Uncyclopedia talk:Infamous

The idea

A long, long time ago, a handful of us in IRC wrote letters to the Sioux City Journal, a small-town newspaper, to the effect of: "That Uncyclopedia article on Sioux City is so offensive, you should write a piece blah blah etc." As a result, they wrote a piece, and the reaction from the people who commented on their site was of approval of our article and its hilariousness. So we wondered: If this worked in this one instance, why couldn't it work again?

The action

It's simple: Uncyclopedians write letters to newspapers pretending to complain about a particular article. Eventually (or hopefully) they will publish a story giving the site more exposure.

If it works multiple times, hell, who knows, it could become a national story. But is it ethical? Well, if you feel bad about some lazy journalist losing his job for being a lazy journalist, and if you feel bad about Uncyclopedia getting more exposure, then feel free to not participate.

So what can you do? A few things. Writing an e-mail to the publications below would help. The more who do it the more likely it is to work. Please don't exaggerate or send multiple emails at the same time, and please try to sound like some sincerely offended chum, perhaps with a strong sense of civic/state pride and a dash of lemon zest. If they don't publish a story for some time we'll simply move onto the next publication!

You can also write towncruft or help fix up some articles about towns. Why? Because towns are Wikipedia entries too!

The newspapers we are looking to target will ideally be for populations of less than 200,000, and the more low-budget the newspaper looks the more likely it is to see a Pulitzer in covering such a hot topic like Uncyclopedia. Once a newspaper's site does not write a story we'll move onto the next ones.

The players

The newspapers we are writing faux complaints to are listed below with the article that is ever-so offensive and a link to their contact page.

Canada

Quebec:

Montreal

• Montreal Gazette

United States

New England:

Maine

• Twin City Times
• E-mail link

1. User:Cat the Colourful/letter - I also sent a mail to Arizona but didn't remember to save it up anywhere :/ But here's the one I sent to Maine. Cat the Colourful (Feed me!) Zzz 10:20, 2 July, 2013 (UTC)

User:Sgt. Havoc/Rhode Island Driving Laws (It'd be nice to get this into mainspace)

Tiny The Terrible

Whitey Bulger

East Coast:

Geritolopolis, New Jersey (Technically this is about Monroe Township but I thought it'd be funny for a New Jersey resident complaining about a town that doesn't exist.)

Midwest:

LaGrange, Illinois (might need some touching up)

• LaGrange Sun Times

Southeast:

Jesus was Christian, NOT Jewish

Southwest:

Arizona

• Sierra Vista Herald

West Coast:

Alaska Roller Coaster Ride 261

United Kingdom

Frome

• Frome Times

1. User:IFYMB!/Frome (Any advice is appreciated)

--EMC ^[TALK] 23:48 Jun 24 2013

I've sent mine to the Frome Times. No reply yet. --EMC ^[TALK] 14:07 Jul 5 2013

Sign your name

So we know who is participating in this glorious and noble cause. And so the newspapers know who to sue (just kidding).

1. --EMC ^[TALK] 23:48 Jun 24 2013
2. -- IFYMB! Talk to me baby! 17:27 25 June 2013
3. -- The Zombiebaron 02:24, 25 June 2013 (UTC)
4. --FAKEHATER spam me 12:12, 25 June 2013 (UTC)
5. -- Cat the Colourful (Feed me!) Zzz 17:08, 25 June, 2013 (UTC)
6. -- The Woodburninator Minimal Effort ™ 17:21, 25 June 2013 (UTC)
7. -RAHB 17:28, 25 June 2013 (UTC)
8. --The Shield of Azunai DSA510 Insight into the mind of an aspergian: 18:23, 25 June 2013 (UTC)(possibly)

Discussion

What about Seattle, with the Seattle Times newspaper? I'm sure they would be happy to sue us! --The Shield of Azunai DSA510 Insight into the mind of an aspergian: 00:18, 25 June 2013 (UTC)(Cuz, seattle has too much rain)

I realize Seattle has a population of above 200,000, but the times doesn't have much to write about, so they might be up for it. --The Shield of Azunai DSA510 Insight into the mind of an aspergian: 00:19, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

• I don't think we should restrict this to the three publications above. I think people will be able to make much more realistic sounding complaint letters for regions and towns where they live or near where they live. We should do this on a global scale. Everyone should list what publications they have contacted, so other users nearby can pile on. -- The Zombiebaron 02:33, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

Absolutely. IFYMB and I made a short list so once the publications above are exhausted we will add the new ones. You can of course add your own. --EMC ^[TALK] 12:06 Jun 25 2013

Is this only for small towns or could it be extended to regional news stories, public figures and landmarks? In Rhode Island, for example, an article on Buddy Cianci, Big Blue Bug, or even this piece recent legislation would almost certainly get attention from the local press. MadMax (talk) 02:35, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

That is also doable since almost every newspaper in Rhode Island is small. --EMC ^[TALK] 12:16 Jun 25 2013

So...you're writing fake letters with fake outrage to real papers in an attempt to get them to write real stories about the fake outrage over our fake stories? Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 02:56, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

Wish we had a like button for that comment alone. The Woodburninator Minimal Effort ™ 03:32, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

Haahhahahahaha you trouble-makers. Leverage (talk) 09:38, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

I really want to send something to the Seattle Times, and see them go crazy in the news... --The Shield of Azunai DSA510 Insight into the mind of an aspergian: 09:46, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

If you think they'll bite then add them to the list. --EMC ^[TALK] 12:06 Jun 25 2013

You might want to consider keeping it low. If anything, newspaper people are talkative and if such things start to happen in many places at once it might raise suspicion. Ṁōŏṡʒ 12:52, Jun 25 12:52, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

I'm probably going to move this out of the forums and to its own page. --EMC ^[TALK] 15:29 Jun 25 2013

But it'll still come home to borrow money and do laundry, right? Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 16:56, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

Make sure to link to our site and not wikia! IFYMB! Talk to me baby! 17:55 25 June 2013

Got a reply

From the Arizona newspaper. ""The website is intended to be a satire and a parody of Wikipedia. It is not to be taken seriously. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX, Publisher" --EMC ^[TALK] 13:45 Jul 4 2013

So this means Arizona should be left alone. Damn Cat the Colourful (Feed me!) Zzz 13:49, 4 July, 2013 (UTC)

Arizona's a big place. Just need to find the right writer. -RAHB 22:19, 4 July 2013 (UTC)