Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2020 July 22

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July 22[edit]

Oliver M. Thomas JR. Wikipedia Page[edit]

To whom it may concern,

This may not matter to your company or you may not care but I would hope that the negative portrayal of African Americans who have made a mistake isn’t a lifetime brand given by Wikipedia. It’s been over 13 years since my public mistake and all your page focuses on is the negative, even a traffic incident where I ultimately got public policy changed because it was so absurd. Since my return home I Host the most popular African American talk show in New Orleans, I co wrote the most successful stage play ( Reflections-Sold out 13 straight nights) , revived the Man of the Year award in 2019 from The Black Social Workers Association, Starred in Harold Ellis Clark’s Fishers of Men , starred in Dr. Flint Mitchell’s the Other Black History, started a Successful Mentoring Program at McD 42 Middle School, part of Current Mayor LaToya Cantrell Transition Team, contributed on many important stories about New Orleans Infrastructure , appointed to several important committees from housing to the Water Collaborative, facilitated the National Resiliency Conference at the New Orleans Convention Center, etc, etc, etc. The images and stories of Black Men and Black Lives that have paid there dues and debt to society and the hen turned their life around and made even a greater contribution should be admired and applauded by your company. Should be used as an example of what you can do when you change your life. But I understand! The knee should never come off our necks, and the negative portrayals of Black Men is important to continue the stays quo.

If you’re not interested in rewriting my Story at least be mindful of the lives and names that you refuse to give a SECOND CHANCE TO:

Oliver Thomas


PS: if you really did your homework, I’m one of the most popular and positive figures in our city. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:8807:5800:88:E569:8CDA:F57D:7680 (talk) 00:22, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia editors repeat what we find in reliable sources. As an encyclopedia, we are supposed of be neutral, and we don't remove older material that is true. I do agree that your more recent career is not well mentioned in the Oliver Thomas article. That's because none of our 100,000 or so self-directed volunteer editors have taken an interest in the material. This is a result of our chaotic crowdsourced philosophy. As the subject of the article, you have an unavoidable conflict of interest (WP:COI). This is not a problem, it's just a fact. Because of the COI, you should not edit the article yourself. Instead, please do put suggestions for improving the article on its talk page at talk:Oliver Thomas. Please provide citations to reliable sources. Please also add the {{request edit}} tag, which will probably attract the attention of an editor who wants to do this work. -Arch dude (talk) 01:58, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Your concerns are serious enough that I think we need to attract some interested editors. There are hundreds of "wikiprojects" where self-selected interested editors hang out. Some projects are moribund, and some are quite active. I'm not sure, but I think the folks over at Wikipedia:WikiProject African diaspora Will be able to help out, or at least find the right editors to help. Please post on that project's talk page after you place your suggestions on talk:Oliver Thomas. If that fails, please post on my talk page in a few days and I will try to find the right folks. -Arch dude (talk) 02:05, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Billboard chart abbreviations[edit]

Is there a place where I can see a list of how each Billboard chart should be abbreviated in Discography tables? For example, the Billboard Hot 100 chart is written as "US", the Adult Top 40 chart is written as "US Adult", the Top Heatseekers chart is written as US Heat, etc. But it's not entirely apparent how specific genre charts should be written. Unless I'm missing something, WP:Record charts doesn't seem to explain what the standard abbreviations are, so I'm not sure where to find this information. --Jpcase (talk) 02:43, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Template help[edit]

I cloned {{uw-plagiarism}} to make {{uw-translation}} and adapted it somewhat, but I still need to change some code that I don't entirely understand. I think it should be pretty self-evident what I'm trying to accomplish. Could someone help me finish making the necessary revisions to this can be a new useful notification/warning template? Thanks! Calliopejen1 (talk) 06:20, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

If you don't get a volunteer here then you might want to ask at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical). RJFJR (talk) 14:40, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Add a website url in infobox[edit]

Hello,

I can't manage how to add a website url in the infobox on the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gildo_Pallanca_Pastor page.

It seems to me, however, that I have modified the "site" field appropriately. I also tried to modify the code as I have done on other pages before, but on this page it just doesn't work:

| homepage = https://www.gildo.com/en/

Could somebody help me?

Thank you

Best regards

--07:52, 22 July 2020 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by EV fan EV (talkcontribs)

@EV fan EV: I used the preferred | website = in {{Infobox person}}.[1] Even when it was empty, it overrode your added alias | homepage =. PrimeHunter (talk) 08:11, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks a lot @PrimeHunter! :) --EV fan EV (talk) 08:40, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Help:Cite errors/Cite error ref no input[edit]

This Wiki on my father has a lot of good information but also some errors. His brothers were Michael, Ronnie and David, his sisters Heather and Grace (Glory died very young). He did not have a nephew who was a cricketer. Nor does the article mention his two children - their mother was his first wife, Jennifer - Giles (me) and Antonia Antony Rowe

Did he have a name? Do you have a name? -Roxy the elfin dog . wooF 12:42, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
And do you have references we can cite? The talk page associated with the particular article would be a more specific place to record such information, though it is unknown how many people view that talk page on a regular basis. RJFJR (talk) 14:42, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Courtesy link: Antony Rowe--Quisqualis (talk) 03:57, 23 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Beauty Blog[edit]

Hi,

This is Yash I am an enthusiastic writer. While surfing the internet, I found your site that seemed to be very interesting and informative.

I would love to discuss an opportunity to create an article for you. My article would be custom made for your site and would be helpful for your readers.

Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in.

I look forward to your reply.

Best regards, Yash — Preceding unsigned comment added by 106.207.225.20 (talk) 13:03, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, but Wikipedia is written by volunteers. You are welcome to make proper edits here for free, but Wikipedia does not hire freelance writers to make content, and this is not a way to make money. Best ‡ Єl Cid of Valencia talk 13:15, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Recent Deaths[edit]

Hello, is there a reason for the 'recent death' section being updated so frequently these days? at least compared to a couple of years ago it was scarcely updated.

Not a criticism by the way, just interested in knowing what led to the decision and if there was any debate etc.

Pho3nix- (talk) 13:50, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@Pho3nix-: It was changed to allow everybody with an updated quality article in 2016. See Wikipedia talk:In the news/2016 RD proposal. Before the subject had to be more significant. The current rule is at Wikipedia:In the news#Recent deaths section. PrimeHunter (talk) 15:21, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Translate German Article to Englisch[edit]

Hi guys,

I urgently need a German article to exist in English. I have a professional translation in hands.

Thanks for helping.

Best, Sergio — Preceding unsigned comment added by Semuestra (talkcontribs) 15:00, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

FYI: Additional info for answering editor: Sergio is most probably referring to this or this. Field Marshal (talk) 15:29, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

If Field Marshal Aryan, is right, I would strongly recommend Semuestra to get rid of one of those drafts. Maintaining rival drafts on the same topic is a really bad idea. It deters other editors from working to improve either of them, as they do not know which is the "preferred" version. It confuses reviewers, who may reject a submission on the grounds that another version already exists. It can even confuse the person responsible. And it achieves nothing useful. Maproom (talk) 17:04, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Maproom (talk) Field Marshal (talk) he is right but I don't now how two versions were created. Neither I know how I can delete one? Please support — Preceding unsigned comment added by Semuestra (talkcontribs) 18:56, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@Semuestra: At the top of the page you want to delete, type {{db-self}}. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 23:18, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Misspelled name[edit]

Hi,

This is the first time and probably the only time I'll be bothering you. I ran across an article that misspells my great grandfather's name. An entry about the lost indian woman of San Nicholas Island. I see I'm 'authorized' to edit entries but like I said, this is a first.

Do I just 'change it?' Can I?

I checked the source reference file and THERE the name is misspelled as well so that explains how the error showed up in your entry. Do I need to 'prove' the correct spelling or anything like that?

Oh, and I can document the correct spelling.

Thank You,

Dennis Dittman — Preceding unsigned comment added by DennisDittman (talkcontribs) 15:33, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

DennisDittman, if you're just correcting the name and not doing anything else to the article I don't object at all, if you're going to do anything other than that, you'll need to disclose your WP:COI Ed6767 talk! 15:46, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
You do need to support the change with a reference to a published reliable source. --David Biddulph (talk) 15:48, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Publishing a Page[edit]

Hello,

I've recently created my first Wiki page https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Pkarundel/sandbox/Cassie_Mogilner_Holmes&oldid=965117311

Unfortunately, it's now been a few weeks and I still don't see this page showing up in Google.

Did I miss something or is my page just pending review? And, is there a place on your page where I can check how long it will take for my page to be approved?

Thank you! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pkarundel (talkcontribs) 15:52, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Hello Pkarundel. The page you published is in the User namespace. It should be in the Article namespace for better search engine optimization. Please note that even then we cannot control how Google crawls over wikipedia articles. Field Marshal (talk) 15:58, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
@Pkarundel: and Field Marshal Aryan We use the "nobots" flag to tell Google to not index pages in the user and draft namespaces. We also use it to tell Google to not index articles in article space that are younger than 90 days unless they have been reviewed. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a blog or social media site. We are not here to provide a quick way to get noticed on Google. If that is your primary goal, you can find other worthy places on the web for your information: see WP:OUT. -Arch dude (talk) 18:22, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]


Thank you for the feedback. Is there a simple way of transferring it over or do I need to recreate the page in the article namespace? Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pkarundel (talkcontribs) 16:02, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I see you have now submitted it for review, Pkarundel. Looking quickly at the references, it looks as if, while you have provided plenty, most of them are citations of works by Holmes: Wikipedia is not very interested in what the subject of an article has said or published: it is much more interested in what has been published about the subject by independent people. I notice that the section "Early life and education" is unreferenced. If I have missed some sources independent of her, then I apologise; but if I haven't, you need to add some. Please see WP:CSMN. You can continue working on it while it is waiting for review. --ColinFine (talk) 16:28, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Donating to Wikipedia[edit]

Hello,

In the past I have donated to Wikipedia, and I started to donate recently, BUT I get so upset and offended when I make a choice of an amount to donate, a one time donation (An moment that I can do at his time), and then Wikipedia does this 'Bait and Switch' technique, and YOU say, WHY not donate some other amount monthly, you suggest and make a change to the screen. It feels so dishonest and I get immediately turned off and close the donation page, AS I JUST DID, for the third time. Please don't do that !!!!! I won't donate at all. That technique really turns me off.

Rory McCarthy

PS I found it so hard to send you folks a message, and this is all I found and is probably not the correct place to send you this comment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:184:200:1D7B:C87D:BDFC:1634:CEA4 (talk) 17:01, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I sympathise, and I'm sorry you've been put through that. But this is page is for the unpaid volunteer editors who actually build the encyclopedia to help each other with editing problems. We don't get any of the donations, they go to the Wikimedia Foundation, which needs money to run its servers, provide legal advice, etc. But they get more donations than they need - I'd suggest you keep your money, or spend it on some more deserving cause. Maproom (talk) 17:12, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
You'll find that many organizations seeking funding have sustained membership options when taking donations, notably organizations like NPR. I'm sorry it upsets you but other than that I don't know what to say. Thanks. ‡ Єl Cid of Valencia talk 17:22, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Hi Rory! There's an email address listed at the bottom of https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Problems_donating you could use to express your concern to the Wikimedia Foundation. Good luck! GoingBatty (talk) 23:23, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Am having problems logging in[edit]

How do I continue with my password in Wikipedia since your site is rejecting it but your sister site Wiki common accepts it — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.112.218 (talk) 20:12, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

The same username and password should work both at https://commons.wikimedia.org and here at https://en.wikipedia.org. Both username and password are case sensitive. Most users can log in at one site and are then automatically logged in at the other when they switch but it can depend on browser cookie settings. Are you told the password is incorrect or are you just unable to log in or remain logged in? If it's the latter then see WP:COOKIES. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:22, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

It gives me the notice "this session has been cancelled because of hijacking. You can resubmit the form." it also talked about cookies. What is this thing about cookies. Am not cleared on that. Anyway I have resubmitted the form but I get the same notice. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.123.125 (talk) 18:54, 23 July 2020 (UTC) I want to log in to Wikipedia. I have successfully logged in to common with my username and password but when I try to log in to Wikipedia the site blocks me. Wikipedia won't sync with common Why? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.123.125 (talk) 19:07, 23 July 2020 (UTC) I have tried to join Wikipedia. That's getting a new username and password but the problem continued the site is talking about cancelling the action l performed probably due hijacking prevention. Wikipedia do something fast please. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.116.154 (talk) 19:33, 23 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

The site l am using is preventing me from logging in or joining Wikipedia. It gives the notice of session being cancelled. Demanding that l should resubmit the form. It also talked about preventing hijacking. I have submitted the form again and again but the problem continues. I successfully logged in to common. But Wikipedia and common won't sync after logging through common. I am browsing from Chrome. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.116.154 (talk) 19:47, 23 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

What is the URL of the site you are using? GoingBatty (talk) 20:39, 23 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
See https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647. You only have to delete cookies at *.wikipedia.org and *.wikimedia.org. If you delete all cookies then it may affect the experience of other sites you have visited. PrimeHunter (talk) 07:11, 24 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Publishing a biography[edit]

I created a biography of Dr. L N Virasinghe-Chinnapppa in the sandbox and then Copied and pasted it in the "create" page. Not sure it has worked. Please let me know how I should proceed. Also there is a pdf document I would like to use as a reference. I thought I inserted it but it doesn't show up. Please help. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Andy00121 (talkcontribs) 21:19, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@Andy00121: I see you created User:74.96.190.212/sandbox and then pasted the text into your user page at User:Andy00121. For information on how to create an article, please see WP:Your first article. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 23:26, 22 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
@Andy00121: With regard to inserting a PDF document into an article as a reference, it doesn't really work that way. References need to be published by a reliable source and then cited in the article in order to be used. Internal documents, personal correspondence, etc., are not verifiable and easily manipulated, and so cannot be used. —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 08:16, 23 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]