Hand aufs Herz: Wer von euch kennt eigentlich die legendäre Wikipedia-Datei „P*nis mit Pigmentstörung.jpg“?
Be honest: How many of you are familiar with the legendary Wikimedia Commons file "Penis mit Pigmentstörung.jpg" (translated: "Penis with pigmentary abnormality")?
I was browsing through the depths of Wikimedia Commons the other day and stumbled across this absolute classic of German internet folklore again.
For those who don't know: Wikipedia hosts a completely uncensored, close-up medical shot of a male genitalia. It was uploaded back in 2011 by a user, who dryly noted in the description that it is indeed his own "work". He released it entirely into the public domain (CC0). For years, this file has been celebrated and shared as a massive meme across German imageboards and forums.
I'm currently doing a small private project on internet culture and memes surrounding public databases, and I would love to hear your thoughts:
When did you first hear about or encounter this specific file?
What was your initial reaction when you realized this actually exists on Wikipedia?
Do you consider this the peak of Wikipedia oddities, or just standard, useful medical documentation?
