Talk:Conch Republic

September 2007

Key West is not really a micro nation. That's just Peter Anderson and his one-man website. The Conch Republic is an interesting history. I intend to add more about it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by CheckLips (talk • contribs)

See discussion above. It falls under the general definition of Micronation, though it's not a "serious soverignty-oriented" one. The article refers to the micronational aspects of the Conch Republic, not the city of Key West's promotional aspects. Georgewilliamherbert 22:53, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

I made some changes and put them above somewhere, until I realized the latest round was going here. Please can we have a source on the micronational aspects of Conch Republic? Is there any reason why the info box should remain?

I have to agree with CheckLips comment. If you have some source other than the Lonely Planet please can we see it. If you want to dispute the Lonelyplanet as a source perhaps you can outline the other "micronations" it has in its book. Shanebb 22:02, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

Micro nation seems to be a made up term for a place that claims to be a real country. The Conch Republic was more than that, if it ever was that. Today it is mostly a symbol of local pride. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.115.107.3 (talk) 22:40, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

So are you saying that Monaco, Liechtenstein, Tuvalu and the Holy see are made up countries? SeaLand seems to have a much better claim to being a micronation than conch.

Please can we have a source on the leadership? a website selling dodgy passports is not a source. Shanebb 11:21, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

References: the Lonely Planet book, and other press coverage. Please see the references section. Go to a library and read the book if you need to.

Please see the articles Micronation and Microstate. Microstate is the term for very small internationally recognized countries. Micronation is the term for non-internationally-recognized countries. Countries covered under the umbrella term run from Sealand, which has at least legal extra-territorial status per a court case in the only credible parent nation, down through various joke micronations created by small groups of high school students which barely have a website. At the high end are numerous micronations with some credible serious secession claim and claimed territory; in the middle are a number which are either jokes / not serious of some sort (Conch falls into that category) and those which don't really have legitimate claim on any territory but which would sincerely like to secede. Below that are some which have no real-world presence whatsoever, and complete jokes.

Again: This article is about the micronation of the Conch Republic, a self-proclaimed (if jokingly so) secession-created micronation which happens to overlap with the city of Key West. It's entirely about the micronational aspects - the secession and claims. We have no delusion that it was an actual serious attempt to secede and establish a new country - they were joking, we know that, and the article says so. But this article is here to describe the (joking) secession and (joking) (protest movement) micronation aspects of what they did.

Removing the "micronational" aspects of the article is self-contradictory. Please stop it. Georgewilliamherbert 19:11, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

If this is meant to be a joke then perhaps it should be pointed out that most of the propaganda of the conch republic is centred around a private business operated by an individual who is not credited or endorsed in any way by any other conch republic business. It appears they have turned their collective backs to this one person and he has even lost the official tag on his website. When an entire community wants nothing to do with a shyster wikipedia still appears to be taking his word as gospel.

removing the "micronational" aspects of the article is not self-contradictory. The article has every right to exist I just can't see how it is a micronation. It is a joke. We have some other micronations here as well (according to the Lonely Planet); Republic of Whangamomona Republic of Molossia the Aerican Empire Republic of Kugelmugel

please can you point out where I can purchase conch republic postage stamps? Shanebb 21:36, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

Further more; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronation#Vehicles_for_agenda_promotion Its the only one on the list which is granted micronation status by wiki. Shanebb 21:42, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

If the micronation (as a micronation) has ceased to operate, and now is merely an element of the local history, then the correct solution for the article is to change the tense of the micronational description from "is" to "was". Removing the micronational description is just wrong. You aren't arguing that it wasn't a micronation, which is what removing the content implies.

There are dozens of Wikipedia articles on various Micronations. Again: there's a wide range of Micronation statuses, ranging from clearly just a small private joke, to a large public joke (like Conch), up to Sealand and the like.

If you can demonstrate in a reasonable fashion that the passports and money and stamps and so forth are now purely historical, not produced anymore, then I have no objection to changing the tense of the description from "is" to "was", in the article.

You have asserted that a few times, but not given us any good research or evidence. We have clear and reliable evidence that they were once available. It's quite possible that they aren't anymore, but you can't just assert that, you need to give us a good reason. Georgewilliamherbert 21:45, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

I changed it to historical micronation. I was unaware of the correct convention on this. Accusing me of being a sockpuppet, thats just lame. Shanebb 02:29, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

I think we need a identifier in the info box that it is no longer a micronation, I don't really care on the wording. Can we remove the reference to Peter Anderson and passports in the opening paragraph. Edit the passport section to say "private business". Purported currency... well that is bollocks, Perhaps "US Dollar. Conch dollar is sold to tourists"? Peter Anderson should come out of the leadership section, he has been labeled as self-appointed by a few articles. I will do an edit once the sock paranoia machine has been switched off. Shanebb 03:30, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

These are rather unusual opinions which do not reflect the consensus arrived at after much discussion and the current list of cited reliable third party sources. If you have references to support your unique alternative position please produce them. --Gene_poole 05:21, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

I don't see how peter andersons website is considered official. It doesn't seem to fit into the external link guidelines.Shanebb 12:36, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

All I see is that you have a vested interest against Peter Anderson in some way. If a website is called "ConchRepublic.com" it's going to conform to Wikipedia:External links as an official website. The link to his website was on this page last December and has only been removed by you since then.—Ryūlóng (竜龍) 20:15, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

I don't see what makes this website "official". It has been discussed and decided that this website is not a source which can be used as reference so I can't see how it can be used as an external link.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External_links#Links_normally_to_be_avoided (number 5). Looks like the site exists to sell passports. Shanebb 00:27, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

The site is clearly a primary source of information on the Conch Republic micronation, which you have repeatly falsely claimed "no longer exists". Continuing to delete the link might be construed as vandalism, and may result in your account being blocked. --Gene_poole 01:04, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

I can't see where it is referred to in the article. It is not listed as a source. Is there a way to settle this dispute? Clearly the link is to one mans private business of selling dubious passports. It does NOT fit wikipedias standard on external links or sources. Please could someone outline how we can settle this dispute rather than head on into a revert war. Shanebb 01:26, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

There is no "dispute". You are making claims that have no foundation, and which are unsupported by any of the multiple reliable third party sources, and in the primary sources already listed. Continuing do edit the article on that basis will get you blocked. --Gene_poole 01:36, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

This is a dispute over an external link. Please would you back up your claim as to why this link should be included in the external links. It is not referred to as a source in the article and it does not fit wikipedia guidelines as an external link (let alone a source). If you don't wish to discuss and point out why we should be including this link then perhaps we should look at settling this dispute in a dignified manner. is there a dispute process?Shanebb 02:00, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

You're the only person here arguing that it doesn't meet the links standard. Can you please explain why you feel so, in more detail? Georgewilliamherbert 08:29, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Quite so. Particularly as the policy clearly states "Articles about any organization, person, web site, or other entity should link to the official site if any." Please explain why you are so keen to remove the link to the official Conch Republic website. --Gene_poole 11:02, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Apparent sockpuppetry

Due to the timing and edit patterns of editors Shanebb (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log), CheckLips (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log), and IP User 68.115.107.3 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log), I am concluding that these three editors formed a set of sockpuppet accounts brought here for purposes of exceeding WP:3RR edit limits and create a false consensus. This was posted to the Wikipedia Administrators' Noticeboard for Incidents WP:ANI#WP:DUCK (or not) on Conch Republic and another experienced administrator has agreed with the conclusion.

I am taking the following actions:

1. I am reverting the article back to the "micronation" version
2. For the time being, User:Shanebb, User:CheckLips, User:68.115.107.3 and new IP editors will be treated as cooperating sockpuppets per WP:SOCK and the duck test. Combined edits by all of these will be considered together for the purposes of determining if further three-revert policy violations occur on the article.
3. Further disruptive edit-warring on the article itself will lead to further sanctions.
4. Discussion on the talk page (that does not otherwise violate WP policy) is fine, but will be presumed to be the same person for all 3 accounts and any other new IP or newly created user accounts which join in.

Georgewilliamherbert 00:40, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

People disagree with you so you call it sockpuppetry? I think you made your point previously and I have stated my position on the talk page. I have no idea about the others but I can assure you I am no sock puppet and I have no sock puppets. Shanebb 02:26, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

You're not the first person to argue against Conch being a micronation. But you and CheckLips are also not the first time pairs or triplets of accounts showed up together, and in prior cases it turned out there were socks involved quite a bit. They (and some independent people) accused myself and Gene Poole of being socks, too, though that failed rather badly (he's in Australia and I'm in California). shrug. Just slow down and use the talk page more. Georgewilliamherbert 02:59, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

It would also appear to be a history of sockpuppets from looking at the history of this article. I am not going to suggest you and gene poole are sock puppets, can't really see how its possible. If I was going to bother with socks I would have made a much better job than CheckLips over ambitious editing. Shanebb 03:20, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

The USCG and the Conch Republic

My United States Coast Guard cutter pulled into Ket West last night, in response to tropical storm Noel. I was ordered by my captain to raise a Conch Republic flag in lieu of our normal State of Florida flag. As more cutters arrived through out the day it seems a concencious was made between all the cuttters in port to fly both the Conch Republic flag and our regular state flag. I'm a lowly seaman so not exactly in the position to ask questions, but I thought it was intresting and worth mentioning while there is a discussion of the current state of the Conch Republic. - 70.223.44.250 00:59, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

Your comment is somewhat obscure. What does this mean? Are you saying that US Coastguard vessels not only routinely carry the Conch Republic flag on board, but also raise it with or instead of the Florida flag when making port at Key West? --Gene_poole 01:49, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

I think the seaman was saying exactly what he or she wrote...They found it interesting when deployed to Key West they where ordered to fly the Conch Republic flag. If they were in a position to know what was ops normal for pulling into Key West then they obviously would have known better than thre captain who ordered them to fly both flags after seeing what other ships were doing. Obviously if a number of cutters pulling into port all have a Conch Republic flag onboard than its normal for cutters operateing in Florida to have such a flag onboard. - 74.173.24.147 (talk) 21:47, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

Looks like you can't tell a joke when you read one. There is no Conch Republic. 68.192.21.209 (talk) 06:47, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

*sigh*, read your history. The Conch Republic is as real as Sealand. - The Bushranger _{Return fire}^{Flank speed} 00:50, 3 December 2010 (UTC)

war with the usa in 1 minute

did he acctulay declare war? is it true? well a mini state vs 1 of the bigest military powers in the world... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.175.5.65 (talk) 09:32, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

it was a joke no formal declaration at that either, shortestwar is anywhere between 38-45 minutes between Britain and Zanzibar. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.212.253.141 (talk) 18:29, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Sean Hannity

Recently on his show, he brought up Key West's "secession" as if it were a real event, apparently unaware that the Conch Republic is a parody. 75.76.213.106 (talk) 06:30, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

It was a "parody" of sorts, but it was also a real event. It happened, for the reasons given; the purpose behind the happening is neither here nor there with regard to whether it was "real" or not. - The Bushranger _{Return fire}^{Flank speed} 00:50, 3 December 2010 (UTC)

Flag

I'm confused about the flag. I've been to the Conch Republic, and most (if not all) of the flags I saw flying there (as well as the flag I bought as a souvenir) did not have the "We seceded where others failed" motto on it, in its place was "April 23, 1982", the stars were somewhat different, and it had an "1836" (or something like that) in the bottom-left corner. Is the one currently used on this page official, or maybe they're both official, or... just, what's the deal with the flag? 97.96.65.123 (talk) 21:07, 26 February 2011 (UTC)

Whoops, I got that wrong. My flag is not the one featured in the infobox at the top of this page, but it is identical to the one in the photograph near the bottom. But still, can someone explain the two different designs? 97.96.65.123 (talk) 21:38, 26 February 2011 (UTC)

1822?

the first coin at [1] seems to be a commerative medallian celebrating a sesquicentennial of something, from 1972. Presuming it is not a "back-dated forgery," Key West has been calling itself Conch Republic for a long time. Should not this wp page make some reference to whatever happened then, instead of starting with 1982? 75.87.138.107 (talk) 07:54, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

It may be that the term "Conch" as a nickname for inhabitants is that old. I would want to see some clearer and more reliable evidence that any notion of a "Conch Republic" goes back farther than our current sources indicate. DES ^(talk) 19:30, 3 November 2013 (UTC)

Proposed merge

I suggest merging the content of Conch Republic national anthem into this page. it is relevant, and that page is really too small to be a separate article. DES ^(talk) 15:02, 3 November 2013 (UTC)

Makes sense to me, unless there's a trove of information that can be reported on it as a separate entity. And then redirect. —Largo Plazo (talk) 15:59, 3 November 2013 (UTC)

I agree - it's so small, and I don't think it could become much bigger. George8211 ^{conversations} 19:47, 4 November 2013 (UTC)

 Done- MrX 02:52, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

Bad link

Hi, it seems that all links to the Conch Republic are not working. --Golan's mom 12:20, 16 February 2016 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by אמא של גולן (talk • contribs)

Purported coat of arms

121.200.90.115 (talk · contribs) has repeatedly added an image of a purported coat of arms for the Conch Republic. I have not been able to find any reference to such a coat of arms existing, and the image on Commons that has been used has no incidication that is anything other than the invention of the user who uploaded the image. I have tried to remove the image because it is unsourced, and quite likely fictional, but 121.200.90.115 keeps adding it back. - Donald Albury 01:28, 8 January 2020 (UTC)

Removing Flag?

Since other micronation articles have a flag (Sealand, Hutt River, Wy, and Molossia all have one), and the flag seems to have some degree of use if the picture at the bottom of the page is any indicator, I feel like the flag should be readded to the article's infobox. I'm not sure if there was a bigger reason behind removing it that I wasn't able to find so I figured I'd ask here. dh (talk) 20:45, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

The Conch Republic has no real existance. It originally was declared as a protest against the US government setting up a passport control point in the upper keys, but is now more like a meme, kept alive as a promotional stunt for tourists. There is no official body to authorize a design for a flag. The image of a flag that was in this article was created by a user and uploaded to commons as his own work. (Also note, that image was labeled as the flag of Key West, which is definitely wrong.) This is an encyclopedia, not a fantasy game. We have an article about the Conch Republic because it is notable as a meme, but it is not real, nor does it have the trappings of a real political entity. - Donald Albury 22:42, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

Regardless of the legitimacy of the Conch Republic (or any micronation for that matter), the apparent standard for articles on micronations is to include a flag in the infobox if one exists for it (again, other prominent micronations have flags and even seals included in their articles), and there is evidence of the flag actually being used in the real world in both an image shown in the article and in news footage of its "secession," so I don't see why it should be removed on the basis that the Conch Republic isn't "real" (I think most people would agree that all micronations aren't "real" to the extent of other countries) or that the flag is a user creation (which it seemingly isn't). Again, if there is some bigger reason I'm just missing feel free to correct me but as is it doesn't look there's much of a reason to exclude the flag. dh (talk) 16:23, 25 February 2020 (UTC)

Part about Eastern Airlines unnecessary?

I think the part about Eastern Airlines starting flight service between Miami International Airport and Key West International Airport doesn't particularly belong in the Conch Republic article unless it was somehow relevant to the roadblock, e.g., the United States Justice Department cited it in court as evidence of why the roadblock did not constitute a significant burden to Key West's economy in court, which allowed it to stay in place for longer than it would have otherwise, so Key West would not have seceded otherwise, but the article doesn't mention it, and I didn't see a citation for the Eastern Airlines part that I could look through for signs of relevance (which is another bad sign). Care to differ or discuss with me? The N^th User 04:20, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

Since the road block was intended to catch undocumented border crossers, I assume that the airport was not covered because boarding a commercial flight requires appropriate documents. Lacking a reliable source that establishes the significance to this article of Eastern Airlines's use of the Key West airport, I see no reason to retain that content in the article. Donald Albury 14:10, 4 November 2024 (UTC)