Difference between revisions of "Kerbal Space Program Wiki:Discussions/Fiction"

From Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(*tried to make clear that user, tutorial and campaign space won't be touched;)
(Grammar and style, trying to make the poll more readable and comprehensible.)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Box|This is going to be a poll. If you want to discuss the content of this poll use the [[{{TALKPAGENAME}}]].}}
 
{{Box|This is going to be a poll. If you want to discuss the content of this poll use the [[{{TALKPAGENAME}}]].}}
  
This poll is about if adding fictive material should be allowed to what extend.
+
The subject of this poll is the presence of fictional material on this wiki: whether it should be allowed, and, if so, to what extent. Currently there is no consensus about this topic and multiple pages containing [[:Category:Pages containing fiction|fictional material exist]].  
  
Currently there is no consensus about this topic and multiple pages containing [[:Category:Pages containing fiction|fictive material exist]]. Non-fiction is anything which is provided by the game, real-world physics or can be assumed like mentioning of IKEA in [[:Category:RKEA Inc.]] or MPEG in [[:Category:Moving Parts Experts Group]]. Also names of craft may be mentioned in pages to describe screenshots and also wouldn't count as fiction.
+
Non-fiction can be defined as any information directly given by the game, any real-world physics information that applies to the game, or any information about the in-game universe that can be reasonably assumed from the game itself (i.e., the reference to IKEA in [[:Category:RKEA Inc.]] or to MPEG in [[:Category:Moving Parts Experts Group]]). Names of craft may also be included in the descriptions of screenshots without being considered fiction.
  
The result of this poll won't prohibit fiction in userspace (any page beginning with ''User:…'' or ''User talk:…''), tutorials and campaigns. Fictional names of craft in screenshots and fiction in userspace, tutorials or campaigns '''won't be prohibited''' if this poll is arguing against the use of fiction. Like in the Wikimedia projects like Wikipedia every user can put almost anything on their userspace, as long as it appropriate and not violating any laws.
+
Whatever the result of this poll, the use of fiction will not be prohibited in userspace, (any page beginning with ''User:…'' or ''User talk:…''), tutorials, of campaigns. Listing names of fictional craft in screenshots, or in fiction in userspace, tutorials or campaigns, '''won't be prohibited''' if the results of this poll favor a ban on fiction. As in the Wikimedia projects, such as Wikipedia, any user may put almost anything in their userspace (provided, of course, that it is appropriate and legal).
  
 
== Arguments ==
 
== Arguments ==
 
=== Pro fiction ===
 
=== Pro fiction ===
# Fiction could be helpful for new players to decide a mission, like sending [[Bill Kerman]] to the [[Insular Airfield]].
+
# Fiction could provide new players with mission ideas, such as a flight sending [[Bill Kerman]] to the [[Insular Airfield]].
# People often like to see people's ideas, and add to that universe, producing a conglomeration of ideas that could provide an amazing fan universe that could otherwise not of been created had fiction been forbidden
+
# The presence of fiction helps promote the exchange of fan ideas and the growth of the KSP fan universe.
# By allowing fiction, people can get everything KSP from one KSP website (KSP wiki) (See 'One common Place' Below)
+
# By allowing fiction, people can get both fictional and factual details about the KSP universe from this wiki. (See "one common place" below).
  
 
=== Contra fiction ===
 
=== Contra fiction ===
# It can be hard for readers to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction (See 'Distinguishability' Below)
+
# It can be hard for readers to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction. (See 'Distinguishability' below).
# Who decides what to write?
+
# As of now, there is no consensus on the KSP wiki about which users, if any, are permitted to invent fiction about the KSP universe. This could lead to internal inconsistencies and disputes.
# There are other places for kerbal fan fiction (ex: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/forums/40-KSP-Fan-Works)
+
# Other places for KSP-themed fanfiction (e.g., [http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/forums/40-KSP-Fan-Works the "Fan Works" board of the KSP forums]) already exist.
# People should imagine things (e.g. missions) for themselves
+
# Some people may prefer to invent their own mission ideas.
# Not everyone likes to see other peoples ideas, and just want to know the facts
+
# Some wiki users may be annoyed by the presence of information on the wiki which is not actually confirmed in the game, and may only want to see factual information from KSP itself.
  
 
=== One common place ===
 
=== One common place ===
The wiki allows many user to have one common place to write their fan fiction. There are other places where fan fiction exists, not many new, or even some veteraned, KSP players know about them, as everyone likes to just get everything KSP from one website, i.e. KSP wiki.
+
The wiki creates a single, shared space in which many users can write their own fanfiction. Although there are other places in which KSP-themed fanfiction may be found, many new (and even some veteran) KSP users, especially those who prefer to use the KSP wiki as their sole source of KSP-related information, are unaware of them.
  
 
=== Distinguishability ===
 
=== Distinguishability ===
For an inexperienced reader it can be difficult to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction. This is a problem because this wiki explains how KSP works so readers usually come here to get an explanation for various effects.
+
For an inexperienced reader it can be difficult to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction. Since this wiki is one of the primary resources for new users seeking to learn about how KSP's game mechanics work, this may create confusion.
  
It is possible to use templates like {{Tl|Fiction}} to mark articles or sections about fiction but this can be applied every time. For example when within a section only a part of it is fiction. For example:
+
Although it is possible to use templates like {{Tl|Fiction}} to mark articles or sections about fiction, this cannot be applied every time; for example, some image captions and sub-areas of sections may be fictional, while the larger section or article remains factual. For example:
 
{{Quote|Bill Kerman as happy as a kerbal should be in Eva outside the Reco Space Station in the good old days when he worked for [[Insular Inc]].|2=[http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/w/index.php?title=Bill_Kerman&oldid=31126 Article]|3=about [[Bill Kerman]] as of 02:44, 16 January 2014 (UTC)}}
 
{{Quote|Bill Kerman as happy as a kerbal should be in Eva outside the Reco Space Station in the good old days when he worked for [[Insular Inc]].|2=[http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/w/index.php?title=Bill_Kerman&oldid=31126 Article]|3=about [[Bill Kerman]] as of 02:44, 16 January 2014 (UTC)}}
  
Another problem is when linking to a section of a fictive article. For example previous revisions of [[Crew]] had sections about all three default kerbals. When now someone wanted to link to Bob Kerman the author would use ''Crew#Bob Kerman'' to link to Bob. The problem here is, that this will jump over the fictive warning. A reader might not notice that and think the information there are real.
+
Another problem is when linking to a section of a fictive article. For example, previous revisions of [[Crew]] had sections about all three default kerbals. Now, when someone wants to link to Bob Kerman, the author would use ''Crew#Bob Kerman'' to link to Bob. The problem here is that this will jump over the fictive warning. A reader might not notice it and think the information there is factual.
  
A possible way to circumvent it is to use a special name space like “Fiction”. The current [[timeline]] article then can be placed in ''Fiction:Timeline''. Also fictional information can then be separated there from the non-fictional articles. Of course the reader then needs to be aware so linking to it like <nowiki>[[Fiction:Bob Kerman|Bob Kerman]]</nowiki> should only be allowed from other fictional articles.
+
A possible way to circumvent it is to use a special name space like “Fiction”. The current [[timeline]] article then can be placed in ''Fiction:Timeline''. Furthermore, fictional information can then be separated there from the non-fictional articles. Of course the reader then needs to be aware of the "fiction" namespace, so linking to fictional articles, like <nowiki>[[Fiction:Bob Kerman|Bob Kerman]]</nowiki>, should only be allowed from other fictional articles.
  
 
==== Authorship ====
 
==== Authorship ====
One different problem with fiction is that this is wiki. Obviously there is no ''author'' and other might and will edit pages. The question here is then, who decides what should be left in the article. This could lead to an edit war but different to non-fictional articles it might not be possible to determine which version should be used if it is about the artistic content.
+
Another issue with fiction is that this is a wiki. Obviously, there is no single ''author'', and all users are free to edit pages. This could easily lead to arguments about whether or not fictional stories and information ought to be left intact. Edit wars caused by these arguments could possibly be worse than those occurring on factual articles, since there is no official "correct" version of the original information.
  
Whilst this can be a tricky one, if more than one person imagined different things about the same subject, then the subject page could just contain links to the different people's imaginings, or have a 'like' system for (registered?) users, with the most liked one appearing on the page & the others with their links at the bottom of the page.
+
While this problem can be a tricky one, if more than one person imagined different things about the same subject, then the subject page could just contain links to the different people's imaginings, or have a 'like' system for (registered?) users, with the most liked imagining appearing on the page & the others with their links at the bottom of the page.
  
 
== Votes ==
 
== Votes ==
Line 42: Line 42:
 
(Suggestion:) Each user on this wiki, if eligible, has two votes. A simple superiority, meaning contra or pro reach more than 50 % of the votes, is required.
 
(Suggestion:) Each user on this wiki, if eligible, has two votes. A simple superiority, meaning contra or pro reach more than 50 % of the votes, is required.
 
=== Eligibility ===
 
=== Eligibility ===
To avoid using sock puppets only users with an account created prior to the 16th January 2014 00:00 UTC are eligible. Account created since are eligible if they made at least non-fictional edits in two different articles.
+
To avoid using sock puppets only users with an account created prior to the 16th January 2014 00:00 UTC are eligible. Accounts created since are eligible if they made at least non-fictional edits in two different articles.
 
=== Pro fiction ===
 
=== Pro fiction ===
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes previous to the start might get ignored.
+
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.
 
=== Contra fiction ===
 
=== Contra fiction ===
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes previous to the start might get ignored.
+
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.
=== Don't accepting this poll ===
+
=== Do not accept this poll ===
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes previous to the start might get ignored.
+
:This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.

Revision as of 22:48, 11 February 2014

This is going to be a poll. If you want to discuss the content of this poll use the Kerbal Space Program Wiki talk:Discussions/Fiction.

The subject of this poll is the presence of fictional material on this wiki: whether it should be allowed, and, if so, to what extent. Currently there is no consensus about this topic and multiple pages containing fictional material exist.

Non-fiction can be defined as any information directly given by the game, any real-world physics information that applies to the game, or any information about the in-game universe that can be reasonably assumed from the game itself (i.e., the reference to IKEA in Category:RKEA Inc. or to MPEG in Category:Moving Parts Experts Group). Names of craft may also be included in the descriptions of screenshots without being considered fiction.

Whatever the result of this poll, the use of fiction will not be prohibited in userspace, (any page beginning with User:… or User talk:…), tutorials, of campaigns. Listing names of fictional craft in screenshots, or in fiction in userspace, tutorials or campaigns, won't be prohibited if the results of this poll favor a ban on fiction. As in the Wikimedia projects, such as Wikipedia, any user may put almost anything in their userspace (provided, of course, that it is appropriate and legal).

Arguments

Pro fiction

  1. Fiction could provide new players with mission ideas, such as a flight sending Bill Kerman to the Insular Airfield.
  2. The presence of fiction helps promote the exchange of fan ideas and the growth of the KSP fan universe.
  3. By allowing fiction, people can get both fictional and factual details about the KSP universe from this wiki. (See "one common place" below).

Contra fiction

  1. It can be hard for readers to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction. (See 'Distinguishability' below).
  2. As of now, there is no consensus on the KSP wiki about which users, if any, are permitted to invent fiction about the KSP universe. This could lead to internal inconsistencies and disputes.
  3. Other places for KSP-themed fanfiction (e.g., the "Fan Works" board of the KSP forums) already exist.
  4. Some people may prefer to invent their own mission ideas.
  5. Some wiki users may be annoyed by the presence of information on the wiki which is not actually confirmed in the game, and may only want to see factual information from KSP itself.

One common place

The wiki creates a single, shared space in which many users can write their own fanfiction. Although there are other places in which KSP-themed fanfiction may be found, many new (and even some veteran) KSP users, especially those who prefer to use the KSP wiki as their sole source of KSP-related information, are unaware of them.

Distinguishability

For an inexperienced reader it can be difficult to distinguish between non-fiction and fiction. Since this wiki is one of the primary resources for new users seeking to learn about how KSP's game mechanics work, this may create confusion.

Although it is possible to use templates like {{Fiction}} to mark articles or sections about fiction, this cannot be applied every time; for example, some image captions and sub-areas of sections may be fictional, while the larger section or article remains factual. For example:

Bill Kerman as happy as a kerbal should be in Eva outside the Reco Space Station in the good old days when he worked for Insular Inc.

Article, about Bill Kerman as of 02:44, 16 January 2014 (UTC)

Another problem is when linking to a section of a fictive article. For example, previous revisions of Crew had sections about all three default kerbals. Now, when someone wants to link to Bob Kerman, the author would use Crew#Bob Kerman to link to Bob. The problem here is that this will jump over the fictive warning. A reader might not notice it and think the information there is factual.

A possible way to circumvent it is to use a special name space like “Fiction”. The current timeline article then can be placed in Fiction:Timeline. Furthermore, fictional information can then be separated there from the non-fictional articles. Of course the reader then needs to be aware of the "fiction" namespace, so linking to fictional articles, like [[Fiction:Bob Kerman|Bob Kerman]], should only be allowed from other fictional articles.

Authorship

Another issue with fiction is that this is a wiki. Obviously, there is no single author, and all users are free to edit pages. This could easily lead to arguments about whether or not fictional stories and information ought to be left intact. Edit wars caused by these arguments could possibly be worse than those occurring on factual articles, since there is no official "correct" version of the original information.

While this problem can be a tricky one, if more than one person imagined different things about the same subject, then the subject page could just contain links to the different people's imaginings, or have a 'like' system for (registered?) users, with the most liked imagining appearing on the page & the others with their links at the bottom of the page.

Votes

This poll hasn't started yet so votes previous to the start might get ignored.

(Suggestion:) Each user on this wiki, if eligible, has two votes. A simple superiority, meaning contra or pro reach more than 50 % of the votes, is required.

Eligibility

To avoid using sock puppets only users with an account created prior to the 16th January 2014 00:00 UTC are eligible. Accounts created since are eligible if they made at least non-fictional edits in two different articles.

Pro fiction

This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.

Contra fiction

This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.

Do not accept this poll

This poll hasn't started yet so votes before the start might get ignored.