Template:Discussions

This page is no longer current and/or valid. It is kept for historical record or interest. Do not assume content on this page is still technically correct. This page has been superseded by: → /Opinions subpages on articles

Discussions related to this Wikinews story can be found at: {{{forums}}}

You may use this template to link to off site discussion forms, debates, or Usenet groups which either would allow Wikinews readers to comments on the subject of the Wikinews article, or contain a significant amount of related information in a discussion or debate like format. Here are several factors to take into consideration when adding such links:

1. Can you link to the discussion directly? Will the URL be permanent?

   You should always post a permalink to the discussion if at all possible. Please avoid posting links to sites which prohibit deep linking to discussions. You may link to Usenet groups or corporate stock discussion forums, but remember that the groups focus will move on after some time, so such links may not be considered ideal.

2. Does the site have significant barriers to new users posting?

   You may link to sites that require users to pass membership hurdles to post, such as a 24 hour delay before posting, even "pay to post" or "user sponsored" memberships are acceptable. But remember that such sites are "less useful" for this tag's main purpose of allowing users to discuss the article. Please avoid links to completely closed or invitation only sites, as such links are more appropriate for the external links section.

3. Does the site or sites maintain a variety of opinions?

   Discussions with active debates are always better. "Me too" posts are boring. A formalized debate site, like [pov.wikicities.com], is even better still!

4. Are you affiliated with the operation of the site itself, or have executive control over its content?

   If you are affiliated with a site hosting a discussion, please post your link on the talk page. Another editor may move your link to the discussion tag. You may not advertise your site/blog via discussion links. Of course, you may link to an article you submitted to a community blog, such a kuro5hin.org or slashdot.org; this request only applies to the operators of such sites.

5. Do you always post links to the same sites?

   We all read the same sites over and over, but please try to maintain a variety of different sites in our discussion tag links.

6. What is the "signal to noise ratio" of the discussion?

   Several carefully selected high quality discussions are better than oodles of blogs with "me too" posts.

7. Did the discussion play an unusually significant role in propagating the story?

   Such important discussions are often best as external links, as they deserve more credit than this tag is intended to provide.

8. Please post a link back to our Wikinews article if you can.

   If you can't, the link may be undesirable anyway unless, of course, its posts are very informative, funny, etc. For wiki debate forums, you may wish to add Wikinews as a source.

Ordinary discussion forums covering the news event should be linked first as one comma separated list, and use only the sites name. Please do not attach either the article title or a carriage return. For example:

 {{Discussions|forums=
 [http://slashdot.org/... Slashdot],
 [http://www.kuro5hin.org/ Kuro5hin]
 }}
 

An open formalized debate, such as found on [pov.wikicities.com pov.wikicities.com], should be linked on its own distinguished line and should include the full title of the debate. Wiki debate forums are considered preferable to all other discussion sites. Such linked wiki debates may be of a much more general nature, with the specific news event playing a more minor role.

We encourage users whose talk page comments are "on topic" but "not directed at improving the article" to follow the links provided in discussion tags and post their comments there, or even find discussions and add discussion tags themselves.