User talk:Jimbo Wales

Saying hello

Heloo man, Thanks for making the world easier by doing such site as wikipedia, I really appreciate it, hope u can leave a reply to my user talk page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Megahmad :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Megahmad (talk • contribs) 19:05, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Hi Jimbo!

I just want to say hi to the person who started wikipedia. I have a problem;some say my userspace is a bit too my-spacey. I dunno how should I make a good user-page that is also allowed. I really need some help, ♣PrincessClown♥ 00:39, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

I'm not Jimbo, but I have a suggestion: How about working on the articles instead? You know, the encyclopedia portion of this site, where people contribute knowledge? There's a lot of stuff on Wikipedia that isn't finished yet, and putting work into your user page doesn't help fill in the gaps. (Then again, maybe I shouldn't talk; National Register of Historic Places listings in Hennepin County, Minnesota isn't done yet.) --Elkman ^(Elkspeak) 01:48, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

People can do as they wish. Don't force people to edit the main space.--Jakezing (talk) 00:39, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, pushing people into the encyclopaedia-space who have no interest in it probably is not in the best interests of the encyclopaedia. WilyD 03:31, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Elizabeth Morgan unprotection

Hey Jimbo. I unprotected Elizabeth Morgan per a strange but amusing RFUP request. This page had previously been indefinitely sysop protected by Alison, with a "per Jimbo" edit summary. Since protection was lifted, there has been immediate action on the article. If I screwed the beagle on this one, please feel free to revert/reprotect. Tan | 39 01:40, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Uh, yep, I screwed the pooch. News at eleven; admin steps on landmine. Page reverted and reprotected, user indef blocked as sock of banned user. Sorry... Tan | 39 01:58, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

BLP issue involving you

Hi Jimmy, I’m writing over an issue that has gotten some press coverage, on which I was hoping you could shed some light.

On 22 October Cindy Adams, a gossip journalist for the New York Post, wrote a column criticising Wikipedia for inaccuracy in her own biography, and for being unresponsive when she pointed it out. She claimed to have had a conversation with you that went as follows:[1]

I told [Jimmy Wales] my own personal listed information is factually incorrect and I can substantiate its inaccuracies with legal documentation.

Totally unfazed, he said, "People should use it for background - not as their primary source."
I explained the misinformation on my site is not only outrageous but hurtful.
Even more totally unfazed, he said, "Sometimes those sorts of things can be posted by someone who doesn't like you."
He ultimately agreed to a re-edit.

That was two months ago. He did nothing.

There was no further reference to what the contentious material was, so as a result all biographical material in the article was removed. Then, on 11 November, she returned to the issue with more specifics:[2]

I'm told recently The Observer incorrectly observed I'm an octogenarian. That stems from garbage which Wikipedia's founder won't correct despite proof to the contrary. This founder - now looking to stick his icky Wiki into global marketing although the thing fosters lies - said to me only: "Untrue stuff about you might've been posted by someone who doesn't like you." So fix it?! No.

I removed any references to her age or d.o.b in the article. I know you’re very concerned with issues of WP:BLP, and this is now being picked up by other news sources:[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. It’s not exactly a potential Siegenthaler incident, but it might as well be dealt with right away. I was hoping you might be able to shed some more light on the situation, since allegedly you’ve been personally in contact with the subject? Lampman (talk) 16:11, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Sure, I can try. (I rewrote this several times in order to be diplomatic.) I met her briefly at a conference. I offered quite clearly to her that she should email me - I gave her my email address - or email to OTRS (I told her the email address) - and that we would be eager to correct any errors. Her claim that I have refused to correct errors in Wikipedia is - let me be generous here - mistaken. She did not inform me at the time of what the errors were in her entry. My email to her to request clarification has gone unanswered. I applaud your efforts, which are of course very much our standard and in spirit with our quest for the highest possible quality.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 21:57, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Followup. I just called her on the phone, and she has promised to send me an email. I would recommend that the article be protected or at least semi-protected, (because, due to her column and this discussion on my talk page, trolling is likely) and indeed that the offending revisions (the ones with an incorrect date of birth) be courtesy-deleted.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 22:05, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Exactly. As I expressed on the article talk page - knowing how concerned you are with WP:BLP - I found her version of the story hard to believe. Anyway, any BLP issue like this is likely to provide fodder for idiots who have no idea about how WP works, so the sooner we get it worked out the better. Thanks! Lampman (talk) 23:47, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Cindy Adams

I will, of course, respect your wishes on this subject. As the issue on Talk:Rush Limbaugh shows, I'm just at my wit's end with public people not telling the truth to their followers. But, my respect for you outweighs that. On an unrelated note, could you e-mail me regarding the Africa issues in the e-mail I sent you and Erik? I would be grateful. --David Shankbone 23:17, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Just because you rock

		The Original Barnstar
		Well, for founding the most wonderful project in the world. The idea is beautiful, not only for the US, but especially for developing countries where knowledge is needed. Great idea! DavidWS (contribs) 00:09, 16 November 2008 (UTC)

Some help

I sent you an email regarding this, but in case you don't read it:

Do you think that edit summaries like this, this, and things like this should be used by an admin? And isn't it standard procedure to add Template:Block when blocking a user? Have a look into Scarian blocking User:SlayerXT and the . And i'm not sure, but is it standard place to revert every single one of a blocked users edits no matter what? because Scarian reverted every single one of the edits, with no explanation. Alot of times, Scarian's reverts constituted vandalism because it removed portions of artilces (such as infoboxes) that the banned user added in. Any thoughts? I can provide examples of reverts that messed up stuff if needed. - -' The Spook (TALK) _{(Share the Love with Barnstars)} 23:22, 16 November 2008 (UTC)