CAT:Documentation/Quick Start

Quick Start Guide for CAT Wiki Contributors

Welcome to the Consumer Action Taskforce (CAT) Wiki! This guide will help you start contributing effectively. The CAT Wiki documents consumer protection issues, anti-consumer practices, and related incidents.

Before You Begin

Essential Reading

1. Style Guide - Our writing standards

2. Core Patterns - Main classification system

3. About CAT - Mission and purpose

Account Setup

• Create an account
• Familiarize yourself with basic wiki editing
• Review your user preferences

Types of Contributions

1. Incident Documentation

Document specific events or practices that impact consumers.

Example Structure:

• Introduction
• Timeline of events
• Impact on consumers
• Company response
• Regulatory action (if any)
• Current status
• References

Template: Template:Incident

2. Company Documentation

Document company practices and history relevant to consumer protection.

Example Structure:

• Company overview
• Notable incidents
• Documented patterns
• Consumer impact
• References

Template: Template:Company

3. Theme Articles

Document broader consumer protection issues and patterns.

Example Structure:

• Issue overview
• Common practices
• Notable examples
• Consumer impact
• Related incidents
• References

Template: Template:Theme

Basic Formatting

Essential Wiki Markup

== Section Header ==
=== Subsection ===
* Bullet point
# Numbered list
''Italics''
'''Bold'''
[[Internal Link]]
[External Link]
<ref>Reference</ref>

Citations

Always cite your sources using reference tags:

<ref>Author Name, "Article Title", Publication, Date. URL</ref>

Add references section at bottom:

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Article

1. Choose Your Topic

• Select an incident, company, or theme
• Check if it already exists
• Gather reliable sources

2. Create the Page

• Use appropriate template
• Follow naming conventions
• Add relevant categories

3. Add Content

• Write clear introduction
• Add main content sections
• Include all references
• Add relevant categories

4. Review and Submit

• Check formatting
• Verify citations
• Ensure neutral tone
• Preview before saving

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Unsourced claims
• Inflammatory language
• Technical jargon without explanation
• Missing citations
• Promotional content
• Personal opinions

Getting Help

• Visit the Help Center
• Check Documentation
• Ask on CAT Community Discord Portal

Next Steps

After mastering the basics:

• Review Best Practices
• Learn about Templates
• Explore Quality Control

See Also

• Main Documentation
• Style Guide
• Templates

⚠️ 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.