Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2019 May 25

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May 25

Unable to locate article Old Main (The University of Texas at Austin)

On April 21, 2019, I edited List of Old Main buildings to include Old Main (The University of Texas at Austin), which now shows as a red link, and I can't find it in the deletion logs. I'm pretty certain the article for UT's Old Main building existed at the time or I don't think I would have added it to the List article. Am I losing my mind, or not searching the right way? Here is my edit. Thanks, Lardofdorkness (talk) 01:40, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

try Main Building (University of Texas at Austin)‡ Єl Cid of ᐺalencia ^ᐐT₳LKᐬ 03:22, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Thanks, El Cid. That will be simple to fix, but I still think I'm losing my mind: Is there a way to tell if the red link article used to exist as a redirect page to Main Building (University of Texas at Austin)? I'm inclined to believe it did and that's what I was linking to, but I've slept too many times since making the edit to remember. Possibly just carelessness on my part -- thanks for indulging my curiosity. Lardofdorkness (talk) 12:09, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

There has never been an article or redirect at Old Main (The University of Texas at Austin). --Orange Mike | Talk 18:26, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Nor Old Main (University of Texas at Austin) nor Old Main (University of Texas). --Orange Mike | Talk 18:29, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Adding media

Attempting to add a scanned postcard (approx 115 years old) to a page, but comment tells me that it must have been photographed by me.

So why should I have to photograph the postcard and then add it - why can't I just add a scan?

R — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pc1894 (talk • contribs) 09:40, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

@Pc1894: There is no legal difference between a photo and a scan of this postcard. The "photograph" referred to in the message is the photograph on the postcard itself, taken more than 115 years ago by an unknown photographer. In this case, you need to pick the correct copyright, which is not "I own the copyright" but instead is "Photograph is in the Public domain due to its age." -Arch dude (talk) 14:43, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Enabling auto information update

Is there a way to program Wikipedia to pull information from a specific website and post it here? To clarify, in the infobox the Employees entry contains only numbers. The reference link is right next to it and the actual number is in a specific field in the table. Is it possible to link these two? Regards, LukeA1 (talk) 10:10, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

It's possible, but the main issue is probably whether that automation is needed in the first place. For instance, how frequent the number changes is vital on deciding that. If you believe it's worth it, you should ask at WP:BOTREQ. – Ammarpad (talk) 12:17, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

This is a bad idea. Software running on WMF servers should not be in the business of interpreting the syntax of other random web sites. This would untimately lead to a maintanence nightmare. We probably have several hundred thousand organization infoboxes. Should we write a separate script to auto-maintain each one? I say no. But each interested organization might choose to write a script that runs on their computer to maintain their info in a single place, namely on Wikidata. Infoboxes would then pull from Wikidata. Centralizing structured info on Wikidata is a good idea since that data can be used across all Wikipedias, not just the English Wikipedia.-Arch dude (talk) 16:27, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Zig-Zag Rolling Papers

Hello i came to your page to see if i could get info on rolling papers but the packs i have are not mentioned Gary— Preceding unsigned comment added by Gary Mckerracher (talk • contribs) 12:32, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Hello @Gary Mckerracher: there is a general article about Rolling paper, but it does not describe individual brands. But there is also List of rolling papers which does include Zig Zag, thought it has only very limited information. There is a lot more information about the company, and a little about its products including the papers, at Zig-Zag (company). If that is still not sufficient, at the bottom of that latter article is a link to the company's own official Web site. I hope this helps.--Gronk Oz (talk) 13:23, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

(edit conflict) @Gary Mckerracher: Hello, not every product or manufacturing company can have a page on Wikipedia. There are fairly stringent notability guidelines which have to be satisfied first. The best known brand of rolling paper is probably Rizla and there is a Wikipedia page here. More information on Zig Zag can be found at List of rolling papers#Rolling papers. (Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four keyboard tildes like this: ~~~~. Or, you can use the [ reply ] button, which automatically signs posts.). Cheers. Eagleash (talk) 13:34, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Eagleash, I think rolling papers may be a regional/country thing. Here in SW Ohio, the best known brand in the 1980s was definitely Zig Zag -- everyone I knew had a pack in the glove compartment -- and they're a cheapish brand that can probably be bought anywhere cigarettes are sold. It's not a topic of high interest to me at this point in my life :) but I would think if the OP wanted to do some research, they could certainly find enough sourcing to prove notability of Zig Zag. --valereee (talk) 15:11, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Rizlas are so common elsewhere that the name has virtually become a generic term for rolling papers, like Hoover for vacuum cleaner or Biro for ballpoint pen or Sellotape. Eagleash (talk) 17:39, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Eagleash, hahahahaha none of which generics are commonly used here. Most could guess what Hoovering means, but only those who read a lot of non-US content know Biro and Sellotape! Harry Potter fans could probably guess Sellotape. We use Bic and Scotch tape for generics. --valereee (talk) 18:04, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Yes, there's a whole World outside America (and Ohio). Eagleash (talk) 18:07, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

Mediawiki namespace redirect

Can anybody look at WP:AFC/Redirects#Redirect request: MediaWiki:Title blacklist. I don't know what to do with this redirect request. I am asking an admin's opinion on the matter as they are the ones who can edit Mediawiki pages. Thanks. (please  mention me on reply) Sincerely, Masum Reza^📞 17:31, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

@Masumrezarock10: It looks like there is an admin comment after you posted the above request. In any case, if admin assistance is required, you may get better results by posting at WP:AN.

On a separate note, remember to subst the {{ping me}} template, otherwise it will not show your username. –FlyingAce^✈hello 15:46, 27 May 2019 (UTC)

@Masumrezarock100: Fixing ping... –FlyingAce^✈hello 15:56, 27 May 2019 (UTC)

Which picture is suitable?

Hi! I thought of uploading a better picture of British sailor and Titanic survivor Harold Bride and uploaded two pics to Commons but don't know which is more suitable for the article. Can anybody help me choose? Bride 1 Bride2. Thank you and kind regards!. --LLcentury (talk) 22:18, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

I believe that Bride1 is best because it shows his uniform. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 22:41, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Cullen328, Perfect I added that one, if there's another opinion feel free to give your opinion. Best wishes. --LLcentury (talk) 23:27, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Dynamic IP

An anonymous user with a dynamic IP address is removing reliably-sourced height & the relevant sources, along with replacing them with the height which is supported by UGC & other poor sources, thereby creating BLP-related issues. I have opened a relevant thread – see Talk:Manushi Chhillar#Height – and asked them to discuss it on the talk page. But their IP address changes each time, and I am forced to repeat the whole process again. The article will most probably not get protected as the disruption is low. So, is there any way to make the IP user discuss their concerns at the talk page? - NitinMlk (talk) 23:12, 25 May 2019 (UTC)