[Commons-l] Deletion of still-used images

Thu Aug 10 22:28:57 UTC 2006

Sorry about the quoting. I just joined and I'm copying this from the  
archives. The issue is important so at the risk of breaking quoting  
netiquette I just have to argument with the practical points which Brianna
brought up.

Brianna Laugher:

"One way which might help a bit, would be to create a tag (possibly  
invisible) that would trigger a notice on CTs that said, 'please delink  
this image now or risk redlinks!'"

Me:

This already exists. From simple: "+VfD Conscious puts deletion marker  
Duplicate on Image:IC_(400x).jpeg" and "+VfD Wikipeder puts deletion  
marker Copyvio on Image:Hésiode.jpg". CommonsTickers should have  
instructions on what to do in these cases. And some do:

 From de-wiki on +VfD (translated loosely): Check the image and if  
necessary comment on Commons. If the image is properly marked for a speedy  
deletion, remove the image from use and, if possible, replace with a free  
alternative.

 From fi-wiki on +VfD (translated loosely): Check the image and if  
necessary comment on Commons. Specifically:
"puts deletion marker": replace the image
"copyvio, logo, noncommercial, speedydelete": If valid, take image out of  
use.

Note, that I have specifically adviced against removing images marked with  
subst:nsd or what ever. If the deletion request is removed and proper  
source is given, no one in fi-wiki could know it if someone had delinked  
the image. In fi-wiki I have adviced to remove images only in the two  
cases mentioned above and naturally also after the image really is gone.

The problem is that less than 10 tickers have any instructions.

Brianna Laugher:

"So on one hand we have local projects upset at us for deleting images in  
use and on the other we have projects who seem not to even care when we  
notify them. It is a difficult balance to walk."

Me:

On the third, the largest, hand we have projects that are just fine. I've  
never heard a complaint from most of the wikis and not even from fi-wiki -  
although they have had the opportunity. And do we have projects upset at  
us, or just induhviduals from them? I actually find it very strange that  
some users (like two ever) come to Commons to blame the admins. They  
should go yell at the person who uploaded an image or who took it in use  
in a local project.

All in all, I don't see a reason to change anything in the way we delete  
images and I don't think that anyone should remove links to images marked  
with subst:nsd/nld/delete/deletionrequest/deletebecause. However, I don't  
oppose to having a bot that removes links to images *after* an image has  
been deleted.

-- 
Ystävällisin terveisin,
Samuli Lintula