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I've been flailing around Fanlore for some time now, trying to figure out what should be a subpage and what shouldn't, and I thought I'd collect some flailings here instead of continuing to pester people on the wiki:
1. First, some types of info we are currently using subpages for (correct me if I'm wrong): character pages, pairing pages, fanzine lists, fandom glossaries, subfandoms, and sometimes fandom-specific concepts or events. Also, because fandom doesn't fit neatly into boxes, there are plenty of special cases where I thought the use of subpages was inspired: see Vividcon, Fanlore Live.
2. Subpages are useful for keeping track of related material in the absence of fandom-specific category tags.
3. Subpages are especially useful for complicated fandoms. They are also a great place to store long lists.
4. However, finding a particular subpage may become difficult if there are a whole lot for one fandom. I imagine this will be the case for some comics fandoms and Harry Potter. On the other hand, we don't have any examples yet (?), so maybe I'm just borrowing trouble.
4a. Recently (and a while ago) there have been a few discussions on where to put fandom-specific glossary terms--vocabulary subpages could make the subpage list explode, but if we put them in top-level pages, they could get lost. I personally am in favor of keeping all glossary terms as top-level pages, but I've also encountered topics that seemed broad enough and central enough to the fandom to fit as a subpage as well. (See Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Soul, Star Trek/Vulcan. On the other hand, we have Pon Farr.) Hm, but does that mean they shouldn't be in the glossary category?? The "Fandom Glossary" subpage idea seems like a good solution (see The Sentinel/Fandom Glossary)--links to top-level pages can be collected in one place along with short definitions that may not merit a separate page. However, because it's been discussed on a few isolated talk pages with few participants, I'm worried that it's not "official."
4b. I scanned the Glossary category yesterday; most terms look to have pan-fandom appeal, but there were also pages like EWE, Fine Kirkpatrick Ass, Muldertorture, Mensaverse, Malfoycest.
5. The wiki seems to be gravitating more toward putting fandom-related stuff in subpages than it did in the beginning. This means that there are some older top-level pages and newer subpages that are covering the same type of info. Example: Ancients (Stargate) vs. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Soul. But of course these particular fandom-specific concepts are special cases, since their fandoms include more than one show (and more than one top-level page). Both organization schemes have merit, imho: "Ancients" looks pretty, but "Soul" is easy to find. Whatever the decision, can we have a rule written up and placed somewhere obvious?
6. I personally find subpages to be unattractive. This bias affects how I approach the naming of new pages, so hard-and-fast rules (whatever they may be) would help me a lot.
In conclusion: I just now found the Help:Subpages. I think it's time to update it! I'd like to see a list that clearly states what we're sure we're using subpages for, what we're sure we're NOT using subpages for, and what we're just not sure about yet. What say you?
1. First, some types of info we are currently using subpages for (correct me if I'm wrong): character pages, pairing pages, fanzine lists, fandom glossaries, subfandoms, and sometimes fandom-specific concepts or events. Also, because fandom doesn't fit neatly into boxes, there are plenty of special cases where I thought the use of subpages was inspired: see Vividcon, Fanlore Live.
2. Subpages are useful for keeping track of related material in the absence of fandom-specific category tags.
3. Subpages are especially useful for complicated fandoms. They are also a great place to store long lists.
4. However, finding a particular subpage may become difficult if there are a whole lot for one fandom. I imagine this will be the case for some comics fandoms and Harry Potter. On the other hand, we don't have any examples yet (?), so maybe I'm just borrowing trouble.
4a. Recently (and a while ago) there have been a few discussions on where to put fandom-specific glossary terms--vocabulary subpages could make the subpage list explode, but if we put them in top-level pages, they could get lost. I personally am in favor of keeping all glossary terms as top-level pages, but I've also encountered topics that seemed broad enough and central enough to the fandom to fit as a subpage as well. (See Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Soul, Star Trek/Vulcan. On the other hand, we have Pon Farr.) Hm, but does that mean they shouldn't be in the glossary category?? The "Fandom Glossary" subpage idea seems like a good solution (see The Sentinel/Fandom Glossary)--links to top-level pages can be collected in one place along with short definitions that may not merit a separate page. However, because it's been discussed on a few isolated talk pages with few participants, I'm worried that it's not "official."
4b. I scanned the Glossary category yesterday; most terms look to have pan-fandom appeal, but there were also pages like EWE, Fine Kirkpatrick Ass, Muldertorture, Mensaverse, Malfoycest.
5. The wiki seems to be gravitating more toward putting fandom-related stuff in subpages than it did in the beginning. This means that there are some older top-level pages and newer subpages that are covering the same type of info. Example: Ancients (Stargate) vs. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Soul. But of course these particular fandom-specific concepts are special cases, since their fandoms include more than one show (and more than one top-level page). Both organization schemes have merit, imho: "Ancients" looks pretty, but "Soul" is easy to find. Whatever the decision, can we have a rule written up and placed somewhere obvious?
6. I personally find subpages to be unattractive. This bias affects how I approach the naming of new pages, so hard-and-fast rules (whatever they may be) would help me a lot.
In conclusion: I just now found the Help:Subpages. I think it's time to update it! I'd like to see a list that clearly states what we're sure we're using subpages for, what we're sure we're NOT using subpages for, and what we're just not sure about yet. What say you?
no subject
I think terms that need their own pages should generally be subpages if they're very fandom-specific; top-level if they cross over several fandoms. (There is no page for Rarepair. My brain hurts.)
Trying to think of fandom-specific terms that might need a whole page. You listed some, like EWE and LoTRiPS. Min-maxing, munchkin, and gamist-storyteller-roleplayer (probably lumped together under the name of the essay that I can't remember), for gamers; filkroom, pick pass or play, and house filk for filkers; various language pages for the fandoms that have them--Klingon and Tolkein's elvish languages are the most well-known.