The following discussions are an archived debate. Please do not modify it.

Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. As editors are getting more Barnstars over time, they are also get many of the same BarnStars. Here is a ribbon collection of one editor.

Barnstars and Awards

I propose that Wikipedia should follow the Military protocol in such cases, and have Numbers assigned to ribbons when awarded more than once. (See Award numerals)

Pete Peters 20:43, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

Support. However, you wouldn't want to make each numeral version of each ribbon a separate image, because that would mean hundreds if not thousands of files. Instead, you'd want a set of numerals, each of which could be superimposed on any ribbon. Below is a model of how you could superimpose the images. (Note that it requires all numeral images to be padded to the same size as the ribbons.)

NeonMerlin 08:12, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

Oppose. I believe that many editors would strongly object to the idea of military style ribbons. That's far too insensitive in regions of the world where people are dying to get those medal ribbons - and the pacifists amongst us would not want to be seen to be accumulating military-style awards. If there is a problem with some editors having too many barnstars to fit onto their user pages - then let's just take the original barnstar image - shrink it to half size and make ten versions of it containing the digits zero through nine. Users can than show that they have 137 barnstars by putting the '1', '3' and '7' stars together. That fits with the present barnstar concept - it's very neutral - and it's utterly understandable to everyone who sees it. SteveBaker 15:02, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

The ribbons should be an optional choice. That is what I did when I created the things, but I guess people took the idea and began to use it in ways that blow my mind. User:Zscout370 ^{(Return Fire)} 07:04, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the military look of the ribbons, and aesthetically I am not fond of the numbers. --Guinnog 07:45, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

But by the same argument, don't we need to eliminate all military metaphor in Wikipedia, including such terms as edit war? That would be taking the inoffensiveness thing way too far, especially given that the Wikipedia:Profanity guideline tells us that inoffensiveness is not Wikipedia's top priority. (Indeed, if it were, we would hardly have any content at all.) Besides, I'm sure there are other non-military organizations (including some that are called armies but that have actually never been at war) that use similar systems of ribbons. NeonMerlin 04:13, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Displaying Ribbons is purely optional to the user. Users who accumulate too many Barnstars, sometimes make thier user page a Barnstar free zone because of all the clutter. The ribbons reduce the clutter, and the numbers reduce the clutter even more, and thus is an incentive to keep them wanting to be recognized. It is not just the Military who does this to award someones services, other professions do it too. Pete Peters 04:42, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Support I like it! also stars could be used such as on my userpage for ribbons I usually make a new ribbon if I get a new star. Æon ^{Insane Ward} 14:09, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Support. As for superimposing User:Cool cat wrote a nice little template for that a while ago... -- Grafikm ^(AutoGRAF) 18:31, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Oppose Not only is this proposal insulting to editors who don't like the military, it's also insulting to those who support the military. While alienating everyone might be an amusing thing to do, this is not a good proposal and should be dropped.--Alabamaboy 18:37, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

I used the Miliatry as an example, perhaps I should have said the Firefighters. Or Canadian Mail couriers service medals, maybe I am unaware of American tensions with the Military. I never figured that this is how this proposal would be disputed. Pete Peters 18:56, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Me neither, I don't understand that. They're an option. If you don't want to use it, don't, it's just as simple. But I think it is very nice, see for instance User:Cool_Cat/Awards for an example (or User:Grafikm_fr/Awards too since I stolecopied the code... :P ) -- Grafikm ^(AutoGRAF) 14:33, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I'm military and I'm not insulted. Anyways Civilians that work for the DOD plus police firefight ect get ribbons for awards. How ever these should always remain an option on te wiki. But maybe a little clean up of them would be nice. Æon ^{Insanity Now!}_EA! 16:50, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

• HYPERSTRONG SUPPORT !!!! I'm a military brat US Army, USAF w/ some family in secretive govt branches. I do'nt find the ribbons insulting at all. Martial Law 01:13, 7 September 2006 (UTC)
  • Support. Much Better. Dfrg.msc ^{1 . 2 . 3} 07:47, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
• Just do it. --evrik 13:23, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Support. 07:10, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Support. Sharkface217 20:28, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Support. Very practical. Those of you pacifists who somehow think a picture of a piece of cloth is disgusting, go use downsized barnstars. --Joffeloff 23:32, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

• 110% SUPPORT best idea yet. I am a prior-sevice US MARINE, my wife is active duty NAVY, my father and grandfather both were in the Navy, my uncle is retired US Army... NO ONE FINDS IT OFFENSIVE (I've asked). It's a GO for the ribbons (use the military star system for multiple awards). Sallicio (talk) 05:10, 9 January 2008 (UTC)Sallicio