SmashWiki:Talk pages

This page is a SmashWiki guideline, a principle that suggests how users should contribute and conduct themselves. When editing this page, please ensure that your revision reflects consensus. If in doubt, consider discussing changes on the talk page.

This page details what user talk pages are and how they should be used. In particular, it should be noted that a SmashWiki account is not an e-mail account, Facebook page, or in any way primarily a social networking utility. As such, extended conversations that are not associated with the wiki should not be held on talk pages. The primary use of a talk page is as a way to contact a users about their contributions to the wiki.

For example:

<font="Courier New">==Double Jump==

I see you added some information about how characters perform double jumps, particularly about the invisible platform that appears under a character. Do you have a source or a picture to verify this? ~~~~

I do not presently have that information, but to get it, blah blah, blah blah blah blah.

(and so on)

Also, it should be noted that it is usually advisable to answer a person below their post on the page that the conversation begins on. This allows conversations to be easily followed. As such, after you write on someone's talk page, be sure to check back regularly, add the page to your watchlist, or watch the recent changes to see a response.

Beyond conversations about edits to the wiki, minor outside conversations are perfectly acceptable. However, do not extend these into being chat rooms, message boards, and/or e-mail accounts. All edits show up on recent changes, and continuous messaging floods the changes and makes it very hard to spot other edits. If you feel that you would like to continue a conversation with someone, find a way to communicate with them outside the wiki or on the IRC. For example:

<font="Courier New">==Brawl?==

Hey, you seem like a pretty good player; do you want to play sometime? ~~~~

Sure, e-mail me at its-a-me@mushroomkingdom.ntd.

One thing that should never be placed on user talk pages are images uploaded to the wiki, videos, or pictures linked from other sites. These are never necessary for using talk pages in their appropriate means. They can be handled through a simple link (either internal or external).

In a nutshell, user talk pages are a vital part of the wiki, but users should follow these guidelines when using them:

1. They are primarily for questions/comments about edits to the Smash Wiki
2. Do not split a conversation across multiple pages if possible
3. When conversations begin to leave the relevance of SmashWiki, take them elsewhere
4. Images and videos should be linked to, not embedded.

Editing comments

Editing and removing your comments

For the most part, editing talk page comments after they been posted is discouraged and typically not allowed. There are some exceptions when it comes to editing your comments however:

• Fixing spelling and grammar errors in your post.
• Adding a signature if you forgot to sign. However, this must be done immediately, and before another user adds the unsigned template to your unsigned comment. Removing an unsigned template and adding your signature in its place will not be allowed.
• Moving your comment and its replies to a more appropriate place.
• Adding information you intended, but forgot to add to your initial post, though it is recommended you add this information in a second post. If you are to add missing information to your original post however, do so immediately, and before another user responds to your comment.

When it comes to removing your talk page comments, you are to never delete them. The only possible exception to this is when you post something you think is not needed (such as if you're asking a question that you noticed has been already answered on the talk page), and remove it immediately before another user responds to it.

However, if you made a statement or said anything you wish to retract, you may add strike tags <s></s> to the offending portion of the comment to signify this.

Editing and removing other users' comments

Under usual circumstances, you are never to edit another user's comment. The only exceptions are adding an unsigned template to an unsigned comment, and moving the comment to a more appropriate place. Editing another user's comment to change the context of what they're saying is considered a serious offense, especially if you are in an argument with the user.

Likewise, removing another user's comment is typically never allowed. The only exception to this is removing obvious vandalism and spam posts, removing userpage like content from an ip's talk page, or in the case of administrators, deleting a talk page that is deemed to not be needed (such as the talk page of a deleted article, or the talk page of a vandal/spam account). Removing a user's comment from your talk page that is a legitimate criticism/complaint post is considered a serious offense.