Template:Flag-templates/doc

Flag templates for deletion warnings
Even though I am a deletionist, I am not unsympathetic to the plight of newbie editors, and have attempted to add a Velvet Glove to the Iron Fist of proposed deletions and speedy deletions … in addition to creating the four step FLAG-PROTOCOLs, I have created two templates to facilitate implementing the first two steps … please feel free to add comments on their discussion pages regarding the language/tone of the messages.

Inclusionists may also use these templates and protocols to flag dubious articles for further research during another session.

Note that these protocols are not intended for attack pages, copyright violations, obvious tests, vandalism, patent nonsense, and other unsuitable material, but rather for questionable articles that have been created by editors who may be new to Wikipedia, and need their hands held rather than slapped.

Protocol to minimize friction from proposed deletions and speedy deletions
If it looks clearly inappropriate (e.g., it reeks of vanispamcruftisement), has no indication of "why its subject is important or significant", or it fails a quick scan for verifiability (e.g., no references or citations whatsoever), then:
 * 1) Put Flag-article on the article's Discussion page (to get the ball rolling.) Note: This is a generic "Article lacks WP:V to satisfy WP:N" boilerplate message, so you should also include any other arguments for why the article doesn't belong in Wikipedia, both to begin a discussion and as background for any administrator who investigates the tagged article.
 * 2) Put Flag-editor on the author's User Talk page. Note: This is also a generic warning of your intention to re-examine the article, and perhaps tag it for deletion … you can always come back later and update/correct the warning if it's the wrong one, or when you add a PRODWarning or Nn-warn after you've tagged the article.
 * 3) After a reasonable period to see if the first two steps produce any constructive results, if you still think it should be deleted, then put either Prod or the appropriate Db tag on the article's Main page. Note: This is a judgment call: either (a) you think that we should give the author a week to reconsider a "Good Idea; Bad Decision", or to improve its case for it not being deleted (e.g., if it appears to be an incomplete "work in progress"), or else (b) you think that it's irredeemable and we should "Kill it before it grows!"
 * 4) MOVE ON.

You can also use the flag templates to mark articles that you want to research when you have more time, then come back later to do WikiGnome cleanups like adding ISBNs and cite news templates.

These are also First Impression templates … assume that this is some newbie's first article, and they haven't read WP:FIRST … this is stuff that they have never heard of before, and need to know … that's why the templates use a icon instead of  or  ("Get their attention, but don't frighten them!") … they don't know what's going on, and we're trying to bring them up to speed and guide them, so we need to hold their hands, not slap them … how often have you seen a nugget either removing a Db tag, putting Hangon on an AfD, or simply UNDOing an AfD tag, just because they didn't know any better?

Again, Wikipedia is a collaborative effort, so your feedback is both welcomed and encouraged … Happy Editing!

Usage
You should open the appropriate WP:FLAG-xyz protocol in another browser tab so that you can copy&paste from the stencils provided for Flag-article and Flag-editor … each stencil already has the appropriate (Guideline), but you must replace " " and " " as appropriate.

It's best to have three tabs open at the same time: the article's Discussion page (for editing), the author's Talk page (for editing), and the WP:FLAG-xyz protocol with the stencils (for viewing/copying).

Note: WP:FLAG-BIO has additional comments and boilerplate stencils that are not repeated in the other protocols, so you also might want to have it open in a fourth tab.

Common CSD-A7 protocols
Here are some of the most common speedy deletion categories … the WP:FLAG-xyz protocols are essays that contain boilerplates to make copy&amp;paste editing and application of the flag templates easier … the idea is that you pop one of them open in another TAB in your web browser, and switch between the boilerplate examples and the talk page to which you are adding the templates.