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[edit] Userbox convention
I propose that we start up an userbox convention. It's an online convention where users can show off their custom userboxes. Not only will people can become more aware of the WikiProject, it'll strengthen the unity of editors, both member or non-member. If you have any question related to this convention, please respond on my talkpage. Secret Saturdays (talk to me)
[edit] Why do you have to put newlines after drop-down userboxes?
On my userpage I have several drop-down userboxes. However for some I have to put a '<br />' after them several times or it messes up the page formatting. What is going on with the WTML?--Dchmelik (talk) 03:55, 27 September 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Diplomatic Relations Userboxes
| UK-US | This user supports the Special Relationship |
Pro-Special Relationship
| No UK-US | This user opposes the Special Relationship |
Anti-Special Relationship
I'm new to maing userboxes, so if someone could create a better version, that would be great Zobango (talk) 23:49, 10 October 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Deprecation of userboxes in Template namespace
The current guideline allows userboxes in template namespace that are of a "more collaborative nature", whatever that means. I see no need to have userboxes in the Template namespace, and it causes confusion at TfD and MfD. I'd like to deprecate the use of Template: space for userboxes. I'll leave this here for a few days, and if no one opposes I'll make a bold edit and see if it sticks. Gigs (talk) 21:15, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
- I was under the impression that the reason some userboxes are in the Template namespace is because in general users are not supposed to be editing in each other's userspaces. Therefore, one places a userbox in one's userspace if one wants to retain control over it and not have other editors modify it, but in the Template namespace if one is happy for other editors to modify it. However, if a policy can be developed for when a userbox in userspace is editable (for example, if the original creator indicates clearly on the template description page that it is), then I have no objections to all userboxes being moved into userspace. — Cheers, JackLee –talk– 21:24, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
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- I'm not sure that distinction has ever been widely understood or adopted in practice. Given that userboxes are rarely edited, easily forked in the case of a disagreement, and as you point out, can be explicitly labeled as free to edit, this probably isn't much of an issue. Gigs (talk) 21:58, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
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- Provided that a guideline is developed along the lines I've suggested, I've no objections to userboxes being moved out of the Template namespace. — Cheers, JackLee –talk– 03:45, 20 October 2009 (UTC)
[edit] confusing UBX abbreviation use or confusing User:UBX
I'm new to wiki and thought that I have to store all my created userboxes under User:UBX. User:UBX is trying to use other wiki editors in a manipulative way to full fill his/her own ambitions. That's not fair. If he/she is not trying to do that, then why does User:UBX has resulted in duplication of functions of Wikipedia:Userboxes#Gallery? It gives indirect message and obligation to store userboxes under User:UBX; see also 'A userbox (commonly abbreviated as UBX)' on Wikipedia:Userboxes. I suggest to reconsider UBX abbreviation use on Wikipedia:Userboxes or User:UBX actions according to fair and common sense. – imis☂ 05:05, 26 November 2009 (UTC)
- Isn't User:UBX a bot designed by Wikipedia to hold userboxes? That was my impression. Dude1818 (talk) 02:59, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
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- No, User:UBX is not a bot. It is a user account specially set up to hold userboxes. At some stage there was a move to transfer userboxes out of the template space into the user space, so UBX was set up to hold these userboxes. (You'll have to search the talk page archives if you want more details on this.) However, you don't have to use UBX if you don't want to. It is perfectly fine to create userboxes in your own user space (e.g., User:Zaikovskis/userbox). Many editors prefer to put userboxes they have created into UBX for convenience, and perhaps to make it easier for people to find them. — Cheers, JackLee –talk– 05:48, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
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- ...or created into UBX for confusion - the same as I had and User:Dude1818. I think this has to be taken further. – imis☂ 21:31, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
- I don't see what the problem is that you have with it. I don't know what ambitions User:UBX (or Mets501) has that you would come to the conclusion that he is trying to manipulate wiki editors. The purpose of User:UBX is to provide an unofficial central location for userboxes with a short, concise, and easily-remembered prefix. The purpose of putting a userbox in User: space is that "content in User: space is traditionally given more leeway than in other namespaces (see WP:UBX#Which namespace?). There is no difference between a box named User:Zaikovskis/3ToedSloth or User:UBX/3ToedSloth; it is completely up to the creator of the box where they want to put it. WP:UBX#Which namespace? says exactly that: "simply create a subpage of your own user page or User:UBX."
- As far as the duplicate directories go, WP:Userboxes/Gallery doesn't even mention the User:UBX/Userboxes directory. The User:UBX directory is just to keep track of the ones hosted on User:UBX subpages, while WP:Userboxes/Gallery keeps track of all userboxes, on all namespaces and subpages.
- User:UBX has no ambitions - if you have created userboxes in its subpages, feel free to move them into your own subpages if you so desire. I'm pretty sure that there has been no active deceit or wrongdoing on its behalf. —Akrabbimtalk 04:14, 2 December 2009 (UTC)
- I think I've used wrong 'ambition' wording. I refer to the fact that 'Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a forum for advertising or self-promotion' [[1]]. WP:UBX#Which namespace? shouldn't promote User:UBX which is also linked to User:Mets501. Wikipedia:Userboxes promotes User:UBX as well by giving indirect indication to store userboxes there, see 'A userbox (commonly abbreviated as UBX)'.
- Central location for userboxes shouldn't be under somebody's username – imis☂ 04:35, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
- Why not? Mets isn't trying to promote himself at all. He is just trying to be useful, by creating a space for people to put userboxes in if they don't want it on their own user space. And the only reason that it mentions his main account on the User:UBX account is for transparency, so people don't suspect any dubious sockpuppetry. —Akrabbimtalk 04:43, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
Time for a history lesson. In the beginning, there was an online encyclopedia, created by users, available in multiple languages. Some of the users wanted simple ways to say who they were and/or express their individuality. Userboxes were created. Other users thought that they were making the encyclopedia into a social networking space, being used to votestack in community discussions, and otherwise inappropriate. On the English language version of the encyclopedia, the userbox wars began. After many injured feelings, multiple arbitration cases, and much waste of editor time and attention, people realized that the wars were harmful. So some editors began looking for a compromise solution. Eventually, they noticed what the German language version had decided - userboxes should not be in template space, they should be in user space, and not particularly easy to find. This was agreed upon as a compromise, ending the userbox wars. Some editors still wanted a central place to find userboxes. This would require some editor to agree to host them, or to host and maintain a directory. A few different editors stepped up in different ways. Mets volunteered to establish an alternative account that he wouldn't actually use much in order to be a host for userboxes that people wanted in a central location. I and a couple other editors volunteered to host directories (though I never volunteered to actually maintain mine, and I don't know of one that is still maintained). And peace and editorial infighting over userboxes ended. The hope is that most userboxes will gradually die out and cease existing, so there is no active encouragement of their creation or use.
All I see here is a completely excusable lack of historical awareness combined with a failure to actively assume good faith, as editors here are expected to do. GRBerry 14:59, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
- Thanks for that. Again, I stress that nobody is forced to create userboxes in User:UBX. Feel free to make userboxes in subpages of your own user pages. — Cheers, JackLee –talk– 17:54, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
