Battlestar Wiki:Battlestar Wiki is not a forum: Difference between revisions

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
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'''"Battlestar Wiki is not a forum"''', meaning that questions posed in the wiki should not be addressed in a back-to-forth manner prevalent on bulletin boards. This policy covers the "Questions" section of our [[:Category:Episode Guide|Episode Guide]].
'''"Battlestar Wiki is not a forum"''', meaning that questions posed in the wiki should not be addressed in a back-to-forth manner prevalent on bulletin boards. This policy covers the "Questions" section of our [[:Category:Episode Guide|Episode Guide]].
{{Battlestar Wiki List of Policies}}


== Overview ==
== Overview ==


The Episode Guides at Battlestar Wiki are patterned after the [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/eplist.html Lurker's Guide To ''Babylon 5''] episode guides. As such, the "Questions" section is intended solely for questions -- ideally questions that may be answered in subsequent episodes, which might be linked to once they are revealed. It is not intended for back and forth discussion, analysis, or disagreements. When articles contain such commentary, it reduces the encyclopedic effect of the article where it appears that the article is "arguing with itself."
The episode guides at Battlestar Wiki are patterned after the [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/eplist.html Lurker's Guide To ''Babylon 5''] episode guides. As such, the "Questions" section is intended solely for questions -- ideally questions that may be answered in subsequent episodes, which might be linked to once they are revealed. It is not intended for back and forth discussion, analysis, or disagreements. When articles contain such commentary, it reduces the encyclopedic effect of the article where it appears that the article is "arguing with itself."


Questions that have been answered within the episode may be moved down into the "Analysis" or "Notes" section if they are noteworthy. Analysis that stems from questions should also be located in the "Analysis" section. Ideally the "Questions" section will consist solely of a single level of bulleted questions, with occasional links to "Answer"s (from subsequent episodes) or "Analysis".
Questions that have been answered within the episode may be moved down into the "Analysis" or "Notes" section if they are noteworthy. Analysis that stems from questions should also be located in the "Analysis" section. Ideally the "Questions" section will consist solely of a single level of bulleted questions, with occasional links to "Answer"s (from subsequent episodes) or "Analysis".

Revision as of 18:28, 16 April 2007

This page is an official policy of Battlestar Wiki.
This policy is considered by the community and its leadership to be the status quo of Battlestar Wiki and is not to be countermanded or ignored, though changes to it can be discussed on the appropriate talk page. This policy was implemented on 17 November 2006.
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"Battlestar Wiki is not a forum", meaning that questions posed in the wiki should not be addressed in a back-to-forth manner prevalent on bulletin boards. This policy covers the "Questions" section of our Episode Guide.

Battlestar Wiki Policy
Article Standards

Article Standards & Conventions
Keeping articles concise
Assume good faith
Official sources and citations
Neutral or Real point of view
Spoiler Policy
What Battlestar Wiki is
What Battlestar Wiki is not
Avoiding "fanwanking"
Descriptive terms
"Alternate universe" products

Sysop ← Interaction → User

Page Moves
Username policy
Banning
Blocking
Check user

Site Wide

Deletion
Civility, etiquette and personal attacks
Edit war
Things you just don't do
Harassment
Ownership of articles
Vandalism
Words of wisdom for the paranoid
... is not a forum
News

Guidelines

Air Lock
High Traffic
Types of users
Canon
Fandom

Inactive Policies
Razor Material


Overview

The episode guides at Battlestar Wiki are patterned after the Lurker's Guide To Babylon 5 episode guides. As such, the "Questions" section is intended solely for questions -- ideally questions that may be answered in subsequent episodes, which might be linked to once they are revealed. It is not intended for back and forth discussion, analysis, or disagreements. When articles contain such commentary, it reduces the encyclopedic effect of the article where it appears that the article is "arguing with itself."

Questions that have been answered within the episode may be moved down into the "Analysis" or "Notes" section if they are noteworthy. Analysis that stems from questions should also be located in the "Analysis" section. Ideally the "Questions" section will consist solely of a single level of bulleted questions, with occasional links to "Answer"s (from subsequent episodes) or "Analysis".

Sub-questions that are placed in articles against policy can be moved up as a primary question by any contributor, or, if already answered from official sources (not speculation), can be removed by any contributor. Contributors are asked to summarize the removed edit by indicating where the question is answered in the edit summary, or on the article's talk page.

Contributors who repeatedly violate of this policy will receive two warnings before the contributor's account is restricted from editing for a maximum of 1 week. This limitation allows the contributor access to read the Battlestar Wiki (in particular, to watch how other contributors properly add questions to an article) but editing will be restricted.

Examples of Proper Question Formatting

  • Does Doctor Amorak truly have something on Baltar's involvement in the holocaust?
  • Is Six actually in contact with other Cylons, and thus involved in the disappearance / reappearance of the Olympic Carrier?
  • What happened to the group of survivors Helo was left with in the Miniseries? (Answer)

Bad Examples

The use of sub-questions and argumentative responses such as these create a confusing effect.

  • Billy Keikeya reports that the number of survivors is down by 300 - some lost through death from injuries, etc., some "lost" through initial inaccurate counts, and the rest have "disappeared." How can people simply "disappear" in the fleet?
    • Perhaps the black market has put them to work. Or this number accounts for the people aboard Prometheus.
      • 300 people is way too few to account for the people aboard Prometheus. Besides, some of the losses actually were due to deaths.
    • Perhaps vigilante justice (like in "Collaborators") was at work?
      • Why would so many be killed on such a large scale when it wasn't even clear that there was a traitor?
        • Obviously there's still at least one traitor aboard...

See also