Wikipedia:New contributors' help page/Archive 5

Grandwazir

I've been accused of being a sockpuppet by User:Peter_S. and although I have tried to speak to him about it on his talk page he refuses to believe me, claiming we would find out soon enough if I was or not. I'm abit confused about he means, and to be honest I really don't need this trouble. If anyone could offer any advice on how to proceed I would be very grateful. Grandwazir 03:16, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

Replying on his talkpage. Bjelleklang - talk 03:19, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

VetteDude

I'm having trouble figuring out how to center and right align text/objects. Is there a way to do this or is it automatically formatted into templates? For example, how could I center something on my User page? -VetteDude 20:20, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Replied. Fetofs 12:39, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

Bodil

So I've just spent the last half hour removing vandalism from various Radio 1 members' pages (deleting comments such as "she has been romantically linked to Papa smurf" etc.), then I get this lovely message:

Regarding the page Edith Bowman, please stop. If you continue to vandalize pages, you will be blocked from editing Wikipedia. Grandwazir 17:25, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

And I definately haven't been vandalising and now I'm so annoyed. All I was doing was trying to help. Wikipedia confuses me sometimes *sigh*. Bodil 17:47, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Okay sorry about that rant. I've calmed down now, I was just slightly irritated at being accused of something I hadn't done. No offence meant at all to Grandwazir, Wikipedians or anyone else :). Bodil 21:21, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

disha202.159.251.155

-how can one increase concentration in studies during ssc? -why is there no yiddish edition? since there is one in every other language

reply - -ssc was too long ago for me. however what helped me later was sitting to study a fixed amount of material without any time commitment. i can get up only once i finish. and remove all distractions. lock yourself up in a room. sit, DON'T lie down. no touching the mobile. no clock to remind you of appointments. let others take your calls and pass on the messages to you later. let me know if it helps.

as for yiddish, i didnt notice that. but i did notice they dont have finnish. ;)

Amead

I am a pychologist trying to fix a problem related to the five factor model of personality, more commonly known as the Big Five. If I type "five factor model" I get redirected to the Big Five page which is a great article. On that page, there is a link to the page you get when you type "Five Factor Model" which is a stub. This stub contains nothing of interest that is not already on the "Big Five personality traits" page... Isn't it an error that capitalization changes which page you get? Even if not, I think clearly the stub should be removed and users redirected to the "Big Five personality traits" page since it doesn't include anything unique and the couple of sentences that are there are problematic... the first sentnce actually isn't correct. Amead

It has now been redirected thanks to user:Extreme Unction, thank you, Amead for the notification. - Akamad 19:30, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Demlolo

How do I create an article? Can anyone please point me in the right direction? Demlolo 15:07, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Answered on user's talk page. - Akamad 23:01, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

ERobson

I've got a question about NPOV: Under what circumstances is it appropriate for an article to make qualitative judgements about the subject matter? For example, pages for the films Gigli and Heaven's Gate (film) not only make qualitative judgements, but those judgements comprise a large part of the articles. Would it be less appropriate if the subject matter had less qualitative consensus amongst reviewers? What's the guideline here? ERobson 23:25, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

This comes up all the time at Films that have been considered the greatest ever. The important thing is to find a published reputable source for the point of view and cite it. Many articles deal with the POV of others. It is important to do so in an NPOV way. It is POV to say "Citizen Kane is the greatest film of all time". It is NPOV to say it was "listed as the greatest film ever by the American Film Institute in 1998. "-- Samuel Wantman 22:44, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Demlolo

How do I create an article? —the preceding unsigned comment is by 69.251.15.145 (talk • contribs) 20:02, January 3, 2006 (UTC)

1. First, you need to register at Wiki with an account, because people identified only by an IP address are no longer allowed to create an article. I listed some tutorials related to getting started here
2. Next, find a place where the article should logically be linked, and key in the link using the appropriate Wiki code, such as [[User:Demolol/New article]] which produces a red link like this User:Demolol/New article, then click on that link and start editing.

Actually, questions like this belong on the Wikipedia:Help desk but are going to be coming here in incereasing numbers until consensus is achieved on adjustments to Wikipedia:Where to ask a question. User:AlMac|^(talk) 08:32, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

bld

i am only interested in editing the article on parkinson's disease. i have a BA in english, an MA in journalism, an MPH in international health, and i would have finished my Phd in medical antho but for early onset PD in 2001 at age 44. I am a good researcher and i know a great deal about the topic. however, this system is awfully daunting. the label clueless doesn't bother me: i would appreciate a reply to barbd@avalon.net. also i need to point out that typing is quite difficult for me at times, as is remembering aribitrary sequences of procedures. both of these are effects of parkinson's. i am more than willing to do ongoing research to abreast of new literature, if someone will give me substantive help with the editing and posting piece. bld aka barbd —the preceding unsigned comment is by 216.137.65.32 (talk • contribs) 19:19, January 2, 2006 (UTC)

I'll email. Hope no one has already done so... - Akamad 23:05, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Bouncingmolar

Is there a way of making a page more easily found. eg. Like for webpages if you want to make it more accessible to search engines u type a bunch of meta information say if it was a site about wikipedia u might put some meta searches as free encyclopedia, wiki pedia or some other stuff people might write in the search engine? Bouncingmolar 14:24, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

Replying on user talk page. KillerChihuahua^?!? 16:02, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

Never mind, D-Day already did. KillerChihuahua^?!? 16:03, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

Kareeser

I feel I have a passable grasp of editing style and prose in wikipedia, but one aspect that always gives me trouble is that of sourcing and citing. Luckily, I have not had any of my watched articles tagged with {{unreferenced}} yet, but I feel that it's a matter of time. I write most of my articles from memory. For example, my most watched article is Age of Empires III, a computer game. Not only are there few reliable sources online, this is a computer game, and most of my knowledge comes from playing the game itself! Does this mean I have to find proof of my knowledge that I gained through hours of gameplay? Or can I simply not source my ideas? Kareeser 17:30, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Not as a mentor but speaking from personal experience and observations, it would seem that videogame articles are fine as long as you one could confirm it is true to the game by playing it. The reason being is that when writing a videogame article there are only 3 really likely references: The Developers, and any material they may release, game review sites and magazines, and the game itself (and all accompanying material).--Oni Ookami Alfador^Talk|@ 17:37, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Many computer games, that have been out for a while, also have books that have been published on them. User:AlMac|^(talk) 08:36, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

Street walker

I have been heavily involved in the Michael Jackson article. I am a newbie, and apparently don't know the rules as there have been complaints against me. The rules I have had trouble with are 3RR and pages for deletion. Not knowing about the rule, I made 4 reverts to the Michael Jackson article in 24 hrs. A user then threatened to report me immediately. There was also a redirect page I added which another user put up for deletion. I disagreed with the nomination for deletion, and not knowing that a concensus needed to be reached, or how a concensus is reached, I deleted the notice. Although, on seconds thoughts (and after reading about NPOV) I agree the redirect should be deleted (the redirect I am talking of is King of music. I am worried that I have been unnecessarily reported by another member regarding my removal of the deletion notice. I was not warned, and the user did not follow the necessary steps before reporting me as a vandal. I think I need help regarding POV because a few users have accused me of POV. Again, the article I have mostly been involved in is Michael Jackson. Check my contributions to that article and see if I am letting my POV influence my editing of that article.

will reply on user talk page. KillerChihuahua 20:30, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Oni Ookami Alfador

I feel like it would be a good idea to request mentorship of some sort. I have been editing wikipedia for a while, and I am pretty comfortable with the basic and many of the more intricate concepts behind it, but I seem to have a couple specific problems. I am apparently very long winded, leaving comments much larger than others would care to read, and as a result not really contributing much, because no one wants to take the time to decipher them (understandably so). I also seem to have a possibly related problem with conflict resolution and the like. I catch myself being somewhat abrasive and perhaps somewhat quick to react. I feel I could be a lot more useful if somone were able to pehaps give me a little mentoring regarding my issues. --Oni Ookami Alfador^Talk|@ 06:47, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

• I requset that you be under mentorship with me under Mr. Sidaway and User:Cool Cat, like myself. While I've been here almost a year, I still have some things to learn and I would be glad to have you learn with me.-MegamanZero 07:27, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Sounds like a good idea to me. I do at some point want to apply for Adminship, to better serve wikipedia especially regarding mediation and counter vandalism (probably my main reasons for joining). However, I feel I am far from any point close to that, and will not make much progress without good mentorship. Plus they both seem like they have a generally good idea of whats going on, and are rather level headed so I could go for that no problem.--Oni Ookami Alfador^Talk|@ 07:57, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

• Excellent. I'll add you to "MegamanZero's Mentorship" then. Good to have you with us. :)-MegamanZero 08:02, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Anything I need to do?--Oni Ookami Alfador^Talk|@ 08:08, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Nope! :P -MegamanZero 08:09, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

I don't mind undertaking this, but I would appreciate being ask first. Please don't assign me as a mentor unless you've asked me and I've given the okay. I am only human and there's a limit to the time I can spare. --Tony Sidaway|Talk 09:31, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

• I'm sorry for that- I made a quick assumption and I neglected to ask your feelings on it; it won't happen again.-MegamanZero 09:34, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

s0z0

I got bitten and started vandalizing, but then I stopped. Someone help me out and show me how to insert images and other boxes please? S0z0 06:27, 19 December 2005 (UTC)s0z0

Replying on user talk page. KillerChihuahua^?!? 11:00, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

bodil

Hello, I'm new here, and I'd like some help! i know the basics of editing articles, and I know I'm supposed to be bold when editing, but I'm scared of offending people. Images and copyright just confuses me, I end up just not putting pictures in! So I'd really like someone nice to talk me through how to avoid breaching copyright and insulting people. Bodil 13:06, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

Replying on user talkpage. Bjelleklang - talk 01:15, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

The REAL Dyslexic Q-Thief

Hi, I'd like to know something. Is there any easier way to revert an article rather than just cutting and pasting the whole thing? Is there some button that does it automaticly?

At the top of the page their is a history button, similar to the edit and talk page button. Click on this to see all past versions of the article. Then click the date and time of the version of the article you want to revert to. You will see the article as it was at that time. Then click the edit button, and save without making any changes. you will get a notice warning you about editing an out of date version. Then you have reverted! Make sure not to revert more than three times in one day. This is way easier than I'm makeing it sound. wikifun --Banana04131 18:09, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

Madcowpoo

I don't know how to make a wiki project its to hard cn you help

--Madcowpoo 22:18, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

• See Wikipedia:Wikiproject. Regarding such, btw, what kind of wikiproject are you interested in making..? I'll be glad to help out. -MegamanZero|Talk 22:21, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

• It would be great if an experienced user could mentor our friend madcowpoo here. He is an enthusiastic contributor, it would be great if we could make sure he stays on track. pfctdayelise 11:16, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

• Any suggestions..? I've offered to help him out, and I will continue, but I don't believe that I am worthy of "mentor" status... -MegamanZero|Talk 12:51, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

• Okay, I'm taking care of it. I'll keep you updated. -MegamanZero|Talk 22:30, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

hopefully this is the place for this

listing people who are from a certain country/town - chronologically seems most sensible, as you'd be more likely to be interested in people who lived in a certain place at a certain time, than how many people whose names start with a lived there.

I assume we use english names such as "turin" instead of "torino"? but why? the town is torino. turin is a bastardization or mistranslation (other examples are moscow and munich). surely turin should point to torino, not vice versa? it's different for languages which use other characters of course.

Well, San Jose, California is spelled without the accent, however, San José, Costa Rica. The Turin page is located at Turin, and Turino doesn't exist, but I might redirect to Turin. There was a lame edit war of the spelling of Istabul, (currently at İstanbul) with wierd i.)--

Max ( ☏ | ✒ )

The main article is the name which is used the most in the English language and doesn't mean that it is the official name. So Torino redirects to Turin, but both are valid. It is just that Turin is most common used in English. The same with Moscow, Moskow, Moskva which all direct to the same page. That is the reason the article starts with Turin (Italian Torino) which indicates that Torino is the official name, but that Turin is the common name Dr Debug 16:11, 31 January 2006 (UTC)