Tuomey pointed out in staffchat that two SCPs, 304 and 1107, have the same mainlist title, "The Signal." I don't like this and believe it should be changed; it's like having a TV show with two episodes with the same name. 304 predates 1107 by a year or so, so I would think it should keep the name. The author of 1107, Dr_Madd, hasn't been around for over a year and a half. I like "Kuiper Belt AM Signal" myself, but it does lack a certain panache. I need to get back to work, so I haven't PM'd the author to see if he'd respond yet. Thoughts?
Since this doesn't break any rules and doesn't mess the bot up, I don't think "we don't like it" is sufficient justification to change this.
Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!
I think both authors should be messaged about it (Adams, the author of 304, is still around), and have the situation explained to them. If one of them is willing to change the title of theirs, that's cool, but if they're both unwilling/unreachable, then we can let it stay the way it is. I don't think it's caused any problems to date (and I don't foresee it causing problems in the future), so it's not something we should override either author on.
if your reading this your gay
Being perfectly honest, I don't care either way.
I think there's no harm in asking them if they want to change it, though.
EDIT: Hahahahaha just kidding. It turns out that bots can only find ONE result per title (I am told) so therefore, you will only ever get one of the "The Signal" skips with a bot search. Since most of us use the bot to find skips, that's a serious disadvantage to one or both articles.
So, let's get one of them changed. Eskobar, go ahead and PM both authors (if someone else wants to do it, feel free, but post here when done so Esk knows). Ask them what they would like done — we don't need to order them to do anything at this point. Then we'll go from there.
I tested — Grapebots (like Glacon and CROM) grab both, but Nala only gets 1107. Which is justification enough.
if your reading this your gay
All else fails, "The Signal" and "The Other Signal"?
Piffy is an SCP Foundation Moderator, Lv. 9001 Squishy Wizard, and Knight of the Red Pen.
I'd prefer "The Signal" and "A Signal".
if your reading this your gay
If it's messing with the bot, change the one that came second to "A Signal".
Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!
The next one that comes, we'll tell them to call it "An Signal". Followed by "Signal", "The Final Signal", and "The Signal Formerly Known As 'The Signal'".
If it's messing with the bot, change the one that came second to "A Signal".
As posted above: Let's wait to see what the authors say (if anything).
PM d both authors. For the record, my primary concern was with setting a precedent that people can reuse names from other articles accidentally ir otherwise, at which point the names have literally no purpose whatsoever as a distinguishing characteristic. I wanted to establish a procedure for this before someone made an SCP called "The Sculpture" and said "but other SCPs have the same name!"
Got a response from Dr_Adams, who had the name first:
Hey there Eskobar,
Recognize your name from back in the day, glad you're still taking a big part with SCP.
I'd prefer not to change the name, as I feel like it does a pretty good job of encompassing the object without telling too much nor being too cheesy.On another note, wow… 1107 is really similar to mine lol.
I suggest we change 1107's name to "A Signal". Thoughts?
Go for it if another staff member approves. Actually, approval was already voiced upthread, so go for it. PM Dr_Madd to give them a heads-up.
I remain in favor of it.
Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!
When I read this, I have a mental image of you standing in a doorway, blood-spattered, holding a broken chair leg by your side while looking at the camera with deadened eyes.
Why yes, I have been rewatching Season 3 of The Walking Dead. Why do you ask?
Giving bearhugs to the unsuspecting since 1872.