Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2012 October 18

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October 18

Criticism/Controversy

I see an awful lot of removal of Criticism and Controversy sections. Should I be reverting the changes (if they are properly sourced, of course)? –– Anonymouse321 (talk • contribs) 05:38, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

It would depend on the article and what's in the section. Generally, the controversy would have to be pretty noteworthy by itself to warrant its own section, rather than only being noteworthy when in the context of the article's topic. Check out Wikipedia:Criticism. Scarce2 (talk) 07:03, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

gandhi memorial,kanyakumari

gandhi memorial needs more informaiotn — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.202.126.190 (talk) 07:06, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

If you have reliable sources you are welcome to add more information. Roger (talk) 07:13, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Signatures

Hi! I'm needing a lot of help here. I have been trying to change the way my signature looks. I've already read WP:CUSTOMSIG, and each time I try to change my signature, and when I test it by signing with four tildes, this is what comes out: <nocode>[[User:GARNERshiqian|<font color="crimson">Garnershiqian</font>]] ([[User talk:GARNERshiqian|<font color="orange (color wheel)">"leave me a message"</font>]]) (talk)</nocode>

So, what does this mean? Does it mean I have to wait for a Wikipedia admin/staff to approve the request? I'd appreciate it if a staff can change it for me! Thanks! -- Garnershiqian (talk) 13:37, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure that you're the only one with the ability to influence your signature, other than people with database access such as the developers, and they definitely don't spend time changing around people's signatures. I'm confident that this is a problem with your code, and once someone with more clue than I is able to help you find it, you will be able to fix it yourself without any other help. Nyttend (talk) 13:40, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

There is a tag called <code>...</code> but not <nocode>...</nocode>. <nowiki>...</nowiki> is used to display code without activating it, for example when the code itself is discussed. There is no reason for code, nocode or nowiki in your signature, and I don't know why you have an unlinked "(talk)" at the end. I guess you want this in the signature box:

Garnershiqian ("leave me a message")

Copy-paste it from the wikisource of this page and check "Treat the above as wiki markup". PrimeHunter (talk) 13:53, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Yes! That's what I'm trying to do! Thanks for your help, PrimeHunter! --Garnershiqian ("leave me a message") 14:46, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

If this is a demonstration of the template...

If you place a Wikiproject template in mainspace (e.g. {{WikiProject Yemen}}) and preview it, you get a big warning message telling you to move the template to the talk page or to add some code to prevent it from categorising the page improperly. What's the name of the template that produces this warning message? I've searched for text from the warning, "If this is a demonstration of the template, please set the parameter", but I can't find anything, even though I've configured my search settings for "Everything" searches. Nyttend (talk) 14:07, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Our search function often fails on long quoted texts. The shorter "If this is a demonstration of the template" found {{WPBannerMeta/locwarning}}. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:38, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Wildside (band)

I'm curious why my bands page was deleted. It was titled Wildside (band) and it still shows in some results but the page it refers to has been deleted. We were a legitimate band signed to Capitol Records in 1990, there's no reason for it to not be listed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.80.245.155 (talk) 15:26, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Hello. It was deleted as an A7 under the Criteria for Speedy Deletion, which means there was no indication that the band met our notability standards. For more details regarding its deletion, perhaps you can ask the deleting adminstrator User talk:Malik Shabazz? SassyLilNugget (talk) 15:44, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

I'd recommend you read WP:BAND first - we'd need evidence from published sources that the band met our notability criteria for an article to be justified. AndyTheGrump (talk) 15:48, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Colt pistol

I have a Colt DA 38 Model 1901 army issue pistol and would like to know what war it was used in????? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.254.207.124 (talk) 18:35, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Have you tried Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer just about any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that is what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. PleaseStand (talk) 18:45, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Size comparisons in photos guideline page

I'm looking for the guideline page that explains why using coins or other "common" objects to show the size of items in photos is a bad idea. I last saw it years ago, but now I need it to help an inexperienced editor. Roger (talk) 19:27, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Template:NoCoins is the closest I've found. -- John of Reading (talk) 19:35, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. I wonder if the template documentation and talk page content could be used to develop a proper guideline? I found a photo using a candy box to indicate the size of the subject item - but it appears that the candy is a Japanese domestic brand! A perfect example of why "common objects as scale indicators in photos" is a Bad Idea! Roger (talk) 20:15, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

SIR WALTER WINTERBOTTOM

The information on Sir Walter Winterbottom is incomplete and misleading. The date of birth is incorrect. It is not true that he was part of the Manchester United Team that won promotion to the first division in 1938. David Goldblatt's quotation "that a single post could be responsible for such a massive work load suggests either naivety or lack of interest on the part of the FA" is a wild assumption entirely without foundation.

Winterbottom was not responsible for leaving Stanley Matthews out of the England team that lost 1:0 to the USA in 1950. The decision was made by Arthur Drewry the chairman of the selectors.

There are substantial omissions regarding the rest of Winterbottom's career as Director of The Sports Council.

Under the Assessment heading, Goldblatt's quotation appears to be an ill informed personal opinion. Will Baker's claim about Winterbottom's upper class origins is totally incorrect. He came from a working class family. I am the daughter of Sir Walter Winterbottom and my husband has written a biography of Sir Walter Winterbottom which will be published by John Blake in March 2013. Is it possible for us to modify and enlarge the entry citing my husband's book as reference points prior to publication? Dweller, Yes we would like your help, but are unable to find a way to contact you directly.TENAJE (talk) 21:38, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

If there is information which is unreferenced, you may remove it; but you should not add anything (even replacing removed informatio) without references. Until your husband's book has been published you may not reference it (though you may reference any reliable sources that he used, provided they are published, so that in principle a reader could find them and check).

However, since you say you are his daughter, you should read Wikipedia's guidelines on conflict of interest very carefully. In particular, since the Goldblatt quotation appears to be from a reliable source, you should not remove it. Nor should you challenge it, unless you can do so with reference to another reliable source, as this would constitute original research.

My advice to you would be to explain what changes you would like to see, with references to the independent reliable published sources you are drawing on, on the article's talk page, so that other editors can evaluate the changes and make them as appropriate.

As for Goldblatt's remark: it is clearly a personal opinion, and may well be uninformed. But he did make it (or at least it is claimed that the reference cited says he made it), and his opinion is of interest. The same applies to Baker's remark. Wikipedia likes things that are supported by citeable references. Maproom (talk) 23:06, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

hi i need help looking up history

Hi my name is Ej and I was wonder how I may be able to find articles about a certain apartment located in lakewood co called the oxford manor apartment. I was wanting to know if there was anything that happens in the apartment I live in — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.25.198.179 (talk) 21:49, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

It is extremely unlikely that Wikipedia has anything about a particular apartment, and using Wikipedia is what this page is about. It is possible that if you asked the question at the Wikipedia's Reference Desk that somebody could suggest a way of tracing the history of the apartment, but I wouldn't be too hopeful myself. --ColinFine (talk) 22:11, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

kennel clubs in Trinidad and Tobago

There are two kennel clubs in Trinidad and Tobago, the Trinidad and Tobago Kennel Club and the Independent Kennel Club (independentkennelclub.org), there is no club in Trinidad and Tobago called the Caribbean kennel Club — Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.213.4.98 (talk) 22:07, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

After a search I see you refer to List of kennel clubs, one of our around 4 million articles. http://www.ttkennelclub.org/ says the Caribbean Kennel Club changed name to The Trinidad and Tobago Kennel Club in 1981. I have removed the former name from the list which already contained the latter. Thank you. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:22, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Signatures

I am a new user on Wikipedia, and I am not sure whether I have a signature. If someone would explain how that works it would be great. FatBaker (talk) 22:12, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Welcome. You do have a signature, and you can see at the end of your post above. If you'd like to change it, you can set in on your preferences page. RudolfRed (talk) 22:39, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Problems with navbox

Hi there noticed a problem with the "Schools in Essex" navbox that can be found on these pages aswell as other articles Brentwood County High School and New Hall School - thanks  thesimsmania  22:35, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

 Done It was due to vandalism inside the template. I have fixed it now. --Anbu121 (talk me) 22:39, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

1838 Mormon War

1838 Mormon War

There are so many errors in this particular article. I don't have the personal time to cite them all but would suggest in the interest of truth and fact that Wikipedia please place disclaimer citing such and contact a Mormon history professor at Brigham Young University or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint headquarters for correct documentation and verified fact.

Also, when I simply wiki'd "Mormon" I found a ton of errors as well.

Thanks for your time and Happy Regards Bunny Dunn — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.52.53.39 (talk) 23:13, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia, as a collective entity, isn't going to contact anybody; your best bet is to find a Mormon expert willing to discuss changes at Talk:1838 Mormon War. Meanwhile you could put a {{dubious}} tag after each assertion that you want to dispute. —Tamfang (talk) 00:43, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Thank you for this wonderful project

my name is khalil from tunisia i always visit the wikipidia evry day i just want to say think you for this wonderful project move on — Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.230.223.128 (talk) 23:21, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Hi Khalil. We appreciate your thanks. Those who try to answer questions on this page spend so much time dealing with problems, it is good to be reminded that we are helping to create something useful. Maproom (talk) 13:29, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Thank you, on behalf of the thousands of editors that create and maintain the articles in Wikipedia. --ColinFine (talk) 13:34, 19 October 2012 (UTC)