User:Kildor/templates

WP:NOCAFET

Many articles that feature some kind of information on current events or future plans often have a temporal template, like current or future, at the top of the article. The contents of these templates vary, but in general there are two or three types of messages provided:
 * The article contains information on a current or future event
 * The content may change as more information becomes available
 * The content may be speculative

These messages more or less duplicate information in the general disclaimer at the bottom of every page, and information that is typically located in the article lead. The templates fails to add any useful information to the article and should therefore not be used. Wikipedia is not a crystal ball, and a future tag should never be used as an excuse for adding unverifiable content. A cleanup template is more suitable for addressing such concerns.

Problems
There are a number of problems related to the use of current and future event templates.

Stating the obvious
First of all, these templates states the obvious. An article on 2010 FIFA World Cup is clearly about the future, and there is no need to highlight that fact at the most prominent position in the article. The lead of the article is also capable of indicating the current or contingent nature of the topic (i.e. ...is scheduled to take place..., ...is an ongoing..., ...is the current...).

Disclaimer
The message that the content of an article may change or is not up-to-date is a disclaimer. But that fact is true for every article on Wikipedia. Any page can change at any time, and there is no need pointing out that for a small subset of articles. The General disclaimer also clearly says that Wikipedia cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here.

Unconsistent use
If these templates were to be used consistently, we would need to add similar tags to articles like Republic of China, George W. Bush, and 22nd century.

Unencyclopedic
not in other encyclopedies, newspapers or websites

Exceptions
many edits

Future events

 * 100+ Template:Future
 * 0 Template:Future UK radio station
 * 50+ Template:Future aircraft
 * 20+ Template:Future airline
 * 20+ Template:Future airport
 * 20+ Template:Future airport expansion
 * 250+ Template:Future album
 * 8 Template:Future amusement ride
 * 50+ Template:Future arena
 * 1 Template:Future article
 * 100+ Template:Future automobile
 * 0 Template:Future awards show
 * 100+ Template:Future book
 * 20+ Template:Future bridge
 * 500+ Template:Future building
 * 0 Template:Future canal
 * 20+ Template:Future channel
 * 20+ Template:Future chip
 * 50+ Template:Future comic
 * 0 Template:Future dam
 * 100+ Template:Future election
 * 100+ Template:Future election candidate
 * 100+ Template:Future election in the United States
 * 20+ Template:Future energy infrastructure
 * 500+ Template:Future film
 * 500+ Template:Future game
 * 50+ Template:Future infrastructure
 * 1 Template:Future mine
 * 20+ Template:Future motor sport
 * 4 Template:Future motorcycle
 * 19 Template:Future museum
 * 0 Template:Future music festival
 * 20+ Template:Future pipeline
 * 5 Template:Future play article
 * 2 Template:Future play section
 * 50+ Template:Future power plant
 * 50+ Template:Future product
 * 0 Template:Future product small
 * 10+ Template:Future radio
 * 250+ Template:Future road
 * 10+ Template:Future scientific facility
 * 10+ Template:Future ship
 * 10+ Template:Future single
 * 50+ Template:Future software
 * 50+ Template:Future spaceflight
 * 500+ Template:Future sport
 * 10+ Template:Future sports venue
 * 100+ Template:Future stadium
 * 100+ Template:Future television
 * 20+ Template:Future television episode
 * 50+ Template:Future television series
 * 20+ Template:Future tunnel
 * 0 Template:Future webcomic
 * 0 Template:Future zoo exhibit