Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history/Academy/Using external links

Focus

The essay purports to focus on using external links, but the current text is confused: are we offering advice about making yes/no decisions on external links (WP:RS, WP:EXT), or are we offering advice about attaining WP:NPOV content by avoiding inappropriate use of WP:FRINGE sources?

The current text I question:

As a result, if you decide to add external links to an article you should first ensure that the source in question is reliable. In this context reliable means that the information in the article is accurate, up to date, and free of any fringe theories or blatant points of view (unless those are the subject of their usage in the article). [bold text was added by me; it's not right either, as the confusion over links vs content remains]

Free of fringe theories or blatant points of view should be taken as an effort to make sure both sides views are presented in the article and present in such a way as to allow those reading the article to draw their own conclusions. If undue weight is added to one side or the other then the article will favor one position over the other, and this puts an article and the editor(s) who added the material to the article at odds with Wikipedia's neutral point of view policy. Being at odds with policy is a fast way to find yourself reprimanded, and in a worse case scenario could result in being banned from Wikipedia, so do make an effort to ensure neutrality in the article.

That last paragraph is entirely advice about content, not employing external links. We definitely need to do some work on this. Maralia (talk) 17:05, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

XVII Tranche Project Audit

• reviewed Regards, Krishna Chaitanya Velaga (talk • mail) 11:18, 20 February 2018 (UTC)
• checked: AustralianRupert (talk) 02:28, 12 May 2018 (UTC)