Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
_ Articles _ Hoaxes on Wikipedia
Posted by: tarantino
I've recently come across the fictional biography of Sean MacLeod (T-H-L-K-D), presented as fact by Wikipedia for 2 years and 4 months. The article has remained intact, save for a handful of edits by users or bots that fixed typos or tags, or removed images (including edits by a couple of friendly faces that post here, heh ). While it is fairly well written, it is over the top. and no one has ever attempted to verify the 'facts' that are presented.
I've http://www.wikipediareview.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism/Sean_MacLeod because it will inevitably be deleted.
Posted by: Derktar
QUOTE
After a failed assassination attempt, Sean's show was cancelled. The success of the show however still won Sean "Best Reality Series" from MTV's award show.
And that bit has been in there almost since the beginning.
I still think the http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=15472 is my favorite.
Posted by: tarantino
A list of other long-running WP hoaxes can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Shii/Hoaxes.
Posted by: EricBarbour
QUOTE
Throughout all of this, a dark seed had sprouted inside of Sean, biding its time and slowly draining away at him. Sean found himself no longer laughing at his own jokes, a guideline he had used to tell whether a joke was funny or not. He began lashing out at his diehard fans during autograph sessions and even at his local McDonalds. Finally, Sean cracked.
Knowing that something was wrong he turned to the only source he could think of for help. When that failed, he turned to the mob instead. It was here that he met up with then mob boss, "The Ratchet". Having followed Sean's career with great enthusiasm, T.R. was one of Sean's biggest fans. This boded well for Sean, as soon Sean was playing every nightclub, comedy club, and every other club under the control of T.R.
Knowing that something was wrong he turned to the only source he could think of for help. When that failed, he turned to the mob instead. It was here that he met up with then mob boss, "The Ratchet". Having followed Sean's career with great enthusiasm, T.R. was one of Sean's biggest fans. This boded well for Sean, as soon Sean was playing every nightclub, comedy club, and every other club under the control of T.R.
If this IS fiction, it's extremely pathetic fiction.
Reads like a teenager's composition class assignment.
Give the twit who http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Click89 an F.
I did searches--comedian Sean MacLeod clearly does not exist in real life....
He appeared on Star Search...at age 3? Ha ha ha.
There's an actor with exactly one TV appearance on his IMDB page, and there's
a cinematographer named Sean MacLeod Phillips. Yes, I tried spelling variations.
And how many other WP articles are outright hoaxes? One fears to ask.
Shii's hoax list is barely a scratch on the surface.
Posted by: Sylar
It's probably been there for so long because it's http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Shit_nobody_cares_about. For the past several months, it's been getting only http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Sean_MacLeod, most of them probably search programs.
Posted by: tarantino
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log/delete&page=Cytaria, created in January, was deleted June 11. It averaged around 1 page view per day.
The text below was taken from http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:V2wufVWiaIkJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytaria+Cytaria&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk.
QUOTE
Cytaria (Greek: ΣυταÏοιά) is a village situated in the South East of Cyprus within the Famagusta District and specifically in the "Red Villages", or as they are locally known, "Kokkinochoria" (ΚοκκινοχώÏια). Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North. The economy of the village is sustained by carrot exports, ostrich herds and the famous four mini golf courts that were built by the Kyprianou government in the early 1980s, as a result of the post-1974 revitalization policy of the tourist industry. Cytaria is increasingly popular the last years as the hosting place of major concerts of popular international singers and bands.
History
The word Cytaria originates from Hellenistic times. Etymologically, it is made up from the Greek words "syt", which is a Protopelasgian word for carrot, and "ari", which is one of the many later classical Greek words that signify an established group of dwellings. The "oia" (οιά) ending in Greek though is disputed, because of the presence of an "o" (omikron). Some linguists have argued that it is an Eteocyprian word with an undefined meaning yet, possibly linked to a primitive form of Assyrian.
History
The word Cytaria originates from Hellenistic times. Etymologically, it is made up from the Greek words "syt", which is a Protopelasgian word for carrot, and "ari", which is one of the many later classical Greek words that signify an established group of dwellings. The "oia" (οιά) ending in Greek though is disputed, because of the presence of an "o" (omikron). Some linguists have argued that it is an Eteocyprian word with an undefined meaning yet, possibly linked to a primitive form of Assyrian.
Posted by: EricBarbour
QUOTE(tarantino @ Sat 13th June 2009, 3:47pm) 
QUOTE
Cytaria (Greek: ΣυταÏοιά) is a village situated in the South East of Cyprus within the Famagusta District and specifically in the "Red Villages", or as they are locally known, "Kokkinochoria" (ΚοκκινοχώÏια). Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North. The economy of the village is sustained by carrot exports, ostrich herds and the famous four mini golf courts that were built by the Kyprianou government in the early 1980s, as a result of the post-1974 revitalization policy of the tourist industry.
Damn, that's a bizarre mess. But the carrots and ostriches are a dead giveaway....
Posted by: RMHED
QUOTE(tarantino @ Thu 8th January 2009, 5:38am)
A list of other long-running WP hoaxes can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Shii/Hoaxes.
Yet another WikiCrime I'm guilty of, they as yet remain undiscovered, largely because nobody really gives a fuck.
Posted by: Herschelkrustofsky
QUOTE(Sylar @ Thu 8th January 2009, 9:22pm)
It's probably been there for so long because it's http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Shit_nobody_cares_about. For the past several months, it's been getting only http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Sean_MacLeod, most of them probably search programs.
Posted by: tarantino
QUOTE(Herschelkrustofsky @ Tue 16th June 2009, 12:33am)
QUOTE(Sylar @ Thu 8th January 2009, 9:22pm)
It's probably been there for so long because it's http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Shit_nobody_cares_about. For the past several months, it's been getting only http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Sean_MacLeod, most of them probably search programs.
Archived here.
http://www.wikipediareview.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism/Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps
Posted by: The Joy
QUOTE(tarantino @ Mon 15th June 2009, 9:30pm)
QUOTE(Herschelkrustofsky @ Tue 16th June 2009, 12:33am)
QUOTE(Sylar @ Thu 8th January 2009, 9:22pm)
It's probably been there for so long because it's http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Shit_nobody_cares_about. For the past several months, it's been getting only http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Sean_MacLeod, most of them probably search programs.
Archived here.
http://www.wikipediareview.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism/Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps
I'm just impressed with the fact that Clark was able to wear two hats at same time while also doing music and getting a doctorate!
Posted by: Eva Destruction
QUOTE(tarantino @ Tue 16th June 2009, 2:30am)
QUOTE(Herschelkrustofsky @ Tue 16th June 2009, 12:33am)
QUOTE(Sylar @ Thu 8th January 2009, 9:22pm)
It's probably been there for so long because it's http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Shit_nobody_cares_about. For the past several months, it's been getting only http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Sean_MacLeod, most of them probably search programs.
Archived here.
http://www.wikipediareview.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism/Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps
Am I missing something? That's a shitty article but it seems to be true.
Posted by: Herschelkrustofsky
QUOTE(Eva Destruction @ Tue 16th June 2009, 3:26am)
QUOTE(tarantino @ Tue 16th June 2009, 2:30am)
Archived here.
http://www.wikipediareview.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism/Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps
Am I missing something? That's a shitty article but it seems to be true.
Posted by: Grep
Oh, please don't out the hoaxes too soon. After all, somebody put real time and effort into those, unlike most other articles.
Posted by: tarantino
As mentioned onhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard&oldid=297093068#Kydrivs_Lipof, the two year old unreferenced bio of http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kydrivs_Lipof&oldid=283010199 is apparently a hoax. His category was also http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kydrivs_Lipof today.
Posted by: Herschelkrustofsky
QUOTE(Grep @ Wed 17th June 2009, 11:55am)
Oh, please don't out the hoaxes too soon. After all, somebody put real time and effort into those, unlike most other articles.
Posted by: tarantino
The article http://www.webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T was created on April Fool's Day 2009, and lasted 6 months before being http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Panda as a blatant hoax.
Posted by: Casliber
QUOTE(tarantino @ Mon 26th July 2010, 10:32am)
The article http://www.webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T was created on April Fool's Day 2009, and lasted 6 months before being http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Panda as a blatant hoax.
Until very recently mammal editors were alot less active than bird editors, though the situation has changed. I think it'd be less likely to last now. Usually pretty good on the biology ones....
Posted by: CharlotteWebb
QUOTE(Casliber @ Tue 27th July 2010, 4:16am)
Until very recently mammal editors were a|⟷|lot less active than bird editors, though the situation has changed. I think it'd be less likely to last now. Usually pretty good on the biology ones....
Guess I just assumed reptiles were the fastest growing demographic. Wouldn't mind seeing the actual numbers however.
Posted by: EricBarbour
QUOTE(Casliber @ Mon 26th July 2010, 9:16pm)
Until very recently mammal editors were alot less active than bird editors, though the situation has changed. I think it'd be less likely to last now. Usually pretty good on the biology ones....
You are pathetic.
Instead of logging in here to post wisecracks, why aren't you doing something http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=30246 on your precious "encyclopedia"??
He's generating garbage, and a couple of other admins are helping him....
Posted by: Anonymous editor
posting wisecracks is far easier and more amusing, to boot
Posted by: A Horse With No Name
QUOTE(tarantino @ Sun 25th July 2010, 8:32pm)
The article http://www.webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T was created on April Fool's Day 2009, and lasted 6 months before being http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Panda as a blatant hoax.
And believe it or not, I was the one who pointed it out as being a hoax! I know a bit about zoology and I immediately realized it was a phony piece when I first found it in October 2009. (Yes, I was still playing around at the time -- hey, it kept me out of the pool halls.)
Not to brag, but I have caught a good number of hoaxes on WP on a variety of subjects. Of course, I never got a thank you from anyone of the big mucky-mucks on WP for catching the phony panda or the other fraudulent stuff.
Posted by: WikiWatch
The biggest hoax of all is wikipedia itself.
Posted by: Jon Awbrey
QUOTE(A Horse With No Name @ Sun 1st August 2010, 8:26pm)
QUOTE(tarantino @ Sun 25th July 2010, 8:32pm)
The article http://www.webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T was created on April Fool's Day 2009, and lasted 6 months before being http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Panda as a blatant hoax.
And believe it or not, I was the one who pointed it out as being a hoax! I know a bit about zoology and I immediately realized it was a phony piece when I first found it in October 2009. (Yes, I was still playing around at the time — hey, it kept me out of the pool halls.)
Not to brag, but I have caught a good number of hoaxes on WP on a variety of subjects. Of course, I never got a thank you from anyone of the big mucky-mucks on WP for catching the phony panda or the other fraudulent stuff.
In WP:LOGITCH, reporting a hoax is tantamount to confessing that you created it — And saying that you "know a bit about zoology"? — Hell, you might as well say you know a little German! As far as being thanked? — That would be like acknowledging that there was a problem in the first place — Sorry, tanks but no tanks!
Jon
Posted by: Moulton
QUOTE(WikiWatch @ Mon 2nd August 2010, 8:35am)
The biggest hoax of all is Wikipedia itself.
The issue is one of http://netknowledge.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Ethics/Blocks,_bans_and_show_trials. I think the project had sincere objectives when it was started, but over the years, it gradually http://knol.google.com/k/barry-kort/drama-engines/3iyoslgwsp412/28# that departed substantially from what the founders had originally envisioned.
"Be ye not bamboozled." —The Big Bamboozler
Posted by: HRIP7
http://www.wikiwak.com/wak/Hannibal_Fogg was a nice hoax, perpetrated by writer Tahir Shah (T-H-L-K-D). I did a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jayen466/Hannibal_Fogg_Watch of it at the time.
I noticed later that the author had http://www.trademarkia.com/hannibal-fogg-77871177.html for Hannibal Fogg, for
QUOTE
Production and distribution of motion pictures, ongoing television programs; entertainment services in the nature of providing information regarding motion pictures, television programs, and characters therein via a website; fan club services, blogs and chat rooms for discussing motion pictures, television programs and characters thereon; entertainment services, namely, providing online computer games; multimedia publishing of books, magazines, journals, software, games, music, and electronic pu. [sic]
Posted by: ulsterman
QUOTE(Jon Awbrey @ Mon 2nd August 2010, 1:46pm)
Hell, you might as well say you know a little German!
Oh dear. Another paedophile thread!
Posted by: A Horse With No Name
QUOTE(Jon Awbrey @ Mon 2nd August 2010, 8:46am)
And saying that you "know a bit about zoology"? — Hell, you might as well say you know a little German!
I know a little German! Her name is Ellen and she is sooooooooo cute!
Posted by: WikiWatch
Another possible hoax article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ocean_%28film%29
The article lists a release date of 2008, but it was never released. The investor in the project pulled out so it ended up being canned. A draft theatrical poster was created, and filming locations scouted, and that was as far as it got along with 10 minutes of stock footage of a surfing competition. The website for the project was pulled back in 2007. Most of the information in that film infobox is thus made up/speculation.
Posted by: EricBarbour
QUOTE(WikiWatch @ Mon 2nd August 2010, 10:45pm)
Another possible hoax article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ocean_%28film%29
And I quote:
QUOTE
(cur | prev) 01:52, 13 December 2006 Ldmediacorp (talk | contribs) m (1,413 bytes) (I am the director of this film. I am revamping the page. Thanks.)
Needless to say, he was http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&limit=500&target=Ldmediacorp.........