User:Kitsufox/essays/talk page zen

Talk pages are important tools for coordinating efforts and creating results. This essay will be geared towards clarifying and guiding people in making better use of their talk pages.

What Talk Pages Are NOT

 * A Place to Social Network: If you're having a friendly chat, you're in the wrong place. Your talk page is not for exchanging pleasantries and having a conversation.


 * Your Personal Website: If all you edit is your Userpage or the Talk pages of others, you need to find a webhost somewhere else and set up a C-box or another chat setup.

What Talk Pages ARE

 * A Place to Coordinate Wiki Efforts: Exchanging questions about the wiki, how to do things, series information, corrections, and working together with others are all very appropriate to your talk page. Nothing more, nothing less.

Signatures

 * If you leave a message on someone else's page, Sign it: The user needs to know who was talking to them.


 * If you make a reply, sign that too, even if you've already created a header for that topic: Because it'll drop a date, which helps the user organize responses and keep track of things.

Editing Past Messages

 * If it's just a small typo or miss-spelling, leave it: There is not reason to put up a new message notice for something so petty. In fact, it gets annoying when someone makes 5 or 6 just to leave a quick question.


 * Never Retract A Message By Blanking It: That's just bad form. Instead, use  to strike the message and apologize for the inconvenience you've created for the user you're contacting.

Excessive New Headers

 * If you already have a header for the topic, and you're returning a reply again, use the old header: Just remember to Indent by placing a : before the message. It keeps mess down and helps the user keep track of what's going on. This is particularaly important when corresponding with Sysops, who tend to have topics going with a number of people all at once on extremely varied topics.

Doing Introductions Well

 * Don't hide your introduction underneath a header: Keep it where it will end up above your menu. This means don't put your talk page title in == Header Tags == . Keep your introduction to your talk page where people will see it quickly and easily!


 * Keep It Simple: Fancy names, excessive fancy text, and special characters detract from your talk page. A nice and straightforward setup will help people waiting to leave you a message to do so without a problem.