All The Tropes:Thread Mode

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Thread Mode is where a a discussion takes place between one or more tropers in a page, separated by bullet points or indents. They can be signed with editors' names, or with people using This Troper to refer to themselves pseudoanonymously. Thread mode also includes paragraphs that aren't actually separated by bullet points, but switch points of view so often that it seems like someone accidentally took the bullets out.

In some places, this in the natural form of discussion, such as The Forums, talk pages, or Headscratchers entries. However, in most of the wiki, this is considered something to be avoided, as it frequently leads to Word Cruft. Try to avoid it, especially on trope pages and work pages, and replace it with an integrated, MPOV example.

As always, use your best judgement. Threads can be entertaining too, and the ATT tries to encourage a mix of entertaining and educating content.

Example

  • Infinity+1 Sword: The Masamune is by far the best sword in the game, providing 1.5x the attack power of any other sword. (The Example)
    • While that is a good sword, This Troper thinks the Sword of Light is actually a better weapon, because it can be used to cast BOLT on all the enemies. (You Could Always Edit It Yourself)
      • Um... that spell isn't useful at all at higher-level enemies with >500HP. Better to let the wizards handle the spells while the swordsmen hack-n-slash. (The Justifying Edit)

It's definitely cool that people have multiple opinions -- we believe in noting Multiple Points of View -- but we're not here to host strategy guides or rehash old internet arguments (and memes).

What that example might say is something easier to read, like this:

  • Infinity+1 Sword: The Masamune is by far the best sword in the game, providing 1.5x the attack power of any other sword. Some people prefer the Sword of Light because of it's magical attacks, but the Masamune's attacks are truly devastating at the end game.

Repair, Don't Respond

After all, you can always edit it yourself. Wikis are meant to accumulate data from different people, and synthesize it into a cohesive whole. No one is going to get their feelings hurt if you edit their words (or well, they shouldn't).

So outside of forums or appropriate places, avoid conversation on main pages. If there's another option, add it. If something is wrong, fix it. It makes the wiki better if you do.

This also telling users about this policy. There's no need to "natterfy" users when there's a problem -- just fix it. At least at first. If it's a user that doesn't get the idea after a few times, then you can leave a polite message on their user talk -- or ask a moderator to do it for you. But most of the time, people will just get the idea as they keep editing the site.

Where Thread Mode is OK

Thread Mode has long been Considered Harmful, but there are important places where you'd want a discussion:

  • Places like The Forums and Discussion Pages, where personal opinions are important. (Sign your comments using the markup ~~~~ on the forums.)
  • Headscratchers subpages, where opinions can differ greatly, and maybe YMMV subpages too.
  • Any place where Thread Mode would be easier to understand than an equivalent paragraph.

Use Your Best Judgement

After all, There Is No One True Way. Wikis are meant to facilitate sharing of knowledge; this page is only a guideline to help achieve this goal.

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