MediaWiki talk:Vector-action-addsection

"Add topic" vs. "New section"
There is a thinking behind why "Add topic" was chosen over "New section" by the usability team for Vector. If you see the text on the left tabs, they represent state such as "Page" and "Discussion" and the right tabs are actions such as "Read", "Edit", "View History", "Watch" and etc. To keep the consistency, we want to introduce the new text "Add topic" for adding a new topic in discussion page. As we are still soliciting the beta feedback, reverting the text in the middle of beta survey can influence the changes and we lose the opportunity to hear the feedback from novice users. We request strongly to revert back the text to "Add topic" for now, and we can discuss which text is more intuitive for both novice and experienced uers. Vector is different from Monobook, and the difference is a good thing. If a user prefers to use Monobook, they are free not to use Vector.--Shuhari (talk) 17:50, 11 August 2009 (UTC)


 * As the user who changed the page from the default in the first place, I'm fine with the idea of changing it back for the beta test—I'm just not clear whether you'd prefer it changed back immediately. I'll probably correct my personal view of it to "New section" using my user JavaScript if it's changed, but the test data might be worthwhile. I strongly feel that "topic" is the wrong word, but then this is a relatively trivial point. I'd prefer hearing more about efforts to, say, implement FCKeditor/WYSIWYG or some such. :) {&#123; Nihiltres &#124;talk&#124;edits}&#125; 04:51, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Shuhari obviously meant "immediately", since they need feedback. You prefer "New section" simply because you're used to it, not because it's a better wording. Nihiltres, as a power user you are not neutral. You should avoid to intervene in these matters.
 * As a matter of fact, "Add topic" is the standard wording in forum-like websites. It should indeed be more intuitive for newbies. Yours, Dodoïste (talk) 12:18, 31 May 2010 (UTC)

Per above, please restore the default. --Nemo 12:38, 31 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Perhaps we should change the monobook name instead ? As far as I can see, this was done for reasons of consistency. —Th e DJ (talk • contribs) 10:46, 1 November 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, why not: I think it would make sense to make MediaWiki:monobook-action-addsection locally equal to the default for Vector if en.wiki cares about consistency across skins. --Nemo 14:08, 1 November 2012 (UTC)
 * In order to help me evaluate this request, please can you explain what all these interface pages do (including MediaWiki:Addsection)? &mdash; Martin (MSGJ · talk) 17:21, 5 November 2012 (UTC)
 * Request disabled, please reenable if necessary. &mdash; Martin (MSGJ · talk) 10:11, 6 November 2012 (UTC)

2022
Now the Vector 2022 message is split, and it's "Add topic". Time to rethink this. "New section" is technically correct, but it's too technical. Also, "New" doesn't express an action as clearly as "Add" does. So "Add topic" makes more sense in all skins as far as user interface goes: It is used on discussion pages, where the section are topics. This local message should be deleted and show the source message for consistency. Nemo, Nihiltres, Dodoïste, TheDJ, MSGJ.

(Consistency with Monobook was used as an argument for the change in 2009, but since all those messages are split per skin now, Monobook is back to using "+". I don't care very much about what Monobook shows, and the people who use it should decide whether they like the +, or "New section", or "Add topic". I'm inclined to "Add topic" everywhere, for general consistency, and because text labels are by their nature less ambiguous than icons, but again, I don't care very much about Monobook.) --Amir E. Aharoni (talk) 07:44, 15 August 2022 (UTC)


 * This could be better sorted as a traditional MfD. 🐶 EpicPupper (he/him &#124; talk) 18:22, 18 August 2022 (UTC)
 * That would be a terrible idea. Izno (talk) 02:40, 19 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Not necessary. The deletion is not the point. The point is what will be written. Deletion is just the way to achieve it. Amir E. Aharoni (talk) 08:52, 19 August 2022 (UTC)

✅ If anyone disagrees I will restore and discussion can continue &mdash; Martin (MSGJ · talk) 20:04, 21 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I object. "New section" is preferable here since it matches the edit summary used when creating a new section, and in any case making dramatic changes to the user interface should on general principle have a much wider discussion than just two people (and you can't presume WP:SILENCE since this page is poorly-watched). * Pppery * it has begun... 13:37, 23 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Also there are thousands of pages mentioning "the new section tab". Changing all of that based on one person's say so is inappropriate. * Pppery * it has begun... 19:08, 23 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I do support the change to "Add topic" to make it less technical and consistent with the default on other wikis, but agree that this should probably have had a wider discussion. And thank you for pointing out the required documentation updates which are too often forgotten: I'll refrain from editing any of them for now though in case this change is reverted. the wub "?!"  12:35, 24 August 2022 (UTC)


 * ❌ and deletion this apparently is still contentious, so additional discussion is needed. Feel free to advertise this section in appropriate venues. —  xaosflux  Talk 23:28, 27 August 2022 (UTC)