Uncyclopedia:Cross-namespace redirects
 | This is an essay. It is not an ignorable policy on Uncyclopedia, so you should ignore it even more and disregard the mad ramblings of its writer. Or you could submit it as an Uncycloversity assignment in lieu of actually doing any work. |
On Wikipedia, there is a quick deletion policy called R2, which basically forbids cross-namespace redirects, except in certain circumstances.
While at Uncyclopedia, we don't have those kind of policies, cross namespace redirects should only be used with restraint. Examples of use cases for cross-namespace redirects include:
- Obvious shortcuts, like VFH, VFD or VFP, when it is extremely unlikely that someone would search that up for an article.
- Links to UnNews, UnTunes, and any of our other UnProjects. This is always allowed, as long as those UnProject pages aren't being worked on in userspace.
- Any article that could warrant being moved to mainspace can have a redirect linking to it. This should usually be invoked only if the article is of a sufficient length and quality; examples of articles that could fall in this clause include Non-Huffable Kitten, amongst others. Ask yourself the question, "could this article survive VFD if nominated?" If the answer is yes, a redirect is ok. If the answer is no, then don't create a redirect.
- A few miscellaneous cases include, for example, Zombiebaron.
If you are unsure whether the article is ready for mainspace or no, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid setting up a redirect. When moving an article to user space for "quality" reasons (e.g. as an alternative to VFD), it should have the redirect suppressed, if by an admin or anyone with the rollback user right. Otherwise, an administrator should delete it. This is to avoid draging readers in articles not ready.
As an example, take Interstate 80. It was deleted as, its ICU expired, and WohMi wanted to recreate it. It was in mainspace and he asked it to be moved to his userspace. Then MrX then moved it there, with a redirect. While Gale5050 tried to move it back, it was recreated by someone else. Finally, Cassie huffed it.
If you find a link to a userspace, remove it if it warrants it! Delete the link, or you could even create an entirely new article about it.
Keep in mind, this not only applies to redirects, but also to cross namespace links. And categories in userspace should be removed or decategorized (place a colon after the brackets), to avoid taking readers to articles not ready in this fashion. When an article is at VFD, it has a link to it - so does Wikipedia in fact, and an article at VFH will link, which is ok, but don't do it in most cases, especially if you are unsure.