Help desk
< May 1	<< Apr \| May \| Jun >>	May 3 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.

May 2[edit]

Legitimate updates on a page that are being deleted[edit]

Good day,

I have been making legitimate updates to the page on Christa Aguilera's new song Not Myself Tonight. There is missinformation about the origin of the inspiration for this video and i've been attempting to correct this information. After I update the information to the correct information, it is deleted and the incorrect information is put back in its place. Furthermore, I have been accused of being a sockpuppet for continueing to adjust the information. I continue to attempt to add to the page...

The video by Hype Williams pays direct homage to three music video directors who have worked with Madonna: Mary Lambert, David Fincher, and Jean-Baptiste Mondino. Direct shot and image references are used from primarily 4 videos by these artist (two videos by David Fincher,) Madonna (entertainer)’s Human Nature, Like a Prayer, Express Yourself, and George Michael’s Freedom! '90.

and I have been removing the incorrect reference to Christina Millian's "Dip it Low" video, where he credits this video with inspiring a shot from the video which should correctly be attributed to Madonna's "Express Yourself."

I have personally reviewed the 4 videos in comparrison to the new Hype Williams video and can attribute and account for ever shot and image in the video. I do not know how to correctly reference time stamps in youtube videos or whatever evidence you might require to provide addequit reference to the correct influences of this video.

Scammers using identities of American Military Men[edit]

Good day to you.

I don't know who to report this to, but there is a consortium of Nigerians scammers who are taking the information of American Military men from this site and opening profiles on Facebook.

I personally feel that it is disgusting that they are missusing the information of honourable men and abusing it.

The latest scam is that they contact various women, maintaining that they have a parcel that they want to send from their base in Iraq to be kept for safekeeping until they leave Iraq/retire from the army. They maintain that the parcel is being sent via a Diplomat who then phones you to tell you about problems at customs in some country and needing a certain amount of money to get customs clearance before leaving to bring the parcel to you.

If you refuse to make payment to them, the supposed military man, then contacts you and becomes quite agressive because you have caused them to loose their parcel.

Some of the names that are being used are:

Kenneth Preston David Howell Patraeus David Smith David Tennity David Morgan Sgt Hunsucker Donnie

Please be warned that these people are discrediting the US Military. I really hope that these scammers could be caught and prosecuted for their abuse.

Kind regards Livvi Krige Stellenbosch South Africa email : <email address removed> Contact No : <phone number removed> —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.117.189.202 (talk • contribs)

I share your distress, but a concern as extreme as that should be reported elsewhere. This page is only for questions about using Wikipedia, not for reporting or general knowledge questions. Goodvac (talk) 01:32, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia has no control over what people post on Facebook. The fact that Wikipedia is freely licensed means we make the content of Wikipedia available for anyone else to use freely. If someone's free use of Wikipedia's content violates statute law in some jurisdiction, that's a matter for the relevant statutory authorities. I can't immediately think of anything we can do on Wikipedia itself to make our content more difficult for criminals to copy, without harming our legitimate users. You might be better off reporting this to Facebook and/or to veterans' groups. Note that Wikipedia has articles such as Advance-fee fraud which might cover this particular scam. If you can add something useful based on reliable sources feel free to contribute. --Teratornis (talk) 05:23, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I've been blocked on Meta-Wiki and Wikiquote[edit]

For my past vandalism under many vandlaism accounts. Yes I have vandalized before. I admit, I own up to it. Yet no one seems to listen to the fact that I truly want to improve.I'm being blocked after admiting I'm a vandal and I am being blocked withotu due cause. I am a 17 year old high schooler trying to find my place in the world. I am ashamed of ALL of my past vandalism actions. I have repented, I have reformed. I need help on Meta-Wiki and Wikiquote urgently. Please get me into contact with my Wikiquote blocker User:Aphaia and my Meta blocker User:Abigor ASAP. I will not rest until I have the freedom to edit and positively contribute to all Wikimedia projects. I am a reformed vandal. I know what I've done wrong. And like everyone in life, I deserve a second chance.I love me! (talk) 05:34, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. It's always nice to hear stories of reform from past 'vandals' (for want of a better word). Although we'd love to help you here, you really need to speak to the Administrator that performed the block, on the local wiki. Let me know if you can't track them down and I'll check the Block log, but it should be evident (through the block message/talk page message) etc. Good luck, and happy contributing if you are indeed unblocked :) — Deon ^talk 05:38, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Just to check, are you using the same username on the other wikis as you are here? Have you appealed the block already? — Deon ^talk 05:40, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yes I am! I unified my account so I would have it on all Wikis part of the reason why I am trying to get unblocked. I have appealed the block on Meta as as of last check had no response. On Wikiquote I can't edit my talk page. I really am hoping people see the good in me. I love me! (talk) 05:44, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Alright so I had a look, and it's not very pretty. You have a long history of vandalism from multiple accounts ([1] "I am G-Spot [..] [and] YukiLuvsBou, Zelshin, Auburn1"), which kind of hinders chances of an unblock. I see your Appeal hasn't yet been decided, so let that run it's course and see what the Administrator decides. I'm concerned that the vandalism was only recent. Some of the vandal edits from q:User:Zelshin are only a month old. An administrator may feel its better to decline your appeal at the moment and give it some time. — Deon ^talk 06:01, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I really do hope that if they decline it now they'll at least revisit in a few months. I also hope that they don't block me here. They seem to like to Globally Block people. Yes my vandalism was recent. But I hope they see that I am truly trying to change my ways. At the least I owned up to my mistakes and can hold my head high and realize that I am not a bad person. I love me! (talk) 06:06, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I noticed that in the week or so you have been editing with this account, you have made 6 article edits, all of them reverts: [2]. One way you can show you are reformed is to get cracking on real editing. Find things that need fixing and fix them. Go to the library, find some books, and use them to expand some stubs. Above all else, the most valuable activity at Wikipedia is the creation of new, quality content. Why not start working on that around here, it would go a long way towards clearing your name. --Jayron32 06:11, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If editing prose is not to your liking, you might learn to take pictures, draw diagrams, or draw maps. You can categorize images on Wikimedia Commons. Many people upload images to Commons without understanding how categories work there. See Commons:Category:Media needing categories. Another option is to learn how to answer questions on the Help desk. --Teratornis (talk) 07:29, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

And if you're like me and can't write content or draw.. there's always cleanup tasks to be done :) — Deon ^talk 07:39, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Toki Wright[edit]

Why is Toki Wright's Wikipedia-page deleted?

He's an artist that has released an album, and is signed to an independent label that has been around for almost 20 years. I don't see why he doesn't deserve a page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Creapofluigi (talk • contribs)

As it says on the page, the article was first deleted after this discussion, and then twice more in accordance with deletion criteria A7: No indication of importance. Articles on Wikipedia must indicate, using links to reliable sources, why their subject is notable. If you feel that this is unfair, you can remake the page, but please make sure that Toki Wright meets the notability criteria listed at Notability (music), or the page will most likely be deleted again. You may first wish to make a userspace draft in order to prevent the article being deleted while you are working on it. strdst_grl (call me Stardust) 09:16, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Re: Edit Notice[edit]

Hello, I'm trying to put a message in my edit notice page however every time I put a message up it appears TWICE whilst in editing mode. Why is this? How can I get rid of this? Thanks. --A3RO (mailbox) 15:13, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I guess that means nobody knows... hmm.. nevermind then. --A3RO (mailbox) 16:03, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Or it could be that people haven't got around to looking at this page! You might consider waiting more than an hour before giving up on us! However, as you have blanked your editnotice, I can't investigate further. -- PhantomSteve/talk|contribs\ 16:11, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The problem is not the text in the notice but the fact that the template for it appears twice... if you go into editing mode under my user or talk page you'll see "page notice" appear twice, both near the display for page protection. I removed the text in the notice because with it a second time, the editing page was annoying to look at... anyways, I guess I'll live without it. Thanks. Maybe it has to due with the fact my page was protected twice. :-S --A3RO (mailbox) 16:19, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I didn't think the text itself was the problem - but without some text in the editnotice, it's hard for anyone else to see what it looks like when you try to edit your editnotice page!

This has come up before, but I don't know of any resolution. Please ask at Wikipedia talk:Editnotice and give us on your browser and version. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 16:21, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I use Mozilla Firefox. --A3RO (mailbox) 16:34, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I added some text to the edit notice page which is reflected while in editing mode under my talk and user page. I previously removed the template I had it in and you can only imagine how annoying it is to see a huge template repeat itself again. --A3RO (mailbox) 16:28, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Ok wait a minute, I take what I said back because it's not JUST my user and talk page it's ANY page on Wikipedia that had an edit notice.. I'm in editing mode right now under this page and I see the message twice... is it just me? --A3RO (mailbox) 16:37, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I only see it once when I'm editing. There are two boxes (one saying not to leave an email address or whatever, the other starting "Welcome to the Wikipedia Help desk"), but no repeated boxes. I'm using IE8 fwiw -- PhantomSteve/talk|contribs\ 16:49, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I asked some more questions at Wikipedia talk:Editnotice. This may attract some folks who are more knowledgeable. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 17:39, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

And it looks like we have an answer and a fix. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 20:17, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

eventration of diaphragm[edit]

baba g sat sri akal I had been suffering from cough since last 2 month and went to a doctor he took my XRay &CT Scan. In ct scan it is detected *Eventration left dome of diaphragm wid mesentro axial volvous of stomach* doctor told me to operate..........is there any yoga to cure this problem

We cannot offer medical advice. Please see the medical disclaimer. Contact your General Practitioner. --Mysdaao ^talk 15:29, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Amos Wilson[edit]

Seeking accurate and complete biographical information on Amos Wilson, black activist. Born in Hattiesburg, MS around 1941 and died around 1995. Amos Wilson deserves a complete Wiki entry including books and lectures in addition to the biographical info. A voice to be heard! Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kcarder (talk • contribs) 16:09, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

As you have found, there is no article about Wilson. Do you have some reliable independent sources of information about him? Have you checked that he meets the notability guidelines to be eligible for an entry on Wikipedia? If the answer to both of those questions is "Yes", then go to Requested articles and put in a request (make sure you read the instructions on that page carefully). Alternatively, read "Your first article" which explains how to go about it - again, please make sure that you have reliable, independent sources of information for any facts. Articles which are not referenced, or which do not indicate the notability of the subject, are likely to be nominated for deletion. You might want to consider using the Article Wizard that will guide you through the process of creating an article. -- PhantomSteve/talk|contribs\ 16:22, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

A good place to start would be Google news archive, see [3]. Hope that helps, --Nuujinn (talk) 16:25, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Photo and picture captions[edit]

Most thumbnails (of pictures) on wikipedia have a description below them.Sometimes it is a key, sometimes just a couple points about the picture. When you view the full size image, normally the description dissapears. Can it not go on the side or below the full size image?

For example this diagram is clearly labeled under the thumbnail and the full size image:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Airfoil_geometry.svg

This one is not:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Airfoil_lines.JPG

This is quite annoying sometimes... You almost have to memorise the key before viewing the larger image.

Jez

The first one's key is in the file's description - it was added either by the uploader or by someone after that. The second does not have a file description, but it could be added if required. These are not part of the image itself - that's why it's not shown on the page showing the image, but on the file description page only. -- PhantomSteve/talk|contribs\ 16:52, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I should also add that this is the preferred way for images on Commons - if the key was part of the image itself, it could only be used on the language's Wikipedia (e.g. if it was in English, it wouldn't be used on the Italian Wikipedia) -- PhantomSteve/talk|contribs\ 16:54, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Other items:

See Commons:Help:Gadget-ImageAnnotator.
You can open two browser windows and tile them on your screen, or switch back and forth between them, so you can see the image description on one window, and the full-size image on the other window.
Since SVG files can store text as text objects, it can be more convenient to localize an SVG file than a PNG file (since the latter requires bitmap editing to customize the language of any visible text).
Commons has lots of files that have more than one language version, for example File:Isle of Man topographic map-en.svg which has an extensive "Other versions" section in its image description.

--Teratornis (talk) 19:16, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Switch back and forth between windows to see an image description....? You can't be serious!

I'm not suggesting that every image is updated to include it, but it would be nice for anything added in the future...or maybe a code can be written so that the thumbnail image description is automatically included in the full size image description.

Phantom...your first point was just re-stating my question. Your second point raises the issue that the image could not be used on a foreign Wikipedia if an english key was "part of the image". This is not what I said, please read my original question again. Jez 006 (talk) 01:20, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Your suggestion would require complicated changes to the MediaWiki software that runs Wikipedia, and to established practices. An image is upladed once to a file page like commons:File:Airfoil lines.JPG which is visible at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Airfoil_lines.JPG. An image can be displayed in zero, one or more pages in different contexts with different captions in those articles, or no caption. And the image can be displayed more than once on a page. Images at Commons can also be displayed at Wikipedias in zero, one or more languages with captions in different languages, for example NACA airfoil (English) de:NACA-Profile (German) and hr:Aeroprofil krila (Croatian). The way it currently works, clicking on the displayed image on any page in any language leads to display of the same file page. Your suggestion would require that a user sees something different depending on in which article the image is clicked. In order to handle this the software would have to generate different urls for the click in different articles, and then generate different content for those url's based on the current content of those articles. Different code can be used to display an image and a key or caption for it. The software would have to figure out which parts of the original article should be displayed together with the image and reproduce those parts correctly when the image is displayed on its own page - this can for example be difficult when the image was displayed in the article by a complicated template like an infobox. Also note that for many users the purpose of clicking an image is often to get to the common file page and not to see the image at its original size (which may be larger, the same or sometimes smaller than in a given article). PrimeHunter (talk) 02:33, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Switching between (or tiling) multiple windows has been part of GUI technology since its invention at Xerox PARC in 1973. I agree it is not ideal, but having the ability to arrange multiple windows on your display to your liking gives you more flexibility than could possibly be programmed into a one-size-fits-all solution. Lately a problem with GUIs is that individual applications such as Web browsers (and the sites they display, such as Wikipedia) have become steadily more complex, with the result that it is becoming difficult to display multiple application windows side-by-side except on the largest monitors. The point to keep in mind with Wikipedia is that the site is free to the end user, and as beggars we can't be choosers. When using or editing Wikipedia, one occasionally has to resort to clunky workarounds. If enough users feel bothered by something, a developer might eventually try to improve the problematic feature. In general, Wikipedia is weak on graphics handling. The underlying MediaWiki software has no support for graphic file editing, so we have to do that with external programs like GIMP and Inkscape. The result is an endless number of special cases, as users of all skill levels upload every imaginable type of graphic image. Diagrams with many numbered callouts tend not to work very well on Wikipedia - when thumbnailed, they are illegible, and when zoomed at full size the image description page is not visible. This problem could probably be solved, for at least some cases, but it would cost money. You are free to draw as many different versions of an image as you want. --Teratornis (talk) 09:36, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

As Wikipedia is a do it yourself system, we have a slogan of "so fix it". Wikipedia allows users great latitude to try different ideas. If you see two comparable images, with one being inferior to the other, you can create a new version of the inferior image that brings it up to the quality of the superior image. Fixing things oneself is often more productive than complaining about them. It's hard to learn how to fix every kind of problem on Wikipedia, but if you can learn to fix just one or two types of problems, you can go all around Wikipedia fixing instances of them. --Teratornis (talk) 09:41, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Bold text problem[edit]

I don't know if anyone else has got this, but for some reason today all bold text on Wikipedia is coming up as a row of squares, like foreign characters do when you haven't installed their character set. As far as I can remember, it was working fine yesterday. This is only happening in Google Chrome - I've tried other browswers and it looks normal on them. Does anyone know what the problem is? Robofish (talk) 16:55, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Looks fine to me - using Chrome on Ubuntu 10.4 (Lucid). I've only looked at this page, though. I'll have a poke around and check. TFOWR^{This flag once was red} 16:57, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Also looks fine to me with Google Chrome 4.1.249.1064 on Windows Vista. Try to restart the computer and clear the entire cache in Chrome. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:57, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Discussing content of vandalism delete1[edit]

Resolved

– – ukexpat (talk) 17:15, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

What is the right place to discuss the text that is written when I put { { subst:uw-delete1|PageName } } (without the spaces) on someone's page? Lova Falk (talk) 16:59, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

That would be Wikipedia talk:Template messages/User talk namespace. Ka renjc 17:07, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! Lova Falk (talk) 17:20, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Confluence Parallel[edit]

Strictly speaking, this a Confluence question and not a Wikipedia question, but hopefully someone will know the answer. I am looking to set up a wiki page using Confluence 3 (enterprise wiki software) which mimics the Wikipedia edit page, ie, edit by section, rolling list, indexed for searching (even if only headings are indexed, that would help). Is there a template that you know of which has been developed for use in Confluence 3? Thanks for any direction you can give. LoreMariano (talk) 17:28, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This is outside the scope of the Help desk. You could try asking on Wikipedia:Reference desk/Computing. Be sure to explain exactly what you mean by "template" - the word has a specific meaning on Wikipedia which may not be what you mean, and using the word on Wikipedia to mean something else will create confusing ambiguity. We have a Confluence (software) article but it is barely more than a stub. --Teratornis (talk) 19:26, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

OK, thank you. LoreMariano (talk) 20:57, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Can't get script to work[edit]

I attempted to add the Nominations Viewer to my monobook page, but I see no effects on any of the content review pages. I'm not the most technically inclined one here, so I was wondering if anyone here could point me to what the problem is (and yes, I have bypassed the cache). Giants2008 (27 and counting) 18:53, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This will sound stupid, but what skin do you use? monobook.js only affects Monobook; if you are in the Vector beta test, you go to vector.js, or if you use Modern you go to modern.js, etc. Xenon54 (talk) 19:05, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm using Monobook, if that helps. And it's not stupid; as I said, my knowledge in this area is weak. Giants2008 (27 and counting) 19:22, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

How does one keep a page up?[edit]

Can you tell me how to have a page without it getting deleted? It says the information needs references. What do you mean by references? Why aren't IMDB links enough? FYI, some IMDB film list alphabetically, NOT by "importance". Various people (friends, and many fans) have tried submitting info with various references and they just don't take them. I understand everyone and their brother wants a page, but I've fought very hard for a very long time to have some recognition in this industry. I have several films, magazines covers and TV shows to my name (for example Playboy Magazine, April 2006, page 18- Employee of the Month). I'd like those who submit info to not wonder why it's taken down, and I'd like to accommodate your site. Can you please tell me what the deal is? My fans are very irate I do not have a page. Thank you,

Seregon O'Dassey

You should not create a page about yourself. See WP:COI. --Jayron32 04:41, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

In order for a page to remain, the subject should be notable. For people, the notability requirements are at WP:Notability (people). Since you're an actor/model, I should also point out the entertainers notability guideline at WP:ENT. The first point of that is: "Has had significant roles in multiple notable films, television shows, stage performances, or other productions." After looking at your IMDB entry, I see that you've been in a few small films but none that I wouldn't consider them "multiple notable films". At least three went straight to video. Additionally, credits such as 'Other Woman' aren't "significant roles". Simply having an IMDb listing doesn't make a person automatically notable. For instance, I have an IMDB entry and I don't have an article. The easiest way to get an article about yourself here is to A) have someone else write it and B) find a way for them to show that articles in newspapers or magazines have written about you. This does not include things like simply appearing in the list of cast members of a film. The articles should be about you. And finally, on a more personal note, your picture in Playboy was lovely! Dismas|^(talk) 05:01, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

How to get a mediawiki extension added to wikipedia?[edit]

Hello.

I recently developed a mediawiki extension to show chessgames: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:EmbedChessboard

See example here: http://pgn4web-test-mediawiki.casaschi.net

Question is: how to submit this to be added to wikipedia? I think it would be beneficial for articles like this ones where currently chess games are printed only as text: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viswanathan_Anand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topalov —Preceding unsigned comment added by Casaschi (talk • contribs) 20:39, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Your example link is dead for me. You can suggest to enable an extension at Wikipedia by going to bugzilla: and click the "Enter a new bug" link, but suggestions may get little or no attention on their own. I would start by posting at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Chess and hear whether the chess editors are interested. It may take a lot of support from the editors before the developers will consider the possible complications of adding a new extension. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:43, 2 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry for the dead link, it's a mediawiki installation on a free host, usually reliable. It should be back up now. Anyway, I posted a note on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Chess, if there's interest there we'll see how to proceed, no point if the chess project is not interested. Thanks for the advise. Casaschi (talk) 08:00, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm from WikiProject Chess and love it. Would like the colours to match the standard {{Chess diagram}} but really like the idea of an extension added for this. Regards, SunCreator ^(talk) 02:05, 4 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]