Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2020 December 10

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December 10

Donation question

First off I am probably doing this in exactly the wrong way but it’s a problem I think you need to be aware of. I do need to Wikipedia each month and I’m happy to do so however when I use Wikipedia a message, designed to encourage guilt at not donating, is displayed. This may be because I chose not to be contacted, but I am using the same device used when I agreed to donate. I’m sure I am not the only donor in this situation and I’m sure you don’t want to irritate your friends unless you absolutely have to. I will continue to delete but I think it is a problem and I’m making you aware of it77.99.126.144 (talk) 01:29, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

I added a header to your question. If you create an account, you can disable the fundraising banners. RudolfRed (talk) 02:09, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks, but we are aware of it, as every donation campaign results in a flood of comments to this and other boards primarily by IP users. The donation requests are sent out by the Wikimedia Foundation, not anyone here at Wikipedia itself. The Foundation does not know that the person sitting at your computer/holding the phone at any given moment has seen the messages or donated. It doesn't know that you are using the same device, because no cookies are placed on it if you lack an account. As noted, if you create and use an account, you can suppress the donation requests. Other grievances about the donation process or donation requests should be communicated to the Foundation. 331dot (talk) 02:17, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

@331dot: according to this WMF FAQ, a banner-hiding cookie should in fact be placed in a user's browser if they donate or close the banner a few times, even if they lack an account. – Teratix ₵ 13:30, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Let us suppose you saw an advert for a charity appeal in a newspaper and as a result sent off a cheque to the charity that day. Would you feel offended if the charity repeated the appeal in the same newspaper the next week? I don't think you would. The requests for money from Wikimedia are not directed at you but at people who have not made a donation.Spinney Hill (talk) 09:42, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Locked out of Bot account, 2 days wait?

Hello, I'm one of the maintainers of User:WP_1.0_bot. We recently had an issue where the bot's password was leaked to Github and had to be reset. That was completed successfully. However, when I tried to use the new password in the bot's login code, I messed up the login username. I've since fixed that, but now the bot's machine is facing this message when trying to log in:

'reason', 'You have made too many recent login attempts. Please wait 2 days before trying again.'

The bot has already been offline and unable to edit Wikipedia for several days, and I'm posting here for help because: 1) I don't want it to be offline any longer than it has to, since it serves a critical function in the WikiProject community and 2) I want to get on track to receive help in case it doesn't automatically unlock in the 2 day period.

Is there any way to get the account unlocked, perhaps by filing a Phabricator task? Thanks so much in advance! audiodude (talk) 00:27, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

This is a very detailed question. Perhaps try asking at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical). Note that if if fails to unlock after the 2 days period, the bot probbably needs a new name, since someone is still trying to login under the name. The alternative would be to ask a developer to use their database access to reset the failure count. Victor Schmidt mobil (talk) 08:47, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll post there. That kind of reset was precisely what I was looking for. audiodude (talk) 22:32, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Info box

How to place info box above Text and still other text appear above info box like few lines that describe a person.. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sanelerhoo (talk • contribs) 10:26, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I've edited Draft:Big zulu to move the infobox code to the top - it always goes above the article text. Is that what you were trying to achieve? - X201 (talk)

No matter how often I donate you keep asking.

I get that you need money. But I've been donating since the beginning. I just donated last week again.

Yet almost every time I login there's an entire screen filled with the ask for money. My screen today says "This is the first time we've asked you to donate in a while." No it's not.

I don't mind donating, but I'm tired of donating and still constantly being asked.

At the very least stop making up things you know aren't true about how often you're asking. I take that personally when I know you're being blatantly false. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.189.97.63 (talk) 12:19, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

You are using an IP; Wikipedia has no way to know that the person sitting at your computer at any given moment has seen the messages or has donated. Those systems are not connected(and cannot be for privacy reasons). If you create and use an account, you can suppress the donation requests in your preferences. Further grievances about donation requests should be communicated to the Foundation; we editors have nothing to do with it. 331dot (talk) 12:23, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

If you are tired of donating, than feel free to not donate. Whether you donate or not is your decision alone. 331dot (talk) 12:25, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

For more information, click here. Le Panini ^Talk 13:06, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

The Wikimedia Foundation has a list of donation FAQs. The information under "Why am I seeing fundraising banners on Wikipedia even though I have already donated recently?" would be most relevant for your situation, and includes advice on how to suppress the display of these banners. – Teratix ₵ 13:15, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

You can simply ignore it. Enjoyer of World^(bother...) 13:17, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Creating a page for a non-profit

I have joined Wikipedia under my name....but really need to create a page for the non-profit I work with and I'm not sure where to start. Any help is appreciated! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Debikayhoward (talk • contribs) 15:04, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

@Debikayhoward: You can try following these steps:

• First, review our guideline on notability, our policy on Verifiability, and our general notability guideline (GNG). Consider whether your subject clearly meets the standards listed there. Also, check if the topic is already covered, perhaps under a different spelling or in a section of an article about a wider topic. You will waste a lot of time, if you create a new article, and then find that the encyclopedia already has an article about that.
• Second, read how to create Your First Article and referencing for beginners and again consider if you want to go ahead.
• Third, If you have any connection or affiliation with the subject, disclose it in accordance with our guideline on Conflict of interest. If you have been or expect to be paid for making edits, or are making them as part of your job, disclose this according to the strict rules of the Paid-contribution disclosure. This is absolutely required; omitting it can result in you being blocked from further editing.
• Fourth, gather sources. You want independent, professionally published, reliable sources with each discussing the subject in some detail. If you can't find several such sources, stop; an article will not be created! Sources do NOT need to be online, or in English, although it is helpful if at least some are. The "independent" part is vital. Wikipedia does not consider as independent sources such as press releases, or news stories based on press releases, or anything published by the subject itself or an affiliate of the subject. Strictly local coverage is also not preferred. Regional or national newspapers or magazines, books published by mainstream publishers (not self-published), or scholarly journals are usually good. So are online equivalents of these. (Additional sources may verify particular statements but not discuss the subject in detail. But those significant detailed sources are needed first.)
• Fifth, use the article wizard to create a draft under the articles for creation project. This is always a good idea for an inexperienced editor, but in the case of an editor with a conflict of interest it is essential.
• Sixth, use the sources gathered before (and other sources you may find along the way) to write the article. Cite all significant statements to sources. Do not express opinions or judgements, unless they are explicitly attributed to named people or entities, preferably in a direct quotation, and cited to a source. Do not use puffery or marketing-speak. Provide page numbers, dates, authors and titles for sources to the extent these are available. A title is always needed. Submit the draft when you think it is ready for review. Be prepared to wait a while for a review (several weeks or more).
• Seventh, when (well perhaps if) your draft is declined, pay attention to the comments of the reviewer, and correct the draft and resubmit it. During this whole process, if you face any unresolvable editing hurdles, or cannot comprehend any editing issue, feel free to post a request at the Teahouse or the help desk and ask the regulars. Repeat this until the draft passes review.

Congratulations, you have now created a valid Wikipedia article. Victor Schmidt (talk) 15:23, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Hello, Debikayhoward. It sounds as if you have a common misconception about Wikipedia, that an article is in any way for the benefit of its subject. Often the subject of an article does get some benefit from an article about it (sometimes they definitely don't!) but this is never part of Wikipedia's purpose. If we end up with an article about your non-profit, it won't belong to them, and you and they will not have any control over the contents of the article. Wikipedia is not interested in what the subject of an article says or wants to say about themselves, or what their associates say about them. Wikipedia is only interested in what people who have no connection with the subject, and who have not been prompted or fed information on behalf of the subject, have chosen to publish about the subject in reliable sources.. --ColinFine (talk) 15:29, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Submission of User:Draft for consideration, Draft of the Outline of Colorado for WikiProject Colorado, at their request for improvement of the Outline of Colorado

Draft of the Outline of Colorado, for submission to correct place. Admin Help requested.Paptilian (talk) 16:20, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

I think this is asking for the draft created at User:Paptilian to be moved to draft space. RudolfRed (talk) 17:57, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

For clarification: This user is requesting help to be sure this is Done properly. I wish to make a separate user page entitled Draft of ... and separate from my User:Paptilian page.

Hello, Paptilian. I see you have prepared a new version of part of Outline of Colorado on your user page, which is not the normal place for trying out new text for articles, but no matter. So what you are wanting to do is to replace parts of that article by what's on your user page, yes? I don't think there is any process either for formally submitting such a thing for review, or for carrying out the merge. Since you say you are working with WP:WikiProject Colorado, I suggest you do the following:

1. Move everything from your user page that is intended to go into the article to (for example) User:Paptilian/Outline of Colorado.
2. (if you haven't already) post at WT:WikiProject Colorado, asking people to review it.
3. When you are satisfied, copy or merge it piecemeal to the article. Since you are the only author, WP:Copying within Wikipedia is allowed. I suggest you do it bit by bit in several edits, so that if there are technical problems, or somebody objects to part of the change, that edit can be reverted without reverting the whole lot.

Make sure you give useful edit summaries - it would be worth saying that members of the WikiProject have accepted it. --ColinFine (talk) 18:02, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

This is swell. I am novice. Thank you for understanding my apprehension. Here goes my best effort.Paptilian (talk) 18:06, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

/clarifying ambiguity, I put my name on member list at WikiProject, not working with them as they have not contacted me nor until now knows I have this outline design. That's why I am the only editor. My User Talk:Paptilian page is open for WikiProject members to communicate with me. Until User:Paptilian/Draft of the Outline of Colorado for the WikiProject: Colorado has been created. Wherein all discussions will proceed. Thank you for helping.18:20, 10 December 2020 (UTC) This issue has been resolved at User:Paptilian/Draft of the Outline of Colorado for the WikiProject: ColoradoPaptilian (talk) 19:19, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Filter out specific tags: Recent Changes

In the Recent Changes interface, you are able to filter by specific criteria (mobile edit, blanking, ect.) I would like to know if there is a way to filter out edits that match a specific tag (for example, reverted) so that I do not see them when patrolling for vandalism.

Thanks, — Longchess (talk) 17:22, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Longchess, I currently don't see a way to blacklist criteria. Maybe you could give them a highlighted colour to let yourself know to ignore them? —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) (🎁 Wishlist! 🎁) 17:34, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Wikipedia request for funding.

Hi Folks. Whenever I use Wikipedia lately I get a funding request such as saying "been asked five times" for funds. I actually donated to Wikipedia once and asked why MY entry on the site had wording not seen on any other entry, I am a student of aviation and research on the subject. After I donated my entry was deleted. Some time after that I added some information about Richard Puckle's early repeating firearm, I then had a notification from one of your "editors" asking if I had "cut and pasted" the information. I am also a student of firearms and early gun making and felt that my offering was not wanted or welcomed.

I have no wish to contribute to a source that not only deleted my entry after I had donated OR made unwelcome comments about factual material that is offered. Therefor I am VERY reluctant to contribute to Wikipeda18:43, 10 December 2020 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.25.94.79 (talk)

Content decisions are very deliberately divorced from the donations/official side. This is also not the place to complain about the annual fundraising pitch; donate(at)wikimedia.org is, though once again a donation does not allow a donator to force content decisions. —A little blue Bori v^_^v ^{Takes a strong man to deny...} 19:02, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

The software cannot tell who is at the other end of an IP address. Please create an account. Go to your Preferences, navigate to the Gadgets tab, and check the "Suppress display of fundraiser banners" box. For additional concerns please contact the Wikimedia Foundation at this email address: donate@wikimedia.org. As far as I can tell, the IP address you're currently using only made edits here. Linking to the article in question would be helpful. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) (🎁 Wishlist! 🎁) 20:38, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

What type of infobox

What would be an appropriate infobox for The Three Musketeers (Studebaker engineers)? --Doug Coldwell (talk) 19:19, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

@Doug Coldwell: {{Infobox engineer}} is the closest I could come up with. Victor Schmidt (talk) 19:42, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks. --Doug Coldwell (talk) 20:02, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Formatting a table

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Saskatchewan_Rush_season has a thing in the table for "Philadelphia Wings (2018-)" but is there a way to get the text to say just "Philadelphia Wings" but to still link to the 2018- page? I tried to do the brackets thing, but it showed an extra [ and then I couldn't get it to work? --MattBinYYC (talk) 22:55, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

MattBinYYC, Philadelphia Wings appears in two tables, none of which appear to be associated with 2018. Which one are you referring to? —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) (🎁 Wishlist! 🎁) 23:42, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

Someone fixed it on the IRC channel --MattBinYYC (talk) 03:05, 11 December 2020 (UTC)