Category talk:Political People

Um, Politicians? --Ymmotrojam 21:06, 18 March 2007 (EDT)

This needs to be split into three categories; Political Activists, Politicians, and Pundits. --Hojimachong^talk 21:07, 18 March 2007 (EDT)

Lots of the categories need to be split up in lots of ways (this one could use splitting up by country too... Klemens von Metternich, an Austrian diplomat from the 18th century, doesn't necessarily fit in with all the modern U.S. politicians), but I've generally been waiting until a sub-category has enough members before splitting them out. If you're looking for a category to split up, have a gander at the Most linked to categories... Category:Biology is our largest non-maintenance category at the moment, and has several sub-categories that should be created and sorted out. --Interiot 16:13, 20 March 2007 (EDT)

I will do this tonight, short of an objection here. Political people doesn't sound quite right anyway. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Please comment on organization of political categories and split tree. HeartOfGold 15:17, 17 May 2007 (EDT)

• Since the name isn't appropriate, and there was no discussion on adding it, I am considering deleting it. --Sysop-TK _/MyTalk 03:04, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

• I think Hoji's idea, or something like it, is best. DanH 03:09, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

Categories--a can of worms? But one that needs to be opened eventually.

Hojimachong recommends:

1. Political Activists
2. Politicians
3. Pundits

This is indeed better than what we have now, but I want to make some additional suggestions and observations.

• What about unelected government officials? E.g., appointed officials, from judges to U.S. attornies.

This gets complicated in cases where a single individual could be classified in multiple categories. In such cases, I think we should play it by ear; sometimes, it might warrant listing in two categories, while in other cases, only the most notable category. HeartOfGold_talk 12:15, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

• Should we differentiate between U.S. government officials (including politicians) and other politicians?

I think yes. HeartOfGold_talk 12:15, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

• The term Pundit is fine to me. However, if others think it is somehow demeaning, commentator might be an alternative.

In light of this, how about:

• Government Officials (United States): Includes elected and appointed officials who hold office in National, state, or local governments within the United States or its territories. Minor elected officials must meet some notability criteria, if such criteria exists, before having an article. May also include notable politicians who have not yet been elected.
• Government Officials (Outside the United States): See above.
• Pundits
• Political Activists: E.g., Michael Moore

Also, we have to solve problems tha arise with the likes of Al Frankin et al. He is a pundit and a politician seeking election. Effusive categories, in my opinion, should be avoided, but others are welcome to share their own opinions. Also, whether or not we want to differentiate United States, or even finer resolution (e.g., New Jersey Government Officials) is certainly subject to debate. HeartOfGold_talk 12:15, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

I'm not a sysop, so I don't know if my view is welcome here, but are people who fit in more than one category, like Al Franken or Joe Scarsborough, for instance, really a problem? Can't they just be put in both categories? So, they'd be both the categories pundits and politicians.--Steve 10:24, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

All in all, there is another bigger problem: What kind and how many categories should we have? E.g., sometimes categories are used by POV pushers to take subtle jabs at articles conservatives hold dear. E.g., POV pushers might create a category Mythological Ships and add the article on Noah's Ark to this category, to the consertnation of many. Recently, I moved a bunch of articles that was in Biblical Characters to Biblical Persons to avoid similar and probably unintended negative connotations.

Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I have done no reclassification yet on Political People yet, as I was waiting for those in authority to chime in. However, the term is poor style, per Elements of Style by White and Strunk, if I remember correctly. While "the people" is a political term, it is mis-applied in this category "political people", I think. At the very list, it should be "political persons". But then again, grammar and style is not my strongest suit. HeartOfGold_talk 12:15, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

Also, just a note, I see there is a category for Category:Mexican_Presidents, which seems perfectly reasonable to me. However, perhaps a survey of such categories should be conducted....but this could be a can of worms...maybe it could wait for a time. HeartOfGold_talk 12:44, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

• We might try "Political" as the upper tier category, replacing that rather generic and PC sounding political people. Then sort according to elected officials (past and present or current elected officials) etc. --Sysop-TK _/MyTalk 12:50, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

For the time being, "political" sounds like a great compromise, and it punts some of the difficult work of deciding sub-categories until after we reach 10,000. May I start moving everything in this group to the political category, or shall I wait for futher comments? HeartOfGold_talk 16:26, 20 May 2007 (EDT)

• Give it a day. I will email the active Sysops, asking for their thoughts. Thanks! --Sysop-TK _/MyTalk 09:50, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

Statesmen

I don't agree that liberal activists, propagandists and Fascists should be called statesmen. That word carries too high a connotation. --Ed Poor ^Talk 20:35, 9 January 2009 (EST)

I agree. If you can find the proper terminology other than Statesmen for the aforementioned subgroups of people, kindly let me know. Discuss further with User:TK and see my talk page for our discussion on the subject. Thanks! WesleyS^Hello! 23:05, 9 January 2009 (EST)

Ed is supposed to be asleep! Yes, Ed, see bottom of my talk page! :p --₮K_/Admin^/Talk 00:26, 10 January 2009 (EST)

Possible compromise is to make Statesmen and Political Figures two separate categories of Politics, not a chain of Politics -> Statesmen -> Political Figures. WesleyS^Hello! 11:28, 10 January 2009 (EST)