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    Original post 
The Wiki Rule is about how the Internet is capable of generating a fan-made wiki on virtually any topic imaginable (movies, books, TV series, comics, fortune cookies, etc.). It is an 11-year-old trivia trope consisting largely of external links and Potholes. This was brought up in a trope talk a few years ago, and it was eventually added to the Tropes Needing TRS because, and I quote, "[a wiki's] existence is not very notable". Here is the Wick Check.

Percentages (70/70):

  • Potholes = 13%
  • Just a weblink = 71%
  • Weblink + some details about the wiki = 13%
  • Misuse = 3%

Analysis: 71% of the sample consists solely of links to wiki sites, just pure links. This is probably motivated by its description, which only requires an existing wiki about a work (with a tvtrope page) to count. The remainder is made up of potholes that mention the trope and other examples with links and a bit more meat on the bones. However, I struggled to find any relevance in these last ones, because they simply discuss the wiki's current state or a few details about it, topics that aren't actually connected to the work itself but to the fandom of the work. Two of them even ask the reader to help expand the wiki, using the trope as some sort of ad. Overall, it appears that the trope doesn't have much to offer as a trivia trope in its current state.

Suggestion:

  • Making it a Definition-Only Page and removing all the standalone examples.
  • As suggested here:
    • Ban examples from being listed on work pages, but allow them on The Wiki Rule page itself.
    • Make it a Just for Fun page.
    • Rework the trope to be about when creators use a fan's wiki as a reference.
  • As suggested in the Tropes Needing TRS post:
    • Require examples that aren't hosted on wiki farms like FANDOM.
  • Other suggestion are welcome.

Wick check:

With more than two-thirds of the sample, The Wiki Rule is a clear offender of the rule Weblinks Are Not Examples.

Trope Repair Shop discussion


    open/close all folders 

     Potholes (9/70) 
  1. DracoInLeatherPants.Video Games: Kane, the leader of the Brotherhood of Nod in the Command & Conquer series. It doesn't help that his motivations seem to change every game, or that the developers themselves seem infected with Evil Is Cool.
    • At one point in the first game, he tells the player that "people believe what the media tells them to believe… and I tell the media what to believe". Quite fitting that this is exactly what happens among the fandom — another cutscene has Kane MST the "origin of Tiberium" scene from the GDI campaign, interrupting it at one point to explain that, as opposed to Dr. Mobius finding it and naming it after the Tiber River the first meteor crashed near, Kane himself actually discovered it first and named it after the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar. Now, if one were to look up Tiberium on Google, almost every result except the C&C Wiki won't even mention Mobius' version of its discovery and naming, much less assume that that's how it actually was discovered.
  2. Bare-Handed Puppetry: OobiEyes.com, a former online catalogue of unofficial Oobi puppets that closed in 2013, had a YouTube "partnership offer" that gave customers free Oobi eyes if they created web videos with their products. The result was a wide variety of Oobi tributes and spoofs appearing on YouTube, including entire series about bare hand puppet characters. Due to the former popularity of such videos, a wiki exists (of course it does!) for cataloging homemade films starring Oobi puppets.
  3. Characters.Kan Colle Eight: Sports a 16-inch twin gun mount in addition to her aircraft. The wiki even classifies her as an aviation battleship instead of a carrier.
  4. WesternAnimation.Ben 10 Omniverse: As noted by the show's official wiki, Clyde Fife is basically Napoleon Dynamite as a Ben 10 character.
  5. Crunchtastic: Strong Bad from Homestar Runner has coined "extracurriculariffic", and his Sblounskched! candy bar has a "crispety, cookety log" in the middle (a cookie center hollowed out to make room for more "candy matter"). There's a lot more. In fact the Homestar Runner Wiki has a page devoted to all the made-up words!
  6. Fanfic.The Greatest There Was Or Ever Will Be: In the grand tradition of the Internet, the fanfic has its own wiki here.
  7. UnusualEuphemism.Webcomics: This is yet another unintentionally hilarious element of Christian Weston Chandler's critically acclaimed masterpiece Sonichu. There are too many examples to list, but suffice it to say that the comic basically has its own vernacular based on the author's unusual usage of English. Examples include "pickle" for penis, "China" for vagina, and "raincoat" for condom. The CWCki has numerous pages about the words Chris comes up with, if you're really interested.
  8. Official Fan-Submitted Content: Within a loose view of the Disney Ducks Comic Universe canon, certain ideas or fancomics submitted to official creators' blogs and heartily approved by said official creators have got some credit, and are treated as such on the Wiki.
  9. Characters.Pokemon Diamond And Pearl Gym Leaders And Elite Four: In English: Fantina = Phantom. Plus, according to the PokéWiki her name is the same in both English and Spanish. In Spanish, though, Fantina comes from the more obvious word Fantasma note . The wiki also suggests the name is a reference to Fantine from Les Misérables.

     Just a weblink (50/70) 
  1. Trivia.Sam And Max: The Sam & Max Wiki.
  2. Trivia.Magic Kyun Renaissance: Magic Kyun! Renaissance Wikia.
  3. Trivia.Yu Yu Hakusho: This one and this one, although the former is much better. ► The second link is down
  4. Trivia.Fantasy Life: ReveriaExplorer, a database for every item in the game.
  5. Trivia.I Dont Want To Be The Hive Queen: Has one here.
  6. Trivia.Sky Children Of The Light: The Sky wiki is right here!
  7. Trivia.Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII: The Final Fantasy Wiki.
  8. Trivia.Changeling The Dreaming: The White Wolf Wiki and Changeling: The Dreaming Wiki.
  9. Trivia.The Lord Of The Rings: The One Wiki To Rule Them All, and The Tolkien Gateway.
  10. Trivia.Scape And Run Parasites: Scape and Run: Parasites Wiki.
  11. Trivia.Lovecraft Country: Lovecraft Country Wiki
  12. Trivia.Farm Ville: The Farmville Wiki.
  13. Trivia.Vib Ribbon: The Vib-Ribbon Wiki.
  14. Trivia.Assassins Creed: Here.
  15. Trivia.One Hundred Percent Orange Juice: The game has an official wiki.
  16. Trivia.Twelve Tails Online: The Thailand 12 Tails Online Wiki and Wikia's 12 Tails Online English Wiki.
  17. Trivia.Shadow Raiders: Shadow Raiders Wiki.
  18. Trivia.Urusei Yatsura: The Urusei Yatsura Wiki.
  19. Trivia.Boss Monster: Here you go.
  20. Trivia.The Moomins: Moomin Wiki
  21. Trivia.Realm Of The Mad God: Right here.
  22. Trivia.Redungeon: Redungeon Wiki | Fandom
  23. Trivia.Choushinsei Flashman: Covered as part of RangerWiki.
  24. Trivia.Danger Days The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys: The Danger Days Wiki, which covers the album, music videos, and comics.
  25. Trivia.Guyver: The Guyver Wiki.
  26. Trivia.Eureka Seven: Eureka Seven Wiki.
  27. Trivia.Akuma No Riddle: Has a wiki here.
  28. Trivia.A Thing Of Vikings: Has one located here.
  29. Trivia.Alchemy Stars: Here is the Fandom Wiki.
  30. Trivia.CSI: The CSI Wiki.
  31. Trivia.Welcome To The Game: Made before the game even came out, here.
  32. Trivia.Dragon Quest Builders: The Dragon Quest Wiki, Wikia Dragon Quest Wiki, and Dragon Quest Builders Wiki.
  33. Trivia.Ninku: Here it is.
  34. Trivia.Huntik Secrets And Seekers: Huntik Wiki
  35. Trivia.The Harlem Globetrotters: The Harlem Globetrotters Wiki.
  36. Trivia.Forever Knight: The Forever Knight Wiki.
  37. Trivia.My Little Pony Tales: My Little Wiki covers Generations 1-4.
  38. Trivia.Outlander: The Outlander Wiki.
  39. Trivia.Temple Run: The Temple Run Wiki.
  40. Trivia.Killing Eve: Killing Eve Wiki
  41. Trivia.Walker: Walker Wiki
  42. Trivia.Perplex City: Has a wiki Here.
  43. Trivia.Coconut Freds Fruit Salad Island: The Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island Wiki.
  44. Trivia.Fig Hunter: Here.
  45. Trivia.Wings Of Fire: The Wings of Fire Wiki and Animus Wiki.
  46. Trivia.Dragon Ball Z Battle Of Gods: The Dragon Ball Wiki.
  47. Trivia.GI Joe Extreme: Joepedia, the G.I. Joe Wiki.
  48. Trivia.Chronicles Of The Kencyrath: http://kencyr.wikia.com
  49. Trivia.Romantically Apocalyptic: Romantically Apocalypse Wiki
  50. Trivia.Ultima I: The Codex of Ultima Wisdom, and Wikia Codex of Editable Wisdom.

     Weblink + some details about the wiki (9/70) 
  1. Trivia.The Raven Cycle: The Raven Boys wikia. It's infamous among the fandom for being a lot more casual than a typical wiki (most character pages are just emotional rambling and fandom jokes rather than objective information).
  2. Website.Questden: The Questden Wiki serves as an summary and index for every quest and has a few extra articles on things like advice for running threads and archived links to the various fanart threads. ► Trivia tropes doesn't go on the main page, otherwise it's fine
  3. Trivia.Sword And Fairy: Softstar Wiki, shared with Xuan-Yuan Sword series.
  4. Trivia.Alien Trilogy: Xenopedia has information on Alien, Predator, and Alien vs. Predator.
  5. Trivia.Little Big Planet: There used to be one on LBPCentral, but it's been down for some time. In the meantime, there's also one on Wikia.
  6. Trivia.Ssalia And The Dragons Of Avienot: Has a wiki here, though without much activity.
  7. Trivia.Bleach Ultimate Alien: Bleach: Ultimate Alien Wiki. Be warned, it is very much incomplete, so some wiki magic love is much appreciated.
  8. Trivia.Yu Gi Oh Forbidden Memories: Yugipedia (which forked from the old wiki in 2018).
  9. Trivia.How To Be A Werewolf: The How to Be a Werewolf Wiki. It could use some help as it just recently was created. ► This example was made in 2020

     Misuse (2/70) 
  1. Trivia.The Descended: Brian has considered making one to keep track of it. Currently averted, though—Brian considers his TV Tropes page to be detailed enough that he doesn't need a wiki of his own. ► Trivia trope can't be played with.
  2. Trivia.Hellfire Commentaries: Averted; they started a wiki, but eventually scrapped it in favor of a TVTropes page. ► Trivia trope can't be played with.


Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:47:12 PM

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#76: Aug 1st 2023 at 3:05:47 AM

[up][up]As I said, I actually think on-page examples only would've been preferable as that at least served a useful if off-mission purpose of aggregating wiki links. Literally nobody benefits from just scattering ZCE links around countless random Trivia subpages.

WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#77: Aug 1st 2023 at 11:19:56 AM

[up] Bit of a nitpick, but as mentioned a few times now these are not ZCE (the examples cover the entire range of context, which is "work has a wiki"). The fact that they aren't ZCE is in fact part of the problem, because it means the concept has so little point that extra context cannot even be provided.

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Karxrida The Unknown from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
The Unknown
#78: Aug 1st 2023 at 11:29:08 AM

Rework the trope to be about when creators use a fan's wiki as a reference.

I'm personally a fan of this option in the OP because it has happened (I know the Homestar Runner guys have done it) and it's legit trivia, but I think that's something for TLP to work out.

I voted for DO.

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
GastonRabbit MOD Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#79: Aug 3rd 2023 at 11:40:35 AM

Calling in favor of making The Wiki Rule definition-only.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#81: Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:09:50 PM

Sorry to ask, but what is the sandbox for? Should we put the deleted example there?

Valdo
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#82: Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:12:11 PM

Def-Only doesn't mean removing all wicks, so sandbox notes which namespaces were cleared from wicks as examples. Which it says so.

Edited by Amonimus on Aug 3rd 2023 at 11:12:35 AM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#84: Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:19:28 PM

No, that got downvoted.

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
#85: Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:40:13 PM

Do I remove sinkholes? (i.e. "The game's wiki has more information on...")

I'd like to apologize for all this.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#86: Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:44:27 PM

I mean sinkholes are always bad, which is why there's a whole policy on them.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
#87: Aug 3rd 2023 at 2:20:39 PM

I removed it from Laws and Formulas and The Internet because Trivia items are not tropes, but on second though, should I have?

I'd like to apologize for all this.
Jalpo99 Making Crossovers since The New 10's from the Deku Palace Since: May, 2017 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Making Crossovers since The New 10's
#88: Aug 3rd 2023 at 2:27:30 PM

Should the lock stay to enforce the example lockout? The page was first locked when on page examples were cut to prevent further ZCEs from showing up.

Life is just a dream.
FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
#89: Aug 4th 2023 at 12:47:28 PM

We're sub-4000 when the pages I put on the Cut List are processed.

I'd like to apologize for all this.
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#90: Aug 4th 2023 at 2:37:51 PM

Do pothole the trope still allowed? I found this on Trivia.Ben 10 Omniverse not sure what to do with it:

  • Write Who You Know: Bezel's opinions on magic, at least according to the Ben 10 Wiki, echo Matt Youngberg's, indicating that Bezel was written with some of Matt's personality in mind.

Valdo
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#91: Aug 4th 2023 at 2:42:25 PM

Inline wicks are allowed if they fit.

Edited by Amonimus on Aug 4th 2023 at 12:42:38 PM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#92: Aug 4th 2023 at 2:45:55 PM

Though it does seem sort of pointless to just pothole every mention of a wiki to The Wiki Rule...

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#93: Aug 5th 2023 at 3:51:06 PM

Trivia.Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth was already cleaned out of examples two days ago but still appears in the Related section of The Wiki Rule. Is this a bug or what?

Edited by SoyValdo7 on Aug 5th 2023 at 4:52:38 AM

Valdo
WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#94: Aug 5th 2023 at 3:51:51 PM

It's a ghost wick. Just add another wick to a different page if possible and it'll vanish.

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#95: Aug 5th 2023 at 3:53:08 PM

Done that now.

Edited by Amonimus on Aug 5th 2023 at 1:53:19 PM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#96: Aug 6th 2023 at 8:07:22 PM

~3500 articles left

EDIT: Also, the alternative name Wiki Rule was completely cleaned up.

Edited by SoyValdo7 on Aug 6th 2023 at 9:34:50 AM

Valdo
Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#97: Aug 8th 2023 at 10:29:08 PM

Knocked out a few when doing Talking To Himself wicks.

3243 left.

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Hyenaboy Hyena Boy from United Kingdom Since: Jul, 2021 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#98: Aug 12th 2023 at 8:39:24 AM

So, where should we post links to wikis?

FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season
N1KF (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
#100: Aug 13th 2023 at 10:43:56 AM

[up]Is there a policy for that somewhere?

Trope Repair Shop: The Wiki Rule
31st Jul '23 12:32:03 AM

Crown Description:

  • The Wiki Rule is about how the Internet is capable of generating a fan-made wiki on virtually any topic imaginable (movies, books, TV series, comics, fortune cookies, etc.). It is an 11-year-old trivia trope consisting largely of external links and Potholes. This was brought up in a trope talk a few years ago, and it was eventually added to the Tropes Needing TRS because, and I quote, "[a wiki's] existence is not very notable". Here is the Wick Check.
  • 71% of the sample consists solely of links to wiki sites, just pure links. This is probably motivated by its description, which only requires an existing wiki about a work (with a tvtrope page) to count. The remainder is made up of potholes that mention the trope and other examples with links and a bit more meat on the bones. However, I struggled to find any relevance in these last ones, because they simply discuss the wiki's current state or a few details about it, topics that aren't actually connected to the work itself but to the fandom of the work. Two of them even ask the reader to help expand the wiki, using the trope as some sort of ad. Overall, it appears that the trope doesn't have much to offer as a trivia trope in its current state.
  • What should be done with The Wiki Rule?

Total posts: 122
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