name_characters tag discussion

The wiki for name_characters contradicts itself; the very beginning says "This tag is a request to label everyone in the image with translation notes", but later on it says "This is not a request tag.
Do not use this on images with no character notes.
Do not use this to request character notes.
Only use this tag when character notes already exist on the image."

(Looks like the second part was added by neveax without any regard for the first part.)

So I was just hoping this thread can clear up whether or not it should be used as a request tag.

That certainly does sound confusing. How can one use name_characters at all, if it is not for some kind of request?

Trying to read sense into it, the difference could be something like this:

• When you do not know any characters, or only know maximum [add number] of several, use character_request to ask for adding chartags. In this case, do not add any name notes yourself.

• When you know at least [add number] characters, you may start adding name notes. In this case, use name_characters to ask for help to complete the task.

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The earlier version of the wiki article says, "don't remove this tag after the request has been fulfilled." That is pretty confusing, too. What could the purpose of the tag be afterwards?

Oh well. Maybe I am missing something fundamental here. If so, please explain.

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OT: In the progress of writing this comment, I ran into two pointless tags, possibly vandalism:

• absolutely_incredibly_disgustingly_stupid
• very_dumb

Is there a topic for reporting findings like that?

Katajanmarja said:
The earlier version of the wiki article says, "don't remove this tag after the request has been fulfilled." What could the purpose of the tag be afterwards?

Perhaps that wiki editor wanted to use it to find posts with name notes. Using the same tag for name note requests and posts that already have name notes doesn't make much sense though.

Anyways, maybe we should keep one tag for name notes requests and have another one that will replace it once name notes have been added, just like translation_request and translated.

Katajanmarja said:
OT: In the progress of writing this comment, I ran into two pointless tags, possibly vandalism.

Is there a topic for reporting findings like that?

No, but it's ok if you make a new topic or pm a mod and report it. Either way, someone will take care of it (and it seems this has already been taken care of).

I added the first sentence to describe how the tag was being used, since the earlier wiki page was confusing.

The tag name isn't ideal. People mistake it for "tagme_(character)" all the time. It's used for non-character things like guns and toys, as well.

I'd suggest splitting it into annotated and annotate_me/annotation_request.

parasol said:
I'd suggest splitting it into annotated and annotate_me/annotation_request.

I agree, those tags make more sense than name_characters.

Go with annotation_request then.

I wrote up short wiki articles for annotated and annotation_request. I'll start replacing name_characters with the appropriate one, but it's a big job looking through 350 posts to see if they have all characters notes, so any help is appreciated.