History Administrivia / WelcomeToTVTropes

* If you get a message when you try to edit a page that "Editing has been turned off for this handle or IP address", it doesn't mean the end of the world. Go [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=5cma6iojg5o27puhulc24sje here]] and add a post. A wiki moderator will get back to you with information about what happened and what you can do to correct it. It might even be a mistake on our part. Don't panic.

* Causing major problems will get you suspended from editing and/or other parts of the wiki.

Please see Administrivia/CreatingNewRedirects for instructions, and keep in mind that we will cut redirects that are forbidden there. Other than that, RedirectsAreFree.

If the title of a page is more complicated than a simple WikiWord - that is, it contains punctuation, capitalization that is not CamelCase, odd spacing, etc., then you can't just type it in as a URL. Here's how to handle that:

* RightingGreatWrongs -- We're not here for you to crusade on behalf of any causes. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem We are interested in what is, not what you think should be.]]

* RightingGreatWrongs -- We're not here for you to crusade on behalf of any causes. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem We are interested in what]] ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem is]]'', [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem not what you think]] ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem should be]]''.

* RightingGreatWrongs -- We're not here for you to crusade on behalf of any causes. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-ought_problem We care about what ''is'', not what you think ''should be'']].

* Political soapboxing -- Presenting any side of a political debate is asking for a FlameWar. Keep it to the facts as they are relevant to media.

* The complete reference is found at Administrivia/HowToCreateAWorksPage.

* After making an edit, it's highly recommended to leave an edit reason in the box provided, as it's helpful for other people looking at the page history. Please see Administrivia/EditReasonsAndWhyYouShouldUseThem for more information.

* If you use software that censors web pages (around here we call them "nannybots"), any page you edit will get censored and then you'll submit back the censored text to the wiki. '''Turn off any nannybots before editing or you will lose your editing privileges.''' If you can't turn it off, save us the trouble and don't try to edit.

* Keep it FamilyFriendly as much as possible. TVTropes maintains a policy of Administrivia/NoLewdnessNoPrudishness with regards to page content. In addition, the wiki is not interested in articles on pornographic or pedophile-pandering works. For more information, see Administrivia/TheContentPolicyAndThe5PCircuit.

* "Edit page" lets you modify the current page's content. You must be logged in to do this. If a page displays a padlock icon, it is locked and can't be edited except by [[Administrivia/KnowTheStaff the wiki staff]]; clicking the icon will take you to Administrivia/LockedPages so you can see why.

If the title of the work or the name of the {{trope}} you've added is more complicated than a simple WikiWord - that is, it contains punctuation, capitalization that is not CamelCase, odd spacing, etc., then you can't just type it in as a URL. Here's how to handle that:
* Create the page as a plain WikiWord, as closely to the actual title as possible. As an example, to make Airplane!, just use [={{Airplane}}=].
* Once the page is made, use the [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/custom_title_request.php Custom Title Request]] form to submit your proposed actual title. Please note that you must enter the article's name exactly as it appears in the wiki, or your request may fail.

* Once approved, all wicks (other than {{Pot Hole}}s) to the article will display the custom title.

* "Request a content violation evaluation": To alert the forum that a work might violate the [[Administrivia/TheContentPolicyAndThe5PCircuit Content Policy]].

* "[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/custom_title_request.php Customize Title]]" lets you request a custom title for any wiki page. See Administrivia/ThePtitleReplacementSystem for more information on this.
** '''Important''': If the article in question has a namespace with two words ([=WesternAnimation/, WebVideo/, WebComic/, VideoGame/,=] etc.), then be sure to type the namespace in the custom titler as one word (Westernanimation/, Webvideo/, Webcomic/, Videogame/, etc.) If you don't do this, a glitch in the wiki software will prevent the custom title from displaying on other pages.

* Everything you contribute to the site belongs to us (unless it wasn't yours to begin with).

* Where a person makes a specific, written agreement with the staff to display copyrighted material and retain certain rights thereto. Example: the EvilOverlordList.

This wiki is [[Tropers/TheAdvertisementServer ad-supported]]. You can donate to turn off ads in the forums, but not in the main wiki. If you have issues with an ad being offensive or containing potential malware, use the Google [=AdSense=] reporting tool (click the {i} button on the ad). We don't have any direct control over the ads; they are generated randomly based on page content, your cookies, and the demographics gleaned from your browser and IP address. FYI, Flash-based ads are essential to our revenue stream. We need to keep them.

'''Unsolicited commercial advertising of third-party sites is strictly forbidden and will be grounds for an immediate and permanent ban.'''

We are not required to attribute content you contribute to you, nor do you retain ownership of anything you contribute. Anything you contribute may be deleted, modified, or used commercially by us without notification or consent. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you do not post material on our site, whether in text or image form, that you wish to receive commercial benefit from in the future.

* Where third-party content (images, quotes) are contributed that are governed by Fair Use. The user contributing them has no license to them whatsoever.
* Where a person makes a specific, written agreement with the staff to display copyrighted material, retaining specified rights thereto. Example: the EvilOverlordList.
* Where a person contributes content that they do not have the rights to -- most often, copy-pasting from Wikipedia or other third party. If we are notified that an article contains plagiarized content, we will remove that content and potentially take action against the user who added it.

We are not required to attribute content you contribute to you, nor do you retain ownership of anything you contribute. Anything you contribute may be deleted, modified, or used commercially by us without notification or consent. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you do not post material on our site, whether in text or image form, that you wish to publish or receive commercial benefit from.

For more details about the Creative Commons license, which controls what you may do with the content that's already on the site, see the link earlier in this section or at the bottom of every wiki article.

* You can't copy any of the site's content unless you obey [[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ the Creative Commons license]].

Media articles are for series, books, games, actors, creators -- anything that isn't a new index or {{trope}}. All new entries are welcome, as ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability. However, don't just paste in the Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} entry. We encourage looking up verifiable sources to find more information to add to the page, but write something original.

* '''[[{{Media}} Works]]''': The stuff that produces tropes. ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability, but keep in mind that if it doesn't have a story -- that is, a narrative or plot of some kind -- it's not really tropable in the sense we use. Works have various subpages that help to organize all the material related to them, such as [[QuotesWiki Quotes]], {{Trivia}}, [[YMMV.HomePage YMMV]], {{Headscratchers}}, [[FridgeLogic Fridge]], [[WildMassGuessing WMG]], AwesomeMoments, CharacterSheets, [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/review_activity.php Reviews]], etc.

* Our [[TVTropesFora Forums]] are a good place to shoot the breeze. If you're told to TakeItToTheForums, try it out. There are some interesting topics there. [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/topics.php Here's the link.]] Don't forget to read [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13287249110A49840100 What Goes Where On The Forums]] so that stuff doesn't end up in the wrong place.

* Articles created solely to talk about RealLife things or people. We only care about these as far as they relate to {{Media}}. If you want a reference source, go to Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}. That said, if something is such a big deal that it shows up in fiction a lot, it may deserve a UsefulNotes article. You may also want to TakeItToTheForums.

* There are very few concrete rules here. We like to use democratic ways of solving problems. TheTropingCode sums the rules up.

* [[http://twitter.com/tvtropesnews "Tweets"]] lets you view the site's {{Twitter}} feed.

* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/wiki_pm.php "PM"]] lets you send a private message to another {{troper}}. The {{troper}} must be Known; you can't PM someone who hasn't created a handle. If you have a new PM, you'll see a big green notification bar on most pages you visit. To see your [=PMs=], go to your [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pm.php mailbox]]. Also, please remember that private messages are ''private'' for a reason. Disseminating the contents of a PM without permission from the other party is grounds for loss of PM privileges.

* The Subpages list lets you see all articles that share a base URL (everything except the {{namespace}}) with the one you're looking at.

Media articles are for series, books, games, actors, creators -- anything that isn't a new index or {{trope}}. All new entries are welcome, as ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability. However, don't just paste in the {{Wikipedia}} entry. We encourage looking up verifiable sources to find more information to add to the page, but write something original.

Our articles on real people should not be used to talk about them as if they are characters in a story. Nor should they be biographical; that's {{Wikipedia}}'s job. We are interested in them from four perspectives:

Similarly, current events, countries, and so forth are only subjects for this wiki when they have a significant impact in media. They could then get a UsefulNotes article, which should never be a copy-paste from Wikipedia. Keep it original and to the point. If you are not sure if we need an article ask [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13397757860A07420100 here]]. If you can't find something to say about them that's relevant to this wiki's mission, then follow the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement and don't bother.

* '''UsefulNotes''': Where RealLife intersects with fiction, it is often handy to have a way to separate the Hollywood version of reality from the genuine thing. UsefulNotes serves this purpose. It is not a soapbox, nor it is is an excuse to become Wikipedia and document everything that happens.

* Articles created solely to talk about RealLife things or people. We only care about these as far as they relate to {{Media}}. If you want a reference source, go to {{Wikipedia}}. That said, if something is such a big deal that it shows up in fiction a lot, it may deserve a UsefulNotes article. You may also want to TakeItToTheForums.

* "Tools" is the toolbox. Here you can Get Known, look at the master indexes, and upload media.

* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/knowerForm.php "Get known"/"Logged in"]] takes you to the Knower Form to create a handle, log into an existing handle, or log out. You need cookies enabled in your browser to stay logged in. Don't worry, we don't need your name or email address, just a handle so we can identify you on the wiki. You must have a handle to edit pages, create a YKTTW, write a review, or post in the forums.

* If you try to edit a page and get a notification that it is "Checked out", that's because someone else is editing it. Wait for them to save their edit -- if they haven't saved after 20 minutes or so, the lock will be released.
* "Discuss" links to this page's discussion. This is where you go if you have a question, a suggestion, or a problem with an example or the entry itself. ''Don't'' put your objections into the page itself, as that's Administrivia/ConversationInTheMainPage which ''will'' be axed.
* "Related to..." runs a search for this page's title. It lets you know how many other pages link to this page.

This wiki requires that you create a login (aka, a {{troper}} handle) to be allowed to edit articles, write a review, create a YKTTW, post in Discussions, or post in the forums. You create a handle by '''[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/knowerForm.php Getting Known]]'''. Your login information will be stored in a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie cookie]] on your computer. If you don't have cookies enabled, then some site features may not work for you.

We don't require your real name, but we do need you to provide an email address for verification and security purposes, We also store your profile information and your IP address(es). See our [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/privacypolicy.php Privacy Policy]] for more information.

* Your handle '''and''' password may only contain alphanumerics: the letters a-z, A-Z, and the digits 0-9. If you don't follow this rule, you can still log in and post in the forums, but you won't be allowed to edit articles.
* The first character of your handle should be a letter (a-z, A-Z), not a digit or special character. If it's not, there could be problems linking to your contributor page. You can customize the display of your handle later.

* To log in on a different computer, enter your handle and password and click the "Already known. Just bake a new cookie" button, not the "Create Knowage" button.

* Multiple handles (also known as {{Sock Puppet}}s) are technically allowed, but we do restrict accounts to one per [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_address IP address]] for security reasons.
* If you forget your password, create a new temporary handle and post in [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=5ld7gdqsyx49ikjep2qpdqem this forum thread]]. A moderator will assist you with recovering your old account.

* If you want help with English, [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=b9tcd2k65789p1pglrd92nvr this forum thread]] may be valuable.

In other words, series, books, games, actors, creators -- anything that isn't a new index or {{trope}}. All new entries are welcome, as ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability. However, don't just paste in the {{Wikipedia}} entry. We encourage looking up verifiable sources to find more information to add to the page, but write something original.

* Click the new red link you made and edit the page. The ProgramEntryTemplate is a good place to look for formatting tips.
* Add the title to the relevant index(es); the full list is at Administrivia/{{Namespace}}.
* Set the Page Type via the Tools menu on the left side. Use "a work" for media pages, and "a creator" for authors, singers, producers, networks, etc.

* A common error is to create a new article but not add examples, counting on WikiMagic to fill them in later. But if you don't add examples and cross-reference them, how will anyone find your new article? We call these stubs and they frequently get deleted.