Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2022 July 2

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July 2

Can material be oversighted on user request?

For example, if someone accidentally posts too much material about themselves on Wikipedia, can they get it oversighted on their request? I'm asking this because I may have exposed too much information about myself in an early revision of my user page (please don't link to it here). weeklyd3 (message me | my contributions) 01:34, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Yes. WP:OS and you can email them. PRAXIDICAE🌈 01:35, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

When is a shooting notable?

How can I determine if a shooting (not a mass shooting) is notable enough to have its own article? For example, there was a shooting at a hospital in Irving, Texas recently in which police shot and killed an armed patient in the emergency room. I added the shooting to the page for that hospital, but should the shooting have its own article? Any guidance would be helpful, thank you! SparklingSnail (talk) 03:17, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@SparklingSnail: Hi there! See WP:EVENTCRITERIA. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 04:10, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

My pictures should preferably be used for articles?

Some people seem to have a misconception about what the HOST policy says about "educational purpose". As far as I know, the principles and spirit matter more than literal wording. The pictures we upload are not only used in Wikipedia lists and articles, but also anywhere. If we look at the world around us, we see that many people will find the pictures they want through Commons, and then use them according to their needs. They might be used for news reports, web novels, instructional videos, travel ads, or even google maps. But someone suggested me that if I want to convince the community, my pictures should preferably be used for articles. I think photos should be useful to everyone, not just the Wikipedia readers. Because all kinds of pictures you can't imagine that may be used by people. Unfortunately, the Commons community doesn't care what I say. When they accuse me of defending my actions, I give up my position and choose to accept theirs. So, I've started deleting my pictures per the HOST policy. Now I'm blocked for one year on Commons. Two admins blocked me for different reasons, but I honestly don't know what they were expecting. If I'm really wrong on anything or could improve somewhere please tell me. Kai3952 (talk) 12:00, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Kai13952, this is the Help desk for Englìsh-language Wikipedia, not for Commons. But from what you say, you had been violating their policies by uploading files that were not intended for any Wikimedia project, then you switched to violating a different policy by deleting files that you'd already freely donated. As for "what they were expecting" – maybe they hoped that you would read, understand, and try to abide by those policies. Maproom (talk) 12:19, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

I know, but I'm blocked, so I can't find a better place to post a question about my pictures. If you think I violated their policies, then I have to say that I am sorry for making you misunderstanding. I tried my best to explain about my pictures, but they can't accept what I say. Therefore, I have no choice but to stop uploading pictures and deleting the content for a HOST violation. I fully understand that the HOST policy says about "educational purpose" and always abide by it. If I haven't done it, should I follow their suggestion: My pictures should preferably be used for articles?--Kai3952 (talk) 14:04, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Kai3952: My understanding after reading your Talk Page on Commons is that editors and admins there have less concern about your uploads than they do about your behaviour and it is the latter that has got you blocked for a year. There is no need for you to delete any of your uploads, even if that were technically possible. Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:15, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Kai13952: You need to find a way to work with others on Commons. By posting here where we cannot help you, you are engaging in disruptive behavior, forum shopping, and block evasion. Please desist or we will be forced to block you here also. -Arch dude (talk) 15:20, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

create an article for a young person that is relevant and artistic

create an article for a young person that is relevant and artistic — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pedrovali1 (talk • contribs) 13:45, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Please have a look at WP:FIRST and WP:COI, particularly if the relevant and artistic person is yourself or someone close to you.--♦IanMacM♦ ^{(talk to me)} 13:49, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

I may well be wrong Pedrovali1, but the wording of your query sounds rather like an academic assignment. In case I'm right, please read Wikipedia:Do your own homework. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.195.174.88 (talk) 14:13, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Pedrovali1: Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. Our articles are supposed to be encyclopedic, not artistic, and targeted toward the general population, not specifically toward young people. -Arch dude (talk) 14:55, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

VMA (AW) 332 -- Information

VMA (AW) 332 changed their nickname to "Moonlighters" in May 1976 after arriving at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, based upon a Squadron activity in MAF Falon, NV. 2603:8080:A702:D700:38F6:63E2:C03A:1A1C (talk) 14:51, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@IP editor. The Wikipedia article's section VMFA(AW)-332#1960s_-_1980s seems very cryptic about the source of the nickname and does not have a citation for the information. If you know of a reliable source, please add it in the article or place it on the Talk Page at Talk:VMFA(AW)-332. Note that we do not allow personal reminiscences, the information in sources must be published, perhaps in an archive. Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:09, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Technical difficulties

When logged into Wikipedia and using dark mode the main page are still has a white background while the rest of the website is dark. More troublesome is this setting cannot be reversed in browser settings or under preferences in Wikipedia. I'm using the latest Firefox. All standard troubleshooting methods have been applied cached is cleared, software re-installed, logged in and out multiple times. There is no need or reason to have to use a different browser. Arch1988 (talk) 15:23, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Arch1988: What do you mean by "using dark mode"? Have you enabled the "Dark" theme in your Firefox settings? Have you installed a browser extension/add-on such as "Dark Reader"? If the issue only occurs while you are logged in, have you enabled any dark mode gadgets at Preferences → Gadgets? Rummskartoffel 19:47, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Arch1988: Are you talking about the left sidebar becoming kinda white? I also had that issue. Placing something in my common.css seemed to resolve it. The relevant rule is:

body { background-color: #eeeeee; }

(Note that because the body has filter: invert(1) hue-rotate(180deg);, making the background black in your CSS actually makes it look white. The solution is to add rules that set the background color to some whitish color.) weeklyd3 (message me | my contributions) 20:18, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Your common.css is here. Feel free to create it if it doesn't already exist. weeklyd3 (message me | my contributions) 20:21, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Editing/adding names to the existing list

I’d just like to add two names to the list of magicians and it doesn’t look like it will be easy for me. I’m not a ‘logger inner’ - or joiner and don’t need any more passwords…

I’ve no one to ‘walk me’ through the seemingly convoluted process. Is there a simple way to present the names for the list? These are well-known and respected professionals whose names should be recognized.

is there anyone who can take the info and update the list? The names are: Abe Warsaw and his daughter June Horowitz (Former President of the Magician’s union, the IBM).

Thanks, Phyllis Horowitz (Contributor!) 2601:404:D400:EA0:1030:6BA1:5899:6013 (talk) 20:58, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Hi Phyllis, I guess you are asking about List of magicians. That isn't a list of all magicians; it's a list of Wikipedia articles about magicians (or, if you prefer, a list of magicians who have Wikipedia articles about them). Neither of the people you mention is the subject of a Wikipedia article. So, unless they become the subjects of articles, their names won't be added to that list. Maproom (talk) 21:06, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Thanks for your quick response. I’ll get their fellow magicians on it asap! 2601:404:D400:EA0:1030:6BA1:5899:6013 (talk) 23:33, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Please note: if you are related to June Horowitz, you have an obvious conflict of interest, which you must fully divulge. (Also: I thought magicians fell under the jurisdiction of the American Guild of Variety Artists-AFL-CIO?) --Orange Mike | Talk 00:45, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

@Orangemike: See International Brotherhood of Magicians, but it's not described as a "union". GoingBatty (talk) 00:51, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

I knew of the I B of M; but as you say, they are not a union but more of a trade organization, although Phyllis uses the term "union." Actual professional magicians fall under the AGVA, one of the confusing variety of theatrical unions (my wife is IATSE and a former Writers Guild-West member). --Orange Mike | Talk 01:14, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

Hello, Phyllis. Please note the following:

1. Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, not a directory. This is why List of magicians is restricted to the subjects of articles. It is also why articles will not be accepted unless the subjects meet Wikipedia's criteria for notability - roughly, that enough independent material has been published about them in reliable sources.
2. An article about a subject does not belong to the subject, is not controlled by the subject, and may end up containing material that the subject does not like. It should be based almost entirely on those independent sources, not on what the subject or their associates say or wish to say.
3. People associated with them may have a conflict of interest, and find it difficult to write about them sufficiently neutrally for Wikipedia, or to limit themselves to information which is available in reliable published sources. For this reason, "their fellow magicians" are not necessarily the best people to write articles on them. --ColinFine (talk) 20:43, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

Sturgeon's ref

In Sturgeon's law § Discussion, at the end of Corollary 2, is a {{ref magazine}} to Venture Science Fiction (currently ref#6). On desktop, it looks perfectly normal, but on the app, the reference is reproduced verbatim within the article. I tried removing the }} after the ref, before realizing it was the end of the {{Poem quote}}. Then I tried moving the ref outside the Poem quote. This worked, but left the ref number (now #4) on a paragraph all alone. I have not published the 'fixed' version, as it looks worse on desktop.

Is this a bug in Poem quote? or in the app? What is the best way to resolve it?-- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 21:06, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Further information:

The effect happens when (1) a reference is placed (2) in a colon-indented section (3) inside a {{Poem quote}} template. The following section of text appears in the app as shown in the screenshot:

Without Poem quote:

Normal text.

With Poem quote:

Normal text.

Edit: Non-essential colons removed from this reply to avoid confusing the whole issue! -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 22:01, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Seems to be a software bug (minimal example), also affecting VisualEditor and probably the iOS app as well. If nobody beats me to it, I can write a bug report soon. As for workarounds, I've gone and BOLDly attempted one, albeit at the cost of changing how it looks a bit. Do revert if you think it's too different. Rummskartoffel 23:07, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Bug report now filed: phab:T311953. I've since attempted a different workaround that should have done the trick according to a bit of preliminary testing, but that made it even worse than the initial issue. Rummskartoffel 15:15, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

Problems with coordinates in title

Recently, my pages that have coordinates with a title display are overlapping the edit and history buttons. I have tried to change my display settings but cannot figure out how to fix it. Any page that has a {{coord|0.0|0.0|display=title}} is not displaying correctly in the top right of the page. Talk to G Moore 21:31, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@G. Moore: I think this is a persistent issue with the new Vector skin. Do you see any changes if you're using the legacy skin (which you can choose by clicking on "Switch to old look" on the left-hand sidebar)? —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 21:55, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

I changed my global exception to anything but the new Vector skin and it shows up fine. Talk to G Moore 22:18, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

It's a variation of phab:T281974: "coordinates display is broken in the several Wikipedias with the new Vector language button position". PrimeHunter (talk) 22:34, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

IP Address visible

I made some changes to my Wikipedia page without creating an account first, so my IP address is visible. I now have an account for future changes. Is it possible to remove the IP address so it is no longer visible? Jadmath (talk) 21:47, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Sorry, I don't think so. IPs are in the page history unless an oversighter removes it. It is also unlikely that oversighters hide contributor names, as this would be noncompliance with the CC BY-SA 3.0 license that Wikipedia uses. weeklyd3 (message me | my contributions) 21:55, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

@Weeklyd3: That's incorrect; the oversight team can suppress the revisions, but you'd have to make the request through email. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 21:56, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Yes. See Wikipedia:Requests for oversight. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:29, 2 July 2022 (UTC)