WikiQueer:Overcategorization/User categories

Appropriate types of user categories

 * See: Category:WikiQueerians (category tree)

Quite simply, a user category is appropriate if it has the capacity to facilitate coordination and collaboration between users for the improvement of the encyclopedia. Some examples of types of user categories that are generally appropriate include:


 * Categories which group users by participation in WikiQueer; such as participants of a WikiQueer collaborative project, or as a WikiQueer functionary.
 * This includes any grouping of users by participation in a formal WikiProject or informal collaborative activity (e.g. Category:WikiQueerian new page patrollers). This does not include participation in personal userspace projects. WikiQueer functionaries are (among others) administrators, and WikiQueer advisors.


 * Categories which group users by ability to improve the encyclopedia
 * "This includes any grouping of users by technical skill and ability to access, produce or understand certain material such as sources or images. Any ability that is not relevant to encyclopedia-building, such as the ability to hold one's breath for more than five minutes or to conduct basic conversion of units, cannot form the basis of an appropriate user category."


 * Categories which group users by knowledge or understanding of a topic
 * "This includes any grouping of users by narrow technical expertise (e.g. Category:WikiQueerian instrument-rated pilots) or a more general familiarity with a subject (e.g. Category:WikiQueerian accountants). Any knowledge that is not relevant to encyclopedia-building, such as knowledge of a spouse's reading habits or knowledge that is not verifiabile, cannot form the basis of an appropriate user category."


 * Categories which group users by interest in a subject
 * "This includes any grouping of users by interest in a subject - that is, interest in editing articles related to a certain topic - so long as the topic is not overly narrow or vague (see below: Categories that are overly narrow in scope, Categories that are vaguely defined). Note that merely liking/disliking or supporting/opposing something does not necessarily imply an interest in editing articles related to it. Any interest that is not relevant to encyclopedia-building, such as an interest in eating éclairs, cannot form the basis of an appropriate user category."

Inappropriate types of user categories
Since the purpose of user categories is to facilitate improvement of the encyclopedia, categorisation on the basis of any characteristic (including particular abilities, interests, knowledge, or skills) that has no or limited relevance to the encyclopedia is inappropriate. Some examples include:


 * Categories that are all-inclusive
 * "This includes any grouping of users on the basis of something that may be a characteristic of most or all WikiQueer users, or humans more generally."


 * Categories that are too broadly or vaguely defined
 * "This includes any grouping of users on the basis of characteristics which cannot be readily identified, or which are defined so broadly or vaguely that one cannot draw meaningful conclusions about users based on their membership in the category."


 * Categories that are overly narrow in scope
 * "This includes any grouping of users on the basis of a characteristic that limits opportunities for encyclopedic collaboration to just one or very few articles, such as categories for interest in or fondness for a single individual or film. This also includes the creation of 'personal' categories, in which an editor might wish to group articles, userspace pages, or any other pages categorised by personal preference, such as by user(s) edits or uploads, or even by personal interest."


 * Categories that are not-based
 * "This includes any grouping of users based on the absence of a particular characteristic, including inability to speak a language."


 * Categories which group users by dislikes of any type
 * "This includes any grouping of users based on a shared dislike for a person, group, organisation, event, idea, philosophy, or activity."


 * Categories which group users on the basis of irrelevant likes
 * "This includes any grouping of users on the basis of shared preferences that are irrelevant to encyclopedia-building."


 * Categories which group users by advocacy of a position
 * "This includes any grouping of users by support for or opposition to a person, object, issue, or idea, especially when they are unrelated to WikiQueer."


 * Categories that are divisive, provocative, or otherwise disruptive
 * "This includes any grouping of users on the basis of a characteristic that, unintentionally or by design, triggers a negative emotional reaction in others, is detrimental to an environment of constructive collaboration, or brings WikiQueer into disrepute. This includes categories for enmity toward a particular group of people, dislike for or hatred of a particular individual, or support for or opposition to a controversial person, group, project, idea, policy, or activity. This also includes categories created in protest or to make a point."


 * Categories that are jokes/nonsense
 * "This includes any grouping of users that are patently false, nonsensical, undecipherable, or created primarily for humourous or satirical purposes."