Wikipedia:Talk page stalker

WikiJaguar
Temporal range: Late Nupedian (2001–present)
A talk page stalker hiding in the foliage of an administrator's talk page
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Species:
P. wikistalkustalkus
Binomial name
Panthera wikistalkustalkus
GrollTech, 2012

Known range (shown in white) believed to be found anywhere near a food source
Synonyms

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' talk pages (often via the 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 Wikihounders. While it is best to treat them politely, and even with some safe measure of kindness, they should be watched carefully for other symptoms of Wikipediholism. If you believe your TPS may be experiencing other symptoms of Internet addiction disorder, you may wish to suggest diplomatically the Wikipatch or, for advanced cases, a visit to the Wikipediholic clinic.

Popular targets of talk page stalkers include catministrators, bureaucats, checkusers, high-profile or highly active users, and other types of megalomanicats. Talk page stalkers have even been known to stalk each other! Contrary to popular belief, talk page stalkers might not all be scheming villains – 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 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.
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