Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2020 September 14

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September 14

Edit war going on at the Billy Meier page

The help desk is for general editing questions, not for trying to recruit allies in an edit war. Beeblebrox (talk) 00:33, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Hiya, I've been trying to make the article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Meier more neutral/balanced/unbiased and also to flesh it out some more with some information from an ex-USAF Lt Col who investigated the UFO contactee case of Billy Meier and released some books. 3 other editors have been repeatedly undoing my edits for reasons that I think are unjustified. I've tried to discuss my concerns with them on the Talk page but have had no success in arriving at a compromise. They think the author is not a reliable source which I disagree with. Can you please examine my last edit and restore it if you think it is reasonable/acceptable for Wikipedia? If the reference I made to amazon is unacceptable then can this one, https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/9780960855827 , be used instead? The users with whom I have been having an edit war with are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:LuckyLouie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:JimRenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Black_Kite Could you also check whether these users made edits from CIA network subnets, please? The CIA have been known to make Wikipedia edits of other pages. If this change is not possible then please advise what kind of information I can add to this page? There is so much more information available on Billy Meier it would be a shame to not add some more to Wikipedia. Many Thanks, James Moore — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamesgtmoore (talk • contribs) 00:14, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Jamesgtmoore (talk) 00:40, 14 September 2020 (UTC) Where can I get help with getting my edits to become permanent if not here, please?

@Jamesgtmoore: excalate as recommended at WP:DISPUTE. It will not go well unless you start by trying to discuss the situation with the other editor on the talk page. -Arch dude (talk) 00:50, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Seeking clarification regarding "Spouse" line in Template:Infobox person

In a biography, what principle governs whether the year of the subject's death should be included with the entry for the last spouse in the "Spouse" line of the infobox?

For example, John Archer (actor) has "Ann Leddy ​(m. 1956)" in the infobox, with the text saying, "Archer had two children with his second wife, Ann Leddy, to whom he was married from 1956 until his death." An edit summary cited Template:Marriage/doc, which says (for end_date), "If the marriage ended because of the death of the article's subject, do not provide a date."

On the other hand, Template:Infobox person says, in the comments about "spouse", "For deceased persons still married at time of death, close the date range with death year." I interpret that sentence to mean that the infobox should show that Archer's marriage to Leddy ended in 1999 (the year of his death).

Does a discrepancy exist between these two guidelines, or am I misinterpreting something? Eddie Blick (talk) 01:28, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

@Teblick: The way I read Template:Marriage/doc, you use |end=d (or d. or died) to mean the subject's spouse died married. When the subject died married, you use no reason and no end date (as in your example above). The docs for |end= say that values like his death and w are deprecated. As to whether Infobox person's doc supersedes that or is stale, that would require digging to see the dates of discussions, probably at either of those two templates' talk pages or WT:MOS. Or, if that doesn't work, bring it up at WT:MOS. —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 01:51, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for the feedback, AlanM1. I should have thought about trying WT:MOS. I appreciate your comments. Eddie Blick (talk) 21:26, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

pose entry is racist and homophobic

How do we edit blocked page for pose? Show about black transgender women lists the only two white cisgender leads first and second in list of actors and they are not even in season 2. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stopthecurse (talk • contribs) 02:12, 14 September 2020 (UTC) pp

@Stopthecurse: Start a discussion on that article's talk page. RudolfRed (talk) 02:17, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

(ec) @Stopthecurse: If this is about Pose (TV series), you would make an edit request at Talk:Pose (TV series). Just follow the instructions when you click on "View source" on the article (here). After the instructions, click on Submit an edit request to add your request on the talk page. —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 02:20, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Stopthecurse, remember to assume that editors were acting in good faith when they decided on the order actors were listed, rather than immediately jumping to conclusions and aggressively labelling articles racist and homophobic. – Teratix ₵ 03:25, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Download as PDF flagged as malware

Hello all, I just used the "Download as PDF" feature on this article at this link (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Terror_management_theory&action=show-download-screen&gettingStartedReturn=true) and my malware protection software threw a bunch of flags, this is the first time this has happened, whereas I am a frequent user of this feature. Who do I inform and how? Noped out of there (talk) 07:40, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Running it through VirusTotal, it was flagged by ESET as phishing, if you're using ESET and it was flagged as phishing, then it's a false positive. I don't see how it could contain malware, since they aren't user uploaded. Dylsss (talk) 15:38, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

@Noped out of there: ... unless something has hacked its way into the WP software (unlikely, I know, but I'd take your concern to WP:VPT anyway; even if it's a false, it might be something that can be prevented). —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 01:04, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

Correct attribution etc for a modified image

Hello, I recently (just now) took an image from Commons, modified it (the original image had 14 turn numbers, but per this discussion we need one with 15 turn numbers) and reuploaded it at [1]. However I don't know if I should have put myself as the author or whatever. The upload wizard had no option for modified works. The original image can be found here [2]. Thanks. A7V2 (talk) 09:19, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Commons:Commons:Derivative works may help. --David Biddulph (talk) 09:40, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

That only talks about derivative works where you don't have permission. The commons page of the original image says you are free: "to remix – to adapt the work", which is what I did. I didn't think this would have been too difficult of a question but apparently it is. I don't understand why files need to be some much more complicated than normal articles. I will list my upload for speedy deletion. A7V2 (talk) 22:28, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

@A7V2: Unfortunately copyright questions are often complex. You could try Commons:Village pump/Copyright. which is recommended by Commons:Commons talk:Derivative works for "discussions of specific copyright questions". TSventon (talk) 23:25, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

@A7V2: c:File:3.4V Zener diode V-A characteristic.svg is an SVG that I based on another one on Commons. I put the information on the source in the {{Information}} template's |source= parameter (edit the Summary section of the file's page, just like a Wikipedia article). —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 01:14, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

@AlanM1: Thanks. I will later on reupload (with a few extra modifications as I didn't do the best job modifying the original anyway) and follow the way you did it, unless of course someone else makes their own version before I get around to it. A7V2 (talk) 01:38, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

Abuse of Thomas McElwain

An inaccurate article about me was placed without my knowledge on Wikipedia years ago. It is now found at the address https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/1617771

The article was vandalized many times. In 2007, this was more difficult to deal with than now. I asked for the article to be removed, since I am not a particularly notable subject, and it was removed, but appeared, in an accurate form in wikibin, under this address:

http://wikibin.org/articles/thomas-mcelwain.html

I would appreciate the inaccurate article at enacademic.com to be removed. I have no problem with an accurate article appearing either in wikibin or on wikipedia, but I would prefer a good faith response, rather than all of the manipulation that took place over the years. All of the statements in the wikibin article are matters of public record, which can be verified. It would be nice if wikipedia could appreciate facts and remove inaccurate things. It seems that wikipedia has in the past at least worked on the principle that what people say about themselves must be inaccurate and what other people say about them must be true. I am sure that things have improved, so please improve this situation as well.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.203.143.90 (talk • contribs) 14 September 2020 09:51 (UTC)

Hello 82.203.143.90 (I assume you are Thomas McElwain). enacademic is one of the many Wikipedia mirrors. It is not hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts Wikipedia. Please reach out to the owner of enacademic.com. Victor Schmidt mobil (talk) 11:23, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Wikibin.org is another site which hosts material copied from Wikipedia. Again, we here at Wikipedia have no control over it. Maproom (talk) 12:07, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

School edit

PLS HOW CAN I EDIT A SCHOOL PLATFORM CREATED BY ME.[GEMMATE SCHOOL]— Preceding unsigned comment added by Wole kuti (talk • contribs) 14 September 2020 10:27 (UTC)

@Wole kuti: You can use this link. And please stop writing in all capital letters, its considered shouting and disruptive. Victor Schmidt mobil (talk) 11:20, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

madhyamik pariksha in hindi

which year first question paper in hindi printed (madhyamik pariksha) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 136.232.69.2 (talk) 12:20, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

It's hard to tell, but this might be a case of doing your own homework? Chaheel Riens (talk) 13:08, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

How do I submit a page to Wikipedia without having to become a "editor"?

I am wondering how I can simply submit a page to Wikipedia without having to first make 10 edits? Wondering if it is possible to do so. If not how exactly do I get started with editing? Which link do I go to that helps me submit edits.

For some background, I am trying to submit a bio of the founder of the non-profit.

Please let me know if, firstly, it is possible to submit to wikipedia without having to make edits on 10 other pages, or secondly, how I begin the editing process.

Thank you, Brianne

HelpLesotho123 (talk) 12:48, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

You are strongly advised against editing in areas that you're involved in - especially companies, whether profit-making or not.

WP:COI

WP:PAID

and

WP:WELCOME

are all probably good places for you to read up on. Chaheel Riens (talk) 13:11, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

HelpLesotho123 As noted, what you propose is not a good idea. Wikipedia is not interested in what someone wants to say about themselves (either directly or through a representative); Wikipedia is only interested in what independent reliable sources with significant coverage have chosen on their own to say about a subject, showing how it meets Wikipedia's special definition of notability. Most people in your position have great difficulty doing that, but if you think you can, you may use Articles for creation to create and submit a draft article for review by an independent editor.

If "Help Lesotho" is the name of your organization, you will need to change your username to be more individualistic. You will also need to comply with the policies described by Chaheel. 331dot (talk) 13:41, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Also be advised that an article about someone is not necessarily desirable; there are good reasons to not want one. 331dot (talk) 13:42, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

wp:ani and wp:an

the archives dont work on en.m.wikipedia.org for the noticeboards. is there a way to fix it? New3400 (talk) 13:50, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

@New3400: The archive list is generated by Module:Administrators' noticeboard archives, which uses the navbox class, which does not display on mobile. This can only be changed by changing the module, although we could provide links to Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archives, Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchives, Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RRArchives and Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Enforcement/Archive elsewhere. Danski454 (talk) 18:42, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Hello New3400. The desktop site is fully functional on most mobile devices. Scroll to the very bottom of the mobile home page and there is a link to the desktop site. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 20:41, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Draft Article

I have submitted a draft article for review, back in March 2020, but have yet to hear anything from this.

Can I confirm I have done this correctly or if this is a usual amount of time to wait? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gregormccallan (talk • contribs) 2020-09-14T15:14:45 (UTC)

No, you didn't submit it for review. That's why the box at the top of Draft:Joe McCallan says: "Draft article not currently submitted for review." There is a blue button to submit it for review when it is ready, but it obviously isn't fit for submission at the moment as there are no references to reliable sources to show the subject's notability. --David Biddulph (talk) 15:04, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

(edit conflict)Hello, Gregormccallan. Your draft Draft:Joe McCallan, has not been submitted for review, as it says in large letters at the top. You can submit it by clicking the button; but don't do that at present, because it has zero chance of being accepted, since it has not a single reference. Wikipedia is basically not interested in what I know or what you know: it is only interested in information which comes from reliably published sources. Writing an article starts with finding the sources, and then putting in the article only information which comes from the sources. Furthermore, the bulk of the article should come from sources unconnected with the subject. Please see your first article, and notability.

One more point: judging from your name, you may be related to McCallan. If so, you have a conflict of interest. This does not preclude writing about him, but you should declare it, and make sure that what you write is neutral in tone and doesn't contain any unpublished information that you are privy to. Examples in your draft where you need to be careful: Which published source says what he is "best known for"? Which independent published source says that he was "a prolific goal scorer in juvenile football"? You have a quotation in the text - that is fine, but it must cite the original published source for that quotation. (This is not an exhaustive list - just a couple of places I noticed). --ColinFine (talk) 15:07, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Is there a template for "Current Lawsuits"

There are templates for "Current disasters" and "Current elections" ect... Anyone know of a "Current Lawsuit" template? Elijahandskip (talk) 18:47, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

The second parameter of the template allows for freeform text: {{current|2=current lawsuit}} – Thjarkur (talk) 18:57, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

unauthorized changes to my page

• Frank Leskaj (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

hi there,

a person who goes by Jay D. Easy is changing my page to omit critical information. I would like to file a complaint and to have his editing restricted on my page. My name is Frank (Leskaj) Lescas.

Thank you Frank — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:82:C004:A3E0:9CCD:E1B9:368D:BA14 (talk) 19:13, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Report to WP:AN/I, no one here can help you if you want admin restrictions. WARN them before taking action and notify him before posting on AN/I. HeartGlow ^(talk) 19:17, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

ALso, the page you are talking about is a public domain free-source place where anyone can edit. Authorization is not required, that page does not belong to you. Please stop impersonating this person. HeartGlow ^(talk) 19:17, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Not Public domain. WP pages are copyrighted under a CC-BY-SA license. Anyone can use them for anything, but Wikipedia must be attributed. But yes, anyone without a COI can edit a page, subject to our policies about reliable sources. -Arch dude (talk) 23:38, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

See WP:OWN no one owns any pages on Wikipedia, even if you are the topic of an article. However, if someone is adding vandalism or libel to your page, this can be addressed. The edits by Jay Easy do not seem to be vandalism, though. Please discuss your concerns at Talk:Frank Leskaj - there, you can indicate what changes you take issue with, and other editors can get involved. Cheers ‡ Єl Cid of Valencia ^talk 19:18, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

I think you should instead thank Jay D. Easy for keeping your article free of unsourced information – Thjarkur (talk) 20:10, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

 Editor note: request for page protection filed at WP:RPP#Frank Leskaj. Jay D. Easy (t • c) 21:49, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

• Note: Requests for protection did not succeed as not enough disruption. The likely COI editor seems to be idiosyncratically undoing valid corrections made to what they see as *their* article. Eagleash (talk) 02:45, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

Any payments for an articles

Do anybody gets paid for publishing any article — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pasigie (talk • contribs) 20:12, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Read WP:PAID. It's part of the terms of use of this website. You agree to abide by it when you click on the publish button. GirthSummit _(blether) 20:14, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Pasigie Wikipedia does not pay people to publish articles. Some editors offer the service of editing or article creation for sale, but that is an agreement between the editor and the client- and as Girth Summit notes, such an editor must declare that relationship. The vast majority of editors are volunteers doing this because they believe in this project to create a database of freely accessible human knowledge. 331dot (talk) 20:19, 14 September 2020 (UTC)