Template talk:Proud of editing as an IP

This template was considered for deletion on 2020 August 18. The result of the discussion was "no consensus".

Why are we encouraging people to log out?

This is one of the stranger templates I've seen. Why do we have a template encouraging registered users to log out and edit anonymously? Isn't that a counter productive POV to push? I found this on an IP's talk page and found it very strange. Screenshot. I am tempted to edit out the blue box portion of this template, but am checking here first. Thanks. –Novem Linguae (talk) 02:31, 15 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Might be worth reading through Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2020 August 18#Template:Shared IP special. Since it closed with no consensus, you are welcome to re-nominate if you feel it shouldn't exist and/or should be heavily modified. Primefac (talk) 16:04, 19 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Novem Linguae: It's a unique template in that it was designed by IP users to make a statement to users with an account (rather than reverse). It started off as User talk:2604:2000:8FC0:4:68BA:3B32:8613:8B6D/header before I moved it. I'll update the docs accordingly. –MJL ‐Talk‐^☖ 16:33, 19 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, that makes more sense. Well, my feeling is that this is a userbox masquerading as an official Wikipedia IP page template. It is so well camoflagued that (as you can tell) I could not differentiate this from a real IP page template. If we can get consensus, I would be in favor of making changes so that this can be more clearly recognized. Maybe do some combination of the following:

Move back to userspace
Rename it to something like "Template:proud of editing as an IP"
Convert it to a userbox
Change the wording in the template to make it clear this is a regular IP editor's personal views
Delete it

I don't really feel strongly enough about this to nominate for deletion or take up a lot of editor time. But, it is confusing and I would suggest we look into making some kind of change. Thank you. –Novem Linguae (talk) 19:15, 19 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Just came across this template for the first time. WTF? Alexbrn (talk) 09:37, 25 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Name change

Any objections to me renaming this to "Template:Proud of editing as an IP"? Right now the template is kind of camouflaged as an official template, and it is generating shock and talk page comments. If we change the name to something more obvious, that's a good first step to reduce people's confusion. @Alexbrn, Primefac, and MJL: –Novem Linguae (talk) 22:57, 27 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No objection –MJL ‐Talk‐^☖ 23:43, 27 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds good. Alexbrn (talk) 02:44, 28 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Some of the text should probably be improved, or the template merged in one of the standard IP templates. IP address editing is allowed, but editing logged-out isn't. The "anyone" is also a WP slogan, but blocked and banned editors aren't allowed to edit, even if they technically can evade. "Don't panic" is also strange for a project-space tag. "Especially easier to get more incisive feedback from registered editors" is also misleading: unless it's a static address, it's easier to communicate with the person if they have an account and standard IP tags encourage it. "Log out now" also appears to be a suggestion for users with an account to edit logged-out. I say all this despite the fact that most of my time on WP was editing as an IP address (before I created this account). —Paleo Neonate – 21:22, 5 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Adding: I've seen two related delete discussions, one that was about an IP talk page (Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/User:2604:2000:8FC0:4:68BA:3B32:8613:8B6D), probably before this was in project space. The second had a week keep argument that it was a political statement, but if so it should probably be in userspace (Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2020 August 18#Template:Shared IP special). —Paleo Neonate – 21:27, 5 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A little background

It's been a long time so my memory may not be the best, and yes this explanation is belated, but this came into being because a shared IP was being used by some AGFWWRUP members. When the IP was correctly tagged as shared that posed a bit of a dilemma since {{Shared IP}} sort of nudges people on the connection to register which was a bit in conflict with the shared goals, however under WP:UP shared IP templates cannot be removed from user talk pages, only refined. The solution was to simply create a new shared IP template, initially in userspace, which later got moved around. This kept user talk page content in line with AGFWWRUP goals while still adhering to UP.

Doubtless it has been used by others since, both for good and ill, and apparently even become part of one of the April Fools edit wars.

Don't Panic! is of course a humorous reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 24.79.145.251 (talk) 21:39, 1 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]