Last modified: 2014-10-02 23:30:35 UTC
When error checking was first added to cite.php, the message for missing reference list markup was showing up for all pages including user and talk. This was usually because chunks of article content would be copied for discussion and this would often include the references. The decision was to not show these errors on user and talk pages. This was implemented by use of the {{broken ref}} template which was applied to the related MediaWiki interface pages. With the resolution of Bug 66860. when a page has missing reference list markup, it is automatically generated. Now all the talk page references appear at the bottom of the page and there have been complaints that it is distracting. We need the ability to apply namespace detection to the automatically generated reference list.
I don't see a valid use case here. If people are foolishly copying bits of an article to a talk page, they should be good enough as an editor to remember how to use <references />.
Added namespace detection to 'MediaWiki:Cite error refs without references category' on the test wiki and enwiki. The automatic reference list on user and talk pages can now be suppressed.
(In reply to Gadget850 from comment #2) > Added namespace detection to 'MediaWiki:Cite error refs without references > category' on the test wiki and enwiki. The automatic reference list on user > and talk pages can now be suppressed. Strike the above.
Given the feedback on the enwiki Help Desk and Village Pump Technical, I am reopening this.
Please link to the specific feedback on the enwiki Help Desk and Village Pump Technical.
Here are the ones I can find with a quick search: Wikipedia:Help desk#Ghost series of footnotes following me around and tacking onto the end of what I write Wikipedia:Help desk#References pasted into talk page encroaching on the next message Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)/Archive 130#References showing on discussion pages Wikipedia:Village_pump_(proposals)#Turn off automatic generation of reference lists on talk pages
