Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2012 September 3

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September 3

Account creator

Hi. I was like to request the "Account creator" right, but don't really know if I have to do anything to get it. Do I get experience somewhere? Cheers, TBrandley 00:00, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Account creator. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:16, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Articles appearing mysteriously in a category

Resolved

Why are article space articles appearing in Category:Mexican film director navigational boxes? They all appear to be on Template:Jaime Salvador.--TonyTheTiger (T/C/BIO/WP:CHICAGO/WP:FOUR) 01:52, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

This seems to be fixed now? The template correctly wraps the category inside "noinclude". -- John of Reading (talk) 06:45, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Thanks (although I can not tell what fix was employed).--TonyTheTiger (T/C/BIO/WP:CHICAGO/WP:FOUR) 23:11, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

The fix was two days ago in [1]. It can take a long time for category pages to be updated when a template changes which categories it adds without the affected pages being edited. A purge of the page will update which categories are displayed at the bottom of the page, but it may take a null edit to also update the category page if you don't want to wait for MediaWiki to get to it by itself. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:28, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

This is Melody Anderson and My WEBSITE IS FULL OF LIES.

I just spent hours rewriting Melody Anderson in Wikipedia as there were so many errors in the origina. Most of the information about my childhood is wrong (I NEVER was acting at the age of 5 and NEVER took singing lessons as a child. I have NEVER received a doctorate much less gone to Columbia University. I have no idea how you got all this false information, but readers BEWARE. Wikipedia useless and I will NEVER look to it for info again. Yes, I am the actress but even some of that info is crap on the site. Celebtherapist 03:50, 3 September 2012 (UTC) Melody Anderson, LCSW — Preceding unsigned comment added by Celebtherapist (talk • contribs)

I'm reaching out to this editor in hopes to address the situation. As this is a BLP matter. ChrisGualtieri (talk) 04:02, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I've removed the content for now. From what I can tell, there are two Melody Andersons who work in related fields. One is the actress and specialist in addictions, and one is a psychologist working in trauma, both connected to New York. Someone must have seen the identical names and similar careers and merged the information about both. - Bilby (talk) 04:06, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Just to clarify a bit further, in case anyone else is digging, the actress and addiction counsellor is Melody J Anderson, while the trama psychologist is Melody M Anderson. Both are based in NYC. - Bilby (talk) 04:14, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Art of Ancient Egypt

The Egyptian art painting does show symmetry in the center, I was hoping to use it on the article.--GoShow (...............) 04:17, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Looks like you and another editor are in a bit of an edit war on this. The first step is to stop participating in the edit war. Then, use the talk page to work it out, and if that doesn't work see WP:DR for guidance. RudolfRed (talk) 04:46, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

malicious link

The link for one of the references (to an Oprah interview) in the article Marina Oswald Porter led me to a warning page that it was a malicious link. I have warned users beside the link. I'm not sure how else to deal with this. Perhaps the reference should be deleted? 206.116.243.76 (talk) 04:51, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I don't get a warning with Google Chrome on a computer with Kaspersky Internet Security 2012. Which browser and anti-virus software do you use? A boat that can float! (watch me float!) 05:11, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

By the way, Riley Huntley reverted your edit with the summary "Not a malic[i]ous link". Looks like more than one of us isn't getting the warning. A boat that can float! (watch me float!) 05:14, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I'm not seeing any malware with any of my browsers, but others have reported seeing dodgy content from jfkresearch.com. See posts at the end of this thread: https://deeppoliticsforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-9835.html?s=6d8ea637eb2add49f2ea595ac69266a5 --Robert Keiden (talk) 01:18, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

confirmation code

What 's the cure for "invalid or expired " codes? It appears that several hundred or more others have the same problem. T — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tbolt1944 (talk • contribs) 05:13, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

If you're making this edit with your account, then surely it did work? Searching the archives, I saw that if you send more than one confirmation email, you must use the code of the latest email. A boat that can float! (watch me float!) 05:17, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I guess this is about email. See Help:Email confirmation. Setting an email address is optional and most users rarely or never use the email feature. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:27, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Do you have an easier way to submit a request for wiki aticles to be created?

I suck at computers. So I had my friend try and my younger cousin try ,but We still can't find where to submit a request for a wiki to be created. So I thought maybe youyou could send me a direct likn and not to a confusing page. I appoligize if it there and we aren't seeing it.My request was for an article to be created about the original 3/4 combat aviation brigade of the 4th inf. divison. Mainly theunits history between 2005-to-2009. Thank you very much I know your time is importan and short when servicing a giant web-based library like wiki and hope to hear back from you soon. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.11.114.157 (talk) 07:47, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

The best place to ask for an article to be created is at Requested articles - just add your request under the appropriate subheading (in your case, Military and military history). Yunshui 雲‍水 08:05, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Do you want to write it yourself or you want to ask other editors to do this? And which division do you mean: UK or US? Ruslik_Zero 08:16, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Altered a page and can't seem to 'undo' it.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I came across a Wikipedia entry for James Ferguson (astronomer). I assumed that the entry referred to the Scottish astronomer James Ferguson and that therefore the entry was inaccurate. I made some changes based on material from archives but I am now worried in case there was indeed another Scottish born astronomer called James Ferguson and that perhaps instead of editing the entry I should have created a new one. Accordingly I attempted to 'Undo' my changes but without success. I would be very grateful if the page could be reverted to its original state in order that I can create a new page for the James Ferguson to which I referred.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Chekovita — Preceding unsigned comment added by Chekovita (talk • contribs) 10:47, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

James Ferguson (astronomer) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

I see that you have successfully restored the article since posting here. Welcome to Wikipedia - I have left you some introductory links on your talk page. -- John of Reading (talk) 11:22, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

James Ferguson includes a link to James Ferguson (1710–1776). This is the Scottish astronomer you wrote about so you can edit that article. Don't create a new page about him. I may rename the article to James Ferguson (Scottish astronomer) later when I have better time but don't let that stop you. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:59, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I have moved the two articles to James Ferguson (American astronomer) and James Ferguson (Scottish astronomer). PrimeHunter (talk) 21:24, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I am unable to create a new account.

I wanted to look up some information and evertime I tried to create an a ccount some BS reason came up. The kicker was when the notice called my e mail address invalid. and you don't even have to supply it.It's optional. You people got some glitches to take care of. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.19.14.28 (talk) 15:33, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

If you choose to supply an email address, but supply an invalid one, then I think it's right that the system reports it to you. Maproom (talk) 17:50, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Special:Log/newusers shows hundreds of new accounts created every hour. If you have problems creating an account then please either be more specific about what goes wrong, or post a request at Wikipedia:Request an account. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:46, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Formatting funny

Hi, in this version I see unwanted blank lines under " "" redirects here. For other uses, see " (disambiguation). at the very top of the article. In this version they are gone. Yet there does not seem to be any difference between the versions here (I simply retyped that line). Anyone any idea what is going on? I am using IE9. 86.130.66.0 (talk) 17:34, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

The old version has some invisible character at the end of the first line, after the closing double braces. And that character appears (well it does not actually appear, being invisible) on the extra blank line. Maproom (talk) 17:47, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Aha, I see it now. On investigation it appears to be a "hair space". Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.130.66.0 (talk) 20:03, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

"A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding."

I don't know if this is the right place to ask my question, but all of a sudden today, whenever I want to open a link in a new tab, I have to wait for ages and then get the message: "A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. Script: http://bits.wikimedia.org/en.wikipedia.org/load.php?debug=false&lang=en&modules=jquery%2Cmediawiki&only=scripts&skin=monobook&version=20120903T133612Z:78." When I stop the script, after a while I can open the link. Waiting so long drives me crazy. What can I do? Lova Falk talk 18:18, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

May be this is the wrong place. I'll ask the Reference desk... Lova Falk talk 19:03, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Maybe Wikipedia:Village pump (technical) is even better. jonkerz ♠talk 19:09, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

or perhaps the VPT on Wikimedia (is there one?), since it is a Wikimedia script that seems to causing the problem. RudolfRed (talk) 19:11, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I have now asked the village pump! And I'm not the only one... Lova Falk talk 19:31, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Find articles that link to another article

Is there a way to search Wikipedia for articles linking to another article? Say I want to find all of the Wikipedia articles that include a mention of The Beatles, is there a way to do that? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Caffrey, Neil (talk • contribs) 19:24, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Click on "What links here" in the Toolbox menu to the left. It will bring you to this page: Special:WhatLinksHere/The Beatles. jonkerz ♠talk 19:32, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, I misread your question. The above link will give you all pages linking the article The Beatles. To find all mentionings of the phrase "The Beatles", use the search box and type "The Beatles" but do not click on any of the suggestions, but click on 'containing The Beatles' at the bottom of the dropdown list. jonkerz ♠talk 19:35, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Thanks very much! I appreciate the help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Caffrey, Neil (talk • contribs) 04:52, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

Mass revert

If an editor makes 4 edits, 2 of which are unconstructive, 2 are constructive, is it okay to rollback all 4 edits? Pass a Method talk 19:37, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

No. Rollback is only for vandalism, not simply unhelpful edits, and why on earth would you want to revert constructive edits? Reaper Eternal (talk) 19:40, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I just added a passage to wp:rv to address this problem. Pass a Method talk 23:05, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Reaper Eternal, this has to do with Pass a Method taking an interest in editing the Wikipedia:Reverting page after a dispute with another editor about wholesale reverting. I've already reverted Pass a Method once on that page. Pass a Method added this back, however, which I feel is inappropriate because it is telling others that they need to make sure that they are not reverting any constructive edits while reverting a mess. He is manipulating this essay to suit his POV. But it is only an essay, after all. 109.123.82.246 (talk) 07:40, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

"People from Golders Green"

When I went onto the page it was to add some more names to the list. BUT I wasn't able to enter them correctly Please do your best to rectify the page and add the names to the existing list in alphabetical order. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kia Aleni (talk • contribs) 20:36, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

I have reverted your edits to Category:People from Golders Green. Thank you for trying to improve Wikipedia, but you went about it the wrong way: you add entries to categories by editing the articles about the subjects and adding (for example) [[Category:People from Golders Green]] to the article. So for example if you went to the article Alma Cogan and edit it, you would find an entry [[:Category:People from Golders Green]] - except that you won't find it now, because I have just removed it, since the text of that article does not mention Golders Green. Note that this means that people listed in a category must be notable, otherwise they may not have Wikipedia articles about them.

Also, note that like other information in Wikipedia, membership in a category must be verifiable, so it requires a reliable source, not just personal knowledge. You should only add an article to a category if the text says that the category applies to the subject (and in most cases only if there is a reliable reference in the article that substantiates that information). --ColinFine (talk) 20:52, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Link

I just created these links WP:MASSRV and WP:PARTIALRV. Do they look ok? Pass a Method talk 23:33, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Editing jockey profile

Hi there,

I am trying to edit Colm O'Donoghue,s profile. He is a jockey and I want to add flags for his various international wins. How do I do this.

Thanks in advance for help

Eileenog-------- — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eileenog (talk • contribs) 23:33, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Link for those interested: Colm O'Donoghue

The use of the small flag images is not always the best way to go about things. See MOS:FLAG for more info on their use and how to get the image to show up. See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Flag Template. Dismas|^(talk) 01:31, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for that. This might sound really thick but where do I find the symbol that goes before and after flag icon — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eileenog (talk • contribs) 08:58, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

Are you referring to the squiggly brackets { and }? On many keyboards they are to the right of the "P" key at shift-[ and shift-]. If you can't find them you could cut+paste them from here. -- John of Reading (talk) 09:10, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

If you select "Wiki markup" in the box you probably have below the Save page button then you can click {{}} to insert those four charaters. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:13, 4 September 2012 (UTC)