Please. Please. Please.
The first few in the Tag Guidelines from the Dkosopedia:
- Use commas between your tags. Not spaces, not periods, not semicolons.
- Please remember that tags are an indexing system, not a tool for demonstrating creativity. This is a tool to help organize content, not show how clever you are by inventing keywords such as "HUNTERRIFIC" to praise a diary by Hunter.
- When using a person's name as a tag, use both their first and last name and use proper capitalization.
* If there is an ambiguity, include middle initials (with a period and space following each initial). For example, don't use Bush as a tag; use the George W. Bush tag or the George H. W. Bush tag depending on whether the diary refers to the current President or his father, or Laura Bush for President Bush's wife, etc.
* Do not use titles. Use John Kerry, not Senator Kerry or Senator John Kerry.
Three #1's. Must be important, eh?
Wait! What the heck's down there...?! Quick, follow me!
Aha! The new Tag Guidelines!!!
- Always err in favor of adding new tags, rather than deleting or modifying existing tags. Some folks have expressed concerns about the size of the tag database. In terms of server strain, we can assure you, there is no need to worry. (The tag db is comparatively very small.)
- Tags should generally only be modified when you see misspellings (eg, Gorge W. Bush) or obvious ambiguities (eg, George Bush instead of George W. Bush, to distinguish son from father). If an ambiguity is not clear-cut, please add a new tag rather than modify an existing one.
- If a diarist chooses a particular tag that might be different from what you've chosen (say, "bellwether state" instead of "swing state"), please respect the diarist's choice, even if your preferred tag is in wider use. Feel free to add your suggested tag as well - just don't modify or delete the diarist's tags.
- Tags should generally only be deleted if they contain abusive language (eg, "this diary sucks," "sh*t diary", etc.). We emphasize in the strongest of terms that these kinds of tags are completely unacceptable. The use of abusive language in tags will be treated as a bannable offense.
- If you see a tag that seems to be completely out of place, please post a comment asking for clarification (there might be a good reason for it) rather than deleting it.
- Don't use the "troll diary" tag, or any variant thereof, when you think a diary is trollish. Tags are designed to help folks search for information. There isn't a need to be able to search for alleged "troll diaries" - the administrators have many tools at our disposal to find trolls, and this one is not necessary. It also creates needless flamewars and thread hijackings when people disagree over whether a particular diary is, in fact, a troll diary. (Obviously, if a diary is discussing the issue of troll diaries, then this tag might be appropriate.)
There's more at the Tag Guidelines link (here by the by. In case you missed it up top).
This may seem trivial to you, or anal, or "Good Gods, doesn't she know the galaxy is collapsing around us!", but trust me - tags are vitally important to this site and to the users of this site. If you're going to write a diary, then please, follow the rules for them.
And, hey - here's the link for the FAQ itself. Lots more rules and guidelines in there, too.
Note: No exclamation marks were harmed in the production of this diary.