Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2009 October 18

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October 18[edit]

Problems with my signature button[edit]

I have been, for the past day and a half, having problems adding my signiture to the end of a comment or question on a talk page, while pressing the signature button. Although I can still do so by manually typing the four "tides", I have over the past year and a half grown accustomed to just pressing the button when finished. I believe that there may be a problem with using the "Beta" version of wikipedia. A few months ago I switched over to the beta version of wikipeadia. I went off beta for a few minutes today to test if it was beta that was causing the problem or something else, and found that I was able to add the signature using the button while off beta. Soemthing was wrong with beta. I would rather stay with the beta version of wikipedia since I have grown accustomed to how it looks and feels. Is there something that I need to do to fix this and are others having similar problems.Jojhutton (talk) 00:44, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know the answer myself, however, the usability initiative may be able to help you more. TNXMan 00:48, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Help with deleted article[edit]

Resolved

I'm working on an article on Tahar Douis, one of the greatest alligator wrestlers of all time. Another editor named Mufka deleted my article claiming his deletion was "non-controversial." He also deleted my work at Tahar (gator wrestler) and at User:Starblueheather/Tahar Douis. I've lost a lot of work here and want to get it back. How do I get it back? Is there some way to get this deleted stuff into my Tahar Douis article or have they just deleted my work forever? Thanks, Starblueheather. —Preceding undated comment added 02:24, 18 October 2009 (UTC).

Articles are fully recoverable. Go to WP:DRV, read the beginning stuff and then follow the directions in the big orange box. --Odie5533 (talk) 05:04, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, the article is at Tahar Douis already. Tim Song (talk) 05:15, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, I already know that there is an article there. I am asking for the deleted history of that article, as well as the deleted portions of Tahar (gator wrestler) and User:Starblueheather/Tahar Douis. I've lost a lot of work here and would like it back. Thanks, Starblueheather. —Preceding undated comment added 05:20, 18 October 2009 (UTC).

In fact, all the history of those two deleted pages has been merged into the edit history of the main article, so nothing is lost and there's nothing to undelete. See Wikipedia:Merging and WP:HM for more info. BencherliteTalk 22:05, 19 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, in fact, after I took it to WP:DRV and asked for the history to be fixed, the history was fixed. So, in fact there was something lost and in fact something to undelete, back when I asked for it to be undeleted, in fact. It was in fact fixed nine hours after I first posted here and four hours after I posted to WP:DRV. Thanks (in fact) for the help Odie5533, no thanks in fact to Bencherlite and Tim Song for talking to me as if I don't actually in fact know what has been going on with this article I wrote. Starblueheather. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Starblueheather (talk • contribs) 23:59, 20 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Buying[edit]

can i buy direct from wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.14.194.3 (talk) 14:38, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

We don't sell anything, but if you want to send us a check we won't mind. Was there something specific you were interested in, as we may be able to point you in the right direction. TNXMan 14:48, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Hello. I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our roughly three million articles, and thought that we were directly affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is a help desk for asking questions related to using the encyclopedia. Thus, we have no inside track on the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the left hand side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. See also Wikipedia:Merchandise. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:59, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Draft articles on user pages[edit]

This is an etiquette question. I had an article on my to-do list; through a search I discovered that another editor was working on the same article on a user page. As it stands, the article is part draft, and part mere notes, but the material is comprehensive and of good quality. I left a question about the article on the user's talk page 6 September and have received no reply. According to the edit history, the draft article itself (User:Appietas/Lucius Valerius Flaccus (praetor 63 BC)) has not been edited since June. I need to link to this figure regularly, and have written a few articles directly related to him. If the article has been abandoned, I would like to finish it and get it posted, because it's got really good stuff in it. What process should I go through to make sure I'm respecting the editor's user space? I don't want to plunder his material. And how long is long enough to consider such a draft abandoned? Cynwolfe (talk) 15:09, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

What I would do (apart from re-reading WP:UP#OWN) would be to go to their user page or talk page and use the "E-mail this user" option in the toolbox (but please note that they will see what your e-mail address is as per the notes at the top of the E-mail User page). In the e-mail, explain that you will give them a couple of weeks to reply, but that if you don't hear otherwise you'll assume that they are OK with you editing the draft article (and ultimately moving it to article space).
I would point out that the user's contributions shows that the user last edited 17th September, but that they are not regularly active. They tend to do some edits, be away for a month or two, and then come back. I personally would leave it for another couple of weeks (and/or contact through e-mail, depending on how you feel about letting the user know your e-mail address). In this case, if you hear nothing (especially after e-mailing them), I would assume that they would have no objections to you editing the draft article - it would be different if it was their main user page, but as this is an article I would make that assumption after giving a reasonable time for a response. -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 15:25, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. I thought my question had shown that I was aware of the issues covered at WP:UP#OWN, and that I was trying to be respectful. If perhaps impatient. I'm working on a very complex article now in my user space, to which I have sometimes linked on talk pages; I welcome suggestions and editing, but give guidelines for the best way to make contributions to the article's development, so that I don't inadvertently disregard edits. I try to work on it regularly so it doesn't look abandoned. But if I became too busy with other things to have a hope of finishing it, the following idea about the incubator seems good ... Cynwolfe (talk) 16:54, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you weren't aware of the issues at OWN! Although the user is not regularly active, they are active - they tend to do some edits, go away for a month or two, and then come back. They may be back tomorrow, they may be back in a month. Going by their contribution history, I think you need to give them opportunity to come back and see your message (or e-mail them). Beyond that, I can't think what other advise I can give apart from what I have already given you! -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 17:12, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks again; I should've thanked you specifically the first time for your care in examining the editor's work patterns. I left a message on the talk page, and emailed. I'll wait a couple of months before doing anything, as I genuinely want to see the article that the original editor has in mind. Cynwolfe (talk) 15:38, 19 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
This seems like a good candidate for the Article Incubator— ask on the talk page. We should have guidelines for dealing with drafts like this. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 15:38, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
In this case, the thought behind the material is highly developed, and the topic is rather specialized. My fear would be that general-interest editors who are less familiar with the primary and secondary sources would delete or alter what may seem to be OR by the original editor; I would see one of my tasks as providing verification for this material. My hunch is that this editor has the expertise to have written a lot of this off the cuff, in a way that seems like OR as it stands, but that is in fact well grounded in sources. The incubator is interesting, though. Cynwolfe (talk) 16:54, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

HELP[edit]

Hello I'm desperate and I need youyr help. My user name is "Disneyfolly" but for a long time I can't log in. The log in page tells me that the password is incorrect. I made them send me a new password to my e-mail and I set a new password but there is no use. It continues telling me that the password is incorrect and I can´t log in. Please help me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.155.33.244 (talk) 16:23, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

From your contributions, I can see that the last time you edited was 3rd October (you may have signed in after that date). If the "set a new password" option didn't work, there isn't much that anyone else can do. My suggestion would be to send a new password to your e-mail and then try again. -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 16:47, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Remember that passwords are case-sensitive - "pAsSworD" is not the same as "password". Check if you have the correct username typed in, and that you followed all instructions in the e-mail and on the password reset page. Xenon54 / talk / 16:56, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah I tried all of that but is no use. What are my options now? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.155.33.244 (talk) 16:57, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately there are no other options than the above; please make a final check that you are typing the username and password in correctly with capital and small letters the same. Stifle (talk) 17:03, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I already did that, so I have to create a new account? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.155.33.244 (talk) 17:05, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm afraid that it looks like you will. Bear in mind that you can't connect your old account with your new account - such as having edits re-attributed to it. -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 17:08, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah I will have that in mind but it seems the only option if I want to continue editing. One last question. The problem is not with the e-mailed password because when I enter it, it works good. But then it tells me that I need to enter a new password and I do it but this does not log me in and when I try to log in with the new password it tells me that is wrong. Any help with that?. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.155.33.244 (talk) 17:13, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Do You log-out before logging-in with the password you just set ?  I don't know, but this could make a difference ... and –perhaps– even clearing cache and cookies. -- Codicorumus  « msg 18:49, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
If you already know this, ignore, but have a look at Wikipedia:Bypass your cache. -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 19:11, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I wonder whether it is really your Wikipedia account password that is asked for. What is the url when you are asked for a new password? What exactly does it say when it asks you, and when the password fails? PrimeHunter (talk) 23:06, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Internet Explorer and Firefox[edit]

Why does most of Wikipedia's extra features, such as Friendly and Twinkle, work for Firefox but not for Internet Explorer? Should this be asked at the reference desk? Thank you.  Btilm  17:21, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I think that's a question better asked to Microsoft ;) (the answer being that IE doesn't support a lot of JavaScript standards that Friendly and Twinkle rely on). Calvin 1998 (t·c) 18:09, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Nor does IE support the CSS needed for {{reflist}} to show references with columns. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 18:11, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

UAA[edit]

It's the second time this month I've found a new user with the word "Bot" at then end of their username and have had to notify them of the possible violation of WP:U. I was wondering if these types of usernames are serious enough to be sent straight to UAA. Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 18:12, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I believe it falls under "Misleading usernames", which "imply relevant, misleading things about the contributor" - i.e. on the same level as a username such as "WikiAdmin". Obviously, common sense should be applied first. Users that have no malicious intent and are just unaware of the username policy should probably still get a warning. Xenon54 / talk / 00:35, 19 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Doesn't one of the bots which automatically report names to UAA report User names with "bot" in them? 99.166.95.142 (talk) 16:03, 20 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Who is paid for working on Wiki[edit]

We have a family disagreement that you can settle in a hurry. I say that Wiki editors are NOT paid. Others say that people working on Wiki DO get paid. I assume that there are paid staff for systems administration and public relations, etc, but the day to day workings that the public sees on the Wikipedia site are not paid. What's the truth? thanks GloverEpp (talk) 18:14, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

General editors including Administrators are not paid, only employees of the Wikimedia Foundation are paid. Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 18:18, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
see Wikipedia:About: "Wikipedia is written collaboratively by an international group of volunteers." Sssoul (talk) 18:20, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If we were to talk about payments we might need to bring back the advertisements on Wikipedia issue (will link later if I find one). Most were opposed to the idea.

I don't mind contributing to Wikipedia, it's nice that perhaps the biggest collection of information on the internet is controlled largely by the people, and for free! Everyone with internet access can ensure that their version of the truth (so long as it actually is true, is verifiable and has even just a little bit of importance - and in some cases it doesn't have to) is represented. It's a beautiful thing.

Speaking of advertising, please answer my question if you can!--IdLoveOne (talk) 18:01, 19 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

strong force[edit]

please sent me a simple example of strong force and weak force. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.200.62.197 (talk) 18:20, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

  • You might find what you are looking for in the articles Strong interaction or Weak interaction. If you cannot find the answer there, you can try asking your question at Wikipedia's Reference Desk. They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer just about any question in the universe (except about how to use Wikipedia, which is what this help desk is for). I hope this helps. -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 19:28, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Question[edit]

how do i insert a numerical list? —Preceding unsigned comment added by MarieLinton (talk • contribs) 18:34, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You can do so by adding a # before something.
For example -
  1. Dog
  2. Cat
Cheers, Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 18:47, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
More info on various kinds of lists can be found at Help:List. — QuantumEleven 18:56, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

My first edit[edit]

I'd like to add something to the Postini page about the email outage suffered last week. Since all of my previous edits were vandalism reverts, I am very nervous about contributing any substance to a page. So, I wondered if someone would be so kind as to post some tips as to not get stomped by an admin? I suppose I should make it a section with a header and use references to news articles about the event. Is that sufficient? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Horsebrutality (talk • contribs) 22:34, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Just edit sensibly and you'll be fine. Jeffrey Mall (talk • contribs) - 22:39, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
But note that Wikipedia is not a news site. Only add what you think should remain in an article when it has long left news sites. I don't know the circumstances of this outage but a section with its own heading sounds like a lot for such a short article. See also WP:UNDUEWEIGHT. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:49, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm... You've a good point, PrimeHunter. It is more news than anything. Perhaps if the event had some sort of long-lasting impact that would be notable only after several months have passed? As events that has affected Postini over the years, it was probably minor. On the other hand, Postini is a Google-held entity. Perhaps because Google has been in the news for high-profile outages, it would be useful? It's hard to know. :-) Horsebrutality (talk) 23:01, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Default cursor[edit]

Why doesn't the main Wikipedia page default so that one's cursor is in the "search" box, like Google does? It's so annoying to have to manually click it there every time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.209.68.169 (talk) 22:35, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

See Wikipedia:FAQ/Main Page#Why doesn't the cursor appear in the search box, like with Google? PrimeHunter (talk) 22:41, 18 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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