Wikipedia:WikiProject/Inappropriate projects

Inappropriate projects

Most WikiProjects are dedicated and hard-working efforts to make improve WikiPedia, by allowing a group of interested and knowledgeable people to improve quality, quantity and consistency of information on a certain topic.

However, a (very small) number of WikiProjects are controversial to some amount, and some users claim that they are inappropriate. Usually this is because said projects are alleged to be POV-pushing, alleged to attract personal attacks, or alleged to run counter to the spirit of the Wiki.

Additionally, a small number of WikiProjects are kept in Userspace. While this seems harmless to many, some people argue that the WikiProject philosophy (where every contribution is welcomed), conflicts with the Userspace philosophy (where the owning user may decide what to keep and what to remove). Some users have been alleged to unilaterally remove select contributions from the WikiProject in their userspace.

Discussion

It would be useful to get feedback and consensus on these WikiProjects. In particular, consider the following questions,

1. Is there such a thing as an inappropriate WikiProject? If it is misguided? If it is in bad faith? Can one conceivably exist if none presently exist?
2. If so, how is a project determined to be inappropriate? Consensus is obviously required; is this an RfC matter? An ArbCom matter? Do we need a new procedure?
3. Should an inappropriate WikiProject be left alone? Should its usage be discouraged? Should it be deleted?
4. May WikiProjects reside in userspace? If so, what rules should apply to them? If not, should we rename them to mainspace? Or delete them?

Please discuss these matters on the talk page.

Examples

These are WikiProjects that were recently nominated on Wikipedia:Votes for deletion. This does not imply that these projects are inappropriate, but from the resulting discussion it is obvious that they are controversial. Several people have pointed out that VfD should not decide on these matters.

• Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/FACTS (project in both userspace and mainspace on creationism, alleged to be POV-pushing, presently deleted)
• Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/GRider/Schoolwatch (userspace project on schools, openly non-neutral (pro-inclusionist) and allegedly used for vote stacking, mainspace Wikipedia:Watch/schoolwatch has been proposed as an NPOV alternative.)
• Wikipedia:Votes_for_deletion/Sam_Spade/Detective_agency (userspace project on gathering evidence for RfC/RfAr cases, alleged to be non-neutral and alleged to become a potential attack magnet)
• Wikipedia:Votes_for_deletion/WikiProject_Rankings (project on ranking users by accomplishment, alleged potential attack magnet, project starters seem to be considering dropping it)
• If you know of more examples, and have evidence of controversiality, feel free to add it.

Proposed policy

These proposals are a draft. They are NOT being voted upon. Please discuss them, and their wording, on the talk page.

• There are no proposals yet. This should be discussed first on the talk page.