CAT:Documentation/Talk Page Guidelines

1. Wiki Communication Guide

This guide explains how to effectively communicate on the wiki, particularly when using talk pages and user discussions.

Basic Communication Tools

Talk Pages

Every page on the wiki has an associated talk page for discussions about the content. You can access it by clicking the "Discussion" tab at the top of any page.

User Talk Pages

Each user has their own talk page at User talk:Username where others can leave messages for them.

How to Reply to Messages

Basic Reply Format

When replying on a talk page, use this format:

:Your message here ~~~~

Key elements:

• The colon : indents your reply
• Four tildes ~~~~ automatically add your signature and timestamp
• Add one more colon than the message you're replying to for nested discussions

Notifying Users

MediaWiki doesn't automatically notify users of replies. To ensure your message is seen:

1. Use the ping syntax in your message:

:Hi [[User:Username|@Username]]! Your message here ~~~~

2. Leave a note on their user talk page:

== Re: Topic ==
[[User:Username|@Username]] I've replied at [[Talk:PageName]]. ~~~~

For maximum visibility, do both!

Example Full Conversation

== Original Topic ==
Initial message here. ~~~~
:Hi [[User:Username|@Username]]! Responding to your point... ~~~~
::Thanks for the reply! Additional thoughts... ~~~~

Best Practices

Starting New Topics

• Use clear, descriptive section headers
• Start new sections with == Section Title ==
• Always sign your messages

Maintaining Conversations

• Keep replies on the same page where the discussion started
• Use proper indentation to show reply hierarchy
• Update old discussions by adding to them rather than starting new ones

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to sign messages with Travis (talk) 17:08, 17 January 2025 (UTC)
• Not notifying users of replies
• Starting new threads instead of replying to existing ones
• Editing others' comments (instead, reply to them)

Related Pages

• CAT:Style Guide
• CAT:Documentation
• Help:Editing

⚠️ Article status notice: This article needs additional work

This article needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues.

This notice will be removed once sufficient documentation has been added to establish the systemic nature of these issues. Once you believe the article is ready to have its notice removed, visit the discord and post to the #appeals channel.

Notice: This Article Requires Additional Verification

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This article has been flagged due to verification concerns. While the topic might have merit, the claims presented lack citations that live up to our standards, or rely on sources that are questionable or unverifiable by our standards. Articles must meet the Moderator Guidelines and Mission statement; factual accuracy and systemic relevance are required for inclusion here!

Why This Article Is In Question

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Articles in this wiki are required to:

• Provide verifiable & credible evidence to substantiate claims.
• Avoid relying on anecdotal, unsourced, or suspicious citations that lack legitimacy.
• Make sure that all claims are backed by reliable documentation or reporting from reputable sources.

Examples of issues that trigger this notice:

• A topic that heavily relies on forum posts, personal blogs, or other unverifiable sources.
• Unsupported claims with no evidence or citations to back them up.
• Citations to disreputable sources, like non-expert blogs or sites known for spreading misinformation.

How You Can Improve This Article

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To address verification concerns:

• Replace or supplement weak citations with credible, verifiable sources.
• Make sure that claims are backed by reputable reporting or independent documentation.
• Provide additional evidence to demonstrate systemic relevance and factual accuracy. For example:
  • Avoid: Claims based entirely on personal anecdotes or hearsay without supporting documentation.
  • Include: Corporate policies, internal communications, receipts, repair logs, verifiable video evidence, or credible investigative reports.

If you believe this notice has been placed in error, or once the article has been updated to address these concerns, please visit the #appeals channel on our Discord server: Join here.