Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2014 April 6

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April 6

Mothman

At the moment, the article Mothman doesn't reconstruct the origin of the term. According several sources, the term was created in analogy to Batman or inspired by his criminal counterpart Killer Moth. It seems more plausible that it's an amalgamation of the two... can anyone confirm or refute this? Was the Watchmen character Mothman influenced by either the "real" Mothman, or by Killer Moth? And after all, more important: Who invented the term, and when? --KnightMove (talk) 09:24, 6 April 2014 (UTC)

I noticed the 1966 newspaper citation in the Mothman article (fn 1) is no longer valid. I found this list of articles about the sightings from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The November 19, 1966, linked article from the Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- "That Mothman: Would You Believe a Sandhill Crane?" -- uses the term and ascribes its origin to people who spotted the "monster."--Dreamahighway (talk) 17:48, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

Selling items on eBay

I have only bought – never sold – items on eBay. Hence, my question. As a (potential) buyer, I can select a certain item to "watch". So, it is placed on my "watch list" and I can monitor its activity. When a person is selling an item on eBay, is that seller given any information about whether or not his item is being "watched"? Is the seller made aware simply in general terms that the item is being watched? How many people are watching that item? Or is the seller given specific information indicating which individual buyers are watching that item? So, in other words, will the seller know that it is me specifically who is watching his item? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 15:44, 6 April 2014 (UTC)

It tells you how many people are watching your item - but nothing more than that. You can't see who in particular is watching. --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 17:28, 6 April 2014 (UTC)

A seller may receive questions via eBay from interested potential buyers. 84.209.89.214 (talk) 17:17, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

Trying to find what the Indians called "Rocky Mount"

Trying to find information on what place or area the Indians called "Rocky Mount". Location possibly in or around the areas of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.206.174.112.127 (talk) 22:19, 6 April 2014 (UTC)

Wikipedia has articles on several places named Rocky Mount, though none are anywhere near the Canadian Great Plains. Do you know which Indians/First Nations people they were? --Jayron32 00:58, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

Rocky Mount is mentioned as a place of birth for two of 11 children(from an 1886 Metis/Canadian scrip). Chippewa/Ojibwa/Cree. Other places of birth mentioned are Swift Current, St. Francois Xavier, Wood Mountain, Cypress Hills, Milk River. Considering the areas I kind of figured it had to be somewhere around these places. There were 9 living children. The family left St. Francois Xavier in 1864 for the Northwest Territories. Does that help Jayron? There are ages listed for each child and place of birth if you think that may be of any help. ?206.174.112.127 (talk) 01:33, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

I did some Google searches and can't find much. Perhaps this gazetteer: [1] could help... --Jayron32 11:04, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

Further: Found a searchable gazetteer run by the Canadian government. Here indicates that there is no record, in their data bases, of any Canadian place ever being called "Rocky Mount". --Jayron32 11:06, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

What about Rocky Mountain House in Alberta? The fur trading post there was known by the name Rocky Mountain House name for most of the 1800s. Meters (talk) 04:00, 8 April 2014 (UTC)

Thank you both for your help with my inquiry. It's a mystery for sure. I checked Rocky Mountain House info and read they closed permanently in 1876 (about 8 years before my G-Grandmothers birth). I guess that rules it out. I will keep looking though.---GirlupNorth — Preceding unsigned comment added by GirlupNorth (talk • contribs) 02:47, 29 November 2016 (UTC)