Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2020 January 21

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January 21

how to stop accidentally editing wiki articles

i sometimes get messages about editing an article which is something ive never intentionally done, how do i stop this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 101.190.32.13 (talk) 05:44, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

You are not logged in, so we know you by your IP address instead of a user name. The IP address is shared, so different people use it. You are seeing messages intended for those earlier people. You may simply ignore the messages. I better solution is to create a login and use it. It's actually more anonymous than the IP address, and you won't be bothered with this stuff again. -Arch dude (talk) 06:46, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Arch dude: I suppose 'I better solution' should rather read like 'A better solution'. --CiaPan (talk) 10:25, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Question regarding the copyright infringement

Hi. I got this message when created a wiki page. I have deleted the section of the page where had the infringement issue. Could you tell me what my next step is to complete the page? Thank you very much for your help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sekigu524 (talk • contribs) 06:41, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Sekigu524: Which page? your have not created any page with this account, so we do not know how to help you. -Arch dude (talk) 06:49, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Arch dude: sorry.I created the page.(I consulted Sekigu524. And Sekigu524 asked a question.) -Castor KakuWakako (talk) 07:21, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

• Note: Seems to relate to Wakako Kaku (nominated for speedy). Eagleash (talk) 07:36, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Castor KakuWakako:If you are sure you have removed all copyrighted material, then immediately create the article's talk page and contest the speedy deletion, stating that you have removed all such material. Do that now, then we can work on all the other problems. -Arch dude (talk) 07:44, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

What to do if someone keep reverting my contribution

Hello I am updating the information under "Schedule" on Radio Cardiff page. But CAPTAIN RAJU keeps reverting this and accuses me of "Vandalism" and not "constructive". It is ridiculous as I am working with te station and updating the most important information of radio schedule. How can it be not constructive?. What shall I do if I do need to change the information on the page? Zsl11913 (talk) 12:14, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Zsl11913: Hello, if your changes are reverted you should open a discussion at the article talk page to reach consensus with the other editor involved. However, before undertaking any further edits you must read both WP:COI and WP:PAID (the latter page is mandatory under the terms of use) and make the necessary declarations. You should also, not edit the page directly but make requests at the talk page following the instructions found at Template:Request edit. Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 12:25, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Many thanks. Nevermind, I am working as a volunteer so I am not paid. And all I am doing is simply updating radio station schedule, which has nothing to do either conflict of interest or vandalism. And keeping information up-to-date is one of the most constructive thing people could do on Wikipedia. This page has been updated regularly by me as we change the schedule quite often and it makes no sense that updating a schedule needs these complicated procedure. Zsl11913 (talk) 12:33, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

It appears the main reason why you were reverted because some of the text was out of place. To the people who combat vandalism (who try to use quick heuristics to determine if an edit was constructive or not) it may have appeared like a test edit. The messages you were sent are templated messages and they sometimes don't describe the situation very well. – Thjarkur (talk) 12:35, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Many thanks for your explanation. It would be much easier if this was explained by the person who reverted my work instead of calling me vandalism. I spent hours editing now it all gone. Really frustrated. But again, thank you for your explanation. Zsl11913 (talk) 12:42, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Zsl11913: You have declared a connection with the subject. You therefore need to read both pages and make the necessary declarations. Volunteers are considered to be 'employees' as far as Wikipedia is concerned. Wikipedia is happy to receive your input as long as the conditions are complied with. Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 12:52, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Eagleash: Thank you. Job done. May I revert my contributions now? Or someone could help me with this? Zsl11913 (talk) 12:57, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

The schedule should not be in the article at all. As per WP:NOTRADIOGUIDE - X201 (talk) 13:16, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@X201: Sure, many thanks for this. Zsl11913 (talk) 13:23, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

(edit conflict)@Zsl11913: Not sure what you mean, it looks to me as if your edits have been undone by other editor(s). I don't think there's a need to rv anything at the article page. BTW a 'ping' will not work unless you add it together with the message and your signature all in one fell swoop – one edit. Eagleash (talk) 13:25, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Eagleash: Thanks for this, all sorted now. Zsl11913 (talk) 13:27, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Citing references

I have just added to an article on the Medical Practitioners' Union. This is my first attempt at editing Wikipedia. I was happy to add references but I couldn't identify how to insert a reference. When I saved the article it said "Cite error - there are reference tags without content" but I couldn't see these reference tags. What do I do? I want to add the proper references to the article and remove the cite error — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stephen John Watkins (talk • contribs) 12:29, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Stephen John Watkins: Hello, with this edit you added ref tags just before the references section. These do not render on the displayed page. You place the reference material between ref tags at the point in the text which the source supports and this will then display in the references section due to the presence of the 'reflist' template. For more information please see WP:REFB. (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.) Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 12:41, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Editing the July 12 Wikipedia page

I would like to add to the Notable Deaths section of the July 12 page: Elaine Morgan, Welsh writer, aquatic ape hypothesis (b. 1920) — Preceding unsigned comment added by May Monique Ocean (talk • contribs) 12:56, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@May Monique Ocean:  Done I have added Morgan to the list. Yhank you for pointing out the omission. (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.) Thank you.Eagleash (talk) 13:45, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Inaccurate information

Whilst trying to resolve inaccurate information on a page, it became apparent that when what I was arguing was not in the biased opinion of editors, the talk thread could not be updated with supporting material. Deeply concerned with the biased 'editorial volunteers' at Wikipedia who (it would seem) would rather control a narrative than correct information. Upon scrutinizing one editors profile, it became apparent that conflicts had arisen in the past with other users. If this isn't resolved, it puts into question every article on Wikipedia for transparency and integrity.

With the current climate of rampant fake news propaganda and narratives, it's disturbing that it's seems Wikipedia is now too a victim. Although I feel nothing will come of this even though I will share it with those of whom I trust, I await a resolution with anticipation — Preceding unsigned comment added by Blackest knight99 (talk • contribs) 13:29, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Blackest knight99 It would seem that you created this account for the expressed purpose of making the above statement; it is difficult to comment on your situation without knowing more about it. I can say that Wikipedia is interested in Verifiability, not truth, as truth is in the eye of the beholder. Wikipedia summarizes what independent reliable sources with significant coverage state about article subjects. If there is incorrect information in an article, we want to know what it is along with any sources to support the claim being made. If it is the reliable sources that are incorrect, then you will need to speak to them. 331dot (talk) 13:32, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Since I cannot seem to reply to anyone I'm putting this up here:

Due to the nature of the material in question, I was reserved in my initial post. I wrote help desk in regards to the Tommy Robinson page and the false claim that he is far right. When editors asked for evidence it seemed I could no longer edit the post so I made a new account (this one) in the hope of rectifying the issue. I direct your attention to the recent Sappho award in Danish Parliament speech by Tommy Robinson explaining the nature of the media's attack on him and why he was falsely labeled far right. As I cannot provide a link to the YouTube video, I cannot provide a direct means, but a search on YouTube will find the video in question.

Here is the rationalwiki page on far right politics that determines what it is to be far right https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Far_right

By this very definition, it is demonstrably false to label Tommy Robinson as far right, therefore, the Tommy Robinson page is inaccurate and misleading as I originally stated. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Blackest knight99 (talk • contribs) 14:24, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

If you are using a phone, you may find it easier to use the Desktop version there instead of the mobile version. This should allow you to edit this section directly instead of creating new sections every time. 331dot (talk) 14:28, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Blackest knight99 If you have independent sources covering his speech describing himself, that might be a possibility for adding to the article(though that would not mean what other sources say could be removed). Otherwise, Wikipedia isn't interested in how someone describes themselves, they are free to do that in other ways(as this man has done). As I said, Wikipedia summarizes what independent source say. If Mr. Robinson doesn't like how sources describe him, he needs to address that with them, or change his views and actions so that they describe him differently. 331dot (talk) 14:30, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

I would add that a user-editable wiki is not considered a reliable source here, just as Wikipedia itself is not. 331dot (talk) 14:34, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

I would also add that Wikipedia does not make a claim that the information is true; Wikipedia just presents the information and sources so people can decide for themselves. 331dot (talk) 14:38, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Blackest knight99: Tommy Robinson (activist) is described as "far right" in two reliable sources (see WP:RS) referenced in the article. Wikipedia does not define "far right" and we do not accept a definition for the term from some random source on the Internet. We just report the way our reliable sources use the term. If you find a reliable source that states that Robinson is not "far right", you may add that to the article, but you may not remove the current referenced usage of the term. Further discussion should take place on the article's talk page, not here. Please try to discuss the issue with other specific editors there to reach a consensus. -Arch dude (talk) 20:33, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Blackest knight99: You may wish to read Far-right politics to see how the term is used based on a consensus of reliable sources. If you disagree with this description of the term, you may wish to find other reliable sources and open a discussion on that article's talk page to introduce the alternative descriptions. -Arch dude (talk) 20:38, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Uploading Photo of Robert Ray

I'm trying to upload a photo of attorney Robert W. Ray, who is the defense attorney in the Trump impeachment. I found an image published by Fox News, and I'm not sure whether this is public domain or covered by fair use. Do you know what it is? Thanks! One Blue Hat^{❯❯❯ (talk)} 16:58, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Hey One Blue Hat. Any photo taken from a commercial website like Fox News is almost certainly copyrighted and cannot be used on Wikipedia, as we do not allow non-free fair use images of living people. GMG^talk 17:04, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

GreenMeansGo Understood. — Preceding unsigned comment added by One Blue Hat (talk • contribs) 18:04, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Account/Page removal

I would like my account to be deleted, I've read the FAQ but since I haven't made any edits I think it makes sense for it to be possible. If not, change my username and make my account hidden. I do not want this account anymore Linkz (talk) 18:13, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Hello, TheLinkzGamer. For both technical and legal reason., Wikipedia accounts may not be deleted. You can request a Courtesy vanishing. If granted, this will change your user name to a long random string, which has no connection with your former username. But previous signatures, if any, will not be changed. See the linked page for details. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 18:48, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Watchlist help

Hello, I primarily use Wikipedia on mobile. For whatever reason, whenever I check my watchlist, the link to rollback often gets triggered accidentally. How do I remove rollback functionality from my watchlist only? Thanks. Viriditas (talk) 22:06, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets has a useful option: "Require confirmation before performing rollback on mobile devices". --David Biddulph (talk) 22:26, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

You don't make mobile edits so I guess you mean the desktop version of the site on a mobile device. You can add this to your CSS:

 .mw-special-Watchlist .mw-rollback-link {display:none;}

PrimeHunter (talk) 22:27, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Yes, thanks. I realized the ambiguity of my question just now. I’ll give it a try! Viriditas (talk) 23:58, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Works perfectly, thanks again! Viriditas (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

Michael Terraga

This new page should be deleted. It does not indicate why Terraga is notable. The sources cited are not reliable sources. The story about Heath is a bonkers conspiracy theory that has been discredited. -- Alarics (talk) 22:46, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

There isn't an article entitled Michael Terraga, and there apparently never has been. --David Biddulph (talk) 22:50, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Sorry I spelt it wrong. It's Michael Tarraga. -- Alarics (talk) 23:03, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

There are 3 processes for requesting deletion, see WP:Deletion process. --David Biddulph (talk) 23:15, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Alarics and David Biddulph: Forwarded to BLP/N, the BLP deletion processes are tricky, they have BLPPROD in addition to PROD, immediately instead of WP:NORUSH, and the TOU for an "office action". –84.46.52.152 (talk) 00:55, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

@David Biddulph: I did attempt to read WP:Deletion process but found it impossible to understand, so I don't know what to do next. -- Alarics (talk) 21:56, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

Search across article and talk?

Is there any way to look for articles containing the infobox fraternity template where the talk page doesn't not include that it is part of Wikiproject Fraternities and Sororities?Naraht (talk) 22:49, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

​I don't know of any user friendly way to do so. The only way I've found is to use the API to assemble a list of all pages transcluding either template, and then find the difference. Here is your list:

– Thjarkur (talk) 00:41, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

​ Thanx. I think I got them all. (dropped your list into a sandbox, added Talk: to all of them and saved and off to AutoWikiBrowser. :) ) If you could quickly run again to make sure I got them all?Naraht (talk) 21:13, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

​Missing: Alpha Gamma Upsilon • Alpha Tau Alpha • Gamma Sigma Delta • Computer Science Undergraduate Association • Alpha Tau Delta • Phi Chi • Alpha Beta Psi – Thjarkur (talk) 22:29, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

Name disambiguation question

The article Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics contains this text:

Kari Tolvanen | Lariina | Finland | -107.60

written in wiki source code as:

{{sortname|Kari|Tolvanen}} ||align=left| Lariina ||align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} || -107.60

This can't possibly be Kari Tolvanen, as he was only born five years after the event took place. This should be disambiguated as Kari Tolvanen (equestrian) or something, but how? No such link Kari Tolvanen appears in the article. JIP | Talk 22:59, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Kari Tolvanen is not mentioned in Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics but he is in Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Individual eventing and Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Team eventing. Template:Sortname shows the code to use: {{sortname|Kari|Tolvanen|dab=equestrian}} or {{sortname|Kari|Tolvanen|Kari Tolvanen (equestrian)}}. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:37, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

ADMIN HELP

I am married to Ray Wylie Hubbard and was checking his Wiki page to see if it was up to date. There were several errors that someone else had edited in. It seems someone who goes by @pumpkinbutter erased everything I added and put back his misinformation. I don't know the ins and outs of how to put stuff on Wiki so I asked a friend to post it for me with updates. If there is anything I wasn't supposed to do please let me know but I don't understand why all of my edits have been undone and misinformation from someone who does not have facts straight can override it.I spent a lot of time working on the sources and making sure everything was correct. Thanks! judy — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wylieworld (talk • contribs) 23:24, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Hi Judy! The best place to start would be with the guide located here -> WP:PSCOI. It will help explain the process you (and your friend) should use when you see incorrect information on a page where a conflict of interest might exist (in this case, the subject of the article being your husband). Orville^talk 23:58, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

@Wylieworld: Judy, it looks like there has been some concern going back quite a while regarding your edits to the page Talk:Ray_Wylie_Hubbard. Please don't make any more edits without following the guidance in the message just above. Thank you! Orville^talk 00:03, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

@Wylieworld: I'll also note that you need to be the only one operating your account/having access to it. 331dot (talk) 00:07, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

@Wylieworld: To get the attention of a user, as people are doing here, you have to use the "Ping" template, by typing {{Ping|pumpkinbutter}}. Writing the @ symbol by hand doesn't do anything. JIP | Talk 14:22, 22 January 2020 (UTC)