Wikiality is a term first used on the news program "The Colbert Report" by Stephen Colbert, on Monday, July 31, 2006. Wikiality may be defined as: A reality where, if enough
people agree with a notion, it becomes the truth. It is generally believed to be a portmanteau of the words "
Wikipedia" and "reality".
Wikiality is an interesting concept derived from the theory of cultural relativity. It is based on the grounds of popular truth. If something is written on
Wikipedia, then it is accepted on truth. Therefore, it can be assumed that everything on Wikipedia is the truth. However, anyone can edit Wikipedia. In such case, anyone can edit the truth (in theory).
"If only the entire body of
human knowledge worked this way, and it can, thanks to tonight's word: Wikiality." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"We should apply these principles to all information. All we need to do is convince a majority of
people that some factoid is true." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"As usual, folks, the Bush administration is on the cutting edge of information management." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"What we're doing is bringing
democracy to knowledge." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"Definitions will greet us as liberators." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"See, if you go against what the majority of
people perceive to be
reality, you're the
one who's crazy." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"The revolution will not be verified." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
"Together, we can create a reality that we can all agree on, the reality we just agreed on, and that's the word." - Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report
