[WikiEN-l] templates boxes: multiplying like rabbits

Tue Apr 12 20:20:24 UTC 2005

Stan Shebs wrote:

> Ironically, the excessive templates create huge numbers of
> cross-links and may thus improve page rank for Google...

I guess this depends on whether Google gives weight to links *within* a 
site. Is this the case?

Beyond that, what I found disturbing about the case I mentioned, 
[[Erskine_Hamilton_Childers]], was the amount of redundancy, which I 
assume Google politely ignores. ;)

For example,

* the information in the "President of Ireland" box at the bottom is 
duplicated in the large template box on the right

* the "Tánaiste" box duplicates the information in "Tánaistithe na hÉireann"

Ok, the "Cabinet Minister" box isn't redundant, and provides lots of 
(Google-friendly?) links, but does it really add anything essential?

The thing is, I like graphic elements, like images, lists, boxes,  which 
break up otherwise visually boring, monolithic blocks of text, but they 
have to be used with taste and clear purpose.

V.