Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2021 February 5

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Help desk
< February 4 << Jan | February | Mar >> February 6 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.


February 5[edit]

Letter writing[edit]

How to write a letter — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.112.183.232 (talk) 00:32, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

With a pen and paper.  :-) Did you have a question about Wikipedia? GoingBatty (talk) 01:50, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

How can I block Wikipedia users[edit]

I want to block some Wikipedia users,but I can't block it.Can you guys suggest me how can I block users,thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 點蟲蟲 (talkcontribs) 8:45, 5 February 2021 (HK time)

@點蟲蟲: Please be more specific. What are you trying to block them from? Editing here? Sending you email? Thanks! ···日本穣 · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 00:58, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
@點蟲蟲:, only administrators can block users, and it's not easy to become one. Why would you want to block them?

enjoyer|talk 01:01, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This User talk:Lymantria#Why you obstruct me in Wikipedia Commons? and this User talk:Elcobbola#Why you give utterance to me in Wikipedia Commons? may have some relevance. MarnetteD|Talk 01:14, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

How can I change my user name[edit]

How can I change my user name,thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 點蟲蟲 (talkcontribs) 01:18, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Please visit Special:GlobalRenameRequest. 331dot (talk) 01:24, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

331dot (talk),thank you for your suggestions! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 點蟲蟲 (talkcontribs) 02:56, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Political Partisan Person messed up entry[edit]

Looks like a political partisan jackass corrupted your sites definition of facism to attack other parties. You might want to restore it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:402:C200:2260:885C:169F:C970:3D58 (talk) 02:30, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Feel free to join the interminable discussion at Talk:Fascism. -Arch dude (talk) 04:05, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Abusive power[edit]

The abusive power page should be removed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.17.181.225 (talk) 02:37, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

If this is about Abusive power and control, please discuss on it's talk page at Talk:Abusive power and control. -Arch dude (talk) 04:07, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Mom[edit]

Why do you play Mom all the time? Can you not play something else, maybe last man standing. The mom thing is getting old! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:6011:2F05:B600:ED14:1F06:81B4:F4DD (talk) 07:56, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have a question about how to edit or use Wikipedia? Eagleash (talk) 08:04, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Clean your room. —A little blue Bori v^_^v Takes a strong man to deny... 08:06, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
A remote control could be the solution to your problem. MarnetteD|Talk 08:08, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
At least we don't play Zap Brannigan. MinorProphet (talk) 15:37, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Leslie Jordan-actor[edit]

Leslie Jordan played the character “Ray Don Simpson” on Designing Women but this is left out of his Wikipedia bio. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:6080:9A02:900:ACF5:D06F:8E21:10F0 (talk) 09:39, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have a reliable source that supports this claim? AdmiralEek (talk) 15:01, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
IMDb (which is not a reliable source) says Ray Don Simpson was played by Arlen Dean Snyder, who is shown in the guest cast at Designing Women (season 1) and Designing Women (season 2) for the two episodes in which the character appeared. —[AlanM1 (talk)]— 08:35, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

January 14[edit]

Hello! Would someone be able to edit the Jan 14 page to include mention of International Male Chastity Day? Though it started out on Feb 14th, it has moved to Jan14th, as the beginning of a month-long celebration.

Further info:

http://www.male-chastity-day.com/

https://www.holytrainer.com/male-chastity-device/male-chastity-day.asp

https://www.keephimcaged.com/happy-international-male-chastity-day/

https://carasutra.com/2020/02/international-male-chastity-day-international-chastity-day-info/

https://hypnovictoria.com/index.php/2020/01/10/international-male-chastity-day/

Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.185.250.118 (talk) 13:41, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No. None of these sources show the day is notable, and we only include notable holidays on such pages. AdmiralEek (talk) 15:00, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

image adding[edit]

how do i add images? I tried to copy the link address of an image but it messed up the BR class 319 page and someone had to fix it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Seansrobloxvideosandmore (talkcontribs) 13:52, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Seansrobloxvideosandmore: You should upload the image to Wikimedia Commons, then add the file name to the image paramater on the article. But you should only upload images that are accompanied with a free license that allows you to use the image for any purpose. Most images found on the internet have no such license, and so are assumed to be copyrighted and should not be uploaded. SK2242 (talk) 14:16, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

In reference 2, in the second paragraph under Biography, you have to click on his photo to see the information about him. I want to include a note to that effect in the reference. I'm pretty sure that can be done, but I forget how to do it. Who can help? Lou Sander (talk) 18:03, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Write any text you'd like to write between the closing }} of the {{cite web}} template and the </ref> tag.
Trappist the monk (talk) 18:54, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Worked like a charm. Thank you! Lou Sander (talk) 21:19, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Gallery parameters[edit]

Can you help me insert the titles in all the gallery pics so that they are flush left? The parameters that are there now are: <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> --there is nothing specifying the title is flush left.

This is not a problem in online views, but when PDF'd or printed, it looks off because the titles are justified and spread out in a weird way.

Also, the same weird view problem with the caption under the artist's picture. It looks okay online but when printed or PDF'd, the title breaks and is centered. Can I make that flush left, or, alternatively, put the photographer information in parenthesis on a second line?

Thank you for you help.

The article is Chaim Koppelman Lore E. Mariano (talk) 21:09, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Fa[edit]

I recently was flagged by Drmies, apparently multiple times, for bad information links. I have not edited any articles since my class a year ago so I do not understand why I would be listed as making these erroneous errors of linkage. I f I linked an article that has since been pulled (?) I apologize but since all my edits were for a class learning experience and none have been done in over eight months, I am offended to receive such a detrimental email to my character by being told I was "warned about this before" (When?) and I am "still doing it." (No I have not made any edits since a class over eight months ago) "the edits are unacceptable..." "You will be blocked from editing for a period of 31 hours for abusing multiple accounts" I'm glad multiple accounts are allowed but I only have one account and it was NOT used "for illegitimate reasons" but only used for a class. I do not plan to make any edits in the near future but believe there may be a flaw in your system if I am blocked for edits you consider I have consistently made when I have not even been in edit mode on Wikipedia for over eight months and then only for a class. Not a very Welcoming gesture. JL Fenger JL Fenger (talk) 20:46, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Here are the relevant links JL Fenger (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), Conservation and restoration of metals (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) and Drmies to save some time. MarnetteD|Talk 20:58, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
JL Fenger, I don't understand: the message you are citing wasn't placed on your talk page; it was on User talk:Cetko, a user who was making the same kinds of edits and continues to do so. You are not, in fact, blocked, as evidenced by the fact that you posted this; the other user is blocked and might be blocked again. So if you claimed that got an email (I didn't send any emails) that contained a warning addressed to another user, then strange things are afoot. MarnetteD, thank you for placing those links. Drmies (talk) 21:15, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Drmies, I believe JL Fenger is referring to this warning left by you via Twinkle. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 21:36, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
User:Tenryuu, that is not possible: they're talking about an email and a 31-hour block. They're not blocked, and the warning says nothing about a 31-hour block, or about "you've been warned about this before". That's the other user, who, as I know now, is unrelated to this user. Drmies (talk) 22:08, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Drmies, emails can be sent when a user talk page message is created if the user enables the feature in their preferences (Preferences → Notifications → checkbox intersected by "Email" and "Talk page message"); whether or not JL Fenger has done so is beyond me. Not to speak on their behalf, but I also don't understand why they were given a warning today when their last contribution prior to creating this discussion was in May 2020.
Perhaps JL Fenger might be willing to share the contents of the email to an admin on- or off-wiki? —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 22:54, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Tenryuu, before you start questioning all kinds of things, perhaps it's worth your while investigating the actual report. You can ask JL Fenger if they have their email set that way, sure--but then you'd have to ask yourself also how they'd get an email about a warning given to another user. I'm doing that in bold, because the two times that I've explained what's going on here seem to have escaped your attention. As for a warning, well, the user was adding useless links to a linkfarm, and there was nothing on their talk page telling them so; when I left that warning, I had completely forgotten that the user had already sought my talk page. They are welcome to remove that warning. But both the user and you are missing the point: the block is on another user. Now, if you'll excuse me, this has taken enough of my time. Drmies (talk) 00:05, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Drmies, right now I'm referring to the warning you left for something that was done months ago (which seems pretty stale to me). Again, the confusion is best left for them to explain. Since action will not be taken until further information's given, we should let it rest here. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 00:13, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
User:Tenryuu, you are, and I don't care about what you are referring to. You missed the entire point: the user never complained about the warning left on their own talk page. No action would be taken anyway, since there is nothing actionable. I also don't care for the user's explanation: it's actually simple, I'm sure--they followed some links and misread/misinterpreted, and then filed a complaint based on their own misunderstanding, inventing something about an email and their character. I muted you, because I am getting tired of being called here by someone who won't address what is actually going on. Drmies (talk) 01:05, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
The same's already done for now, and I'm frankly concerned that you're being this defensive with a point that's unclear, so I do hope that if you read this you'll reflect on what I'm trying to say. The thing I'll end with is that you yourself did warn them for something they supposedly did nine months ago on an article that's been revised since their last edit. As I've said, there's not much that can be done unless they reply, but Arch dude provided a possible explanation. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 16:53, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
@JL Fenger: As I understand it (perhaps incorrectly) you received an e-mail on your e-mail account when some other user, namely Cetko, was given a warning. This could occur if that other user provided YOUR e-mail address to Wikipedia as his own e-mail address. To unscrew this, you will need to ask some administrator with the proper high-level access (Tenryuu?) to check to see if Cetko really did specify that e-mail address. If so, you may have an off-wiki problem and you will need to change the password of your off-wiki e-mail account in addition to taking whatever actions our administrator requests (e.g., verifying that it really is your e-mail address. -Arch dude (talk) 01:18, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Unfortunately, I don't have admin powers. Perhaps asking one on a team like Oversight might be helpful, since they tend to deal with off-wiki email matters rather frequently (PrimeHunter comes to mind). —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 16:57, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Or you could go with the easier explanation: someone overreacted, followed the wrong links, and thought that something that was addressed to someone else was addressed to them. And then complained here. And then found you. Your explanation requires someone in one part of the world receiving an email message about a warning left on the talk page of someone in an entirely different part of the world. Arch dude, there is no way that what you propose could have ever happened. I happened to have these high privileges, which is why I know (now) that these two users have nothing whatsoever to do with each other. Tenryuu, the fact that you'd think that Arch dude's explanation is at all possible speaks volumes. Drmies (talk) 00:55, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
That still doesn't explain why you decided to warn an account for something they did on an article nine months ago, which had gone through some changes after them. Kindly refrain from inching into aspersions-territory. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 01:03, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
@JL Fenger and Drmies:I took JL Fenger's statement that he received an e-mail with the stated contents at face value. My scenario is the only one I could think of that could have resulted in such an e-mail. If JL Fenger did not in fact receive an e-mail, then he is calling a message on his talk page "an email" and is also calling stuff on Cetko's talk page "an email" to JL Fenger. I'm fairly old-fashioned and I have never heard the term "e-mail" refer to a posting on a user talk page. If Cetko's account does not list JL Fenger's e-mail address, then we must conclude that JL Fenger used the term "e-mail" in this idiocentric fashion. -Arch dude (talk) 02:06, 7 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

When Submitting an article for creation[edit]

Hello! I was wondering how long it typically takes for an article to be created once I have submitted it to be created. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.30.179.142 (talk) 22:54, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

  • It depends--there is a large backlog, but sometimes editors see things go by and just pick them up. So, between minutes and months--I'm afraid we can't be more specific than that. Drmies (talk) 00:09, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
The above is about the time to review a submission of full suggested article text, e.g. through Wikipedia:Articles for creation. I see you added two people to Wikipedia:Requested articles/Arts and entertainment/Film, radio and television.[1] There may never be an editor reacting to that. We have huge lists of requests and few editors examining them. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:29, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Display issue in Template[edit]

If you look at at the {{Age}} template you will see "0" displaying at the top of the page (immediately above the Template Documentation box) rather than "{{Age}}". When I raised this on the Talk page someone pointed out that this coding glitch could be fixed by inserting includeonly tags. However, that will require a WP admin to do so, as the page is protected. Muzilon (talk) 23:47, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Muzilon, Most templates display their content (i.e., what will appear when a page using them is rendered) at the top of their documentation page: there is no point in displaying the name of the template again. If the displayed content of this template depends on its parameters, or on the name of the page it is used on, this display (on their documentation page) will not look right. That is what it happening with {{Age}}: it is displaying what {{Age}} displays when it has no parameter. This is the expected behaviour. — Preceding unsigned comment added by ColinFine (talkcontribs) --00:25, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I personally find it confusing to see a "0" at the top of the page. Tagging Johnuniq, just for the record. Muzilon (talk) 05:02, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]
@Muzilon: I fixed Template:Age to remove the confusing "0". Johnuniq (talk) 06:13, 6 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]