Changes: Memory Alpha:What Memory Alpha is not

Revision as of 20:59, 17 June 2013

About → Policies and guidelines → Editing guidelines → What Memory Alpha is not

This page describes one of Memory Alpha's policies and guidelines.
Please read through the policy below to familiarize yourself with our common practices and rules.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or complaints, please post them on the talk page.

Memory Alpha is an encyclopedia and as such, there are certain things that Memory Alpha is not.

What Memory Alpha is not

A wiki is not paper. Therefore, Memory Alpha doesn't have a size limit. Consequently, the kind of information that might be included is different than a paperback encyclopedia.
Memory Alpha is not a discussion forum. We're not here to chat or to discuss ideas – we're simply here to write the encyclopedia. If you would like to discuss "Trek" please visit one of the available Trek bulletin boards. To chat about MA, see our chat room.
Memory Alpha is not a marketplace. As an encyclopedia, we are not a forum for discussion in the trade or sale of items, even if Star Trek related. Numerous sites are available for that purpose.
Memory Alpha is not a fanfic or RPG resource. Our resource policy explicitly states that Memory Alpha is solely about official information. Regardless of the quality of the work, fan works are not accepted.
Memory Alpha is not a mirror. Articles and contributions must be released for free use under our Creative Commons License.
Memory Alpha is not an image gallery. Memory Alpha has a finite supply of disk space and bandwidth – although there is plenty available at the moment, do not upload collections of images for the sole purpose of displaying them. Make sure they have a clear link and purpose in an article.
Memory Alpha is not an internet television or video portal. Memory Alpha does not host or link to Star Trek episodes, films, or videos.
Memory Alpha is not Wikipedia. Our policies state that Memory Alpha is intended to present information from Star Trek, and is not to present an excess of "real world" information. Related to this, articles at Memory Alpha should be named as per their use in the Star Trek universe, and not be named in the same manner as Wikipedia.
Memory Alpha is not a file depository. While there is no shortage of space on Memory Alpha, it should not be used for storing personal material unrelated to the project. (This includes your personal User: pages.) Uploaded files or articles that are not directly related to an article will be deleted immediately.

What Memory Alpha articles are not

Simple dictionary-type definitions. Except for those articles that have barely any information about them available, Memory Alpha articles should be written like an encyclopedia, not a dictionary. And such short articles that include only one or two sentences should probably go in a different, larger page if possible.
Personal speculation. Although there are a great many gaps in our knowledge about the Star Trek universe, Memory Alpha articles are not the place for personal opinions. Don't write an entire article on a speculative subject – if we don't know, then leave it blank.
Advertising for websites. If your personal site focuses on the same subject as an article, then it may be acceptable to add the site to a list of external links in that article. However, use your judgment and make sure that the context is appropriate – spamming is not tolerated. In addition, pages on unofficial web sites are too subjective... Memory Alpha is an encyclopedia, not a directory. Our focus is on what we see on TV, not what websites we like to hang out at.
Collections of images. Articles are not for simple collections or collages of images – they must have an article to accompany and describe them.
Original research. Subjective essays which analyze or draw conclusions about Star Trek are not encyclopedic. Conclusions, synthesis, analysis or associations which have been mentioned in canon or sourced from a credible real-world authority are acceptable Background content, with citations.

We will continue to add to this list as we discover interesting new ways of not writing encyclopedia articles.

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+{{shortcut|MA:NOT}}
+{{ma nav|Editing guidelines|Policies and guidelines}}
+{{policy}}
 Memory Alpha is an '''encyclopedia''' and as such, there are certain things that Memory Alpha is not.
 == What Memory Alpha is not ==
+# '''[[m:Wiki is not paper|A wiki is not paper]].''' Therefore, Memory Alpha doesn't have a size limit.  Consequently, the kind of information that might be included is different than a paperback encyclopedia.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not a discussion forum.'''  We're not here to chat or to discuss ideas &ndash; we're simply here to write the encyclopedia. If you would like to discuss "Trek" please visit one of the available Trek bulletin boards. To chat about MA, see our [[MA:IRC|chat room]].
+#'''Memory Alpha is not a marketplace.''' As an encyclopedia, we are not a forum for discussion in the trade or sale of items, even if Star Trek related.  Numerous sites are available for that purpose.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not a fanfic or RPG resource.''' Our {{ma|Resource policy|resource policy}} explicitly states that Memory Alpha is solely about ''official'' information.  Regardless of the quality of the work, fan works are not accepted.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not a mirror.'''  Articles and contributions must be released for free use under our [[Memory Alpha:Creative Commons License|Creative Commons License]].
+# '''Memory Alpha is not an image gallery.'''  Memory Alpha has a finite supply of disk space and bandwidth &ndash; although there is plenty available at the moment, do not upload collections of images for the sole purpose of displaying them. Make sure they have a clear link and purpose in an article.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not an internet television or video portal.''' Memory Alpha does not host or link to ''Star Trek'' episodes, films, or videos.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not Wikipedia.''' Our policies state that Memory Alpha is intended to present information from ''Star Trek'', and is not to present an excess of "real world" information.  Related to this, articles at Memory Alpha should be named as per their use in the ''Star Trek'' universe, and not be named in the same manner as Wikipedia.
+# '''Memory Alpha is not a file depository.''' While there is no shortage of space on Memory Alpha, it should not be used for storing personal material ''unrelated'' to the project. (This includes your personal [[Memory Alpha:Your user page|User: pages]].) Uploaded files or articles that are not directly related to an article will be deleted immediately.
+== What Memory Alpha articles are not ==
-# '''[http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki_is_not_paper A Wiki is not paper]'''. Thus, Memory Alpha has no size limits, can include links, can be more timely, etc. It also means that the style and length of writing appropriate for paper is not necessarily appropriate here.
+# '''Simple dictionary-type definitions.'''  Except for those articles that have barely any information about them available, Memory Alpha articles should be written like an ''encyclopedia'', not a ''dictionary''.  And such short articles that include only one or two sentences should probably go in a different, larger page if possible.
-# '''Memory Alpha is not a soapbox''' or discussion forum.
+# '''Personal speculation.'''  Although there are a great many gaps in our knowledge about the ''Star Trek'' universe, Memory Alpha articles are not the place for personal opinions.  Don't write an entire article on a speculative subject &ndash; if we don't know, then leave it blank.
-# Similarly, '''Memory Alpha is not a link repository'''.
+# '''Advertising for websites.''' If your personal site focuses on the same subject as an article, then it may be acceptable to add the site to a list of external links in that article. However, use your judgment and make sure that the context is appropriate &ndash; spamming is not tolerated.  In addition, pages on unofficial web sites are too subjective... Memory Alpha is an encyclopedia, not a directory. Our focus is on what we see on TV, not what websites we like to hang out at.'''
-# '''Memory Alpha is not a "mirror"''' — content added to articles must be released for free use under a [[Memory Alpha:Creative Commons License|Creative Commons License]].
+# '''Collections of images.'''  Articles are not for simple collections or collages of images &ndash; they must have an article to accompany and describe them.
+# '''Original research.''' Subjective essays which analyze or draw conclusions about ''Star Trek'' are not encyclopedic. Conclusions, synthesis, analysis or associations which have been mentioned in canon or sourced from a credible real-world authority are acceptable Background content, with [[Memory Alpha:Cite your sources|citations]].
+We will continue to add to this list as we discover interesting new ways of not writing encyclopedia articles.
-== What Memory Alpha Articles are not ==
+[[Category:Memory Alpha policies|What Memory Alpha is not]]
-# '''Discussion forums'''. Please try to stay on task (the task here is to create encyclopedia articles). Memory Alpha is not a discussion forum or chat room. But you can chat with folks on their own pages, and you can resolve article problems on the relevant Talk: pages.
+[[de:Memory Alpha:Was Memory Alpha nicht ist]]
-# '''Dictionary definitions'''. Memory Alpha is not a dictionary, and an entry that consists of just a definition does not belong. (But an article can and should always ''begin with'' a good definition or a clear description of the topic.)
+[[nl:Memory Alpha:Wat Memory Alpha niet is]]
-# '''Lists of such definitions'''. (But an article can certainly consist of a pointer to other pages, where a word is too general to have any one topic associated with it.)
-# '''Personal essays''', that state your idiosyncratic opinions about a topic. We're reporting on what is in the [[canon]] of the ''Star Trek'' universe; unless you're unusual, your idiosyncratic opinions aren't part of this canon.
-# Mere '''collections of external links'''. (But of course there's nothing wrong with adding both lists of links and lists of on-line references you used in writing an article.) Also check out the [http://memoryalpha.st-minutiae.com/directory/ Memory Alpha Websites Directory].
-# A '''personal homepage''' and/or file storage area. Registered members of Memory Alpha have their own personal pages, but they are used for working on the encyclopedia. However, the standards for encyclopedic articles apply to such a page just like any other. Creating overly abundant links and references to autobiographical articles is not in accordance with the spirit of Wikipedia. If you're looking to make a personal webpage unrelated to encyclopedia work, there are many free homepage providers on the Internet. If you upload files, please upload only files that pertain to encyclopedia articles; anything else will be deleted.
-# A vehicle for '''advertising'''. We don't need articles on items just because a contributor is associated with them. (This includes links to other fan web pages.) However, external links are certainly acceptable if they can serve to identify major corporations associated with a topic, as in [[phaser]]s.
-# A '''collection of images''' with no text to go with the articles.  If you are only interested in putting a picture into an article but have no desire to write an explanation as to who the person is and why they should have an article, maybe the article shouldn't exist at all.
-# An '''image gallery'''. Memory Alpha has a finite supply of disk space and bandwidth &mdash; although there is plenty available at the moment, do not upload collections of images for the sole purpose of displaying them. Make sure they have a clear link and purpose in an article.
-We should continue to add to this list as we discover interesting new ways of not writing encyclopedia articles!
-----
-*Wikipedia: What Wikipedia is not (2003-12-03, 18:09 UTC). In ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia''. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not