User:Batsondl/Sandbox 44

What should this page be called?

• FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Appropriate Topics
• FamilySearch Wiki:Policies
• FamilySearch Wiki:Guiding Principles
• What should be on this page: Help:Guiding Principles and Policies
  • FamilySearch Wiki:Terms of Use - rename page to Terms of Use and replace content with a link to the current FS link: Terms of Use - Also, should we change the link from Disclaimers in footer to, Terms of use? It will be twice on the page
  • FamilySearch Wiki:Privacy Policy blank page and link to FamilySearch Privacy Notice
  • FamilySearch Content Submission Agreement - create page with a link to this?
  • Guiding Principles
  • Wiki Policies
  • Wiki Policy Changes or Additions DELETE!!!
  • Purpose and Appropriate Topics

What the Wiki is

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, other resources, research strategies, and genealogical guidance to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included are locality pages for countries around the world and topic pages that include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how to find it.

• Written content is under Creative Commons license, however, some FamilySearch images are copyrighted. Be sure to view the license attached to any FamilySearch images before using or sharing to avoid breaking copyright laws.
• Links to free and subscription websites regarding genealogy databases, records, images, websites, research strategies, repositories, archives, government agencies, or anything else helpful to a user to locate their ancestor.
• Written from a neutral point of view representing fairly and without bias all significant views of family history related topics that have been published by reliable sources. This allows those who use and depend on the knowledge contained within the Research Wiki to see and try all techniques and suggestions for finding records about their ancestors. Neutral point of view also requires the citation of sources that are authoritative and verifiable.
• Articles should cite authoritative sources whenever possible.
• Be kind and courteous regarding edits and talking to fellow users on talk pages.
• Civility and polite discourse must be the rule. Rude, insensitive, argumentative, impolite communications are unacceptable in the Wiki community. Written or verbal personal attacks should be reported to administration. Users and contributors should encourage polite behavior in others and report offenders. As a community owned and operated entity, this site and its visitors should be treated with respect and dignity.
• Always work to improve the site. Better content, improved usability, and clear and complete information will improve the site. Freely apply the six Guiding Principles.
• Links to online sites that can be used to search for ancestor's records
  (see an example of an online record page).
• Instructions on how to find, use and analyze records that are genealogically useful.
• Historical definitions of legal terms, occupations and other terms that are useful to genealogists.
• Images of records used as examples of the kind of information a type of record will contain.

What the Wiki is not

The Wiki should not include:

• Discussions of religion, politics, ethnicity, culture, and history except in relation to family history research and record keeping.
• Images and files of source documents except when showing sample documents, especially associated with Historical Records collections.
• Biographical information about an individual, unless it's used to describe a record or used in a case study to illustrate a research process or principle.
• Post data sets and genealogical records, such as obituaries, military histories, or transcriptions of record sources.
• Lists of individuals in index form or a repository of individual information.
• Personal points of view, personal opinion, personal experiences, or arguments.
• Personal testimonials, stories of research success, or advertising platforms.
• Advertising slanted overwhelmingly to any one vendor's products.
• Advertising for products or services.
• Edit wars and fighting over competing viewpoints. Use the Tips to Avoid Disputes and the guidelines to the Dispute Resolution process to help guide your efforts to resolve differences on your own.
• Profanity or profane slang in any form or language.
• Lengthy poems, speeches or other source text. Instead link to the information.
• Collection of product reviews. ???
• Information on FamilySearch products. ???
• Holidays and family traditions. Those which affect family history records or research methods are mentioned under specific countries. ???
• Internal policies or contact information of the Family History Department or any other affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Religious doctrine or advocate or criticize religious practices.
• Images of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Criticize FamilySearch or any of its business operations

What you agree to by using the Wiki

• Conditions of Use. When you register to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki you agree to abide by the FamilySearch Conditions of Use. There is a link to that document on the bottom of every page.

Contributors Expectations

In addition to FamilySearch Terms of Use, we require contributors not to use the Wiki as a forum to conjecture, gossip, or debate about the priorities, motives, processes, policies, or competence of FamilySearch or its personnel. These activities fall outside of the scope and use of this site and may result in loss of contributor privileges.

Final determination about the appropriateness of contributed content rests with FamilySearch.

Not allowed

• Soliciting feedback or collect suggestions regarding the development of products other than this wiki.
• Bots provisions. Bots, or programs that update pages automatically, are not allowed without prior consent from FamilySearch management.
• Site administrators will respond quickly to alleged copyright violations, however, use mediation to resolve issues, rather than legal threats.
• Three-revert rule. Do not revert any page or any part of a page more than 3 times in 24 hours. Doing so may lead to action being taken against your account by an administrator. (keep?)
• Anything that is added, removed, or changed in the Wiki that is an attempt to compromise the integrity of FamilySearch Research Wiki is vandalism.
• 3D graphics or illustrations. Please try to avoid graphics or images that require movement, rotation, or execution. Keep images small and manageable. ????????

Doctrinal information in the Research Wiki

Doctrinal information of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not belong on the pages of this Wiki. The wiki audience is world-wide, to individuals of many faiths, who love genealogy for the sake of genealogy work and is not a place to put information about doctrine. This includes PowerPoint presentations and other documents that may include doctrinal information in them. See the Wiki Purpose and Appropriate Topics for more information.

Failure to comply

• Users who fail to obey policy and who do not follow the FamilySearch Research Wiki Conditions of Use will be blocked from using the Research Wiki. Disruptive users, those who deliberately fan controversy, or who maliciously attack members of the community or community standards, will be subject to blocking. Blocking may last for a short or long period of time, which length of time will be determined by consensus of the administrators. Users who have to be blocked multiple times, or whose offenses are particularly egregious will be subject to ban. Other community members who are not banned should act responsibly to neither bait the banned user nor assist them.
• Arbitration. A committee of administrators will form the arbitration board. Arbitration is needed when disputes about user conduct are reported. The decisions made by the Arbitration Board are final. However, a community member may Appeal to the Arbitration Board for decisions on deletions of content, blocking or banning. Appeals of arbitration board decisions are sent to FamilySearch Directors. There is no appeal beyond that level.
• Disputes between members. When disputes arise between community members they are strongly encouraged to talk together and resolve their differences without using arbitration or mediation.
• Mediation. A process available for request when disputes between members cannot be resolved on their own.
• Inappropriate information as described above will be taken off the FHC wiki page by FamilySearch management.

Family History Center/Library Wiki pages

The purpose of the family history center/library wiki page is to disseminate information about the center including its operational hours, contact information, classes and services they offer.

Training for Temple and Family History Consultants

The family history center/library wiki page is first and foremost for the patron trying to obtain information about the center and what it offers. Adding extensive information about training for Temple and Family History consultants is not appropriate, especially when links to this information includes doctrinal phrases of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We suggest just one or two links be included on the family history center wiki page. Information for priesthood leaders should never be listed on a FHC wiki page as all direction is given from priesthood authorities in the area and not by family history centers/libraries. The page should also not be used to communicate ward and stake goals or be used by the ward to give announcements or local leadership responsibilities.

Should we delete this page?

• Policy Changes or Additions

What to do

• FamilySearch Wiki:Terms of Use - rename page to Terms of Use and replace content with a link to the current FS link: Terms of Use - Also, should we change the link from Disclaimers in footer to, Terms of use? It will be twice on the page
• FamilySearch Wiki:Privacy Policy blank page and link to FamilySearch Privacy Notice
• FamilySearch Content Submission Agreement - create page with a link to this?
• Add to the FamilySearch Wiki:FamilySearch Research Wiki page, a link to About FamilySearch
• Delete Guiding Principles (moving all content to another document)
• Change FamilySearch Wiki:Policies to FamilySearch Wiki:Wiki Policies? Or is that redundant?
• FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Appropriate Topics, redirect this page to the FamilySearch Wiki:FamilySearch Research Wiki to the section Purpose of the FamilySearch Research Wiki

Should we keep these?

Research Wiki Guidelines and related links

Type of guideline	Article links	Description
General (Article)	Guiding Principles	Free, Verifiable, Neutral, Spam free, and Code of Conduct
General (Article)	Consensus	Defined as: first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief
General (Article)	Manual of Style	A set of standards for the design and writing of wiki articles
General (Article)	Transforming a Style Idea to a Manual of Style Guideline	Procedure to try to transform your idea into a site-wide guideline
Behavioral guideline	Assume good faith	Be civil and follow dispute resolution processes, rather than attacking contributors or edit warring with them
Behavioral guideline	Etiquette Guidelines	Principles of etiquette or "Wikiquette", on how to work with others on the Wiki
Behavioral guideline	Be kind to newcomers	Most newcomers are not familiar with the policies or guiding principles so respectfully instruct them
Behavioral guideline	Digital Coups	Don’t try to win an edit war by bringing in allies or by enlisting friends to create the illusion of support.
Behavioral (Article)	Tips to avoid disputes	To prevent an edit war, both contributors should use civilized discussion
Behavioral (Article)	Talk to each other	The negotiation process will remain transparent by recording the entire conversation on the article "talk" page
Behavioral (Article)	Contributor assistance	Contributor assistance can be sought by listing a dispute through an edit to this site
Behavioral (Article)	Mediation Requests	If you are experiencing an editing conflict, you can submit the issue here so that it will be mediated
Content guideline	Proper Content	Just because you can publish something widely doesn’t mean you should if it is not relevant
Content guideline	Proven techniques	When sharing research information avoid unproven techniques. If you have not tried it then do not share it
Content guideline	Source Citation Formats	The first contributor to add a reference to an article sets the style for that article.
Content guideline	Link, don’t copy	It is far better to add a brief quote or summary and then link to the public domain source material
Content guideline	Biographies	Biographies of individuals, whether living or deceased, are not allowed (except as an short example)
Content guideline	Syllabuses	An article that covers a syllabus should remain as given, a new article can be created with the latest information
Content (Article)	Accuracy and collaboration	Wiki content authoring isn’t about command and control; it’s about the merit of ideas. We are smarter than me
Organizational (Proposal)	Categorization	Proposal: The categories used should reflect where users are most likely to look if they can't remember the article name
Organizational guideline	Category deletion	Categories that do not follow naming conventions can be immediately renamed and deleted after moving articles
Organizational guideline	Disambiguation	Process of resolving conflicts when a single term can be associated with more than one topic
Editing guideline	Signatures	Talk pages should be signed to aid discussions: articles should not be signed because they are shared work
Editing guideline	User ID	It is best to choose a neutral, non-controversial name. No obscene or profane names are allowed.
Editing guideline	Talk page guidelines	A space for editors to discuss improvements to articles and other pages using courtesy and consideration
Editing guideline	Three-revert rule	Do not revert any page or any part of a page more than 3 times in 24 hours or involvement by an administrator may result
Editing guideline	User page	Your user page is not a personal website and should only be used for Wiki related content
Style Guideline	Article or page size	Article size should be determined by readability and organization (100K byte maximum per Wikipedia)
Style Guideline	Naming conventions	Best practices in naming articles, categories, images, files, and templates for this Wiki.
Style (Proposal)	Naming Conventions for Geographic Names	Proposed policy provides that article names should be chosen for the general reader, not for specialists
Category	Category:Style guidelines	Category listing
Template	Template:Policies and guidelines	Template of policies and guidelines