Template talk:Contentious topics

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Error handling for wrong format of placed-date

I struggled a bit to understand the error "Lua error in Module:Contentious_topics_talk_banner at line 227: attempt to index a nil value." introduced at Special:Diff/1286083691 on the page Talk:Bob Casey Jr.. The problem was caused by using a date format which Module:Date doesn't understand in parameter |placed-date=. In such cases function _Date returns nil.

I propose adding error handling for cases when parameter |placed-date= cannot be parsed, something similar to Special:Diff/1294125902/1296791853, with a corresponding addition of

	"invalid-date": "Wikipedia pages with contentious topic restrictions with an invalid placed date",

or

	"date-error": "Wikipedia pages with contentious topic restrictions with an invalid placed date",

to Template:Contentious topics/Category database.json to produce a new tracking category Category:Wikipedia pages with contentious topic restrictions with an invalid placed date. —⁠andrybak (talk) 09:04, 22 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Apologies, I just saw this now. I massively improved the detection functionality; it now recognizes everything that works with {{#time}} as well as YYYY Monthname DD (e.g. 2020 September 1). If the date is so funky that these don't work, it should throw a softer error: The banner still works; it just says Restrictions placed: Error: Invalid time. and populates Category:Pages with parser function time errors. House Blaster (talk • he/they) 03:32, 30 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

All topic

Is there or can there be a way to have all topics included, so I dont have to update each time, or list them all? Thanks Metallurgist (talk) 18:21, 8 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Template-protected edit request on 17 July 2025

This edit request to Template:Contentious topics/alert/first has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

per MOS:CURLY --cheesewhisk3rs ≽^•⩊•^≼ ∫ (pester) 22:32, 17 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Sure,

Done, though curly apostrophes can be used in non-article namespaces where the Manual of Style doesn’t apply. ~ Jenson (SilverLocust 💬) 00:15, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Including a link to the specific restrictions for a given CT

The template output identifies the specific CTs for a given article, and says "Editors are advised to familiarise themselves with the contentious topics procedures before editing this page." But it doesn't say anything about the specific restrictions for the CT that prompts the appearance of the template on that talk page. If someone isn't already familiar with the restrictions for that topic, it requires going to Wikipedia:Contentious topics, then down to Wikipedia:Contentious topics#List of contentious topics, and then clicking again to see what's said for that specific topic. In addition to the general notice naming the CT(s) in play, is there any way to add a direct link to information about the specific CT restrictions for the identified CT?

An example: the Zohran Mamdani article has BLP and AP restrictions, plus A-I restrictions for one section of the article. Is there any way for the template's output to link directly to WP:CT/BLP, WP:CT/AP and WP:CT/A-I? FactOrOpinion (talk) 15:25, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Most CTs don't have any automatic restrictions, so the template doesn't automatically list any. If an article is under a CT that does have automatic restrictions, they should be manually added to the template. For example, at Mamdani, someone should add custom restrictions with the 1RR, ECR, and word limit restriction. I'm neutral on linking the cases, but we shouldn't rely on a link to the case to explain the active restrictions. Firefangledfeathers (talk / contribs) 15:47, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. I haven't ever used this template, and I hadn't looked carefully at what options were available, and I see now that it can already accomplish what I think it important, as long as an editor makes use of those options. Do you know if there's any WP:__ page that lists which CTs have custom restrictions and what they are? Or, if the editor who adds the template doesn't already know, does that editor need to go to that case to check? FactOrOpinion (talk) 16:08, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It's not up-to-date, but Wikipedia:General sanctions is the closest to what you're looking for. If anyone has time, ARBPIA4 needs to be update to ARBPIA5 and the Indian military history case changes need to be effected. Firefangledfeathers (talk / contribs) 16:14, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Edit request regarding SA

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Regarding South Asia CT, didn't you mention Bhutan on the area? Ahri Boy (talk) 08:28, 20 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. P.I. Ellsworth , ed. – welcome! – 17:26, 20 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Ahri Boy: Bhutan wasn't one of the countries that the Arbitration Committee voted to include. The countries that were selected had each been mentioned as part of WP:CT/IPA, WP:GS/CASTE, or WP:CT/SL. This has been brought up at WT:ACN#Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Indian military history closed, but the list of covered countries will only be expanded if the Committee votes to do so. ~ Jenson (SilverLocust 💬) 19:25, 20 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]