Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2021 May 4

Help desk
< May 3	<< Apr | May | Jun >>	May 5 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.

May 4

Category depopulation?

I'm fairly certain (but not 100% sure) that Category:Military aviators had quite a few more entries than the two (including the one I just added) that are there now. Is there any way of finding out what used to be there? Clarityfiend (talk) 00:24, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

I don't think there is. Edits to the category only affect the category page itself, not any articles or subcategories that are or aren't contained there. You would basically have to search the history of every article on Wikipedia. JIP | Talk 12:20, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

If you disable "Hide categorization of pages" at Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-watchlist then you should be able to see page addions and removals for a watched category up to 30 days back, but I have mixed experiences with it. The only change I see for Category:Military aviators is addition of Category:Reconnaissance pilots in [1]. I don't see Lee Lue who was added today. PrimeHunter (talk) 13:08, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Oh, well. Thanks anyway. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:40, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Israel/Palestine

Hi, I recently noticed an editor changing “Israel” to “Palestine” in an article. Obviously this is a political point of contention. What’s Wikipedia’s take on this specific change and is there a page of guidelines I can send to the editor if it is a change that ends up being reverted? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Yungli0n (talk • contribs) 01:15, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

It depends on the context. Link please? (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.). TimTempleton ^{(talk) (cont)} 01:53, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

NUDO

WHAT HAPPENED TO NUDO AFTER INDEPENDENCE — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zackakawa (talk • contribs) 09:55, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

(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.), and please don't SHOUT. - David Biddulph (talk) 11:16, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Courtesy link NUDO (but presumably not Nudo). {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.200.135.95 (talk) 15:15, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Logo_size problem

Hello,

I can't figure out a way to make the logo smaller so the infobox isn't as big. I'm thinking on using the logo_size fonction but I don't really know how to use it. Problem solved, just need to put : ...px . Ex: 200px

Thank you - — Preceding unsigned comment added by TIMEB2021 (talk • contribs) 10:20, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Image size problems fixed. But that's not the end of it. Your user name implies shared use by the company. That is not allowed on Wikipedia, see WP:ISU, you will probably need to change it. Also, Wikipedia has strict (mandatory) rules about conflict of interest WP:COI you MUST obey WP:PAID. - X201 (talk) 10:37, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

How can I message all online admins for cross-language wiki help?

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

How can I message all online admins for cross-language wiki administrative help? Karl-police (talk) 10:50, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Please don't. There is a hard cap on pings (50 IIRC), but don't just ping admins for that sort of help. If there is abuse on the English wikipedia, see WP:ANI - if it's across lots of wikipedias, you'd be better off at meta.wikimedia.org Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 10:55, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

What about admin "abuse" in a missunderstood way? I need that kind of help. Karl-police (talk) 11:19, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Try asking at meta. Issues accross multiple projects almost always require steward assistance, you can just ask there. Could you please be a bit more specfic at what help you need? Victor Schmidt (talk) 12:14, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Karl-police might I suggest you cease posting on english Wikipedia about your dewiki block otherwise you're going to wind up blocked here too. Grogudicae👽 12:17, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Now at de:WP:SPP#Benutzer:Karl-police. Closing here. Victor Schmidt (talk) 17:10, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Help regarding the Turkish War of Independence page

Hello Wikipedia help desk

The mentioned page has undergone drastic changes made by few specific users and has been passed off as a de facto consensus and even though these changes were never discussed, further requests of re-negotiation of these changes are shot down on the basis of consensus. I believe these changes are a violation of NPOV rule mandated on the page and at least want to add a {POV} tag. What can I do in this situation? Mordeniyo (talk) 12:01, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Mordeniyo You can discuss on the article talk page, detailing the specific errors along with any independent reliable sources to support your claims, giving due weight to how sources discuss the topic. We are aware of a coordinated off wiki effort to whitewash the article to be more pro-Turkish. 331dot (talk) 12:05, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

331dot As I am not accustomed to being a user in Wikipedia I don't believe I will be able to voice my concerns in a just manner, can I seek the help of a more experienced editor/moderator? If so, how can I? I believe the article in dispute is, as of recent changes implemented by the said users, heavily discriminant against the Turkish side and is used to portray an unjust image as if it was just a series of ethnic cleansing campaigns made by the Turkish forces.

Mordeniyo The best thing is to start by visiting the talk page, and voicing your concerns in as calm, clear, and concise a manner as possible, citing some reliable sources supporting your position. Discuss the issue. If you can get Consensus for your changes, great! If not, there are various forms of dispute resolution, where you can get the help of more experienced editors, but they all require you to have discussed the issue on the talk page first. ~ ONUnicorn^{(Talk|Contribs)}problem solving 15:04, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

You may also try asking for Editor assistance.~ ONUnicorn^{(Talk|Contribs)}problem solving 15:07, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Request to add images

Hi - I work for Beta Technologies and understand that I'm not supposed to edit the article directly. I submitted two photos of our electric aircraft and landing station and would like to add them to the article.

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BetaTechnologiesALIA.jpg

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BetaTechnologies_Recharge_Pad.jpg

Can someone help me? Abbeyblankensop (talk) 13:59, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Abbeyblankensop: I put the images in the article. TimTempleton ^{(talk) (cont)} 16:13, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Abbeyblankensop:. See your Talk Page, where I've added some additional advice about how you can now contribute to further improve the article. Mike Turnbull (talk) 17:07, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Page ownership/Edits

I work for the company that is responsible for the re-branding of a TV series that has a page on Wikipedia. We hired an editor to make the necessary changes to the page to reflect the new re-branding and re-launch in the US, however these changes were reverted by an administrator. What do we need to do to make sure that our changes will stay permanent, or to figure out who owns the rights to this page and request access? BumbleBH (talk) 15:22, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Hello, BumbleBH. Please read Wikipedia:Ownership of content and immediately make the mandatory Paid editing disclosure. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 15:31, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Yup, then see Wikipedia:Edit requests. You don't control the article, but it's possible you could have influence. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 16:34, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

There is no such thing as "owning" a page or "owning the rights" to a page. No one "owns" anything on Wikipedia. This is a free encynclopedia that anyone can edit. So, in answer to your question, you can't do anything. JIP | Talk 16:39, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

What age do you need to edit wikipedia

Dear Wikipedians Wikipedia is made up of Wikipedians of many ages but what ages do you need to be a wikipedian?

there is no age limit (upper or lower). Young editors and their parents should read Wikipedia:Guidance_for_younger_editors and also the pages linked from there on advice for parents. RudolfRed (talk) 16:29, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Also, editing Wikipedia is not compulsory at any age. nagualdesign 16:33, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Wikipedia has very little in the way of knowing an editor's age, or pretty much anything else about an editor in real life for that matter. Therefore there are no formal age requirements for being an editor, or even for being an administrator. There are age requirements for being a checkuser or a steward, but that's only because they must be highly trusted users. JIP | Talk 16:38, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

There is no set age limit for generally editing here, though you certainly need a certain maturity to edit here. Clearly immature editors often either vandalize or get blocked as WP:NOTHERE, in my opinion. Victor Schmidt (talk) 18:38, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Question.

I had a concern that i wanted to ask about Wiki's updating speed,after the data seemed to have changed.

You can bring up your concern HERE or at the article talkpage. Keep in mind that Wikipedia editors are almost always random people who have decided to edit here in their free time. If you can't wait till others fix it, then please be so kind and fix it yourself. Make sure you have a reliable source. Victor Schmidt (talk) 17:07, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Is it a good idea to use Springer Shareable Links in Citations?

Is it a good idea to use Springer Shareable Links in Citations? Specifically, citations to sources that would otherwise require a subscription to access via the Springer doi. Here's an example of a shareable link: https://rdcu.be/cjXIu. Thanks, Tyrone Madera (talk) 18:01, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

This question probably best asked at WT:CITE.

—Trappist the monk (talk) 18:33, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Copied the question over there per Trappist the monk's suggestion. Tyrone Madera (talk) 20:20, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Tyrone Madera:. Given the license conditions shown here at Springer I think that the answer will be "no". They say "Reasonable sharing is encouraged for non-commercial, personal use" which doesn't sound like a license suitable for Wikipedia, unfortunately. Mike Turnbull (talk) 18:53, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

I don't see that that's relevant, Mike. Tyrone Madera isn't asking about copying material from that link, but merely linking to it as a convenience in citing it. As long as those are authorised, so they're not copyright violations, then we can link to them. --ColinFine (talk) 19:58, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

According to the licence conditions "The shareable links can be posted anywhere, including via social channels and on other highly-used sites, institutional repositories and authors’ own websites, as well as on scholarly collaborative networks" which seems to me to mean we can use them. DuncanHill (talk) 20:23, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

DuncanHill & ColinFine, I'm glad that we can link to them, but is it a good idea? If this is a question best asked somewhere else (eg to gain community consensus) then where should it be asked? Tyrone Madera (talk) 20:28, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

I would say yes, we should make it as straightforward as possible for readers and editors to access a reference. DuncanHill (talk) 20:33, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

I agree with Duncan, Tyrone Madera. A link is not an essential part of a citation, but a convenience for the reader. As long as we're not linking to a copyright violation, there is no reason not to make that convenience as convenient as possible. --ColinFine (talk) 20:41, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@DuncanHill and ColinFine: Okay, new update. Springer also states that they can revoke sharable link access for more or less any reason (see the terms and conditions) and might list traffic as one of them, so I am still unsure as to if this is a good idea fundamentally or if this could lead to later problems. However, for all I know this is just a blanket statement meant to cover them in case of abuse and not actually strictly enforced.

I'm considering adding a bunch of shareable links to a lot of citations to replace URLs that take you to the paywall version of the sources that the doi would take you to, but I don't want to go through all of the efforts if it isn't (totally) clear whether that effort will indeed be appreciated or recommended if you understand what I mean. Tyrone Madera (talk) 15:17, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I suggest that interested parties continue this discussion at the WT:Citing_sources#Is_it_a_good_idea_to_use_Springer_Shareable_Links_in_Citations? thread that Tyrone Madera has now initiated. It turns out that there are other considerations regarding e.g. whether all browsers work with such links. Mike Turnbull (talk) 21:18, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

• Under the (obvious) assumption that Springer does not want direct-access links shared widely, it becomes a question of whether we are legally allowed to hyperlink against their wishes. Per Hyperlink#Legal_issues it is complicated and highly jurisdiction-dependent.

Moreover, as Springer is likely to kill the links once they realize they are on wp, it is probably not a good idea from a WP:LINKROT perspective even if legal. Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 08:55, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

@Tigraan:. Following my suggestion at WT:Citing_sources#Is it a good idea to use Springer Shareable Links in Citations?, a senior member of the WMF will be following this up directly with Springer, which should settle this issue. Mike Turnbull (talk) 10:44, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

display image automatically

Images used to be instantly visible when browsing Wikipedia but now most images need to be tapped to display. How to get images to display automatically? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2a02:c7f:968f:2600:8fe:6976:898:3b98 (talk • contribs) 2021-05-04T19:19:08 (UTC)

Hello, IP user. This is not something I've ever seen: I think it depends on what system you're using, which you don't say. Generally, the people who haunt this desk are people who know about editing, not people who know anything about how the software operates. Questions of that sort are better posted at VPT - and in fact I see that somebody asked the same question there a few months ago, but didn't get an answer. I suggest you ask again there, and see if anybody can help. --ColinFine (talk) 20:07, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Question about making templates

If a have a parameter/variable in a template e.g. {{{text}}}, I want whatever specified in the parameter to appear, but if nothing is put in, I don't want anything to display, as opposed to "{{{text}}}":

For example, I want {{template|text=abc}} to show abc, but{{template}} to show nothing.

Very confused as to how I do this, thank you! Mcguy15 (talk) 18:45, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

{{{text|}}} (with a pipe after the parameter name). * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 18:53, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Pppery: Thanks so much! Mcguy15 (talk) 18:59, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

In general, {{{text|...}}} produces ... if text is not set. {{{text|}}} is a special (but very common) case where nothing is produced. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:17, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@PrimeHunter: Thanks for the info, that's very useful! Thankfully, I figured out what I wanted to do here. Mcguy15 (talk) 19:27, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Mcguy15: {{#ifeq:{{{subpage|}}}|||-}} is a little hard to read. It can be simplified to the very common construct {{#if:{{{subpage|}}}|-}}. See mw:Help:Extension:ParserFunctions##if. An if function where non-empty means true and empty means false originally seemed odd to me as a programmer but it works great for templates. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:32, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@PrimeHunter: Ahh I see, I've changed it. Thanks! Mcguy15 (talk) 20:37, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Hi Wikipidia

I have a short question I want to know if there is a way to make something on here. For example I want to do a whole thing on her about some children who were lost at sea can I do this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hi there2121 (talk • contribs)

@Hi there2121: Articles should satisfy Wikipedia:Notability. Writing an appropriate article is difficult for new editors. See Wikipedia:Articles for creation. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:23, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Hi there2121: If it's a notable event that's backed up by reliable sources, potentially. Otherwise you may want to think about doing this somewhere else, like a personal blog or social media. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 19:24, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Hi there2121: our "somethings" are called articles. Each article is about a subject, and that subject must be notable by our definition (WP:N). If your subject is notable, you can get started at (WP:YFA) and we can help you by reviewing and suggesting improvements. But please, don't waste any effort on this until you are sure your subject is notable. -Arch dude (talk) 21:57, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

There is openly anti-Turkish propaganda.

rant about article content, legal threats

There is openly anti-Turkish propaganda. I ask that this propaganda be removed as it is any source in general. The accusation alleges that the Turkish war of liberation was launched to carry out ethnic cleansing.there is no evidence for that. There is no accusation claiming this either. I want this mistake corrected. Otherwise, I will go to the official courts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_War_of_Independence "(19 May 1919 – 24 July 1923) was a series of military and ethnic cleansing campaigns waged by the Turkish National Movement" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.245.197.72 (talk) 20:12, 4 May 2021 (UTC) Anti-Turkish moderators should no longer be allowed. without any resources. you cannot blame a nation. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wmyazilim (talk • contribs) 20:25, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

This issue has been blown well out of proportion and the article has already been amended. AdmiralEek (talk) 21:21, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

The proper place to discuss this is Talk:Turkish War of Independence, and be sure to bring reliable sources to the conversation. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 21:27, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

"Otherwise, I will go to the official courts." - we don't take legal threats well here. Please do not make one again. Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 22:06, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

"I will go the official courts."? Would you even know whom you would be going to courts against? If you think Wikipedia was somehow legally responsible for the content written by its editors, you are quite mistaken. JIP | Talk 09:13, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

• Pinging @Wmyazilim: who otherwise might not see this. DuncanHill (talk) 09:19, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Accident

Hello, While making a userbox, I was looking at another page for reference, and I accidentally deleted a part of the wikitext thinking it was my userbox page. Does that count as vandalism? (Note:I reverted the edit as soon as I realized my mistake) --Necctaylor (talk) 21:34, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

@Necctaylor: Nope. Vandalism has a very specific meaning on Wikipedia; it's when someone deliberately tries to damage a page or make it worse. For example, if I edited your userbox to say "This user sucks" or something, that would be vandalism. Honest mistakes are fine as everyone makes them now and then. See WP:VANDALISM for more information. DanCherek (talk) 21:39, 4 May 2021 (UTC)