Forum:Updating policies, guidelines and the wiki

Forums: Index → Community Proposal → Updating policies, guidelines and the wiki

There was an idea to bring together a collection of proposals and projects, so when we needed them, they could improve the wiki in a longer term that we never could achieve in our present time...

An overview

The wiki's current policies and guidelines was based on an outdated model (2010). It was based on the notion that Bungie would still retain creative control over the franchise. It made sense at the time, but not in the present. There have been numerous calls for these policies and guidelines to be updated, but it keeps getting swept under the carpet once the discussion dies out. So, this is an effort to bring this update into action.

MoS and Layout

On the standards to be employed in articles, the Manual of Style requires more clarification on what would be the best standards as you edit an article. I've added a small change to this on my sandbox page; I added a section on styles that clarifies the wiki's position on measurement and spellings as well as linking it back to Layout guide.

The Layout Guide is in serious need of updates. Numerous points and concerns have been raised, such as what is required of an introductory image for characters, for individual ships and general ship class. Appearances also became an issue; while it has been addressed and solutions have been provided (with some implemented), it has not been recorded in the guide.

Furthermore, we should also consider the issue of accessibility for mobile and tablet users; simply put, a focus to reduce the data load on images (which is also what Wikia is doing but their sites is currently horrible to navigate via mobile). I've undertook the task to ensure that the move relevant images should go into the article whereas others should be in an image category. This category is of course viewable via link placed under a specific section in the article. This would appear to be in conflict with Nicmavr's image tagging competition but I'm sure that would not be a problem.

Canon

The canon policy needs to have a proactive role in educating readers and editors on what is canon and what would be the correct interpretation. Too many users have their own interpretation of the content and a significant few have misinterpreted the content.

The hierarchy of canon, specifically the Tier system, needs to be replaced with a hierarchy of Media Type system. To put things simply, no parties would be superior than the controller of the franchise, games would be superior to all other media in so far that it makes sense. Essentially a system of compromise to allow content from novels and other media to prevail over game canon. It would mean that Halopedians would need to employ some quality control over what is canon and what is not, but it does not mean that Halopedians is the ultimate authority. This is done through consensus; one general/collective agreement. Looking at the wiki's history track, the community has been quite on the spot most of the time.

What else?

That's essentially a recap on what has been proposed and recorded in the policies and guidelines. If other proposals have not been mentioned in this thread, please list them out. :) — subtank 12:19, 13 May 2012 (EDT)

Alas, my own attempt to wage a similar proposal had fallen wayside. Commendations to this [understated-armored-transport] for exceeding my initiative!

The only further amendment I would add would be the consensus recorded in this discussion, where your users agreed to have the wiki's data reflect the most recent canon in the timeline, versus merely reflecting the most recently released. In their words, "Halopedia is kind of like a document made by ONI, recording everything in Halo.". That seems to be a worthy standard to add (though I do not see why my own Archives would not record better than those naval agents.)

The rest, however, is suitable. Now to inspect the delay in my facilities' functions... 12:34, 13 May 2012 (EDT)