Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2012 May 25

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May 25

Fresh Hell in Wikipedia

What is this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIFF

It shakes annoyingly. Please fix it. I have never seen anything like it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.73.21.220 (talk) 01:01, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

If you're serious, you failed to make your point. If you're not serious, please consider this a warning that such edits are inappropriate on Wikipedia. Cresix (talk) 01:38, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

I have removed the final line from the MIFF page, since it was not appropriate for a disambiguation page. If that was the problem then (a) you could have removed it yourself, (b) you could have said so more clearly. -- John of Reading (talk) 07:00, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

CSD log in Twinkle

Was wondering how to create one, couldn't seem to find it on the Twinkle page. Thanks, Buggie111 (talk) 01:40, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Twinkle/doc says "In your Twinkle preferences, you can turn on the CSD userspace log. This feature keeps a log in your userspace of all pages you nominate for CSD". Does that help? You might want to post your question on the talk page for that article. RudolfRed (talk) 01:59, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

It's a setting in Wikipedia:Twinkle/Preferences. There is a check box about half way down that says "Keep a log in userspace of all CSD nominations" --kelapstick^(bainuu) 02:01, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Query Regarding M.E Entrance in PICT college of Pune

Hello, I want to ask that , I want to take admission in Pune Institute of Computer Technology for PG course ( Master of Engineering in IT or CS). So,what is procedure. About Entrance Exam? About Fees Structure? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Varsha yaduvanshi (talk • contribs) 03:10, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6 million articles and thought we were 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 for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right 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. Cresix (talk) 03:19, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

What's different about the "My sandbox" link?

At the top of every page, I have these links: RudoldRed (my user page), My talk, My sandbox, My preferences, My Watchlist, My Contributions, Log out. I've noticed that whenever I open any Wikipedia page, all of the links show up together as the page starts to load, except for My sandbox. The My sandbox shows up a bit later, pushing my userpage link and My talk over to the left as it does. So, what's different about the "My sandbox" link? Why does it not show up at the same time as all of the other links at the top of the page? RudolfRed (talk) 04:23, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

It is a Gadget and gets loaded after the rest of the personal toolbar. See Help:My sandbox. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 04:46, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

link VA 34 to VFA 34

I need to know if someone on this thread can please link USN squarden VA-34 which is in RED to the current Squadrens VFA-34 page. for some reason it thake me to VF 20 and no info.. thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.174.58.137 (talk) 07:11, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

When I type "VA 34" in the search box I end up at VA34, and the first link there takes me to VFA-34. Is that what you are seeing? Can you give the name or URL of the page containing the faulty link? -- John of Reading (talk) 08:00, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

As far as I can see, there is no page containing a faulty link here. As the History section of the VFA-34 article says, "The third VA-34, established in 1970, was later redesignated VFA-34 and is the subject of this article." Wtmitchell (talk) (earlier Boracay Bill) 08:46, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

It was redlinked in List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons, because it was formatted as [[VF-20|VA-34]]. Re-anchored. Dru of Id (talk) 11:49, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

User name problem

Sir, I want user name Ahmeronline. because my email address is hotmail.com, gmail.com, yahoo.com facebook.com and tweeter account name is ahmeronline. I'm using internet 1998. I think I register ahmeronline in wikipeida but I can't login. I tried to use forget password and check my all emails but I can't see any email from wikipedia.

I hope you understand why I want Ahmeronline on Wikipedia.

Please resolve my troubles Thanks, Ahmer Jamil (AhmerOnline) — Preceding unsigned comment added by AhmerJamil (talk • contribs) 08:32, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

The account Ahmeronline (not AhmerOnline) was created on 6 March 2008, and made just one edit, to Osmania University, the same day. You appear to have registered an email address (at any rate, Wikipedia will let me email that user), but if you no longer have access to that email address then there is no way that you can reset the password for it. It may be possible for you to usurp the account name, but I don't think so: I am not very familiar with the rules for this, though, so I may be wrong. --ColinFine (talk) 10:30, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

(edit conflict) The account User:Ahmeronline was created 6 March 2008 and made its only small edit [1] that day. If you don't remember which email address you stored then check all your email accounts and any spam folders. If you still cannot see the mail then you can request the username at Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:32, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Regarding CSD

If I move a page to another one and want to request deletion of the original page, can I do it under G6 (housekeeping)?? If not, can I do it under any other criteria of CSD?? Roshan220195 (talk) 08:57, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

You could, I suppose, but why bother? Redirects are cheap. Yunshui 雲‍水 09:12, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

The move page does have the option not to create a redirect, but having created one R3 or G7 would be options if it's not a credible spelling. - David Biddulph (talk) 09:40, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Only administrators have the option to not leave a redirect behind when moving a page. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:24, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

(e/c) Yes, you could use G6 for redirects unambiguously created in error or in the incorrect namespace. It also is commonly used (and is the criterion automatically supplied) when a redirect is deleted by an administrator when moving a page title to an existing redirect. You could also use CSD R2 for redirects created when you moved a page from the mainspace to another namespace. Until just a few days ago CSD R3, which covers implausible typos and misnomers, could have been used but an exception was made to exclude the criterion from redirects created by moves. There are others that more generically apply but would be rarer, such as using G10 for a redirect that is an attack (we do see this) and relatedly, G3 for obvious vandalism. G1 (patent nonsense) could be relevant at times, G7 as well (creator requests). Hell, G11 (blatant advertising) could even be used, e.g., for a page moved from a page that was titled "business name is the greatest store of all time..."--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 09:54, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for the help guys. :) Roshan220195 (talk) 13:27, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Hoax copy of Wikipedia pages blending with true Wikipedia pages?

It came to my attention that there is a web-page http://mickopedia.org/mickify.py?topic=Kristo_Ivanov, which seems to be a hoax copy of a serious article in Wikipedia with parallel layout as Wikipedia, that links back to true/real Wikipedia-pages as in its Talk-section. Perhaps Wikipedia's help desk should know about this hoax activity on the net. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.239.70.241 (talk) 09:43, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

There are many forks of Wikipedia, some more serious than others. There are thousands of Wikis which use the same Mediawiki software, and so often have a similar appearance to Wikipeida. The licence under which Wikipedia content is released allows derivative works, providing their origin is acknowledged.

However, I'm not sure if the various garbled mentions of Wikipedia do constitute attribution, and the line "Mickopedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a feckin' non-profit organization." is certainly somewhat dubious. --ColinFine (talk) 10:36, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

I think all it is doing is pulling en Wiki content and the script (something like Google Translate) on the "Hoax pedia" is just changing the wording. Bidgee (talk) 10:41, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

It does attempt to properly attribute content, by linking to the Wikipedia article histories and reproducing information on the licenses used, although the link to the license is broken. Wikipedia:Mirrors and forks gives more info on websites that copy Wikipedia and how to handle copyright/licensing violations. --Colapeninsula (talk) 11:15, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

RALPH SAMPSON WIKIPEDIA PAGE

I have been trying since 2010 to have the current image of former NBA player Ralph Sampson (full disclosure: I run his foundation & am engaged to him) removed to no avail. I am a little surprised that the current image would be allowed to use for his page, it is a horrible image & the person that posted it should have known better. There are 100's of images of him that depict him in a much more appropriate image that could have been used, this is really not fair to him or his legacy. Also, when you google his name the wikipedia page shows on the google site as married, he's been divorced for almost 15 yrs now; I am not sure where to find that in order to remove it. Finally, I've uploaded some images of him and sent some images to the support desk on yesterday, any help that anyone can do to assist me with this would be greatly appreciated. He is going into the Hall of Fame in September and would like very much for this image to be removed so that when others google him they don't see this...unfortunately, this is what happens when you try to be nice and allow others to take photos of you when you're out in a park living your life but not expecting that they would post to twitter and then it be used as his monicker. Thanks so much for any help or assistance that can be given...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Sampson — Preceding unsigned comment added by Houston50 (talk • contribs) 14:48, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

As you are associated with him, it should not really be for you to say what is an appropriate image. But I can easily believe that better images exist. If you have uploaded such images to English Wikipedia or to Wikimedia Commons, with the required copyright permissions, please say where they are, and I or another editor will replace the current scowling one.

I have also added a statement "He was divorced in 2003, and has remarried", with a reference. From what you say, there is more to it than that. So a reference to an independent source, giving his current marital status, would be useful. Maproom (talk) 15:58, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

You could upload images here [2] RegardsTheroadislong (talk) 20:59, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

A couple new images have been uploaded here, on top of older images. An experienced Commons user might need to sort things out. Zagalejo^^^ 02:33, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

If you're talking about the little bio that pops up when you Google Sampson's name (the one that says, "Spouse: Aleize Sampson"), I'm not sure there's anything we can actually do to remove the "Spouse" line. That specific part doesn't seem to be derived from the wiki page, since that name hasn't been mentioned there at any point in the recent past. I'm not sure how Google put that together. Zagalejo^^^ 02:17, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

IMHO, the newly uploaded images are hideous. If that's all that are available, the one that was previously in the article should be restored. Cresix (talk) 03:21, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

Someone with some Imaging knowledge needs to assist this new user in her earnest efforts to improve the image @ Ralph Sampson. It would be appreciated if that someone would visit User talk:Houston50 and hold her hand during this process. I welcomed her a few days ago and she then reached out to me via email asking for help. But I have ZERO knowledge about Images and what she needs to do to accomplish her simple goal. BTW....there is no need to refer to her images (if they are her images) as hideous. This is the help desk...the last place where attacks should be used as a communicative method. Thanks to whomever chooses to be her hero. ```Buster Seven Talk 05:09, 27 May 2012 (UTC)

I advised her on her :en talkpage to take a look at her Commons talkpage and to use it for communication about her image/upload problems. When the problems on this level are solved, there will eventually be a choice of several images of Mr. Sampson, which would then enable local editors to pick best or the most fitting. However, her as-of-yet 2 successful uploads of Sampson shots to Commons don't really look like an improvement. --Túrelio (talk) 13:42, 27 May 2012 (UTC)

Point taken, Buster 7. My apologies for the poor choice of the word "hideous". I was referring to the relative quality of the photos, which of course is my personal preference. I should have placed a more polite statement on the article's talk page rather than here. Cresix (talk) 14:33, 27 May 2012 (UTC)

Those icons

You know those icons at the top right of a user page? Where can I find a list of these? Legolover26 (talk) 15:12, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

There doesn't seem to be one. A search is the best I can do right now. AndieM (Am I behaving?) 16:22, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

They are called topicons, by the way. AndieM (Am I behaving?) 16:40, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

See Template:Top icon for many of them and how to make your own. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:46, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Thank you. Legolover26 (talk) 15:31, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Article Rating

How can you change an article rating? I know for Good articles and Featured articles they have to be reviewed by someone, but what about changing a stub-class to a start-class? Jainsworth16 (talk) 15:17, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Anyone can change an article's rating (except to GA or FA unless reviewed, as you had mentioned). More information is at Wikipedia:Assessment, but one can judge the article against the quality scale on the Wikipedia:Assessment page. AndieM (Am I behaving?) 16:35, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Middle East Countires

Back in College I remember in my Geography Book there were only 5 countries of Middle East (Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Syria). Iran and Turkey were part of Empire States and the rest of the Arab countries were part of Arabian Peninsula. Did this change? is Wikipedia and the media wrong? They call any country from India to Libya middle east. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.234.138.54 (talk) 15:17, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

It depends on what qualifications are used to include a country in the Middle East. I do not consider India to Libya in the Middle East. I think that the countries that should be included are Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Legolover26 (talk) 15:25, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

I guess it also depends on when you went to college - many countries in the Middle East were formed in the latter 20th century. AndieM (Am I behaving?) 16:54, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

There is also the Near East - which in the modern historical sense aiui equates roughly with "The Levant" plus Turkey. Roger (talk) 17:27, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Photos

How do I know if a photo I want to add to a page is use-able (or in other words - how do I know its not copyrighted?)

If I got the image from doing a search on google images, is that okay? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.49.219.160 (talk) 18:19, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Finding the image through Google Images does not guarantee that it is free to use. Maproom (talk) 18:26, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

A very rough-and-ready guide: it is probably suitable for inclusion on Wikipedia if a) you produced the work yourself (and not on behalf of an employer etc.) or b) the photo was produced before 1923. Anything else gets a little hairier. I'd suggest that the vast majority of images on Google Image Search are still in copyright and therefore unsuitable for Wikipedia's purposes. Brammers (talk/c) 20:53, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Editing the title of an article

How do I edit the title of an article?

For example to change "John Smith" to "John Smith Sr."

The only way to change a title is to move the article. WP:MOVE explains the process. RudolfRed (talk) 18:25, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

But before you move an article, have a scan of WP:TITLE to make sure you're following the guidelines there. In particular "Wikipedia does not necessarily use the subject's "official" name as an article title; it prefers to use the name that is most frequently used to refer to the subject in English-language reliable sources." --ColinFine (talk) 09:27, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

Wait a Minim!

I am trying to edit this page: Wait a Minim! I am a creator and cast member of the show I have the new edits in my sandbox, but cannot find the right button to post it all into the page that the public can read. Help! Paul HL Tracey. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Paul HL Tracey (talk • contribs) 20:13, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

You have a big conflict of interest so I strongly suggest you do not edit the page at all, but make your suggestions on the talk page. Kind regardsTheroadislong (talk) 20:39, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

How can I respond to Orangemike, administrator? I am editing a page called Wait a Minim! My edits are factual with no biased opinion involved. Paul HL Tracey — Preceding unsigned comment added by Paul HL Tracey (talk • contribs) 21:53, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

See Help:Using talk pages. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:57, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

There are two primary Wikipedia policies/guidelines involved here, regardless of how factual your edits are: WP:COI and WP:V. You should read each of these carefully. Editors who are affiliated with a subject are strongly encouraged to post their information on an article's talk page so that uninvolved editors can decide what is the most appropriate edits to make. You are quite welcome to discuss any changes on the talk page. As for accuracy, "The threshold for inclusion is Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth". No one, including an administrator, can change these policies/guidelines without the consensus of the Wikipedia community. You can save yourself a lot of headaches if you suggest your changes on the article's talk page. Cresix (talk) 22:04, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Replying to your technical question: it is usual to edit an existing article in place, not in your sandbox. If an article needs a complete rewrite then you might work in a sandbox, and in that case you would need to copy and paste from your sandbox (from an edit box on it, not from the displayed text): but I wouldn't do that without getting consensus on the talk page first. However, as others have said, in this case your best course is to suggest the changes you want on the talk page. --ColinFine (talk) 09:33, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

AMENDMENT IN INFORMATION

Dear Sir

Information on Karachi Fish harbour on Wikipedia is quite old rather become obsolete. It needs to be updated as per current status. I am Public Relations Officer in Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority and can provide you update information. Please let me know how can I do this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.160.50.72 (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

As you are associated with the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority, you would have a conflict of interest if you edited the article yourself. It would be better if you put your information on the article's talk page, and let other people update the page accordingly. Maproom (talk) 21:15, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

But the information must be supported by independent reliable sources: somebody's personal or professional knowledge is not enough. --ColinFine (talk) 09:35, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

Your Article on Baboons...

You report that a collective noun for baboons is NOT a congress, and that the term is some kind of joke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baboon

WRONG! Check your handy Webster's Dictionary:

Webster's reports, "The collective noun for baboons is commonly troop or congress." http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/baboon?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=baboon&sa=Search#906

Mini Dunlop, PhD 67.49.132.158 (talk) 22:33, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

I have added a section on the baboon talk page. It may have been discussed before. I think we should have consensus before any changes though. I am going to look through my paper dictionaries now.--Canoe1967 (talk) 22:55, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Did you notice in the link you gave that the only time "congress" appears is in the section that was copied from an old version of the Wikipedia article. Also take a look at the references given in the Baboon article. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 23:00, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Resolved

I fixed the wiktionary and now the link above doesn't show it anymore.--Canoe1967 (talk) 00:05, 26 May 2012 (UTC)