Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2013 August 25

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August 25

About logged data for Checkuser over 3 months

m:CheckUser policy#CheckUser statussays:"This information is only stored for a short period (currently 3 months), so edits made prior to that will not be shown via CheckUser". So, does this mean those data beyond 3 months is deleted permanently or still exists, but just unavailable to queries by normal CU means?--朝鲜的轮子 (talk) 03:52, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

It's completely deleted from the database (per [1]), but old backups may still exist somewhere (inaccessible to almost everyone). Jackmcbarn (talk) 04:11, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

There may also be data out there as a result of checkuser queries run during the 3 months the data existed, but that for various reasons may be retained someplace (most likely in private by a checkuser or other functionary, or on a functionary mailing list). If no one ran a checkuser that found the data during the 3 months, then yes, for all intents and purposes its gone. Monty₈₄₅ 04:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Overediting?

Hello fellow editors, is there a concept that describes over-editing? I'm aware of a user at SpongeBob SquarePants (season 9) who makes constant edits to the page, sometimes going back and forth, indecisively between minor syntax edits, before arriving at a choice, then later reverting the choice. It seems like many of his edits could be figured out in his sandbox first. My watchlist is blown up with this person's edits, and I was curious if there was a guideline about this. Thanks! Cyphoidbomb (talk) 04:00, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

I've left him a warning. Jackmcbarn (talk) 04:08, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

I have no suggestions except for what is advised at WP:PREVIEW. Dismas|^(talk) 04:10, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Thanks y'all. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 14:48, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

scams

there is someone tat is useing te name Ms,carman L Lapointe and sending email out for the reson to get you to pay money out to her and this person is useing @armenian.me.uk address if you would like prove send me a mail andi will forward to you please let me know how you will like it sent to you or when these peopleare useing the united nations as a frount stealing from good people put them in jail — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.160.179.149 (talk) 07:10, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 4 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. - David Biddulph (talk) 07:36, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

A quick online search on that name confirms that this is just one of many known advance fee fraud scams. But as David Biddulph says, this page is not the right place to report scams or request action on them. - Karenjc 08:00, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Changing user name

How do I change my name? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sheila Ann Quinn (talk • contribs) 07:13, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Changing username. - David Biddulph (talk) 07:34, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

usage of the sentence

i want to know which is the right usage

what would you do there OR what you would do there — Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.167.91.10 (talk) 10:28, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

This is the page for help about editing Wikipedia: for general questions, you could ask at the Wikipedia reference desk, specifically the language section of it. But for basic questions about English, I suggest you ask at the English Learners' site at Stackexchange. The answer to your question is that in an independent sentence, you must invert the verb and the subject ("What would you do there?"), but in an indirect question you don't ("Tell me what you would do there"). --ColinFine (talk) 11:03, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Drop down

The search box no longer provides a drop-down list of suggestions. I'm using Windows XP and Internet Explorer. Is this a problem with Windows XP? 67.172.139.111 (talk) 11:16, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

It's entirely likely that it's an issue with Internet Explorer; try installing Google Chrome or Firefox. You'll find both of these provide an infinitely better experience when browsing nearly every site.  drewmunn  talk  11:41, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Infinitely better? A bit of an exaggeration, wouldn't you say? :-) While true that WinXP will soon go unsupported, and IE8 is as high as you can go on XP, there are many people that are still there. Also, if you are in the corporate or government world, you often can only install software that is approved by the boss. It would be nice if wikipedia fully supported IE8, but it might be too much to ask. Donpayette (talk) 14:43, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Protecting an Article

I want to post a bio about someone running for political office (at their request). Being that it is election season, we expect it may spark edits by adversaries which we will have to respond to causing an escalation of edit activity possibly even leading to inappropriate content. Can we request and possibly be granted a restriction from changes on the article before we submit? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.27.248.178 (talk) 13:02, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Absolutely not. And see Wikipedia:Conflict of interest. AndyTheGrump (talk) 14:10, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

With regard to the acceptability of articles about political candidates, you may want to look at WP:POLITICIAN. Deor (talk) 14:15, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Wikipedia may not be used for promotion, whether the subject is commercial or non-commercial, no matter how worthy the cause. All material (but especially material on living people must be neutral in tone, and entirely based on reliable published sources. --ColinFine (talk) 16:56, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Article on Poliomyelitis

You say in your article on Poliomyelitis that the polio virus attacks humans only. I believe that primateologist Jane Goodall reported that one of her chimpanzee troupes had been stricken with polio with similar devastating results as it would in humans.

Thank you a million for Wickipedia. I love it.

Gayle Kohlenberg — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.36.168.217 (talk) 15:16, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

From what I can find via a quick Google search, Goodall put the chimpanzee polio outbreak down to human contact. [2] AS to whether it was actually confirmed to be polio, I'm not sure. I'll look into this further, and see if the article needs amending. AndyTheGrump (talk) 15:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Wikipedia posting for Fred Barney Taylor

Good morning, Wiki folks -- I wrote a Wikipedia page for the filmmaker Fred Barney Taylor and posted it yesterday. Everything looked great and I was very proud of it. It needed some more work but was acceptably done. I emailed people to check it and they all loved it, too. It was clearly "working" as these things do. Then I got up this morning to find out it had been taken down. I can find no information about why that happened, how I can fix it, or how to get it back up again. Suggestions?

Please let me know as soon as you can. Thanks -- Lynn Foss — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lynnfoss126 (talk • contribs) 15:22, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Hi Lynnfoss126,

I am not an admin on wikipedia, so unfortunately I cannot view the article which you submitted and which was "Speedily deleted" for "G11: Unambiguous advertising or promotion: no independent sources". You can see this information at: Fred_Barney_Taylor. XOttawahitech (talk) 16:51, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

By the way, I just noticed that there is no deletion notice on your talkpage. The normal practice at Wikipedia is to notify the creator of an article which has been nominated for deletion and allow them to contest the deletion. X17:01, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

If that is the case, you need to read about the neutral point of view, and notability before you try again. In fact, I would strongly advise you to use the WP:Article wizard, which will help guide you past some of the pitfalls in creating new articles. --ColinFine (talk) 17:02, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Well, I went and had a look at the deleted article, and it doesn't seem too horrible. The trick is that it talked almost entirely about projects that Taylor had worked on or is currently involved with, and cited only one outside source - a one paragraph snippet about one of Taylor's films (and not about Taylor himself). As the beginning of a draft article, it might work - but only with a lot of work and a lot more sourcing. The deletion was appropriate. That said, Lynnfoss126, the advice above about using the article wizard is good advice - consider also finding news articles and media coverage of Mr. Taylor himself - not his works, necessarily, but something that talks about his career and personal importance. That coverage will go a long way to helping you keep the article neutral. Good luck! UltraExactZZ ^Said ~ Did 16:18, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

Is a request for secondary sources appropriate?

A primary sources template has been placed on the War of the Roses (video game) article, which says 'This article relies on references to primary sources. Please add references to secondary or tertiary sources. (August 2013)'.

I am a little confused. Video games tend to have information provided by the makers (primary source?) and reviews by magazines etc which would be secondary source but are mainly opinions. I am not really sure what the template is asking for. How would a review be a better source than the publisher?

Is the template appropriate to the article? if so what would satisfy the requirement?

AeronwenTrewent (talk) 15:50, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

I'm afraid the answer is that if there are no substantial reliable secondary sources, then the game is by definition not notable at present, and may not have a Wikipedia article. Once such sources exist, then an article may be written, based on them. Please see WP:IRS.--ColinFine (talk) 17:04, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

By that definition almost all the video games on wikipedia are not notable :( Probably most of the films also. There must be something I am missing. AeronwenTrewent (talk) 18:50, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

You may well be right. You're not missing anything: Wikipedia may be missing people who understand and are prepared to apply our rules. --ColinFine (talk) 21:10, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

On June 6, 2014, is the 1944 of the Invasion

Can we make a tour to France to see these events. I am a JWV member and I fought in Brittany, France. <--redacted---> Bernard Rader <--redacted---> — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.190.206.157 (talk) 18:32, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. AndyTheGrump (talk) 18:35, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk page for search drop down box

The drop down box for Search recently changed it's behavior. Is there a talk page I can use to converse with those that do this kind of work? Donpayette (talk) 18:57, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Yes. You should try the Village Pump: WP:VPT RudolfRed (talk) 19:05, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Citing globes

How do you cite a globe? Chrisrus (talk) 19:12, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

(What follows is my own opinion only. If there is a Wikipedia policy on this, I am unaware of it.) Many cheap globes, and some expensive globes made for decorative purposes, contain serious errors and anachronisms, and should not be treated as reputable sources. A good reputable globe should give (typically in a box in the South Pacific) a publication date, name of editor, and name of publisher. To cite it, you supply these, as you would for any other printed work. Maproom (talk) 07:49, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

You might find using Template:Cite map makes constructing the citation easy. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 08:31, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

Correction to my earlier post

Hello,

In my eariler post (below) I mentioned that Meridian is building a wind farm called Macarthur in Australia. This is incorrect, in June 2013Meridian sold their interest in Macarthur wind farm to Malakoff Corporation Berhad, a Malaysian power generator and retailer.

Mt Millar is currently under construction in Australia.

Sorry for the incorrect information.

Karen

ORIGINAL POST

Hello, My name is Karen and I work for Meridian Energy. I’m hoping someone might be able to advise me on getting the Wikipedia page on Meridian Energy reviewed and updated. Some of the current content is out of date and contains incorrect information, for example - Meridian owns and operates seven hydroelectric power stations, not nine; Ohau A, Ohau B, Ohau C, Benmore, Aviemore, Waitaki and Manapouri. In 2009 Tekapo A and B were sold to Genesis Energy. - Meridian owns and operates four NZ wind farms, not six; Te Uku, Te Apiti, West Wind and White Hill. Ross Island wind farm is owned and operated by Antarctica NZ. We also own and operate a single turbine in Wellington, Brooklyn turbine and we have another wind farm under construction outside Wellington, Mill Creek. - Meridian owns and operates one wind farm in Australia, Mt Millar, with a second, Macarthur currently under construction. - Energy for Industry (EfI) and Whisper Tech are no longer subsidiaries of Meridian. Both EfI and Whisper Tech were sold in 2012.

What is the best way for the Wikipedia page to be review and edited? Thank you for your assistance. Karen Goldsworthy — Preceding unsigned comment added by KGRapa (talk • contribs) 21:30, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Hello, Karen, and thanks for coming to ask here rather than just editing the article. The answer is that the right place to bring this is up is on the article's talk page Talk:Meridian Energy; Anything that is added should be referenced to reliable sources, independent of the company, so if you can find these sources and list them in your request, it will make it more likely that somebody will pick the suggestion up and edit the article with it. --ColinFine (talk) 13:46, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

Long tables, floating first row

Tracked in Phabricator
Task T55358

Hey, not sure where to post this, but I want to suggest a feature idea. On long tables, it would be nice to have a floating header row, so I can see what the columns are as I scroll down, without having to go all the way to the top again, especially with many colums, such as this: List of minimum wages by country. I don't have the programming know-how, but do know the web well with how things should work! If this is not the right place, please forward it, or point me to where to forward it. Thanks! Baseballfan (talk) 21:39, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Programming-related requests are usually made at Bugzilla. Your idea is now T55358. If you want to create an account there (warning: it will share your e-mail address with everyone, so use a disposable email address), you can add any additional information or vote for it. Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 18:00, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

Richard Cebra

everything from "conrtoversy and calls to step down" and below is total fabrication from political antagonists and is based on biased blogs now being cited as Bangor Daily New but actually are Bangor Daily News Blogs which anyone can say anything nasty about anyone. Please remove this slanderous unverifiable, unsubstantiated garbage spread by vindictive haters about me. R.M. Cebra — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.183.174.78 (talk) 23:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Do you have a reliable source stating that what you say is true?— Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 19:05, 28 August 2013 (UTC)