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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Timcrow (talk | contribs) at 15:16, 6 July 2006 (→[[Aerican Empire]]). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Aerican Empire

"Micronation" that does not meet the evolving standards at Category talk:Micronations or the web standards at WP:WEB. WP:NOT, official policy, says that Wikipedia is not for things made up in school one day. I think that includes things made up by a group of five year olds. From the article: "The Aerican Empire was founded on 8 May 1986 by a group of five-year old friends." "By high school, the Empire slowly abandoned most fictional elements and worked towards becoming a political entity rather than a hobby." GRBerry 17:28, 5 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Expansion - article fails to use reliable sources to establish notability. Impressive list of media coverage at the bottom is only to the paper's websites, not to actual articles, except for the two links that I've converted myself. GRBerry 03:14, 6 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We're working on fixing this. Most of these papers don't keep four-year archives online, only in paper, for which you can't blame us. If we just posted links to reprints on our website, that would look just as bad, wouldn't it? Timcrow
  • Even though it was creatd y a bunch of 5-year-olds, it has grown to one of the most legitamate micronations ever. Kitia 17:39, 5 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • I agree with Kitka. It was founded by five year olds but today's it's an active group. I heard about them from their New York Times article -- that's major exposure and media presence. And I'm told that they just did a big national radio interview of some sort... Timcrow 3:52 EST, 5 July 2006
  • Strong Keep With all respect, GRBerry, I think you are seriously mis-understanding what is meant by "things made up in school one day." It does refer, of course, to things schoolkids make up--but it also implies that it subsequently gains no more notoriety beyond the schoolyard in which it is made up. It doesn't matter that the Aerican Empire was made up by schoolkids, it has since become quite a large phenomenon. Reimelt 20:11, 5 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment: Can you show any citations documenting that they've actually done anything to provie a basis for claims of being "one of the most legitamate [sic] micronations", or one of the most influential? I haven't read all of the sources, but they seem to be "look at the silly people making up imaginary micronations", not "these alternative political structures are revolutionizing the way real people deal with their societies' needs". No vote, as this seems to be near the edge of notability. Barno 20:25, 5 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
    • The issue isn't whether they are revolutionizing anything, but whether the Aerican Empire is notable. The notability could come entirely from "look at these silly people"-type coverage. Who says notable things can't be silly? From what I can tell, the Aerican Empire happens to be embrace silliness--so what? Coverage in the New York Times, Houston Chronicle, lots of web hits--why is this controversial? Reimelt 23:13, 5 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Strong Keep If something someone made up in school one day gets covered in the NYTimes and draws around 116,000 google hits, it's notable and worth an entry.[1] Vickser 01:40, 6 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
    • Comment As the article stands, the only link that is to an actual article, as opposed to the homepage of the relevant paper is the Boston Phoenix one. I live in Boston, and the Phoenix is tabloid quality. To boot I'm the person who converted that link to an article link. Here is the entire NY Times mention:
AERICAN EMPIRE: www.geocities.com /SouthBeach/Surf/6818/aerica.html Aerican, one of the more imaginative sites,
refers to itself as the Monty Python of micronationalism, and its inhabitants worship a being known as the Great Penguin.
The site warns its readers: Aerican places a high emphasis on silliness. People who cannot act silly are permitted
entry only on a limited basis. A smiley-face adorns the flag.
I remain unconvinced that this is in fact notable. I've just converted the generic NYTimes link to an article link. GRBerry 03:14, 6 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • As a 'Citizen' of Aerica based in Australia, i believe that Aerica has every right to a page on Wikipedia. As a micronation - wether real or imagined - a reference within Wikipedia should exist simply to inform users that it exists. I personally use Wikipedia as my number one source of information for my work, and like doing a google search these days - if it doesnt come up, then it doesnt exist in the real or internet world. Similar pages (such as Flying Spagetti Monster) will assumedly remain if Aerica is removed. Does it hurt anyone if it stays? - Martin (not a wiki account holder)
  • For micronations, notability generally involves some impact by a micronation upon the real world. Declaring a field to be an independent nation and telling only Wikipedia about it such as the Nation of Pogo (AfD discussion), or setting up a club on a web site such as the Republic of Atlasia (AfD discussion), do not impact the real world at all. Whereas Sealand and Ladonia, in contrast, have elicited mainstream news coverage, and have involved real disputes, real territories, and real court cases. Uncle G 13:27, 6 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
    • With respect, this is kind of like saying that David Letterman isn't noteworthy because he didn't become a news anchor. Ignoring for the moment the huge confusion and disagreement about an acceptable definition of the word micronation, you're saying that an aspiring state is only noteworthy if they affect real-world change -- apparently ignoring that 1) it takes time to do so and 2) not every group aspires to that kind of thing. Sealand and Ladonia have made the mainstream news, but it's a matter of opinion if that exposure was of any value to them or covered them in any positive value beyond their being a novelty. The Empire has had *less* coverage, but it has still had international news coverage. This is not a state which has appeared only on Wiki, nor is it merely a website, and it has impacted the real world (albeit, only on a small scale so far). Timcrow
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