Wikipedia:Village pump (assistance)

The assistance section of the village pump is used to make requests for assistance with Wikipedia.

If you wish to report vandalism, please go to Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against vandalism instead.

If you have a specific question to ask, you may go to Wikipedia:Ask a question or MediaWiki Help instead.

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This talk page is automatically archived by Werdnabot. Any sections older than 7 days are automatically archived to Wikipedia:Village pump (assistance)/Archive. Sections without timestamps are not archived.

These discussions will be kept archived for 7 more days. During this period the discussion can be moved to a relevant talk page if appropriate. After 7 days the discussion will be permanently removed.

Page won't show up in searches

Hi, I new to Wikipedia and have created a few pages till now. One of the pages is about a music album and has the title MFG-The Message(album) but it won't show up in [results] for The Message. What should I do?
karan 17:34, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

" Images"

How would you enter a image into Wikipedia? And how do you type in the proper components as to mkae the image seen alike any other posted?

See Wikipedia:Images. If Wikipedia does not yet have a copy of the image, you need to upload it (link on the left sidebar). Once that's done, you insert the code into the article. Look at the source code of other articles to see how it's done. For example,

[[Image:Example.png|thumb|300px|Images are cool!]]

gives you this:

Yechiel Man 21:43, 14 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have something to add to this. A question, that is. I want to show this image on my user page, but since the outcome is different for every computer, I cannot just save the image and then upload it. Is there a way I can use or upload the image but still get the unique result? (You have to click the link to see the result. Then you can also refresh the page for a different result. Questions about all of this? Ask them.) Thanks. ---Signed By KoЯnfan71 (User Page—My Talk) 00:11, 25 June 2007 (UTC) [reply]

No, you can't. Prodego ^talk 00:50, 29 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
OK, thanks. Man, that stinks. ---Signed By KoЯnfan71 (User Page—My Talk) 00:08, 1 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Never ending discussion. Help needed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:List_of_Virtual_Console_games_%28North_America%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:What_Wikipedia_is_not#Price_guide_.28again.29 The subject is whether or not the Wii Points should be removed from the VCNA article. One side thinks it turns the article into a "price guide" while the other side disagrees and thinks that the Wii Points are a valuable part of the article, considering what the article is about. Yes, I'm part of the argument, but this really has gone on too long. Whenever the article is unprotected, there's reverting all over the place. There's also people who are not being very civil, and who are accusing others of going against WikiPolicy here and there. The whole thing is a mess, and there is no way at this rate there will be any resolution. Serious help is needed to end this, and quick. By whatever means necessary. LN3000 08:28, 26 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Wow. This belongs on WP:LAME. – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 13:36, 27 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Amen to that. Rahk E✘[[ my disscussions | Who Is ]] 01:47, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
What about this spammer? (72.228.88.88)
Usually I thought I know hot to identify vandals and what to do. However, in the Paid to surf article, some IP user keeps on ignoring any edit summaries and reposting such statements as "tell your friends about it. It’s a win-win situation. It is very simple and easy to do". Nobody else noticed it, I was the only one who keeps deleting it. What is the procedure in this situation? Can it be considered an exception for the 3 revert rule, and I should revert it until I get to the final warning, and make that IP blocked? --V. Szabolcs 21:03, 29 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Umm... I guess if it benefits Wikipdia, be bold and ignore all rules! Rahk E✘[[ my disscussions | Who Is ]] 01:49, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Use the {{uw-spam}} series of templates to warn and, if they don't stop by {{uw-spam3}}, report them to be blocked. - Banyan Tree 07:48, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Wikitabs template
I have created a tabs template (with a different look than Navigation Tabs) that can be found here. I have used it on my user pages and I think it looks pretty good. Do you guys think it is ready for the template space? Sorry, I don't really know where to ask, so I came here. Thanks for reading! Rahk E✘[[ my disscussions | Who Is ]] 01:59, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Questionable Deletion
First of all, im a wiki newbie, so I have no idea where to post this. Additionally, the first time I posted it, I messed it up bad.
There was a fantastic page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKP_%28Point_System%29 but now its gone. I checked the recommended for deletion list and saw talk about removing the Shroud DKP system page, but wasn't able to find anything about the removal of the main DKP page. DKP has been by players in nearly every MMO to date, and the article discussed the origins of the system, how it evolved through the years and games, and ending with discussion of the current systems. Its a shame to see the article gone. Was it ever scheduled for deletion?
Mangojuice (talk · contribs) deleted it, as seen from the deletion log. You'll have to ask him about it. Rahk E✘[[ my disscussions | Who Is ]] 13:32, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
The log lists CSD#R1, so I assume that it must have been turned into a redirect whose target was subsequently deleted or moved. Adrian M. H. 16:23, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Found a few comments about the deletion on Mangojuice's page. Continuing the discussion there.
Sorry to hear about the loss of one of your favorite pages. I've never been a big fan of the AfD approach: it's too easy for a chance grouping of a few opinions to eliminate an otherwise perfectly good article. (Obviously I'm an inclusionist, but I end up having to peruse AfD every day for reasons like this. :-) — RJH (talk) 17:07, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
3 Revert rule
If I delete or replace a word that appears in 5 different places on one page of an article is that one revert or 5 reverts. Albion moonlight 09:00, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It depends on whether you're reverting or not! ;) Rahk E✘[[ my disscussions | Who Is ]] 13:33, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
And whether you do it all at once or revert them one at a time. Some guy 15:43, 30 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
hidden diffs
The sideways-scrolling diffs have windows which are hiding text, rather than only hiding overly wide material. I've also seen diffs which seemed to have no changes, but maybe that was a side effect of trying to read crosssideways. How are the sideways diffs supposed to be used? (SEWilco 21:25, 1 July 2007 (UTC))[reply]
I might be wrong, but I believe the 'sideways-scrolling diffs ' your talking about are caused by long and unwrapping URL's or something similar forcing it to just keep going wide. As for the Diffs that 'seemed to have no changes' ... that happens when you remove an EXTRA space from it... very difficult to notice ... but USUALLY the cause Exit2DOS2000^•T•C• 22:05, 1 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
But the text within the diff boxes tends to be wider than the window, so the content of the text columns is no longer visible. Could the long words/URLs be isolated to separate display lines for the purpose of the scroll window? (SEWilco 03:17, 2 July 2007 (UTC))[reply]
Archiving other users' talk pages
Is it OK to archive another user's talk page? Her talk page is over 60 topics from 2005-07 and she hasn't been active since last April. Right now she is only getting spam messages from orphan bots and a single WikiProject she was once part of (newsletters). (The other WikiProject she's a member of, has her name on their Inactive list.) The orphan bots leave messages about fair use images that are about to be deleted, the ones she uploaded during the period that she was active. I'd like to archive the page because my username is on it- and I've posted the message a long time ago. Chantessy 14:09, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
If the user is active, it would be considered impolite. But anyone can edit any Wikipedia page (unless it's protected). Be bold! If the user comes back and doesn't like your change, she can revert it. – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 20:37, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
In the circumstance it sounds like it would be reasonable. ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 20:47, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. The user is inactive. Chantessy 00:35, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Survey for a Dissertation
a Graduate student at the University of Manchester is doing a survey for a dissertation relating to Wikis. Anyone who is interested is invited to participate here: http://www.surveyconsole.com/console/TakeSurvey?id=362152 ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 20:19, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I took this survey. Off-topic, but I think the questions may be too general to yield useful results. Shalom ^Hello 17:13, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It's about wikis in general... but yeah, I'm not sure what the gentleman is attempting to learn. ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 12:11, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Editing to increase server speed
I seem to remember reading several months ago a guideline that edits should not be made to a page for no other reason than to increase the speed of the Wikipedia servers or reduce the load on the server. Does such a guideline exist and if so could someone point me to where I could find it? Thanks. VerruckteDan 23:11, 2 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
See Wikipedia:Don't worry about performance. -- MarcoTolo 00:11, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. VerruckteDan 13:47, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Renaming an article without prior debate
<copied from AN/I in light of identical case> The article A.R.S.R. "Skadi", about a rowing club, was moved to Algemene Rotterdamse Studenten Roeivereniging by a new editor in his first edit to the page.[1] For very important reasons, that at this moment are beyond my capabilities to comprehend, this editor chose to change the name without prior discussion and to a factually incorrect name. Despite that he refused to undo the move. In response to my request at WP:RM I was told that first a discussion is needed as to whether the move should be undone. As I tried to explain here, here and here the club itself uses either A.R.S.R. "Skadi" or Algemene Rotterdamse Studenten Roeivereniging "Skadi" as its official name. Again, for very important reasons, it is impossible to undo the move and reinstate the name the club itself uses on their website and in correspondence.[2][3] Since it apparently is policy to discuss undoing hit-and-run edits I bring it here since I would appreciate restoring the article to its proper name, i.e. A.R.S.R. "Skadi" or Algemene Rotterdamse Studenten Roeivereniging "Skadi", (I prefer A.R.S.R. "Skadi" but have no objection to Algemene Rotterdamse Studenten Roeivereniging "Skadi") without the sillyness of waiting 5 days.
Second, for my information I have some questions:
Is there any policy on WP prohibiting the use of the official name of a rowing club?

Do I understand correctly that if I go to an article I never edited, I can rename it and its current editors are obliged to have an extensive debate on whether or not my move should be undone? Or, if a move is contested is it first undone and then a debate is started to see if the new editor (me in this example) can find consensus?

Can somebody restore the article to its correct and official name?
Nomen Nescio^{Gnothi seauton} 00:12, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
These questions belong at the village pump for policy discussion or village pump for assistance. This page is meant only for things that require urgent admin assistance, but the issue here is a content/title dispute. — Carl (CBM · talk) 00:23, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I disagree, undoing the move requires admin tools does it not? Second, why is it impossible to undo what to me appears to be disruption without having an extensive debate? Shouldn't the move be immediately undone and the hit-and-run editor asked to start a debate? As I asked above, are you suggesting I can go to other articles, rename them, and then the editors there are forced to await disscussion on whether it should be undone?
Second, how can there be a content dispute with an editor that has never editted the article and made only one contribution? That is silly. Nomen Nescio^{Gnothi seauton} 00:28, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
That is a content dispute, a dispute about content. Sort it out amongst yourselves. By the way, it doesnt matter if that was the users first edit or their 50000th. Viridae ^Talk 00:35, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the information, I am on my way to start some "content disputes." My questions are answered and as it stands now the onus is not on one-time hit-and-run editors but on people contributin to an article to undo. Sigh. Nomen Nescio^{Gnothi seauton} 00:40, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Since it is impossible to have someone at AN/I undo this hit-and-run-edit, which is erroneous and unsupported by consensus, I want some input here as to:
How can one have a "content dispute" with a one-time editor who only renames an article and does not, and did not, contribute in any form on said article? Am I to infer that I can force similar debates on every article in WP, I never edited before, by unilaterally and without discussion moving them?

Why is it impossible to undo this disruption without having the burocracy mandating some kind of UN inspired delay through debate? Especially in light of an identical case where it was possible to undo the mess and it was mandated that movers should first seek consensus.

Is there any policy in wikipedia that obliges the current editors of a page to start a debate after a one-time editor arbitrarily moves the article? Even if said editor has taken no further interest in the page and no other people are discussing the matter?

last, regarding the rationale behind the illfated move. Is there any policy in WP prohibiting the use of the officially chosen name of an organisation, see above, as title for an article?
Please can someone answer me those questions? Nomen Nescio^{Gnothi seauton} 10:27, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
First of all, with but a quick look at this person's history they have well over 3000 edits to the project. Not that it matters actually, but this isn't just some "one edit account" like you seem to be implying.

Also, using an abbreviation in the name is against our naming conventions.

Lastly, this is what redirects are for. Simply adding some recirects from alternate names to "Skadi (rowing club)" something you should work on.

For future reference... Dispute resolution is over that way --> WP:DR ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 12:18, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
You misread my comment. This user, who probably is a major contributor, made one edit to this article. That one edit was moving it to a factually incorrect and never discussed name. To me moving an article by an editor that, besides that move, has no history with said article seems odd. Especially, if that move subsequently cannot be undone for bureaucratic reasons.

My principal question is still, whatever the policy here (BTW, why does Algemene Rotterdamse Studenten Roeivereniging "Skadi" violate policy?), why can't we use the official name an organisation chooses for itself? Is there policy against the use of official names? If so, could someone point me to it? Or, do we think policy should trump everything even if it results in us not being able to name an article adequately? Nomen Nescio^{Gnothi seauton} 07:49, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Veganism
Hello. I am trying to edit the page on Veganism ( at least) so that it contains counterarguments. Currently, the article is completely imbalanced. All of the editors for that section are members of the Wikipedia Animal Rights project, and as far as I can tell they are all confirmed animal rights proponents.
They continuously remove my attempts to add conflicting content, or even links to it, on the ground that it is insufficiently academic. But my counterarguments, although they are simple, are ones I had to derive on my own BECAUSE no academic or internet source contained balanced information about this subject. The effects on my personal life have been devastating, and I consider this a very serious issue, like having Wikipedia's page on drugs not mention anything negative.
I attempted to turn this matter over for formal dispute mediation, but the proposal was rejected, I think because I had not yet exhausted all other options. I consider that these options are likely to be fruitless, but I am prepared to try them all at this time so that I can get assistance from the Mediation committee in the future. I will not repeat the discussion here, but instead link to the mediation request page, which contains links and discussion:
Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Veganism
Repeat2341 11:47, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry to say it, but the link you are trying to add (a link to a webpage you created) was rejected on very sound reasoning. Your webpage does not count as a reliable source under wikipedia's policies and guidelines. For one thing, it does not really contain a scholarly reasoned argument (for or against) on the subject of Veganism. All it contains is your personal views. It fails WP:V and WP:RS as a self-published website. This isn't a case of blocking a contrary opinion, it is a case of blocking the addition of a specific link. You say that there are not any other sources that express your opinion on the topic. If that is the case, then your opinion falls under the heading of a Fringe view, and is not noteworthy enough for inclusion in Wikipedia. See WP:NPOV#Undue Weight for the relevant guideline on this. Blueboar 17:29, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Whatever, then. My opinion is the fringe view. My totally mainstream, straightforward, easy to understand, logical opinion, that I had to learn from a complete stranger 10 years after veganism destroyed my life is a fringe view. The view held by nearly every non-vegan I've met since. This place is run by children who can't think straight.
I understand it's outside of your policy, but you're all being, in a word, pathetic. Think straight or it's your fault. If a schizophrenic destroys society, it's your fault. If a vegan commits suicide, like my mom's best friend, it's your fault. If another person winds up nearly 30 with weak mental and physical health and no friends, it's your fault. Because you won't consider the PROBLEM WITH WIKIPEDIA. Grow up.
Well, here's an idea for you... form a foundation to get your message out through other means. Build a grass roots movement so this becomes more than just your view. Write a book about it. Then, what your views (now the views of a notable grass roots movement and not just those of one persion) become notable and there is a book (which would be a reliable source) which can be used as a citation in Wikipedia. It may take a bit of time to do this... but you seem to care enough that it should be worth it. Blueboar 19:02, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Colours
Hello, I've noticed that on various infoboxes (and some user signatures) a variety of different colours are used. When I look at the code, the code for particular colours usually looks something like #FEDABC or something. The trouble is I have no idea how to use these codes to make the colours I want. Does anyone know where I can find out? G-Man * 20:28, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Does this help? Or this, or maybe this? – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 21:31, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
You're sending him out of house? Shocking! ;) See Web colors#X11 color names. - Banyan Tree 12:01, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. G-Man ! 21:17, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Dispute resolution
I have no idea which part of the dispute resolution to use for this: an editor repeatedly inserts an unverifiable claim, in full awareness that it is unverifiable and what the policy says regarding that. I don't want to ask for someone else to step in if they're just going to regurgitate the same policies that the editor has already rejected. What is the best solution here? –Unint 20:35, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Well, simply make people aware of the problem. If we all agree that it's an unsourced and unhelpful edit that he keeps adding, we'll revert. Strength in numbers. A good step would be to mention the page and edit you're referring to. (Otherwise, I can't tell whether you're characterizing the dispute fairly or not.) – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 21:28, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. This is quite an obscure topic, and not knowing the general level of reception RfCs or Accuracy disputes get, I guess I was afraid there wouldn't be enough support. But if this is to be the forum to bring it up, so be it.

The dispute is at Talk:Red Flag (band)#Suicide?; after that one highly conspiratorial comment the IP made I decided to stay out of it, but I also felt like this was a delicate situation and couldn't figure out how to go about getting intervention. It's quieted off, but I have no idea how often any of the other editors involved check the page. –Unint 22:32, 3 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I changed the text, and I'll be watching the situation. – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 01:33, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the support. I probably second-guess myself too much for a case like this. –Unint 03:46, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Plane on conveyor belt
Someone please check Airplane - Treadmill Conundrum. I have seen this before but cannot find it and so don't know what policy is. Note that it has been discussed on the Ref Desk here and here. -- RHaworth 04:58, 4 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure what you're asking. Is there something you'd like done? – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)}
I think RHaworth is asking to what article this should re-direct... comments in the page history regarding the page not being a speedy candidate because it could possibly be re-directed. Sancho 05:18, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Updating Template
I'd like to know how to make a template that has self-updating content. I remember seeing one on a user page that had all of the speedy-deletion candidates on it, so I'm fairly sure it's possible. The one that I'd want would be one I could put on my user page with this section on it only. If there's not a way to do it, I can always just put a link to it on my page. Thanks, ~ thesublime514 • talk • sign 04:19, July 5, 2007 (UTC)
I'm afraid that can't be done. Some pages "transclude" subpages to make them more manageable. For instance, if you edit Wikipedia:Articles for deletion, you'll notice that the "current" and "old" deletion debates are transcluded like templates by adding {{/current}} and {{/old}}. You could transclude either of these on your user page, which is probably what you saw. But the Wikipedia:Requested moves page isn't formatted that way. You could transclude the entire page onto your userpage, but you probably don't want to. Sorry. – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 05:08, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
It can be done, but as far as I know, only using a bot (unless you get a proposal passed to get that particular section to be transcludable). Either of those would probably be a lot of trouble to do. Sir Link 10:11, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, this is a bot kind of thing. ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 12:20, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Unless it involves dates - we have {{birth date and age|1985|10|24}}, for example, which uses various parser functions. This might be useful for keeping track of the oldest person in the world's age every day without manually updating it (as I've seen asked before). x42bn6 Talk Mess 14:14, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, you can have a self-updating list of speedy deletion candidates. See here. Gracenotes^T § 18:24, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Khali
This is Thedeadmanandphenom and I was wondering what part of the article you were talking about. Is it the Health article? I will make it in my own words, that won't be very hard. Thedeadmanandphenom 15:24, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Hold on a moment; a bit of context would be welcome. Adrian M. H. 16:10, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Login problems
Every time I log in and go back to the page I was in, it logs out when I reach the page! Please help!
Check the "remember me" box at the login page, and make sure you have accepted cookies in your web browser. Cheers, #29^(talk) 17:18, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
redirect? or a seaching glitch?
I have noticed that if you search the term "Anno Lucis" you get to the article Anno Lucis ... but if you don't use the capital letters and search "anno lucis" you are sent to the article Calendar era (which does not mention the Anno Lucis dating system at all). I suspect that a redirect has been applied to the non-capitalized version. Could someone who know how to check on this please do so... I would think that both "Anno lucis" and "anno lucis" should both redirect to Anno Lucis. Thanks. Blueboar 18:33, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
See Special:Whatlinkshere/Calendar era for info. Among the redirects is Anno lucis with a lowercase L, so that's probably to blame. Adrian M. H. 19:34, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I've gone ahead and changed the redirect to point to Anno Lucis. Adrian M. H. 19:36, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Tagging an article as needing lots of work
Sorry, I can't find the tag for indicating an article needs work. Can someone help me?
BTW, the article I have in mind is Clothing. It contains "original research", opinions, and conclusions with minimal or no references. It has an odd focus on fetishism, sweat stains, clothing materials, and sexual signalling, to the exclusion of tailoring, style, couture, status, function, climate, regional variations, and culture. I swear, it reads like it was written by a registered sex offender.NuclearWinner 23:07, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
From your description, I would suggest {{refimprove}}, {{NPOV}} (needs discussion) or {{unbalanced}}, and {{originalresearch}}. Look through WP:TC and WP:CTT. Adrian M. H. 14:28, 7 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Audio still down
Hello, is audio working on English Wikipedia? -Susanlesch 12:48, 7 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yep, seems to work. At least at reggae, which I tested. Cheers, #29^(talk) 12:49, 7 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]