User:Ryan Postlethwaite/Mentoring/Archtransit/Deleting

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Deletion is the tool given to administrators to remove content from Wikipedia which do not meet relevant content criteria or standards. What we can or cannot delete is governed by Wikipedia's deletion policy. Deletion can be controversial as people may put a lot of work into their work, even if it doesn't meet our standards. Knowing when to delete and when not to is very important. Deletion and undeletion can only be performed by administrators.

Contents

[edit] When to delete

No exterminating. Follow process.
No exterminating. Follow process.

Deletion is broadly appropriate when content:

More reasons for deletion can be found here. The right to vanish is also connected with the deletion policy, as pages connected to a user may be deleted under this policy.

[edit] When not to delete

Deletion is not an appropriate recourse for:

  • winning a content argument,
  • skewing the result of a debate,
  • hiding evidence of wrongdoing,
  • furthering an agenda,
  • getting rid of something you don't like, and/or
  • salvageable content which can be copyedited, checked for balance, checked by an expert, verified, merged into another article, moved to a more appropriate title, transwikied to another project like Wiktionary or Commons, archived, and discussed or debated.

[edit] Processes for deletion

  • In limited cases, pages or images which are obviously inappropriate for inclusion can be deleted via speedy deletion. The criteria for speedy deletion are narrow in scope and should be followed strictly. Speedily deleting a page which may falls under these criteria will generally be considered controversial.
  • If a page does not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, but its deletion would be uncontroversial enough to not merit a full debate, may be proposed for deletion. If this proposal is uncontested, an administrator may delete the page after 5 days.
  • If speedy or proposed deletion is contested, or the deletion of a page is likely to require full debate, a deletion debate may be initated. These debates run for 5 days (in very rare cases, longer) until an administrator determines whether consensus exists to delete or to keep the page.

[edit] Extended deletion processes

  • WP:AfD - for articles
  • WP:CfD - for categories
  • WP:TfD - for templates
  • WP:MfD - anything outside these areas, eg userpages, project pages, talkpages, help pages, portals

[edit] After deletion

  • If you're lucky, no one will complain. ;)
  • If someone complains about an article deleted under the proposed deletion process, you must restore it without question. If you personally believe the article still meets the threshold for deletion, initiate an AfD.
  • If someone complains about an article deleted speedily or after an AfD, you should encourage them to ask for deletion review. DRV is not for a debate about the merits of the deleted page, but rather the manner in which it was deleted. If the deletion is endorsed the page remains deleted; if not, the page may be restored.
  • Pages deleted due to issues about notability or reliable sources may be recreated if the subject gains recognition or new sources emerge. It is always best to discuss with the deleting admin, and if they disagree, to initiate a deletion review.

[edit] Tasks

Please note that I'm not looking for "correct" answers, just your thoughts. If there's anything wrong with your answers, Ryan or myself can discuss them with you on the talkpage.

[edit] Speedy deletion

Please review the following articles and discuss whether you would list them for speedy deletion/speedily delete them yourself, whether you would propose them for deletion, or whether you would initiate a deletion debate, and why.

We'll move onto proposed deletion when you've got these done. ~ Riana ⁂ 10:29, 11 February 2008 (UTC)