Forum:Namespace

Okay, so I tried to explain this concept on another Forum Topic (Here: Forum:Removing Article Prefix) but I either failed to correctly convey my meaning... Or I was arguing the wrong point and wasn't being clear enough of my intentions. Because of the size of this message, I have created a second Forum article, rather than clutter the bottom of that page.

20:44, August 26, 2011 (UTC)

Namespaces (their purpose / correct use / how to fix)
Currently This Wikia has the Namespaces "Clan:" and "Union:" which precede the majority of our articles. As is clearly stated in When to create namespaces, this is not a good practice as it is contrary to general practice and increases general confusion:

Because the two namespaces display in the respective title for any article they are in, the name spaces are actually known as a "Namespace Prefix." For clarification on anything regaring Namespaces, read here:.

I am proposing, for multiple reasons, that we as a community do 1 of 3 things: How to do #3 you ask?
 * 1) Revert the current practice of placing namescape prefixs before an article title. This only serves to confuse new editors to the wikia who practice standard editing procedures. Edit all current existing articles, as quickly as possible in a community initiative, in such a manner that corrects all article titles to accurately convey the policy change
 * 2) Revert the current practice of placing namescape prefixs before an article title. . Edit all current existing articles, as each article is visited, until all articles are eventually reverted to proper namescape stance and meet updated wiki policy.
 * 3) Create a Custom Namescape for this wikia, which correctly displays all clan and union articles as they should display, and helps to better organize the wiki.

This page here explains it best: Using_custom_namespaces.

The benefit of creating the custom namespaces would be: The Problem With creating Custom namespaces:
 * Clan wiki organization
 * Better readibility
 * Uniform Editing practices with majority of other Wikis
 * Ability to create functionality features for Clans and Unions (Like making subpages for unions that include the clans)
 * Community WOULD NOT need to remove the prefixs to decrease the clutter of wiki
 * We cannot do it ourselves.
 * We would need to obtain Wikia Approval.
 * (Nothing Big)

20:44, August 26, 2011 (UTC)

As it stands
As it stands, I am intending to promote this wikia significantly in the coming future. My clan is one of the successful clans in runescape at the moment. I have access to the Clan Leader Forums where it is my intent to encourage all participants of that illustrious community to advocate this wiki's use. Lets be honest, there is no other runescape fansite that is 100% dedicated to the clan community of runescape (Runehead perhaps, but it is not often updated and has fallen to the wayside with the clan database on runescape.com). There is no reason that all the clans of runescape should not use this wiki. Most runescape players are in a clan, this would seem to suggest most runescape players have something to use the runescapeclans wiki for something, correct?

The responses I get from clan leader in the CLF incude:
 * Community isn't very friendly to new editors.
 * (We need to work on RuneScape Clans Wiki:All editors are equal.)
 * (We need to work on RuneScape Clans Wiki:Assume good faith.)
 * On the previous article our only bureaucrat Zerouh said "... Not only would it, as several significant individuals here pointed out, take immense effort and time to change this but it makes it harder in the long run and prevents clarification to users of all varieties." I am sure everyone who reads this can see how a new or semi-new editor could see this as placing some editors above others.
 * The Original Suggestion Here, recieved primarily negative support. "I don't think we should do this. It's more descriptive and makes all the articles on here more equal IMO." -Arnold Ogamon (isn't the point of this wikia to display everything fairly and make all clans appear equal?)
 * ...Cough..Cough...
 * "This is impractical to remove the "Clan:" and/or "Union:" namespace from over 500 pages because one user is unable to reform to the normal order of business on the Wiki" -Host JD (If one user is correct, isn't that a validation?)
 * (As a community, we are very closed minded to new people and difficult ideas.)
 * The Policies of the wikia differ from any other I have edited on.
 * (Just look at the number of Articles in this wikia which do not follow our own wiki's policy: Neutral point of view.)
 * I personally have had edits reverted because the reason I posted for my edits was "Blatant advertising and lack of Neutral Perspective" and been told in response that the wikia is for advertising.
 * Things like the Namspaces (which is what this whole Forum Article is about) are also included in this issue.)
 * Most of the Clans in that wiki are dead anyway...
 * (There needs to be serious review of the Deletion policy & Speedy deletion policy.)
 * The fact that much of runescape's community views this database as outdated is a mark on our ability to clean house.
 * We could fix this in simple ways, even if its just that we begin to use the template with more regularity.)
 * The quality of most articles is "lacking".
 * (as was said on my Talk page by MinigameGod:
 * My point is, let us check EVERY PAGE. We can do it.If the wiki policies coincide with every other wiki outside this one, perhaps we will find more editors joining our community to assist.
 * (We may not be able to manage this wiki with one bureaucrat(who no longer plays runescape) Two admins (One who isn't currently in a clan.) and an additional 22 other editors (Many of which are designated retired). Fine, lets get fresh meat. )
 * The Editors aren't in clans and don't play runescape.
 * (See last comments of above.)

I cannot break this image that the Clan Leader Forums (CLF) or Runescape Community have by myself (though I am going to try.) They may think as I said above, I am not content to allow them to continute thinking that! I intend to edit out sections which do not meet the requirments outlined here:RuneScape Clans Wiki is not... and delete the ones that cannot be fixed. I Intend to follow the primary goal as it has been outlined here: RuneScape Clans Wiki:About.  I would like to fix the prefixes while I do this  ... I could argue this wiki's rules allow me to: Simplified ruleset/ Rule 3. But I understand that a community cannot act solely on a single individual's opinion. Even if I tried, Some silly chap would come in and revert all of my edits, regardless of the quality or quantity of the edits. So I am asking you all now, help me help us. I want to make our wiki the best it can be.

In doing so, perhaps I can encourage others in the clan community to join our group. With their help we can make this wiki, "The Runescape Clans Wiki," as dominate a community as it should be.

20:44, August 26, 2011 (UTC)