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Wikipedia Is Not Amused By Entry For xkcd-Coined Word

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."

6 of 553 comments (clear)

  1. This is news? by Mabbo · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    There's a still-growing oil leak destroyed the gulf. The UK Government is in a major changeover, the likes of which haven't been seen in decades. There's even Jon Stewart's fight about what kind of tie a CNN reported wears- all things that BBC America could be talking about that would matter more to the world than this story. I love xkcd, but seriously, this is not news.

  2. Search by TheLink · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    On the subject of looking stuff up, is there an easy way for me to blacklist many of those sites that appear in Google when I search for that word?

    To me the "offending word" is useful for finding sites that I do not want in my google search results ever.

    Just Google search for that word and you'll see evidence that Google is not providing good search results...

    Yes, I tried using Google's custom Search engine feature, and no it doesn't seem to allow excluding of websites. And no, inserting -sitename for dozens of sites is not what I want to do.

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  3. Re:Simple Solution by spidercoz · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    insightful? really?

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    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
  4. Re:Best. Joke. Ever. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Why the fuck is the above modded Informative ?!? Mods, are you trying to say you know something about GP's mom?

  5. not funny? by wealthychef · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    So wikipedia is not amused. Does *anyone* think xkcd is funny? Every time I look at it it fails to rise to the level of a grin.

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    Currently hooked on AMP
    1. Re:not funny? by wealthychef · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I knew I'd get modded down. LOL I ain't no steenkin' arts major, but I think xkcd is a travesty that should be deleted from the Internet. And yes, I run Linux. So screw you all!

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      Currently hooked on AMP