Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2023 February 4

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February 4

What makes a good source?

I used an older tweet from a politician's verified account to try to get their birthplace. The page is Peggy Flanagan. Is it OK to use Twitter as a source? Is the claim I am making from it fine? New editor and would like help Editingthisthing (talk) 01:36, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Hi @Editingthisthing, great question! A tweet from the subject themselves is usually sufficient as a source for non exceptional claims about the subject. I'm assuming that the politician in question is the subject themselves, which would fall under WP:ABOUTSELF so it would probably be okay. Justiyaya 01:51, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

We really do prefer an impartial source, though. Did her profile on the Minnesota House of Representatives website not have this information? Her local newspaper(s)? How about her official biography on the state's website for executives? --Orange Mike | Talk 01:59, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Justiyaya and @Orangemike. Thank you for your helpful replies. Since it is sourcing a non exception claim, it seems fine to use then. In response to Mike, I looked on all the places you mentioned first to no avail. This all leads to my second question: since no one writes “I was born in ____” in a casual tweet, they wrote “I am from White Earth” (note: the wiki already says they were raised somewhere else). I think this a fine way to prove the birthplace or I was wondering if I was jumping to conclusions?? Would appreciate your guidance. Editingthisthing (talk) 02:11, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

I'd say you are definitely jumping to conclusions. If asked, I say I'm from Chester County, Tennessee; but in actual fact, I was born in a hospital in nearby Madison County and spent the first four years of my life there. --Orange Mike | Talk 02:18, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Mike, I see your point. I want to explain more of my thought process so you can have more context. It is well documented that she has spent her very early childhood years all through her current adult life in the Minneapolis suburb of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. She even previously represented her self-proclaimed “hometown” in the state legislature. However the separate location where she was born has never been determined, thus the reason of my search. So, when I saw this from her, directly stating that she is “from White Earth” following her official biography calling her “a proud, near-lifelong resident of Saint Louis Park” I became pretty certain she was mentioning her birthplace. Being the first time she had ever acknowledged she was from anywhere else besides SLP (having only lived in two places: birthplace and hometown). Hope this helps for clarity and thank you for your advice —- Editingthisthing (talk) 02:36, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

A thing to remember is that many people in public life, whether entertainment or politics (which seem to me to be merging in spots) have a vested interest in, shall we say, shading the truth, particularly when speeking (or "tweeting") casually. George Santos anyone? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.221.194.253 (talk) 14:25, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

"Place of birth" is a very specific datum. "I am from ....." is more imprecise, and we cannot assume the identity of the two. --Orange Mike | Talk 15:32, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Very true. My family moved from my town of birth when I was 18 months old, eight more times before I turned ten, and six subsequently, while I spent several years yet elsewhere (this involved five different countries). I don't even know how to answer when asked "Where are you from?" other than "I'm an Army brat." Similar circumstances apply to a great many people. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.221.194.253 (talk) 21:48, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Thanks all again. As a result of this conversation, I will add a “better source needed” marker next to her birthplace. Editingthisthing (talk) 18:48, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

How to type within References

I need some help with how to type a source within "References" for the entry "Vytor: The Starfire Champion". Thank you. Zyx65 (talk) 02:23, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Zyx65: Hi there! I suggest viewing WP:EASYREFBEGIN. Then view the source of Vytor: The Starfire Champion to see how the existing four references are created, and create another reference using the same format. Hope this helps, and happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 05:01, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

remove "main page" from sidebar

the top right icon leads to the wikipedia main page, below, is "main menu" - "main page". where would one propose to remove this main menu entry as duplicate? i created a task in phabricator, and @User:AKlapper (WMF) suggested to propose it on wiki. ThurnerRupert (talk) 03:22, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@ThurnerRupert: I don't see that happening. It wasn't even suggested in the 350 kB discussion at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/2020 left sidebar update. It's default for MediaWiki wikis to have a main page link there. Users may get confused if it's missing. They may not know the logo is a link, or they may not see images for various reasons. The text link has a shortcut Alt+⇧ Shift+z. The place to remove the link for the English Wikipedia is MediaWiki:Sidebar so it could be suggested at MediaWiki talk:Sidebar but it would be a drastic change to many people. It would need wide input before even being considered, and I'm pretty sure it would be strongly opposed. I suggest you drop the idea. PrimeHunter (talk) 05:55, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

wow - that sounds demoralizing for such a little thing :) to ease it i created a task to provide an alternate text for the logo, https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T328837. ThurnerRupert (talk) 11:03, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@ThurnerRupert: MediaWiki already has MediaWiki:Tooltip-p-logo which is used on the logo in Vector legacy and has been translated to many languages. I don't know why it was dropped in Vector 2022 but it would be a much better request to say that Vector 2022 should use MediaWiki:Tooltip-p-logo on the logo like Vector legacy. PrimeHunter (talk) 15:07, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Fixing problem with table format

In the Waukesha Biota article, when I was trying to fix the format of one of the tables (the Arthropoda section), I accidentally made it worse. Can someone please tell me how to fix this problem? Thank you. Kenneth C Gass (talk) 05:49, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Kennethcgass: I fixed a row start code.[1] PrimeHunter (talk) 05:59, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

how do I look up things on wiki

netflex Whitewoman7 (talk) 17:28, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Whitewoman7: Click on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the page. This pops up a search box. Type your search term there. -Arch dude (talk) 17:51, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Whitewoman7: If you haven't changed the default appearance of Wikipedia, the search bar is at the centre-top of the page. Otherwise you may need to click on the in the top-left corner if you've scrolled away from the top. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 06:31, 5 February 2023 (UTC)

Count number of newlines (aka linebreaks) in string

Is there a way to use wikitext to count the number of newlines in a given string? Aaron Liu (talk) 17:28, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Aaron Liu:Although I have never done it, I think you can write and then execute a Lua script. See WP:Lua. -Arch dude (talk) 18:06, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

So there isn't some way to use, say, ParserFunctions for this? Or any other Wikitext functions? Aaron Liu (talk) 18:49, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Aaron Liu: Take a look at Help:Extension:ParserFunctions. You might try playing with the #count function. I have never used ParserFunctions, so is had to Google for them.-Arch dude (talk) 19:06, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

I've tried using it but I've never gotten it to work. {{#count:37493815|4}} Aaron Liu (talk) 19:09, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Aaron Liu: #count actually comes from mw:Extension:StringFunctions, which is not installed on WMF Wikis. I haven't found a template replacement. Victor Schmidt (talk) 20:37, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Victor Schmidt Isn't it integrated in ParserFunctions? Aaron Liu (talk) 21:17, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Aaron Liu: it technically is, but only works when the MediaWiki setting $wgPFEnableStringFunctions has been set to true which is false for WMF sites and not going to change anytime soon. Victor Schmidt (talk) 22:42, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

You're looking for {{Str count}} * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 20:47, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

How do I move sandbox to an article on Wikipedia?

Hi Dear!

How do I move a page from sandbox to Wikipedia?

Sandbox url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Trsmile/sandbox

Trsmile (talk) 17:53, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Trsmile: If you move it into main space in its present form, it will be deleted because the references do not establish notability. Instead, move it into draft space and keep working on it, and then submit it for review. See WP:YFA, but also read WP:TOOSOON, WP:AMOUNT, and WP:CSMN. -Arch dude (talk) 18:00, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Nothing there to suggest any notability in Wikipedia terms? and the draft name Rumel Ahmed is currently protected so that only administrators can create it. Theroadislong (talk) 18:03, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Thanks you! 🥰 Trsmile (talk) 18:11, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

I have blocked this account as a sock of the article's original creator, based partly on a comparison of the sandbox to deleted articles and drafts, and partly on their IP data. Girth Summit _(blether) 18:30, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

New user interface

your new 10-year computer design is horrible and incompetent - I will never donate again unless you straighten out that incompetent design..... your answering service is horrendous --- tell your President to try getting into the new system!!!!Call me (redacted) Dotti69 (talk) 18:39, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Dotti69, you're complaining to the wrong people. Many of us here share your views on the new user interface, and on those (in the Wikimedia Foundation) who designed it without consulting either readers like you or us poor drudges who actually do the work. Just stop donating − they already have far more money than they need. Maproom (talk) 19:01, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

As you have an account, you can get back to the old interface. Click on "Preferences", then on "Appearance", select "Vector legacy 2010", and scroll to the bottom and click "Save". Maproom (talk) 19:21, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Dotti69 To provide constructive criticism about the new design, please post at Wikipedia talk:Vector 2022. GoingBatty (talk) 00:09, 5 February 2023 (UTC)

@Dotti69: Are you asking about a sudden change to Wikipedia's appearance? It is because the default skin has changed from the Vector legacy (2010) skin to the new Vector (2022) skin. If you would like to change back to the old one, you can, as a registered user, click on the in the top-right corner and choose Preferences. Once there, go to Preferences → Appearance → Skins → Vector legacy (2010).
If you would like to leave feedback, you can do so at Wikipedia talk:Vector 2022. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 06:32, 5 February 2023 (UTC)

Revert

Please revert the last unexplained removal by extended confirmed user because it consisted of sources. 196.188.244.182 (talk) 20:12, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

You changed the information, but did not provide a new source. Please direct concerns about an article to its associated talk page, in this case Talk:Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. 331dot (talk) 20:19, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Permission to look for reference of biography of actress Kelly Packard

Can ask I for help? With permission, I was going to look for reference for Kelly Packard, and add what's her birthday the year she was born in her birthplace? I like Kelly Packard because she was on California Dreams and Baywatch. Thank you. 100.2.114.167 (talk) 20:25, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

I see you have already added this information to Kelly Packard without citing a source. You don't need anyone's permission (even Kelly Packard's) to search for sources, but you can't add what you find to Wikipedia unless it's what Wikipedia deems a published in a Reliable source that is independent of the person. Bear in mind that many people in the entertainment world (or their PR agents) because of professional reasons, or just vanity, are motivated to lie about their age or other aspects of their history.

Even where such information is published and reliable, there may be reasons not to include it in a specific person's article – please follow WP:Biographies of living persons and the other links I included above and thoroughly read all the material. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.221.194.253 (talk) 22:07, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Problem with quote citation in Vabo

Hello. I'm having problem with citing a quote in Vabo. Maybe there's something wrong with the code that I wrote, could you help please? If needed I can show exactly which quote and code. WikiEditor1234567123 (talk) 21:18, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@WikiEditor1234567123:  Fixed - {{Cquote}} goes after the reference, not within it. GoingBatty (talk) 00:04, 5 February 2023 (UTC)

Appearance

Hi Please tell me how to get dark mode? A white background makes the site unusable. My eyes can`t take the light. Talthia (talk) 22:49, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Talthia: In your preferences, there is a dark mode gadget you can enable. RudolfRed (talk) 23:46, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

@Talthia: Hi there! For more information, see Wikipedia:Dark mode. GoingBatty (talk) 23:52, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

I have a question.

How do I publish my page? Raiyn Undeniable (talk) 23:52, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

If you are referring to User:Raiyn Undeniable/sandbox, you don't. At least, not on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is an online encyclopaedia, not social media. We have articles (not 'pages') on notable subjects, as demonstrated by significant coverage in independent reliable sources. If and when your music career attracts such coverage, an article might be justified, but per our conflict of interest guidelines you should not be writing it yourself. AndyTheGrump (talk) 23:59, 4 February 2023 (UTC)