View source for Uncyclopedia

{{Infobox Website
| name = Uncyclopedia
| logo = [[File:Uncyclopedia logo notext.svg|150px]]
| logo_caption =  The content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit
| screenshot = [[File:Uncyclopedia screenshot.png|221px]]
| collapsible = yes
| caption = The main page of Uncyclopedia, retrieved April 19, 2018. {{selfref inline|Note the similarity in presentation to Wikipedia.}}
| type = [[Social:Satire|Satirical]] [[Wiki|wiki]]
| registration = Optional (free)
| owner = Works are owned by their authors, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (English-language version)
| author = Jonathan "Chronarion" Huang<br />"Stillwaters"
| launch date = {{Start date and age|2005|01|05}}
| current status = Active
| revenue = Donations<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedia:Donate |title=Uncyclopedia:Donate |access-date=23 October 2015 |website= Uncyclopedia |format= Wiki}}</ref>
|url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co (Independent)<br>http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com (Wikia owned)}}

'''Uncyclopedia''' is a satirical website that parodies [[Wikipedia]]. Its logo, a hollow "[[Puzzle|puzzle]] potato", parodies Wikipedia's globe puzzle logo,<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/11/06/stories/2006110601060400.htm | title = Surely, you must be jokin'! | accessdate = February 11, 2007 | last = Sankar | work= The Hindu | first = Anand |date=November 6, 2006 | location=Chennai, India}}</ref> and it styles itself "the content-free encyclopedia", parodying Wikipedia's slogan of "the free encyclopedia". Founded in 2005<ref name="netmag">{{cite news |title=The brains behind Uncyclopedia |publisher=.net |date=May 3, 2007 |url=http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/discover-interview/the-brains-behind-uncyclopedia |accessdate=November 19, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201124056/http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/discover-interview/the-brains-behind-uncyclopedia |archivedate=December 1, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> as an English-language [[Wiki|wiki]], the project spans over 75 languages. The English version  has approximately 30,000 pages of content, second only to the Portuguese.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Main_Page|title = Uncyclopedia|accessdate = October 23, 2015|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://desciclopedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1gina_principal | title = Desciclopédia | accessdate = June 21, 2014 | format = Wiki | work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref>

Various styles of humor are used as a vehicle for parody, from sophisticated satire to simple sarcasm, along with structured in-jokes and frequent ''non-sequiturs.'' The site has attracted media attention for its articles on controversial subjects including [[Religion:Religion|religion]], prominent people, places, politics, and [[Unsolved:Pseudoscience|pseudoscience]].

Many Uncyclopedia articles contain graphics with a link to the corresponding Wikipedia article. A typical caption reads, "For those ''without'' comedic tastes, the so-called experts at Wikipedia have an article about [subject in question]."

== History ==
[[File:UnclopediaOnWP.JPG|upright|thumb|A grab from the "About" page of Uncyclopedia highlighting its comical nature and satirical approach to Wikipedia with a link to this page]]
Uncyclopedia was launched on January 5, 2005, by Jonathan Huang, known online as "Chronarion", and a partner known online as "Stillwaters".<ref name="Hindu"/> In July 2006, it was acquired by Wikia (now known as "Fandom").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://community.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Craiglpalmer/Wikia_is_now_Fandom_powered_by_Wikia|title=Wikia is now Fandom powered by Wikia|last=Palmer|first=Craig L.|website=Community Central|date=2016-09-26|access-date=2016-10-05|publisher=Wikia, Inc.}}</ref>

In January 2013, some Uncyclopedia editors and administrators set up a [[Software:Fork (software development)|fork]] of Uncyclopedia, in response to Wikia's censorship and the imposition of content warnings.<ref>http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Forum:Forks_in_the_road_-_Uncyclopedia_moving_from_Wikia,_a_discussion</ref> The fork operates independently of Wikia. There is also a third site, which was set up originally to be only a [[Mirror website|mirror website]].

Uncyclopedia is built on the same [[Software:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software that Wikipedia uses. However, Wikia has extensively modified its version of MediaWiki. In May 2018, Wikia dropped support for the Monobook [[Skin (computing)|skin]] that its Uncyclopedia site had used to mimic Wikipedia, claiming this was necessary to achieve [[General Data Protection Regulation|GDPR]] compliance.<ref>{{cite web|last=Quievryn|first=Tim|title=The Future of Monobook on FANDOM |url=https://community.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:1456214|accessdate=21 May 2018|date=21 May 2018|website=Community Central|publisher=Wikia, Inc.}}</ref> One of the administrators has written a work-around using [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] to continue mimicking Wikipedia, but Wikia personnel have warned that the work-arounds cannot be extended to new visitors and editors by default.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Forum:R.I.P._Monobook_-_any_aftermath_plan%3F|title=R.I.P. Monobook - any aftermath plan?|publisher=Uncyclopedia (Wikia)|accessdate=2018-06-16}}</ref>

Foreign-language Uncyclopedia-like projects are described below.  Some of these are independent domains:<ref name="babel">{{cite web | url = http://uncyclopedia.info/wiki/Main_Page | title = Uncyclopedia Babel | accessdate = April 20, 2008 | format = Wiki | work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref>  In 2007, 25% (or 20 out of 34) of the Uncyclopedia collection was hosted by Wikia. Six dedicated non-Wikia servers host "Uncyclopedia Babel" content in various languages. To coordinate these projects (collectively, the "Uncyclomedia Babel Project") an Un-Meta wiki was created in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://meta.uncyclomedia.org/wiki/UnMeta:About | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015040739/http://meta.uncyclomedia.org/wiki/UnMeta:About | archivedate = October 15, 2007 | title = UnMeta:About | accessdate = November 17, 2007 | format = Wiki | work = Uncyclomedia UnMeta-Wiki}}</ref>

Uncyclopedia projects are run independently by their own members. They contain interlanguage links to each other, but there is no global governing organization comparable to the Wikimedia Foundation that oversees Wikipedia as well as its sister projects.

== Content ==
Uncyclopedia's content is [[Software license|licensed]] under the [[Organization:Creative Commons|Creative Commons]] Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) license.<ref name="wikia">{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Main_Page|title = Uncyclopedia|accessdate = October 23, 2015|format = Wiki|work = }}</ref> As of November 2015, the English-language Uncyclopedia contains approximately 30,000&nbsp;articles.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Special:Statistics|title = Uncyclopedia statistics|accessdate = October 23, 2015|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref>

=== Articles ===
[[File:DogLabels.png|left|thumb|250px|Where available, Uncyclopedia makes use of visual aids as a complement to its text, such as these [[European hazard symbols|European hazard symbols]] that include dogs.]]

Uncyclopedia encourages satire that is close to or resembles, the truth. However, many articles employ [[Philosophy:Absurdism|absurdist]] humor and little, if any, [[Philosophy:Fact|fact]]ual accuracy remains. For example, Uncyclopedia's article about Wikipedia claims that Wikipedia is a parody of Uncyclopedia, not the reverse.<ref name="Uncyclopedia article on Wikipedia">{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co//wiki/Wikipedia|title = Uncyclopedia article about Wikipedia|accessdate = July 31, 2010|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> Many articles on the site contradict each other, even articles on the same subject.

Like Wikipedia's "Five pillars", Uncyclopedia has "Five pliers", including "Satirical point of view".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedia:Five_pliers|title = Uncyclopedia:Five pliers|accessdate = January 6, 2013|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> Its code of conduct follows from three main rules: "Be funny and not just stupid", "Don't be a dick", and "Dance like you've never danced before!"<ref name="netmag"/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedia:Rules|title = Uncyclopedia:Rules|accessdate = January 6, 2013|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref>

Parodying Wikipedia's article review service Peer Review, Uncyclopedia has a "Pee Review" where authors seek review by other Uncyclopedians on  humor, grammar, spelling, use of images, and overall presentation.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Pee_Review|title = Uncyclopedia:Pee Review|accessdate = January 6, 2013|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Template:Pee_Review_Table|title = Template:Pee Review Table|accessdate = January 6, 2013|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> Users can post to other wiki pages to solicit coding help, and review or request [[Photo manipulation|user-edited images]]. Like Wikipedia, Uncyclopedia features articles and images on its front page. A system of user voting decides which articles and images to feature, usually deciding based on humour and writing quality. The site also welcomes audio contributions such as narration of articles.

Uncyclopedia's articles often begin with quotations, usually misquoted, fictitiously attributed or entirely fabricated.<ref name="injoke">{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedia:In-jokes|title = In-jokes|accessdate = January 6, 2013|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> Among the most recurrent themes is the invention of quotes attributed to [[Biography:Oscar Wilde|Oscar Wilde]],<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/10/10/stories/2006101000680300.htm | title = Surely, you must be joking! | accessdate = March 22, 2008 | work = The Hindu | last = Sankar | first = Anand | date=October 10, 2006 | location=Chennai, India}}</ref> prompted by an article stating that inventing Wilde quotes was the "national sport of {{wipe|England}}", and themes such as "kitten huffing" (the inhalation of the souls of [[Biology:Cat|cat]]s as a form of drug abuse).<ref name="netmag"/>

Much like Wikipedia, Uncyclopedia has policies concerning vanity articles, which are articles written by an individual associated with the subject of the page. Vanity articles were disallowed after many of them produced [[Social:Flaming (Internet)|flame war]]s.<ref name="netmag"/> Uncyclopedia does not police conflict of interest but may delete submissions as non-notable on a case-by-case basis.

=== Site-wide pranks ===
[[File:New-Bouncywikilogo.gif|thumb|left|150px|Uncyclopedia's logo for Wikipedia]]
Some jokes involve the entire website, sometimes including a [[Skin (computing)|re-skin]] of the main page, such as with holiday themes.  In 2012, as a parody of Wikipedia's black-out protest against the [[Stop Online Piracy Act]] (SOPA) ''et al.,'' Uncyclopedia blocked all content for a day with a notice claiming to support the bills.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Forum:SOPA-protest_blackout_on_the_18th._Join_it%3F?oldid=5412015|title = Forum:SOPA-protest blackout on the 18th. Join it?|accessdate = April 8, 2012|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> A tradition of April Fool's Day front page pranks occurs on the wiki recently including a "blood donation" plea banner to spoof wiki donation banners on 1 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aprilfoolsdayontheweb.com/joke/20140249 | title=A reskin for April Fool's Day 2014 | accessdate = April 21, 2014 | work = April Fool's Day On The Web}}</ref> For one week in 2013, the Wikia fork interrupted viewing with a claim that the site was unavailable, spoofing a notice on the [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] website during the United States federal government shutdown of 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Forum:A_reskin_for_the_US_government_shutdown | title=A reskin for the US government shutdown | accessdate = January 24, 2014 | format = Wiki | work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref>

=== Subprojects ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em 2em;"
|-
! Uncyclomedia project
! Object of parody
|-
| UnBooks
| [[Wikibooks]]
|-
| UnNews
| Wikinews
|-
| Undictionary
| [[Social:Wiktionary|Wiktionary]]
|-
| Un-Bestiary
| [[Biology:Wikispecies|Wikispecies]]
|-
| Uncycloversity
| [[Social:Wikiversity|Wikiversity]]
|-
| UnQuotable
| Wikiquote
|-
| UnScripts
| [[Wikisource]]
|-
| UnMeta-Wiki
| Wikimedia Meta-Wiki
|-
| UnCommons<br><small>(Uncyclomedia Commons)</small>
| [[Wikimedia Commons]]
|-
| UnSignpost
| Wikipedia Signpost
|-
| UnTunes
| [[Software:ITunes|iTunes]]
|-
| UnVoyage
| Wikivoyage
|-
| HowTo
| wikiHow
|-
| Why?
| wikiAnswers
|-
| Un-Games
| [[Social:Gamebook|Choose your own adventure]] books
|}

As well as housing many articles designed to satirize Wikipedia-style content, Uncyclopedia contains several secondary projects (known as "UnProjects").<ref name="netmag"/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedia:UnProject|title = Uncyclopedia:UnProject|accessdate = November 19, 2007|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> As of 2017, there were 16 such projects,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Template:Sisterprojects|title = Template:Sisterprojects|accessdate = November 3, 2007|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> each of which specializes in satire of a different information style. Many of these are directly analogous to Wikipedia's sister projects, while others such as unTunes and HowTo parody projects completely unrelated to Wikipedia.

== Press coverage ==
Uncyclopedia has been referenced in several well-known news publications from around the world, in addition to numerous local and regional newspapers and periodicals. In 2005, the [[Social:Flying Spaghetti Monster|Flying Spaghetti Monster]] entry from Uncyclopedia was mentioned in a ''{{wipe|New York Times}}'' column reporting the spread of "[[Social:Flying Spaghetti Monster|Pastafarianism]]", the [[Religion:Religion|religion]] that worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |first = Sarah |last = Boxer |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0D61F3EF93AA1575BC0A9639C8B63 |title = But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There? |work = The New York Times |date=August 25, 2005 |accessdate = July 18, 2006}}</ref> The column was then reprinted in other newspapers, including the ''Taipei Times''.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/08/31/2003269851 |title = 'Pastafarianism' gains prominence and support in intelligent-design drive |work = Taipei Times |date=August 25, 2005 |accessdate = July 18, 2006}}</ref> The magazine ''.net'' featured an interview with Huang about Uncyclopedia in May 2007.<ref name="netmag"/> A number of other articles have been centred on specific entries on Uncyclopedia—most notably the article in the ''Arizona Daily Star'', which focused on the Tucson, Arizona parody,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/142615 |title=Online parody of Tucson not always funny, but interesting |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=August 18, 2006 |accessdate=August 22, 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822225644/http://www.azstarnet.com:80/allheadlines/142615 |archivedate=August 22, 2006 |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/142615 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214095949/http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/142615 |archivedate=February 14, 2007 |title=Online parody of Tucson not always funny, but interesting |work=Arizona Daily Star via Wayback machine |date=February 14, 2007 |accessdate=April 30, 2012 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy }}</ref> and the article in the ''Cyprus Mail'', which focused on the [[Place:Cyprus|Cyprus]] article.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jean |last=Christou |title=Cyprus that great and peaceful island
 |url=http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=35496&cat_id=1 |publisher=Cyprus Mail |year=2007 |accessdate=November 6, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071103094028/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=35496&cat_id=1 |archivedate = November 3, 2007}}</ref>

In addition to articles about specific entries on the wiki, several papers speak of the website in general—usually in a section devoted to [[Engineering:Technology|technology]] or the [[Internet]]. This was the case when Uncyclopedia was referenced in the ''Boston Herald'' and ''{{wipe|The Guardian}}''.<ref>{{cite news |first = Stephanie |last = Schorow |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/819420901.html?did=819420901&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Apr+8%2C+2005&author=Stephanie+Schorow&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=BOOKMARK+DIVA%3B+This+wiki-cool+Web+site+lets+Net+surfers+define+world |title = This wiki-cool Web site lets Net surfers define world |work = Boston Herald |date = April 8, 2005 |accessdate = July 18, 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021062807/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/819420901.html?did=819420901&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Apr+8%2C+2005&author=Stephanie+Schorow&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=BOOKMARK+DIVA%3B+This+wiki-cool+Web+site+lets+Net+surfers+define+world |archivedate = October 21, 2012 |deadurl = yes |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |first = Jack |last = Schofield |url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/apr/14/internet.onlinesupplement |title = Web Watch |work = Guardian Unlimited |date=April 14, 2005 |accessdate = July 18, 2006 |location=London}}</ref> Although most articles mentioning Uncyclopedia are specific to the site, there are other articles about Wikia or Wikipedia that just mention its name briefly. These include the editorial in ''The Register'' discussing the Seigenthaler incident, in which Uncyclopedia was named only once.<ref name="Orlowski">{{cite news |first = Andrew |last = Orlowski |url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/12/wikipedia_no_responsibility/ |title = There's no Wikipedia entry for 'moral responsibility'|work=The Register |date=December 12, 2005 |accessdate = June 24, 2006}}</ref> It has also been listed as one of the "Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites" in ''PC Magazine'',<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2174689,00.asp | title = Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites - Info, Reference, and Search | accessdate = October 20, 2007 | work = PC Magazine | date=August 27, 2007}}</ref> as well as among the "101 most useful websites" on the internet by ''The Sunday Telegraph''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 101 most useful websites|last=Baker|first=David|date=March 30, 2008|publisher=''The Sunday Telegraph'' (London)|page=13}}</ref> ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' considers Uncyclopedia to be the wiki site equivalent of ''The Onion''.<ref>{{cite news|title=What's Online|date=September 18, 2007|publisher=''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''|page=D6}}</ref>

== Criticism and controversy ==
[[File:Uncyclopedia mobile screenshot.png|200px|thumb|The mobile version of Uncyclopedia’s ''Uncyclopedia'' article]]
At various times, articles on Uncyclopedia have generated criticism from King's College,<ref>{{cite news| first = Catherine| last = Woulfe | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10383882 | title = Schools face new cyber bullying menace | work = The New Zealand Herald |date=May 28, 2006 | accessdate = July 20, 2006}}</ref> the ''North-West Evening Mail'',<ref>{{cite news |title=What do they know? |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=509541&imageindex=0 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117044426/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=509541&imageindex=0 |archivedate=November 17, 2007 |publisher=North-West Evening Mail |date=June 11, 2007 |accessdate=November 8, 2007 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Northern Irish politician James McCarry,<ref>{{cite news| first = Lesley-Anne| last = Henry | url = http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3147665.ece | archive-url = https://archive.is/20080213042345/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3147665.ece | dead-url = yes | archive-date = February 13, 2008 | title = War of words over Ulster 'Uncyclopedia' | work = Belfast Telegraph |date= November 10, 2007 | accessdate = November 17, 2007}}</ref> civic leaders of Telford, Shropshire, {{wipe|United Kingdom}},<ref>{{cite news| first = Tom| last = Johannsen | url = http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/04/14/town-hits-back-at-chav-comments/ | title = Town's fury at 'Chav' slur | work = Shropshire Star |date= April 14, 2008 | accessdate = April 16, 2008}}</ref> the ''Sioux City Journal'',<ref>{{cite news | first = Laura | last = Johnson | url = http://my.siouxlandvoice.com/post/Lowesays/blog/offended_why_does_sc_keep_getting_bashed_on_the_internet.html | title = Offended? Why does S.C. keep getting bashed on the Internet? | work = The Weekender | date = July 1, 2010 | accessdate = July 27, 2010 | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716074506/http://my.siouxlandvoice.com/post/Lowesays/blog/offended_why_does_sc_keep_getting_bashed_on_the_internet.html | archivedate = July 16, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> ''Hawke's Bay Today'',<ref>{{cite news | first = Alistair | last = Gray | url = http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/flaxmurder-postings-slammed/3916849/ | title = 'Flaxmurder' postings slammed | work = Hawke's Bay Today | date = July 6, 2010 | accessdate = July 27, 2010 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724192704/http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/flaxmurder-postings-slammed/3916849/ | archivedate = July 24, 2011 | deadurl = yes | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and ''Lochaber News''.<ref>{{cite news| first = Helen | last = Bushnell | url = http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5298/Fort_mocked_in_web_spoof.html | title = Fort mocked in web spoof | work = Lochaber News |date = July 22, 2010 |accessdate = July 27, 2010}}</ref>

In January 2008, the Malaysian Internal Security Ministry issued a directive alerting newspaper editors not to trust Uncyclopedia. It said the article concerning Malaysia contained "untruths, insults and ridicule" and was demeaning to the country.<ref name=alert>{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Ooi |title=Alert over Uncyclopedia on Malaysia |url=http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/lemaklemang/post.htm?id=63001799&t=tag |publisher=CNET Asia |date=January 15, 2008 |accessdate=November 16, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126055948/http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/lemaklemang/post.htm?id=63001799 |archivedate=January 26, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:侮辱大马网站 内安部冀关注 |url=http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2008/01/15/6.html |publisher=Kwong Wah Yit Poh |date=January 15, 2008 |accessdate=January 16, 2008 |language=Chinese |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517203007/http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2008/01/15/6.html |archivedate=May 17, 2008 }}</ref>

The site uses a layout and look similar to that of [[Wikipedia]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Rich |last=Ray |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-126047958.html |title=Web Watch |work=Florida Times Union |date=June 21, 2008 |accessdate=July 11, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> which may cause confusion to inexperienced users who misinterpret the content as factual.<ref>{{cite news| first = Tobias | last = Schormann | url = http://www.technewsworld.com/story/web20/62193.html | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071117044426/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=509541&imageindex=0 | archivedate=November 17, 2007 | title = Wikipedia Spoofs: Not So Serious, Pal | work = TechNewsWorld |date= March 19, 2008 | accessdate = March 19, 2008}}</ref><!--http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:tkVDj4Xuy14J:www.technewsworld.com/story/tech-stew/62193.html--><!--http://www.bangkokpost.com/gadget/gadget.php?id=441--><ref>{{cite book |title=The Hula Hoop |last=Lanigan |first= Judith |coauthors= |year=2007 |publisher= |location= |isbn= |page=146 |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref>

The HowTo Subproject on the Russian Uncyclopedia (Absurdopedia) uses a logo which is a heavily modified Hammer and Sickle, a Communist Symbol. 

In November 2012, the satirical page "HowTo:Commit suicide" in Absurdopedia was legally prohibited by the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor). Absurdopedia administrator Edward Chernenko unsuccessfully sued them under his right to science and culture guaranteed by the Russian Constitution. During the proceedings, the Russian government and its experts claimed that Absurdopedia is intentionally trying to increase the number of child suicides in Russia by providing children with instructions for killing themselves.<ref name="absurdopedia-court-habrahabr">{{ru icon}} [http://habrahabr.ru/post/175205/ How we went to court against Rospotrebnadzor] - [[Habrahabr]], 03.04.2013.</ref><ref>{{ru icon}} [http://telekomza.ru/2013/04/03/kak-pravilno-suditsya-s-rospotrebnadzorom/ HowTo: sue the Rospotrebnadzor - Telekomza.ru, 03.04.2013]</ref> The case is currently in the ECHR.<ref>[http://ria.ru/society/20131217/984701207.html Appeal of access block to Absurdopedia was sent to ECHR - Ria Novosti, 17.12.2013]{{ru icon}}</ref>

In 2014, the page "HowTo:Make a bomb at home" in Absurdopedia was included in the Russian [[Social:Federal List of Extremist Materials|list of extremist materials]].<ref>[http://tjournal.ru/paper/absurdopedia-bomb Culinary recipe from "Absurdopedia" was included into the extremist materials list twice - TJournal, 05.05.2014]{{ru icon}}</ref>

In 2017, two pages of Absurdopedia were banned in Russia: "HowTo:Bathe a cat" for "calls to violence against animals" and "HowTo:Make a nuclear bomb" for "information on manufacturing weapons".<ref>[https://roskomsvoboda.org/36189/ Absurdopedia of real life] - Roscomsvoboda, 13.02.2018.{{ru icon}}</ref>

In August 2014, the logo displayed for Greggs on its Google profile was mistakenly temporarily switched to the logo used on Uncyclopedia's article on the subject at the Wikia site due to a caching issue, causing a PR crisis for the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/greggs-google-fail-was-the-bakerys-response-to-its-logo-mishap-a-stroke-of-marketing-genius-9681928.html |accessdate=Oct 29, 2014 |title=Greggs Google fail - was the bakery's response to its logo mishap a stroke of marketing genius |date=Aug 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11043644/Greggs-bakery-shows-how-to-handle-a-social-media-nightmare-after-offensive-logo-appears-on-Google.html |date=Aug 19, 2014 |accessdate=Oct 29, 2014 |title=Greggs bakery shows how to handle a social media nightmare after offensive logo appears on Google}}</ref>

== Uncyclopedia in other languages ==
The Uncyclopedia concept has been adapted to wikis in more than fifty other languages.<!-- this count not including en: --><ref name="babel"/> The UnNews project has similarly been replicated, under various localised names, in eighteen other languages.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Template:UnnewsLanguages|title = Template:UnnewsLanguages|accessdate = December 16, 2007|format = Wiki|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> The websites also invoke various parody languages such as "Portuñol" and "English But Louder". The first Uncyclopedias in languages other than English were created in June 2005, beginning with a [[Social:French language|French language]] version.<ref name="language history">{{cite web |url = https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Template:Languages|title = Template:Languages|accessdate = November 26, 2007|work = Uncyclopedia}}</ref> On February 20, 2008, the 50th language, [[Social:Welsh language|Welsh]], was added to the Uncyclopedia series.

Each language wiki is free to establish its own unique community identity, but most of the logos and names in use retain some semblance to those of the English-language version. For instance, as an "un-" encyclopedia, the encyclopedia is named "Uncyclopedia" in both [[Social:English language|English]] and [[Social:German language|German]].

Some of the largest Uncyclopedias available in other languages are listed below.

=== Danish — Spademanns Leksikon ===
Spademanns Leksikon<ref>[http://spademanns.wikia.com/wiki/Forside Spademanns Leksikon]" (in Danish) ''(Wiki). Wikia.'' .</ref> was established in 2006 by the user Lhademmor. The name lacks the "pedia" of most Uncyclopedias, and the website does not use the jigsaw-potato logo but resembles the logo of the largest newspaper in {{wipe|Denmark}}, ''Ekstrabladet.''

In 2012, the website contained over 6000 articles. Together with the Norwegian Ikkepedia, it accuses Swedes of having no sense of humor because of their poor Uncyclopedia. Website memes include use of [[Biography:Chuck Norris|Chuck Norris]] as a cult hero; writing in the style of Hans Christian Andersen, here claimed to be homosexual; and fictitious characters Omboo Hankvald, Hermod Spademann, Gubernichte Hankvald (Omboo's mother) and Troels Hartmann. Their image of God is very close to Barry White.<ref>[http://spademanns.wikia.com/wiki/Gud Gud] (in Danish) ''Wikia''</ref>

=== Arabic — Beidipedia ===
Literally "Egg pedia", the Arabic version contains satirical content.

=== Dutch — Oncyclopedia ===
The Dutch version started in June 2006. In half a year the number of articles grew to about 350. Though the number of pages in March 2007 was around 500, 150 short articles moved to the new daughter project, the "OnWoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal" (literally, "UnDictionary of the Dutch Language"), almost doubling the number of new contributions. In February 2007, a second project started: OnNieuws (UnNews), a news paper full of nonsense. This can be either fictional news or real news told in a funny way. Around March 15, 2007 the decision was made to change the name.
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Forum:Naam_Onziclopedie | title = Forum:Naam Onziclopedie | accessdate = February 2, 2007 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref> The Onziclopedie was renamed to Oncyclopedia (Neerlandica). Later more projects started: OnZinnen (Unquotable)
,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Project:OnZinnen | title = Project:OnZinnen | accessdate = August 24, 2008 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref> OnBoeken (UnBooks)
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Project:OnBoeken | title = Project:OnBoeken | accessdate = August 24, 2008 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref>
and the Oncycloversiteit (Uncycloversity).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Project:Oncycloversiteit | title = Project:Oncycloversiteit | accessdate = June 16, 2009 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref>
Oncyclopedia also has its own fictional [[Social:Radio|radio]] station (OnRadio)
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Project:OnRadio | title = Project:OnRadio | accessdate = August 19, 2010 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.blogspot.com/ | title = Oncyblog | accessdate = August 19, 2010 | work = Oncyblog | language = Dutch}}</ref>
which is only available to hear on the weblog of the Oncyclopedia. The Oncy has become well known mostly because of the articles about Emo, Tokio Hotel and [[Medicine:Suicide|suicide]]. These articles have gotten a lot of criticism in the past, but the [[Sysop|admins]] mostly didn't do anything with it, because as they say, it is mostly destructive commentary. Sometimes blocks follow, although this only happens in the case of swearing.
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/wiki/Oncyclopedia:Beleid/Blokkeringen | title = Beleid/blokkeringen | accessdate = December 19, 2007 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref>
At the end of May 2011, the Oncyclopedia had more than 2,150 articles.<ref name="babel"/>

Finally there is the "Oncyclopolis Project".
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oncyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Oncyclopedia:Project:Oncyclopolis | title = Project:Oncyclopolis | accessdate = January 18, 2009 | work = Oncyclopedia | language = Dutch}}</ref> This gives the Oncyclopedia a fictional [[Earth:City-state|city-state]], Oncyclopolis and its own ranking system (based on number of articles, user rights and user duty) comparable with the system of the Uncyclopedia.

=== Finnish — Hikipedia ===
Hikipedia (from Finnish ''hiki'' "sweat" and encyclo''pedia'', a parody of the name "Wikipedia") is a [[Social:Finnish language|Finnish language]] nonsense wiki founded in April 2005. Hikipedia was originally intended as an independent nonsense wiki and was only added to the Uncyclopedia project later. In 2011 Hikipedia had over 7000 articles and over 38000 pages.<ref>[http://hikipedia.info/wiki/Toiminnot:Tilastot Hikipedia page statistics]</ref>

=== German — Stupidedia ===
Stupidedia (from ''stupid'' and encyclop''edia'') is an Austrian [[Wiki|wiki]] featuring [[Social:Satire|satirically]] themed and humorous articles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/digital/technikwelt/2008/06/19/stupidedia/wissen-was-die-welt-nicht-braucht.html |title=Lachen mit "Stupidedia": Wissen, das die Welt nicht braucht |publisher=Bild.de |date=June 19, 2008 |accessdate=February 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/digitale/mehr/79844/Das-Lexikon-zum-Schmunzeln.html|title=Internetfundstück: Das Lexikon zum Schmunzeln|publisher=Rp-online.de|date=|accessdate=February 10, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628202817/http://www.rp-online.de/digitales/neuheiten/das-lexikon-zum-schmunzeln-1.1607066|archivedate=June 28, 2013|deadurl=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was created on December 17, 2004, by David Sowka, making it the first known humor wiki. In 2010 it joined the Uncyclopedia family, becoming one of the site's German language wikis. Stupidedia is the largest German language wiki of this kind with over 22,412 articles {{as of| March 2014|lc=yes}}. Its slogan is "Wissen Sie Bescheid? Nein? Wir auch nicht!" (English: Do you know the score? No? Neither do we!).

=== Italian — Nonciclopedia ===
Nonciclopedia, the [[Social:Italian language|Italian language]] version, was founded on November 3, 2005, and features over 14,000 articles. Like Uncyclopedia, it has many secondary projects, like ''Manuali'', a collection of fake or humorous tutorials about strange arguments (like ''How to conquer England in 4 steps''),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nonciclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Manuali:Conquistare_l'Inghilterra_in_4_semplici_passi | title = Conquistare l'Inghilterra in 4 semplici passi | accessdate = September 8, 2008 | work = Nonciclopedia | language = Italian}}</ref> the ''Horroscopo'', a fake [[Unsolved:Horoscope|horoscope]], ''NonNotizie'', a parody of WikiNews and the ''Walk of Shame'', a parody of the "Walk of Fame", which collects the best articles. Like most of the other languages' editions, there is a space for the ''Article of the Week'' and some pages have related audio files containing a vocal narration of the page's content. Typical subjects of humour are Wikipedia, [[Biography:Chuck Norris|Chuck Norris]], Pier Paolo Pasolini, Silvio Berlusconi, Emo subculture, [[Biography:Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche]], [[Biography:Germano Mosconi|Germano Mosconi]], the fictional state of ''Svervegia'' (literally Swederway) and people who vandalize Nonciclopedia in response to being offended by an article. Since Chuck Norris, ''Svervegia'' and Emo topics were abused, especially by newbie writers, they are not used anymore, if not on very rare occasions. In October 2011, Nonciclopedia was closed for a short while by the administrators after legal threats were issued by Vasco Rossi.<ref name=corriere>[http://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/11_ottobre_03/vasco-chiude-nonciclopedia-cruccu_581e6e8c-edaf-11e0-8721-690dea02417b.shtml Vasco Rossi fa chiudere Nonciclopedia]</ref> This has generated a strong protest movement on [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] and other social networks.<ref name=corriere/>

=== Japanese — Ansaikuropedia ===
Uncyclopedia ({{langWithName|ja|Japanese|アンサイクロペディア}} ''Ansaikuropedia''), fourth-largest with just over ten thousand pages,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ansaikuropedia.org/wiki/Special:Statistics | title = Special:Statistics | accessdate = November 17, 2007 | work = Ansaikuropedia |language = Japanese}}</ref> takes its name from the katakana transliteration of the word ''Uncyclopedia''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/column/20070830/1002325/ | script-title=ja:ネットと現実、どっちが楽しい？ 「リア充」の先にある新しい友達関係 | accessdate = February 6, 2008 | work = Nikkei BP| language = Japanese}}</ref> It was founded in December 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ansaikuropedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AD%E3%83%9A%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%A2 | script-title=ja:アンサイクロペディア | accessdate = December 6, 2007 | format = Wiki | work = Ansaikuropedia | language = Japanese}}</ref> Its "UnNews" section is known for posting stories that closely resemble real news stories, which has caused rumors and angry reactions on [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]].

=== Portuguese — Desciclopédia ===
Desciclopédia, the [[Social:Portuguese language|Portuguese language]] version with over 50,000 pages, is the largest Uncyclopedia.<ref name="babel"/> Founded in August 2005,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://desciclopedia.org/index.php?title=P%C3%A1gina_principal&dir=prev&action=history | title = Página principal - História | accessdate = December 28, 2007 | format = Wiki | work = Desciclopédia | language = Portuguese}}</ref> it purports to be the brainchild of the largely fictional Doutor Roberto (Portuguese for "Doctor Robert") a satire upon the late powerful owner of TV Globo, Roberto Marinho. This humour routinely targets regional {{wipe|Brazil}}ian notables such as centenarian comedy actress Dercy Gonçalves, depicted as a cover model posed for a Playboy-like magazine ''Playold''. Actress Cláudia Raia is portrayed as a [[Biology:Stingray|stingray]] ({{langWithName|pt|Portuguese|raia}}).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ilustrada/ult90u64380.shtml | title = Confira verbetes da Desciclopédia sobre dez celebridades | accessdate = May 4, 2008 | work = Folha Online | language = Portuguese}}</ref> Political leaders such as Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva ({{langWithName|pt|Portuguese|lula}} - "squid") also often fall victim to Desciclopédia's parodies,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ilustrada/ult90u64379.shtml | title =Wikipédia do mal escracha celebridades com humor negro | accessdate = April 4, 2008 | work = Folha Online | language = Portuguese}}</ref><ref>{{citation | title = O site maís inutil | author = Superinteressante |date = February 2007| page = 87|publisher = Editora Abril| language = Portuguese}}</ref> along with singers, athletes and other public figures.<ref>{{citation | title = Os perigos da wikipédia. | author = Folhateen |publisher = Folha|date = April 30, 2007| page = 7 | language = Portuguese}}</ref>

Desciclopédia uses various [[Domain hack|domain hack]]s for individual secondary projects, which include Desnoticias ("noticias" is "news"), Descionário (with "dicionário" meaning "dictionary"), Deslivros (for books, "biblioteca" means "library"), and Desentrevistas ("entrevistas" meaning "interviews"). These would correspond to "UnNews", "UnDictionary", "UnBooks" and the exclusive-to-Desciclopédia "UnInterviews".

=== Russian — Absurdopedia ===
The [[Social:Russian language|Russian language]] Uncyclopedia, Absurdopedia, was originally hosted by Wikia at <code>absurdopedia.wikia.com</code> on 24 February 2006.<ref>[http://absurdopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Заглавная?oldid=1283 creating Absurdopedia in Russian language]</ref> In October 2010, a fork site was established at <code>absurdopedia.net</code>.<ref>[http://awa.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Moved_wikis#List_of_moved_wikis List of former Wikia communities that have moved]</ref>

=== Spanish — Inciclopedia ===
The [[Social:Spanish language|Spanish language]] Inciclopedia was established in February 2006<ref name="wikia spanish">{{cite web | url = http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Inciclopedia | title = Inciclopedia | accessdate = November 21, 2007 | format = Wiki | work = Wikia | language = Spanish | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070414200810/http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Inciclopedia | archivedate = April 14, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> to accommodate content displaced by the closure of Spanish humour wiki Frikipedia. Frikipedia was shut down after being sued by the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores,<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/73061/index.php 
 |title=La SGAE gana el juicio contra 'Frikipedia' por vulnerar el derecho al honor 
 |work=Indymedia 
 |accessdate=March 22, 2008 
 |last=Pérez 
 |first=Eduardo 
 |date=February 22, 2008 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519153536/http://estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/73061/index.php 
 |archivedate=May 19, 2008 
 |deadurl=yes 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref> a Spanish organization for copyright who were angered by Frikipedia's entry on them.<ref name="wikia spanish"/> Frikipedia was eventually relaunched. As of October 2013, Inciclopedia has more than 10,000 articles.

Notables such as Chilean [[Social:Folk music|folk]] singer El Monteaguilino and Senator Pedro Muñoz have expressed their discontent with Inciclopedia and the site's mockery of the Chilean flag and national symbols.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lun.com/modulos/catalogo/paginas/2006/09/16/LUCSTDI05LU1609.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214105211/http://www.lun.com/modulos/catalogo/paginas/2006/09/16/LUCSTDI05LU1609.htm | archivedate=February 14, 2008 | title=Diario Las Ultimas Noticias| accessdate = March 23, 2008 | language = Spanish}}</ref> Noche Hache, a [[Engineering:Television|television]] program on Spain's TV Cuatro, also mentioned Inciclopedia among supporters of Eva Hache's joke candidacy to the presidency of {{wipe|Spain}}.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cuatro.com/videos/index.html?xref=20071114ctoultpro_6.Ves&view=ver| title = Noche Hache| accessdate = March 23, 2008| work = TV Cuatro, Madrid| language = Spanish| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080205094718/http://www.cuatro.com/videos/index.html?xref=20071114ctoultpro_6.Ves&view=ver| archivedate = February 5, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Other ===
Chinese:偽基百科

Thai: Uncyclopedia is translated into Thai as ไร้สาระนุกรม. The site is also known as Wigrianpedia ([[Social:Thai language|Thai]]; วิเกรียนพีเดีย).<ref>http://th.uncyclopedia.info/wiki/%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2</ref>

== See also ==
* Bigipedia
* Dickipedia
* [[Social:Encyclopedia Dramatica|Encyclopedia Dramatica]]
* Stupidedia
* List of satirical magazines
* List of satirical news websites
* List of satirical television news programs

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [https://en.uncyclopedia.co Uncyclopedia (Independent)]
* [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com Uncyclopedia (Wikia-owned)]


[[Category:Free online encyclopedias]]

{{Sourceattribution|Uncyclopedia|1}}