User:MalwareSmarts/Don't confuse non-notability with a hoax

This page in a nutshell: Just because something isn't notable doesn't make it a hoax

This is an essay on notability. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

I notice on AFD debates that non notable people/things are accused of being non-existent. While this may be the case on a number of articles, not all of them are the case. For example, I am not notable, and Googling my name will return no results. But doesn't mean I'm a hoax. Save hoax accusations when it is obvious as a hoax. A hoax would be someone writing about the Gospel of Jim-Bob, but non notable would be Jim-Bob. While the Gospel of Jim-Bob does not exist, for all we know, Jim-Bob does exist. I am not saying because someone writes about Jim-Bob he exists, I'm saying that he isn't necessarily a hoax. He would be a hoax if it said something like "Jim-Bob won the Academy Award for Whatever when still a fetus, then released a hit single that sold 100 billion copies". That is an obvious hoax. Of course, hoaxes are often subtle, realistic pieces, so keep a watchful eye! But Jim-Bob may be an extremely non-notable person, and not a hoax after all. Remember do your research.