Forum:Adding "overabundance" point to trivia guideline

Forums: Index → Proposals → Adding "overabundance" point to trivia guideline

This is a closed discussion about an accepted proposed change on SmashWiki. It remains for archival purposes. The closing administrator adds: "Serpent  King 10:04, February 6, 2021 (EST)"

One of the most common types of trivia is a detail that is unique to one or a few characters, stages, game, etc that the majority of others in the category don't have. Since joining the wiki, I have noticed users, particularly new users or IPs add a detail that applies to too many to actually be noteworthy, some honorable mentions are this, this, this, and this. Most of the time these get reverted anyway, but my point is if it applies to too many characters, stages, etc, it basically removes the whole point of the trivia being unique and instead serves to bloat the trivia section, and not having a restriction on overabundance will allow anyone to write a trivia about any little detail found in some but not all characters and the like. Like lets say trivia that goes "Ness is one of 21 (out of 86) characters in Ultimate who has a reflector, the others being (insert list here)". So I believe things like this can consult in bad trivia as per SW:TRIVIA, it can go something like this:

• Overabundance. "Mario is one of only eight characters must be unlocked in Final Destination in World of Light, the other being, Bowser (Giga Bowser in World of Light), Shiek, Marth, Snake, Villager, Mii Brawler and Mii Swordfighter" Common trivia for many characters, stages, universes, etc is that they have a unique detail in which most others don't have the distinction. If the distinction is shared with too many of the like, then it removes the whole point of the trivia being notable. As the amount of fighters, stages, etc can vary from game to game, idealy if more than 25% share the trait, then it's no longer unique."

So basically there's no specific limit to how many characters and the like would make the trivia overabundant, it requires common sense looking at the big picture to decide if it applies to too many to be noteworthy. Do suggest any improvements if needed. Omegα Toαd, the Toαd Wαrrior. (BUP) 02:29, December 21, 2020 (EST)

Support

1. Per proposer. Superbound (talk) 05:47, January 2, 2021 (EST)
2. I initially said Neutral to this, but the points I raised have since been rectified. As a bonus, 25% is in fact the yardstick I was thinking of at the time. Black Vulpine of the 🦊Furry Nation🐺. Furries make the internets go! :3 23:47, January 4, 2021 (EST)
3. I would agree, though making this a subsection of "uninteresting" rather than its own point would be my preference. It's a general kind of overlap, but this is still a specific enough problem to address. ~ StrawberryChan (talk) 02:06, January 5, 2021 (EST)
4. Support making this a subsection of "uninteresting" per above. We've had too much trivia like this. Awesomelink234, the Super Cool Gamer (talk) 10:38, January 5, 2021 (EST)
5. Support. Unique details are fine and dandy, but there does become a point when a line is crossed. Aidan, the Rurouni 02:29, January 15, 2021 (EST)
6. I agree. Considering the entirety of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's trivia section is harder to scroll through, it would be necessary to downsize the trivia sections. We are a wiki, a source for information, and I don't think the trivia section should have a huge emphasis when it comes to presenting information. -- PanchamBro (talk • contributions) 09:54, January 15, 2021 (EST)
7. Support. Some characters have painfully long trivia sections. WolfBloodSpam (talk) 17:14, January 30, 2021 (EST)

Neutral

1. I do believe this would fall under "Uninteresting" since if many fighters have a trait then it's not noteworthy nor interesting. Even then, I would like it to be more specific or at least add on to that point; I would say if more than 5 fighters have this trait then it's no longer unique. CookiesCreme 14:56, January 4, 2021 (EST)

#A general yardstick is necessary for this kind of thing - we can't just be saying 'no general limit' - that's very contradictory. As it is now, your proposal would be best folded into the "Uninteresting" category. Black Vulpine of the 🦊Furry Nation🐺. Furries make the internets go! :3 21:13, January 4, 2021 (EST)

1. My only gripe with this proposal is the 25% limit; it doesn't really work for trivia. The massive size fluctuation means the limit can get ridiculously biased in favor of large categories. For instance, 25% of Ultimate's 86 fighters is a hefty ~21, while 25% of Smash 64's 12 fighters is a mere 3. These numbers are way off the usual range for overabundant trivia, and would either hinder the addition of legitimate trivia or, ironically, give even more leeway to overabundant trivia. It gets even worse when applying this to larger categories like trophies, stickers, or spirits, where the limit skyrockets into the hundreds.

I believe using a set number as the limit would work much better than a percentage. It wouldn't be a perfect compromise, but it would greatly mitigate the problems introduced by a percentage. If the proposal goes unchanged, I'll likely remain neutral on this. Nokii — 13:31, January 15, 2021 (EST)

Good point. I put an example in the comments if we were to use a set number Omegα Toαd, the Toαd Wαrrior. (BUP) 19:42, January 15, 2021 (EST)

Comments

Seeing as the limit to how many characters is too vague, I did make some changes as to what I believe would make trivia overabundant. Alternatively some mention this should be a sub section for "uninteresting", which I wouldn't be opposed to either. Omegα Toαd, the Toαd Wαrrior. (BUP) 22:24, January 4, 2021 (EST)

Do not put the 25% thing in there. You can just tell that certain users are going to look at it and say "well 25% of 80 is 20 so if there's less than 20 fighters..." or something. Either that or mention that that is just 1 example that can be applied to 64 and Melee. Alex the Weeb 13:29, January 15, 2021 (EST)

If we do a set number it could go like:

• "What counts as overabundant can vary depending on the size of the category, however for most categories the limit can vary between 5-8, for example 5 of Smash 64's 12 fighters and 8 of Ultimate's 86 fighters."

What do you think of this? Omegα Toαd, the Toαd Wαrrior. (BUP) 19:38, January 15, 2021 (EST)

I think a set number would be quite restrictive. I'd argue for a case-by-case basis. There are some articles that don't need a huge crowd of trivia sections (see Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), but then there are articles that have a feasible amount of trivia. If we stick with a set number, then we might compromise plenty of articles with feasible trivia sections to slim down articles that have too much trivia.

I'm in support because I want the trivia sections to not overtake the actual information that is being presented with the rest of the article. Getting rid of overabundance is valid, but having a set number would make it harder to deal with overabundance. -- PanchamBro (talk • contributions) 21:53, January 15, 2021 (EST)

Bump. Omegα Toαd, the Toαd Wαrrior. (BUP) 17:57, January 19, 2021 (EST)