Forum:General discussion about how to improve the wiki

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I feel that the TARDIS Index File needs major improvement. Some qualms I have:

• The inclusion of myriad non-canonical sources. IMO this is to the detriment of the TIF as we end up with articles on things like the life of the Master where we have three contradictory reasons for the Master going evil; one televised, one from a book and one from an audio play. We could probably just cut a lot of the spin-off media loose.

• Severe lack of detail, grammatical errors, spelling mistakes anhd plain misinformation in the majority of articles.

• Flawed character profiles- Home Era? Race? There is nothing on families or occupations.

Have a look at Memory Alpha for an idea of the direction this wikia can take. 124.184.174.192 03:20, December 19, 2009 (UTC)

See Tardis:Canon policy, we include the TV series, novels, comics, audio dramas, spin-offs.

Memory Alpha is quite restrictive and takes a different approach to its wiki, as do other wikis such as the Stargate Wiki, Babylon Wiki and other wikis throughout.

Many of the charaters don't have family or indeed occupations. --Tangerineduel 04:49, December 19, 2009 (UTC)

As an aside, where Memory Alpha takes a more restrictive policy, Memory Beta takes the approach (like the Tardis wiki) that spin-off media is good. Sometimes it does make for contradictions or issues, but hey, what Doctor Who episode doesn't have those to begin with? :) -- sulfur 15:09, December 19, 2009 (UTC)

The show itself is just so rich and I just feel it's a shame that it is not getting the attention it deserves when focus is kept on spin-off media of greatly variable quality and canonicity. --124.184.174.192 12:36, December 20, 2009 (UTC)

The novels, audio dramas, comics, short stories and other spin-offs are arguably of equal richness, detail and quality (though those terms are totally subjective).

This is a wiki that anyone edit, create articles and work on, so those who are working on this wiki are working on articles they have an interest in, have knowledge in or wish to make better etc.

There are methods for directing focus for users, several users began a Tardis:BFA To-do List focusing on Big Finish articles, there is also the Tardis:To Do List which is mostly a collection links out to the collective "needs work on pages". Additionally, topics can be added to the Forum:Panopticon to request of discuss specific actions on this wiki. --Tangerineduel 13:51, December 20, 2009 (UTC)

Comparing this Wiki to Memory Alpha is like comparing Doctor Who to Star Trek... they both have merit, but they're also both very different entities. I'd also say that the quality of the spin-off media for Doctor Who is much greater than that of other sci-fi franchises (barring a few Star Wars creations that are the exceptions that prove the rule). Also, unlike other franchises in which much of the spin-off media is largely produced independent of the core creative team, much of the same writers and actors work on things like New Adventures novels and Big Finish audios. I've only had a limited chance to experience the non-TV stories, but most of the Who fans I know feel they enrich the mythology of the show, and I like being able to get a taste via the detailed articles here.

It's also funny that TD mentions the Babylon 5 wiki - I tried to edit there, only to be driven away by an admin using the canon policy as a blunt instrument. I hope this wiki NEVER ends up like that. Monkey with a Gun 06:21, December 26, 2009 (UTC)