User:SilviaASH/A Fork is not a fork
![]() | This is a humorous essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors and is made to be humorous. This page is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. This essay isn't meant to be taken seriously. |
![]() | This page in a nutshell: A fork is a fork, which is different from a fork. Do not claim that a fork is a fork when it is not, in fact, a fork. |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Fork_%28AM_1991.288-2%29.jpg/300px-Fork_%28AM_1991.288-2%29.jpg)
A fork is not a fork. This essay exists to explain what a fork is, and what a fork is not. If you find yourself arguing about what is a fork, consider that a fork is not a fork.
What is a fork?
[edit]A fork (as in, a content fork) is an article or other content on a Wikimedia project site which is derived or spun off, i.e., "forked" from another piece of content. This is done either to create more useless copies of the same thing, or make one part of an article or article subject that is not all that important seem much bigger than it really is. It is also done for some legitimate reasons such as those related to project maintenance or article size.
What is a fork?
[edit]A fork is a utensil for eating food.
What is not a fork?
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Vegetables-l%C3%A9gumes-couverts.jpg/300px-Vegetables-l%C3%A9gumes-couverts.jpg)
A fork is not an article that you do not like or think is not good, unless that article is in fact forked from another, pre-existing, article. If you find yourself in, say, an AfD Discussion, arguing that something is a fork because it is in some way "subjective" or "non-notable" and accusing your fellow editors of picking cherries, consider carefully if there is any credence to your argument, or if you are just talking nonsense about cherries.
Many Wikipedians eat cherries, and there may well be some Wikipedians who, for some reason, opt to eat cherries with a fork. However, just because they have done so does not mean their articles are forkings of other articles. It just means they eat cherries.
Please consider the above very carefully before accusing a fork of being a fork.