[WikiEN-l] Ratings again

[Delirium]

Stefan Sittler wrote:

>I have been wondering about this, actually. (I'm newish to WP). Could
>somebody show me how exactly categories are helpful? A link would be
>fine. It's hard for me to see the usefulness. A link or three would be
>fine, maybe an old pertinent discussion. Thanks.
>  
>
I've used them to basically find things in the same category.  For 
example, [[Category:Islands of Greece]], and its sub-categories for 
different island chains.

I see them as fulfilling a lot of the functions that would otherwise 
have to be fulfilled with lists, but in a more maintainable way, since 
they're maintained incrementally on the article side, not centrally on 
the list side (the "list" is then automatically generated).  They don't 
completely replace lists, but they automate a lot of the more tedious 
sorts of lists that would otherwise have to be constructed and maintained.

-Mark