Forum:Redirects to external pages


 * The following is taken from Template talk:Mard

The pages that use (Template:Mard)'', as well as the "broken redirects" on here, all redirect to Memory Alpha articles. However, when viewing the page, the redirect does not occur and the visitor must click the link.''

''I would suggest that these redirects be replaced with the Template:Ma in any instance they are linked to in an article, rather than have a redirect that does not work the way it should. --Trip Endres 01:50, September 17, 2010 (UTC)''

I thought I'd move just that part here as this concerns all external redirects and not just the ones that use the Mard template.

In regards to the specific suggestion above I'm against it. Having to click twice to get to the page is a minor annoyance, but it at least keeps links from articles all pointing towards the same spot, which makes it easier to maintain (repair links, etc). It also makes it explicitly clear that you are moving off this wiki to another site. These reasons are pretty much why a redirect has been preferred over an in-article direct link.

However, the biggest reason I'm against the suggestion is that it does nothing to fix the what I see as the true issue concerning external redirects - they discourage article creation by hiding red-links. I think STEU would be better served if we just delete all external redirects. – 08:00, September 17, 2010 (UTC)