Wikipedia:Wikibreak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A wikibreak, wikiholiday, or wikivacation is a period when even a wikiholic must be parted from Wikipedia — though, it is hoped, only temporarily.
[edit] Concept
The pain involved varies from Wikipedian to Wikipedian. Some find it easy to endure, whereas others find the separation agonising. Often the latter find themselves grasping at any opportunity to go online "just to check what's happening".
The degree of coercion also varies. Some remarkable individuals are actually capable of taking a voluntary wikiholiday: they are to be admired for their strength of character. Some people have to enforce their departure for their own good. Others still are forced into it through circumstances beyond their control: it is often at such times that Wikiholics discover their condition.
[edit] When to depart
- You are a student and you have exams.
- You feel exhausted by your regional weather.
- You find yourself repeatedly assuming bad faith.
- You are stressed to the point that it affects your editing.
- You have a new girlfriend or boyfriend.
- Conversely, your girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up with you.
- You have to look for a job.
- You have been making false edits, not verifiable or under copyright protections, including the GDFL and Fair Use licenses.
- You have to move.
- You have neglected to pay your internet bill and are sans internet access.
- You are sick.
- Your Wikistress is making it hard to work.
- You find yourself laughing maniacally as you edit.
- You need time to relax and think, so that when you do return to Wikipedia, you'll be refreshed, hopefully.
- Your time on Wikipedia is having a drastic effect on your life outside of Wikipedia.
- Your computer broke.
- It takes you several hours to make and perfect a single edit, because you're worried your edit will be corrected by someone else.
- You find yourself checking your watchlist compulsively throughout the day to defend your edits against vandals and other ne'er-do-wells.
- You find yourself wanting to make edits, but can't!
- You're giving up editing Wikipedia for Lent or a similar religious observance.
- You've been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia, per ruling of administrators, Jimbo Wales and/or the Arbitration Committee. See block log.
[edit] When to be back
(In alphabetical order)
- Your spouse asks you to buy a new car. Just buy it and come straight back.
- Your exams are over.
- You find out your girlfriend or boyfriend is a Wikipedian, too.
- You're finished moving.
- You've recovered from your sickness.
- You've let go of all your Wikistress.
- You've done all the "relaxing" you can do.
[edit] The wikibreak templates
When taking a wikibreak, it is a good idea to inform your wikifriends that you are not active and indicate when you might be back. You can use the wikibreak template for this purpose. Let's say Example wants to go on wikibreak until Christmas. He would then place this text on the top of his user and/or talk pages:
{{wikibreak|[[User:Example|Example]]| on December 25}}
He would get this:
 |
Example is taking a short wikibreak and will be back on Wikipedia on December 25 |
For a longer break, he could also use {{Long Wikibreak}}, writing
{{Long Wikibreak|[[User:Example|Example]]| next summer, God willing and the creeks don't rise.}}
which renders thus:
|
Example is taking a long wikibreak and will be back on Wikipedia next summer, God willing and the creeks don't rise |
[edit] The other wikibreak template
When taking a wikibreak, it is a good idea to inform your wikifriends that you are not active and indicate when you might be back. However, not all wikipedians have the self-discipline to keep away for various reasons, so this template was created for those who feel like taking a wikibreak, but at the same time will return to make small edits every once in a while. Let's say Example wants to go on wikibreak until Christmas. He would then place this text on the top of his user and/or talk pages:
{{Attempting_wikibreak|[[User:Example|Example]]| on December 25|I}}
He would get this:
|
Example is trying to take a short wikibreak and will be back on Wikipedia on December 25. Most likely, however, Example won't be able to keep away from Wikipedia for that long, and will probably be back a lot earlier while making some small edits every once in a while anyway. |
[edit] The busy template
An alternative for those weaning themselves more slowly from Wikipedia is the 'Busy' template, which is designed for those who are being overtaken by "real" life (if you have one) work. Wikipediholics can use this template to assuage the guilt associated with long breaks from the Wiki. If Example were using this template, he would place the following text at the top of his user page:
{{busy|[[User:Example|Example]]}}
or
{{busy|~~~}}
and he will get this:
 |
Example is busy in real life and may not respond swiftly to queries. |
[edit] The School template
When pre-school high school beckons, or any other school for that matter, use
{{Attempting school wikibreak}}
to get:
|
I'm taking a short wikibreak due to school and will be back on Wikipedia sometime down the road. Most likely, however, I won't be able to keep away from Wikipedia for that long, and I'll probably be back a lot earlier while making some small edits every so often. Messages left for me may not be replied to for a while. |
[edit] The College template
A template for those college students smart enough make studying a priority. Type
{{College wikibreak}}
and you'll see:
 |
Wikibreak is taking a wikibreak to attend college and will be back on Wikipedia once school is over, though some editing may be done from time to time. Talk page messages might not receive a timely response. |
Also, you can use
{{College wikibreak|date}}
to specify the date that your exams finish. That will produce:
|
Wikibreak is taking a wikibreak to attend college and will be back on Wikipedia once school is over on date. though some editing may be done from time to time. Talk page messages might not receive a timely response. |
[edit] The Exams template
Another template for those who have exams coming up soon, to add it just add the following text at the top of your user page:
{{exams}}
and you will get this:
|
Wikibreak is taking a short wikibreak to get ready for exams and will be back on Wikipedia once the exams are over. |
Alternatively, you can use
{{exams|date}}
to specify the date that your exams finish. That will yield:
|
Wikibreak is taking a short wikibreak to get ready for exams and will be back on Wikipedia once the exams are over on date. |
[edit] The sick/ill template
For those of us who are sick or ill and would thus be partially inactive, Wikipedians can use this template to indicate this.
{{user health inactive}}
and the user will see this:
 |
This user is currently experiencing health issues that may affect his or her ability to work on Wikipedia. Please bear in mind that these issues may temporarily affect this user's ability to carry out their usual Wikipedia duties. This user may not consequently be able to respond to talk page messages or e-mails in a timely manner during affected periods, and your patience is greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
[edit] Vacation templates
{{vacation}}
produces
 |
This user is currently away on holiday and may not respond swiftly to queries. |
{{vacation2}}
produces
 |
This user is taking a short wikibreak to go on a vacation. |
|
{{vacation3}}
produces
 |
This user is currently, or going to be on vacation in real life and may not be able to respond immediately to queries. They may, however, edit a little from a hotel or relative's house. |
{{vacation3|[[User:Example|Example]]|start=[[7 July]], [[2007]]|end=[[23 July]], [[2007]]}}
Produces:
|
Example is currently, or going to be on vacation in real life from 7 July 2007 until 23 July 2007 and may not be able to respond immediately to queries. They may, however, edit a little from a hotel or relative's house. |
[edit] The No-Internet Access template
{{No-Internet}}
produces
|
{{{1}}} has no immediately available Internet access and will be taking a wikibreak of indeterminate length. |
[edit] The Got Grounded Template
This template is dedicated to students who got grounded by their parents due to their excessive use of the computer, and ultimately, Wikipedia.
{{Grounded|[[User:USERNAME GOES HERE|USERNAME]]}}
produces
|
Unfortunately, Example got grounded by his or her parents from utilizing the computer. He or she would be having wikibreak of indeterminate length, until the grounding period is over. |
* In this case, the user is named "example".
[edit] Retirement template
We hope this never happens, but sometimes good things must come to an end. If you are retiring from Wikipedia you can use the Retirement template:
{{retirement|[[User:Example|Example]]}}
and it will produce:
 |
Unfortunately Example has retired as a Wikipedia editor and will not be returning. Best wishes and good luck! |
If you simply say:
{{retirement}}
it will automatically say your user name
|
Unfortunately Wikibreak has retired as a Wikipedia editor and will not be returning. Best wishes and good luck! |
In this case, it takes the name of this page which is Wikibreak.
Alternately, if you say:
{{User EX-WP}}
This box will be produced:
 |
|
[edit] Bonked/Fatigued templates
{{bonked}}
produces this:
 |
Wikibreak is currently wikibonked and is operating at a lower edit level than usual. Hitting the wall is a temporary condition, and the user should return to normal edit levels in time. |
[edit] Semi-wikibreak
A semi-wikibreak is a Wikibreak taken by Wikipedians who are not fully on a wikibreak, but are not fully editing. Reasons for a semi-wikibreak are often (but not always) under the band of bad internet connection, or not up to a full editing level.
