Does it matter how we indicate an unsourced profile?

Question

[[Category:Canada Unsourced_Profiles]]
{{Unsourced|Canada}}

I've been using the second option, but just noticed drop down category option.  Do they accomplish the same thing as I suspect?

Comments

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I just put both on a profile and followed the links.  Want to know what I discovered?

[[Category:Canada Unsourced_Profiles]] - files the profile directly onto the expected Canada Unsourced Profiles category page.

{{Unsourced|Canada}} - files the profile directly onto the Canada Unsourced Profiles category page AND also adds it to the general Unsourced category page as Deb suggested.

I think it is a bad idea to use the {{Unsourced|Canada}} template because it just clutters up the Unsourced category when you already have a good idea where they lived because you put the |Canada on it.  That way {{Unsourced}} can just be loaded with people we have no idea of where they are from.  It is also a good idea to get used to using the automatic category adding system.

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There's a specific reason to add the general category.  It allows people to find unsourced profiles with a given surname, without having to go through all the regions.

If you can't guess the continent, you could do {{Unsourced|Unplaced}}.

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I agree with RJ.  If I wanted to find all the Unsourced Haywoods, I would only be shown ones with the template on them, not with just the category.

Answer 1

I think just adding it to the category may not add it to the unsourced list in the database. The unsourced template does add it to the category though.

Comments

I think using either code adds the category link to the profile and adds the profile to the category database.

Using the template code also adds the Unsourced banner to the profile.

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Ooh!  Now the banner is a plus!  I am so conflicted!

Perhaps we could get the PTB to tweak whatever they have to tweak, so that if there is a modifier, i.e. |Canada, the profile doesn't sort to the generic Unsourced Category.  That banner is really an eye-catcher. 

Answer 2

To answer your question directly, Lucy, it matters to some members and not to others.

Ideally, we should add at least the basic Unsourced template (without parameters) to any profile that has absolutely no indication of where the information for the profile was obtained.

And no version of the Unsourced template or the Unsourced categories should be used if a profile has any text that tells us where the information was obtained by whoever added the information.

That is my understanding of the policy for use of the Unsourced template and categories.