Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki:Community Portal/Archive III

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Disabling Visual Mode
{{archive Given the amount of glitches, inconsistencies, and extra work for admins and users alike that the Visual Editor Mode, also called the Rich Text Editor or RTE is causing lately, it has been proposed to "forbid" its use in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, in order to improve the quality of each and every edit.
 * result= Proposal already applied
 * discussion=

Most of us have it turned off (see Special:Preferences, editing tab), but there a few contributors that still use it, and they are occasionally, and quite unintentionally, creating a mess in the codes of pages, even deleting them entirely, as with Coulson's article earlier today.

There are many reasons the visual mode is messing with this wiki, just to mention a few...
 * Entire pages are unintentionally deleted when making even minor edits, just as with the Coulson example listed above.
 * Galleries are messed up, removing literally hundreds of images for trying to add one or two images, leaving to the people who notice the removal to fix it.
 * It displays things as they are styled on the wiki. One example of this is the use of unneeded piped links, presented as Iron Man, with the space written as "& nbsp;", unnecessarily expanding the coding size of a page, which results on making some pages impractical for users with slow internet connections, or increasing the amount of datastream that users accessing from mobile devices have to pay to their companies.
 * Infobox templates automatically disable the source mode if Visual Mode is used, in order to add the template. However, for source mode users, the new template is seen as a single line, making it extra difficult to see if there are any missing or misplaced fields. It happens the same when a new field is added to an existing template
 * One of the things that are difficult to locate is the frequent replacement of ordinary wikilinks with an HTML URL link to a page. The RTE likes to do this: S.H.I.E.L.D. when it should be S.H.I.E.L.D. It is not done every time, but it is done usually enough to be a concern, as the whole point of a wiki is the manipulation of relational links, and its tools (such as the Special:WhatLinksHere/ page only work for internal links, not external links.

For all those reasons above, and given that at least 3 of the current 5 administrators already support this proposal, I suggest that editing this wiki should be mandatory to be done using source mode (the mode used by a vast majority of users), and tell the few contributors that still use Visual Mode (that can be seen in the Recent Changes page) to disable the Visual Mode and start using Source Mode.

Leave your comments on the section below, as given the importance (and emergency before the premiere of Daredevil), a voting should only be applied in case a reasonable number of contributors disagree with this proposal by providing reasons to keep the Visual Mode.Shabook (talk) 21:35, April 6, 2015 (UTC)

Comments
I agree strongly with this proposal. I have fixed some quotes that I believe were miscoded as a result of this (though the user never responded, so I can't be sure). I myself did not take into account the extra data some of the coding takes, though it makes sense. I think making source mode mandatory is the smartest move for our wiki, especially since "business is about to boom", as one might say.~Silverstream (talk) 23:15, April 6, 2015 (UTC)Silverstream

I agreeColuanprime (talk) 00:20, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

I also agree, usually I ignore the Visual Editor anyway and use Source Mode. Babyrockhopper (talk) 00:25, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

I concur. I only use visual for something minor, like adding a comma or changing spelling; everything else, I use source. When I don't, I make major mistakes, like categories appear in weird places. The upcoming work will be tremendous in the next few weeks; with real life in the way, I don't have a lot of time to correct visual mode mistakes, when there are biographies, histories to write, research to verify, etc...Bratpack (talk) 00:38, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

I agree, I just tried it with my profile and it works great. AKA S.I.H (talk) 00:46, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

I disagree, it is very easy to just put a picture or do something with the regular editor. --HailHydra17 (talk) 00:48, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * if it is so easy, why does it go wrong so many times? Multiple mistakes that happen when you use visual mode have happened on your Blogpost (the link one almost everytime). You would not have that when using Source.TomasDerksen (talk) 01:12, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * We should disable the Visual Mode at once. We've had too many problems with it.--UskokHail HYDRA! 08:51, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

I highly prefer the Source Mode to the Visual Mode. The Visual Mode is so confusing and difficult for me to use. When I use one of the computers at my local library or at my university's library, the Source Mode is the only mode that shows up when I go in to edit something. There's no option to switch over to Visual. I would hate to see the Source Mode be done away. I think it would make editing articles and pictures a little more difficult for us users if we're only allowed to edit using the Visual Mode. --Professor Ambrius (talk) 14:27, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * Thats why we talk about it the other way aroundTomasDerksen (talk) 15:00, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

Source mode is definitely the better of the two but i can see the argument for having visual mode available for small edits (grammar spelling) especially for those who are just anonymous wiki contributors and may be confused by it. BamMitch (talk) 14:55, April 7, 2015 (UTC)

@Uskok, for the research I've done in other wikias that have had exactly this discussion regarding visual mode, though it is often found to be extremely disruptive, the only ones who can entirely disable it are the Wikia Staff, and they are extremely hard to convince regarding this subject. The TARDIS Wiki has had a long and very well researched discussion regarding this topic here, and the Megami Tensei Wiki has compiled how other wikis discussed it and failed to convince the wiki staff from disabling it, as seen in their own discussion here. As they suggested, the best option for us seems to be discourage the Visual Mode, and make it mandatory for every regular editor to use the Source Mode. Shabook (talk) 18:18, April 7, 2015 (UTC) @TomasDerksen, it is not hard at all to know who uses Visual Mode, their edits appear marked as such in the Recent Changes page, that's how I realized they were the ones causing all the article and gallery deletions. Shabook (talk) 22:30, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * Should we change the Welcome message, then?--UskokHail HYDRA! 18:29, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * And put a punishment on it, all though that might be hard to figure our.TomasDerksen (talk) 18:31, April 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * @Uskok, a change in the Welcome Message, a highlighted forum thread to inform of the change to all visitors and regular editors, and messages for current editors that use the Visual Mode to make them change to Source Mode.
 * Really? I am looking at that page now, and after you said so I do indeed notice the (visualeditor), but never noticed that before

I also agree with this proposal. Adding quotes, galleries, links etc. is much easier in Source Mode. Dr.Who1997HAIL HYDRA! (◣‿◢) 10:05, April 8, 2015 (UTC)

Looks like almost everyone agrees with this, we'll make it official before Daredevil premieres. Shabook (talk) 20:23, April 9, 2015 (UTC)


 * It can't be disabled, and many contributors won't know about this, and will use it just the same. NoahR9 (talk) 07:21, April 10, 2015 (UTC)
 * They will be informed.--UskokHail HYDRA! 07:26, April 10, 2015 (UTC)
 * How? Also, if you use the ?action=edit pages visual, it doesn't say in the Recent Changes. All those above "stuff-ups" have never happened on my two Visual wikis. NoahR9 (talk) 00:28, April 11, 2015 (UTC)
 * Is your only purpose to circumvent this community decission? Shabook (talk) 00:36, April 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * No, of course not. I'm just informing Shabook... NoahR9 (talk) 00:43, April 11, 2015 (UTC)

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Userboxes
{{archive I was thinking about making userboxes and a page for those userboxes on the MCU Wiki. Userboxes are templates you add to your userpage for things you like.
 * result= Userboxes created
 * discussion=

This is an example of what a possible userbox on the MCU Wiki might look like. Its a bit of both like watching and liking the subject in question. Byzantinefire - There are no strings on me (talk ) 15:56, June 10, 2015 (UTC)

Comments

 * I dont really see the use of it personaly, but people might like to have them, so I am fine with them
 * You forgot to sign your post sig Tomas. Byzantinefire - There are no strings on me

(talk ) 21:39, June 10,2015 (UTC)
 * I think it's a good idea, so why not. Dr.Who1997To Afterlife 11:49, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * I like the idea! I would definitely use them! Bridgetterocks   My talk!!!  21:32, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * Why not? Other Wikias have similar userboxes too.--UskokS.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 17:03, July 3, 2015 (UTC)
 * I like userboxes, but I would prefer them to have a consistent design instead of being totally different like the ones at the examples. The ones from Wikipedia are fine to use as template.--Shabook (talk) 18:16, July 3, 2015 (UTC)

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Wiki Editing Events
{{archive I had an idea for a wiki event to help get the wiki ready for the new content that will be added. Right now there seems to be a lull in new MCU content, so it seems like it would be a good time to improve the wiki. On that front I had the following idea:
 * result= Creation of the Weekly Editing Events
 * discussion=

Take a few separate weeks and "promote them" as editing event weeks. But, there would be the idea that everyone would focus on a particular type of editing. For example:

Week 1: Say no-one is allowed (not sure about this part but it is just an idea to direct editors) to make grammer edits or add pictures. Instead only edits that fill in stubs, create new articles, and expand old articles are allowed. In short, to fill in the gaps of the wiki.

Week 2: Say no-one is allowed to make any content edits, instead they must work on adding in missing pictures, organizing galleries, replacing low quality images, sourcing and licensing images, and putting images in all relevant galleries.

Week 3: Say no-one is allowed to add new content (obviously we'd want this way after Ant-man, perhaps late august). Instead everyone needs to review articles and fix grammatical mistakes and rewrite poorly written content. In short, polish up the written content of the wiki.

This is just a draft of a proposal but it seems like something that could help the wiki especially since it seems like we currently have a solid group of steady users who all want to help and are familiar with how the wiki works. Thoughts? Coluanprime (talk) 20:23, June 28, 2015 (UTC)

Comments
Mmmh, perhaps something like that could work by adding an Awards System.--Shabook (talk) 10:21, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * I like it if the weeks do not happen consecutively. If one week a month is chosen for the proposal, i would agree; three weeks in a row, to me, with a restrictive editing policy might discourage new or casual editors...Bratpack (talk) 10:30, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * The "restriction" part cannot work. We must encourage and reward certain edits, without hampering users who don't like to add images to articles, or to write long sections... In addition to the awards, naybe sets of temporary badges could help for that.--Shabook (talk) 10:35, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * I agree with Bratpack and Shabook, that it should not be consecutive or restrictive. For me, I do not do major edits. I enjoy cleaning up the wiki in usage of grammar. Sometimes I will do larger edits, but mostly not. So the thought of two weeks without being able to do that does not really sound good to me. Encourage the specific edits, certainly. But don't limit things to just those edits. 1stAvenger (talk) 11:47, June 29, 2015 (UTC)

The restriction part was something I wasn't sure about. @Bratpack, The weeks wouldn't be consecutive. @Shabook the awards system/badges things would be cool.Coluanprime (talk) 15:30, June 29, 2015 (UTC)

Maybe only those that want to participate should. I'm also not a huge fan of restricting people when they could be helping the wiki. Babyrockhopper (talk) 17:01, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * The point though is to try and direct everyone to one particular type of editing for the overall good of the wiki.Coluanprime (talk) 17:55, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * As I said before, nobody can "force" people to make certain edits, or "forbid" them to make others. We all understand the good intentions behind this proposal, and that's the reason we are discussing it. Given the opinions, I think the best way to go is to choose a week, and encourage users to edit certain parts while the rest of the wiki still works as usual, and at the end of said week, the users that helped the wiki in those proposed areas would receive an award on their user page.--Shabook (talk) 18:00, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * Agreed.Coluanprime (talk) 22:13, June 29, 2015 (UTC)

I agree with User Shabook. It does seem unfair to restrict Users from certain edits. An important detail that must be taken into consideration is that some Users may not have stable access to the Internet or they may only have a certain amount of time they can be on-line. There have been time when I myself have only had time to add 1 picture to this Wiki and place it in the appropriate galleries or add just one small piece of new content to a page. Another thing to take into account is that for the Users who have to the ability to spend large amounts of time on-line, they're able to find new content relating to the films and TV shows long before other users who do not have that ability to go on-line when ever they wish but have to wait till they're able to. By the time those Users come across the new content and go to add to the corresponding Wiki page, the content has already been added by the User who has the more constant access to the Internet. Now, I do agree with your view that there are a number of areas on this Wiki that can greatly benefit from a clean up and think that the proposal Shabook made, "ecourage users to edit certain parts while the rest of the wiki still works as usual, and at the end of said week, the users that helped the wiki in those proposed areas would receive an award on their user page," would be the best way to carry it out. --Professor Ambrius (talk) 19:44, June 29, 2015 (UTC)
 * I also agree with Shabook's 18:00 UTC comment; it gives positive reinforcement to those who participate, but does not "force" or "punish" those who do not, while helping the wiki as Coluanprime desires...Bratpack (talk) 01:31, June 30, 2015 (UTC)
 * Let's hope this doesn't turn into hot air, just like the Featured articles.--Shabook (talk) 13:54, July 2, 2015 (UTC)
 * Check the new Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki:Weekly Editing Events policy!--Shabook (talk) 20:28, July 3, 2015 (UTC)

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Admin Proposal
{{archive This proposal rose out of a discussion between Shabook and me over profanity in the comments section. Shabook said that dealing with comments was getting annoying and I suggested that we should add users who would function as moderators for comment sections. Other wikis, such as the DC and Marvel Comics Databases and Ben 10 Planet, have a variety of "empowered" users who aren't admins but have more powers than the average users. They could get rid of vandalism, edit comments, be "helpers" (familiar with code) who help new users. Also other wikis have an admin blog to help make announcements and rules. We could also move current admins to positions where they might be better suited.
 * result= Wikia doesn't allow "partial" admin features
 * discussion=

On obstacle to doing this is that our only bureaucrat (New Captain) is inactive and we would need a new one which would involve dealing with Wikia staff. Ultimately though, having a discussion and forming a more organized wiki leadership would help us with the wiki.

Feel free to suggest your own ideas for how the wiki should be run!

Here is an example of what the wiki leadership system could look like: Admins: Users with expanded powers, if they are inactive for more than 60 days, they would become regular users again. Comment Moderators: People with the ability to edit comments and moderate the comment sections (mainly removing profanity and spam) Vandalism Unit: A few users who would have roll-back abilities and would get rid of useless edits. Teachers: Users who know code and are familiar with the rules of the wiki and are able to help new (and old) users with more time and detail than admins might be able too.

Thoughts? This will be left up for a few weeks, then a more organized plan will be made and voted upon. If the plan is accepted, then nominations will be accepted to fill the new positions and users will vote on who to accept. Coluanprime (talk) 20:02, July 20, 2015 (UTC)

Comments
I agree with many things. If admins or bureacrats are not active in 60 days, or even if they are not active enough for a wiki like this they should give up their admin rights. It is not a post held for life, admins must demonstrate they are worthy of being admins. As for the system, ideally is good, but in practice... If there are current admins that have to be constantly reminded of the policies they didn't even bother about reading, how can we expect there are enough regular users that deserve those responsabilities?--Shabook (talk) 20:29, July 20, 2015 (UTC)
 * Nobody else has any opinion regarding this?--Shabook (talk) 07:15, July 26, 2015 (UTC)

I have read this, but not reacted, when the post was placed. I feel like having users with powers is usefull.TomasDerksen (talk) 14:01, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * I agree with Tomas. It would make this Wiki better organized.--UskokS.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 15:32, August 19, 2015 (UTC)

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Adoption
{{archive After thinking very much about the future of the wiki and the paths we should follow to achieve, how the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, in consequence, how this wiki is expected to grow, and some conversations here and there about the lack of an active bureacrat, I decided to send a request to the Wikia Staff to formally adopt the wiki
 * result= Adoption finished
 * discussion=

The following text, in italics, is a transcription of the Adoption request I sent to the Wikia Staff, where all reasons and motivations have been stated:

''The wiki has been acting for more than a year without an active bureaucrat, as New Captain only comes to the wiki a few days every couple of months, mostly to answer some messages in his wall, without actively contributing to the daily tasks of the wiki. This wiki has grown so much, it is very active, with hundreds of edits each day. I've been acting as a "de-facto bureacrat" doing most of the admin work myself and tasks that should have been done by a true bureacrat. I have been encouraged to be the bureacrat by fellow administrators both privately and publicly, such as in this thread here or this one. The only active administrator (though inactive these past few days) that has been an administrator more time than me (Uskok) is currently blocked in another wiki, and therefore, if I'm not mistaken, he is ineligible for an adpotion.''

''Since New Captain is the only bureaucrat and almost never participates in the wiki, we can't count on asking him for bureaucrat rights, regular users feel discouraged knowing it would be almost impossible to be promoted to admins in a future, and there are administrators who have been inactive for more than a year and nothing can be done to demote them. Therefore, I would like to adopt the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki so I could handle those tasks.''

I'm aware that there is need to wait 60 days between edits to make the wiki eligible for adoption, but New Captain has spent more than that time inactive, returning only to make some small edits and to answer some messages in his wall, and doesn't even answered this message where I asked if he was interested in keeping his role as an admin/sysop, as he complained to previous administrators before he became one for their inactivity, but now he is the one who is inactive and not even contributing.

''I hope this situation can be solved somehow. Thank you very much for your attention.''

So, any thoughts or opinions regarding this?--Shabook (talk) 00:18, August 19, 2015 (UTC)

Comments
Lets hope they skip the basic rule of 60 days, because otherwise we can be stuck in this situation for years. This wikia needs a good burueacrat, and there is no other option.TomasDerksen (talk) 00:34, August 19, 2015 (UTC) @Uskok, I have no problem in sharing bureaucrat rights and duties with you, but you are not officially eligible for an adoption given that you are blocked in another wiki.--Shabook (talk) 10:21, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * I'm afraid only a Wiki with no active admins can be adopted. Since we have a few active admins, the Central Wikia Staff might think not necessary for us to have an active bureaucrat. However, we could always ask them to promote some users, after we vote for those users to be promoted, the same way you guys became admins a year ago. As for myself, my computer is now completely repaired and I'll be more active.--UskokS.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 10:12, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * A wiki can be adopted by an admin to become a bureaucrat if the bureacrats are not active. Wikia Staff usually tells them to ask to the current bureaucrat for the rights, but they can also let an admin adopt the wiki to become the bureaucrat. As stated in the request, I left a message in New Captain's wall weeks ago, (when Coluanprime's proposal in the former section was seemingly ignored), and I have obtained no response...
 * Blocked in the line of duty, and I would do that (the reason for which I was blocked) again if I had to. BTW, since that Wiki is practically dead, I'm thinking about asking the Central Wikia Staff to delete it. But I won't be doing that to become a bureaucrat, because this isn't about you, or me, or anyone on this Wiki. It's about the Wiki, and the sooner we have more admins, the better for the Wiki. BTW, if we are to have new admins, I would propose Dr. Who and Silverstream.--UskokS.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 10:47, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * I wasn't valuing the reason of your block or its fairness, I was just stating a fact, and I remind you that I also was in that wiki and got the same outcome back then. The only reason that I took the step of the adoption is because this situation dates to more than a year ago, and I see no other way of solving it, since I seriously doubt New Captain is going to resume his duties in a short term (because that is something that is overlooked many times, becoming admin is not about gaining rights, it's about gaining duties). Having an actual active bureactrat would allow us to speed up admin elections, or any other roles such as rollbackers, without being dependant of the wikia staff for each little step. So, basically, so that the wikia staff could clearly check this discussion in regards to the adoption: Are you ok with the request or do you propose anything else?--Shabook (talk) 11:19, August 19, 2015 (UTC)

I support you becoming the bureaucrat...I know their basic duties, and I am also of the opinion that you are the best suited for becoming one, from what I saw in the three months I have been here. 1stAvenger (talk) 12:11, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * I'm completely ok with the request.--UskokS.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 15:28, August 19, 2015 (UTC)
 * i support whatever helps the future of this wiki; if that means that Uskok and Shabook share a position in hierarchy, fine by me.Bratpack (talk) 04:58, August 26, 2015 (UTC)

It'll be nice to have a bureaucrat on this wiki and Shabook and Uskok both seem like good candidates.
 * If we're in need of a new bureaucrat, Shabook is the person for the job. --Greater Good (talk) 10:28, August 26, 2015 (UTC)
 * I agree. He's the best choice.--AKA S.I.H (talk) 11:56, August 26, 2015 (UTC)

I have to say, I am pretty annoyed with the 60 days rule, escpaily since they seem hard to make an exception with it. A bureaucrat can terrorize a wikia by editing once every 60 days, but not doing anything at all with the wikia, just to make sure he keeps the rights. "since he still edits, you cannot adopt, it doesnt matter if he is the most inactive user on the entire wikia, just ask him, maybe he responds over 10 days by saying no, but that means he is active enough.TomasDerksen (talk) 10:58, August 26, 2015 (UTC)


 * Tomas - the rule is not quite that ironclad. We will promote another user after 30 days as long as the community is in agreement and the bureaucrat is informed.  That is actually why this discussion was happening in the first place.  But the only thing a bureaucrat can do that an admin cannot is promote/demote other users.  As there are many active admins here already, the urgency to promote another bureaucrat is unclear to me.  -- Wendy  (talk ) 05:16, August 29, 2015 (UTC)

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