Wikipedia:Listcruft
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Listcruft is a term some editors use to refer to indiscriminate or trivial lists. The term derives from the older
In general, a "List of X"
In particular, if X is an encyclopedic topic, the X page should not consist only of a "list of X", in effect ostensively defining the topic. Effort should be made to write an article which verifiably defines and characterizes the topic first.[1]
Valid examples of standalone lists would include List of University of Chicago people and List of Oz books. In both cases, the lists correspond closely to encyclopedia articles—University of Chicago and L. Frank Baum, respectively—and in both cases the length and detail of the list justify breaking them out.
On the other hand, topics such as List of small-bust models and performers, List of songs that contain the laughter of children, and List of nasal singers should be considered highly questionable because there are no articles on those topics.
Meaning
If a Wikipedia editor refers to a list as listcruft, it generally indicates they believe the list would not be expected to be included in an encyclopedia. More specifically, an editor's use of the term listcruft generally indicates they are asserting that one or more of the following are true:
- The list is of interest to a very limited number of people.
- The list is a violation of Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information.
- The content is non-notableor poorly defined.
- The list cannot be expanded beyond a handful of terms.
- The list is unlimited and/or unmaintainable.
- The list has no content beyond links to other articles, so would be better implemented as a (self-maintaining) category.
- Determining membership of the list requires adoption of a non-reliable sourcesfor avoiding it are not available.
- Determining membership of the list involves synthesisof ideas.
- The list's membership is volatile and requires a disproportionate amount of effort to keep up to date.
- The list attracts the addition of little that is of clear importance or even relevance in the context of the topic.
Generally speaking, the perception that an article is listcruft can be a contributing factor to someone voting for deletion, but it might not be the sole factor. In such cases, this perception is generally challenged by those voting for retention.
Examples of lists
- List of songs containing the sound of a woodpecker
- List of people who have ears
- List of dog names
- List of groups of eight people
- List of listcrufty lists
- Linguistic titles for the homeless around the world
- List of software projects whose name is a term offensive to many people with disabilities
See also
- WP:LISTN)
- Wikipedia:Too much detail
- Wikipedia:Fancruft
- Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not for things made up in school one day
- Wikipedia:Overlistification
- Wikipedia:Example cruft
- List of lists of lists