History Main / HedgeTrimmer

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1618086045064904400&page=1#1 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]

[[quoteright:242:[[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zp_pruning_7817.jpg]]]]

->''"Look! The Shut the Fuck Up Fairy has come to bless your very long story."''
-->-- '''[[Creator/{{Egoraptor}} Arin Hanson]]''', ''Music/NinjaSexParty''

[[AC:For the ''literal'' hedge trimmers and other power tools used as weapons in fiction, see ChainsawGood.]]

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments or directly re-writing the work of others to reflect concise, impartial observation. Instead of removing the incorrect information or biased statements, or turning a one word example into a complete comprehensible sentence, they add their own thoughts, elaborations, and counterpoints to the existing text. Over time, this results in sprawling examples and trope descriptions full of contradictions and {{weasel words}} and [[Administrivia/ThreadMode long meandering discussions]] spanning multiple bullet points. These are hard to read and while well intentioned, this behavior can create redundant and confusing tangles of PurpleProse and NonSequitur. But to many, it would be rude to do anything to actually fix the problem, since it would require deleting so much that others have written with the best of intentions.

The Hedge Trimmer has [[GoodIsNotSoft no such hangups]].

The Hedge Trimmer is a merciless subspecies of [[Administrivia/LumperVsSplitter Lumper]] more interested in maintaining articles than starting them. To these tropers, a trope article or works page is like a garden. A garden in need of trimming.

WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. Administrivia/ThreadMode is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. Administrivia/{{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements. Bits of (perceived) [[Administrivia/TVTropesGlossary Fancruft]] are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. Administrivia/WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

A full blown Administrivia/SignalToNoiseTrainWreck may induce TranquilFury.

Tolerable levels of cruft vary depending on the individual hedge trimmer, and can be influenced by how amusing the rambling is or how long a clear explanation needs to be. In extreme cases, [[MemeticMutation Too Long; Didn't Read]] is used unironically, and even for the most tolerant shear-wielders some articles are thought not to dignify the use of the scrollbar. Additionally, Discussion pages tend to be glossed over like Martian instruction manuals.[[note]]As, after all, they only contain ''more'' irrelevant natter which ''cannot'' be trimmed.[[/note]]

While they can tear through articles like a chainsaw-wielding psycho through a group of camp councilors, most Hedge Trimmers do have the best of intentions. Whatever the standards of the appropriate format, they will cut and mutilate their targets to fit. Ultimately the Hedge Trimmer's goal is leaving a page they edit in a clearer and more pleasant to read state.

The wise Hedge Trimmer will quickly learn that a very good grasp of grammar, and attention to when nuance and detail ''are'' important, can help avoid Administrivia/{{Edit War}}s.

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WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. Administrivia/ThreadMode is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. Administrivia/{{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements. Bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. Administrivia/WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

!!Tropes listed in the WikiTropes index are being discussed at the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop. Click the link [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1618086045064904400&page=1#1 here]] to join the discussion.

[[AC:For the literal hedge trimmers and other power tools used as weapons in fiction, see ChainsawGood.]]

[[AC:For the literal hedge trimmers and other power tools used as weapon in fiction, see ChainsawGood.]]

For the literal hedge trimmers and other power tools used as weapon in fiction, see ChainsawGood.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments or directly re-writing the work of others to reflect concise, impartial observation. Instead of removing the incorrect information or biased statements, or turning a one word example into a complete comprehensible sentence, they add their own thoughts, elaborations, and counterpoints to the existing text. Over time, this results in sprawling examples and trope descriptions full of [[WikiSchizophrenia contradictions]] and {{weasel words}} and [[Administrivia/ThreadMode long meandering discussions]] spanning multiple bullet points. These are hard to read and while well intentioned, this behavior can create redundant and confusing tangles of PurpleProse and NonSequitur. But to many, it would be rude to do anything to actually fix the problem, since it would require deleting so much that others have written with the best of intentions.

The Hedge Trimmer has [[GoodIsNotSoft no such hangups.]]

WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. Administrivia/ThreadMode is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. Administrivia/{{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements, and bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. Administrivia/WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments or directly re-writing the work of others to reflect concise, impartial observation. Instead of removing the incorrect information or biased statements, or turning a one word example into a complete comprehensible sentence, they add their own thoughts, elaborations, and counterpoints to the existing text. Over time, this results in sprawling examples and trope descriptions full of [[WikiSchizophrenia contradictions]] and {{weasel words}} and [[ThreadMode long meandering discussions]] spanning multiple bullet points. These are hard to read and while well intentioned, this behavior can create redundant and confusing tangles of PurpleProse and NonSequitur. But to many, it would be rude to do anything to actually fix the problem, since it would require deleting so much that others have written with the best of intentions.

WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. {{Thread Mode}} is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. Administrivia/{{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements, and bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. Administrivia/WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. {{Thread Mode}} is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. Administrivia/{{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements, and bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

[[quoteright:250:[[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zp_pruning_7817.jpg]]]]

-->--'''[[Creator/{{Egoraptor}} Arin Hanson]]''', ''Music/NinjaSexParty''

WallsOfText are overgrown shrubs to prune into topiary. {{Thread Mode}} is an unpleasant vine that infests example sections. {{Natter}} is a parasitic moss that grows on other statements, and bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds. WordCruft is AlienKudzu. The Hedge Trimmer seeks and destroys all of them.

-->--'''[[Creator/{{Egoraptor}} Arin Hanson]], ''Music/NinjaSexParty''

->''"Look! The Shut the Fuck Up up Fairy has come to bless your very long story."''

-->--Creator/ArinHanson,''Music/NinjaSexParty''

''"Look! The Shut the Fuck Up up Fairy has come to bless your very long story."''

A full blown {{Signal To Noise Trainwreck}} may induce TranquilFury.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments or directly re-writing the work of others to reflect concise, impartial observation. Instead of removing the incorrect information or biased statements, or turning a one word example into a complete comprehensible sentence, they add their own thoughts, elaborations, and counterpoints to the existing text. Over time, this results in sprawling examples and trope descriptions full of [[WikiSchizophrenia contradictions]] and {{weasel words}} and [[ThreadMode long meandering discussions]] spanning multiple bullet points. These are hard to read and while well intentioned, this behavior can create redundant and confusing tangles of PurpleProse and NonSequitur. But to many, it would be rude to do anything to actually fix the problem, since it would require deleting so much that others have written.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments or directly re-writing the work of others to reflect concise, impartial observation. Instead of removing the incorrect information or biased statements, they add their own thoughts, elaborations, and counterpoints to the existing text. Over time, this results in sprawling examples and trope descriptions full of [[WikiSchizophrenia contradictions]] and {{weasel words}} and [[ThreadMode long meandering discussions]] spanning multiple bullet points. These are hard to read and while well intentioned, this behavior can create redundant and confusing tangles of PurpleProse and NonSequitur. But to many, it would be rude to do anything to actually fix the problem, since it would require deleting so much that others have written.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments, which result in a [[WikiSchizophrenia sentence full of exceptions]] and {{weasel words}}.

The wise Hedge Trimmer will quickly learn that a very good grasp of grammar, and attention to when nuance and detail ''are'' important, can help avoid {{Edit War}}s.

The wise Hedge Trimmer will quickly learn that a very good grasp grammar, and attention to when nuance and detail ''are'' important, can help avoid {{Edit War}}s.

[[quoteright:242:[[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zp_pruning_7817.jpg]]]]

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments, which result in a [[WikiSchizophrenia sentence full of exceptions]] and {{weasel words}}. Meanwhile, the Hedge Trimmer is a merciless subspecies of [[Administrivia/LumperVsSplitter Lumper]], editing things down to be as concise as possible like a sheep goes at grass. While how long an article is usually depends either on how much one writer can ramble or how long a good explanation needs to be, the Hedge Trimmer figures an article should be as long as its assumed effect or importance. [[MemeticMutation Too Long; Didn't Read]] is used unironically, and some articles are thought not to dignify the use of the scrollbar. Discussion pages especially are glossed over like Martian instruction manuals.

The core reasoning is, whatever the standards of the appropriate format, they will cut and mutilate it to fit into that. The Hedge Trimmer can only avoid getting into {{Edit War}}s if he has a very good grasp of grammar. If WallsOfText are overgrown ivy, bits of (perceived) {{Fancruft}} are stinkweeds that kill bees and eat birds.

One side-effect of conciseness is most Hedge Trimmers edit articles rather than start them.

A lot of polite wiki authors are uncomfortable with outright deleting fragments, which result in a [[WikiSchizophrenia sentence full of exceptions]] and {{weasel words}}. Meanwhile, the Hedge Trimmer is a merciless subspecies of [[LumperVsSplitter Lumper]], editing things down to be as concise as possible like a sheep goes at grass. While how long an article is usually depends either on how much one writer can ramble or how long a good explanation needs to be, the Hedge Trimmer figures an article should be as long as its assumed effect or importance. [[MemeticMutation Too Long; Didn't Read]] is used unironically, and some articles are thought not to dignify the use of the scrollbar. Discussion pages especially are glossed over like Martian instruction manuals.