User:Ricken.SandboxPG/Deletion policy
The deletion policy describes how pages that do not meet the relevant criteria for content of AmtWiki are identified and removed. Many pages are deleted each week through the processes outlined below.
Deletion of a article removes the current version and all previous versions from public view. Page blanking can be performed (or reverted) by any user, but only administrators can perform deletion, view deleted pages, and reverse ("undelete") any deletion. All such actions are recorded in the deletion log. If in doubt as to whether there is consensus to delete a page, administrators normally will not delete it.
Contents
Reasons for deleting
Reasons for deletion include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Content that meets at least one of the criteria for speedy deletion
- Copyright violations and other material violating Wikipedia's non-free content criteria
Vandalism, including inflammatory redirects, pages that exist only to disparage their subject, patent nonsense, or gibberish
- Advertising or other spam without any relevant content
- Content forks (unless a merger or redirect is appropriate)
- Redundant or otherwise useless templates
- Categories representing overcategorization
- Files that are unused, obsolete, or violate the Non-free policy
- Any other use of the article, template, project, or user namespace that is contrary to the established separate policy for that namespace
- Any other content that is out of scope
Alternatives to deletion
Editing and discussion
If editing can improve the page, this should be done rather than deleting the page. Vandalism to a page's content can be reverted by any user.
Disputes over page content are usually not dealt with by deleting the page, except in severe cases. The content issues should be discussed at the relevant talk page, and other methods of dispute resolution should be used first, such as listing on Wikipedia:Requests for comments for further input. Deletion discussions that are really unresolved content disputes may be closed by an uninvolved editor, and referred to the talk page or other appropriate forum.
Disagreement over a policy or guideline is not dealt with by deleting it.
Tagging
A variety of tags can be added to articles to note the problem. Tags however are not intended as permanent solution; they are intended to warn the readers and to allow interested editors to easily locate and fix the problems. Tags are listed here. Some of the more common ones include:
Pages with incorrect names can simply be renamed via page movement procedure. Naming disputes are discussed on the articles' talk pages.
Be mindful when adding tags to player pages. If most of the areas of the Player Entry Template are filled out, then the page is usually not a stub, no matter the length or inclusion of images, quotes, or a link to their ORK page.
Merging
Articles that are short and unlikely to be expanded could be merged into larger articles or lists. For example, definitions of named positions within a certain fighting company should be merged with the main article.
If two pages are duplicates or otherwise redundant, one should be merged and redirected to the other, using the most common, or more general page name.
Redirection
Sometimes an unsuitable article may have a title that would make a useful redirect. In these cases, deletion is not required; any user can boldly blank the page and redirect it to another article. If the change is disputed, an attempt should be made on the talk page to reach a consensus before restoring the redirect.
Moving namespaces
Some articles do not belong in the main namespace, or only belong in the main namespace. They may be moved to the appropriate namespace.
Processes
There are three basic processes for deletion.
Copyright violations
For legal reasons, AmtWiki cannot host content that is in violation of copyright.
Speedy deletion
Pages can be deleted without any discussion if they meet one of the criteria for speedy deletion. Speedy deletion is meant to remove pages that are so obviously inappropriate for Wikipedia that they have no chance of surviving a deletion discussion. Speedy deletion should not be used except in the most obvious cases.
Proposed deletion
An editor who believes a page doesn't belong on AmtWiki can propose its deletion. Such a page can be deleted by any administrator if, after seven days, no one objects to the proposed deletion.
To nominate an article for deletion, add the appropriate {{afd}} tag to the top of the page.
Proposed deletion of player pages
Players who blank their pages intentionally have a grace period of 90 days to reinstate their page. After this period, their page can be nominated for deletion like any other page.
