Wikipedia talk:User pages

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• UI Spoofing archive (2007)
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Deletion of user talk pages

I've been looking for an answer to this question, but can't seem to find one. According to this policy, user talk pages are generally not deleted, as they contain valuable history. But what about when a user talk page consists only of a redirect and absolutely no other history? (i.e., because the user has been renamed.) Is there any good reason why deletion shouldn't be possible in that situation? Robofish (talk) 22:47, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure that the only reason to not delete talk pages is the concern that project-relevant discussion may be recorded only in that talk page. A counter point to that is that project-significant material should be moved/copied out of userspace.

Another concern might be that if a talk page is deleted, non-admins can't know that there wasn't anything of significance deleted. This concern can be attended to by explicitly noting in the deletion log summary the absence of significant content.

I think that it is reasonable to delete a talk page if WP:CSD#G7 applies. This could mean a reasonable assumption that you are acting on the user's behalf, and in the usual assumption that minor and bot edits do not stand in the way of G7. It sounds like you could delete this talk page per G7. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 23:06, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

If the page has never had any talk on it, then it isn't really a talk page so the rule doesn't apply. However, if they have been renamed there is generally some sort of pointer to the user's new name. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:42, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

@SmokeyJoe - No, also a warning history can be of interest in some cases, especially in the anti-spam area. Note that is not just the current version of a talkpage, it may also be the edit history of a talkpage.

Robofish, why would you want to delete the talkpage? Generally, there is hardly any reason to delete a user talkpage, they do not free up database space, and deleting may remove, even for not often occuring or obscure reasons, valuable information that is there (especially for those who do not have access to deleted records). Generally, archiving is the way to go (there is a bot doing that). I hope this explains. --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 09:38, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

The renamed editor may have been referred to (or had that page linked to from) elsewhere on Wikipedia discussion and project pages using their previous name. Except in privacy-related and legitimate other RTV cases, a redirecting link from the previous user pages will always be beneficial. Franamax (talk) 10:28, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

Hi Dirk. Yes, of course a warning history should be kept. Warnings in the history should mean that G7 doesn't apply. G7 should require that the only contributor in the full history is the user himself. Sometimes it happens that a new user fills up their user talk page with their own work, not appreciating the purpose of the user talk page, and such things can be readily deleted. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 02:37, 29 January 2012 (UTC)

I think one should just standard say 'don't delete user talkpages', except for some excessive things (only plain spam edits, attack pages etc.). All that does not fall under those categories should not be deleted, even if one does not see what possible use it may have - it is not in the way either. --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 15:37, 29 January 2012 (UTC)

I see you asking Fastily about his recent G7 page deletions and am interested. I'm not so much interested in what should be done with talk pages so much as checking that that the description of practive reflects actual practice. I see that trivial non-talk talk pages getspeedy deleted. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 14:27, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I already undeleted one of them as unquestionably needed (it is part of an ongoing and active spam-case, not even of a case that is from 10 years ago or so - and even then), and there is at least one other which I find a very questionable delete. And then there is a handful of which I think the same. I have not fully looked at all yet (will do that soon). Do note, that these deletes are not 'non-controversial' deletes (as the edit summary of these ~30 pages says) - there has been a (albeit more extreme) situation where an admin got blocked over unilateral talkpage deletions.

There is an alternative process for this, and that is archiving, that leaves the traces that MAY be there and that MAY be of interest to someone (especially traces that need to be followed by editors who do not have an admin bit - and that is a process that is actually running). --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 16:06, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Redirects are cheap. They should be kept. Note also a number of doppleganger accounts use redirects which is useful if you mistype a user name. Rich Farmbrough, 16:17, 16 February 2012 (UTC).

Removing active block notices, part VII

On the subject of a previous thread ("Wording of removal-of-block-notices (again)"), I have altered the wording in an attempt to clarify what it seemed to be trying to say: don't remove active block notices. Although personally I think this is good advice, I'm not sure my changes (or the wording of that particular section even before my alterations) accurately reflect the results of the most recent discussions by the community.

If uncontested active block notices are to be excluded, then the first bulleted item in the list of things not to remove ("Sanctions that are currently in effect") is ambiguous, to say the least.

I'm not looking for yet another discussion about the merits and demerits of allowing users to remove current block notices, but I would welcome a discussion about the optimal wording of this section based on the discussions that have already taken place.

The most recent discussion that I am aware of can be found here, which also contains links to several of the other discussions on this matter. --Bongwarrior (talk) 08:04, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

The status quo was to allow users to remove block notices on their talk pages. The discussion you reference has no consensus, and in that case the status quo prevails. I will attempt to change the wording to reflect this. ~Amatulić (talk) 00:30, 3 March 2012 (UTC)

RIP - digital cemetery?

Recently found out by accident that contributor User:Elisabeth Rieping died some time ago. Are there any standard procedures or guidelines for that? Richiez (talk) 22:24, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

Yes: Wikipedia:Deceased Wikipedians, Wikipedia:Deceased Wikipedians/Guidelines. Hut 8.5 22:26, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks - does not seem linked from Wikipedia:User_pages? Thats where I was searching intuitively. Richiez (talk) 22:53, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

I do think the guideline page ought to be better advertised, I wasn't even aware of it until someone took me to task for not following it. The only policy page which even mentions it is the protection policy. Not really sure it belongs on this page though. Hut 8.5 01:02, 29 January 2012 (UTC)

A small section somewhere close to Wikipedia:User pages#User pages and leaving Wikipedia would seem a natural choice. Also a mention under Wikipedia:User pages#Protection of user pages could be added. Richiez (talk) 13:21, 29 January 2012 (UTC)

Userpages should not be used to populate Special pages such as Special:DoubleRedirects

Multiple people are "testing" double redirects on en.wikipedia cluttering the log. En.wikipedia shouldn't be the place for bot tests and perhaps these should be migrated to test.wikipedia or some other wiki. Meta also has such a page mind you. -- A Certain White Cat ^chi? 17:35, 3 March 2012 (UTC)