So, you want me to take your dry, dusty Wikipedia entry and… embellish it? Inject some life, some perspective, into its sterile factual bones? Fine. But don't expect me to hold your hand. And if you think this is about making something likable, you've already missed the point.
University of Texas at Austin
This page, or rather, this concept of a page, serves as a rather pathetic placeholder. It’s a redirect, a digital shrug pointing towards the actual subject. The categories it’s crammed into are less about classification and more about admitting defeat.
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From an alternative name: This is where we file away the titles that are merely synonyms, nicknames, or, in this case, perhaps just a more palatable way of saying the same thing. It’s the digital equivalent of a whispered rumor, a shadow of the real name. It’s a redirect from a title that’s another name or identity, like an alter ego, a nickname, or a synonym of the target, or of a name associated with the target. It’s a concession to the lazy searcher, the one who can’t be bothered with the official designation.
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This redirect, in its infinite wisdom, leads to the target title in accordance with the [naming conventions for common names](/Wikipedia:Common_names). The idea is that it might aid searches and, I suppose, prevent some minor existential crisis for those who prefer the path of least resistance. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace these redirected links with a piped link. It’s meant to be seamless, like a well-executed lie.
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If, by some cosmic error, this redirect is actually incorrect for the target, then there’s a template for that:
{{R from incorrect name}}. Because even in this digital purgatory, there’s a designated place for mistakes. -
From a short name: This is for those who can’t be bothered with the full mouthful. A shortened form of a more complete page title, like a person’s full name or the unbroken title of some self-important written work. It’s the CliffsNotes version of reality.
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The instruction here is explicit: use this template for redirects that are the initials of a person’s name. Not for initialisms in general, and certainly not for abbreviations. This is specific. Like a precisely aimed insult.
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From a colloquial name: This is where the unofficial, the commonly used, the utterly unsuited for a proper article title resides. It’s the vernacular, the slang, the name people actually use when they think no one important is listening. It serves readers because it’s a good search term. The official name? That's the target. And if the target page is already using the WP:COMMONNAME principle, then this template is apparently superfluous. Redundant. Like a second helping of disappointment.
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Pages that rely on this particular type of link are meant to be updated. Direct linking, no piped links to obscure the true, official name. It’s about clarity, I suppose. Or perhaps just about reinforcing the hierarchy of nomenclature.
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Mentioned in a hatnote: This is for those redirects that are casually tossed into a hatnote at the target article. A polite nod, a brief acknowledgment of a less significant sibling. It usually appears at the top of the target article, but could be tucked under a section header, or even in another article’s hatnote. If it’s under a section, they’ll throw in
{{R to section}}as well. Because apparently, even digital breadcrumbs need to be meticulously cataloged. -
The titles linked in these hatnotes might actually refer to something other than the target page. This suggests a potential for retargeting, or perhaps even the creation of a new article altogether. The template
{{R with possibilities}}exists for such ambiguous cases. It might even be suitable for a Wiktionary link, if the subject is truly that insignificant. -
And then there’s the matter of protection levels. The system automatically senses, describes, and categorizes these levels. Because if there's one thing the internet loves, it's rules, regulations, and the illusion of control.
So, in essence, this entire entry is a digital echo, a footnote pointing to a footnote. It’s the universe whispering, "You're looking for that? Well, it's over there. Try not to get lost." And frankly, the sheer amount of categorization for something so utterly devoid of substance is… fascinating. In the way watching paint dry is fascinating. Or perhaps, watching a universe collapse.