[WikiEN-l] Templates for the masses

[John Lee]

On 10/8/07, Moe Epsilon <moe_epsilon at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Honestly, I think the only real way to avoid these templates and still get
> the message across that there is something wrong, is to repurpose the
> templates so that the message is displayed on the talk page, that way
> editors still know to fix what needs fixing and the article, to the
> reader-population, won't be bothered by the overly annoying use of the
> boxes. Repurposing the templates is something I would support for the
> majority of the templates.
>
>   Honestly, why do we need a big template on the front of an article
> anyways? Doesn't discussion about how the article should improve in quality
> and maintain a more neutral point of view take place on the talk page to
> begin with? Plastering these articles with obsessive templates like
> {{current}}, {{npov}}, {{wikify}}, etc. are just useless all around for any
> reader of the website to see.


Of those templates you mention, {{current}} is explicitly meant for readers.
{{NPOV}} is applicable to both readers and editors; {{wikify}} is applicable
for editors.

There are arguments for maintaining the present system - it makes it clear
that we're aware the article is not up to mark, and may let people know that
they too can edit the article. I wouldn't be opposed to sticking most
templates elsewhere, however.

Johnleemk