Wikipedia:Wikibreak

This is a humorous essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors and is made to be humorous. This page is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. This essay isn't meant to be taken seriously.

Shortcuts

A wikibreak, wikiholiday, wikivacation, or leave of wiki-absence is a period when even a wikipediholic must be parted from Wikipedia, although presumably only temporarily.

The pain involved varies from Wikipedian to Wikipedian. Some find it easy to endure, whereas others find the separation agonizing and painful. Often the latter find themselves grasping at any opportunity to go online "just to check what's going on".

The degree of coercion also varies. Some remarkable individuals are actually capable of taking a voluntary wikiholiday: they are to be admired for their strength and assertiveness of character. Some people have to enforce their departure for their own good. Others still are forced into it through circumstances beyond their control: it is often at such times that wikiholics discover their condition.

Generic templates

The wikibreak template

When taking a wikibreak, it is a good idea to inform your wikifriends that you are not active and indicate when you might be back. You can use the wikibreak template for this purpose. Let's say Example wants to go on wikibreak until Christmas. They would then place {{wikibreak|Example|on December 25.}} on the top of their user or talk pages, and it produces:

Example is taking a short wikibreak and will be back on Wikipedia on December 25.

The wikibreak-in-house template

{{wikibreak-in-house}} produces:

Wikibreak is involved in Wikipedia training, an editathon, Wikimania, or a similar Wikipedia event. Though they may be editing, they could be too busy to respond to you until the event is over. Your patience will be appreciated.

The WikibreakSwitch template

To keep a template that you can switch on or off, or even convert into many of the others shown below, use {{WikibreakSwitch|<status>}} where <status> may be OFF, ON, LONG, etc.

The tmbox template

If your message isn't covered by any of the templates on this page, you can use the generic {{tmbox}} template to create a similar-looking box containing your text and one or two images.

Specific case templates

Busy

The busy template

An alternative for those weaning themselves more slowly from Wikipedia is the '{{Busy}}' template, which is designed for those who are being overtaken by "real" life (if you have one) work. Wikipediholics can use this template to assuage the guilt associated with long breaks from the Wiki. If Example were using this template, they would place either {{busy|Example}} or {{busy|~~~}} at the top of their user page:

Example is busy in real life and may not respond swiftly to queries.

A topicon is also available Template:Busy topicon. Use {{Busy topicon}} to use it.

The off and on wikibreak template

There are times when one is having trouble being able to consistently make contributions for some reason. If you are inconsistently able to make edits, add {{Off and On WikiBreak}} to your userpage, which will produce:

Wikibreak is busy and is going to be on Wikipedia in off-and-on doses, and may not respond swiftly to queries.

The moving template

When you move to a new location there is no help for it; you have to stop editing until your computer is found or edit from public computers. {{Moving}} produces:

Wikibreak is currently in the process of moving and will resume normal levels of editing activities once they are done.

Name auto adjusts as well as width.

Education

The at school template

When school beckons, use {{At school}} to get:

This user is in school.

This user is taking a wikibreak and may be away or inactive for varying periods of time.
Although they may occasionally be able to do some editing, messages left for them may not be replied to for a while.
They will be back on Wikipedia when school is over.

Note: This template uses parameters and has a syntax. Click here for a quick look.

The at school occasional template

When school beckons, but you still have opportunities to edit. ({{At school occasional}})

This user is in school.

This user is taking an academic wikibreak and may be away or inactive for varying periods of time.
However, Wikibreak will sometimes get the chance to edit, so they would respond quicker and edit more than those who were on a regular wikibreak.
They will be back on Wikipedia full-time when school is over.

The exams template

Another template for those who have exams coming up soon, to add it just add {{exams}} at the top of your user page:

Wikibreak is taking a short wikibreak to get ready for exams and will be back on Wikipedia once the exams are over.

Alternatively, you can use {{exams|date}} to specify the date that your exams finish. That will yield:

Wikibreak is taking a short wikibreak to get ready for exams and will be back on Wikipedia once the exams are over on date.

Health

The sick/ill template

For those of us who are sick or ill and would thus be partially inactive, Wikipedians can use {{user health inactive}} to indicate this.

Wikibreak is suffering from physical health issues. This may affect their ability to work on Wikipedia. Consequently, they may not be able to respond to talk-page messages or e-mails in a timely manner. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

The terminally ill template

For those of us whose illness will sadly be likely to lead to their death and would thus be partially inactive, Wikipedians can use {{user terminally ill}} to indicate this.

This user is experiencing health issues that are reasonably expected to lead to their death. This may affect their ability to work on Wikipedia. Consequently, this user may not be able to respond to talk-page messages or e-mails. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

The mental health template

For those of us who are struggling with mental illness or psychological problems and would thus be partially inactive, Wikipedians can use {{User mental health}} to indicate this.

Wikibreak is currently experiencing mental health issues, which may affect their Wikipedia editing in various ways. They may have difficulty with:

altered perception when making editorial judgements, determining consensus, or reading Wikipedia discussions addressed to them;
reduced availability on Wikipedia during times when they experience issues;
limited capacity to respond to other Wikipedians via talk page or email messages in a timely fashion, to participate in conflict resolution, or to complete their usual workload of Wikipedia tasks.

Thank you for your understanding.

Note: NEVER add this to a user page that isn't your page, as this is potentially libelous (not to mention cruel).

The stress template

{{User stress}} produces:

Wikibreak is currently experiencing significant stress that may affect their ability to work on Wikipedia. They may choose to work in quieter areas and avoid complicated tasks or areas prone to conflict. They may also respond to talk page or email messages more slowly than usual, and your patience is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Vacation

The vacation template

{{vacation}} produces:

Example user is away on vacation and may not respond swiftly to queries.

{{vacation|holiday=yes}} produces:

Example user is away on holiday and may not respond swiftly to queries.

{{vacation|[[User:John Doe|John]]|from=22 December 2024|until=05 January 2025}} produces:

John will be away on vacation until 05 January 2025 and may not respond swiftly to queries.

The out of town template

{{out of town}} produces:

Wikibreak is out of town and may not respond to queries.

{{out of town|fishing=yes}} produces:

Wikibreak has gone fishin' and may not respond to queries.

The computer death template

{{Computer death}} produces:

Wikibreak is temporarily without a computer, so they are taking a short wikibreak.

The no internet access template

{{No Internet}} produces:

Wikibreak has no Internet access and will be taking a wikibreak of indeterminate length.

The no power template

{{No-power}} produces:

Wikibreak is experiencing a power outage and has no immediately available Internet access. As such, they will be taking a wikibreak of indeterminate length.

The storm break template

{{Storm-break|storm=foo}} produces:

Wikibreak might go on a wikibreak due to impending weather related to foo and will be back at their earliest convenience.

Grieving

If you are suffering a loss and you are grieving, you may use {{User grieving}}.

Wikibreak has recently suffered a significant loss and is grieving. Consequently, their ability to work on Wikipedia and their time available to do so may be affected – an unplanned short wikibreak is also possible. Your patience with delays in handling Wikipedia responsibilities and in responding to talk page messages or e-mails is appreciated, as is your compassion and understanding. Thank you.

Other

The bonked template

Shortcuts

{{bonked}} produces:

Wikibreak is currently wikibonked and is operating at a lower edit level than usual. Hitting the wall is a temporary condition, and the user should return to normal edit levels in time.

The {{bonked|superbonked=yes}} can be used when you have been wikibonked so much that you will have to leave Wikipedia.

Wikibreak is currently so wikibonked that they have gone to sleep. Hitting the wall is a temporary condition, and therefore the user should return to Wikipedia in time.

The contempt template

{{User contempt}} produces:

Wikibreak is currently experiencing contempt and may temporarily be less active on Wikipedia.

The discouraged template

For those users who have been disheartened by the wikiprocess through failure, edit wars, bullying, and other acts of not assuming good faith towards the user. They may also be suffering from a sense of wikifailure. Wikipedians displaying {{Discouraged}} may periodically check their watchlist, but will not engage in editing. Wikipedians will typically return to their regular contributing activity once their faith in the wikicommunity has been restored or their existential wikistress has been resolved.

Wikibreak is currently feeling discouraged about Wikipedia and is taking an off-and-on wikibreak due to loss of motivation.

Your help in cheering this user up would be appreciated.

They will return when their wikistress has dissipated and their confidence in the wikicommunity has been restored.

The frustrated template

{{User frustrated}} produces:

Wikibreak is currently frustrated and may be unresponsive to certain discussions.

The personal issues template

{{Personal issues}} produces:

Due to personal issues, Wikibreak will be away from Wikipedia for an undefined period of time.

Semi-wikibreak

This section contains material that is kept because it is considered humorous.
Such material is not meant to be taken seriously.

Shortcut

WP:SWB

A semi-wikibreak is a Wikibreak taken by Wikipedians who are not fully on a wikibreak but are not fully editing. There are many possible reasons for a semi-wikibreak, such as:

stress
busy at work or school
going on vacation
new puppy isn't housebroken yet
toilet got backed up
slow internet connection
family members needing more attention
kids need affection/cereal/ride to sports practice (Note: order may vary)
Super Bowl
AL/NL Pennant Race
Stanley Cup Finals
chase for the NASCAR Cup Series
March Madness
NBA Playoffs
FIFA World Cup
new xkcd strip
sharing computer with others
ran out of coffee/tea
reading paper-bound volumes (apparently called "books")
partying
computer is broken
tired of Wikipedia
sleeping
PSL
Indian Premier League
UEFA Champions League
finding cheap gas
visiting at the library

{{Wikibreak|type=semi}} produces:

Wikibreak is taking a semi-wikibreak and will fully return to Wikipedia later.

Retirement

The retired template

We hope this never happens, but sometimes good things must come to an end. If you are retiring from Wikipedia you can use the {{retired}} template.

Retired

This user is no longer active on Wikipedia.

{{Retired|EXAMPLE}} produces:

EXAMPLE