User talk:TheSandDoctor/Archives/2021/April

Administrators' newsletter – April 2021

News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2021).

Administrator changes

Alexandria • Happyme22 • RexxS

Guideline and policy news

• Following a request for comment, F7 (invalid fair-use claim) subcriterion a has been deprecated; it covered immediate deletion of non-free media with invalid fair-use tags.
• Following a request for comment, page movers were granted the delete-redirect userright, which allows moving a page over a single-revision redirect, regardless of that redirect's target.

Technical news

• When you move a page that many editors have on their watchlist the history can be split and it might also not be possible to move it again for a while. This is because of a job queue problem. (T278350)
• Code to support some very old web browsers is being removed. This could cause issues in those browsers. (T277803)

Arbitration

• A community consultation on the Arbitration Committee discretionary sanctions procedure is open until April 25.

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Sent by MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 22:20, 1 April 2021 (UTC)

Block request to assist in investigating.

I just had a look at WP:THEYCANTHEARYOU. Currently there is a big ? by Partial block shown as partial for desktop IPs. Would you mind placing a 12 hour self-requested block on this IP (not the entire /64 range) from the Timed Text talk namespace (autoblock disabled) which should minimize collateral. I'd like to see if the partial blocks are shown as partial, and you are a recently active admin in Category:Wikipedia administrators willing to consider placing self-requested blocks. Thanks for your assistance, 2A03:F80:32:194:71:227:81:1 (talk) 00:59, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

 Done and notified on talk page. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 19:14, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

In response to your query.

Putting this here since I'm about to blank my TP. For the why, see WP:WNCAA, and User:69.145.123.171/registering. I've been doing this on-and-off for so long it would feel like a betrayal anyway. I'll be back around eventually so there's no need to worry, and thanks for your help. Cheers, 2A03:F80:32:194:71:227:81:1 (talk) 03:10, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

I totally understand, but felt I may as well try just in case. Thank you for your contributions. TheSandDoctor ^Talk 03:14, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Closure on batch of mass shooter images

You closed FFD discussion as "no consensus". Shouldn't have the decision been defaulted to deletion, especially when there's no consensus to keep any image? --George Ho (talk) 03:43, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

@George Ho: I would disagree as there was definitely leaning towards keeping at least some, just not agreement on which ones (plus the following and see WP:NOCONSENSUS). "Delete all" did not have substantial support and would be inappropriate given the discussion that took place and the fact that there was not significant leanings in that direction. WP:RELIST states that relisting should not be used in place of no consensus closing. Per WP:NOCONSENSUS, things with no consensus to delete (which is what deletion discussions are trying to determine) are kept by default. The resolution here would be to not nominate as a set and hopefully garner better consensus; this way would also avoid the "leaning keep but NC on what" issue. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 04:11, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

I guess I can individually nominate one of the images, huh? George Ho (talk) 04:26, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

@George Ho: Most definitely. Nothing stopping anyone whatsoever. Hopefully there will be a clearer result that way. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 04:45, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Tech News: 2021-14

Latest tech news from the Wikimedia technical community. Please tell other users about these changes. Not all changes will affect you. Translations are available.

Recent changes

• Editors can collapse part of an article so you have to click on it to see it. When you click a link to a section inside collapsed content it will now expand to show the section. The browser will scroll down to the section. Previously such links didn't work unless you manually expanded the content first. [1]

Changes later this week

• The citoid API will use for example 2010-12-XX instead of 2010-12 for dates with a month but no days. This is because 2010-12 could be confused with 2010-2012 instead of December 2010. This is called level 1 instead of level 0 in the Extended Date/Time Format. [2]
• The new version of MediaWiki will be on test wikis and MediaWiki.org from 6 April. It will be on non-Wikipedia wikis and some Wikipedias from 7 April. It will be on all wikis from 8 April (calendar).

Future changes

• PAWS can now connect to the new Wiki Replicas. Cross-database JOINS will no longer work from 28 April. There is a new way to connect to the databases. Until 28 April both ways to connect to the databases will work. If you think this affects you and you need help you can post on Phabricator or on Wikitech.

Tech news prepared by Tech News writers and posted by bot • Contribute • Translate • Get help • Give feedback • Subscribe or unsubscribe.

19:39, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Happy Birthday!

@CAPTAIN RAJU: Thank you very much! TheSandDoctor ^Talk 21:25, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Help with renaming

Hi there -- you had mentioned in December on my talk page that you could help with the name change. If that's still the case, could it be changed to EnvHistScholar? Please let me know and thank you (and happy birthday!) FlipTheList (talk) 21:48, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

@FlipTheList: I can most certainly assist. My apologies that I didn’t see the reply on your talk page. I will rename shortly and let you know. TheSandDoctor ^Talk 22:01, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

@TheSandDoctor: It's no problem - thanks for your help! FlipTheList (talk) 22:53, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

@EnvHistScholar: Done. Will comment on your talk page now. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 00:17, 6 April 2021 (UTC)

The WikiProject Video Games Newsletter, Q1 2021

The WikiProject Video Games Newsletter
Volume 13, No. 1 — 1st Quarter, 2021
Previous issue | Index | Next issue

Project At a Glance
As of Q1 2021, the project has:

• 241 Featured Articles
• 89 Featured Lists
• 10 Featured Topics

• 34 Featured Pictures
• 1,684 Good Articles
• 31 Good Topics

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Content

• Changes to Featured and Good content
• News items and announcements
• WP:VG Talk Page Digest

• Survey: How does WikiProject Video games determine character notability?
• Interview: Namcokid47

---

Project Navigation

• VG Project Main pages

  • Main project – talk
  • Project category – talk
  • Portal – talk

  VG Project Departments

  • Assessment – talk
  • Cleanup – talk
  • Peer review – talk

   

  • Reference library – talk
  • Newsletter – talk
  • Video game images – talk

To opt-out or sign up to receive future editions of this newsletter, click here to update the distribution list.
(Delivered 13:42, 9 April 2021 (UTC))

-- MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 13:42, 9 April 2021 (UTC)

Request

Hello SandDoctor, I had a favor to ask. I noticed some folks appeared to be wishing that this hadn't been closed quite yet. I was wondering if you would consider re-opening it. Best, — Ched (talk) 13:13, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

@Ched:  Done --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 17:32, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

And I thank you SD. I realize I could have done it myself (especially after reading your edit notice), but sometimes it's just as easy (and nice) to ask. I appreciate your time, and have a great evening. — Ched (talk) 20:35, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

Thanks SD, and my apologies for posting a very public complaint (which I did not intend to be directed at you) rather than just asking here. Ivanvector (^Talk/_Edits) 01:21, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

@Ivanvector: You’re welcome and accepted. In future if you disagree with a call, please do pop by here and let me know. Until Ched’s comment, I was none-the-wiser as I wasn’t pinged. I’m always willing to work to a mutual understanding and work adamantly to resolve any issues. TheSandDoctor ^Talk 01:36, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

Vandalism - Help Please

I happened across an article on Prince Edward Islands and discovered it had been vandalised. (Done by two quick edits so it could not be fixed by a simple undo.) This is not a popular article and so it was over a week old. Okay, it's now on my watchlist so I can police it. But what is the recommended action when you discover actual vandalism? (And I don't mean bad edits or mistakes.) All the other cases I've seen have been on pages policed by experienced users so whilst I tried to revert as quickly as possible, I've left the admin to people who know what they are doing. It looks like Prince Edward islands should now be my responsibility. If I get repeated vandalism on this page should I report it? More important, how do I do this? Thanks in advance for any advice.OrewaTel (talk) 22:57, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

@OrewaTel: Hi! When vandalism occurs, just revert it as I see you’ve done on the PEI article. That’s all that is needed in most cases. If it is repeated frequently within a short timespan, feel free to request page protection at WP:RFPP or report it to myself/any admin or the administrator noticeboard. If the edit involves personal information (ie outing or personal information, please revert with a generic edit summary (ie “ce” or something not letting on what the content was) and see WP:OS and please report it via email. Does that make sense? Feel free to ask any questions you may have. TheSandDoctor ^Talk 23:33, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

@TheSandDoctor: Thank you. I really should have found the administrator noticeboard by myself. That resource should sort out all my current problems. If I have others then I know some friendly people. ☺ OrewaTel (talk) 00:32, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

@OrewaTel: All good! I’m happy to help where I can. I don’t bite and am happy to help . TheSandDoctor ^Talk 01:27, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

exists for a purpose

It's easy to use. Doing so is far less rude than deleting information (especially if that is well known in the first place). A bit of a wait for the citation to come in response to does no harm. Barefoot through the chollas (talk) 19:48, 15 April 2021 (UTC)

@Barefoot through the chollas: I am not intending to be rude whatsoever and apologize if it comes across as such. I am working to imminently take this article to WP:FAC in hopes of it becoming a featured article. For the past while there has been an open peer-review to help make the FAC process easier. Citation needed tags (and unverified information) at an FAC is not a good look and does not help in the slightest and they could fail the nomination. The article needs to be in tip top shape for FAC, which is what I am trying to work towards. Please don't restore that content unless you locate a reliable source which meets the criteria of Wikipedia:WikiProject Songs#Popular culture, trivia and use in other media --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 23:25, 15 April 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for the explanation of what I must admit looked like an unexplained enthusiasm for warring. Given your purpose, I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree merely on the approach. My preference -- if the information is known to be factual, which this is -- would be to encourage the contributor to supply an acceptable citation for the information s/he added. // In principle, deleting relevant information defeats the purpose of the encyclopedia. In the specific instance, while the song's use in Tour of Duty may well seem no more than a bit of trivia to some, there is also an abundance of evidence that others find the song's placement as opening theme of Tour of Duty moving, an essential component of the series' framing and éclat. Ergo, no question of deletion, but instead . Once that is satisfied, the article is improved, further on its way to the special status you desire. (In the 'no small irony' category, either one of us could have supplied several appropriate references in the time we've spent bumping heads over there being no reference.) Cheers. Barefoot through the chollas (talk) 00:07, 16 April 2021 (UTC)

SandBot

Hello, SandDoctor,

I was looking through the Deletion log and, wow!, what happened to SandBot that it created all of these files that you needed to delete? Just curious. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 20:11, 17 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi Liz it created local description pages for a few at seeming random while conducting a sanctioned task to do that on Commons (where the files exist). Its config had mention of enwiki and somehow decided to do a few hundred here at random, which I just spotted by fluke as I was wondering when it had last run its monthly arb related task. Upon spotting the edits, I immediately killed the commons task and conducted cleanup. To remediate this, all mention of enwiki has been removed from its pywikibot config file and I shall continue to watch its enwiki contribs closely. That was weird...never had an issue before with that... --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 20:16, 17 April 2021 (UTC)

@Liz: The task is to add Category:El Paso Daily Times to some 18k files on Commons. Currently over 4k have been added, so really rather odd it just added some on enwiki for fun I guess(?). Anyhow, as long as that category stays empty here (locally), nothing is amiss. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 20:23, 17 April 2021 (UTC)

Hello

I noticed you blocked the sock but not the sock master and let him off the hook with a fair warning, I feel that wasn’t enough as the sock master was the head of a very small UPE ring. Their puppet being blocked and the master being unblocked defeats the purpose as they would still create more sock accounts in future, but regardless I respect your choice. Celestina007 (talk) 18:20, 18 April 2021 (UTC)

Tech News: 2021-16

Latest tech news from the Wikimedia technical community. Please tell other users about these changes. Not all changes will affect you. Translations are available.

Recent changes

• Email to the Wikimedia wikis are handled by groups of Wikimedia editors. These volunteer response teams now use Znuny instead of OTRS. The functions and interface remain the same. The volunteer administrators will give more details about the next steps soon. [3][4]
• If you use syntax highlighting, you can see line numbers in the 2010 and 2017 wikitext editors when editing templates. This is to make it easier to see line breaks or talk about specific lines. Line numbers will soon come to all namespaces. [5][6][7]
• Because of a technical change there could be problems with gadgets and scripts that have an edit summary area that looks similar to this one. If they look strange they should use mw.loader.using('mediawiki.action.edit.styles') to go back to how they looked before. [8]
• The latest version of MediaWiki came to the Wikimedia wikis last week. There was no Tech News issue last week.

Changes later this week

• There is no new MediaWiki version this week.

Future changes

• The user group oversight will be renamed suppress. This is for technical reasons. This is the technical name. It doesn't affect what you call the editors with this user right on your wiki. This is planned to happen in two weeks. You can comment in Phabricator if you have objections.

Tech news prepared by Tech News writers and posted by bot • Contribute • Translate • Get help • Give feedback • Subscribe or unsubscribe.

16:48, 19 April 2021 (UTC)

Please review block

Hello. I believe that you blocked my account Chagcharan by mistake. Could you please have another look at the case? I am not involved in anything that is alleged in the notice about the ban. Thank you. 89.24.226.192 (talk) 12:59, 21 April 2021 (UTC)

I would recommend reviewing Wikipedia:Appealing a block and appeal it from your account. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 19:01, 21 April 2021 (UTC)

Feedback request: All RFCs request for comment

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Choosing TFD instead of fixing Linter errors

Thanks for this edit and many like it. For future reference, it might be worth noting when a template is at TFD and skipping Linter fixes, for two reasons: one, the Linter error might be caused by the TFD notice, and two, a previous editor may have nominated the page at TFD in lieu of doing yet another syntax fix on an unused template. – Jonesey95 (talk) 00:47, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

@Jonesey95: You've got a good point that I shall keep an eye out for that in the future. I was just fixing on a fixing spree, targeting the template namespace as that has one of the larger cascading potentials to fix a significant portion of linter issues; this is the same approach as what I tend to target on meta. I wasn't looking at transclusions or anything but the errors. --TheSandDoctor ^Talk 01:19, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

I fixed (nearly?) all of the templates with more than a handful transclusions a couple of years ago, and then moved on to other stuff. I'm glad someone is finishing the job. I have been working on Template space a bit recently, mostly on clearing out the clutter of DYK pages on the Linter lists; DYK pages should really be in a different namespace, but there was an RFC of some sort about it a few years ago, and the editors there decided that it would be too much trouble to move everything. Drop me a line if you have any Linter-related questions. There are a few reports and pages that I usually work from, and I've written a lot of the help pages but could always use more tips. – Jonesey95 (talk) 01:42, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

Are you using LintHint to check your changes before saving? This edit fixed center tags but left a misnested span/div combination. If I am doing something moderately complex, I usually click the LintHint button before saving, just to ensure that I haven't left behind any remaining errors or created new ones. – Jonesey95 (talk) 14:05, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

Tech News: 2021-17

Latest tech news from the Wikimedia technical community. Please tell other users about these changes. Not all changes will affect you. Translations are available.

Recent changes

• Templates have parameters that can have specific values. It is possible to suggest values for editors with TemplateData. You can soon see them as a drop-down list in the visual editor. This is to help template users find the right values faster. [9][10][11]

Changes later this week

• The new version of MediaWiki will be on test wikis and MediaWiki.org from 27 April. It will be on non-Wikipedia wikis and some Wikipedias from 28 April. It will be on all wikis from 29 April (calendar).

Tech news prepared by Tech News writers and posted by bot • Contribute • Translate • Get help • Give feedback • Subscribe or unsubscribe.

21:23, 26 April 2021 (UTC)