Topic: Aliasing fur patterns to fur markings BUR. (Possible follow-up: body patterns to body markings?)

The bulk update request #13198 is pending approval.

create alias patterned_fur (240) -> fur_markings (28717)
create alias pattern_fur (7) -> fur_markings (28717)
create alias patterns_on_fur (31) -> fur_markings (28717)

Reason: From the pattern wiki page:

Patterns that are located on the body itself should be tagged as markings, or more commonly on skin as tattoos. Not all markings or tattoos are considered patterns.

So, since these fur pattern tags are all about a non-skin body surface, it should be safe to alias them to fur markings to stop them being used by mistake in future.

Additionally, many other "pattern [body part]" tags are currently active. I think those should probably be aliased away due to the recommendation to use "markings" for body parts and "pattern" for clothing. However, I'm not sure if it's safe to alias them to "*_markings" tags, because although most of those posts will be fur/feather/scale markings, some might be skin tattoos, which do not qualify as markings, according to the wiki.

These were the aliases that I considered, before I had second thoughts about including them in the above BUR:

alias pattern_body -> markings
alias pattern_arm -> arm_markings
alias patterned_belly -> torso_markings
alias patterned_butt -> butt_markings
alias pattern_feet -> foot_markings
alias pattern_inner_ear -> inner_ear_markings
alias pattern_penis -> penis_markings
alias pattern_tongue -> tongue_markings
alias pattern_wings -> wing_markings
alias wing_pattern -> wing_markings

And a couple I wasn't sure about:

• patterned_limbs -> Not sure what's the best alias for this? Maybe it should be an invalid tag, to encourage people to specify arms or legs?
• pattern_hair -> What should this be aliased to? I originally assumed hair_markings - but that tag doesn't exist because it's aliased to highlights_(coloring). But I don't think all hair patterns are hair highlights.

How do you think all those pattern tags should be aliased to discourage people from using them?

Also, does a pattern on the surface of a non-organic surface count as a "pattern" or a "marking"? For example, the below post uses the tag patterned_belly, but it's on the fabric surface of a living_plushie:

post #6010553

Similarly, should the wing_markings tag apply to patterns on the wings of an anthropomorphic bat, and to patterns on the wings of an aeromorph, and to patterns on the wings of a normal aeroplane?