Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2019 January 30

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Help desk
< January 29 << Dec | January | Feb >> January 31 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.


January 30[edit]

Stub template(s) on article page vs. stub classification on talk page[edit]

Is stub classification for a WikiProject template on a talk page based on different criteria from those used to apply a stub template at the end of the accompanying article?

I ask that question because recently I have seen templates such as {{US-tv-actor-1910s-stub}} and {{US-film-actor-1910s-stub}} removed from articles while |class=stub remains in the WikiProject Biography template on the talk page. Eddie Blick (talk) 02:18, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Teblick, In large, it is related. The "stub class" in article talk page is the assessment of the article itself. The "sub" template in the article is a way to communicate to the readers/editors of this article class and invite editors to participate on improving the content of the article to a higher class. Sub template also indexed in the system. When the article is assessed as "start" class, the template in the article could be removed. Thank you. CASSIOPEIA(talk) 06:58, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, CASSIOPEIA. Your summary essentially says what I had assumed. That's why I don't understand removal of the template(s) from an article while the "stub" rating remains on the talk page. I have occasionally done the opposite, adding a template to a short article that didn't have one after I found a "stub" rating on the talk page. I appreciate your feedback. Eddie Blick (talk) 13:50, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
There are automatic tools that can removed stub templates based on article size (word count). These may not change the talk page, which can account for the scenario you described. I would not add stub templates to articles just because of the assessment on the talk page; you should first determine which is correct. MB 14:19, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you, MB. I realize now that I ventured into an area better left to those more experienced than I am. Eddie Blick (talk) 02:40, 31 January 2019 (UTC) P.S. This morning I went through my last 500 edits and removed the stub templates that I had added. I apologize for the errors. Eddie Blick (talk) 14:34, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Multiple accounts & username questions[edit]

I would like to know if I can create a second account. This would be for use on public computers. I would link it to my current account and vice-versa. The new account name I am considering using is; User:I edit The New York Times. Is this all ok? Thanks - wolf 02:25, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Thewolfchild Welcome to help desk. It is ok to have another account for your purpose above provide not for WP:sock puppetry which is not permitted and will result in a block or ban. Do identify your multiple account in your user pages by inserting templates such as {{User alternative account}} or one of a selection of user boxes. Thank you. CASSIOPEIA(talk) 07:10, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Great so as long as I follow those steps and that policy, everything should be ok? And the username I want to use; User:I edit The New York Times... since its available, it's ok if I use it? - wolf 13:16, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
@Thewolfchild: In my opinion your proposed username is maybe not a good idea. It can be interpreted to mean that you are professionally employed by the NYT as an editor, thus implicitly claiming a high level of professional expertise. I don't think you mean to imply that, but that is one way to read it, and usernames are not supposed to imply expertise that you do not have. (Note: this is oly my opinion.) -Arch dude (talk) 15:46, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
@Arch dude: - What do you mean by; "expertise that you do not have"...? That sounds both presumptuous and insulting. But that aside, I dont see a problem with the name; User:I edit The New York Times... I like it, so I should be able to use it. Are you saying I cant use it? - wolf 03:26, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I have to agree that that username is not a good idea. It does seem to imply that your work for the New York Times. And while that is not a problem (as long as you avoid potential WP:COI edits) it also suggests that you are an editor at the newspaper. Unless you are an editor (or some such) at the New York Times you should not use this username. It's not a question of whether you like the username. Meters (talk) 03:36, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
@Thewolfchild: There seems to be some controversy with this name. You're better off opening a request for comment here. TimTempleton (talk) (cont) 19:24, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Question about saving articles[edit]

how can i save my artical before publishing? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Nashra Xhaikh (talkcontribs) 12:18, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

When an article is saved it is publicly visible, even if in drafts or user space. Hence when you save it you are publishing it. Click on the "Publish" button to save it. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 12:25, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thewolfchild Nashra Xhaikh, pls note when you save it could be viewed by anyone, but it doesnt mean the article is accepted yet. All articles need to go through review. Once the reviewer/patroller accepted the article then it will be "publish" and search engine is then to allow to index it. (note: pls read WP:Your First Article and referencing for beginners to familiar yourself on how to write an article and provide inline citation in Wikipedia). Thank you. CASSIOPEIA(talk)
@CASSIOPEIA: - not my question. That was a new question posted without a heading by Nashra Xhaikh FYI & Thanks anyways - wolf 13:11, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thewolfchild thanks for informing, I must have open a few tabs and copied and pasted the username the in wrong section. yes the answer is for Nashra Xhaikh. cheers. CASSIOPEIA(talk) 13:19, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

My discussion in the talk page won’t load[edit]

Recently, My talk page discussion for Queen Elizabeth || wouldn’t load. I hope someone will fix it. There was an error in it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ihatetea (talkcontribs) 15:37, 30 January 2019 UTC (UTC)

@Ihatetea: Your entry has been simply reverted. See the talk page history here. --CiaPan (talk) 15:47, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
(edit conflict)If you're referring to the disappearance of this edit, it was reverted by Celia Homeford, with the comment "I presume this to be a joke". I'm not certain that removal was allowed by the talk page guidelines, but I certainly think that if you are going to reinstate the comment you'll need to explain why it is not simply a troll. --ColinFine (talk) 15:56, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
About that deleted edit: I was just about to put a warning on your talk page, telling you not to post jokes on Wikipedia. In fact most of your edits seem to be chatty or conversational. I suggest you work on improving articles instead. -- MelanieN (talk) 16:26, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The user has been blocked. †dismas†|(talk) 17:25, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Bruce Ohr[edit]

Your page on Bruce Ohr is terribly wrong. No mention of his controversy? Biased much wikipeidia? Good luck with those donations — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.151.222.244 (talk) 17:46, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia articles describe what independent reliable sources state. If information is missing that you have independent sources for, and it complies with the Biographies of living persons policy, feel free to bring it up on the article talk page. As this is a volunteer project, we can only do what we can when we can. 331dot (talk) 18:23, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Len de Beer[edit]

Hi I'm new to this. I have created a page in my sandbox and would like to know how to proceed from here to get it edited? vetted and published. It is called Cladomelea debeeri.

Please let me know. Thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cladomelea (talkcontribs) 20:10, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

First thing you need to do is to sort out your referencing. Try WP:Referencing for beginners. Also worth reading the guidance at WP:Your first article. --David Biddulph (talk) 20:19, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
@Cladomelea: If you are Mr. Roff or Mr. de Beer or you are otherwise associated with the subject, you should probably also take a look at WP:COI. Go ahead and improve your article, but try hard to make it more encylopedic and less like a blog entry. Because it is very hard to do this when you are close to the subject, we ask that you declare your association on your user page. Please don't be discouraged by all of this: we really do need input from experts. If this species is formally recognized, you should also put it on Wikispecies. Use another species article here as a worked example, both as a format guideline here at Wikipedia and as for linking to Wikispecies.-Arch dude (talk) 21:04, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Note that today's featured article, Mascarene grey parakeet, is about a species. Look at the infobox and at the wikispecies stuff there, and note that the lead paragraph is a summary of the article. -Arch dude (talk) 21:13, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

my name has WRONG CAPITALISATION[edit]

I TYPED alexdapineapple when I created the account why is it Alexdapineapple?!

-Alexdapineapple (talk) 21:07, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The first character of usernames and page names is automatically capitalized. You can place {{lowercase title}} on User:Alexdapineapple to render it lowercase at top of that page. You can enter alexdapineapple in the Signature field at Special:Preferences to write lowercase in your signature. Don't make a checkmark at "Treat the above as wiki markup". You can write alexdapineapple when you log in but your real username will still be Alexdapineapple and be shown in many places, e.g. page histories. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:20, 30 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]