Memory Alpha:Category suggestions

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Please make sure you have read and understood Memory Alpha's category approval policy before editing this page. Category suggestions can be used to suggest a single category, multiple categories in the same "tree branch" or "parent category," or to determine which categories will contain or be contained by other categories. From there, they may either be approved and enacted by moving the discussion from this page to the new category's talk page, or, if not approved, moving the discussion from here to the category suggestion archive.

One of the reasons we discuss categories first is because we need to ensure that the category tag, when circumstances call for it, contains the correct sort keys to arrange the list in a predetermined order.

This page is broken down into sections:

In-universe categories: These categories are intended to be used for in-universe articles, and should be named to maintain Memory Alpha's POV.
Production POV categories: These categories are for use on production articles, which are written from the real world POV, and as such should be have the {{real world}} template on them.
Maintenance categories: These categories are used in the maintenance of Memory Alpha, and would include the audio and image files for example. These categories can have either a in-universe or real world POV.

In-universe categories[]

War[]

For all war-related pages that aren't conflicts ("conflicts" and "weapons" would then be subcats, perhaps) or necessarily limited to the military members themselves: post-traumatic stress disorder, amputation, shrapnel, campaign headquarters tent, missing in action, killed in action, soldier, veteran, war story, etc. Similar to the "death" and "sleep" categories. -LauraCC (talk) 01:51, 17 August 2023 (UTC)

I agree with this in principal, but the term "war" implies a more limited scope than this category would cover. I would suggest "Conflict", but that could be too similar to Category:Conflicts. Then again, it could still work despite being very similar. Thoughts, anyone? 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 01:29, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

War-related seems a bit subjective; not all of the instances listed on PTSD, amputation, shrapnel, MIA, are war-related. I'm not sure how a category that captures everything that could be conflict-related would be used. Does the original suggestion here vary from Category:Military? (Oppose otherwise.) - AJHalliwell (talk) 14:34, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

They are all topics commonly associated with (though not exclusively) war and military action. -LauraCC (talk) 01:21, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

By your rationale, categorizing "chicken" as "food" would also be subjective, since some references are to live chickens that are not being eaten. As for "military", Blackout (power) mentions causing a blackout to Earth. It's a military action, but done in the name of war and affecting civilians. -LauraCC (talk) 14:53, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Journalists[]

For people like Sylvia Ront, Noah Schloss (journalist), Jake Sisko, Jake Tapper, etc, some of whom are depicted as broadcast reporters, while others are said to be writers (not to say they couldn't have also written their own copy, of course). -LauraCC (talk) 15:37, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

My read of prescedent based on Category:Occupations is, this should start as a list at Journalist, and if the list reaches worthwhile capacity to move to category then. The other occupation categories look to have 40+ articles. - AJHalliwell (talk) 14:34, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

Sounds like a plan. -LauraCC (talk) 01:24, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

I have 13 named so far, plus there's redirects for unnamed folks to track down. -LauraCC (talk) 19:21, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Telepathy[]

For telepathy related topics, such as Telepathic historian, Mind meld, Telepathic energy, Pa'nar Syndrome, etc. -LauraCC (talk) 02:41, 9 November 2023 (UTC)

Or would "Category:Psionics" be better, since telepathy is said to be related to that field? -LauraCC (talk) 15:19, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Some telepathy-related articles seem to live under psychology in a way I wouldn't necessarily expect, so I support this. - AJHalliwell (talk) 21:39, 24 June 2024 (UTC)

Under which title? Telepathy or Psionics? I suppose telepathy would be more user-friendly... -LauraCC (talk) 01:20, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

I support "Category:Telepathy". - AJHalliwell (talk) 17:25, 7 July 2024 (UTC)

Transportation[]

A category that Category:Transportation technology would be a subcat of, plus items related to transportation like bus stop, school shuttle stop, landing pad (not so much technology as locations), Bay Area Rapid Transit, San Francisco Municipal Railway, system map, shipping route, etc. -LauraCC (talk) 23:06, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Also walking, swimming (technically it is a way you transport yourself, not just a sport or leisure activity) -LauraCC (talk) 17:06, 7 June 2024 (UTC)

Weak oppose. Beyond a common subject, I'm not sure I see why this needs a category per se. - AJHalliwell (talk) 21:39, 24 June 2024 (UTC)

Better organization? I know other super categories have been created in the past. -LauraCC (talk) 23:51, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

Marriage[]

For all topics related to weddings and marriage. A subcat of "Sex and reproduction", and also for things like wedding cake, best man, boutonnière, divorce, etc. -LauraCC (talk) 03:13, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

See the list at wedding, for starters. -LauraCC (talk) 03:17, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

I'd previously suggested this without giving any justification (sorry, I dunno why I did that). -LauraCC (talk) 14:51, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

Support Category:Marriage, after briefly refreshing my understanding of Wikipedia's use of it/vs. wedding, etc. - AJHalliwell (talk) 17:25, 7 July 2024 (UTC)

Thaddeus Troi-Riker's fictional creations[]

I suppose this could be a template instead - he created quite a long list of fictional places and peoples. -LauraCC (talk) 21:53, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Support, though not sure I like this name. Maybe Category:Ardani -- since that seems to be the "world" (planet) all of his creations relate back to? The contents would be the list at Ardani, and I'd imagine it'd be similarly phrased to Category:The Adventures of Flotter. - AJHalliwell (talk) 17:25, 7 July 2024 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. -LauraCC (talk) 15:56, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Digital/holographic sentient classification in info bars[]

Should there be an effort to differentiate android, programs, and holograms that have become sentient? Example are Data is listed only as a Soong-type android vice being the only sentient Soong-type android. Kathryn Janeway (hologram), James Moriarty (hologram), and The Doctor are just listed as holograms (as well as The Doctor not allowing rank within his info bar). Zora is not listed as a program anywhere in her info bar, nor being sentient. M-5 multitronic unit could very well be sentient as well as well as the Ent-D computer system (this one had a baby!). I am sure there are other examples out there that I cannot think of at the moment. Should there be a template for these examples or a category? ‐ Yaroze86 (talk) 14:43, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

The effort to differentiate (in instances where sentience is in question) should be captured in the body of the article. Instances where artificial lifeform sentience comes up it's probably in question as part of the/a plot (i.e. Data, Zora.) Sentience also references instances directly mentioned, and (bgnote) those not directly mentioned. Given the gray subjective area, I think "Artificial lifeforms" is probably the best bet, and I'm not sure the subjectivity needs introduced to the info bar. - AJHalliwell (talk) 17:25, 7 July 2024 (UTC)

Training holoprograms[]

For holoprograms that are educational and Starfleet training, like the command training for Deanna Troi, Wesley Crusher's Academy fear test, etc, as opposed to leisure programs like Dixon Hill. -LauraCC (talk) 01:32, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, this appears to be served by the content of Holographic programs. While technically distinguishable, I don't think bogging down MA's category system by quantity inherently improves navigation. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Hybrids subcat[]

Subcat of Category:Hybrids either for bred hybrids (Spock, etc), or transporter hybrids (of which we have many more than just Tuvix due to LD) -LauraCC (talk) 02:11, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, I do not believe the quantity of transporter hybrids calls for this. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Beers and ales[]

Subcat(s) (either "beers" and "ales" or "beers and ales") of Category:Alcoholic beverages. From the list @ beer. -LauraCC (talk) 03:58, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Tourist attractions[]

For all planets and other locations known for recreation, like Crivo, Risa, Fire Caves, Cetacean Institute, etc. -LauraCC (talk) 16:47, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Weak oppose, unless a list is written that first justifies the need for this. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

I've started a list, but I'm sure there are more. -LauraCC (talk) 19:33, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Bags[]

-LauraCC (talk) 23:33, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Support, on the virtue of being sufficiently different from "household tools" and "tools"; a shopping bag is not a tool or a clothing accessory. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Jewelry[]

See the current list @ Jewelry, which I've expanded recently. -LauraCC (talk) 23:33, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Laboratories[]

For all of the locations with "lab" or "laboratory" in their names. -LauraCC (talk) 23:55, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Oppose; this information should be better captured at Science laboratory before needing a category. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Personal starships[]

Starships owned by individuals rather than being part of a service. -LauraCC (talk) 20:25, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Not convinced of the value of this. It seems a similar idea to the "Courier ships" category that was hacked together without discussion and includes ships that aren't courier ships. -- Sulfur (talk) 00:11, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Pets and pet-related topics[]

See the lists @ pet. -LauraCC (talk) 03:19, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

I suppose I create this as a template, like I've done @ {{Personal care}}. Though named animals and species kept as pets is quite a long list on its own. -LauraCC (talk) 23:04, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

Islands[]

See the various lists @ island. -LauraCC (talk) 00:00, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Tribbles[]

To categorize Bribble, a Tribble-Brikar hybrid (already categorized under "Hybrids" and "Brikars" - "Tribbles" would replace "Animals") and actually a named (partial) tribble. We have the precedent for having a category with one named individual @ Category:Sehlats (though I guess, unlike I-Chaya, fully a sehlats, Bribble is only half Tribble,at least) - only I-chaya and unnamed pets are in that category. For unnamed pet Tribbles, we have Lorca's and Kelvinverse Scotty's, in a cage (though the latter could be there as a "canary in a coal mine", not as a pet, I suppose). -LauraCC (talk) 15:39, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Advanced Technologies Unit personnel[]

Subcat for some of the people listed in Category:USS Protostar dedication plaque personnel on the right of the plaque. -LauraCC (talk) 00:01, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Syndromes[]

From the list @Syndrome (see Talk:Syndrome). -LauraCC (talk) 03:21, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Production POV categories[]

Comics sub-breakdown[]

The Comics category is starting to get rather large at almost 1000 articles. The comics that have been published over the years have come from (thus far) a handful of publishers, so one possibility to make it a bit more manageable would be to break them down based on that, such as "Marvel Comics", "DC Comics", "WildStorm Comics", "IDW Publishing Comics", "Gold Key Comics", etc.

Titles/Issues/Volumes/etc that are printed by more than one publisher would have each publisher's category on them.

Further possible breakdowns (that could be instead of or in addition to) could include "miniseries comics" (for those of less than 6 issues), "ongoing comics", "one-shot comics". These would fall in-line with the "comics collections" category.

Thoughts? -- sulfur (talk) 14:51, June 11, 2020 (UTC)

I would prefer the publisher categories, but restricted to just the first one. We can just have a note on the categories that it only contains the comics first published by them. - Archduk 3 15:26, June 11, 2020 (UTC)

Yes, we should sort them by publisher. -LauraCC (talk) 17:28, 2 May 2023 (UTC)

Support 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 06:08, 26 May 2024 (UTC)

Archival footage performers[]

I seem to recall this being suggested elsewhere, maybe by me, possibly on this very page earlier, but anyone appearing as themselves in archival footage (so not Stephen Hawking (actor)) such as Adolf Hitler (self) and Boris Karloff (self) ought to have a category. -LauraCC (talk) 17:41, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

Yes, you suggested this back in 2019, and I oppose per the arguments given then. I would say it could be a page (as AD3 suggested), but I don't think this even warrants that. 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 00:15, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, per above. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Theatrical releases[]

As "The Last Generation" is airing in IMAX theaters, and it is not a movie, how about a category for all Trek productions aired in theaters? Were there any other show episodes that aired in theaters? (talk) 20:15, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

I can't think of any at the moment, but unless there are troves that I'm unaware of, I'm compelled to oppose this, as the category would be far too sparse to justify its existence. However, I think a page for this could be an excellent idea, so long as we can find other episodes that were released in theaters. 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 04:43, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

I believe there was some DIS or SNW episode(s) that did. -LauraCC (talk) 01:03, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, I think the encyclopedic content should exist before we go trying to organize based on an idea. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Lyricists[]

For people who wrote the lyrics to Trek songs, such as SNW: "Subspace Rhapsody" tracks, "Beyond Antares", "Sledgehammer (song)", "The Moon's a Window to Heaven" etc. Right now, the last one (John Bettis) is in "Category:Composers", which "Lyricists" could be a subcat of, or it could be a fellow subcat of "Music department" instead, since some people (but not all) are both lyricists and composers. -LauraCC (talk) 20:56, 5 August 2023 (UTC)

Oppose, I don't think Star Trek has sufficient lyricists to call for this, but we should probably add "and lyricists" to the Composers category description. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

I'll buy that. -LauraCC (talk) 19:36, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

US filming locations and Canada filming locations[]

Or would it be better to have a list of filming locations by country? As of now, Canadian and US locations outnumber any other countries used to film Trek.-LauraCC (talk) 23:22, 12 August 2023 (UTC)

I've sorted the locations by country/region, etc, here: User:LauraCC/Sorted filming locations. -LauraCC (talk) 18:33, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

I envision this information referenced in the background sections of a few places, maybe California linking to Filming locations (both of which could be reworked to better convey the info now,) but I think this would make the filming locations category less effective. While this could be done, what's the justification? - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Outdoors and indoors[]

Divide filming locations into "Interior filming locations" (such as "Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory", stage sets, etc) and "Exterior filming locations" (such as El Mirage Dry Lake Bed). -LauraCC (talk) 15:36, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

I expect very little overlap (unless you consider any city where an episode is filmed as a filming location). -LauraCC (talk) 18:02, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, I'm not convinced this aides navigation more than Category:Filming locations. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Deceased performers and deceased authors[]

Subcategories of Category:Deceased production staff. All others can remain in the main category for now. -LauraCC (talk) 13:47, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Oppose per the last time you brought this up. In short, it would be a lot of work to pull off and has very few (if any) benefits. 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 03:39, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Oppose, per above. - AJHalliwell (talk) 16:28, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

This can be done by category intersections. The main reason they were turned on was to handle things like this. -- Sulfur (talk) 00:09, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Paramount Studios filming locations[]

From the list @ User:LauraCC/Sorted filming locations#Paramount Studios -LauraCC (talk) 03:26, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Maintenance categories[]

Anthology covers[]

The SNW short story anthology covers are all for some reason in the same cat as The High Country, a SNW TV series tie-in novel cover. Also, the essay anthology covers are all in "literature". I suggest "Category:Memory Alpha images (anthology covers)", with the SNW anthology covers as a subcat of that. -LauraCC (talk) 15:09, 2 July 2024 (UTC)