Wikipedia Is Not Amused By Entry For xkcd-Coined Word 553
ObsessiveMathsFreak writes "Today's xkcd comic introduced an unusual word — malamanteau — by giving its supposed definition on Wikipedia. The only trouble is that the word (as well as its supposed wiki page) did not in fact exist. Naturally, much ado ensued at the supposed wiki page, which was swiftly created in response to the comic. This article has more on how the comic and the confusion it caused have put the Net in a tizzy. It turns out that a malamanteau is a portmanteau of portmanteau and malapropism, but also a malapropism of portmanteau. All this puts Wikipedia in the confusing position of not allowing a page for an undefined word whose meaning is defined via the Wikipedia page for that word — and now I have to lie down for a moment."
Simple Solution (Score:5, Funny)
*puts blanket over his head and grabs a webcam* How fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Wikipedia after all it has been through! It lost its father, it went through a fundraiser. It had two fuckin libel suits filed against it. Larry Sanger turned out to be a user, a liar, and now he's accusing it of hosting childporn. All you people care about is
LEAVE IT ALONE!
Real Power (Score:5, Funny)
And people say kids these days put too much stock in wikipedia. Come on, they won't even let an undefined word be added even after it clearly becomes defined by xkcd.
Now the power to change google search results [xkcd.com], make new words [xkcd.com], and cause spontaneous gatherings at random locations [xkcd.com]. That's power that only stick figures can be trusted with.
Re:Love at first read. (Score:5, Funny)
And now I need to go to go make a wiki page on biavianliths.
Serves them right (Score:4, Funny)
It serves them right for deleting all that porn. Karma's a bitch!
Re:If by today's you mean yesterday's... (Score:5, Funny)
That's a very hirsute observation.
would someone put up a wikipedia page for me? (Score:2, Funny)
for the word
temppot
or
teapest
QFTD. (Score:4, Funny)
"Your obscure Pokemon obsession is no more valid than my XKCD fetish" - Anonymous
--
BMO
Re:Simple Solution (Score:5, Funny)
Re:this is not new (Score:2, Funny)
[citation needed]
Re:this is not new (Score:5, Funny)
Here you go [askoxford.com].
Protip: this was the first result of googling "etymology quiz", which is actually 3 fewer characters to type than "[citation needed]".
Re:Simple Solution (Score:2, Funny)
Mushroom
Re:Best. Joke. Ever. (Score:5, Funny)
Posted AC because xkcd has 10^3 kg of fanboys.
1000 kg is only a dozen people though.
Re:Simple Solution (Score:5, Funny)
Left to its own devices, Wikipedia would degenerate under the rule of deletionists until finally only one page--Wikipedia--remained on the site. This would then be nominated for deletion.
Actually, that sounds like a rather good outcome. Perhaps you're on to something.
Re:Best. Joke. Ever. (Score:5, Funny)
Posted AC because xkcd has 10^3 kg of fanboys.
So that's like what, eight or nine Slashdotters.
Re:LOL (Score:5, Funny)
I say this because every person I know that uses wikipedia as a reference is in fact an idiot.
[Citation Needed]
Re:It exhibits no creativity. (Score:3, Funny)
People don't find xkcd funny because the comics themselves are funny. People find it funny because it makes a direct reference to something that somebody else has made funny in some way. xkcd is nothing more than a pointer to funny material.
Please cite specifically the "funny" sources that these comics reference:
http://xkcd.com/727/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/724/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/719/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/37/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/562/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/239/ [xkcd.com]
http://xkcd.com/225/ [xkcd.com]
(And yes, these are funny, not only to me, but to other people I show them to.)
We Are Now At XKCD DEFCON 4 (Score:5, Funny)
The XKCD threat has officially been upgraded from "Unfunny But Harmless" to "Somewhat Annoying".
Luckily for them, the Internet doesn't scramble its bombers until DEFCON 2 ("Almost As Problematic As 4chan").
Re:LOL (Score:3, Funny)
if you use Wikipedia as any sort of authoritative reference, you're an idiot. I say this because every person I know that uses wikipedia as a reference is in fact an idiot.
While it may not be obvious at first glance, you have effectively just cited wikipedia as authoritative proof that people who cite wikipedia are idiots.
Oh the irony. (Score:4, Funny)
It's really odd the wikiadmins should be complaining about someone else making up things to put on their site. All things considered, it seems somewhat hypocritical.
New Malmanteau: "Wikador" (Score:3, Funny)
"Wikador" --A malmanteau combining "Wikipedia" and "Matador," the latter standing in semantically for "Editor."
Re:Simple Solution (Score:4, Funny)
Snake?
Re:Best. Joke. Ever. (Score:2, Funny)
Or 6 sysadmins.
Re:Simple Solution (Score:4, Funny)
Truly ... (Score:2, Funny)
This is "News for Nerds". Well done. It's almost "meta" ...
Re:LOL (Score:5, Funny)
Have you seen those pages vandalized with dozens of [citation please]? [citation needed] Too often it's a result of an asshole or douchebag putting the numerous [citation please] tags, just because he (usually a he [citation needed]) either refuses to use his brains properly [citation needed], or has some personal vendetta against the contributor [citation needed]. Because the asshole could easily have used: "This section may contain original research or unverified claims.". [citation needed]
There, fixed that for you.
Re:You people have no patience! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Best. Joke. Ever. (Score:5, Funny)
So you're saying you liked XKCD before it got popular, but now that it's popular it sucks? Lemme guess... you like indie bands, too?
Re:Simple Solution (Score:5, Funny)
what an original idea. Let me offer you my most sincere contrafibularities.
Re:QFTD. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Simple Solution (Score:3, Funny)
By definition, all contrafibulations are sincere. They have to be, they're the opposite of lies.
Re:LOL (Score:4, Funny)
never before in human history has anyone gotten so drunk on so little power.
I take it you don't work at a University....
Re:You people have no patience! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm sorry, I lost you at
Re:Simple Solution (Score:4, Funny)
Mistakes happens
Clearly. So I guess you're, like, a senior editor?
Tough Luck, Wikipedia (Score:3, Funny)
Re:We Are Now At XKCD DEFCON 4 (Score:3, Funny)
However ROFLcopters fuelling up as we speak
Re:You people have no patience! (Score:5, Funny)
So.... Can you sum that up in a couple of sentences for me?