Wikipedia:Help desk

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February 13

Preserving history with pagemove

When page A needs to be moved to page B, and page B has significant history, what do we generally do? Do we generally prefer to trash the history and just move A to B after deleting B, or do we generally move B to Talk:B/old and then move A to B? Someone's requested that {{Section OR}} be moved to {{Original research section}} for consistent naming (most section-level maintenance templates are "PROBLEM section"), and I was going to move it until I saw non-trivial edits in the history of the latter template that I'm hesitant to delete. It has three deleted edits already, but they're not significant; someone created the page and pretty quickly requested its deletion. Nyttend (talk) 01:58, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

@Nyttend: Generally we do a history swap. See Wikipedia:Requested moves/Closing instructions#Moving procedures; click [show] next to "Procedure for redirects with major histories". See also WP:SWAP. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:31, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

There are WP:HISTMERGE and Special:MergeHistory (for admins), is that what you mean? –Be..anyone (talk) 13:35, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

History merges are normally only done if the pages have the same origin, that is: we may merge the content from one page to another, but we only perform a history merge (which is something different than a merge) when the page histories are actually direct continuations of each other, usually arising as a result of a cut and paste move.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:41, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

A history merge would be a horrid idea here, as the two overlap chronologically. We'd end up with diffs like this one. Nyttend (talk) 15:03, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Question by WilliamPollock

I find Wikipedia impossible to decipher and need someone to write a page for me.

A real person whom I can talk to.

If you can help, <email address redacted again>

Colin Fine - Nonsense. History is written by victors, I'm only poor soldier.

Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by WilliamPollock (talk • contribs) 03:20, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Hello, WilliamPollock. That's not how we usually work, because it is so often helpful for others to be able to see what help people are asking for, and how they are helped. However, you and I (and many other users) have enabled email in our Wikipedia accounts, so it is possible for us to send each other emails from within Wikipedia. If you send me one, I will endeavour to answer you; however, unless you give me a strong reason to keep it private, I will probably reply to you here or on your user talk page rather than email. Alternatively, there is a "chat room" which may help (I've never used it myself): see WP:IRC/Tutorial.

If you want an article written, you can submit it at WP:requested articles; be aware, though, that there is quite a backlog, and how quickly it is picked up depends on whether it grabs anybody's interest. I see that you have twice requested the undeletion of an draft article (hoccomocco pictures) but I have failed to find a log of its having been deleted (this might be a limitation on my understanding of Wikipedia!) If it is Hoccomocco pictures that you are wanting to create, it doesn't look to me (on a very quick look) that it meets our criteria for notability - that multiple reliable sources unconnected with the company have written at length about it; so if you want an article to be written about it, the onus is on you to demonstrate that these sources do exist. --ColinFine (talk) 12:07, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/hoccomocco pictures has been deleted twice. It was restored but remained abandoned so was deleted again. See Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion#Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/hoccomocco pictures. --David Biddulph (talk) 12:16, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Wrong date on the NCR Corporation article

Just to let you know on the NCR Corporation article you put the date as 1884, but you probably meant 1984. No worries, having a great day. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.5.67.100 (talk) 06:18, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

NCR Corporation (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

If you scroll down the article you will see pictures of the latest technology from the 1880s. -- John of Reading (talk) 07:39, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Kommentar

I have been unsuccessfully trying to correct some reported date errors in citations on List_of_UK_caving_fatalities. In particular, it is objecting to the format "year=Dec–Jan 1996–1997". Any help would be welcomed. Langcliffe (talk) 10:43, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

It is an ambiguous date. Format it as:

• "Quaking fatality". Descent (133): 17. December 1996 – January 1997.

--  Gadget850 ^talk 10:51, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, Gadget850 - that's cracked it. Langcliffe (talk) 11:16, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Help:Cite errors/Cite error ref too many keys

≤

Hello @Jilipama:, I am not sure, if you are still trying to fix that reference in The Andrews Sisters yourself. Help:Referencing for beginners is a good first read about basic referencing in Wikipedia. See especially the sections about the syntax of reference tags (every ref tag needs to be closed after the reference is finished) and using one reference more than once (a "ref name" must be defined in full detail once, then it can be used as short version later). If you have a specific question, please post here again for more information. GermanJoe (talk) 14:33, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Hindu Rashtra Dal

Please can you put it across the way it was ....rather than the way it wanted to be portrayed by a few non state actors.......In your article for NathuRam Godse...the Hindu Rashtra Dal has been termed as a hindu militan organistion...which is not true..so kinldy get the facts right and re-write them. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 14.141.106.36 (talk) 14:52, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

I think this is about the article Nathuram Godse, which describes the Hindu Rashtra Dal as a militant organization, giving two references which say "Godse abandoned the RSS after some years, claiming that it lacked proper levels of militancy, and co-founded the Hindu Rashtra Dal", and "In the early 1940s Godse left the RSS to form a militant organization, Hindu Rashtra Dal, aimed at militarizing the mind and conduct of Hindus". Unless you can produce more convincing references stating that the Hindu Rashtra Dal was not a Hindu militant organisation, the statement that it was one will remain in the article. Maproom (talk) 15:31, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Block evasion noticeboard?

Is there a block evasion noticeboard? Would that fall under the auspices of the sock puppet investigation noticeboard? Dismas|^(talk) 14:54, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

If there evadng a block then WP:ANI is the best place, Sock puppetry is normally for editors using multiple accounts rather than block evasion. If theres many accounts its best to start an SPi and report the accounts to ANI for remedy while their socking stsuts is investigated. Amortias (T)(C) 16:25, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks. I'll take it to ANI. Dismas|^(talk) 16:29, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Resolved

How to upload an article

Hi-

I am a Professor and we were told it was a good idea to upload our research on Wikkipedia- can you tell me how to do this?-

Thanks so much- Dr. Levinstein (email address redacted] — Preceding unsigned comment added by Drlevinstein (talk • contribs) 16:21, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Hello, Drlevinstein. I'm afraid you have been misinformed. Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, and does not host WP:original research, ever. Unless your research is purely a review of literature on some subject and does not contain any kind of argumentation or conclusions, it is not appropriate for Wikipedia. On the other hand, if you are able to use your expertise to write a new article which is suitable, or to improve existing Wikipedia articles in your area of study, that would be very welcome. Please see your first article. --ColinFine (talk) 16:37, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Dr. Levinstein, you might want to publish your research on our sister project. Wikibooks. See https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Help:Contributing for details. --Guy Macon (talk) 16:58, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Lord Toby Jug

I really am angry and upset that every time I edit my page with info and references, within in 10 seconds someone called Mcgeddion re-edits my page every time, it's been going on for nearly over two years now and I'm sick of it.. What he writes about me is incorrect every time. I want him barred from editing my page please ASAP thank you, if he cannot be banned from editing my page I'd like my page deleted.

Lord Toby Jug AKA Flingel Bunt https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Toby_Jug — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.144.66.118 (talk) 16:45, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Well, first of all it's not your page and if you are the subject of the article and have been editing the page, you are in violation of Wikipedia's conflict of interest policy. Mlpearc (open channel) 16:56, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

@Mlpearc: Are they really, though? I thought it was highly discouraged, but not actually against the rules. Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 22:48, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Please be aware that several of your edit summaries are misleading. Particularly this one where you are removing sourced info rather than "fixing a typo". McGeddon has been following WikiP procedure in their actions. MarnetteD|Talk 17:07, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

We do, however, have procedures that allow you to deal with error on pages about yourself. See Wikipedia:Plain and simple conflict of interest guide. As you can imagine, an encyclopedia cannot just allow anyone to put what they want in the article about them. (They keep deleting my attempts to create a page showing that I am Dalek Supreme just because it isn't "true". How rude!) but we really do want any legitimate errors to be fixed, and the Wikipedia:Plain and simple conflict of interest guide explains exactly how you can help us to do that. --Guy Macon (talk) 17:55, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

The article in question, for readers not using the mobile feature, is Lord Toby Jug. Robert McClenon (talk) 22:55, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

If there is inaccurate information on the page, then, regardless of whether you are Brian Borthwick, you can request edits at Talk: Lord Toby Jug, or can request corrections, or deletion of inaccurate information, at the biographies of living persons noticeboard. However, as previous editors have tried to advise, it is not "your page", even if you are Brian Borthwick. You can request that the page be deleted, but, since it appears that the subject of the page is notable as a British politician in the specific Wikipedia sense, it is unlikely that the page will in fact be deleted. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:04, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Need account help

I forgot my password to this account, gave up and created another account, Perrys Landing, and, you guessed it, found my password about 2 seconds later. Can I get the new account deleted or merged? I'd like to keep my edit history and this user name if possible. Dr. Mike (talk) 19:37, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

There is no User:Perrys Landing. Let me know what the name of the new account is and I will try to get it all sorted out for you. An easy way to do this is to log on with the new account and post a comment here from that account. --Guy Macon (talk) 19:56, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Guy Macon, Here it is. Thanks. PerrysLanding (talk) 00:18, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

PS, Guy, you could have tried Special:ListUsers. Nyttend (talk) 01:07, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

I could have, but doing it the way I did it confirmed for me that he controls both accounts. --Guy Macon (talk) 11:51, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

OK, this one will be pretty simple. Not counting the above, you made two edits using the PerrysLanding account. Just undo them (doesn't matter which account you do that from) with the edit summary "Wrong account" and immediately redo them from your normal account with the edit summary "Correct account". This will put the two edits in the correct edit history.

After you do that I will clean up the PerrysLanding page with Template:retired and post an explanation on that page explaining what happened, a link to this conversation, and instructions for anyone who wishes to start using PerrysLanding as a username some time in the future. --Guy Macon (talk) 01:17, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Guy Macon, okay done. Thanks for the help. Dr. Mike (talk) 04:33, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Done. You can forget that the second account ever existed now. --Guy Macon (talk) 11:51, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

I forgot how to Wiki, what's the best way to include page numbers when using a book

I decided to start working on User:Ryan Vesey/Xerotine siccative again and I no longer remember what the best way to include page numbers if I'm including information from many areas of a book. I thought I remember a relatively effective way of including page numbers using {{rp}} Is that still considered to be the best way? I don't plan on using it if I only use one page from a book. Ryan Vesey 20:07, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Also, how what's the way of writing a template so it links to the template, rather than using the nowiki tags? Ryan Vesey 20:08, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

See Help:References and page numbers

See {{tl}}

--  Gadget850 ^talk 21:04, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) @Ryan Vesey: I will have to leave the first question for someone else to answer. I can answer the latter one though: To link a template you can use either the {{tl}} template or the {{tlx}} template which will result in slightly different formatting. So, for linking the RP template the result would be either {{rp}} oder {{rp}}. Excirial ^{(Contact me,Contribs)} 21:06, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

When using <ref name=something>citation</ref>, and when I'm using different pages in different citations to it (for example, citation #2 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Dayton, Ohio)), I always use {{rp}}: it's easy and quick, and its meaning is easy to discern. At the same time, I don't use it when every citation goes to the same page; see citation #3 in the same article. It's the easiest way, as far as I know, to provide proper citation of individual pages while using the ref name= feature. Nyttend (talk) 22:14, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

How does one thank the Arbitration Committee for their service?

I wanted to give thanks to the Arbitration Committee for serving the encyclopaedia and the community. I went to the talk page, but it was blank.

How would one go about thanking the Arbitration Committee?

(If this is not the right place for this, I apologise. I don't know where would be more appropriate to ask it, though.) Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 22:46, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

See WP:ARBCOM#LISTS. They've got a mailing list, and anyone can send mail to it; nothing is sent to the members until a moderator approves it, but that's a mechanism to prevent spam and other problematic stuff, not a way of keeping out a thank-you note. Be careful to include a good subject line; as noted at the link I gave you, Almost all incoming email is spam that we delete at moderation. Please include an informative subject line to avoid deletion.. Nyttend (talk) 23:03, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

First, this Help Desk is a reasonable place to ask questions, including yours. Second, you may also go to the user talk page for any arbitrator and post thanks to his or her page, or, from the user talk page, you may use the Email This User feature. You may also put a barnstar on the user talk page of an arbitrator. Thank you for wanting to express appreciation for the services of the Arbitration Committee in dealing with conflict in the English Wikipedia. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:08, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

February 14

Would it be possible to delete an article I gave the wrong title to?

Hello, I'm very new to the wikipedia community, and I was wondering if there is an way to delete an article. I searched for "Latin american cities by GDP", and upon finding that it didn't yet exist, I decided to translate the Spanish page. Unfortunately, the spanish page is a ranking of South American cities by GDP, so I was wondering if there would be a way to delete the improperly titled article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_american_cities_by_GDP. I have created a new one that is properly entitled "South American cities by GDP" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_cities_by_GDP . I know this was a faux pas, because after a bit of searching I found out that there is a way to rename an article, but I can't seem to find a way to delete one. Cheers, Dmerker (talk) 06:23, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

See WP:SPEEDY for the criteria for speedy deletion. This case would fall under G7, "Author requests deletion". In order to request deletion, you delete all article content and place the template {{Db-g7}} on the page. — Eru·tuon 08:13, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

I have deleted Latin american cities by GDP. You were the only contributor so in this case it was OK to make a copy and delete the original. If there had been other contributors then the page should have been moved to satisfy the license conditions for credit to contributors. PrimeHunter (talk) 13:53, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Missing statistics

Hi

I am writing articles on Swan 36 and Swan 65 sailing yachts and a while ago the statistics went missing. Why is this and can it be repaired?

Sami Lehtonen — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sami P. Lehtonen (talk • contribs) 11:19, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Hi Sami P. Lehtonen. Which statistics is it you're missing? The articles themselves don't seem to have changed recently so I'm not sure what you're referring to. Sam Walton (talk) 11:53, 14 February 2015 (UTC) Oh I see what you mean, you can't see some of the information you placed in the infobox. Infoboxes work by filling out specific fields in a template, in this case Template:Infobox Sailboat Specifications. If you click that link you'll be able to see the fields which are allowed; you can't add more by simply writing them in the article. Sam Walton (talk) 11:55, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

signature

I use four tildes, but my signature does not work correctly, what should I do? M.Sakhaie 13:32, 14 February 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by M.Sakhaie (talk • contribs)

I replied at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)#signature. PrimeHunter (talk) 13:47, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

How to fix recent edit box font problem (Windows 2003, Vista, 7, 8 ,8.1)

After security update 3013455 people may have some text quality degradation in edit screens. The problem occurs on systems that are running Windows 2003, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1 . The solution is easy.

• Start->Control Panel->Programs and Features->View Installed Updates
• Give PC time to load them all
• Then..Search for KB3013455 (search box is top right of window).
• Then..Right-click then select Uninstall
• This requires restart of your system (will ask automatically)

See also Wikipedia:Reference desk/Computing#Appearance, preview font

-- Moxy (talk)

Editing op responses.

I have not used Wikipedia Reference Pages for ages, but recall being able to edit any appropriate articles by hitting the associated edit button. But now that word does not appear. So where has it gone? Clearly, other users are able to do it so clearly it must be my fault?~ 92.239.221.31 (talk) — Preceding undated comment added 20:08, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Some refdesks have been semi-protected. See discussion: Wikipedia_talk:Reference_desk#Semi-Protection.  —E:71.20.250.51 (talk) 23:05, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

I now see that you are asking about the Reference Desks. You are editing from an IP address rather than using a registered account, and, as another unregistered editor mentions, some of the Reference Desks are temporarily semi-protected due to disruptive editing from IP addresses. It is not your "fault" that the Edit button is not displayed so much as that of other unregistered editors, but it is a problem that you can resolve by creating an account. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:31, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

This is not a problem that I could resolve by creating an account (for me:71.20.250.51), since this is a problem noted by 92.239.221.31. Btw, one of the reasons that I choose not to register is to experience Wikipedia from an IP's perspective. —Try it!  —E:71.20.250.51 (talk) 00:33, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

As you can see, you subject yourself to unnecessary restrictions if you want to edit Wikipedia as an unregistered editor, and you can still read it. So why not use an account? Robert McClenon (talk) 21:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

That means you're more exposed than if you had a registered account. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:05, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Ironically perhaps, one reason that I abandoned my account (created 18 December 2006) is to reduce my "exposure". — Preceding ironic comment added by 71.20.250.51 (talk) 01:45, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Yes, ironically, as an account hides where your IP originates, unless you were to give yourself a user ID of JoeSchmoeFromRichmond. And we're assuming that you're playing by the rules otherwise - no socking for a banned account, no open proxy, etc. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:14, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Yes, I do understand the reason for partially protecting certain pages, but cannot help wondering if that doesn't have the effect of folk like myself thinking that Wikipedia is a bit of a closed book, reserved only for "the likes of us" if you see what I mean . I mean Wikepidea is not the only source nowadays of online information. 92.239.221.31 (talk) 21:16, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia partially protects pages when it is the easiest way to preserve their accuracy, because anyone, including unregistered editors, can read any part of Wikipedia. Is there a reason why you choose not to create an account (or to ignore your account) and then to complain about the limitations? Robert McClenon (talk) 21:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The English Wikipedia has 24 million user accounts. Some are abandoned or have the same owner but it's hardly a small closed club, and the large majority of pages can be edited by unregistered users. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:24, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Interestingly, every time the idea of stopping IP's from editing comes up as a proposal (see WP:Perennial proposals#Prohibit anonymous users from editing) the majority is against it. Britmax (talk) 11:00, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Refuting Deletion

My page has been entered into discussion for deletion. Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atholl_Highlanders_(USA)_Pipes_%26_Drums_of_Stone_Mountain Supposedly on basis that it is "a non-notable pipe band." I've looked through info on refuting this and it is very vague. The page is off a pipe band in Georgia that is included on the page about bands, Clan Murray and The Atholl Highlander's Scotland. Any info would be appreciated. Piping Bear (talk) 20:16, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

The article is Atholl Highlanders (USA) Pipes & Drums of Stone Mountain. Robert McClenon (talk) 20:25, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

The article does not provide information on notability of the band, in the sense used by Wikipedia, which is articles in reliable secondary sources mentioning the band. If you want the article kept, you should add references, such as to newspaper articles about the band or its performances. Robert McClenon (talk) 20:30, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

See WP:BAND for the guidelines on notability of bands. Robert McClenon (talk) 21:43, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

Correct addition of reference supporting my edit to the <in popular culture> section in the Button Gwinnett article

Button Gwinnett. I have tried over and over again to add the reference to my edit, without success. Please help!--Geordie abroad (talk) 21:22, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

The article in question is Button Gwinnett. Robert McClenon (talk) 21:34, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

The problem with the current text is that you didn't enclose the reference with the tags <ref> and </ref> . (I assume that you are asking about today's edit, not the one that you made a few days ago that was reverted because it was unsourced. I see that you are trying to correct that problem by adding the source.) Robert McClenon (talk) 21:42, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

I have done the referencing in what I hope is the approved style. I have no opinion on

• whether the item is too trivial to include even in an "In popular culture" section
• whether a book can be cited as evidence of what itself says (after all, it's not a secondary source)

Maproom (talk) 21:48, 14 February 2015 (UTC)

February 15

Is this logo free content?

In attempts to avoid the whole "This image is not free" process, I come here to ask my question. I am currently in the process of updating Draft:Fifty Shades (film series), but I would like to add the main film logo. I found one that was not screenshot, and it contains the blank background. This is the logo which comes from this website's loading page. Is it or is it not a free image? WP:LOGO didn't exactly help me. Thank you Callmemirela (talk) 00:37, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

As is pretty standard on websites such as these - the Terms of Use at the bottom of the source webpage say "You should assume that everything you see or read on the Site is copyrighted unless otherwise noted" and "The trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed on the Site are registered and unregistered Trademarks of Universal and others". So no it is not free content. Nanonic (talk) 00:47, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I'm no expert on this matter by any means but the logo is just simple text and therefore may be able to be uploaded to Commons. For instance, the logo for Xerox is there. Dismas|^(talk) 02:00, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

This looks well below the threshold of originality to me. I'd definitely slap {{PD-text}}{{PD-textlogo}} on it and upload to Commons instead of making a fair-use claim here. Relevant guidelines are here at Wikipedia:Logos#Copyright-free logos and on Commons at c:Commons:Threshold of originality. —Cryptic 02:42, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

How do I create an Awareness Day for Schnitzler's Syndrome?

Hello,

Just wondering how do I create an Awareness Day for Schnitzler's Syndrome? We would like the SS Awareness Day to be on June 1st. Thanks so much. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Schnitzlers Syndrome (talk • contribs) 01:15, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

If you want to do that, you will need to do so elsewhere. Wikipedia articles are based on notable subjects, as described in published reliable sources. We are not a platform for the promotion of new ideas, no matter how worthy the cause. AndyTheGrump (talk) 01:24, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

It might be best to contact local representatives and go from there. Beyond that, can't say. This sort of question would normally go in the reference desk. Also, I don't mean to sound critical, but you might not want to call it SS Awareness day because those letters are still associated with Hitler's SS. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 01:43, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

You beat me to it. We do have a Schnitzler syndrome article. But SS Awareness Day would be more likely to come on Hitler's birthday or something. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:54, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Or Himmler's. ―Mandruss ☎ 01:56, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I don't know how awareness days are chosen or whether Schnitzler syndrome has any connection to June 1 but that is the most common Children's Day. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:43, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The entries on our Awareness day list includes those "usually set by a major organisation or government". International observance list mentions several such entities, such as UNESCO and WHO. 71.20.250.51 (talk) 05:35, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

One of my sons was born with Sotos syndrome, which has occupied our attention for a quarter of a century. We don't capitalize the second word, and we certainly don't abbreviate it as "SS". Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 06:16, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Using my own picture of a bottle

Whilst looking at the article on arak, I came across this somewhat blurry image [1] of Kawar 45 meant to illustrate the Israeli Arab Kawar brand of arak. I happen to have some bottles of its stronger and better brother, Kawar 53, which has black text that would show up better (not to mention the lighting would be better and everything on the bottle would be in focus). Would it be okay for me to use such a photo on Wikipedia? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 02:17, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Sure, it would be ok, since you took the photo. Whether it would be an improvement to the article would be a different question, and editors might disagree. Articles aren't simply repositories of related photos, a la Google Images. Would it add significant reader value? Would it harm layout? That article is already quite full of images, so adding one might require removing one less important. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I was thinking more along the lines of replacing that image and so the the number of images would stay the same. That one pic of Israeli arak would just be clearer. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 02:44, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I personally don't see a problem with that, but I don't know anything about the article subject. I think your best approach would be to take the best photo you can, upload it to Commons, boldly add it as you described, per WP:BRD, and see where it goes. The article has 61 watchers. ―Mandruss ☎ 03:05, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Need help explaining WP:V and WP:OR

Hello, could someone help to settle this conflict between myself and TheMeaningOfBlah. I added citation needed tags to two articles due to unsourced statements in the lede which are neither sourced nor repeated in the body. [2] and [3]. TheMeaningOfBlah reverted my additions of these tags. I have tried to discuss at User_talk:TheMeaningOfBlah#Manual notification but I think TheMeaningOfBlah still does not understand. To me this is clear violation of venerability and no original research. I hope someone else can explain better. Thanks starship.paint ~ ¡Olé! 02:25, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Resolution of content disputes is outside the scope of the Help Desk, although we can point you in the right direction. A good page to read is WP:Content dispute. The first step, and many times the only step necessary, is to discuss on the article's talk page. You can also ask for input at one of the Wikipedia noticeboards. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:34, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Mandruss: Whether citation needed is necessary is a content dispute? starship.paint ~ ¡Olé! 02:39, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

In my humble opinion, anything in an article is content, whether it's prose, images, refs, tags, message templates, or whatever, so any disagreement about anything in an article is a content dispute. In another humble opinion, the Help Desk is not for resolving disputes of any kind. There are other places for that, including the noticeboards. Others may disagree, so watch this thread for other opinions. There aren't many blacks and whites at Wikipedia, most things are matters of opinion. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:46, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

First, when posting a question to this Help Desk about an article, it is useful to include the name of the article in a proper link. The articles in question are WrestleMania 31 and WrestleMania 32. Second, in my opinion, any statement that is not in the body, sourced or otherwise, should probably not be in the lede. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:45, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I see that you have tried to discuss this at Talk:WrestleMania 31. I don't see your effort to discuss at Talk:WrestleMania 31. I will comment that, in general, tagging a statement is not a substitute for adding a reference. If you can't find a source for a statement, then the real issue is not whether to tag it, but whether to remove it. As the dispute resolution policy explains, the first place to try to discuss content issues (and whether to add a tag is a content issue, although, as I said, not a substitute for a source or for removal) is the talk page. If that fails, you may try one of the dispute resolution procedures mentioned in the policy, such as requesting a third opinion, publishing a Request for Comments, or moderated discussion at the dispute resolution noticeboard. I hope that this helps. Also, please advise the other editor, on his or her talk page, to read this discussion at this Help Desk. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:55, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Aidan Gillen

Looking at the Aidan Gillen page using the Wikipedia app on my phone I'm seeing the image alright. However, the caption sayes "Irish actor for you(not the biggest guy on the plane)". Both the mobile and the regular version when viewed on the phone using Chrome don't have that. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 04:08, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The quoted text was in the Wikidata item. I have changed it to just say "Irish actor".[4] PrimeHunter (talk) 04:33, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

: Thanks. It's difficult to find on the phone. CambridgeBayWeather (mobile) (talk) 04:58, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

My created articles

How do I find out how many articles I created and what they are?--Doug Coldwell (talk) 11:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Go to https://tools.wmflabs.org/xtools/pages/index.php?user=Doug_Coldwell&lang=en&wiki=wikipedia&namespace=0&redirects=noredirects. There is a link to it near the bottom of your contributions page. —teb728 t c 12:18, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks and thanks.--Doug Coldwell (talk) 12:45, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Insertion of a new entry

Dear Wikipedia Supervisors, I should like to insert the translation of an Italian painter entry in the English version. The entry is already present in the Wikipedia Italian version. Is this translation insertion allowed? Which criteria must I follow, a part from the editing standard?

Best Regards Stefano Masson — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.232.158.179 (talk) 13:12, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Absolutely. It is usually welcome to improve a Wikipedia by translating an article from another language Wikipedia. The guidelines for how to do it are in WP:translation#How to translate. --ColinFine (talk) 14:38, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Talk page history redaction

If a comment is removed from a talk page, and the history presumably removed by someone with admin privileges, can that be proven? I don't need the content of the comment revealed, only the fact that it was removed and redacted from history.  — For now, consider this to be a hypothetical question; I'm asking more out of curiosity than any desire to make a BFD out of something that is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things.  —71.20.250.51 (talk) 13:54, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

It depends on the used method. See more at Wikipedia:Revision deletion and Wikipedia:Oversight. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:12, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Okay; thanks for the links. <obsolete comments deleted by author>  —71.20.250.51 (talk) 18:46, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Awards and nominations table

I believe I asked this question before but I am not sure. But anyways, my question is which type of table for the awards and nominations section is better and respects and honors Wikipedia policies? To be precise, is it better to have different awards in one table like the one with Maura West and Heather Tom or there should be different sections for each award like the one with Michelle Stafford? Thanks! Also, ïf these tables are good, what could be added to make it better to honor Wikipedia policies?  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 15:39, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Hi SoapFan12, it is usually better to have them all in a single table. You can split them if that table becomes too long. All the best, Taketa (talk) 17:59, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: Thank you so much for the fast response! I greatly appreciated it! However, I was wondering what is your definition of long? How long is long? For example, longer than Heather Tom's table or should I split them up right now? Thanks again!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 18:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@SoapFan12: - you are ofcourse very right, long is subjective. I think Heather Tom's table is nicely managable and looks fine. If you were to add those two tables above it to the table, that would be the length where I would start considering splitting it. I hope this helps. All the best, Taketa (talk) 18:56, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: Thanks again! So, for example if I add Michelle Stafford's and Maura West's tables to Heather Tom's, I should split them up? By the way, does this mean that I should put Michelle Stafford awards and nominations into a single table? I have another question, is there a right way to do the Awards and nominations table that honor Wikipedia policies? I mean, like everywhere on wikipedia different actors have different but yet similar tables for the accolades. For example, Eileen Davidson's table has the award first, but others have the year first. Others, have them in the Filmography sections such as Gina Tognoni etc... Thanks again! I really appreciate your fast response! Means a tons!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 19:16, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@SoapFan12: - To the best of my knowledge there is no specific guideline. In my opinion Michelle Stafford's awards section look fine. Don't change things unless it is an improvement. However in the future if they get alot of different type of awards, the current style may not be practical. For the moment I would leave it as it is. For these templates, in most cases the year comes first. But like I said, there is no guideline, meaning no one correct method. Simply make it look good in your opinion and respect the opinion of the original author in other instances (unless it is really bad). All the best, Taketa (talk) 19:41, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: - I want to thank you for answering all my questions! I must of been causing annoyance when I was asking all these questions but thank you! It means a lot! You are honestly the kindest and sweetest! Thanks again!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 20:37, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

First consider whether being in a table format is necessary at all. WP:MOSTABLE.-- TRPoD aka The Red Pen of Doom 16:00, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Fire point

What is the fire point of petrol..? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.206.17.96 (talk) 16:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

This Help Desk is for asking questions about using or editing Wikipedia. Our Science Reference Desk might be able to answer your question. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:31, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

question about a closed(?) AfD

I would like to know why the discussion of the AfD at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Eddie Hearn (2nd nomination) still appears to be open. It looks like it was closed back in November, but it is still appears in Wikipedia:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Sportspeople. I don't vote to keep articles all that often so I like it to be recorded when I do. I was going to edit the closing statement since I think that's why it didn't get recorded, but I'm not an admin and don't want to fiddle with anything I'm not 100% sure about doing. Thanks. Papaursa (talk) 18:15, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

That article was listed in four lists of deletion discussions, and it is possible that it was left in the fourth one by accident. As you say, the deletion discussion itself was closed with Keep, but a notation that the article "needs work". I don't think it was left in one of the lists simply because the article needs work. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:58, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Papaursa and Robert McClenon: The page at Wikipedia:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Sportspeople is made up of transcluded AfD discussions. In other words, the actual deletion discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Eddie Hearn (2nd nomination) is being called for display at the deletion sorting page and has no real independent existence. So in theory, any change to the actual AfD should be displayed at the deletion sorting page. Whenever something like this happens – where what you see at a page transcluding another is not the same as the transcluded page itself – you can safely assume that what has happened has to do with a caching issue (see also Help:Job queue). In other words, while the page being transcluded has been changed, the other page is displaying the older version which no longer exists live in that form. This is usually fixed by purging the cache of the page where the transcluded content is displayed, though in my experience you may sometimes need to purge the original page as well, and sometimes a null edit may help (though I've just read that null edits may no longer have any effect in MediaWiki 1.6). The AfD is now displaying as closed. If you are still seeing it as open now, that could also be a caching issue, but with your computer saving the older content to save space rather than a problem on Wikipedia's end. In that case, purge your computer's cache. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:19, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I know that the deletion sorting lists are transcluded. However, the real question is why the closed deletion discussion has not been removed from the list of transcluded discussions. Robert McClenon (talk) 19:25, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

v.t.e.

what does v.t.e. mean in the box at the bottom of the article "Local Bubble"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1008:B12A:B7F2:9CA1:C2EA:FE08:1FF (talk) 18:33, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The V.T.E is a standard feature of Template:Navbox. The 3 letters stand in turn for "View", "Talk", and "Edit" for the navigation template which is in use there. - David Biddulph (talk) 18:40, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

My Profile Page Has Been Hacked

My Wikipdea account has been hacked. Probably quite a while ago. I have received numerous comments in other forums stating that I was known to disregard quantum mechanics and quantum dynamics. I could not figure out where this was coming from. Until this morning when I found that someone had hacked into my account and added the following fraudulent and damaging line to my Profile statement:

I also bully those, who don't agree with my "scientific" views of how the universe works. Since a baseball doesn't have a random trajectory I will dismiss quantum theory altogether.

I am concerned that whomever did this has also attempted other hacks into my digital life. Is there a way to trace past edits to my account? I am driving to the FBI office in San Francisco tomorrow to discuss this and another couple of extremely damaging incursions into my digital life. Any advise? Is there a way to talk to an actual person in the Wikipedia office regarding this matter?

Thank you,

Randall Lee Reetz

PS, if it matters to anyone (it matters to me) I am a hard line rational causalist and advocate for the standard model, quantum mechanics, the institution of science, and the objectivism it alone chooses as prime motive. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Randall Lee Reetz (talk • contribs) 20:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Your user page was amended on 5 February 2014 (just over a year ago) by someone using the IP address 90.184.126.46. I have now reversed these changes as they evidently weren't made or wanted by you: Noyster (talk), 21:08, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The particular change to your user page was not a "hack" but was vandalism from an IP, and has been reverted. I suggest that you request semi-protection of your user page. Also, please use the New Section tab to post, rather than editing the page and adding to the top; another editor moved your post to its proper place at the bottom. I don't have any information about any of the other issues to which you report, but the change to your user page was vandalism, not a hack. Robert McClenon (talk) 21:11, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Further explanation: Any editor's user page, just like most articles and discussion pages on Wikipedia, are open to be edited by anyone, even those without their own Wikipedia account. It is normally not permitted to edit another editor's user page without their permission, but unfortunately a small proportion of edits maliciously ignore the rules. However, there is no reason to believe that anyone had access to the password for your Wikipedia account, that's why we say "vandalism" not "hack": Noyster (talk), 21:42, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Randall Lee Reetz: See Help:Watching pages (note the email section), Help:Page history and Help:Reverting for ways to monitor and fix your user page. The page history [5] shows the IP edits which were reverted by Noyster. Click "prev" to see the changes in an edit. Anyone can edit your user page and this is the normal situation at Wikipedia. Special:Contributions/Randall Lee Reetz shows edits by your own account. Assuming they were made by you, there is no reason to suspect your account has been hacked. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:17, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Spelling dissonance

Do we have to force ourselves to write using the spelling style that a page is set to, or can we leave it to other editors?

I ask this because, similarly to Canada (though not the same as it), the spelling system used in my area is not identical to "Associated Press Noah Webster Approved American Spelling". The spelling system I that learnt growing up, and that I use, is closer to Commonwealth or International English, although it does have some areal terms and spellings in it as well.

It feels awkward to me to write English with a Noah Webster spelling style, since that is not what I learnt growing up. Can I just leave it to other editors to modify spellings that might not be in line with the page's spelling style if I'm only adding in a sentence or two into the page? Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 21:40, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Please see MOS:ENGVAR, which broadly asks those editing any article to stay with the variety of English already used in that article and appropriate for the subject matter. But I don't see a need to worry too much about this: I know as a Brit if I tried to write in American English I'd make some mistakes, and as for South African or Indian English, not a hope. What we try to prevent is people officiously going through articles changing all the spellings to what they are used to and appears "correct" to them: Noyster (talk), 21:51, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Yeah, I wasn't talking about doing that. I just meant that, for example, I could never not spell "traveller", "omelette", "grey", "realise", "neighbour", "à la" etc. any other way than how I have just spelt them, nor could I call a bubbler, a trash barrel, a shopping carriage etc. some other name and not feel stiltedly forced. Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 22:11, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Blurred out laptop and computer screens

Hi, why are photos of Microsoft Windows on laptops and desktop pcs being blurred out in articles? Polloloco51 (talk) 04:48, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Because we do not have legal permission to use that copyrighted material. See Wikipedia:Software screenshots and Wikipedia:Non-free content for details. --Guy Macon (talk) 06:59, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

I am confused, I have never heard of this before and find it very strange. Polloloco51 (talk) 17:01, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

February 16

isolation transformer

hi i surf the webpages but i didn't find any related pages about the operation of isolation transformers. so i would be glad if you could help me with this issue. thanks --46.209.243.34 (talk) 11:36, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps isolation transformer is a good place to start. -- [[User:Edokter]] {{talk}} 11:46, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

External Links

Hi,

I recently updated the External links section of an athletes to include our website (their management company) however I have since noticed that this has been taken down? Am i doing it correctly?

Cheers, — Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.231.154.155 (talk) 15:20, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

If you look at the edit summaries & the relevant article's histories, you will see that your additions were reverted because the pages that you had linked made no mention of the article subjects. Wikipedia isn't here for you to publicise your management company. Please also read WP:COI. --David Biddulph (talk) 15:29, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

You mentioned that the athlete is a client of your company. You shouldn't edit the page, you have a Conflict of interest. Wikipedia has a Plain and simple conflict of interest guide that will help explain why you shouldn't edit the article. - X201 (talk) 15:53, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Logo

How can I upload renewed logo to an article or that company? — Preceding unsigned comment added by SleepEditor (talk • contribs) 15:37, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Images keep getting deleted

Hello,

I am writing an article for Jesse Cutler in Wikipedia. He has given me pics to use but they keep getting deleted. Some of these pics were taken by his father, who has since deceased, but are his and he has obvious rights. The article is about his life as an entertainer and goes back to the 60's. I keep getting copyright infringement errors and not sure how or what I need to supply to be able to use them.

Any advice, suggestions or directions would be greatly appreciated

Surfsupjoe125 (talk) 16:03, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

@Surfsupjoe125: The copyright owner needs to give Wikiamedia permission to use the pictures, please follow the instructions here: Wikipedia:CONSENT. Cheers, Mlpearc (open channel) 16:15, 16 February 2015 (UTC)