As the Contribution Rules stand now, company suffixes (e.g. Inc., Ltd.) are not to be included in Studio names and Media Companies.

My question is whether or not company suffixes should be included in Group Dividers (e.g. in Special Effects company names).

On the one hand, it could be argued that what goes into Group Dividers should be exactly as credited, and hence the company suffix should be entered as well. Moreover we cannot filter on what is entered in Group Dividers (as opposed to Studios/Media Companies), so removing the suffix serves no purpose.

On the other hand, one could argue that consistency within the Contribution Rules would require the ban on company suffixes that is in place for Studios/Media Companies to extend to Group Dividers (Special Effects company names etc.) as well. Moreover it could be argued that the legal status of a company (as indicated by the suffix) is irrelevant for DVDP purposes.

Opinions, please?

Note: of course, it would be great if Ken or Gerri could tell us one way or the other... 

I like them since they are presented as part of the data and it precludes bickering. We have a user right now contributing  xxx >>> xxx Company and most people are voting yes but Company is nothing more than a suffix, a speeled out suffix but a suffix. I suppose it is believed that since it spelled out it is now not a suffix, <shrugs> which would make Limited Liability Corporation not a suffix? I just think it causes less confusion to the data.

Quoting northbloke:

Quote:
the divider rules tell us "Wherever possible, these groupings should mirror the film credits." I may be reading it wrong, but that to me sounds as if we should be trying to type exactly what we see on screen.

Agreed. The thing to remember here is that there's quite a difference between studio names and group dividers: we can actually FILTER on studio names. That's why there needs to be consistency in how they're entered: filtering doesn't help if one film includes the suffix, the next one doesn't, and the users diligently create separate, non-linking studio entries for both. That's why we need the consistency of "no suffixes" there, just like the "don't abbreviate" comment. All needed because we want those studio names to be entered in a consistent manner.

For group dividers, however, this is not an issue. Companies listed in group headers don't link, we can't filter on them - it's purely an cosmetic thing, with no practical purpose whatsoever. As such, it doesn't need any additional rules to streamline the way the company names are being entered - simply because it doesn't matter. As such, the company names in group dividers simply "should mirror the film credits", like the rules say.

I can understand that logic,Neill but to me that is not an applicable theory. It' throwing an apple into an orange crate to me, but I do understood your thinking.

Quoting T!M:

Quote:
Quoting Pantheon:

Quote:
I, personally, feel that one rule for the Studios section and a different rule for the Dividers will simply cause unnecessary confusion.

The thing is that we already HAVE one rule for the studios section and a different rule for the divders.

As there should be since they are two separate issues, there is a commonality in that they are businesses, BUT they are not the SAME.

This kind of takes us back to the recent discussion regarding whether or not to include 'Visual Effects by' in the Crew dividers.
The argument was that the rules state to use the divider for the 'Company Name'; but the flip-side was that it mirrors the credits.

Well, this situation is very similar as I see it. The Rules state to use the company name...not it's suffix. When taken into consideration with the standard rules for Studios I keep things consistent and don't include the suffix.

Having said that I CAN and DO see both sides.

To me this issue is really NOT something that's worth debating for 20 or so pages....so.....someone make a decision and then let's follow it. I'm happy either way!

I use the Company name ONLY because that is what the rules say we should do: "If a company name heads a group of crew, use the Group divider to enter the company name."

Take the above rules into consideration with the following from the Studios section of the rules: "Omit company suffixes such as LLC, Ltd., Inc."

Then, what you have, in my opinion is the following:

Don't include suffixes for Studio/Media company names or Dividers.

Maybe I'm employing a little too much logic for my own good here, but it seems to me that if a rule regarding suffixes is good enough regarding Studios in one section of the rules then why wouldn't it carry across to another.

Company suffix in Studios=NO
Company suffix in Divider listing Studio=NO

FWIW: The word 'Company' is NOT a suffix IMO (as explained in other thread)

Obviously this is purely my opinion (as the above post is Skip's). Neither is gospel.
Now that we have both stated our positions it would be much better if other people would post their views; because neither of us is going to change what we're doing based on the other one's say-so. I will personally go with whatever is democratically decided.

I'm with Pantheon on this. On the other hand, I don't care that much to argue about it. I'd just like to see consistency.