Rotten.com
Encyclopedia
Rotten.com is a United States
-hosted shock site
with the slogan "An archive of disturbing illustration" it is operated by Soylent Communications.
It is devoted to morbid curiosities, primarily pictures of violent acts, deformities, autopsy
or forensic
photographs, depictions of perverse sex
acts, and historical curios that are disturbing or misanthropic
in nature.
The site was founded in 1996, and its format has changed little since then. As of 2009, updates to it are very sporadic and small.
citations. These range from serious matters (such as requests to remove pictures of dead relatives from the site) to Burlington Coat Factory
asking them to take down trenchcoat.org, which they had bought as a Trenchcoat Mafia reference, but simply linked it to Burlington Coat Factory's webpage. On June 24, 2005, the US federal government ordered that the "Fuck of the Month" section of the site be removed (along with content from several ancillary sites) due to insufficient record-keeping. In posting the page's removal notice, the site's moderator criticized supporters of both Alberto Gonzales
and the Bush Administration
for the enablement of censorship.
articles that cover the more bizarre, macabre and unpleasant side of life. Stories of terrorism
, murder
s, suicide
s, cruelty, excrement and abuse
are the staple fare of this site. Daily Rotten, also known as Rotten News, is driven by user submissions which are edited by a self-described Rotten Staff Duder. This also features comments for each one of the articles, posted by the registered members; they usually bring similar histories or gruesome images. They refer to themselves as rotteneers, a satirical reference to Walt Disney
's Mouseketeers, and/or "rottentots."
The events of September 11, 2001
were featured heavily on The Daily Rotten pages, a fact that the creators acknowledge as contributing to the popularity of the site.
/commentary archive. Most of the articles were written by cartoonist Tristan Farnon
under the alias "Spigot" (Jerkcity, Leisure Town) and other associates, containing news
satire
and general rumination on modern society
. Along with the Rotten Library, this has improved Rotten's standing in many communities since it has put an intellectual, humane side to what was otherwise considered a purely "shock" site. On the afternoon of June 22, 2005, "The Gaping Maw" went dark to comply with new governmental bookkeeping requirements regarding the distribution of pornography
, specifically governmental age-verification of models, under . All articles were taken down, and the site's title page was replaced with a statement lamenting the passage of the laws, headed by the banner "CENSORED BY US GOVERNMENT." In January 2006, "The Gaping Maw" came back online with some articles still unpublishable, others heavily-edited.
was launched. This is a game
in which players pick ten people they believe will die
over the course of the next twelve months. A point is awarded to a player for each of their picks who dies over the twelve months (unless the deceased is executed and was awaiting execution at the time they were picked, is murdered by the player, or is picked after their death). It has not been publicly stated by the site what the winner gets, if anything.
, a so-called intelligence aggregator. This is a growing website that lists information (birth, death, job history, thousands of notable people).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-hosted shock site
Shock site
A shock site is a website that is intended to be offensive, disgusting and/or disturbing to its viewers, containing materials of high shock value which is also considered distasteful and crude, and is generally of a pornographic, scatological, extremely violent, insulting, painful, profane, or...
with the slogan "An archive of disturbing illustration" it is operated by Soylent Communications.
It is devoted to morbid curiosities, primarily pictures of violent acts, deformities, autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
or forensic
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
photographs, depictions of perverse sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
acts, and historical curios that are disturbing or misanthropic
Misanthropy
Misanthropy is generalized dislike, distrust, disgust, contempt or hatred of the human species or human nature. A misanthrope, or misanthropist is someone who holds such views or feelings...
in nature.
The site was founded in 1996, and its format has changed little since then. As of 2009, updates to it are very sporadic and small.
Legal matters
Rotten.com has been threatened with many lawsuits over the years, mostly in the form of cease and desistCease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
citations. These range from serious matters (such as requests to remove pictures of dead relatives from the site) to Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
asking them to take down trenchcoat.org, which they had bought as a Trenchcoat Mafia reference, but simply linked it to Burlington Coat Factory's webpage. On June 24, 2005, the US federal government ordered that the "Fuck of the Month" section of the site be removed (along with content from several ancillary sites) due to insufficient record-keeping. In posting the page's removal notice, the site's moderator criticized supporters of both Alberto Gonzales
Alberto Gonzales
Alberto R. Gonzales was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. Gonzales was appointed to the post in February 2005 by President George W. Bush. Gonzales was the first Hispanic Attorney General in U.S. history and the highest-ranking Hispanic government official ever...
and the Bush Administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
for the enablement of censorship.
The Daily Rotten
In late 1999, The Daily Rotten was started. This site, updated daily, contains links to newsNews
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
articles that cover the more bizarre, macabre and unpleasant side of life. Stories of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s, suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
s, cruelty, excrement and abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
are the staple fare of this site. Daily Rotten, also known as Rotten News, is driven by user submissions which are edited by a self-described Rotten Staff Duder. This also features comments for each one of the articles, posted by the registered members; they usually bring similar histories or gruesome images. They refer to themselves as rotteneers, a satirical reference to Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's Mouseketeers, and/or "rottentots."
The events of September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
were featured heavily on The Daily Rotten pages, a fact that the creators acknowledge as contributing to the popularity of the site.
Boners.com
Rotten launched boners.com in response to those viewers who wanted a page with daily pictures alongside the news articles of Daily Rotten. Generally, a page will be updated with five or so viewer submitted pictures. Usually containing a funny sign or street name, snowmen in sexual positions or accidental public displays of nudity.The Gaping Maw
In 2000, the Rotten staff started up The Gaping Maw, an editorialEditorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
/commentary archive. Most of the articles were written by cartoonist Tristan Farnon
Tristan A. Farnon
Tristan Alexander Farnon is an American webcomic author, creator of Leisure Town, and a member of the web comic Jerkcity.-Leisure Town:...
under the alias "Spigot" (Jerkcity, Leisure Town) and other associates, containing news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and general rumination on modern society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
. Along with the Rotten Library, this has improved Rotten's standing in many communities since it has put an intellectual, humane side to what was otherwise considered a purely "shock" site. On the afternoon of June 22, 2005, "The Gaping Maw" went dark to comply with new governmental bookkeeping requirements regarding the distribution of pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
, specifically governmental age-verification of models, under . All articles were taken down, and the site's title page was replaced with a statement lamenting the passage of the laws, headed by the banner "CENSORED BY US GOVERNMENT." In January 2006, "The Gaping Maw" came back online with some articles still unpublishable, others heavily-edited.
Rotten Dead Pool
In November 2003, the Rotten Dead PoolDead pool
A dead pool, also known as a death pool, death watch, dead cert or ghoul pool, is a game of prediction which involves guessing when someone will die. Sometimes it is a bet where money is involved...
was launched. This is a game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
in which players pick ten people they believe will die
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
over the course of the next twelve months. A point is awarded to a player for each of their picks who dies over the twelve months (unless the deceased is executed and was awaiting execution at the time they were picked, is murdered by the player, or is picked after their death). It has not been publicly stated by the site what the winner gets, if anything.
NNDB
In mid-2002, Rotten launched NNDBNNDB
The Notable Names Database , produced by Soylent Communications, the same entity that produces Rotten, Daily Rotten, Dr. Sputnik's Society Pages and Penny Postcards, is an online database of biographical details of over 36,000 people of note...
, a so-called intelligence aggregator. This is a growing website that lists information (birth, death, job history, thousands of notable people).