User:Chzz/help/archtalk

Marking a talk-page discussion as archived

Sometimes, discussions can get very long, and it gets very difficult to see what is happening. In such cases, it may be helpful to mark the old debates as 'archived', and to try and summarize the lengthy discussions. This must be done with care, to ensure that the summary is neutral and that all views are fairly represented.

When a debate is having trouble reaching a WP:CONSENSUS, it can often help to ask others to contribute - by asking previous contributors to the article (shown in the history), by asking on the talk page of associated project groups, or via Third opinion.

Done correctly, in good faith, archiving the lengthy discussions and summarizing the outstanding key points can help to clarify the situation.

In this example talk page, there has been a lengthy discussion about the shape of sausages.

It has been marked as archived by adding this text to the top of the section " Argument about sausages "... ...and this to the end...

= Example =

Sample thread
 Chzz  ►  04:37, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

Argument about sausages
Sausages are clearly tubular. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 127.0.0.1 (talk • contribs) 11:01, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * No, they're not! Example (talk) 11:10, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Oh yes, they are — Preceding unsigned comment added by 127.0.0.1 (talk • contribs) 11:21, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * No, they're not! Example (talk) 11:30, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Oh yes, they are — Preceding unsigned comment added by 127.0.0.1 (talk • contribs) 11:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Not! Example (talk) 11:50, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Are so! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 127.0.0.1 (talk • contribs) 11:55, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * They so aren't! Example (talk) 12:00, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Actually, I think you'll find they are — Preceding unsigned comment added by 127.0.0.1 (talk • contribs) 12:31, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

(long discussion here)

Next section
 Chzz  ►  04:37, 13 October 2009 (UTC) ...Then, at the end of the page...

Sausage debate, October
Summary of problems; ...etc...
 * I think XXXX is wrong because of WP:something.  Chzz  ►  04:37, 13 October 2009 (UTC)