View source for Wikipedia:Talk page stalker

{{Redirect|WP:TPS|the essay about third-party sources|WP:3PARTY}}
{{Humor|WP:TALKSTALK|WP:TPS|WP:JAGUAR|WP:TPW}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = WikiJaguar
| fossil_range = Late Nupedian (2001–present)
| image = Obscured jaguar.jpg | image_caption = A talk page stalker hiding in the foliage of an administrator's talk page
| genus = Panthera
| species = wikistalkustalkus
| synonyms =
* ''P. wikiwatchus'' <small>[[User:Grolltech|GrollTech]], 2013</small>
* ''P. wikistalkus'' <small>[[User:Grolltech|GrollTech]], 2013</small>
* ''P. wikionca'' <small>[[User:Dinosaur Fan|Dinosaur Fan]], 2015</small>{{#tag:ref|''Panthera wikionca'' is listed [[User:Dinosaur Fan#About Dinosaur Fan|here]].|group="nb"}}
| authority = [[User:Grolltech|GrollTech]], 2012<br /><hr style="width:260px" />
| range_map = Wikipedia-logo-v2-no-text.svg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| range_map_caption = Known range (shown in white) believed to be found anywhere near [[Internet|a food source]]
}}

A '''talk page [[stalker]]''' ('''TPS'''), also known as a '''WikiJaguar''' or '''talk page watcher''' ('''TPW'''), is an individual who keeps an eye on one or more users' [[WP:Talk page|talk pages]] (often via the [[Help:Watchlist|watchlist]]) and answers or adds input to threads in which the stalker is not directly involved.

Talk page stalkers often make very constructive commentary, and should not be confused with [[Wikipedia:Harassment#Wikihounding|Wikihounders]]. While it is best to treat them [[Wikipedia:Civility|politely]], and even with some safe measure of [[Wikipedia:A nice cup of tea and a sit down|kindness]], they should be watched carefully for other symptoms of [[Wikipedia:Wikipediholic|Wikipediholism]]. If you believe your TPS may be experiencing other symptoms of [[Internet addiction disorder]], you may wish to [[Reactance (psychology)|suggest diplomatically]] the [[meta:Wikipatch|Wikipatch]] or, for advanced cases, a visit to [[Wikipedia:Clinic for Wikipediholics|the Wikipediholic clinic]].

Popular targets of talk page stalkers include [[Wikipedia:Administrators|catministrators]], [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats|bureaucats]], [[Wikipedia:CheckUser|checkusers]], high-profile or [[Wikipedia:Highly Active Users|highly active]] users, and other types of [[megalomania]]cs. Talk page stalkers have even been known to stalk each other! Contrary to popular belief, talk page stalkers might not all be scheming [[villain]]s – rather, they generally contribute with some helpful piece of advice especially when the particular user the message was left for is not immediately available. Talk page stalkers have also been known to make [[Wikipedia:WikiFairy|minor tweaks]] to the talk pages they stalk; for example, replacing plain text archive listings with archive boxes. One can see just how stalked a particular person is by looking at their page information.

It is considered polite to announce one's intention to stalk another's talk page, perhaps through some creative means, or an amiably worded self-invitation to the talk page's owner using as many weasel words as you can manage.

==How to spot a stalker==
Known talkpage stalkers sometimes like to display it on ''their own'' talkpages:
{| class="wikitable align="left"
|{{WP:TPS/userbox}}
|This can be achieved by '''{{tlx|WP:TPS/userbox}}'''
|}

Wikipedians whose talk pages are routinely stalked are often not disturbed by this fact; and sometimes even welcome the practice, [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AWhatLinksHere&target=Wikipedia%3ATPS%2Fuserbox&namespace=3 displaying a fair warning] to others who dare post there.  A banner is also available for this purpose, and lets talk page stalkers know they are welcome and appreciated.
{| class="wikitable align="left"
|{{WP:TPS/banner}}
|This can be achieved by '''{{tlx|WP:TPS/banner}}'''
|}

'''{{tlx|WP:TPS/vector banner}}''' is available for those with the vector skin.

----
{{anchor|Watchers}}
Somewhat less ferocious among this group are the talk page '''watchers''':<br />

{| class="wikitable align="left"
|{{WP:TPS/watched}}
|This can be achieved by '''{{tlx|WP:TPS/watched}}'''
|}

{| class="wikitable align="left"
|{{WP:TPS/watcher}}
|This can be achieved by adding '''{{tlx|WP:TPS/watcher}}''' on userpage.
|}

{| class="wikitable align="left"
|{{WP:TPS/watched/banner}}
|This banner can be achieved by '''{{tlx|WP:TPS/watched/banner}}'''
|}

*Some stalkers surreptitiously advertise this essay by tagging individual messages with {{tlx|tps}} replying to the message on the talkpage that they stalk; that template produces: {{tps}}

==Awarding stalkers==
If you've been helped by a talk page stalker, consider awarding them the '''WikiJaguar Award for Excellence''' by adding <code><nowiki>{{subst:</nowiki>[[WP:TPS/award]]<nowiki>|(message) ~~~~}}</nowiki></code> to their talk page. If you do not include a custom message the output will be as follows:

{{WP:TPS/award}}

If you wish to use the above default text but add an additional custom message before the signature, type <code><nowiki>{{subst:</nowiki>[[WP:TPS/award]]<nowiki>|2=(additional message here)}}</nowiki></code>

==Surprise your stalkers==
[[File:Jaguar-Junior.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Another talk page stalker lies in wait]]

The first obligation of a host is to not always offer the same thing. Be often polite, gracious, and soothing; but do not constantly offer such fare. Remember that unrelieved politeness may carry an implicit reproach. If a guest feels that they have been told "Look at me being incredibly polite; can ''you'' do this?", they are unlikely to return. Allow them instead to experience an agreeable sense of superiority by telling them to get lost.

==See also==
* [[Help:Watchlist]]
* [[Wikipedia:Harassment]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiKitten|WikiKittens that also stalk]]
* {{tlx|Talk page stalker}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{Wikipediholicism}}
{{Wikipedia fauna}}

[[Category:Medieval Wikifauna]]
[[Category:Wikipedia discussion]]