[WikiEN-l] Long pages

[Charles Matthews]

Magnus Manske wrote

><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_astronomical_topics>]], as an
> example) can be restructured into the category system, while leaving
> unwritten topics.

I think saying that the category system can carry the burden of lists is
dangerous talk.  There is quite a gap in functionality:

- lists can be annotated in various ways
- lists have flexibility of format
- lists can be arranged in ways other than strictly alphabetical
- lists can carry suggestive red links, to promote the writing of new
articles
- lists can be linked to in text
- lists are conventional pages that will appear in search engines on the
same basis as any other.

And so on.  If the astronomy list is too long as it is, it should be
subdivided alphabetically, as has happened in the past to mathematics,
physics (to take allied subjects).

Charles