Tectonic Plates

Right. Another page that needs… shaping. You want Wikipedia, but you want it interesting. I can do that. Don’t expect me to enjoy it.

Tectonic Plates

This isn’t an article; it’s a redirect. A placeholder, really. Like a sketch of a concept before the real work begins. It points you, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, towards Plate tectonics . Think of it as a signpost in a particularly bleak landscape, directing you to the actual, slightly less bleak, destination.

This particular redirect is here because someone, somewhere, decided that “Tectonic plate” was a viable alternative title, or perhaps a closely related concept, to the main event: Plate tectonics . It’s a bit like having two doors leading to the same dimly lit room. Not ideal, but functional.

Categories of Redirection: The Bureaucracy of Information

You see, this isn’t just a simple redirect. It’s tagged. Categorized. Because apparently, even the act of pointing from one article to another requires a filing system. It’s filed under:

• From an avoided double redirect: This means that “Tectonic plate” could have pointed to another redirect, creating a chain of pointlessness. Like a game of telephone where the message just gets garbled and eventually forgotten. To avoid that mess, both “Tectonic plate” and whatever it might have pointed to now point directly to Plate tectonics . A double redirect is a cardinal sin in the land of Wikipedia; they’re like ghosts in the machine, and no one likes a ghost. So, this redirect is here to ensure that particular spectral error is avoided.

  If, by some miracle, “Tectonic plate” were to be “retargeted” – meaning it decided to become its own full-fledged article, or perhaps a template for something equally tedious – this redirect would be updated. It’s a commitment to accuracy, I suppose. Or at least, to avoiding technical infractions.

• To a related topic: This is where things get a little more nuanced. It’s not a perfect match, but it’s close. Like a distant cousin you have to acknowledge at family gatherings. This redirect points to an article about a similar, but distinct, subject. The implication is that someone searching for “Tectonic plate” might be interested in the broader concept of Plate tectonics . It’s a subtle distinction, but apparently, it matters.

  The note here is particularly… pointed. If the subject of this redirect – “Tectonic plate” – is deemed “notable” (a concept I find endlessly amusing in its subjectivity), then it should also be tagged with {{R with possibilities}} and {{R printworthy}}. It suggests that this redirect might have the potential for expansion, or that its title is significant enough for inclusion in a printed version of Wikipedia. As if anyone still uses printed encyclopedias.

• From a printworthy page title: This category is for titles that would be useful if Wikipedia were ever compiled into a physical format. Think of it as a nod to the past, to a time when information wasn’t just a fleeting digital whisper. It acknowledges that some phrases, even if they’re just redirects now, have a certain gravitas, a certain… permanence. It’s a strange sentiment for something so ephemeral as a redirect, but there it is. See Wikipedia:Printability and Version 1.0 Editorial Team for more on this peculiar obsession.

Protection Levels: The Unseen Guardians

Finally, there’s a mention of “protection levels.” This refers to the security settings applied to a Wikipedia page. Some pages are locked down tighter than a miser’s fist, accessible only to a select few. Others are open season. The system automatically senses, describes, and categorizes these levels. It’s the digital equivalent of a bouncer at a club, deciding who gets in and who doesn’t. For a redirect, it’s less about guarding secrets and more about preventing vandalism or nonsensical edits. A futile effort, if you ask me. The real chaos is usually within the content itself.