Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2023 October 15

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October 15

Tournament template

There is an infobox template for a tournament, incorporating such information such as year, amount of teams, etc. I've seen it before in articles, but is there a documentation for the bracket structure similar to the charts produced by sports authorities? Doctor Alex (talk · contributions · sandbox) 03:58, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Blocky44: Hi there! There are a lot of tournament templates - see Category:Tournament bracket templates. Each one should have its own documentation. GoingBatty (talk) 05:00, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Confusion over template parameter issue

I'm having some trouble with this. I'm editing the article Alois Estermann and for some reason I can't insert "death_cause" into the infobox template "Infobox military person", despite it being a documented parameter on its page (and suggested by the visual editor). When I insert it it gives me an error and the information is not shown on the page. It works if I just use "infobox person". Is this a badly maintained template? Did I break something? Should I just use infobox person?

I feel like I must be missing something really obvious, but can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? PARAKANYAA (talk) 05:09, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

The parameter was added to Template:Infobox military person/doc in this edit, but never to Template:Infobox military person itself. —Cryptic 05:26, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@PARAKANYAA: Hi there! Just like an article's talk page is the best place to discuss an article, Template talk:Infobox military person will be the best place to report this issue. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 16:17, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Famous to-be contributor

Hello,

Wikipedia:Username policy states that "If a username implies that the user is, or is related to, a notable, identifiable or well-known person, the account may be blocked as a precaution against impersonation until the user's proof of identity is provided." A "notable" I know plans to contribute. How can such a proof of identity be provided? Micheletb (talk) 08:00, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Micheletb There is no requirement for people to use their real names as their account name and most do not. There is a policy that people must not be outed if they edit under an anonymous name (see WP:OUTING). If someone notable does want to use their real name, they should use the procedure at WP:REALNAME to confirm who they are: basically, it is done by email. Mike Turnbull (talk) 08:41, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

This is all rather cryptic. There is nothing wrong with editing Wikipedia under your real name. As WP:REALNAME says, "You are welcome to use your real name, but in some cases, you will need to prove that you are who you say you are. You can do this by sending an email to info-enwikimedia.org. Be aware that emails are handled by a volunteer response team; it can take some time before you'll receive a reply." If the notable person is yourself or someone you know, see WP:COI.--♦IanMacM♦ ^{(talk to me)} 08:44, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

How to create a new category?

I would like to create a new category, [[Category:1807 French novels]], but I can't find any guidance on how to do it. Can I do it myself, or do I need to request someone? Is it a new page in Main Space, or something more complicated, elsewhere? I'd welcome a pointer to some help. Thanks. Masato.harada (talk) 09:09, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Masato.harada: You just create the category page like any other page, e.g. after clicking a red link to it: Category:1807 French novels (I placed a colon in front to make a link). Pages starting with "Category:" are in the category namespace, not mainspace. See more at Help:Category. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:02, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Categories of the form "<year> <nationality> <items>" or "<items> in <year>" usually only contain boilerplate text; if you go to an existing, similar category, you'll find you can usually just paste in whatever's there, usually without even having to change the year. I've created Category:1807 French novels for you from what was in Category:1997 French novels. —Cryptic 10:07, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Masato.harada: In addition to creating the category like Cryptic suggests, it's also good to create the associated talk page, which I have done at Category talk:1807 French novels. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 16:14, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

You can also use {{subst:copycat}} to do the boilerplate handling automatically in some cases. * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 16:24, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Restoring of my Wikipedia Page

Hi,

I am dr Arianna Di Stadio, a physician scientist and the researcher that discovered the treatment for persistent smell disorders COVID 19 related. (https://spacecoastdaily.com/2022/11/arianna-di-stadio-exploring-unique-ways-to-recover-the-sense-of-smell-and-taste-compromised-by-covid-19/ ; https://abscent.org/insights-blog/blog/we-talk-researcher-working-pea-lut-supplements-smell-loss; https://theinscribermag.com/arianna-di-stadio-keeping-up-the-spirit-of-covid-research/; https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/world/europe/italy-coronavirus-sense-of-smell.html) As additional one of my study on enthorinal cortex as also been cited by CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/15/health/alzheimers-gene-reelin-protected/index.html.

In Italy I am quite famous for my research during COVID-19 and the one about neuroinflammatory disorders https://www.google.com/search?q=arianna+di+Stadio&sca_esv=573602636&ei=nOkrZc3dKcmu5NoP7OS7yAE&ved=0ahUKEwjNm4zrlPiBAxVJF1kFHWzyDhkQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=arianna+di+Stadio&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

There was a page with these info and the details about me and my study that has been deleted.

Could you please double check and see what it is happened and eventually restore my page?

Thank you

Best Regards

Arianna Di Stadio MD, PhD Aridis73 (talk) 13:36, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Hello,

The last deletion of the page was on Monday. It was deleted, because the page was created by a now banned or blocked user. You're free to follow instructions at WP:UND in order to get an email of the contents of the page. Let me know if you need any help. Alternatively, consider discussing the restoring of the page with the deleting admin. Stay safe, NotAGenious (talk) 13:43, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Thank you! Aridis73 (talk) 15:45, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Aridis73: Note that the this was a Wikipedia article ABOUT you, not your page (see WP:OWN). If the article is restored, you should not be directly editing it due to your conflict of interest. You would be allowed to submit edit requests on the article's talk page to make suggestions for other editors to consider. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 16:13, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Request for Article Review as I am new

I've written an article on "Freelance Marketplaces for Beginners" and need your expert review to ensure it complies with Wikipedia's guidelines. I aim to contribute positively and wish to avoid any issues. Your feedback on neutrality, sourcing, and formatting would be invaluable. Can I share the draft with you for review?

Best regards, ~~Aqsa~~ Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 17:07, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Asked and answered at Teahouse. David notMD (talk) 17:11, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Your article Freelance Marketplaces for Beginners to Find Remote Jobs was speedy deleted as unambiguous advertising. Theroadislong (talk) 17:13, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Yes, but now I have tried to correct my mistakes and needs some review. Would you like to help me in it? Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 17:15, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

David,

there is no reply at Teahouse. I have checked it many times. Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 17:16, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

I sincerely doubt that there could ever be an article titled Freelance Marketplaces for Beginners to Find Remote Jobs Wikipedia is not a how to. Theroadislong (talk) 17:19, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

so, I should work on a new article now?? Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 17:26, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

I would strongly advise against attempting to create another article until you are more familiar with the aims and processes of Wikipedia. Gain more experience through working on improving existing articles first. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:28, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

I have been working on it for a long time now. and I tried my best to work on this article. Now, I want to contribute something on my own. Is it a bad idea? Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 17:31, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Hello, Azsa Shabbir. I remember when I was a new editor more than fifteen years ago, and I so much wanted to "make my mark" by creating a new article. Now I know that that is not the only way to contribute, or necessarily the best way. (In 23 thousand edits and 18 years, I have created only a dozen articles). In most cases, and especially for new editors, making small improvements to some of our six million articles will add far more value to Wikipedia than trying to create a new article. ColinFine (talk) 14:24, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Dear Colin, Thank you so much for your advice and kindness. I sincerely appreciate it. Thanks again. I am surely going to follow you. You are really nice and guide newcomers with kind behavior. Aqsa Shabbir (talk) 16:38, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Aqsa Shabbir I unblocked you because you said you would make proper contributions, if that is not what you are going to do, I'll block you again Jimfbleak - talk to me?

How to preload edits?

When you submit an edit request using the button on a protection notice, it preloads the edit you're going to make. Is there any way to do this with the page's URL? LOOKSQUARE (👤️·🗨️) talk 18:26, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@LOOKSQUARE: I know preloading and the edit request feature but it's unclear to me what you mean by "with the page's URL". See mw:Manual:Creating pages with preloaded text for general help. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:35, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

By that, I mean by adding a query at the end of the URL, in addition to the default ?action=edit. LOOKSQUARE (👤️·🗨️) talk 19:48, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@LOOKSQUARE: You have to preload a page but if that page only contains $1 then you can give the content in the url with preloadparams[] at mw:Manual:Creating pages with preloaded text#Using parameters. User:PrimeHunter/$1 says $1. [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Sandbox|action=edit&section=new&preload=User:PrimeHunter/$1&preloadparams%5b%5d={{urlencode:This text is preloaded from a url}}}} Preload link] produces: Preload link. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:39, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Talk page template

There is at least one template that can be placed on the talk page of IPs when there are ancient comments that are no longer relevant. It basically says "all those ancient comments that are no longer relevant have been cleared. If for some odd reason you need to see a comment from 12 years ago, feel free to graze through the history."

Alas, I can't find it now, but someone here can help, I'm sure! Joyous! Noise! 18:51, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

{{OW}}/{{Blanked IP talk}} * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 19:14, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

YES! Thank you. Joyous! Noise! 19:17, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

canceling game changer account

how do I cancel game changer 72.48.166.250 (talk) 20:04, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

I no longer have use for game changer plus cant remember password 72.48.166.250 (talk) 20:06, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

This is the helpdesk for editing and using Wikipedia- please consult Google for your question. Qcne (talk) 20:22, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

draft article

I am drafting a new article. To save it for later work, I understand I must hit the publish button. I do that, but then cannot find my draft article. Could you please help me through the process of saving the article and then retrieving it later for further work. Thank you Robert degavre Robert T. deGavre (talk) 20:14, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Hi @Robert T. deGavre. When you Publish it should save your draft into your list of contributions: Special:Contributions/Robert T. deGavre. This is a public record of every edit you've made to Wikipedia. Unfortunately I cannot see any drafts in your record, which suggests either:

1) You were logged out of your account when you published it, so it isn't attached to this account's contribution record.

2) The Publishing process failed somehow, perhaps due to internet connectivity issues?

What is the name of your draft, so we can try and find it? Qcne (talk) 20:21, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Brig. Gen. Chester Braddock deGavre

Thanks for your help 64.119.11.78 (talk) 21:05, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Hi again. If you look at your above message, it shows your IP address instead of your username. This means you have been logged out of Wikipedia in-between posting the original topic and this reply.

Therefore, I think what is happening is that you are getting logged out somewhere in the process.

However, I have carefully checked the Draft space on Wikipedia and cannot find any draft article named "Brig. Gen. Chester Braddock deGavre" or variations of that.

I wonder therefore, if when you're hitting Publish something is going wrong somewhere and the draft is getting lost.

Alternatively, are you sure you are creating this draft on the English Wikipedia? Qcne (talk) 21:20, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Robert T. deGavre: If this is an article about yourself, please read WP:AUTO RudolfRed (talk) 21:10, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

The subject died in 1993. WP:COI probably still applies due to familial relation. Folly Mox (talk) 21:36, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

A few comments:

1. ) Having reached the rank of Brigadier General, he does reach notability for Wikipedia
2. ) I'd be somewhat concerned on COI, as the most significant news coverage of Brig Gen deGavre is in regards to the mass Court Martial during the Korean War of the Borinqueneers. I'm very concerned about having a relative write that.Naraht (talk) 13:48, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Thank you for your thoughts and your cautionary advice. I have no blood relationship with the General. He married my mother. That being said, I will be very careful to document every statement I make about his service with the 65th Infantry Regiment. 64.119.11.78 (talk) 16:27, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

As we still can't seem to find your draft, I'd be willing for you to post the contents of the draft to my User Talk Page (including all references), and I could have a look and submit it for you if it passes our criteria. Qcne (talk) 08:52, 17 October 2023 (UTC)

Thank you for your offer.

My article focuses upon four areas of the General's life:

1. his role from 1942-1944 in testing, evaluating and improving the majority of the parachute and airborne equipment that were to be used by the nascent US Army airborne forces in World War Two. This role included parachuting from a large variety of aircraft, free falling, and parachuting with heavy equipment attached to him, including a motorcycle. He did this "without regard for his personal safety". He was awarwed a Legion of Merit for this work - one of the very early recipients of this medal

2. His controversial role as CO of the 65th Infantry Regiment, for which he received his second Legion of Merit and a personal recommendation from Gen. Maxwell Taylor that DeGavre be promoted to general officer. He was also awarded the Siver Star while serving with the 65th. None of this is mentioned in current narratives of his regimental command.

3. His unusual character and personality.

4. His life-long career as a waterfowl artist - later carving and painting miniature waterfowl. After he retired from the Army he devoted much time to this avocation and received many accolades.

It is thus a long article, made longer by the necessity to offer a balanced description of his role as the CO 65th Infantry and the acclaim he received from his Army superiors for transforming what was then a failing unit Puerto Rican unit - it had been a well-regarded unit in Korea - into an integrated US Army unit and into an effective reliable combat force. The Army high-command wanted almost universally to disband the regiment as it did other failing white and black regiments in Korea. For reasons I do not know - and is not mentioned in the reference material - the Army backed down and agreed to transform it into an integrated unit. DeGavre had served several years as a young office in Puerto Rico where he learned Spanish and became very fond of the Puerto Rican people. I could - but will not - argue that it was because of him the Army chose not to disband the unit.

I would also like to post probably three photos of him as part of the article.

References are an issue. Many of the references come from papers I found in his personal files - for example the letter from General Maxwell Taylor. I am communicating with the Airborne Museum in Fayetteville North Carolina to see if they would accept these personal papers and make them available to researchers. I am hopeful of a positive response - they have a full-size mannequin of him on display dressed in airborne garb of 1942.

My preference would be to type this in Microsoft word using Wiki format and procedures and then email it to you. Alternatively, I could very reluctantly type it on Wiki, probably in installments. I have typed several drafts on Wiki - just the first few pages - but lost them all. I am not a millennial and thus even your generous offer of "post ...to User Talk Page" leaves me with the question how the hell do I do that.

I feel I have a story that needs to be told and would like to tell it.

Thank you again

Robert Thompson deGavre Robert T. deGavre (talk) 19:04, 18 October 2023 (UTC)

MWOD

Where can I learn about the history/use of the "MWOD:" webspace prefix in WP? I stumbled across one at Sinful Davey: (picaresque). It's been in the article for nearly three years, so it's not a new thing, but I've never seen one before. Wouldn't Wiktionary WIKT links be preferred? Merriam-Webster is obviously a reliable source, but I'm puzzled at how it's being presented as if it were not an external link. Matt Deres (talk) 20:30, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Matt Deres: MWOD:picaresque makes an interwiki link to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picaresque because MWOD is defined as https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/$1 in meta:Interwiki map. It does seem unusual to "hide" such a link in an article. insource:mwod finds 120 cases. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:59, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Thank you very much. Looking through the list, I see that Webster's is hardly the most problematic. Who on earth thought it was a good idea to make links to FanimutationWiki: look like they were internal to the project? Yeesh. Where would be an appropriate place to discuss their use on enwiki? Village Pump? Matt Deres (talk) 21:48, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

@Matt Deres: Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking#Interwiki links says such links are "generally discouraged". Is that enough for you? PrimeHunter (talk) 22:15, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Works for me - thanks! Matt Deres (talk) 21:52, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

What’s the point of letting the general public update Wikipedia?

Since you have staff that reviews the updates and removes them if they are false, why bother with the public updates? Why doesn’t the staff just do the updates? 2607:FEA8:AA03:400:D1E6:5493:998F:24FE (talk) 23:33, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Wikipedia does not have 'staff that reviews the updates' content. Contributors are volunteers. AndyTheGrump (talk) 23:40, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

There is no paid staff. Almost all the work is done by volunteers from the general public. Cullen328 (talk) 23:50, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

The WHOLE POINT (to overgeneralize) of Wikipedia is to be a compendium that anyone can contribute to, be they university professors or street cleaners, dishwashers or retired airline pilots, mechanics or machinists. The assumption is that people are generally smart and conscientious and like to contribute to something that (hopefully) endures. --User:Ceyockey (talk to me) 23:58, 15 October 2023 (UTC)