Community Wishlist Survey 2023/Multimedia and Commons/Can a deletion request for a category be as easy as for a file?

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Can a deletion request for a category be as easy as for a file?

  • Problem: To make a deletion request for a Commons category, not being a Speedy deletion, requires a lot of effort and steps, see c:Commons:Deletion requests/Listing a request manually. Not only you need to nominate the category for deletion, but you also have to (1) Manually create a subpage of deletion request, (2) Manually add the newly created subpage to Commons:Deletion requests/JJJJ/MM/DD and (3) Manually notify the uploader on his/her talk page. While these extra steps are automatically implemented when you nominate a file for deletion.
  • Proposed solution: Make an automated process of the extra steps, like for nominating a file for deletion.
  • Who would benefit: Editors who nominate categories for deletion, not being a Speedy deletion.
  • More comments:
  • Phabricator tickets:
  • Proposer: JopkeB (talk) 05:48, 25 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion

  • Sounds like a solid and good idea, we will only move this to a different category. KSiebert (WMF) (talk) 11:47, 25 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]
  • @JopkeB: See commons:Help:Nominate for deletion. There is a "Nominate for deletion" link under the "Tools" menu available that automates the process you describe. For this reason I'm going to archive this proposal as a solution already exists. Thanks for participating in the survey, MusikAnimal (WMF) (talk) 21:29, 8 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
    Sorry, I see now you wanted this for categories. The same gadget should work there, though. Does it not for you? When viewing a category, the link instead will read "Nominate category for discussion". MusikAnimal (WMF) (talk) 21:31, 8 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
    @MusikAnimal (WMF): Yes, this request is indeed for categories. Yes, I can nominate a category for discussion. But that does not delete that category. Once I closed a discussion about a category and asked for a Speedy deletion, then I was told this was not the proper way, I first had to nominate it properly for deletion. So after that, I did so, several times (also for other categories), and I found out it is a time consuming process, not as easy as nominating a file for deletion. So, I added this request to the Wishlist. Now I would like to ask you to bring this request back to the Wishlist 2023. JopkeB (talk) 10:45, 9 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
    @JopkeB Do not worry, we can move this back (voting doesn't start until tomorrow), but I'm still not sure what you're asking for doesn't already exist. You can use the gadget to "Nominate category for discussion". From there, that discussion can lead to deletion. For example commons:Category:Anonymous painters which was deleted as part of a category for discussion. You should not have to list a request manually. More info at commons:Commons:Categories for discussion#Starting requests. Or am I still misunderstanding you?
    If I don't hear back by tomorrow, I'll just move the proposal back to the survey. Apologies for the hasty archiving to begin with. Thanks, MusikAnimal (WMF) (talk) 16:34, 9 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
    This commons:Commons:Categories for discussion#Starting requests is exactly my point: there are four steps you have to take before a deletion request (DR) for a category is completed, while I would like to have it done in just one step, just like a DR for a file. So yes, please move the proposal back to the survey. Apologies excepted. Thanks. JopkeB (talk) 02:55, 10 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
    Okay, no problem :) I'm still reading the four steps are the "by hand" method, and the gadget automates it. But clearly I'm missing something! I'll move it back now. Thanks for participating in the survey, MusikAnimal (WMF) (talk) 04:30, 10 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]
  • This would be great, as right now we get several categories nominated for discussion each month by users who want the contents of those categories deleted. Usually this is by users using the "Nominate category for discussion" gadget under the mistaken presumption that a CfD can do much about it. Even if discussion participants all agree that the category and files need to be deleted, someone still needs to go make the deletion request for the files, and only once they have been deleted, then the category can be deleted. We cannot delete a category that has contents as that leaves the files orphaned (and may prompt re-creation of the category as a result). If there is a better tool for users to nominate the contents of a category for deletion, directing the list of contents to COM:DR first, and then only after completion of that process, speedy deleting the then-empty category, all without clogging COM:CfD with a bunch of posts we really cannot do much about, that would be outstanding. Joshbaumgartner (talk) 22:23, 10 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Voting

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