Talk:Steve Woodmore

Inaccurate biography

I am Steve Woodmore ( which I can prove) the subject of this biography, I have several times tried to correct the many untruths and mistakes within it only to be accused of vandalism and told my editing privileges may be withdrawn.

The only vandalism here is this Mickey Mouse biography which needs lots of corrections.

These are the most important ones, my birth name is Stephen Woodmore but I am known as Steve Woodmore professionally.

I still hold the world record and have done since 1993 not 5 years as stated.

I am now now Retired (Medically)

I live in Chislehurst and have done since 1997

I was diagnosed with cancer (Follicular Lymphoma) in 2013 and subsequent Radio and chemotherapy have damaged my saliva glands to the point I can no longer talk at world record speeds.

In 2018 after 12 months chemo I was declared in remission, my cancer returned in 2020 and I am currently undergoing chemotherapyStevewoodmore (talk) 10:39, 2 September 2020 (UTC) again. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stevewoodmore (talk • contribs) 10:36, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

(Non-administrator comment) @Stevewoodmore: who verifies record attempts now that Guinness doesn't? Rotideypoc41352 (talk · contribs) 15:30, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Guinness publishing will confirm My records either by phoneStevewoodmore (talk) 15:36, 2 September 2020 (UTC) or email.

There will soon be a published source, wikipedia will not be looking good in it.Stevewoodmore (talk) 16:00, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

I'll also add Sean Shannon holds the record for the Fastest recital of 'to be or not be' I hold the record as the world's fastest talker. Stevewoodmore (talk) 15:39, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

The source actually says "Fastest talker". Theroadislong (talk) 15:43, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Stevewoodmore I hate to tell you that a phone call or emaiul is not considered to be a published source, and cannot be cited to confirm a fact in a Wikipedia articel. I will try to find sources to support your statements above. If you have any published independent sources for any of them, providing the info here would be very helpful. I understand that your time and energy is likely to be limited, but any published sources you do know of would be useful. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 15:57, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

This source [1] says that Sean Shannon is the fastest talker. Theroadislong (talk) 16:01, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Aye, but Guinness itself says it no longer accepts applications for the title.
[As of 2018]...the Records Management Team here at Guinness World Records...discussing ways in which we could continue to monitor the record now that it has become extremely difficult to measure and verify attempts accurately. (link in my first reply). Hence, in that reply, I allowed for the possibility that another authority may have verified a besting of Shannon's record. Rotideypoc41352 (talk · contribs) 16:33, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Very well Published in the UK national Paper the daily Mirror dated Dec 1998 shortly after the release of the 1999 Guinness book of records. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guinness+World+Records%3A+Part+Three%3A+It%27s+a+mad+world%3B+THE+FINAL+PART...-a060623219 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.7.250.88 (talk) 19:38, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Another verified Source the Guiness Book of world Records 2001 page 17 Has me listed as the world's Fastest talker. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stevewoodmore (talk • contribs) 19:53, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SO+YOU+WANT+TO+BE+A+RECORD+BREAKER!-a078776102

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guinness+World+Records%3A+Part+Three%3A+It%27s+a+mad+world%3B+THE+FINAL+PART...-a060623219 Stevewoodmore (talk) 20:18, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

references to me as fastest talker

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&tbm=bks&sxsrf=ALeKk03aEXQUZ2LyPioCnIzCDtTEPqJrZg%3A1599080358288&ei=pgdQX9-ZEfGR1fAP9qOXiAw&q=%22fastest+talker%22+AND+%22woodmore%22&oq=%22fastest+talker%22+AND+%22woodmore%22&gs_l=psy-ab.12...7878.11557.0.13505.19.19.0.0.0.0.79.1208.19.19.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.70...33i10k1.0.owf5CGKEBjs Stevewoodmore (talk) 21:01, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Actually, the point of that search was to show that both names are apparently mentioned.

In the GWR 1996 book, the "Fastest talker" entry says (in its entirety, AFAICT from the appearance of the two snippets):

Few people are able to speak articulately at a sustained speed greater than 300 words per minute.

Steve Woodmore ... spoke 595 words in a time of 56.01 seconds, or 637.4 words per minute on the British TV program Motor Mouth on September 22, 1990.

Sean Shannon ... recited Hamlet's soliloquy 'To be or not to be' (260 words) in a time of 24 seconds (equivalent to 650 words per minute) on British Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Oxford on October 26, 1990.

The 1998 book says practically the same thing, except that Shannon's time was 23.8 seconds instead of the rounded-up 24 seconds.

It's pretty clear they are recognizing both in those books (and the others in that search, e.g.). The 2011 and 2018 news stories from the GWR website only mention Shannon. —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 22:48, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

In the early 1990's I can't remember exactly when Guiness held a full certified and controlled contest to fond out who was the world's fast talker.

https://www.jobienam.co.uk/#/fasttalk/

In the 1999 and 2001 Guiness Books I am mentioned solo, no mention at all of Sean shannon.

Stevewoodmore (talk) 23:04, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

let's have some context here, would any reasonable person expect Usain Bolt to win a marathon based on his 100m speed?

There in lies the rub.. The soliloquy is 262 words long and Shannon spoke it in 23.8 seconds. Guiness then rounded that speed up to a give a rate per minute, rather like round up Bolt's 100m speed to give a marathon speed, something like 18MPH meaning he could complete a marathon in just under 80 minutes.

When I broke the record my original target was to speak for a full minute but on the day I actually spoke it in 56.01 seconds. As a spoke for almost a full minute my speed for words per minute is far more accurate than basing it on a 23 second burst.

Shannon can only do one thing, and that's recite this soliloquy and nothing else, up until just recently I could be given be given any piece of literature in the English language and totally unrehearsed could speak it at world record speeds.

I am more than happy to share the glory with shannon but on the understanding these are two different records, one for a sprint the other for a marathon. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stevewoodmore (talk • contribs) 23:15, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

@Stevewoodmore: It's not up to Wikipedia or its editors to make any sort of judgement in this matter (see WP:OR, WP:SYNTH). We are limited to what the sources say. Just for the record, rounding 23.8 up to 24 decreases the rate per minute from 655 to 650 wpm. There's no other rounding involved, and both are significantly greater than 637.4 (i.e., well beyond the indicated precision of the measurement).

I saw in an earlier reference that it mentioned both Woodmore and Moschitta (who was slower than Woodmore), and find similar things for other records (left column of page 8 of the '96 book), so it seems the books don't just name the single best record, but instead mention other relevant records.

As far as sprint vs. non-sprint, the record is named "Fastest talker", not "Fastest talker over 30 seconds or 300 words", so we're stuck with the numbers that have been published (650 > 637). Your characterization of Shannon's "sprint", while it might make sense, cannot be used in this encyclopedia article unless we can cite a source that explains it. (BTW, please see WP:INDENT about how to indent on talk pages. It makes it much easier to follow who said what. Thanks.) —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 00:24, 3 September 2020 (UTC)

In that case https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB902GB902&biw=1920&bih=937&tbm=bks&sxsrf=ALeKk03WITQnihdyVIR-tsiY2Zb4xYEuXQ%3A1599133930209&ei=6thQX46sDMyd1fAPhfOC-A0&q=%22steve+woodmore%22&oq=%22steve+woodmore%22&gs_l=psy-ab.12...39601.41304.0.44331.19.11.0.0.0.0.106.739.10j1.11.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..12.0.0....0.kcFGAqlOyTY

Could you please edit it to state the following Woodmore is featured in the 1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,199,2001 & 2003 Guinness Book of world records as a fastest talker. Also featured in the Guinness World records book of fantastic feats. It would be also great if my birth name could be amended to Stephen, my passport and driving licence has already been submitted as proof of this.

The fact I now have cancer and can no longer talk fast is published here https://www.jobienam.co.uk/#/fasttalk/ Stevewoodmore (talk) 12:00, 3 September 2020 (UTC)

I'm saying that the books don't say that, though. They mention both you and he, and that his rate was faster your rates, under the one heading "Fastest talker". They do not make any comment about a sprint vs. marathon. See the entire quoted entry from the 1996 book above. As I said, other records seem to have multiple values, too, with no explanation about them being in different classes. I think they publish the runners-up to make the book more interesting, leaving it up to the reader to draw any distinctions past the raw numbers. You're welcome to provide reliable sources that discuss the issue, though.

Does someone have access to the actual books, or do I need to hunt them down?

To whom did you (Steve) submit your documents and when? —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 14:54, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

As Stevewoodmore has not responded in two months, and there are numerous editors who have commented, I am going to close this request. If someone would like to make a new request, please follow the instructions at Template:Request edit/Instructions and start a new request. Thanks and happy editing. Z1720 (talk) 01:46, 5 December 2020 (UTC)

References