Being an active forum user, I have seen the numerous threads about page designing tips (and later, complaints). While I would rather create a system of guidelines regarding forum use, I know that now is not the time for that. Instead, I will put myself at the vulnerable point at which the community judges my ideas as I suggest a policy that, hopefully, will end all this nonsense once and for all. I’m referring primarily to page designing, the dreaded topic that all of the admins and veterans are likely tired of hearing about. I’m also referring to user page use, how far an editor should go in contesting another editor’s color scheme, and even the ridiculous treatment of this site as a…ugh…social network. Here are the individual parts to my supposed policy: 1. Editors are not to edit the user pages of other editors, especially if they do not have consent.This refers to non-message edits to talk pages as well, and there are exceptions should another part of the policy-in-progress be breached. Page designers are to keep their profession confined to their own pages, and only offer advice
to editors that seek fanciness. Polls on user pages or talk pages are not to be participated in. This is not a flippin’ social network, and there is a time and place for this nonsense, but it’s not here and it’s not now.
This works twofold - it can also make sure vandalism is rolled back without hesitation, as patrollers might not be sure what to do should they see an editor editing a user page that isn’t their own. 2. Talk pages are not to be decorated.Talk page rules at the top and other headings and sorts of things are fine, but no color or font variations. If someone has a message for you, it has to be readable. I’m sorry to take a zero-tolerance spin on this (as I hate that kind of stuff), but messages from other users aren’t supposed to be polka-dotted, gray-on-grey, or cutesy. Also, for those of you who are reading this, do me another favor and don’t chat. Please. 3. User pages may be decorated but only by the editor they belong to.Simple as that. A reversal on number one. Just don’t spam for help if you don’t know your basic wikiFormatting. 4. Admins may take interventions as necessary should any part of the policy be broken.This is also straightforward - if someone’s talk page is decorated, at least the admins (and at best, other editors) should take down the font and color codes. 5. Make sure your user page is readable, and is not distinctly used for commercial purposes.Dark on light or light on dark in terms of background and text is as much as I have to say. Also, we don’t tolerate user/talk page spam here. If you have any suggested changes, constructive criticisms, or any discussion as to my proposed policy, go ahead. But I will accept no-questions-asked supporters with open arms, as I tire of hearing about all this.
system
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I kind of disagree with the second step, but I see what you’re going for.
Also, I don’t understand why there should not be polls. I understand not to spam others’ pages asking them to vote for a poll, but would you mind explaining in further detail of why polls are bad?
An exception to 2: what about talk pages that are decorated with non-conflicting colours and you could still read messages? My talk page has a light blue background, and a different font but still black.
Each participant in a poll is making another edit to be patrolled. In fact, I believe your page is the inspiration to my suggestion of that - no offense, but I really don’t like seeing examples of social networking in here.
Too difficult to tell, we can’t exactly create a giant list of what colors go well together. It’s best to zero-tolerance it for superior results.
I do not support most of this proposal as what one person may consider “fanciness” to one contributor may not be to another. I do support clear guidelines about readable text on user or talk pages. If the page can NOT be read, and this can be judged by an admin or perhaps an NABer with editorial experience, the page should be modified so that is pleasing to the eye. Finally, I do include images of paintings on my talk page as I find sharing artwork from Monet, Renoir or Cassatt pleasing to the eye. These images do not cause problems when viewed on patrol and they are decorative. Based on your proposal, at least as how I’ve read it, my artistic images would have to be removed. MA
Seeing as images do not tamper with the background color, text color, or text font, and seeing as they do not rack up extra edits for patrollers, you could by all means keep them.
It creates extra work to patrol, plus, if newer users see it, it’ll create more work and it is far from the goal.
ISMKW: Support! June Days
Thank you for the support. I can’t wait to come closer to making it clear that we are not a social network.
Am I going crazy or does this thread have 500 views? o.O June Days
Steve5
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So in other words no “raindow” colors.
Maniac
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Somewhat support 1 - If somebody wants to help somebody else out, I don’t mind…but they should very clearly state in the edit summary that they were granted permission to make the changes. Support 2. Oppose 3. No comment on 4, I don’t really wanna be part of the Talk Page Design Moderation Board. No comment on 5, I really don’t care if somebody has an unreadable userpage…the whole reason I want to ban talk page designing is because it makes it impossible for people to read talk pages, which is sometimes a necessity. I am not forced to read somebody’s userpage, so they can do what they want with it; the talk page, on the other hand, I am sometimes forced to read.
Steve5
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I think someone hacked this thread because I refreshed my page for 1 second and it got 50+ more views!
1380 EDIT: Bug, it says 1999 views. Unless we’ve got a. spur of readers just now, it’s. a bug.June Days
system
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@IShareMahKnowledgeWisely
It’s the inspiration. : / I perfectly understand – just another edit to be patrolled. Thanks for explaining. <3 Have a good night.
Support 1, 3, & 5. Here’s my opinion on 2: I agree that talk pages shouldn’t be crazily decorated, and of course everything must be easily read. However, I’m not 100% sure about the zero-decoration policy on talkpages. In my opinion, having a simple design is fine, as long as your messages are easy to read. And 4: Although I do like the idea of removing neon over neon, I still feel like it’s weird for someone to come and change your talkpage without your permission or knowledge. Currently if someone’s talkpage is hard for me to read, I leave the user a message suggesting that they change their font or background colour to make things easier to read. It’s worked well so far. Although I like the premise of this policy, I don’t really think that it’s necessary. Although all this designing stuff is annoying, since it’s not really related to wikiHow and its mission, why do we need a policy on it? Just my opinion, anyway.
Maniac
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One issue (which I’m pretty sure we have discussed about a dozen times now) is that what one person finds easy to read, another person might find it blinding. It’s really impossible to decide “you can have this design but not that design” and it’s not worth wasting anybody’s time trying to come up with actual talk page design guidelines. That’s why, in my opinion, it seems to always come down to either banning talk page designing entirely or letting it be. Personally, I would like to see it banned entirely, which I think everybody knows by now.
system
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2034 in just 2 hours. holy bleep!
That’s true. If we were to ban talk page designing entirely, how would we go about doing that?
