PhantomWiki:Policy
This page sets out the editorial policy for PhantomWiki, the personal reference wiki of Steve Keene-Elliott.
Purpose and scope
PhantomWiki records personal research, collection information and practical reference material. Its principal subjects include postage stamps, first day covers, Microsoft Excel formulas and VBA macros.
The wiki is a continuing project. Pages may be incomplete, and the subjects covered reflect the interests and requirements of its owner.
Editing and responsibility
PhantomWiki is publicly readable, but editing and administration are restricted. PhantomSteve is responsible for its content, organisation and editorial decisions.
Pages may be revised, renamed, combined or removed as research develops or the structure of the wiki changes.
Accuracy and sources
Reasonable efforts are made to check factual information and provide sources for significant claims.
- Published catalogues, books, official publications and other identifiable sources are used where available.
- References should include enough information to identify the source, including relevant page numbers where appropriate.
- Physical items and photographs may provide evidence for visible features, inscriptions and postmarks.
- Sales descriptions may assist identification, but their claims are not automatically treated as established facts.
- Uncertain information, personal interpretation and conflicting evidence should be clearly identified.
Missing information should not be replaced with unsupported assumptions. An absence of information on PhantomWiki does not establish that an item or variation does not exist.
Philatelic records
Stamp and first day cover pages distinguish between the stamp issue and the particular cover being described.
Different cover designs or producers may have separate pages. Related-cover lists provide links between recorded examples.
Collection records distinguish between items owned and items wanted. A wanted-cover page documents an item being sought; it does not imply ownership of the illustrated or referenced example.
Descriptions, catalogue references and ownership records may be updated when further evidence becomes available. Lists of recorded covers should not be assumed to be exhaustive.
Images and personal information
Images should be described accurately, with their source, purpose and relevant rights information recorded where known.
Reference photographs of wanted items should not be presented as scans of items in the collection.
Unnecessary personal information should not be published. Private residential addresses and other personal contact details should be omitted from article text and obscured in published images where appropriate.
Formulas, macros and procedures
Technical pages should explain the purpose of a formula, macro or procedure and identify relevant requirements or limitations.
Examples may depend on particular workbook layouts, software versions or settings. Visitors should test them on suitable copies of their files before use, as explained in the general disclaimer.
Deletion of pages and files
Pages and files may be deleted when they no longer serve a useful purpose on PhantomWiki. Deletion decisions are made by PhantomSteve as the owner and administrator.
Reasons for deletion
Reasons may include:
- duplicate pages or files;
- obsolete material superseded by other records;
- unnecessary overview pages, redirects, categories or templates;
- accidental creations, abandoned tests, spam or vandalism;
- material outside the scope of the wiki;
- substantially incorrect or unsupported content that cannot reasonably be corrected;
- inappropriate disclosure of personal information;
- copyright concerns or other substantiated rights complaints.
A page is not automatically unsuitable because it is incomplete, has no incoming links, or records an item not owned. Wanted-cover records and material awaiting further research are legitimate parts of PhantomWiki.
Alternatives and checks
Before deletion, consideration should be given to correcting the content, removing only the problematic section, merging useful information into another page, or retaining a helpful redirect.
Where practical, incoming links, checklist entries, related-cover lists, template references and file usage should be checked and updated.
Procedure and restoration
Deletion does not require a public discussion or a fixed waiting period. A brief reason should be recorded in the deletion log.
Deleting a page removes its content and history from ordinary public view. Simply blanking a page does not remove its earlier revisions.
Requests for deletion or reconsideration may be sent through the contact form, identifying the page or file and explaining the reason.
Deleted material may be restored if circumstances change or deletion was mistaken. Restoration is at the owner's discretion and depends on the material remaining available.
Corrections and enquiries
Corrections, additional information and questions are welcome through the contact form. No account is required.
Please identify the relevant page and, where possible, provide supporting evidence or a source. Suggestions will be considered by the owner, who retains editorial control.