Guideline:User categories

A user category is a type of category—a grouping of related pages intended as a tool for navigation, that contains the user pages of BattleTechWiki users. The technical function of a user category, therefore, is to group the user pages of BattleTechWiki users who share one or more relevant characteristics. Given this technical function, and considering the principle that BattleTechWiki is an online encyclopedia for BattleTech and not a social networking site, the purpose of user categories is to aid in facilitating coordination and collaboration between users for the improvement and development of the encyclopedia.

In addition, as with all categories, user categories should not be used as "bottom-of-the-page" notices. If a Editor wishes to have such a notice, they may edit their user page and add the notice in some other way (such as by adding text or a userbox) instead of creating a category group.

Naming conventions[edit]

See also: BattleTechWiki:Category names
  • Names and descriptions of user categories are subject to the same rules and restrictions as userbox content.
  • The name of a category should be clear about its scope and purpose and should generally follow the naming convention of fellow members of a parent category.
  • A user category should have an indication it is a user category. "Indications" include, but are not limited to: "Editors", "WikiProject", or a name of a BattleTechWiki-specific organization or grouping.
  • If in the userbox content, the verb (see BattleTechWiki:Userboxes#Content) is one of preference (enjoys, likes, loves, etc.), replace it with a more specific verb when selecting the category name.

Categorization[edit]

See also: Category:Editors (category tree)
  • User categories must be subcategories of Category:Editors.
  • User categories designated as container categories should contain only subcategories and possibly a limited number of directly related pages. Individual users should not be in parent categories.
  • User pages and user categories do not belong in mainspace categories such as Category:Real people or Category:Authors, which are reserved for articles of the encyclopedia (in mainspace). This applies also to user subpages that are draft versions of articles.

See also[edit]