Template:Flag-templates

[edit] Template documentation

[edit] Flag templates for deletion warnings

This is an essay; it contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. It is not a policy or guideline, and editors are not obliged to follow it.

Even though I am a deletionist, I am not unsympathetic to the plight of newbie editors, and have attempted to add a Velvet Glove to the Iron Fist of proposed and speedy deletions … in addition to creating the four step flag protocols (WP:FLAG-PROTOCOL), I have created two templates to facilitate implementing the first two steps ... please feel free to add comments on their discussion pages regarding the language/tone of the messages.

Inclusionists may also use these templates and protocols to flag dubious articles for further research during another session.

Note that these protocols are not intended for attack pages, copyright violations, obvious tests, vandalism, patent nonsense, and other unsuitable material, but rather for questionable articles that have been created by editors who may be new to Wikipedia, and need their hands held rather than slapped.

[edit] Protocol to minimize friction from proposed deletions and speedy deletions

If it looks clearly inappropiate (e.g., it reeks of Vanispamcruftisement), has no indication of "why its subject is important or significant", or it fails a quick scan for verifiability (e.g., no references or citations whatsoever), then:

1. Put {{Flag-article}} on the article's Discussion page (to get the ball rolling.)
   Note: This is a generic "Article lacks WP:A to satisfy WP:N" boilerplate message, so you should also include any other arguments for why the article doesn't belong in Wikipedia, both to begin a discussion and as background for any administrator who investigates the tagged article.
2. Put {{Flag-editor}} on the author's User Talk page.
   Note: This is also a generic warning of your intention to re-examine the article, and perhaps tag it for deletion ... you can always come back later and update/correct the warning if it's the wrong one, or when you add a {{PRODWarning}} or {{Nn-warn}} after you've tagged the article.
3. After a reasonable period to see if the first two steps produce any constructive results, if you still think it should be deleted, then put either {{Prod}} or the appropriate {{Db}} tag on the article's Main page.
   Note: This is a judgment call: either (a) you think that we should give the author a few days to reconsider a "Good Idea; Bad Decision", or to improve its case for it not being deleted (e.g., if it appears to be an incomplete "work in progress"), or else (b) you think that it's unredeemable and we should "Kill it before it grows!"
4. MOVE ON.

You can also use the flag templates to mark articles that you want to research when you have more time, then come back later to do WikiGnome cleanups like adding ISBNs and {{cite news}} templates.

Again, Wikipedia is a collaborative effort, so your feedback is both welcomed and encouraged ... Happy Editing!

[edit] Usage

You should open the appropriate WP:FLAG-xyz protocol in another browser tab so that you can copy&paste from the stencils provided for {{Flag-article}} and {{Flag-editor}} ... each stencil already has the appropriate (Guideline), but you must replace "Editor-name" and "Article-name" as appropriate.

It's best to have three tabs open at the same time: the article's Discussion page (for editing), the author's Talk page (for editing), and the WP:FLAG-xyz protocol with the stencils (for viewing/copying).

Note: WP:FLAG-BIO has additional comments and boilerplate stencils that are not repeated in the other protocols, so you also might want to have it open in a fourth tab.

[edit] See also

• {{Oldprodfull}} … for when you {{Prod}}, {{Prod-2}}, or Contest a proposed deletion.
• {{Flag-article}}
• {{Flag-editor}}