Lucario621

Why are stub articles categorized?

Hi there. {{Stub}} automatically categorizes articles it is transcluded on to Category:Stubs. However, why is this necessary when Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:Stub does the same thing? True, the latter option gives more results, but if you select the "Hide links" button and set the namespace to "(Articles)", then you will get the same list of articles. I already asked this question on the IRC, but I didn't get much help:

<+BarkingFish> Lucario621, the purpose is that Template:Stub simply marks items as being a stub. Special:WhatLinksHere is totally and utterly different. The Category:Stubs is simply for us to keep track of how many stubs there are, and on what subjects. Some people do nothing except expand stubs all day.

<+BarkingFish> There are more specific stub templates for categorizing stubs into subject, and they're preferred over a general one as and where they exist.

<Lucario621> I know, but what advantages do having a category have over using Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:Stub ?

<+BarkingFish> Because things will link all over the place, any templates transcluded in the stub template will link, it will link to the pages which the stub template uses as internal links, etc

<+BarkingFish> this way, all we get is the items in the stub category, rather than everything which links from the stub template, such as its documentation, discussions about it and so on

<Lucario621> Okay, I see...

What I didn't mention in the chat is the various filters that can be used. I'm not asking for the current Wikipedia methods to be changed (that would be a lot of work!), but if someone could explain the purpose of the category (and mention any reasons for it I haven't thought of), I would appreciate it. Lucario621 (talk) 03:03, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

Does it help if you think about how, theoretically at least, the category should contain zero articles? By definition, any article in that category is miscategorized and needs fixing. Dori ☾Talk ⁘ Contribs☽ 04:30, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

If you think it should go, take it to WP:CfD. That is my only real help I can give. Mdann52 (talk) 16:00, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

That's true Dori - but what about other stub templates? Take {{Edu-stub}} for example - that categorizes articles too. Lucario621 (talk) 23:00, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

Ah, I thought you were only talking about {{stub}}… Now it sounds as if you're talking about all categories, right?

What it sounds like you're asking is, why have categories at all; instead, just have some kind of tags that apply to articles, and then you can search on the tags and see what links to the tag. Am I right?

The answer to that is that categories are hierarchical; that is, London school stubs are part of UK school stubs, which are part of UK education stubs, which are part of Europe education stubs, which are part of education stubs, and so on. Tags by themselves wouldn't have the same effect.

Does that answer the bigger picture? Dori ☾Talk ⁘ Contribs☽ 01:07, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Sorry if I didn't ask my question that clearly. I'm asking why have any stubs categorize articles into stub categories. All kinds of stubs. :) Lucario621 (talk) 02:42, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

And that's what I was trying to answer—is there some particular place I wasn't being clear? Dori ☾Talk ⁘ Contribs☽ 02:58, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Ah, I see. I think I accidentally misread part of your message - that makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the help. :)

You're welcome! Dori ☾Talk ⁘ Contribs☽ 03:48, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

A cheeseburger for you!

Thanks for helping the scratch wiki so much that it is where it is today! :D (I edit there under a different username than Fimatic, but you may not know me, as I joined around 7 months ago.) -Fimatic (talk | contribs) 00:31, 31 October 2014 (UTC)