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

The result of the discussion was keep. JohnCD (talk) 17:36, 25 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:WikiProject Containers[edit]

Fine, I'll be the party pooper here. I don't believe this is a serious project. rather it seems intended as a tongue-in-cheek effort to point out the absurdity of some of what goes on here. While I fully agree with that spirit and think we sometimes take things way to seriously a fake wikiproject that is not marked as humor or satire is not the way to address these issues. And just to respond in advance to the inevitable argument of "but it's just a bit of harmless fun" let me say this: some people are not going to get the joke. We have people who write about things like individual radio towers, subway stations, and so on. They may come to this project believing it is real and that thee are others who actually care about such mundane subjects. At that point it is not a joke on Wikipedia, it is a joke on those specific users, and that just isn't ok. Sorry fellas, but this is not what project space is for. Beeblebrox (talk) 22:27, 17 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I also think the discussion on the talk page of the project is another huge clue that this is intended as a joke, on WP and on commons. Beeblebrox (talk) 22:33, 17 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I think it is quite disgraceful for you to add that image here. The bucket is not mine and neither does the figure look like me. John lilburne (talk) 08:21, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Keep - What Beeblebrox believes about this WikiProject is irrelevant. It is a validly constituted WikiProject. The subject area of containers is in generally poor shape (although there are some quite decent articles). Even if this were some form of darkly inside joke, what difference does it make if it improves WP's content and coverage of containers? I have personally added dozens of quality images of containers to Commons in the past week - I encourage Beeblebrox to explain why that is a bad thing. This is a bad faith deletion nomination. Delicious carbuncle (talk) 22:47, 17 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Keep. Project related satire. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 23:22, 17 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

That's essentially exactly why I am arguing for deletion. I get the joke, I even think it is kind of funny, but if the participants are going to sit here and pretend this is for real they are basically trolling, waiting for one of the poor schlubs who won't get the joke so they can humiliate them. How is that ok? Beeblebrox (talk) 02:27, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Keep We have people who [...] may come to this project believing it is real and that the[r]e are others who actually care about such mundane subjects. At that point it is not a joke on Wikipedia, it is a joke on those specific users. A somewhat presumptuous statement! For one, "WikiProject Containers" is clearly 'real' — and more active than many projects here. Secondly, if and when these hypothetical 'specific users' appear, I will go out of my way to assist them in improving the encyclopedia, as I'm quite sure the other participants would also. -- Hillbillyholiday ^talk 00:29, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Comment. In my opinion, if it is established that this was created as a joke then it should be deleted even if it has since attracted genuine interest or is seen to potentially serve a genuine purpose. Retaining it under those circumstances would make the genuine participants the permanent butt of the joke. If desired, the project could, after deletion, be recreated by genuine editors. 86.160.215.111 (talk) 01:38, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- And who said that the pranksters cannot be the genuine editors? How do we discern them? If we already have genuine editors, why is the deletion step necessary? If some particular users overcategorise, generate excessive inter-article redundancy, violate WP:POINT or otherwise cause disruption, deal with them particularly, through our wonderful due-conduct enforcement venue even, if necessary. Deal with actions, not with intentions; the latter are very often quite elusive. I think this project does have some potential for article improvement, and should not be deleted while it has not yet kicked the bucket. Keφr 06:36, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  - Is the joke on anyone who is arguing that this is a real project? - Sidelight 12 ^Talk 02:20, 20 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Keep. Lack of seriousness is not a deletion criteria. Recommend boomerang trip to ANI for nominator. TehCommunitah (talk) 02:30, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, bring that on whenever you feel ready. Be aware the boomerang may hit a user who found there way here on their seventh edit ever and uses an in-joke from "that other website" as their username. Beeblebrox (talk) 02:34, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Delete or move to userspace.02:20, 20 September 2013 (UTC) What is the point of this? If anything this belongs in the satire space on Wikipedia. - Sidelight12 ^Talk 03:02, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- Question - There is a separate satire space on Wikipedia? Frederick Green (talk) 12:51, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  - Not a namespace. I saw satire guidelines before from or linked from somebody's userpage. I can't remember if this was just userspace or other. If it moves to such a place, I have no problem with it not being deleted. I came over not expecting to vote delete, but if its a joke on users, it shouldn't be here as a wikiproject. If wikiproject containers was real, I'd have a hard time convincing myself taking it seriously. If it wasn't a joke, its trivial at best, which would cause me to be neutral. - Sidelight 12 ^Talk 23:24, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Keep. This can be a legitimate subject. Sure, some may think this is mundane and not important enough to discuss but there are several articles related to this that could use coordination and improvement. Pkgx (talk) 13:49, 18 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- Two examples; Intermodal container and Packaging pages often have over 1000 views per day. Pkgx (talk) 13:00, 19 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think anyone is denying that this could be a legitimate topic for a project. The question is whether this particular incarnation was created as a piss-take. If it was, it is not right to leave it in place. If genuine editors want to create a new genuine project then that's fine. 86.128.2.106 (talk) 01:46, 20 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Keep Firstly, the suggestion that somehow this containers project is some kind of bizarre satirical avenue seems a realtively far-fetched claim - but even if it was, surely the fact that the project is already doing good work around Wikipedia improving articles on containers would be a good thing? Are there not many more damaging instances of mischief-making going on around the site that do not involve improving articles about containers and setting up a project to do so? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Horatio Snickers (talk) 13:02, 20 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I think Seal Boxer might be interested in this project, specifically regarding containers which may contain animals for the purposes of transportation. Seriously though, I'd like to see one of two things happen: the project should be marked as humor or should operate as an actual WikiProject. If either of those things happen, I say keep. Otherwise, delete. These editors should make up their mind. --BDD (talk) 18:41, 20 September 2013 (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 page's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.