despite the vote not reaching a 2/3rds majority. − − RationalWikians have banned a very large proportion of individuals from their website compared to most [[wiki]]s (see: [[Essay: Edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki|Edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki]]). See also: [[Atheism and intolerance]] − − ==== Permabanning ==== − − ''See also:'' [[The key differences between RationalWiki and the Amish]] − − RationalWiki does permanently ban some of its users. Atheists are known for being more unforgiving than Christians (see: [[Atheism and forgiveness]]). For example, the [[Amish]] do excommunicate/shun members, but if they are contrite, they do allow ex-Amish to return to the Amish community. See also: [[The key differences between RationalWiki and the Amish]] − − [[File:Amish youth groups at Behalt 11.jpg|thumbnail|center|251px|RationalWiki does permanently ban some of its users, notably [[Conservapedia]] [[User:Conservative]] for persistent [[trolling]]. − <br /> − <br /> − Atheists are known for being more unforgiving than Christians (see: [[Atheism and forgiveness]]). For example, the [[Amish]] do excommunicate/shun members, but if they are contrite, they do allow ex-Amish to return to the Amish community. − <br /> − <br /> − For more information, please see: [[The key differences between RationalWiki and the Amish]] ]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWiki and mental illness == − − RationalWiki users are alleged to have a higher incidence of mental illness than the general public which is said to be common for the Western atheist and Western secular leftist population as a whole (see: [[Atheism and mental illness]] and [[Secular leftists and psychogenic illness]]). − − The abstract for the journal article ''Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members'' published in the ''Journal of Religion and Health'' indicates: "On dimensions related to psychological well-being, atheists and agnostics tended to have worse outcomes than either those with religious affiliation or those with no religious preference."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26743877 ''Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members''] by Hayward RD, Krause N, Ironson G, Hill PC, Emmons R., ''Journal of Religion and Health'', 2016 Jun;55(3):1024-1037. doi: 10.1007/s10943-015-0179-2.</ref> − − === RationalWiki admin LeftyGreenMario and another editor on the website not being a website conducive to mental health on the day of March 25, 2021 === − − [[File:RationalWikians on their wiki not being a place conduscive to mental health at the present time.PNG|thumbnail|2000px|center| − <br /> − <br /> − "Can't everyone just calm down. It's not like it's the end of the world... yet." - Unclescrooge (talk) 04:12, 25 March 2021 (UTC)<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation&diff=2303279&oldid=2303278 RationalWiki talk:All things in moderation]</ref>]] − − The incident above was triggered by the former RationalWiki Foundation Board member and RationalWiki admin [[GrammarCommie]] (GC) threatening to harm himself and commit suicide if he didn't get his way in some matters (see: [[GrammarCommie#Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie|Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie]]). − − === RationalWiki Administrator and RationalWiki Media Foundation board member DuceMoosolini said the RationalWiki website attracted "all sorts of weird people" === − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and social outcasts]] − − In 2020, at the RationalWiki Discord server, the RationalWiki Administrator and RationalWiki Media Foundation board member DuceMoosolini said the RationalWiki website attracts "all sorts of weird people". [[Conservapedia]] trolling Admin [[User:Conservative]] frequently is attracted to the site and has shown an obsession with documenting insignificant minutia about the eccentricates of the site's anonymous trolling activity. − − [[File:Atheism and social outcasts.png|thumbnail|1200px|center|In 2020, at the RationalWiki Discord server, the RationalWiki Administrator and RationalWiki Media Foundation board member DuceMoosolini said the RationalWiki website attracts "all sorts of weird people".]] − {{clear}} − − === RationalWikians and autism/Asperger's syndrome === − − Research indicates [[autism]] and [[Asperger's syndrome]] are [[genetic]] conditions, i.e. that's the way [[God]] created them. According to [[Conservapedia]] [[narcissistic]] [[troll]] and frequent Rationalwiki contributor [[User:Conservative]], atheists have an above-average incidence of [[autism]] and [[Asperger's syndrome]] (see: [[Atheism and autism]]). − − The atheist [[PZ Myers]] and his blog audience scored higher than average on a [[Asperger's syndrome]] test (see: [[Atheism and autism#Atheist PZ Myers' blog audience and their reported Asperger's quotient test results|Atheist PZ Myers' blog audience and their reported Asperger's quotient test results]]). − − Atheists are known for having poor social skills (see: [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence]]). According to an international study done by William Bainbridge, [[atheism]] is frequent among people whose interpersonal social obligations are weak and is also linked to lower fertility rates in advanced industrial nations (See also: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).<ref> Bainbridge, William (2005). "[http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr01002.pdf Atheism]" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.</ref> The RationalWikian user/editer base has a significant number of quarrelsome, socially challenged males as evidenced the archives of the dispute resolution areas of their website - specifically the [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Chicken_coop/Archive_list archives for RationalWiki's "Chicken Coop"] and the [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation/Archive_List archives for RationalWiki's "All things in moderation"]. − − [[File:Cerebellum.jpg|center|thumb|200px|Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious. See: [[Atheism and the brain]] ]] − {{clear}} − − == Rationalwiki website and anger management issues == − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional problems]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness]] − − [[RationalWiki]] is a politically [[leftism|left]]-leaning website that skews towards [[atheism]]/[[agnosticism]] in terms of its [[worldview]]. RationalWiki has a small fraction of the web traffic it had before October 2019 (see: [[RationalWiki and web traffic]]). − − === GrammarCommie: RationalWiki Foundation board of director member and Admin with anger management issues === − − [[GrammarCommie]] (GC) is largely a former RationalWiki administrator. He retired and vowed to never come back a few times (He came back a few times. His last post was July 13, 2022).<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/GrammarCommie GrammarCommie contributions]</ref> − − He formerly served on the RationalWiki Foundation board of directors until he had a mental health crisis which consisted of him threatening to cut himself and commit suicide in order to get his way at RationalWiki (See: [[GrammarCommie#Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie|Screenshot captures of RationalWiki posts related to GrammnarCommie]]). − − GrammarCommie is an [[atheism|atheist]] and [[Leftism|leftist]]. − − GrammarCommie has anger management issues which sometimes results in him angrily posting abusive posts in all caps laced with profanity (see also: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and profanity]]).<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2399206&oldid=2399203 Revision as of 22:51, 4 January 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref><ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2399207&oldid=2399206 Revision as of 22:55, 4 January 2022 (edit) (undo) GrammarCommie (talk | contribs)]</ref> The RationalWiki admin who goes by the moniker CorruptUser wrote about GrammarCommie on March 25, 2021: "GC has this belief that there's a Certain Way you have to make arguments, and seeing anyone deviating from that Certain Way results in him losing control, and he has little ability to regain his composure. During this time he will write vicious screeds, make threats, or engage in blockwars including removal of rights."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation&diff=2303295&oldid=2303292 RationalWiki talk:All things in moderation - March 25, 2021 post by Admin CorruptUser]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence]] − − === RationalWiki admin Oxyaena and anger === − − [[File:Rationalwiki editor 5-24-2020.png|thumbnail|800px|center|RationalWiki is a [[wiki]] primarily consisting of atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]]. − <br /> − <br /> − As can be seen above, on 5-24-2020, the RationalWiki administrator Oxyaena wrote: "it's just that i am probably raging too much most of the time to form coherent sentences." The statement was made on their Discord channel (Discord is a chat website). See also: [[Atheism and irrationality]] ]] − {{clear}} − === RationalWWiki User: Luigi3 and anger === − [[File:RationalWikian Plutocow telling RationalWikian Luigifan3 to have better emotional control in terms of behavior - November 29, 2022 at 1936.jpg|thumbnail|1200px|center|On November 29, 2022 at 19:36 the RationalWikia admin Plutocow told RationalWiki User:Luigi3 to exhbit greater emotional control in terms of their behavior on their website. − <br /> − <br /> − The above excerpt is from a screen capture. ]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWiki's lack of appeal to a women audience == − − ''See also:'' [[RationalWiki's lack of appeal to a women audience]] and [[Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women]] − − === RationalWiki website's percentage of female visitors in January of 2023 === − − [[File:RationalWiki's percentage of female viewership fell since May of 2022 according to SimilarWeb.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px|According to the leading web marketing website SimilarWeb.com, in January of 2023, RationalWiki's audience skewed heavily male. − <br /> − <br /> − In January of 2023, according to SimilarWeb.com, 67.54% of RationalWiki's web visitors were male. This represented a slight increase in its male viewership from May of 2022 according to SimilarWeb.com. In May of 2022, according to SimilarWeb.com, 66.36% of RationalWiki's web visitors were male (See: [[RationalWiki's lack of appeal to a women audience]]). − <br /> − <br /> − In 2022, RationalWiki contributors failed to launch a major initiative to recruit more women editors nor was there a major increase in RationalWiki content related to women's issues. [[Wikipedia]] has an article entitled [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_bias_on_Wikipedia Gender bias on Wikipedia]. RationalWiki does not have an article entitled "Gender bias at RationalWiki". ]] − {{Clear}} − − === RationalWiki website's percentage of female visitors in May of 2022 === − − [[File:RationalWiki lack of appeal to a women audience.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px|According to the leading web marketing website SimilarWeb.com, in May of 2022, RationalWiki's audience skewed heavily male.]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWiki and its web visitor interest in pornography== − − ''See also:'' [[RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography|RationalWiki and its web visitor interest in pornography]] − − [[File:RationalWiki audience interest in pornography 1-10-2022 1.jpg|thumbnail|1200px|center|[[RationalWiki and web traffic|RationalWiki.org]] is a politically [[leftism|left]] leaning website that skews towards [[atheism]]/[[agnosticism]] in terms of its [[worldview]]. − <br /> − <br /> − The editors of the website RationalWiki try to portray the website as a thinking person's [[wiki]] where the editors carefully analyze various matters. − <br /> − <br /> − But SimilarWeb.com data shows a significant portion of RationalWiki's web audience is interested in "adult" material as can be seen by the "adult" audience interests in the above graphic. − <br /> − <br /> − <br /> − <br /> − Atheists have played a significant role in both the production and consumption of pornographic material (See: [[Atheism and pornography]] and [[Atheism and child pornography]]). − <br /> − <br /> − Many feminists contend that pornography exploits women.<ref>[https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminist-sex-markets/ Feminist Perspectives on Sex Markets], The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, October 6, 2020</ref> RationalWiki is a pro-[[feminism]] website.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Feminism RationalWiki - Feminism]</ref> ]] − {{clear}} − − === Trustworthiness of websites linking to RationalWiki === − − [[File:RationalWiki domain inbound links trustflow vs. citation flow.jpg|thumbnail|center|1000px|According to the leading search engine optimization website Search Engine Land: "Citation Flow is a number of predicting how influential a URL might be based on how many sites link to it. Trust Flow is a number predicting how trustworthy a page is based on how trustworthy sites tend to link to trustworthy neighbors."<ref>[https://searchengineland.com/majestic-seo-announces-new-link-metrics-trust-flow-citation-flow-121230 Majestic SEO Announces New Link Metrics: Trust Flow & Citation Flow]</ref> − <br /> − <br /> − As far as a website's domain, high authority and trustworthy websites commonly have their trustflow metric higher than their citation flow metric. As can been above, RationalWiki has the exact opposite. Perhaps its web visitors who visit adult websites link to RationalWiki from low quality websites that are untrusted. ]] − {{Clear}} − − == Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud, and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food == − − ''See also:'' [[Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food]] − [[File:Cheetos.jpg|thumbnail|right|301px|Picture of [[Cheetos]]. − <br /> − <br /> − According to ''Newsweek'', "Since 2012, some schools in California, New Mexico, and Illinois have banned the hot Cheetos due to their lack of nutritional value, and, well, messiness."<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/these-snacks-other-food-items-are-banned-us-1539229#:~:text=Flamin'%20Hot%20Cheetos&text=Since%202012%2C%20some%20schools%20in,%2C%20and%2C%20well%2C%20messiness. These Snacks and Other Food Items Are Banned in the US], Newsweek, 2020</ref>]] − [[File:Cheeseburger.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Picture of a cheeseburger. − <br /> − <br /> − The nutrition website Nutritionix indicates that it takes 2 hours and 24 minutes of walking (or 51 minutes of running at 6 miles per hour) to burn off the calories in a Dairy Queen cheeseburger and that it contains 535 calories.<ref>[https://www.nutritionix.com/food/dairy-queen-cheeseburger Dairy Queen cheeseburger]</ref> ]] − − On April 27, 2023, the Rational Media Board of Director and Moderater User: Spud wrote: − {{Cquote|Long term editors would have known this was coming. Sunday 30 April would have been my younger sister's birthday if she hadn't died suddenly and unexpectedly 5 years ago at the age of 42, leaving a husband and a young daughter. As always, instead of raising a glass in her memory, I'll be having a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar in her memory. It's what she would have wanted. If you'd like to join me in having some crisps and chocolate in her honour, preferably British brands or the closest you can get to them, that would be great. And when I say "crisps", I mean any potato or corn snack, including such things as Monster Munch, Frazzles, Wotsits, Cheetos, Doritos and Funyuns. Alternatively for you Americans, my sister was lucky enough to visit New England one year and absolutely loved the hot food and ice cream from Dairy Queen, so you might like to go there in her honour. Looking at their current menu, I'd say my sister would have an Original Cheeseburger Meal Deal with a strawberry sundae.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=prev&oldid=2544316 Revision as of 12:06, 27 April 2023 (edit) (undo) Spud (talk | contribs)]</ref>}} − − In response to his post, RationalWiki editor Bob M responded "Count me in."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2544332&oldid=2544331 Revision as of 13:14, 27 April 2023 (edit) (undo), Bob M (talk | contribs)]</ref> RationalWiki admin User:DuceMoosolini, who sits on the board of directors of the Rational Media Foundation and whose user page is filled with various types of food, wrote in response to User: Spud's post: "I’ll get a strawberry sundae in her honor, Spud."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2544547&oldid=2544546 Revision as of 19:05, 28 April 2023 (edit) (undo) − DuceMoosolini (talk | contribs) (→Spud is remembering his sister0]</ref> RationalWiki User: The Blade of the Northern Lights, wrote: "I'm on the Dairy Queen, actually took a group of my clients there last week...".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2544433&oldid=2544402 Revision as of 01:29, 28 April 2023 (edit) (undo) The Blade of the Northern Lights (talk | contribs) (→Spud is remembering his sister: Re)]</ref> See also: [[Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks]] − − According to ''Newsweek'', "Since 2012, some schools in California, New Mexico, and Illinois have banned the hot [[Cheetos]] due to their lack of nutritional value, and, well, messiness."<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/these-snacks-other-food-items-are-banned-us-1539229#:~:text=Flamin'%20Hot%20Cheetos&text=Since%202012%2C%20some%20schools%20in,%2C%20and%2C%20well%2C%20messiness. These Snacks and Other Food Items Are Banned in the US], Newsweek, 2020</ref> − − The ''New York Post'' wrote concerning Doritos: − {{Cquote|Steven A. Witherly, a [[food science|food scientist]] and the author of “Why Humans Like Junk Food,” has explained to the New York Times that nacho cheese Doritos are the archetype of addictive processed foods... − − To maximize the pleasure, half of the calories in Doritos come from fat. With that ratio, it feels like the chip melts on your mouth and your brain is tricked into thinking the calories have vanished too. This is called “vanishing caloric density” and it comes with cotton candy too, for example. − − To boot, there’s the three artificial colorings which research shows consumers are attracted to.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2013/10/03/why-doritos-are-as-addictive-as-crack/ Why Doritos are so darned addictive], New York Post, 2013</ref>}} − − According to numerous peer-reviewed [[medical science]] journals, ultra-processed food (often called merely processed food by laymen and others) poses numerous, serious health risks.<ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34299832/ Ultra-Processed Food Availability and Noncommunicable Diseases: A Systematic Review], ''International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health'', 2021 Jul 10;18(14):7382. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147382.</ref> PubMed has over 1,800 medical journal articles related to the health risks of ultra-processed/processed food.<ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=processed%20food PubMed search results for the keyword "Processed food"]</ref> − − The nutrition website Nutritionix indicates that it takes 2 hours and 24 minutes of walking (or 51 minutes of running at 6 miles per hour) to burn off the calories in a Dairy Queen cheeseburger and that it contains 535 calories.<ref>[https://www.nutritionix.com/food/dairy-queen-cheeseburger Dairy Queen cheeseburger]</ref> According the website Fast Food Nutrition, a Dairy Queen strawberry sundae contains between 240-480 calories.<ref>[https://fastfoodnutrition.org/dairy-queen/strawberry-sundae Dairy Queen strawberry sundae]</ref> − [[File:Ice-cream-sundae.jpg|thumb|center|250px|Picture of an ice cream sundae. − <br /> − <br /> − According the website Fast Food Nutrition, a Dairy Queen strawberry sundae contains between 240-480 calories.<ref>[https://fastfoodnutrition.org/dairy-queen/strawberry-sundae Dairy Queen strawberry sundae]</ref>]] − {{Clear}} − === Comfort food, unhealthy food, negative emotions and self-medicating === − − ''See also:'' [[Comfort food#Comfort food, unhealthy food, negative emotions and self-medicating|Comfort food, unhealthy food, negative emotions and self-medicating]] and [[Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks]] and [[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]] and [[Atheism and emotional problems]] and [[Atheism and health]] − − [[File:Nacho Cheese Flavor Doritos.jpg|right|thumbnail|300px|Steven A. Witherly, a food scientist and the author of “Why Humans Like Junk Food,” has explained to the New York Times that nacho cheese Doritos are the archetype of addictive processed foods. In order to maximize the pleasure, half of the calories in Doritos come from fat.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2013/10/03/why-doritos-are-as-addictive-as-crack/ Why Doritos are so darned addictive], New York Post, 2013</ref>]] − − [[Comfort food]] is [[food]] that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone. In many cases, it is characterized by its high caloric nature and high carbohydrate level. − − According to the Henry Ford Health website: − {{Cquote|"The foods we tend to lean toward for comfort are often high in fat and sugar," says Sayde Beeler, MSW, RDN, a registered dietitian at Henry Ford Health. "Those types of foods stimulate the brain's reward system, the same pleasure center that gets activated when you take drugs." − − A variety of factors converge to signal your brain to crave specific foods. Some people gravitate toward sweet foods. Others lean toward warm and hearty foods, particularly when the weather is cold. In each case, a combination of psychological and physiological factors drives the craving. − − "Food can be a sort of antidote to messy, painful emotions," Beeler says. "People turn to food when they're feeling lonely, depressed or guilty, and to celebrate success and achievements. During the pandemic, people may be eating to self-medicate. You want foods that help you feel safe, comfortable and warm." And sometimes, food just provides us with a hit of nostalgia. − − The drawback, of course, is that food doesn't address the emotion that triggered the craving. "If you're feeling guilt, sadness or grief, food may help numb those emotions in the moment, but then the feeling returns," Beeler says. "And if you're overconsuming foods that are high in fat and sugar, that can lead to increases in blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides over time."<ref>[https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/12/do-you-have-an-unhealthy-relationship-with-comfort-food#:~:text=%22The%20foods%20we%20tend%20to,activated%20when%20you%20take%20drugs.%22 Do You Have An Unhealthy Relationship With Comfort Food?], Henry Ford Health website</ref>}} − − === User: Spud's user pages features french fries atop the page. Healthline.com indicates that french fries are "junk food". === − [[File:ChipButty.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|Atop the user page of User: Spud is the picture of french fries which is featured above.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User:Spud&oldid=2543911 User: Spud's user page]</ref> − <br /> − <br /> − According to Healthline.com's 2017 article ''The 15 Unhealthiest Junk Foods in America'': "In spite of their popularity, these deep-fried potatoes are very unhealthy."<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/unhealthiest-junk-foods ''The 15 Unhealthiest Junk Foods in America''], Healthline.com, 2017</ref>]] − Atop the user page of User: Spud is the picture of french fries which are featured to the right.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User:Spud&oldid=2543911 User: Spud's user page]</ref> − − According to the website Healthline.com's 2017 article ''The 15 Unhealthiest Junk Foods in America'': − {{Cquote|French fries are one of the most popular fast food items around. − − In spite of their popularity, these deep-fried potatoes are very unhealthy. − − Studies have linked deep-fried foods to inflammation, heart disease and impaired artery function, among other health problems. − − What’s more, fries are extremely high in calories and fast-digesting carbs.<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/unhealthiest-junk-foods ''The 15 Unhealthiest Junk Foods in America''], Healthline.com, 2017</ref>}} − − === Ultra-processed foods – like cookies, chips, frozen meals and fast food – may contribute to cognitive decline === − − ''See also:'' [[Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks#Consumption of processed foods and brain impairment|Consumption of ultra-processed foods and brain impairment]] − − See: [https://cam.mbi.ufl.edu/2023/01/31/6089/ Ultra-processed foods – like cookies, chips, frozen meals and fast food – may contribute to cognitive decline], University of Florida's Center for Aging and Memory - Clinical Translational Research - Evelyn and William L. McKnight Brain Institute − − For more information, please see: [[Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food#Ultra-processed foods – like cookies, chips, frozen meals and fast food – may contribute to cognitive decline|Ultra-processed foods – like cookies, chips, frozen meals and fast food – may contribute to cognitive decline]] − ==== Journal articles related to the consumption of ultra-processed foods and brain impairment ==== − − *[https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2799140 Association Between Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Cognitive Decline], JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(2):142-150. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4397 − − *[https://n.neurology.org/content/99/10/e1056 Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study], ''Neurology'', July 27, 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000200871 − − === User: Spud's advocacy of eating ultra-processed/processed/junk food (which poses health risks) is at variance with RationalWiki's purported missions of "Analyzing and refuting pseudoscience and the anti-science movement" and "Documenting the full range of crank ideas" === − − ''See also:'' [[Science denialism]] − − RationalWiki's main page indicates that the purpose of the website is "Analyzing and refuting pseudoscience and the anti-science movement" and "Documenting the full range of crank ideas".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page RationalWiki's main page]</ref> User: Spud's advocacy of eating ultra-processed/processed junk food (which poses health risks) is at variance with these two purported missions of RationalWiki. − ==== User: Spud admits eating processed food is not a healthy practice and claims that he did not engage in science denialism ==== − − ''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]] − − [[File:Hippocrates.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Drawing depicting [[Hippocrates]] ]] − − In 2020, the medical journal ''The Lancet'' published the article ''The cost of preventable disease in the USA'': − {{Cquote|A substantial proportion of poor health in populations is preventable. Previous work from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study suggests that nearly half of all health burden in the USA is attributable to a list of 84 modifiable risk factors. Globally, it is also generally accepted that a quarter, or perhaps up to half, of all deaths fall into the category of preventable deaths, making illness that can at least theoretically be avoided an accepted part of our health accounting.<ref>[https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30204-8/fulltext ''The cost of preventable disease in the USA''] by Sandro Galea − and Nason Maani, ''The Lancet'', VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10, E513-E514, OCTOBER 2020, Published:October, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30204-8</ref>}} − − On May 1, 2023, User: Spud wrote about his post advocating that people eat processed/ultra-processed food: "...there was no science denial involved. When did I say processed food was healthy? I'll tell you when. Never. That's when. Of course, it's bad for you. Every nudnik knows that. I would never suggest that anyone should eat large quantities of it or eat it regularly. But indulging once a year on 30 April isn't going to do anybody much harm."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Spud&diff=2545354&oldid=2545211 Latest revision as of 13:38, 1 May 2023 (view source) Spud (talk | contribs)]</ref> − − According to the National Institutes of Health website: − {{Cquote|The [[Hippocratic Oath]] (Ορκος) is perhaps the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards. It also strongly binds the student to his teacher and the greater community of physicians with responsibilities similar to that of a family member. In fact, the creation of the Oath may have marked the early stages of medical training to those outside the first families of Hippocratic medicine, the Asclepiads of Kos, by requiring strict loyalty. − − Over the centuries, it has been rewritten often in order to suit the values of different cultures influenced by Greek medicine. Contrary to popular belief, the Hippocratic Oath is not required by most modern medical schools, although some have adopted modern versions that suit many in the profession in the 21st century. It also does not explicitly contain the phrase, "First, do no harm," which is commonly attributed to it."<ref>[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/greek_oath.html#:~:text=The%20Hippocratic%20Oath%20(%CE%9F%CF%81%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%82)%20is,number%20of%20professional%20ethical%20standards. Greek Medicine], National Institutes of Health</ref>}} − − The Hippocratic Oath is widely known for its advocacy of "Do no harm". The oath does not advocate the much weaker and morally inferior position of not doing "much harm" which User: Spud uses in his [[Rationalization (Psychology)|rationalization]] of his bad behavior. In addition, when people eat unhealthy food, there is an [[opportunity cost]] in such an instance because they are not eating nutritious food that would nourish their body in such an instance. − − User: Spud is an atheist. Not possessing a [[Religion and morality|religious basis for morality]], which can provide a basis for [[objective morality]], [[atheism]] is fundamentally [[Moral relativism|incapable]] of providing a coherent system of [[morality]].<ref> − *[http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf God, Naturalism, and the Foundations of Morality] by − Paul Copan − *[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams − *[http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister − *[http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality The failure of atheism to account for morality]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and ethics]] and [[Atheism and the Problem of Evil|Atheism and the problem of evil]] − − The Greek philosopher [[Aristotle]] wrote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Before User: Spud made his post advocating eating ultra-processed/processed/junk food, his user page prominently featured the junk food of french fries atop its page. And his user page still prominently displays french fries which is a type of junk food.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User:Spud&oldid=2543911 User: Spud's user page]</ref> − − And of course, every bad habit such as the eating of ultra-processed/processed/junk food begins with its first act. Young and impressionable viewers of the User: Spud's post could begin a lifelong habit of eating ultra-processed/processed/junk food due to his low-quality web content relative to this unhealthy food. − − Furthermore, it is inappropriate and nonsensical for User: Spud to ask people to engage in eating ultra-processed/processed/junk food, which is a type of food that has caused many people to die prematurely (heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, etc.) as an act of remembrance for his sister who died suddenly 5 years ago at the age of 42 (And as noted above, ultra-processed/processed/junk food may cause brain impairment). This would be especially true if she was a regular eater of ultra-processed foods (Other than mentioning that she "absolutely loved the hot food and ice cream from Dairy Queen", User: Spud does not mention how much of ultra-processed/processed/junk food she ate as a proportion of her diet). − − The [[secular left]]-leaning website RationalWiki criticizes the medical science and other science claims of others, but engages in the promotion of ultra-processed/processed/junk food (See: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]). As noted above, User: Spud still has a picture of the junk food french fries atop his user page and he has yet to disavow telling people to eat ultra-processed/processed/junk food. − − ==== Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud, nutrition and his rejected application to study for a Ph. D. ==== − − See: [[Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food#Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud, nutrition and his rejected application to study for a Ph. D.|Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud, nutrition and his rejected application to study for a Ph. D.]] − − === Trent Toulouse (one of the founders of the website RationalWiki) and obesity === − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] − − Trent Toulouse is one of the founders of the atheist/agnostic/[[Philosophical skepticism|skeptic]] website RationalWiki.<ref>[https://www.winterwatch.net/2018/02/rationalwiki-a-lonely-trolls-pseudoscience-project/ : A Troll’s Pseudoscience Project?] − *[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki&oldid=892479808 RationalWiki] − *[https://uncommondescent.com/legal/rationalwiki-copyright-infringement/ Trent Toulouse posted: "I am the 'owner' of RationalWiki, though it not ownership in the traditional sense."]</ref> He is also one of the board of trustees of the RationalMedia Foundation.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:RationalMedia_Foundation/List_of_board_members RationalMedia Foundation - List of Board Members]</ref> − − A picture of an obese Trent Toulouse can be found [https://cnmchronicle.com/2019/12/17/cuff-you/ HERE] and [https://pnb.mcmaster.ca/beckerlab/ HERE]. − − The RationalWiki website has a significant amount of content criticizing [[alternative medicine]].<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Category:Alternative_medicine RationalWiki articles on alternative medicine]</ref> Its alternative medicine article describes alternative medicine thusly: "Alternative medicine is any medical treatment that is not part of conventional evidence-based medicine, such as one would learn in medical school, nursing school or even paramedic training."<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Alternative_medicine&oldid=2070465 Alternative medicine - RationalWiki]</ref> Evidence-based medicine strongly indicates that [[Health risks linked to obesity|obesity poses significant health risks]]. − − == RationalWiki admin Ace McWicked on flouting medical science and living an unhealthy lifestyle that could reduce his longevity == − − ''See also:'' [[Science denialism]] and [[Atheism and medicine]] and [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and life expectancy]] − − RationalWiki admin Ace McWicked on flouting medical science by living an unhealthy lifestyle which could reduce his longevity and/or cause chronic diseases: "I'm in the office and fee like I am having a heart attack. Pretty sure I walked too quickly while doing an overview of the work-site and smoked too heavily in the process. Or maybe it was the lashings of Jagermeister and mac'n'cheese I had for dinner. Either way not much changes with ol' Ace. Being in my early 40's now I don't feel the need to make any lifestyle changes anymore. I'll just the age happen and see how long I last. I reckon I have another 20 years left." - RationalWiki admin Ace McWicked, May 8, 2023<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Blue&diff=2547064&oldid=2547045 Latest revision as of 19:54, 8 May 2023 (edit) (undo) Ace McWicked (talk | contribs)(→Wait what)]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and life expectancy]] and [[Atheism and smoking]] and [[Atheism and alcoholism]] and [[Macaroni and cheese, processed food, and health risks]] and [[Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks]] − − == RationalWiki's cowardly refusal to debate Conservapedian User: Conservative == − − ''See also:'' [[Narcissistic rivalry]], [[Atheism and cowardice]], [[Atheism and anxiety]] and [[Atheism and mental toughness]] − − [[File:Richard Dawkins at Global Atheism Convention.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|251px|right|The Oxford University Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the New Atheist [[Richard Dawkins]]:: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for Christian [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 14, 2011</ref> See also: [[Atheism and cowardice]] ]] − Initially, in order to taunt RationalWikians, the [[Conservapedia]]n [[User: Conservative]] offered to debate the RationalWikian Ace McWicked, if he agreed to donate $17,000 to a Christian relief organization of his choice. User: Conservative stipulated that the money be given to a third party of his choice. Instead, Ace McWicked merely agreed to give it to one of his relatives which is a condition User: Conservative refused to find acceptable. − − Later, User: Conservative repeatedly won debates against RationalWikians using various sockpuppets at their website - despite RationalWiki attempting to futilely block him. The RationalWikian User: Brx noted that they could no longer falsely claim that User: Conservative was afraid to debate them after repeatedly blocking him. RationalWikians, supposedly permablocked User: Conservative, after holding a sham trial at their website which failed to meet the 66% vote threshold that they supposedly required in order to permanently block someone (Please the screencapture below). − − User: Conservative has noted a number of times that it is not due to his debating prowess that he easily and effortlessly wins debates against atheists. It is due to the utter weakness of the [[atheist worldview]]. − − In recent times, there have been a number of notable cases of prominent atheists cowardly refusing to debate Christians and even pulling out of agreed-upon debates at the 11th hour (See: [[Atheism and cowardice]]). When atheists do debate Christians they generally lose their debates badly (See: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]). − === After losing a series of debate exchanges with one of the editors of the User: Conservative account at Conservapedia, RationalWiki administrators block him from their website and then cede the moral high ground === − − [[File:RationalWiki admits Conservapedian has moral high ground.jpg|thumbnail|900px|center|After losing a series of debate exchanges with one of the editors of the [[User: Conservative]] account at RationalWiki, RationalWiki administrators block him from their website and then cede the moral high ground. Administrator Brx basically admits that blocking him was cowardly. LeftyGreenMario then essentially acknowledges that RationalWiki does not have the moral high ground and cedes moral high ground to administrator User: Conservative at Conservapedia. See also: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] ]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWikians paranoid about catching monkeypox == − − [[File:RW Monkeypox.png|thumbnail|1700px|center|RationalWikians discussing how they are paranoid about catching monkeypox. − <br /> − <br /> − The above screen capture was taken from RationalWiki's Saloon Bar.]] − {{clear}} − − == RationalWiki and the coronavirus pandemic == − − ''See also:'' [[RationalWiki and the coronavirus pandemic]] − − Several [[Internet atheism|atheist websites]] did very poorly during the [[coronavirus]] [[pandemic]] and lost a large amount of their traffic since the early part of 2020 (see: [[Internet atheism and the coronavirus pandemic]]). The RationalWiki website very large amount of web traffic during the coronavirus pandemic (see: [[RationalWiki and the coronavirus pandemic]]). − − Historically, religiosity increases during pandemics. Pew Research found people's religious faith grew during the pandemic - especially in the United States.<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/01/27/more-americans-than-people-in-other-advanced-economies-say-covid-19-has-strengthened-religious-faith/#:~:text=A%20similar%20pattern%20occurs%20in,as%20do%2049%25%20of%20Americans. More Americans Than People in Other Advanced Economies Say COVID-19 Has Strengthened Religious Faith], Pew Research, 2021</ref> Nearly three-in-ten U.S. adults say the outbreak has boosted their faith; about four-in-ten say it has tightened family bonds.<ref>[https://www.pewforum.org/2021/01/27/more-americans-than-people-in-other-advanced-economies-say-covid-19-has-strengthened-religious-faith/ More Americans Than People in Other Advanced Economies Say COVID-19 Has Strengthened Religious Faith], Pew Forum</ref> − − In addition, many [[atheist organizations]] have significant difficulty in getting their fellow atheist to financially support them (see: [[Atheist organizations and fundraising]]), so their web marketing budgets could have been low during the pandemic. In addition, many atheist organizations have poor fiscal management so they may not have had reserves built up before the pandemic (see: [[Atheist organizations and financial mismanagement]]). − − As noted above, on May 29, 2022, one of the founders of the RationalWiki website indicated "Currently the donations we get are sparse... We have not done a donation drive in a long time and have not been self-supporting for over a year....".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki_talk:Site_support&diff=2457044&oldid=2457020 Difference between revisions of "RationalWiki talk:Site support", Revision as of 17:15, 29 May 2022 (edit) (undo)]</ref> A global fundraising scam, Rationalwiki has not complied with non-profit reporting requirements for 7 consecutive years.<ref>''[https://archive.ph/YC96o#Is_the_Foundation_Defunct.3F Is the Foundation Defunct?],'' RationalWiki talk:RationalMedia Foundation/Archive2, 22:50, 26 August 2021. Rationalwiki.org.</ref> − − RationalWiki may never gain that traffic back again as the number of [[Global atheism|atheists in the world]] is expected to drop soon after 2022 according to the scholars at the [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]] at [[Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary]].<ref>[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/center-for-global-christianity/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2022.pdf Status of Global Christianity, 2022, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref> Currently, the [[Global atheism|global atheist population]] is losing market share in terms of the world's population (see: [[Global atheism statistics]]). − === RationalWikians and fear/paranoia of getting a coronavirus infection === − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and death anxiety]] and [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Atheism and anxiety]] and [[Atheism and mental toughness]] − − An RationalWiki user wrote on March 12, 2021: "Can't wait to get the [[Covid-19|COVID]] vaccine. Been extremely paranoid for the past year. At least more paranoid than I normally would be." - User: Eggs Over EASyPlus − − Another RationalWiki editor wrote in response: "There's a story floating around about a [https://www.foxnews.com/us/utah-medical-examiner-moms-death-after-taking-covid-vaccine-temporally-related 39 year old from Utah who died after taking the covid vaccine]. As tragic as that situation is, really hope it doesn't scare people off from taking it. Even if this was directly caused by the vaccine (we're still unsure it was or not), far less will die from this vaccine vs COVID itself. But expect this to make the front lines of anti-vax websites everywhere." - User: Aaronmichael5, March 12, 2021 − [[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|center|According to a study performed in the United States by the researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?], World of Science]</ref> − <br /> − <br /> − For more information, please see: [[Atheism and death anxiety]] ]] − {{clear}} − − =The Thatcherism debate= − − ''See also:'' [[The debate that RationalWiki's leftists/socialists lost very badly]] − − From July 31, 2022 to August 1, 2022, a debate/discussion occurred about the merits of [[capitalism]] vs. [[socialism]] at RationalWiki's forum which is called their Saloon Bar. The discussion thread that sparked this debate/discussion was entitled ''US is officially facing a recession''<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&oldid=2474522#US_is_officially_facing_a_recession US is officially facing a recession]</ref> − − Debate summary: A member of RationalMedia Foundation's board of directors became furious when [[User: Conservative]] (User: Lipsen) pointed out that: the [[conservative]] [[Margaret Thatcher]] was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and in the 1980s, Britain's economy under Thatcher grew faster than any other economy - except for Spain. In addition, the squalid conditions of the UK when various manufacturing companies were nationalized and the public sector enlarged was pointed out. Furthermore, it was pointed out that abusive language is not a substitution for sound arguments. There were so many other arguments which led to the creation of a "Criticism of [[socialism]]" article. − − [[LeftyGreenMario]], a lady board member of the RationalMedia Foundation and a moderator of RationalWiki, accused the User: Lipsen, a [[sockpuppet]] troll, of misspelling the word sanctimonious (She spelled it "sacrimonious")<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=RationalWiki:Saloon_bar&diff=2474490&oldid=2474478 Revision as of 21:14, 1 August 2022 (edit) (undo) LeftyGreenMario (talk | contribs)]</ref> banned the troll.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Special:Log/block RationalWiki block log]</ref> − − As can be seen via its block log, RationalWiki has a low [[Essay: Edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki|edits to blocked editor accounts ratio at a wiki]] which is a measure of Admin blocking activity.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Special:Log/block RationalWiki block log]</ref> − − [[User: Conservative]], an Admin at [[Conservapedia]], was [[trolling]] RationalWiki using the RationalWiki account User: Lipsen, one of several sockpouppet accounts. − − === The Thatcherism debate led to a draft "Criticism of socialism" article === − − RationalWiki's Admin User: GeeJayK was so inspired by the debate/discussion that RationalWiki's leftists/socialists lost badly that he started creating a draft of the upcoming RationalWiki article "Criticism of socialism" (See graphic below). Upon creating his RationalWiki draft article "Criticisms of socialism", RationalWiki admin User: GeeJayK wrote: "Discussion on the bar gave me some incentives to write this." (See second graphic below). The bar refers to RationalWiki's Saloon Bar which is their discussion forum. RationalWiki User: GeeJayK is a supporter of capitalism at the politically left-leaning website RationalWiki (see third graphic below). − − The RationalWiki website was launched largely in response to User: Conservative's articles on [[evolution]] and [[atheism]]. User: Conservative continues to have an influence on RationalWikians through his periodic posts at RationalWiki's discussion forum and his posts at Conservapedia. According to SimilarWeb.com, one of the top web traffic sources to Conservapedia is RationalWiki (see fourth graphic below). Conservapedia's [[atheism ]] related articles continue to receive hundreds of thousands of views each year (see: [[Conservapedia:Atheism articles statistics]]). − − [[File:RationalWiki User GeeJayK draft of his upcoming RationalWiki article Criticism of socialism.jpg|thumbnail|center|1500px|RationalWiki's Admin User: GeeJayK was so inspired by the debate/discussion that RationalWiki's leftists/socialists lost badly that he started creating a draft of the upcoming RationalWiki article "Criticism of socialism".]] − {{clear}} − [[File:RationalWiki admin GeeJayK indicating the discussion in RationalWiki's discussion forum the Saloon Bar gave him some incentives to start a Criticism of socialism article at RationalWiki.jpg|thumbnail|center|1500px|Upon creating his RationalWiki draft article "Criticisms of socialism", RationalWiki admin User: GeeJayK wrote: "Discussion on the bar gave me some incentives to write this." The bar refers to RationalWiki's Saloon Bar which is their discussion forum.]] − {{clear}} − [[File:RationalWiki User GeeJayK user page screen capture 8-1-2022.png|thumbnail|1500px|center|RationalWiki's Admin User: GeeJayK is a supporter of capitalism according to his user page. Most of the political content at RationalWiki is politically left-leaning. ]] − {{clear}} − [[File:Referral traffic to Conservapedia from RationalWiki according to Similarweb.jpg|thumbnail|1500px|According to SimilarWeb.com of the top traffic sources to Conservapedia is RationalWiki. − <br /> − <br /> − Conservapedia's [[atheism ]] articles continue to receive hundreds of thousands of views each year (see: [[Conservapedia:Atheism articles statistics]]). ]] − {{clear}} − === Key points Conservapedia troll User: Conservative (User: Lipsen) made during the debate === − − ==== Socialism-lite/socialism in the UK vs. the economic policies of the conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Socialists used abusive language instead of sound arguments ==== − [[File:Margaret Thatcher.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The conservative [[Margaret Thatcher]] was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century. ]] − 1. I said about post WWII UK that: a significant portion of the UK's manufacturing base was taken over by the government, it's tax rate was jacked up, its public sector of the economy greatly increased partly due to its labor unions donating to the Labour Party. The public sector labor unions went on strike causing mountains of trash, corpses and rats to fill the streets. − − If you want to call that socialism-lite instead of full-blown socialism that's fine. But socialism doesn't have a good track record either - unless you want to make the lame, utopian argument that socialism has never really been tried (Soviet Union, Chinese socialism with Chinese characteristics, Cuba, etc.). − − 2. WWII ended in 1945 and the German bombing campaign commonly called the Blitz caused much damage to Britain. The website History.com [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/marshall-plan-1#:~:text=The%20Marshall%20Plan%2C%20also%20known,Secretary%20of%20State%20George%20C. points out] that "The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II. It was enacted in 1948 and provided more than $15 billion to help finance rebuilding efforts on the continent." In the 20th century, the USA/UK had what is often called a "special relationship" and still continues to this day although it was damaged by the Iraq War, etc. So the UK received a decent size portion of the Marshall Plan money. − − 3. Socialism-lite/socialism had 30 years to prove its worth in the UK and it failed in the eyes of the UK public which is why Margaret Thatcher was elected in 1979. − − 4. Although AMG wrote that I said "Thatcherism fixed everything", I never said this. But I did point out that Margaret Thatcher privatized formerly nationalized companies and "In the 1980s, Britain's economy grew faster than any other economy - except for Spain." − − 5. Margaret Thatcher was in power from 1979 to 1990 and was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. Much of the British public thought she did a good job or she wouldn't have served for so long (The UK is a Western democracy with free and fair elections so Thatcher would have been thrown out before she became the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century). − − 6. When I have participated in online discussions at websites that have civil discourse or watch public figures debate, I don't see individuals calling people imbeciles. If RationalWiki contributors want to stoop to using abusive language rather than making strong arguments, RationalWiki is free to do so, but it will pay a price. It will be much harder (or impossible) to attract new contributors who make quality contributions. Lipsen (talk) 18:14, 1 August 2022 (UTC) − − ==== Nordic countries are capitalist and not socialist utopias. Excessive big government debt is a drag on the economy ==== − − I pointed out in my short recap of how socialism adversely affected the UK/Britain that the government took over some manufacturing companies. I did this because KarmaPolice's user page indicates that he is a socialist. As far as the Nordic countries, Foreignpolicy.com's article [https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/27/nordic-countries-not-socialist-denmark-norway-sweden-centrist/ Nordic Countries Aren’t Actually Socialist says: "Denmark, Norway, and Sweden shouldn’t be held up as socialist utopias." With that being said, each country is going to have to decide how big the public sector is. I am not an anarchist who believes in no government, but more of a limited/small government proponent with local government doing a lot of the "government lifting" - except for obvious exceptions such as the military. Local governments are often more responsive to the people. In somewhat recent economic history, there are non-socialist countries that have large amounts of federal government debt which is not healthy for an economy once it gets over a certain percentage of GNP. That is one of the main reasons that I think the federal government should not get too big. − − ==== Socialistic policies in the UK, India and Israel failed. The notion of a government controlling wages and prices via supercomuters and governmental workers better than the people working in the actual industries/markets/niches everyday is an example of failed socialist thinking ==== − − KarmaPolice, I just looked at your profile and it says you are a socialist. Israel, India, and the UK all adopted socialism as an economic model following World War II and it failed in each case. The reason you resorted to the illogical argumentation of the ad hominem argument by calling me a "moron" when it comes to understanding economics is that you cannot defend the failure of a system called socialism. Your notion of a government controlling wages and prices via supercomuters and governmental workers better than the people working in the actual industries/markets/niches everyday is an example of failed socialist thinking. − − ==== Swiss economy has lower inflation than USA under the Biden administration which had excess money printing, big government spending, anti-fossil fuel public policy and funded a foreign war in Ukraine ==== − − It was recently [https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi#:~:text=US%20Inflation%20Rate%20Rises%20to,above%20market%20forecasts%20of%208.8%25.reported] that the annual inflation rate in the USA accelerated to 9.1% in June of 2022. Reuters [https://freopp.org/switzerland-health-system-profile-1-in-the-world-index-of-healthcare-innovation-e4f513a20f19 reported] that Swiss inflation in June hits 29-year high of 3.4%. The Biden administration did a lot of money printing, a lot of federal government spending and it had very anti domestic fossil fuel policy plus it did not handle Covid-19 well. This largely explains why the USA has a higher inflation rate than Switzerland. In addition, the USA spends a lot on its military and funding the Ukrainian military during the war in Ukraine. Lipsen (talk) 14:34, 1 August 2022 (UTC) − − == See also == − − *[[RationalWiki and web traffic]] − *[[RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography]] − *[[RationalWiki, pornography and pedophilia]] − *[[RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation]] − *[[Essay: RationalWiki and Holocaust denial|RationalWiki and Holocaust denial]] − *[[RationalWiki and internet trolls]] − − Essay: − − *[[Essay: Biblical Mary and Deborah vs. RationalWiki's LeftyGreenMario and Techpriest|Biblical Mary and Deborah vs. RationalWiki's LeftyGreenMario and Techpriest]] − − == Humor about RationalWiki == − − *[[Essay: RationalWikians, say goodbye to much of your political leftists traffic. World and Europe are moving to the right|RationalWikians, say goodbye to much of your political leftists traffic. World and Europe are moving to the right]] − *[[Essay: Comrade RationalWikian, can you spare a dime?|Comrade RationalWikian, can you spare a dime?]] − *[[Essay: RationalWiki theme song|RationalWiki theme song]] − *[[Essay: The key differences between RationalWiki and the Amish|The key differences between RationalWiki and the Amish]] − *[[Essay: The seven profound differences between Phyllis Schlafly and RationalWikians|The seven profound differences between Phyllis Schlafly and RationalWikians]] − *[[Essay: Andy Schlafly, Phyllis Schlafly and the Amish. All they do is win against secular leftists (Rap song)|Andy Schlafly, Phyllis Schlafly and the Amish. All they do is win against secular leftists (Rap song)]] − *[[Essay: Darth Dietician: RationalWikians, I find your lack of trust in nutritional science disturbing.|Darth Dietician: RationalWikians, I find your lack of trust in nutritional science disturbing.]] − *[[Essay: British agnostic acknowledges the reasonableness of a Conservapedia editor|British agnostic acknowledges the reasonableness of a Conservapedia editor]] − *[[Essay: BullyGate: RationalWiki Administrator and RationalWiki Media Foundation board member DuceMoosolini left RationalWiki due to the public shame of being bullied by the female, RationalWiki Moderator Techpriest|BullyGate: RationalWiki Administrator and RationalWiki Media Foundation board member DuceMoosolini left RationalWiki due to the public shame of being bullied by the female, RationalWiki Moderator Techpriest]] − *[[Essay: A pontificating, godless, British, socialist at a skeptical wiki has blind faith|A pontificating, godless, British, socialist at a skeptical wiki has blind faith]] − *[[Essay: Modern day digital marketing Christians vs. luddite, digital marketing atheists rap song|Modern day digital marketing Christians vs. luddite, digital marketing atheists rap song]] − − == External links == − − *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4_tRgsXeV4 Rationalwiki caught LYING about PPSIMMONS - gets SLAMMED by moderator] by [[PNN News and Ministry Network]] − − ==References== − <references/> − − [[Category: RationalWiki]]
non-encyclopedic
{{speedy}}
{{Clear}}