This file is an archive - please do not add new discussion here - add it to my Talk page

In the early hours of February 17th 2009, I was rushed to hospital suffering from gastric bleeding, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. It appears that I had a large stomach ulcer.

I have been advised to reduce the stress in my daily life. One of the biggest stress factors in my daily life is my work on Wikipedia, and as such, regrettably, I have reduced the time I spend here. I am still fairly regularly, extending articles, checking my watchlist and the like, but the major part of my work here - that connected to the stub-sorting project - has seen a big reduction in my work.

I enjoy working on Wikipedia, and 99% of the people I have come in contact with have been wonderful, co-operative editors. Unfortunately, in stub-sorting I tend to come into contact with the other 1% far too often. Not the members of WP:WSS, who are are diligent, hardworking wikignomes, but rather those who fail to understand that even something as egalitarian as Wikipedia still requires rules if it is to work to its optimum. Frequently running into people like this has soured my general demeanour towards other wikipedians who have not always deserved some of the comments I have made about them. I have been worn down by this work; it has in the past affected my attitude to other editors, and it is now affecting my health.

Stubstuff

Category:Handball biography stubs

Hi, after the recent discussion regarding handball biography stubs, is it so that I can create stub-templates for all nations, when I'm temporarily categorising them under the general category? And when a template is used on more than 60 articles, I can create an own category for that nation? If so, do I have to "apply" for creating every national template or when I create a category (when one exceeds 60 articles)? Since these templates aren't "new templates", but only minor changes from similar ones, wouldn't it be best to just list them here: Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types? lil2mas (talk) 22:28, 1 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, I will make a general proposal on the "Stub sorting"-page! Thanks for the feedback... lil2mas (talk) 00:20, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Back in the USSR

I was under the impression there were enough stubs to create two different stub categories, one for Russian and one for Soviet. If though you only want one category I'm fine with that. Thats why I left them red linked so we can decide!! Dr. Blofeld ^{White cat} 09:01, 5 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks

Thanks Grutness, I wasn't paying attention to the headers and the time....impact F =_{check this} 01:09, 6 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Geostubs - Thanks

Didn't know the alaska-geo-stub existed. Thanks! Shadowjams (talk) 00:25, 10 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

LGBT stub sorting

I appolgize for being too brash with the creation of the {{LGBT-rights-stub}}. I didn't intend to over step any procedures as set out the users of the Wikipedia. --Pinkkeith (talk) 17:04, 12 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

LGBT bio stubs

In case you are not watching the discussion, questions were posed to you at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject LGBT studies#Stubs follow-up. Aleta ^Sing 22:02, 14 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

LGBT bio stubs wording

Hi, I attempted to shorten the stub some while keeping the intent (feel free to correct if needed) -- just was wondering, since you are involved w/ stubs alot -- what is with all of the yellow padlocks on every stub I see? I dont' remember that being there before (though maybe i'm mistaken), and originally thought it meant they were restricted to sysop-editing, but that isn't true. thx, Outsider80 (talk) 00:18, 15 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thx for the quick response ... ~~the padlocks dont' appear when editing, but do appear everytime the stubs are transcluded on articles. (maybe they don't do this for admins?). it isn't a big deal, just looks odd.~~^{(d'oh.. was logged into secure server)} -- as far as "LGBT" vs. "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender" goes, neither form is offensive. The only potential problem with its usage is that since most non-LGBT people don't know what "LGBT" means (and in main article text, it is explained on first use, like with any abbreviation/acronym on Wikipedia). The main lgbt-stub template isn't hurting for space, so it can use the long version without trouble, but the other types can probably get away with just using the short version (with no explanation) if they are hurting for space. Outsider80 (talk) 00:43, 15 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Geologic formation types

I added some background at this sfd discussion in case you want to look in. The geologic formation type was proposed, approved, but never created; but I do think the folks using it aren't assigning it as originally planned. Fwiw, Pegship (talk) 05:00, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Re: Stub counting using cat-sort-key

Before the stub even finished saving, I realized it be futile (in previous edits of non-stub templates, have come to realize how old server cached pages can be). The stub-counts I listed at the Stub proposals page was based on the WhatLinksHere method like you suggested. That whole stub type (LGBT-bio-stubs) has potential trouble written all over it due to possible over-usage (in the future), but the alternative (having the bio stubs lumped into the parent stub) is worse. I re-stubbed some of them to occupational/porn/other stubs when it seemed like their LGBT-relevence/notability was marginal enough to justify it. Sorry to hear about your health troubles, hope you have a speedy recovery(!) Outsider80 (talk) 23:44, 19 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Healthstuff

A nice dose of Vicodin and a sit down

My sympathies! Pegship (talk) 20:33, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

WikiPeace

Al max 999 wishes you peace!

Spread peace and goodwill by adding {{subst:WikiPeace}} to other's talk pages with a friendly message.

Thank God you are still alive and active. Wikipedia would never be the same without you.--Al max 999 01:14, 19 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for the kind sentiments - I'm flattered :) Yes, I'm alive, though not operating at full strength for the time being at least. I'll still be on WP, but steering clear of contentious areas for some time and taking it easy. Grutness...wha? 22:52, 19 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Your health

Sorry to read of your health problems. Take care of yourself and get well! Aleta ^Sing 23:59, 19 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Do you want me to take care of some of your work for you?--O'DELAQUATIQUE (talk) (contributions) (e-mail) 12:28, 21 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I think that Waacstats has taken on the single most important part of it, and the rest doesn't matter if it's only done irregularly, so I should be able to cope with it. But thanks for the offer, and any little helps :) Grutness...wha? 20:34, 21 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Okay. I hope you get better anyway.--O'DELAQUATIQUE (talk) (contributions) (e-mail) 17:02, 22 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry to see this - take it easy & I hope things go well. Johnbod (talk) 21:52, 16 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Glad to hear it - presumably you are benefiting from the great Antipodean discovery, which I see we give a rather colourless account of - "well the wither was really nice, and people wanted to get away to the beach ...." (as I remember it from an old Horizon programme. Keep it up! Johnbod (talk) 22:36, 16 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I hope your health improves, and am sorry for whatever fraction of the 1% my actions made up. I feel we all walk on the edge here, trying to give order to information only to be undone not by the entropy of the Internet around us, but by our own frailties, whether physical or psychological, or even by the strength of our ardor itself. Anyway, here's for the best... Petropoxy (Lithoderm Proxy) (talk) 00:08, 18 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks to everyone whose left best wishes to me here and elsewhere - no, Lithoderm, you weren't really part of the 1% (there are far, far worse out there :). One thing I've learnt here is that the main thing arguments between editors show is how passionate we are about Wikipedia. If we didn't really care one way or another, most of the disputes would never arise. And yes, it is often a fight against entropy. And no, Johnbod, surprisingly it ain't H. pylori that caused this one. Seems I picked up a rather nasty viral infection that does a similar job on the stomach. The good news is that it tends to be less aggressive than pylori and clears up a little quicker, the bad news is that antibiotics don't tend to help it, so I've got to ride it out. Thankfully, the worst seems to be over now (fingers crossed). Grutness...wha? 00:57, 18 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

BUBBLE TEA : D

XxReikoxX has given you a bubble tea! Bubble teas promote WikiLove and hopefully this one has made your day better. Spread the WikiLove by giving someone else a bubble tea, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or a good friend. Happy drinking!

Spread the bubbliness of bubble teas by adding {{subst:bubble tea}} to someone's talk page with a friendly message!

--XxReikoxX 22:50, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

Your very welcome :3 i hope you keep making good edits on wikipedia! —Preceding unsigned comment added by XxReikoxX (talk • contribs) 23:10, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Get well soon

I just saw your message at the top of your userpage - nasty. Get well soon, best wishes for a speedy recovery. Sad to hear about it man, it really is. :( — neuro^{(talk)(review)} 23:32, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, it sucks when something so stressful is enjoyable and rewarding too. :P — neuro^{(talk)(review)} 23:40, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Get well

Just saw the notice about your ulcer. Hope everything heals up ok. --Kbdank71 14:05, 30 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Kris - thanks for that. The health's getting bette... another couple of weeks and I'll cut that message at the top of the page down. I doubt I'll return to quite the level of Wiki-activity I had in the past (too stressful), but I'll still be here (I'm busy trying to get an article to FA standard at the moment!) Grutness...wha? 23:11, 30 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Otherstuff

Just renamed

Hi Grutness. You may know me better as Almax999, but because of several issues outside of WP stated at WP:CHU#Almax999 → DisturbedNerd999 I had to change my name. I was wondering if, now that I have a new username, my suspected sock puppets and my sock puppetry should be changed so that it's for DisturbedNerd999, rather than Almax999. When requesting a new user name, Kingturtle was concerned about my abuse of multiple accounts. So, I mentioned my promises of not sockpuppeting anymore, and mentioned that my sock puppets and sock puppetry case would follow me. In order to keep my promises and show that I am honest in my actions, I may have to do this.--Disturbed Nerd 999 22:07, 20 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I boldly made all of the changes myself, even though Kingturtle hasn't yet let me know if I should have. I did leave him a message though, letting him know that I made the changes myself. If I shouldn't have done this, then as soon as someone lets me know I'll easily revert it back to Almax999. As stated above, I am doing this to be honest in my actions, and this is completely out of good faith. Nobody ever told me I should, but I thought I should, and I don't see why not. One of the things that I did that was probably controversial was editing the sockpuppetry case to change it from Almax999 to DisturbedNerd999, and I also moved the page to WP:Suspected sock puppets/DisturbedNerd999, but hopefully no one will get mad at me for that.--Disturbed Nerd 999 03:11, 22 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

WPNZ tag

Hi Grutness, it was a coincidence as Suburbs of Dunedin is on my watchlist. Next time I'll check the article creation time, give you a minute first :). Hope your health is getting better? I was concerned reading the header. XLerate (talk) 00:24, 6 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Slowly improving, but I'm not on Wikipedia much at the moment - deliberately limiting my activity mainly to working on a few articles on Dunedin (writing about a suburb offline, then adding it to WP once it's a good length). Grutness...wha? 20:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

invitation

You're invited to sign up as a founding member, at Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals#WikiProject Historic Sites ! :) doncram (talk) 06:57, 15 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the offer, but because of my recent health worries I've scaled back my Wiki work. I still write articles and edit, but I've been avoiding anything that's involved in the more bureaucratic side of Wikipedia (e.g., process pages, Wikiprojects and the like), so sadly I'll have to decline, for now at least. Good luck with the WikiProject, though! Grutness...wha?

thank you for ur nice reply. i'm sure the wikiproj will take off ok. :) hope your health gets better. doncram (talk) 08:26, 15 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Holy Land (Liverpool)

Thanks! One of these days I'll learn the stubs and you won't need to clean up after me o:) StarM 01:10, 17 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

:) I'd tried Liverpool stub and when that didn't work I figured there wasn't a sub-stub. I didn't think the county because I don't really know them that well -- though I have been to Liverpool so maybe I should have. Thanks again. Just saw your health note. That's frightening. I hope you can heal safely. StarM 12:12, 17 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

90% is good, hope you attain the other 10% fairly rapidly. Personally I'd find the spicy harder to avoid than the alcohol StarM 00:45, 18 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the edit on caversham :3

Hope you're doing well! XxReikoxX 22:41, 28 March 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by XxReikoxX (talk • contribs)

Forbury School war memorial

Hi Grutness, the NZ History website is looking for a photo of the Forbury School war memorial [1], thought may interest you. Hope your health continues to improve? XLerate (talk) 04:24, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Not sure if that's the same school as the one I photographed - I don't think it is. It'd be easdy enough for me to photograph Forbury School for them, though. Yup, health's improving nicely, thanks :) Grutness...wha? 22:08, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]