Welcome! (We can't say that loudly enough!)[edit]

Hello, Retailgirl2010, and welcome to Wikipedia! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages you might find helpful:

Please sign your name on talk pages and votes by typing ~~~~; our software automatically converts it to your username and the date.

If you have any questions or problems, no matter what they are, leave me a message on my talk page. Or, please come to the new contributors' help page, where experienced Wikipedians can answer any queries you have! Or, you can just type {{helpme}} on this page, and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions.

We're so glad you're here! Rgds, --Trident13 (talk) 12:24, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Spam links[edit]

Please do not add advertising or inappropriate external links to Wikipedia, as you did in L.K.Bennett. Wikipedia is not a mere directory of links nor should it be used for advertising or promotion. Inappropriate links include (but are not limited to) links to personal web sites, links to web sites with which you are affiliated, and links that exist to attract visitors to a web site or promote a product. See the external links guideline and spam policies for further explanations of links that are considered appropriate. If you feel the link should be added to the article, then please discuss it on the article's talk page rather than re-adding it. See the welcome page to learn more about Wikipedia. Thank you. Rgds, --Trident13 (talk) 12:24, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

November 2010[edit]

You have been blocked indefinitely from editing because your account is being used mainly for spamming or advertising. If you would like to be unblocked, you may appeal this block by adding the text {{unblock|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}} below this notice, but you should read the guide to appealing blocks first. Favonian (talk) 12:25, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Retailgirl2010 (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

Request reason:

I realise I am repeatedly adding the same reference link, however this is because the link is associated with every article that I am adding to. I believe that for people looking for further information regarding the persons, the link will be a valuable resource. I am explaining why the link is there and adding positively to the articles. Please unblock my account so I can continue to improve the wikipedia articles. Thank You Retailgirl2010

Decline reason:

You were blocked because a block was the only way to get you to stop adding this link to multiple articles. Since you state that, if unblocked, you will indeed continue spamming, an unblock would not be appropriate. Don't worry- if your web site really is the best, most reliable source of information on a subject, it is inevitable that independent users will cite it when they use the information it contains. FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 12:36, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

Thank you for the explanation FisherQueen. I understand now. Could you please unblock my account and I will not continue adding this link (or any others). Thanks again. Retailgirl2010

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Retailgirl2010 (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

Request reason:

Sorry just to repeat myself but within the unblock format:Thank you for the explanation FisherQueen. I understand now. Could you please unblock my account and I will not continue adding this link (or any others). I'm new to this and did not completely understand what you regard as spam, but what you said makes sense. Thanks again. Retailgirl2010

Decline reason:

This account, the IP, and HannahKitchener1 (talk · contribs) have been used solely to promote a certain consulting firm and its events. Even without adding external links, I'm hesitant to unblock since every edit has been promotional. Have you reviewed our conflict of interest guidelines? Kuru (talk) 14:49, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Retailgirl2010 (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

Request reason:

Sorry for the bother, this is my FINAL attempt to unblock this account. I have only been a member of Wikipedia for 2 hours, so there won't be any other edits on the site! Kuru, Thank you very much for reconsidering my blocked account. I can confirm, I have read and reread the rules of the Wikipedia since being blocked. If it happens again, block me, no questions asked. But I swear it won't. I feel I was mislead by other people, but after reading all the wikipedia guidelines I feel I can continue to use the site appropriately. Thanks again, I hope we can reach an agreement. Retailgirl2010.

Decline reason:

This request for unblocking has been declined due to your history of vandalism and/or disruption to this encyclopedia. However, we are willing to give you another chance provided that you can earn back the trust of the Wikipedia community. To be unblocked you need to demonstrate that you are willing and able to contribute positively to Wikipedia. You can do this by:

Familiarizing yourself with our basic rules.
Read our guide to improving articles
Pick any pre-existing article you wish to improve.
- If you have trouble choosing an article to improve, see this index of articles needing improvement for ideas.
Click the Edit tab at the top of that article and scroll down past the message informing you of your block.
Copy the source of that article and paste it to the bottom of your talk page under a new top-level heading (like this: = [[Article title]] =) and save the page before you improve it.
Propose some significant and well researched improvements to your article by editing your personal copy of the article. Please note that we are not looking for basic typo corrections, or small unreferenced additions; your edits should be substantial, and reflect relevant policies.
When you are done with your work, re-request unblocking and an administrator will review your proposed edits.
- If we (including the original blocking admin) are convinced that your proposed edits will improve Wikipedia as an encyclopedia, you will be unblocked.

If you need help while working with your proposed edits, you may add "{{helpme|your question here}}" to your talk page. Thank you. Sandstein 22:20, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

OK, if I unblock you, what edits will you be making? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 16:09, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I would leave promotional material to my colleagues and focus on sharing my knowledge of retail and fashion. And perhaps a few random other subjects too!

That's a good start. Do you understand that this "sharing my knowledge of retail and fashion" must be compliant with Wikipedia's core policies of verifiability (cite your sources), neutrality, and no original research (your additions should be based on what reliable sources say, not your own thoughts or beliefs)? Dabomb87 (talk) 17:11, 24 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, *now* I understand much better. Hope I can continue to use wikipedia as it was meant to be used. I learned a lot today :) Retailgirl2010

Thanks for all of your responses. The truth is... and I hope noone important sees this! It was my first day at work, and I was only fulfilling a task. Clearly I am just a beginner (at wikipedia and everything else!). Please give me a second chance, I will explain the wiki rules to my boss. A very apologetic Retailgirl2010

This help request has been answered. If you need more help, you can ask another question on your talk page, contact the responding user(s) directly on their user talk page, or consider visiting the Teahouse.

You copied a little too much from Sandstein's post. I have removed the "code" and "nowiki" tags to leave you with a functional title. Notice that you have copied the article talk page and not the article itself, so you might do better to delete everything from "WikiProjectBannerShell" onwards and start again. -- John of Reading (talk) 10:55, 25 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This help request has been answered. If you need more help, you can ask another question on your talk page, contact the responding user(s) directly on their user talk page, or consider visiting the Teahouse.

Actually, could someone please just delete my account. Thanks.

We do not delete accounts for purposes of investigations should one arise. They will remain blocked and on the site. The only time an account is "deleted" is when it is renamed to a random string and all edits are oversighted. This is only available to users in good standing, I see you are not in good standing so you do not have the right to vanish. I am sorry, you will stay blocked, we also cannot delete in the fear that you then can create another account and use that. I am sorry. JoeGazz ▲ 16:43, 25 November 2010 (UTC) (Not an admin)[reply]

History of surfing[edit]

Links for expansion[edit]

The following websites are worth a look:

Surfing Museums
Other resources

Maradja 07:37, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

US-centric part[edit]

Regarding this sentence: "John Ledyard, an American serving under explorer Captain Cook, was the first American to witness surfing in Hawaii in the late 1700s." -- Why are we focusing on the American and the fact that he was American? Isn't the interesting bit that a Captain Cook expedition saw surfing on Hawaii in the 1700s?

History of surfing[edit]

Surfing began in Hawaii over 1600 years ago by obviously, Hawaiians. There were 2 types of people that surfed. The noblemen and the basic cilvilian. The noblemen had boards that ranged in lengths from 5-6 metres and the average person had a board that was about 3-4 metres. A man named George Freeth was an irish-Hawaiian that travelled to California to introduce surfing. At first people werent to sure about the sport but after awhile people decided to give it a go and thus surfing was introduced and spread like rabbits breeding. George then sat back and became a life guard and became California's hero when he saved seven Japanese fishermen in a storm with nothing more than a bathing suit and a surf board. Carrying them 2 then 2 then 3. George passed out returning to the shore but was welcomed by the locals.

Not a bad start, but there's some issues. How do you know surfing began in Hawaii? Have you looked into it? Try doing some research. Some information about George Freeth should be added to the article, but you need to do some more reading on the subject. The problem is that most sources credit Duke Kahanamoku as the father of modern surfing, so you have to reconcile the two stories and make it fit. Good luck. —Viriditas | Talk 14:10, 1 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ancient Hawaiians called it "surfing"?[edit]

In a passage about the ancient Hawaiians: this art the Hawaiians referred to as surfing. Sounds unlikely. 86.131.89.40 (talk) 09:31, 5 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You are reading things too literally. Obviously, the Hawaiians did not use the word "surfing", but the art they referred to is what we call surfing. Viriditas (talk)