User:Mnbvcxz/templates

What are Comment templates, and why the are discouraged

Try to avoid creating templates that function as a "canned joke" and lack any other use. "Canned joke" templates (also called comment templates) are never funny, for the simple fact that a joke gets old when it appears on dozens of pages in the exact same form. Most comment templates fall into 4 basic types:

Approves/Disapproves templates:

These templates say that a given person/organization/thing approves, disapproves, likes, hates, etc the article. These templates generally tell the reader what the article is about, albeit, in a round about manner. However, in most instances, the reader can surmise the subject from the title. This means that the template is conveying Even when this type of template reveals the subject matter, that knowledge is not needed, and has the potential to ruin jokes.

Written By templates:

This are like Approves/disapproves templates. They can sometimes tell the reader what the article is about, but that information is either already revealed by the title, useless, or ruins jokes that appear later in the article.

This is "X":

This article contains material related to Japanese animation and was done by an Otaku. Don't be scared by the huge eyes and enormous tits.

These templates are like the written by or approves/disapproves templates. Although they are more direct than the two above, the also convey no information.

Pseudo-Warning templates:

These are close to warning templates; however, a pseudo-warning template points out the presence of something that the reader wouldn't find offensive or disturbing. In other words, if a warning template was the equivalent of a "Beware of Pit Bull" sign in real life, a pseudo-warning template would be a "Beware of 5 lB Furball lapdog" sign.

Why Comment Templates are bad

1. A comment template is at best a "canned jokes", and canned jokes never work. Even if a canned joke is funny, its not the 50th time.
2. Templates are difficult to remove once they get established. Templates can be spammed almost as quickly as they can be removed, whereas bad writing takes longer to write than it does to undo.
3. Templates tend to make pages ugly. One to two templates look ok, but an article with several templates looks ugly. Also, a page may need useful "color box" templates, such as legitimate warning boxes and sectional templates to help the reader navigate pages.
4. Templates may in fact seriously hurt articles by starting with the punch line. A "deadpan entry" (start serious then open with a joke) is a typical way to start to an article. If an article has a template which sorts articles by punchline, that joke is ruined.