Category talk:Robin Hood

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Im just curious, is there some reason these people are part of the Robbin Hood category? Sounds like original research. Can this be cited somewhere? Or do we as Wikipedians decide who is a "Robbin Hood" based on our own analysis? Stbalbach 03:47, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

Hi Stbalbach - I have been researching Robin Hood for the last few weeks, and I found many instances of historical figures in Wikipedia described as "the Mexican Robin Hood" or "the Chinese Robin Hood," etc. There were a few names listed on the Robin Hood page, as other characters in a similar rob-the-rich-give-to-the-poor mold. I figured I would list others I found there on the Robin Hood page, but as the list grew longer, I realized that there's a type of outlaw/bandit/criminal/revolutionary who fits this mold and a category would be better than managing a listing.

I don't have a terribly thorough system for deciding who qualifies; mostly if other authors have listed those people as possible Robin Hood characters. Robin Hood is a fictional creation mostly, and most of these people are described as Robin Hoods after their death. The definition of a Robin Hood character is a slippery affair perhaps. But it still seems somehow useful, because so many people use "a Japanese Robin Hood" or "the Polish Robin Hood" as a designation. As you point out, there's often not any particular strong research to validate those claims, except some readings of popular culture or historical fiction. I'm inclined to be fairly generous with the "Robin Hood" designation, because it has a pretty clear ideal and people seem to know one when they see one. Ahem.

So no citation here, except where I found Wikipedians had already proclaimed people Robin Hoods.

JustinHall 06:03, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

Well, if it was me doing this.. I would have a list and try to provide citations on who first said it, and why. Because anyone can call anyone "Robbin Hood", it needs some basis. Categories dont require written explanation, and automatically infer an archetypal "hero" status through name association, which could be seen as both POV and original research. Stbalbach 07:11, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

I can see your point, and I can imagine there might be trouble ahead if too many folks decide to use the "Robin Hood" label. On the other hand, we're dealing here in the realm of folk tales, and Robin Hood is a pretty democratic affair. The very nature of the Robin Hood myth is inexact and prone to exaggeration! So it may be that the Wikipedia categorization follows similar lines. JustinHall 14:50, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

English folklore

Robin Hood is charakter, who is a part of English folklore, but not Juraj Jánošík and Zorro of course. These characters need other category, maybe Category:Heroes by nationality and Juraj Jánošík is a part of Category:Slovak folklore :) See Category:Slovak heroes Przykuta 12:18, 23 August 2006 (UTC)