Forum:New forum about background tense

MoS forums - New forum about background tense

“A new forum about the background can be reopened if needed.”

―NovaFlare

So, a couple of weeks ago, I learned that when recounting events in a book/play/movie/video game/etc. one is supposed to refer to the story in present tense "to preserve the ongoing nature of the work." That would include completed stories, like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. At least that's the American rule, I'm not sure if it is universal, but if it is British, at least, I say we should change the MoS to reflect this. Berrybrick (talk) 19:53, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

That's the way I've always been taught to do it, and I've seen it in most places I've looked. So I'd support this. BrickfilmNut (talk) 20:15, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

Sounds like it makes sense. CJC95 (talk) 20:40, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

(wow I'm in a quote :D) My vote (like past votes for this) is still for past. That is, my vote's for past tense for minifigure/set backgrounds. The events happened already, they're not happening now. Yoda isn't going to Kashyyyk, he went to Kashyyyk. Then he died. Writing about dead people actively doing things seems weird to me as well (ok, bad example with Yoda since he was a ghost, but you get the picture). As for articles on actual TV episodes, movies, etc, then my vote's for present as per what Berrybrick's said, and writing this in past tense does seem a bit awkward. So basically I'm supporting the same way as how Wookieepedia do articles (not for the sake of following them, I just think they have it right in this case). NovaHawk 23:26, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

It's the same with characters and events (or sets) since they are part of the story. It's a little strange to me to support one and not the other, but it's not my vote. :P (Edit: And Wookiepedia does have it right because those are the rules of written English afaik.) Berrybrick (talk) 01:39, 16 May 2014 (UTC)