The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. Discounting some poorly argued opinions, of which three were for "merge" and two for "delete" (Dorftrottel, lack of notability is not a criterium for speedy deletion), contributors have overwhelmingly determined that this thinly sourced detail of an (albeit very notable) fictional universe should not have an article of its own. They have also by a ratio of roughly two to one determined that the content should not even be merged. That's probably close enough to allow for a brief mention (to the effect of a few sentences or a paragraph) of this subject in an appropriate article. Sandstein (talk) 21:31, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Force lightning (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (delete) – (View log)

Non-notable plot gimmick/special effect. Single citation is to unreliable source. Original research ("a single powerful blast may be sufficient to kill a person instantly") and plot summary. --EEMIV (talk) 00:18, 29 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comment You haven't addressed that there is no evidence of the WP:notability of this subject. If it's not notable, why should it have its own article? The subject doesn't need to be described by a long page of information clearly from primary sources (mostly computer game manuals), all the reliable sources about "Force lightning" can be covered in a paragraph or two in a more general article on the Force. Ryan Paddy (talk) 23:42, 1 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment: I have seen no indication that it is not notable. It appears in some of the most successful films of all times and also in video and other types of games and even if as you suggest it should be covered in an article on the Force, then we would still merge and redirect without deletion. I see zero benefit to the project in outright deletion and as DGG notes below when an article has potential, we do not delete, we redirect with the allowance for the existing article to be improved when additional sources are added. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 00:04, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
The burden of proof does not fall on those asserting non-notability; the burden of proof is on those claiming notability -- and there is no evidence of "Force lightning"'s notability. This effect/gimmick does not inherit notability from the films or games in which it appears. Given the lack of sources and in-universe treatment, I see no utility in retaining this article, and simply merging it into Force powers would shift one pile of unsubstantiated dreck into another, simply exacerbating the project's problem with unsubstantiated in-universe plot summary and OR. --EEMIV (talk) 00:17, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Appearances in multiple media, even toys, and given the hits this article gets (thousands of readers and clear evidence of editors working on the artucle) suggest notability. As a sub or break off article, the effect/gimmick inherits notability from the films and games in which it appears and is covered by a mix of sources, both primary and secondary and just needs clean up, not deletion. I see no gain for our project in not retaining this article. As a community of editors, the burden is on ALL of us to do what we can to improve articles and not to just order others to do so, especially on a paperless encyclopedia without a deadline. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 00:21, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment One way that we can improve the encyclopedia is to avoid subjects that lend themselves primarily to unreferencable waffle. I've looked for independant sources on "force lightning" and failed to find them. Unless some can be found, it doesn't warrant an article to itself because the independantly referencable discussion of the subject is so small that it can easily fit within another article. I've never seen a guideline that suggests "sub articles" should be exempted from WP:N, I don't think that's the case. Note that the opinion of many here is to merge/redirect. Clearly actual deletion would be counterproductive, but that's just a technicality.Ryan Paddy (talk) 02:00, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment: Unless if we can say we have exhausted all publications, i.e. sci fi, toy, and Star Wars magazines, then I don't think we can say definitively that a non-hoax topic such as this one cannot be better referenced. If there is any consensus to merge and redirect then we do not need a deletion discussion to do those. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 03:11, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Given the absence of reliable sources and the non-encyclopedic tone of this article, I disagree that deletion is "clearly" "counterproductive." Unreferenced plot summary and trivia like this dilute the pool of actually well-done Battletartrekwars-related articles. --EEMIV (talk) 03:32, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
So, you're suggesting that this special effect's incorporation as an action figure *accessory* suggests notability? "clear evidence of editors working on the artucle" is a vague and, like this article, unsubstantiated rationale to keep it. I have no idea -- and doubt you do, either -- how to back up this claim of "thousands of readers." All ~25 articles that link to this "article" use the term/idea in the context of plot summary, without any discussion or notion of real-world notability. And as for the idea that this thing should remain until all potential sources have been examined -- well, you simply have it backwards; sources should be on hand and incorporated into an article as it's developed. Editors who want to add/restore/retain material have the burden of meeting Wikipedia's WP:V and WP:N standards -- that clearly hasn't been the case in this thing's almost-three-year history. Perhaps you should userfy this article until citations to reliable sources establishing notability, verifying claims and providing an out-of-universe perspective come up. --EEMIV (talk) 03:32, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, it does indeed suggest notability as its something that is specifically mentioned as a major feature of that action figure. Deletion rationales for the article tend to be "I don't like it" in nature. I can back up the claim of thousands of readers with the fact that I link to a page above that demonstrates in one month alone the page received thousands of hits. Articles develop over time. Wikipedia is in effect a constant work in progress. Therefore, the article is still being developed and should remain in mainspace where any editor can come and continue to improve it. There's no deadline. Instead of userfying it, the article has a greater likelihood of improvement if it remains in mainspace. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 04:03, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I'm not saying that no references could ever be found. But what are the odds of finding significant reliable coverage in an independant source? Slight to none, reflecting its lack of notability. Wikipedia:WikiProject_Star_Wars says that "Only a few characters, items, or spaceships deserve their own entry" and that trivial information is "frowned upon". This article is not on a subject of primary importance to Star Wars, and can only ever contain trivia because force lightning has never been a subject of interest in its own right outside of fan sites. The deletion discussion here can establish a consensus on whether the subject warrants an article to itself, which can then be referred to when implementing the redirection.Ryan Paddy (talk) 03:44, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment: Considering the popularity of Star Wars, I think the odds are very good that given time and adequate searching on not just online, but published sources significant reliable sources could be found. It is a important force power and given that Star Wars just keeps making games and figures these sorts of aspects will only increase in notability and coverage. Regards, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 04:03, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
And, as usual, nothing speaks against recreating the article iff and only when reliable sources verifying notability have been found. Such sources should be included right on article creation. Please stop speculating; and please start acknowledging valid arguments. Dorftrottel (harass) 09:57, May 2, 2008
While my argument is to keep, I will acknowledge that there are valid arguments presented for merging and redirecting without deleting; however, there are no valid arguments for outright deletion. Sincerely, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 13:20, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, there are. Dorftrottel (vandalise) 13:27, May 2, 2008
Not really. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 13:30, 2 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Please reply to this post. Dorftrottel (warn) 13:31, May 2, 2008
'Comment Two references have also been added. If they demonstrate notability then it should have an article. Searching snippets on Google Books they just look like pasing mentions, which wouldn't demonstrate notability: here and here. There are only two passing mentions in the second source. In the first source there are three passing mentions, but there may be other sections in the book that have deeper coverage. Anyone have the book to confirm? I'm still of the merge and redirect opinion unless such notability is shown. Ryan Paddy (talk) 20:36, 4 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment The sources appear to be exactly what I would expect: Star Wars paraphenalia with passing mentions of force lightning. If they only include passing mentions, they absolutely don't demonstrate notability. And if the publisher also does extended universe books, they're not independant either. What I doubt you'll find is independant and substantial coverage of force lightning in a reliable source. And that is the criteria for notability. Come up with a news article on the subject, or an academic paper, or a chapter in a book, or a magazine article, or whatever. Otherwise, no evidence of notability has been demonstrated. Ryan Paddy (talk) 04:27, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]


The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.