Difference between revisions of "Herocopia:Community portal"

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# Don't delete a policy item (like this one) when it has aged or answers have been provided.  Instead, we will be archiving them to the bottom of this page.   
 
# Don't delete a policy item (like this one) when it has aged or answers have been provided.  Instead, we will be archiving them to the bottom of this page.   
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# Take advantage and use the '''"special page: Recent changes"''' to see where people are commenting on specific characters, topics or whatever.  Don't promote a local issue to this '''Help Talk Page''' unless you feel strongly that it is global in scope.  Even then, think twice about just how strongly you feel about that global nature of your topic.   
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# Take advantage and use the '''"special page: Recent changes"''' to see where people are commenting on specific characters, topics or whatever.  Don't promote a local issue to this '''Community portal page''' unless you feel strongly that it is global in scope.  Even then, think twice about just how strongly you feel about that global nature of your topic.   
  
 
--[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 18:08, 8 July 2013 (PDT)
 
--[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 18:08, 8 July 2013 (PDT)
  
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== Basic Guidelines pertaining to Herocopia ==
 
  
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The intended audience for this website are the casual readers of Astro City Comics.  It is a place for them to visit when they want additional information about the characters, places and events that occur between the covers of those publications.
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== Special Policy Note: '''''Documenting an Aging Super-Hero Universe''''' ==
 +
It's hard to believe that three decades have past since the publication of Astro City first started way back in 1995.  Also a bit surprising that the last new Astro City material is now several years old as well.  A lot of time has past and it becomes a documentation nightmare for a super-hero mythology that ages in real time, but no new material is available to track their current progress.  I would ask that the this website adapt a policy of freezing character status, age, relationship, and pretty much all historical information, confirmed or speculated, and be confined to what has been revealed in the issues at hand.  In other words, no interpolating fan speculations/conjectures to how the characters, devices, situations might have evolved to a current point in time landscape.
  
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With that in mind, here are some additional Guidelines for authors to consider.
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It is easy to assume that a lot of these characters are retired, perhaps dead, or encountered other life changing activities. Please fight the urge to append such extrapolations to this website. At least for now. If and when there is ever a new issue of Astro City, then this policy can be lifted.
  
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* '''Provide Context to your Writing'''
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Thanks for your understanding.
  
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:Trivia is great, that is a major aspect of what this site is all about.  However, when appending it to Herocopia pages, try to provide context, so the information isn't just noise.
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[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 20:20, 26 March 2026 (CDT)
  
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:For example this isn't very useful to a casual reader:
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----
  
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::''Earliest Appearance: 1959, 1964 to general population of Earth'' 
 
  
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:This on the other hand provides meaningful context that allows a Herocopia visitor to clearly understand the information being provided. Basically it has meaning and can be easily understood:
 
  
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::''In 1959, Eliot Mills saw and reported this incident for a feature story that he hoped would be printed in the [[Astro City Rocket]] newspaper. It was massively edited before publication and the general public did not hear of [[Shirak]] until five years later.''
 
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* '''{{Clarify}}'''
 
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:Usually and in most cases, when "{{clarify}}" is sprinkled into the commentary, it is because some form of specific information is needed to provide context to the commentary. Follow the suggestion mention above and/or a combination of the following is also  suggested as a possibility.
 
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# An issue, page and panel reference if it is in story. 
 
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# If it is out of story, a reference or link to the outside source is helpful. The letters page perhaps, or a thread forum on the web (link provided if at all possible). 
 
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# If you are referencing a comment that one of the creators have stated, an exact quote is nice if possible, with a link if it is online.
 
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# Bruisers, the message board run by John Rosell, is gone. Many of us long timers still have memories of commentary made there, but with it gone there is no link.  But if you are referring to something from there,  some kind of specific reference to it is helpful, provides context and backs up the comment.
 
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::Example:
 
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:::During the heyday of the creator developed message board, '''Bruiser's''', the identity and background of [[The Blue Knight]] caused  quite a flurry of activity.  Many commentators immediately noticed the visual hint of the Blue Knight's image reflected in car mirrors and darkened windows, strategically placed in a few of the panels featuring police officer Joshua Stone.  One poster even tried to elicit commentary by suggesting that not only was Joshua the Blue Knight, but he was also patrolling the streets of Astro City as [[The Street Angel]].
 
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:Keep in mind, the goal is to provide a reference point, a basis for stating the speculation.
 
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:Use footnotes if the reference is cumbersome and breaks the word flow of the main commentary.
 
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* '''Try to avoid "passive voice" sentence structures.'''
 
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:They are cumbersome and difficult to read with comprehension.  Unfortunately, this site is littered with examples. Please try not to add to the confusion-pollution. If you need help identifying "passive voice,"  this article [http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-examples-of-passive-voice/] is concise and clear.  Anyway I liked it. You can also "google" for others.
 
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:''Please use good judgement when editing "passive voice" passages. Not all of them are evil.''
 
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* '''Create and Use Tables!'''
 
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:Please try to minimize creating a multitude of Herocopia pages for depositing tiny tidbits of information. Consider instead using a table or list on a single page.  The information will organize better that way, and will be a more pleasing reading experience for visitors to our site.  If you need help building tables, this page[http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Tables] should prove useful.  You can also tug on my cape for questions.  I will work to answer then as time permits.
 
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:'''UPDATE:''' now that we are integrating more and more SemanticWiki queries into the pages of Herocopia, the best choice for containing tibits of data will be on the pages of ''Annotation Event Note Cards.''  We can use queries to extract out the information and let wiki derived a lot of our tables automatically.  Maintenance will be far easier, and the note cards provided direct context to the source of the data tidbits being referenced. 
 
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* '''Other Stuff'''
 
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:The Herocopia Project encompassed within this wiki site is changing and maturing. There is still a LOT of stuff about the tools and structures of mediaWiki to learn and digest.  Changes will continue as we learn more. 
 
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:The general attitudes here are more lax than the main [[wikipedia:|Wikipedia]] site.  Please help to keep them that way.  I hate rules and fiefdoms.
 
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Thanks for your patience and understanding here.
 
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- '''The Information Broker'''
 
 
== 'bots ==  
 
== 'bots ==  
  
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Title says it all.  Another visual distraction of mediaWiki.  If you want to see the Table Of Contents, you can override it in your Preferences. We are also looking into finding a way to embed it in the info-boxes  --[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 07:38, 27 August 2014 (PDT)
 
Title says it all.  Another visual distraction of mediaWiki.  If you want to see the Table Of Contents, you can override it in your Preferences. We are also looking into finding a way to embed it in the info-boxes  --[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 07:38, 27 August 2014 (PDT)
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Fenyx4 has also figured out how to get the Table of Contents embeded in the info-boxes.  It looks much better there.  It still defaults to NOT being shown.  If you want it, your personal Preference tab should be clicked. --[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 23:09, 30 November 2015 (PST)
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''(update)''
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Well, establishing TOC settings are not as easy as it use to be.  They have removed the options for showing/suppressing the TOC in the Preference Tab.  You control overriding the site's default by establishing  your own '''user cascading style sheet'''.    Do the following.
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# "Create a '''<skin>.css''' file.  <skin> equals whatever skin type you are running.  Site default is '''vector'''.
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# In the <skin>.css file add the following: <nowiki>"''.toc, #toc { display: block; }''"</nowiki>
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# Save the file.  You may have to clear your browser cache to see your changes.
 +
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If you have further questions, do a Google search on "mediawiki TOC" and also check out the tutorials for [http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_display_visibility.asp, CSS layouts].
 +
 +
--[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 22:15, 1 December 2015 (PST)
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 +
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== Anonymous Edits ==
 +
Fenyx4 finished the software upgrades.  One plus to this action, '''anonymous edits''' are back.  Different method for getting in.  Deceptively simple safeguard, yet uniquely effective.  We'll see how it goes. 
 +
--[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] --[[User:Infobroker|Infobroker]] ([[User talk:Infobroker|talk]]) 23:09, 30 November 2015 (PST)

Latest revision as of 20:21, 26 March 2026

Introductions to General Policies[edit]

This page is the meeting ground for Herocopia.com topics that are more global in scope. A place to ask generic questions, raise concerns, discuss design and content issues.

A couple of slight difference for the veteran contributors to be aware of please.

  1. Don't delete a policy item (like this one) when it has aged or answers have been provided. Instead, we will be archiving them to the bottom of this page.
  2. Take advantage and use the "special page: Recent changes" to see where people are commenting on specific characters, topics or whatever. Don't promote a local issue to this Community portal page unless you feel strongly that it is global in scope. Even then, think twice about just how strongly you feel about that global nature of your topic.

--Infobroker (talk) 18:08, 8 July 2013 (PDT)


Special Policy Note: Documenting an Aging Super-Hero Universe[edit]

It's hard to believe that three decades have past since the publication of Astro City first started way back in 1995. Also a bit surprising that the last new Astro City material is now several years old as well. A lot of time has past and it becomes a documentation nightmare for a super-hero mythology that ages in real time, but no new material is available to track their current progress. I would ask that the this website adapt a policy of freezing character status, age, relationship, and pretty much all historical information, confirmed or speculated, and be confined to what has been revealed in the issues at hand. In other words, no interpolating fan speculations/conjectures to how the characters, devices, situations might have evolved to a current point in time landscape.

It is easy to assume that a lot of these characters are retired, perhaps dead, or encountered other life changing activities. Please fight the urge to append such extrapolations to this website. At least for now. If and when there is ever a new issue of Astro City, then this policy can be lifted.

Thanks for your understanding.

Infobroker (talk) 20:20, 26 March 2026 (CDT)


'bots[edit]

I have been trying to get 'bots working for some time. It has been an on again, off again project that I do as I have time. For whatever reason, it is just not taking for this web site provider that Fenyx4 and I have set up. Still working on it. It will be handy for things like sort-order for all the "The" entries. But for now don't hold your breath waiting for it. It is proving very stubborn and the standard how-to guides aren't working. I am thinking it might be a permissions problem, but I can't figure out where or why. Still working on this. --Infobroker (talk) 10:58, 23 February 2014 (PST)


Mister Smartie (tip)[edit]

Just so everyone understands, those EditMark boxes with Mr. Smartie in them are not permanent. They are bookmarks for commentary and keeping track of places that need work. In most cases, anyone is welcome to use them. I don't recommend wasting your time putting link markers inside them. Eventually the boxes will be edited away.

- jb the ib -

The Mister Smartie template will be the tool of preference for keeping track of "to do" items. They will be especially effective for requesting help from system admins.


[edit] section[edit]

We have changed things so that the '[edit]' section no longer displays by default. It was visually annoying. This is now the default setting. You can still edit, just not by sections. If you want to see the section "edit" link, you can change it in your 'Preferences' section. (Upper right area on this very page). --Infobroker (talk) 16:13, 2 October 2013 (PDT)

Suppressing Table Of Contents - now default[edit]

Title says it all. Another visual distraction of mediaWiki. If you want to see the Table Of Contents, you can override it in your Preferences. We are also looking into finding a way to embed it in the info-boxes --Infobroker (talk) 07:38, 27 August 2014 (PDT)

Fenyx4 has also figured out how to get the Table of Contents embeded in the info-boxes. It looks much better there. It still defaults to NOT being shown. If you want it, your personal Preference tab should be clicked. --Infobroker (talk) 23:09, 30 November 2015 (PST)

(update) Well, establishing TOC settings are not as easy as it use to be. They have removed the options for showing/suppressing the TOC in the Preference Tab. You control overriding the site's default by establishing your own user cascading style sheet. Do the following.

  1. "Create a <skin>.css file. <skin> equals whatever skin type you are running. Site default is vector.
  2. In the <skin>.css file add the following: "''.toc, #toc { display: block; }''"
  3. Save the file. You may have to clear your browser cache to see your changes.

If you have further questions, do a Google search on "mediawiki TOC" and also check out the tutorials for CSS layouts.

--Infobroker (talk) 22:15, 1 December 2015 (PST)


Anonymous Edits[edit]

Fenyx4 finished the software upgrades. One plus to this action, anonymous edits are back. Different method for getting in. Deceptively simple safeguard, yet uniquely effective. We'll see how it goes. --Infobroker --Infobroker (talk) 23:09, 30 November 2015 (PST)

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