Editing Help:Talk pages

__TOC__
{{CategoryHeaderBox
| title = 💬 Talk Pages
| subtitle = How to Use Discussion Pages on the RTC Wiki
}}

Every article, template, and user page on the wiki has an associated '''talk page''' for discussion.

== Accessing a Talk Page ==

Click the '''Talk''' tab at the top of any page, or go to <code>Talk:Article Name</code> in the URL.

== How to Post ==

# Click '''Edit''' on the talk page
# Add a new section heading: <code><nowiki>== Your Topic ==</nowiki></code>
# Write your message
# '''Sign your post''' by typing <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code> at the end — this adds your username and timestamp
# Click '''Publish changes'''

== Replying to Others ==

* '''Indent your reply''' using colons at the start of the line:
** <code>:Reply to original message</code> (one indent)
** <code>::Reply to a reply</code> (two indents)
** <code>:::And so on</code> (three indents)
* Always '''sign''' with <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code>

== Talk Page Etiquette ==

* '''Stay on topic''' — discuss the article, not other editors
* '''Be constructive''' — suggest improvements rather than just criticising
* '''Don't edit others' comments''' — reply below instead
* '''Sign every post''' — so others know who said what and when

== When to Use Talk Pages ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! Situation !! Where to Post
|-
| Question about a specific article || That article's talk page
|-
| General wiki question || [[RetroTechCollection:Village Pump/General|Village Pump (General)]]
|-
| Technical wiki problem || [[RetroTechCollection:Village Pump/Technical|Village Pump (Technical)]]
|-
| Policy discussion || [[RetroTechCollection:Village Pump/Policy|Village Pump (Policy)]]
|-
| New article idea || [[RetroTechCollection:Village Pump/Idea Lab|Idea Lab]]
|}

== See Also ==
* [[RetroTechCollection:Village Pump|Village Pump]]
* [[Help:Editing|Editing Basics]]
* [[Help:Contents|Help Contents]]

[[Category:Help]]