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Repeated addition of unconstructive, venomous quotes at Steven Spielberg

• Steven Spielberg (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - MeatTycoon (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) appears to be a near single purpose account whose primary goal is to maintain two unconstructive and venomous quotes at Steven Spielberg. His beliefs on this matter approach ownership, to the point where he claims:

  …as long as I have access to the Internet, it definitely stays on the Spielberg page.

[1]

I've explained my position on the talk page, and suggested he take it here, a proposal he rejected, likening the board to the Leninist Young Communists Organization. I'm looking for input on this. I recognize that the criticism section as a whole is legitimate, but no matter how "reliable" the source, calling the person an "asshole" or expressing frothing hatred rather than legitimate critique, e.g. "If I can kill Spielberg, I will kill Spielberg" does not seem to be appropriate for Wikipedia. —ShadowRanger ^(talk|stalk) 23:31, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

Follow up: MeatTycoon has been reverting repeatedly, then switching to editing as an IP in a weak attempt to bypass WP:3RR. I believe my own changes are permitted under WP:BLP, which explicitly grants an exception to 3RR for the purposes of removing controversial, poorly sourced material on living people (at least one other editor has been helping revert). But edit warring accomplishes little; this needs to be sorted out by consensus. —ShadowRanger ^(talk|stalk) 23:41, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

Jacques Rivette, aside from being a hugely respected filmmaker, has a professional background in film criticism, and I imagine that he has somewhat more authority on how his thoughts on cinema and filmmakers should be expressed than ShadowRangerRIT.

Alejandro Jodorowsky, while not a professional film critic, is one of the world's most renowned and respected filmmakers, and his opinion on Spielberg is of definite interest.

After all, the "praise and criticism" part of the Steven Spielberg page should be expected to accumulate as many opinions from the relevant people on the work on Steven Spielberg as possible, and the opinions of Rivette and Jodorowsky are very valuable, no matter the form in which these Great artists chose to express themselves. Also, I'm sure we can all agree that their contributions to the art of cinema have earned them the right to choose the words they want to use, and be heard.

I'm eagerly waiting for the decision on this, and I hope it's going to be wise and pro-freedom of speech.

MeatTycoon (talk) 23:51, 16 December 2009 (UTC)MeatTycoon

Ummm... Wikipedia articles are not a collection of all known facts about a person. The criticism section should accurately reflect critics' main points, but we can't and won't include all quotes that criticize very famous people. On the Rivette quote, that one notable person called another an "asshole", without anything else to it, is the most minute speck of trivia. If Speilberg had punched Rivette in response, or it was Speilberg's mother, or something more substantial to make this non-trivia, then there would be some possibility of seriously considering including it in the article. As it stands, it's practically the definition of an "ad hominem" attack. Furthermore the bulk of the Jodorworsky quote really isn't about Speilberg's work, it's about Jodorworsky's antipathy and who he hates more, Speilberg or Disney; perhaps it should go in Jodorworsky's article, but the full thing doesn't belong in Speilberg. Personally, I find Jodorworsky's actual criticism, in that quote, not very clear. "...none of his movies are honest. His violence is ill, it's not honest. He shows an ill violence, as though he was the father of history. He hates Jews, because he is Jewish. He is making business with that, with Europe. He is fascist, because America is the centre of his world." This frankly makes almost no sense to me; what little it tells me, it tells me about Jodorworsky, not Speilberg. Studerby (talk) 00:44, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

When I come to the Steven Spielberg Wikipedia page and come across the section called "praise and criticism", I expect to find out as much as I can about what people working in the film industry like and dislike this man. Besides, the Rivette quote makes much more sense when presented along with the paragraph about Godard, so the readers may see the tendency of the Nouvelle Vague filmmakers holding a grudge against Spielberg. Whether they criticize him for the lack of long takes and primary colors in his films or they simply call him "a money-grabbing prick" (not my words) is a whole different issue, and it's up to them. As for Jodorowsky, well, I hope that you're not expecting his movies to "make sense" (which is the most nonsensical expression ever, anyway). So, is anyone going to give me another opinion on that? I guess it's up to the administrators to make the final decision, anyway, and if they don't, it's about time for the quotes to go back on the Spielberg page. MeatTycoon (talk) 07:28, 17 December 2009 (UTC)MeatTycoon

These quotes are flagrantly and unambiguously inappropriate. Do not re-add them. Steve Smith (talk) 07:29, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

All the people who commented here yet were just other Wikipedia users, of which there are billions. Where are the administrators who can make a final decision on that? Unless they speak their word, this conflict of the pro-censorship and anti-censorship camps can last a very long while. MeatTycoon (talk) 07:37, 17 December 2009 (UTC)MeatTycoon

(ec) Administrators, like me, have no privileged position in making content decisions. We do have a privileged position in blocking editors who engage in flagrantly inappropriate editing, however. Do not re-add the quotes. Steve Smith (talk) 07:41, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

As you say, Steve... So censorship wins after all, huh? Well, I guess life is not a Spielberg movie, so there is not always a happy ending. I'll go and drink some brandy for the health of the free speech, which seems to be getting weaker and weaker lately. Cheers, everybody!MeatTycoon (talk) 07:52, 17 December 2009 (UTC)MeatTycoon

I agree as above that the quotes don't belong in the article, which is where the consensus appears to be so far. Wikipedia administrators don't make consensus, WP editors do. However, WP admins do have the authority to block users and protect pages, which is why this BLP issue wound up here. Dayewalker (talk) 07:40, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

I agree with the others (as an editor rather than an admin, although I am also an admin) that the quotes are inappropriate. MeatTycoon appears to be in violation of the section of WP:BLP that says criticism "should be represented if it is relevant to the subject's notability ... Do not give disproportionate space to particular viewpoints. The views of a tiny minority have no place in the article." See also the line in WP:TE "You often find yourself accusing or suspecting other editors of "suppressing information", "censorship" or "denying facts"." Although this does not yet seem to have risen to the point of needing administrative action, if MeatTycoon continues to ignore consensus he is likely to be blocked, especially in view of his singular focus. —David Eppstein (talk) 07:47, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

The word "consensus" will be appropriate to use only when the majority of the people who have ever edited (or, even better, read) Wikipedia will leave their comments on the issue. Until then, it's just several people who voiced their own opinions that are interesting, but should decide nothing. And they are not even respected filmmakers, which Rivette and Jodorowsky most definitely are. MeatTycoon (talk) 07:46, 17 December 2009 (UTC)MeatTycoon

So your contention is that, so long as you are respected in the field, you can say whatever you want about other people in the field, and Wikipedia is obligated to parrot your quotes? Shall I make a quick trip around to the various sports team and player pages and add smack talk quotes from their various opponents? Wikipedia does not regurgitate trivial information, and personal grudges without substantive content are trivial.

Beyond that, demanding consensus of the entire user base is beyond the pale. Read WP:CONSENSUS; your definition and Wikipedia's diverge quite substantially. —ShadowRanger ^(talk|stalk) 16:31, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

I'm one of the "billions", but one who has taught English at the college level and has been, by avocation, a critic in a minor way. If I want to read what color underpants a notable person wears or weather he puts milk or beer on his Wheaties, I'll buy a National Enquirer. I expect more of Wikipedia than that and when I read a section involving criticism of said NP, I expect to find criticism of his/her work, not of his/her person. I especially don't expect to find profane and jejune quotes from his/her business competitors. The administration opinion seems sound and in the traditions of Wikipedia. Tredzwater (talk) 05:02, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Reliable sources repeating blog accusations

An issue has come up regarding a specific WP:BLP. The individual in question has been accused (primarily in the blogosphere) of a number of improprieties, including making "sex tapes". A number of new/IP editors have been adding the individual's biography these accusations (and links to the blogs), or alleged uploads of the tapes on various sites. I have insisted that none of this can be used in the article, per WP:BLP. However, a couple of reliable sources have now repeated the accusations of the bloggers, citing them to the blogs; for example, this link. I have also stated that because the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has reliable editorial oversight, the information can now be included in the article, as long as it's written in an accurate way, e.g. "the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that bloggers had written etc." User:Zsero has insisted that, since the JTA is merely repeating what bloggers have claimed, it cannot be used either. As this isn't a simple issue, I've brought it here for further input. Jayjg ^(talk) 23:47, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

I think that what counts for a reliable source is the publisher, not the specific sources that were used for a story. For example, if The New York Times said "According to sources, Mr. Jones has misappropriated funds and was relieved of his position," we could use this in a wiki article. We trust a reputable reliable source publisher to do the vetting for us, regardless of the actual provenance of the information. Crum375 (talk) 00:01, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I'm not sure I would go so far as Crum375 does, but here we have 1) reliably sourced claims that the article subject has resigned/been removed from a significant position relating to his notability, and 2) discussion in those reliable sources of the circumstances surrounding his departure, including allegations made against him publicly by identified persons/sources whose credibility can be independently evaluated by a Wikipedia user. In the absence of any indicators of particular unfairness to the article subject, I think the content generally does not violate BLP, although the phrasing could be improved a bit. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 00:52, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I agree that in the case of sensitive BLP issues, we should be extra careful with the presentation, and include in-text attribution unless there are multiple high quality sources. Crum375 (talk) 01:13, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

To be clear, I think it's still clear that citations or links to the blogs or alleged tapes are inadmissible, because the sources aren't reliable, per WP:BLP. However, I do think that we can cite/link to the JTA article, and reference its allegations. One could make the argument that since it's only one source, it's not good enough, that one needs multiple sources. So far, however, I have not heard that argument made. Jayjg ^(talk) 03:10, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I would agree that the blogs should not be linked directly (for one thing, they may change over time), and also that a single reliable source is marginal for derogatory BLP information. So I would ensure that if there is only a single source, it is a high quality and reputable one. Crum375 (talk) 03:29, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I think we're getting a bit lost here. If all the "reliable" source did is cite the unreliable source, then what has it added? All we know now is that the unreliable source made these allegations; and we already knew that! As I see it, having ones scurrilous rumours repeated by a news agency may make them more notable, but it doesn't make them more reliable; it all still comes down to the same scandalmonger. Only when the reliable source repeats the claim as fact, in its own voice does it become a presumably true and verifiable story, which we can report. -- Zsero (talk) 03:41, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

But what matters is that a reliable source found these accusations to be legitimate enough to be mentioned. The statement that the accusations have been made is a reliable statement. Notability and reliability are interwoven. JoshuaZ (talk) 03:48, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

Also, there is no such thing as "facts", only better or worse vetted information. Reliable sources are publishers we trust to do a good job of vetting their material, and are therefore considered verifiable. That they choose source X or source Y as basis for what they write is immaterial; it is the point that a reputable publisher deemed to publish the material that makes the difference. What a publisher adds to a blog (assuming that's their source) is their reputable vetting process, which is what we care about here. Crum375 (talk) 03:57, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

But there is no vetting process. The "reliable" source is simply quoting the blog. It hasn't done any checking on whether the allegations are likely to be true. Only if it makes the allegations in its own voice can we begin to suppose that it did at least some checking. -- Zsero (talk) 05:12, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

You are missing the point. Quoting a blog can get you in a heap of trouble if you have deep pockets and the blog alleges libelous conduct. So a reputable publisher would only do so after ensuring the continued safety of its reputation and financial stability. In other words, if a blog published that Jones was a sex molester before he became President of Smith College, The New York Times won't publish it (unless there was very good proof). So the vetting which reliable publishers perform to protect their reputation and assets is exactly the one WP needs to make its own content reliable and verifiable. Crum375 (talk) 05:47, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

If the NYT simply repeats what the blogger says, it is in no danger. After all, it's perfectly true that the blogger did say it, and the paper isn't itself saying anything.

But you also seem not to know much about US defamation law, and especially NY defamation law. In NY a public figure cannot sue for defamation, no matter what; that means the NYT can say anything it likes about NY public figures, so long as they can't find grounds to move the case to federal court. And anywhere in the US, a public figure can only recover for defamation if the defendant had no reason at all to believe that the story was true. That's an almost impossible burden of proof; all the NYT has to say is that the information came from a confidential source who had given accurate information in the past. -- Zsero (talk) 18:10, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I would say, if in doubt leave it out, there is no rush to add it, so as a way of protection, wait and see how the story develops and if it is taken up and widely reported. Off2riorob (talk) 05:43, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

The question is, am I justified in removing such material when others add it? I think I am, so long as a reliable source has not reported the information in its own voice. -- Zsero (talk) 18:10, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

IMO yes, for the time being, if the content is added revert it and link the editor to this discussion or the talkpage to discuss, if the content is repeatedly inserted or the content is reported in additional sources ask here for comment. Off2riorob (talk) 21:23, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

I'm not familiar with the article or the issues involved here, except that evidently it concerns a person who is not a public figure. In such situations I'd hesitate to add derogatory and controversial content of any kind unless it's related to their notability, as is required, and if it is reported in multiple reliable sources. That doesn't seem to have happened here. The fact that the allegations originated in a blog does not help at all. I agree that the principles of "do no harm" and "when in doubt leave it out" apply. I think that we need to interpret these rules broadly, giving the benefit of doubt to the living person.--Stetsonharry (talk) 21:06, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

As far as I can tell, there are now at least four reasonably reliable sources that refer to the blog allegations:

• "Outreach Rabbi Resigns Amid Cloud Of Scandal", The Jewish Week, December 15, 2009.
• "Conversion agency founder quits amid controversy", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 17, 2009.
• Paul Berger, "New York 'tight conversions' rabbi resigns", The Jewish Chronicle, December 17, 2009.
• Reuven Blau and Melissa Klein, "Tal-mood for love: Sex-tape rabbi tries to 'share' hottie", New York Post, December 20, 2009.

That's probably good enough to resolve any WP:BLP concerns specifically about multiple reliable sources, though the question of whether or not we should be referring to blog accusations even through reliable secondary sources remains unresolved. I've semi-protected the page, because there were far too many IP and WP:SPA/new editors adding BLP violations. I'm also going to take another run through the article and remove any material cited directly to blogs; anything of note can be cited to reliable secondary sources. Jayjg ^(talk) 21:16, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

If we are to report these details that have been reported in wiki reliable sources but attributed to weaker unreliable blog citations, we should imo make that very clear and only add a comment that is encyclopedic in nature and not titillating and tabloid-esque. Off2riorob (talk) 21:23, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

Man oh man, I just don't like this whole situation. First of al, why does this person warrant an article? There is scant evidence of his notability. If this new tittle tattle is added, the article may turn out to be tantamount to an attack page: several paragraphs of dull biographical detail followed by titilating "blonde bombshell" allegations. Stetsonharry (talk) 21:33, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

He's been notable in Orthodox Jewry for several years now; his EJF has been creating waves and making headlines, and until now he's been the moving force behind it. If it develops its own notability now that he's gone, then eventually the article should be renamed Eternal Jewish Family and his role would become one section in it. But I doubt that will happen. -- Zsero (talk) 17:23, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

This story has now been picked up in a number of other mainstream sources:

• Paul Berger, "Sex Tapes Rock the Orthodox", The Jewish Chronicle, 23 December 2009
• Yair Ettinger, "U.S. rabbi involved in sex scandal led fight against Israel conversions", Haaretz, 24 December 2009

There are others, but it ought to be clear that this is entirely usable material, done in the proper restrained and precise way. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 22:03, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

These comments are still of no value, they are simply un named women claiming to be the woman in the telephone conversation, considering the blp implications it is very weak indeed. There is already a small comment regarding the incident in the article at the present time this is imo plenty. Off2riorob (talk) 09:04, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Off2riorob is apparently encountering reading difficulties in evaluating these sources. There aren't "unnamed women" -- there is one woman and she is named: the whole thing is laid out without the slightest degree of hedging in the NY Post, here. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 09:57, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

• To help make it clear, this is the addition Nomoskedasticity is asserting is of encyclopedic value...

• The woman whom Tropper was helping to convert has acknowledged recording calls between her and Tropper. http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/25321/sex-tapes-rock-orthodox "Sex Tapes Rock the Orthodox"], The Jewish Chronicle, 23 December 2009 . Off2riorob (talk) 10:14, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Just so this doesn't go unanswered here, the point is that this is some woman nobody has heard of before, who told the NY Post that the female voice on the recordings was hers, that the male voice was Tropper's, that she had made the recordings, and that the conversation was genuine. Now all of that may be true; or she may be some random woman who had nothing to do with it. We have nothing but her word on any of this. It's not as if she had been publicly identified first as the woman involved, and then the Post had contacted her to get confirmation. So her statement adds absolutely nothing to what we knew of the case before she emerged. The recordings still haven't been authenticated, as far as I know; and of course if they are fake then even if we had independently identified her as "the" woman her word would mean nothing. The plain truth is we still don't know what the truth of the matter is, and we won't know unless and until some real evidence comes out. Without that all we really have is the circumstantial evidence of his abrupt resignation and his failure to issue a full denial. -- Zsero (talk) 15:53, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

James Frey

Hello, Stewartnetaddict - I just had to chime in on contributor JamesAM and his self-proclaimed authority over the James Frey wiki entry - thank you for bringing his behavior up here. JamesAM indeed does not take even close to a neutral position on James Frey, and then bullies anyone else from balancing out the James Frey entry of his negative slant.

Frey has released a best-selling novel and has a new one in the pipeline since the Oprah uproar, plus he has signed another 4-book deal with HarperCollins and is even writing screenplays for Steven Spielberg now - so clearly everyone except JamesAM has moved on from the incident with A Million Little Pieces (an amazingly original piece of literature if you've read it) - yet JamesAM insists on making that episode the overriding import of the James Frey wiki.

My beatdown from JamesAM occurred as follows - I attempted earlier this year to balance out the Wiki for James Frey, and ran right away into JamesAM's bullying. At JamesAM's urging, I justified my edits in the comments section - and no matter what, JamesAM by fiat still repeatedly deleted all of my edits. From that point forth, I became soured on Wikipedia altogether, frankly, by the belligerence of JamesAM - there's no point trying to contribute with unreasonable editors like JamesAM around. I didn't bother tangling with him further either, as I don't have all day to sit by and lord over Wikipedia pages with an iron partisan fist, as JamesAM apparently does.

The sad part is, JamesAM probably thinks his thuggish tactics are maintaining the integrity of Wikipedia, when in fact I contend they are the precise reason why Wikipedia has suffered such a drop in its credibility over the last year. Everyone knows now that Wikipedia is being gamed and distorted on nearly any controversial entry by people with some fetishistic axe to grind like JamesAM, and so people are trusting Wikipedia less and less. It's a shame.

It would do Jimmy Wales and the elder-statesman of Wikipedia well to purge intolerant and clearly biased editors such as JamesAM altogether, if you ask me. Thanks again for bringing the issue up. Littlemunk (talk) 16:44, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

---

The article on James Frey skewers him. It's the worst example of a non-neutral article I've ever seen on Wikipedia Frey made up parts of his memoir, he didn't make it up entirely or worse, he didn't plaglarize it or forge it.

I'm going to be writing and contributing many articles on literary controversies, hoaxes, forgeries, scandals and adding to ones already in existence. I'm fascinated by this and James Frey's Wikipedia article is interesting because of it's so villainizing.

There's a contributor, JamesAM, who seems to almost have a personal vendetta against Frey. Throughout the article's history pages he seems to not do anything but make sure the article maintains it's overwhelmingly negative slant (and also speaks to other editors in a manner that isn't very level-headed to put it mildly.)

There are countless memoirs whose credibility was questioned or discovered to contain fabrications. Frey made up parts of his memoir but he didn't make it up entirely, or worse, plagiarize or forge it. Other Wikipedia articles on people who have straight-out plagiarized aren't anywhere as harsh Frey's. Martin Luther King Jr. authorship issues anyone?

Of course the scandal must be addressed but there are positive aspects which should be played up but aren't even included. Already I've found many like that Frey intended the book to be fiction but publishers said they would publish it only as a memoir. That the book was already a times bestseller before being on Oprah's book list, etc.

Furthermore it hurts the eyes. It needs broken into more sections/categories, a neutral tone that is consistent with the facts, to include links to articles other than two that link to people who completely faked Holocaust Memoirs (!!!) It could also use more relevant internal links, more references, and a trimming of superfluous words or sentence parts (if not entire sentences that are superfluous) because it's too long.

I'm going to get started on this as well as on other articles related to Literary Scandals but I already see JamesAM is going to be a problem (it seems like he thinks he is the Editor in Chief of that article) and I would like administrative editors to please oversee his agenda (and impoliteness) as I commit myself to all topics I can find involving literary scandals and try to keep them as neutral and non-disparaging as I can. StewartNetAddict (talk) 23:03, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

There is work to be done on this article. About 70-80% is about the controversy. It should be explained of course, but that is way too much about one issue. Kitfoxxe (talk) 09:26, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

I have had a look and agree, imo the content regarding the exaggerations in his book could easily be cut in half. Off2riorob (talk) 16:04, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

Anyway his book was the autobiography of a recovered drug addict. Not exactly the place where people would go to look for absolutely accurate information. Kitfoxxe (talk) 18:17, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

The James Frey memoir fabrication scandal largely played out in the media in January 2006. The scandal is responsible for the lion's share of Frey's notability. Over the next few months, the article's discussion of the scandal was crafted by a number of editors, many of them experienced. I was not one of them. The media moved on and apparently most of the editors did as well. If you look back at the edit history, you'll see around November 2006, new editors without any track record began engaging in massive removal of text about the scandal without any justification on either the Talk page or edit summaries. Look at the first edit on 8 November 2006 for what may be the first examples. The edit removed all mention of the scandal whatsoever. A couple of veteran editors began reverted the unexplained massive deletion and pleading with the new editors to discuss the changes before reverting. I first edited the page on 10 December 2006 when I became aware of the massive unexplained deletions and began reverting them as well and noting that massive changes had been discussed. The editors claim that information was untrue and I noted that the deleted materials were cited to reliable sources. I tried to compromise and was greeted with personal attacks (e.g. 21:26, 14 December 2006 edit summary). I'd appreciate if the topic starter would refrain from personal attacks against me. I endured a lot of personal attacks regarding this page and made a really big effort to show forebearance in the face of those attacks. When disinterested editors move on to fresh stories and fans of a person emerge, POV problems crop up.

If you examine the Talk page, you'll see that I took the time to assemble evidence to justify maintain the information about the controversy. For instance, Frey drew many times more media coverage in the month of January 2006 (the month of the controversy) than he did in all of 2005 (even though he released a book in 2005). I encourage other editors to search databases like Lexis-Nexis to confirm for themselves to verify that Frey has received much more public attention for falsifying information in his memoirs than he ever did for writing the book and making the bestseller list. I think a good analogy is Bernie Madoff. Madoff had 50 year career in finance ascending to a very prominent role of the industry (e.g., Chairman of NASDAQ). Yet there's lots about his Ponzi scheme and legal troubles in the article, because despite prior arguably "positive" notability, the thing that he's most recognized for is the scheme. Frey didn't have much of a public profile before publishing his memoirs. Then, the main source of his fame became undermined by the scandal. His name recognition among the public went from moderate to huge.

Past changes cutting out information about the scandal have been problematic. For instances, one edit removed a media criticism of Frey but kept Frey's rebuttal against that particular criticism! Another simply reduced the descriptions of the fabrications to a phrase (something like "changed details about his criminal involvement"). It didn't inform readers that his several month incarcerations was actually less than a day or that his supposed assault on a police officer was an orderly arrest with no resistance whatsoever. I reverted StewartNetAddict's edit because he removed the fact that Frey fabricated part of his memoirs from the lede with zero explanation for the edit. Frey's biggest claim to fame deserves one sentence in the lede paragraph. Frey admitted fabricating the incarceration and assault so it's not a controversial point.

At a minimum, I think the following should be mentioned. The major specific fabrication (jail term, assault, Lilly's suicide/question of her existence, lack of connection to the kids killed by the train) most of which he admitted were false. The initial uncovering by the media and Frey's appearance on Oprah (including noting what he admitted). The publisher's apology, refund offer, and editor's note in future editions. --JamesAM (talk) 22:48, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

The main issue with Mr. Frey seems to be honesty in our modern culture. Please show the honesty and sincerity of your statement by taking out some of the negative material that goes on and on in the article. Thanks.Steve Dufour (talk) 10:51, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Former religion

Should people be catergorized by their former membership in a religion? This topic is being discussed on Talk:List of Unification Church members. I don't so much object to the article, but on the other hand I don't think the issue is so cut and dried as some people are claiming. Steve Dufour (talk) 02:35, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

There is a good deal of examples that this is acceptable and appropriate on this project:

• List of former Muslims
• List of former atheists and agnostics
• List of former Christians
• List of former Protestants
• List of former Jews
• List of former Roman Catholic nuns
• List of former Roman Catholics
• List of former Latter Day Saints
• List of former Mormon fundamentalists

Cheers, Cirt (talk) 02:38, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

I hope special care is used in listing someone as a "former Muslim." (If the person is living that is.) Steve Dufour (talk) 02:50, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Seriously I have worked on some of these lists myself, especially "former Christians." I am not saying they are totally bad but there seems to be a lot of agenda pushing going on with them. Steve Dufour (talk) 02:59, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

For instance where is the evidence that George Harrison was ever a believer in Christianity? Or Malcolm X? I have read his autobiography and don't recall any Christian belief mentioned. Steve Dufour (talk) 03:07, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Wow. I didn't know there was so much interest in the topic. Some of the lists seemed kind of mean-spirtited, like "See, my religion is better than yours. See how many people left yours to join mine."Kitfoxxe (talk) 15:19, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

I totally agree these lists are awful, imo of no value at all. A haven for editors with an agenda, delete. Off2riorob (talk) 16:58, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

If you nominate them for deletion please let me know. For fairness I think it would be better to wait till after Christmas. Steve Dufour (talk) 14:32, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

As Groucho Marx pointed out, there is no such thing as a "former Jew". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:15, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Yes it seems that is the case, no escape. Deletion is something perhaps to look at after the festivities. Off2riorob (talk) 17:20, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The specific anecdote is this, from An Evening With Groucho: "I knew a fellow named Otto Kahn, who was a very rich man, and he gave a lot of money to the Metropolitan Opera House at one time. And his close friend was Marshall P. Wilder, who was a hunchback. And they were walking down Fifth Avenue, and they came to a synagogue, and Kahn turned to Wilder and he said 'Marshall, you know I used to be a Jew.' Marshall said 'Really? I used to be a hunchback.'" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:40, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

I've nominated List of former Jews, List of former Christians, and List of former Muslims together for deletion: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of former Jews. Now we will see what happens. Kitfoxxe (talk) 15:06, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Ian Plimer

This was removed from the article with the edit summary "It's still a "claim about a third party". See WP:BLP#Using the subject as a self-published source)."

===Climate Research Unit Emails ("Climategate")===

In a November 25, 2009 editorial, Plimer stated his views on the CRU emails as follows: "Files from the UK Climatic Research Unit were hacked. They show that data was massaged, numbers were fudged, diagrams were biased, there was destruction of data after freedom of information requests, and there was refusal to submit taxpayer-funded data for independent examination."

Is this material from a published blog where he is a named author intrinsically improiper to yuse? Does this material constitute a BLP vilation -- and, if so, on whom is it a BLP violation? And to what extent is it a "claim about a third party" and does this claim constitute a BLP violation? No one doubts that he wrote the words, or that this is a valid expression of his opinion. Thanks! Collect (talk) 12:20, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Although I think the politicalization of science, by both the "left" and the "right", is a very shameful and harmful thing -- I have to agree that this quote doesn't belong on WP unless it was published by a secondary source. Even then it should be in an article on the event. Dr. Plimer's article should be about him, not his opinions on current events. (I would say the same for a global warming promoter as a denier.)Steve Dufour (talk) 14:43, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Most of the article is, however, on his opinions. Just not this one. Do you find the quote "libel" in any way, however? Collect (talk) 14:56, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps you should have the article renamed to..the opinions of Ian Plimer . Off2riorob (talk) 15:10, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The chief objection raised therein was on the basis of "libel." Is such present? There is no shortage of opinion in the article otherwise -- I think having another editor excise all the "opinion" would be an interesting exercise. Collect (talk) 15:55, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Well, there is no need for that, I suspect there would be nothing left, it seems to be that this opinon is a bit extreme to the point of being close to libelous.. imo they are not really they are just kind of unproven and bigged up so to speak, if it has beeen repeated in stronger citations perhaps..this whole editing issues around climate change here are awful and in need of a wider community solution. Off2riorob (talk) 16:03, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The problem with this is that it falls foul of WP:BLP#Self-published sources's clear prohibition on using self-published sources to discuss third parties: "Never use self-published books, zines, websites, forums, blogs or tweets as sources for material about a living person, unless written or published by the subject ... Living persons may write or publish material about themselves, such as through press releases or personal websites. Such material may be used as a source only if: ... 2. it does not involve claims about third parties or unrelated events."

The reason why we insist on third party sources for statements made about third parties is because they have gone through editorial scrutiny and (presumably) legal checking. The content might still be considered libellous, to be sure, but the fact that a third party has previously put it through an editorial and legal process gives us a degree of insulation. If we quote directly from something written by a self-published individual, we don't have that insulation - we are potentially incorporating libellous material directly into an article without filtering it through any third-party review. Note that under WP:BLP#Using the subject as a self-published source, the restrictions listed "do not apply to autobiographies published by reliable third-party publishing houses; these are treated as reliable sources, because they are not self-published". That reflects the editorial control present in autobiographies but lacking in self-published sources. -- ChrisO (talk) 20:20, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

In the case at hand, Plimer is not the publisher -- a specific commercial company "Pajamas Media" is the publisher. If he is not the publisher, is his work "self-published"? And I do not see anything remotely approaching libel in "Files from the UK Climatic Research Unit were hacked. They show that data was massaged, numbers were fudged, diagrams were biased, there was destruction of data after freedom of information requests, and there was refusal to submit taxpayer-funded data for independent examination." Perhaps you can parse it to show me the libel? Collect (talk) 22:46, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

"Data was massaged, numbers were fudged, diagrams were biased" is a direct accusation of professional fraud. In the U.S. it would certainly be actionable unless it could be proven true beyond reasonable doubt. I don't know about other countries. Short Brigade Harvester Boris (talk) 23:13, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

This is the point imo also, there is no verification, what do we have a climate change denier says that people altered the facts and figures to make it look as if climate change existed, imo it isn't libelous, especially as it is British and we don't do that much, but it is unproven accusations and shouldn't be included imo. Off2riorob (talk) 13:29, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

US law does not recognize libel against an unnamed group of people. Second, the cite os of opinion, and' last I checked, WP allows citing of opinions. Third, Mike Godwin a while back wrote about proposed BLP revisions that WMF does not want any rules on WP to reflect any national laws as such. Fourth, the precedent on Prescott Bush was that "even after America had entered the war and when there was already significant information about the Nazis' plans and policies, he worked for and profited from companies closely involved with the very German businesses that financed Hitler's rise to power. It has also been suggested that the money he made from these dealings helped to establish the Bush family fortune and set up its political dynasty. " was allowable, even though it makes a specific criminal charge relating to living persons (the family "dynasty." Now it appears an opinion which names no one is "libel" and one which makes specific criminal charges is not "libel"? I am confused by the apparent divergence here. Collect (talk) 13:58, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

I think that's a little beside the point - our policies are stricter than US libel laws. Guettarda (talk) 01:34, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Here is the more or less the same content being removed on the Climate chage in the UK article, my first and last foray into the climate change problem area. Perhaps it is just that the climate change supporters want to deny it, have your though to ask Jimbo? Off2riorob (talk) 18:51, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Reply to some points by Collect: A statement does not necessarily have to be libellous in any strict judicial sense to be inadmissible under WP:BLP. Secondly, opinions are definitely acceptable on Wikipedia – so long as they're attributed to reliable secondary sources. Opinions attributed to dubious sources (such as Plimer's blog post) however, are acceptable only under very narrowly defined circumstances, listed in WP:SELFPUB. Accusing an organization of professional fraud is emphatically not one of these circumstances. Gabbe (talk) 22:21, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

And in this particular case, the accusers are levelling these allegations not just against an organisation but against a handful of specific named individuals working in that organisation. It is not just a generalised accusation - anyone reading this and knowing about the issue at hand will recognise who Plimer is accusing in his post. One of the biggest problems with including this kind of stuff is that no actual wrongdoing has been established - it is all speculation. Stating it as fact, as Plimer does, thus gives a totally misleading impression of the state of play, particularly as he neither has any personal involvement in the case nor any relevant scientific expertise (he is not a climatologist). -- ChrisO (talk) 23:34, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

The sourcing here is the problem. Should Plimer's accusations be picked up widely and become a major part of the fuss over the Climatic Research Unit, then we should report them. But picking them up from Plimer's blog and broadcasting them on the much louder billhorn of Wikipedia is obviously inappropriate. Perhaps we should imitate the characters of Star Trek and cast the BLP as a kind of Prime Directive: if Wikipedia coverage is likely to boost the circulation of a potentially harmful statement about a living person, the presumption should be against inclusion. --TS 16:16, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Individuals make potentially libelous comment all the time and while the material might not be appropriate in the articles about the individuals who are “libeled” they are most certainly appropriate in the articles about the people doing the “libeling”. The material in question is properly sourced according to both BLP and SELFPUBLISH and it is not being used in the climategate article. WVBluefield (talk) 21:30, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

That's not the way our policy works. Material that violates BLP doesn't belong anywhere in Wikipedia - not in articles about the subject, not in articles about the people making the statements, not on talk pages... Guettarda (talk) 01:31, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

I understand your rationale, but that standard is applied nowhere on Wikipedia and I could cite dozens of examples. WVBluefield (talk) 03:06, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

LISTEN PEOPLE. THE SOURCE is NOT A BLOG POST. PERIOD. Stop saying that it is. Any argument based on it being a blog post is a non-starter becasue THE SOURCE IS NOT A BLOG POST. --GoRight (talk) 02:50, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Let me repeat, THE SOURCE IS NOT A BLOG POST. Are we all clear on that now? If not let me know and I shall correct you again. --GoRight (talk) 02:51, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

If it isn't a blog post, what on earth is it doing on the Pajamas Media blog? --TS 02:52, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

There's the source of YOUR confusion, my friend. Pajamas Media is NOT a blog. Please, educate yourself. --GoRight (talk) 02:57, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

You know what makes this extra specially cute, is that these are the same people who fight tooth and nail to include content from RealClimate in every BLP of person labeled a climate skeptic. WVBluefield (talk) 03:06, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Not a blog post? How do you know that? How is any other editor supposed to know that? And why is it at http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/? Guettarda (talk) 03:13, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

The posting is under pajamasmedia.com/blog/, and the website consists almost exclusively of commentary by bloggers. Like Huffington Post, it's a blog with pretensions, but arguing that it's something other than a blog (an online newspaper? Where's the news? ) is pointless. It's the blog that hired Joe the Plumber as a "foreign correspondent" to go to Israel and look even more of a fool than he did when they stood him next to Sarah Palin to give her gravitas. And yes, if a RealClimate was used to call someone a criminal rather than comment on climatology we'd reject it immediately. --TS 03:14, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

• GoRight, if Pajama Media is adjudged not simply a blog outlet, and you are allowed to quote Plimer's libels, then I should be free to quote well-known science blogger, Tim Lambert, on Plimer. I'm sure that would raise your hackles. ► RATEL ◄ 10:51, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Ratel, you aren't objecting to the Plimer quote because it raises your hackles, correct? I would hope GoRight isn't either. Our job is to fairly represent all sides of controversy, including, perhaps even especially, those with which we disagree. All of us should be doing that. --DGaw (talk) 05:25, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

GoRight, I think the question of whether Pajamas Media is a blog may be beside the point for purposes of the current discussion. The main issue, as ChrisO said, is: does Pajamas Media exert editorial control over the content published on their site? Do you know? If so, they are a third-party publisher, and potentially an acceptable source. If not, what Plimer wrote is self-published and can't be included even if it isn't libelous, per the policy ChrisO cited. --DGaw (talk) 05:17, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

• The Pajamas Media's About Us page described the site as a "Portal" and a "weblog". They do not vet the comments published by the people who submit material. It is nothing more than a blog site, like so mant others. Debate over. ► RATEL ◄ 05:59, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Tinsel Korey

There is a great deal of poorly sourced information in the brief article on Tinsel Korey. Much of it at best irrelevant to the subject's profession and disproportionate given the subject's notability and at worst defamatory. Any attempt to revise the content is reverted, even to make sure it is more clearly written. This has been an ongoing issue. Is there anything that can be done? Nangbaby (talk) 18:22, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

I've chopped out the controversial information - the sources do not meet our reliable sources policy making the whole lot BLP violations. Revert any attempt to add the information without concrete references and sources - request Administrator intervention if the problem persists. Exxolon (talk) 00:42, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Conten was replaced, I have again removed it and left a friendly note on the editors talkpage, if it is replaced again perhaps short term protection will be needed, lets see. Off2riorob (talk) 16:19, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

• A new user was created, with the first edit they created this new article Harsha Patel (a.k.a. Tinsel Korey) which I nominated as an attack page for speedy and then with the other two edits they replaced the disputed content at Tinsel Korey any input would be appreciated. Off2riorob (talk) 09:54, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Gary Patterson

There is an anonymous IP attempting to add unsourced speculation about the subject's job status. I've removed it twice, but thought I would put a notice here as well. UnitAnode 04:47, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

I have left him a friendly note and also added to my watchlist, thanks. Off2riorob (talk) 16:12, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Libelous postings on Linda Morand biography

173.68.239.236 This ip address has posted libelous information concerning Linda Morand's current living situation. The postings are misspelled and false. I have removed them whenever I became aware of them and have now put the page on my watch list. —Preceding unsigned comment added by ElaineBender (talk • contribs) 10:02, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

• Watchlisted. Off2riorob (talk) 12:09, 27 December 2009 (UTC)--ElaineBender (talk) 14:52, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Dispute over birth year on Foxy Brown (rapper)

An ongoing dispute is occuring in the article about Foxy Brown (rapper) over sourcing her birth year. Right now it's cited as 1979 based on allmusic. An Entertainment Weekly article from March 2001 lists her age as 21 at the time, supporting a September 1979 birthday. However, another user argues that it really should be 1978 based on a police report from 2007 and a song where she claims to be born in 1978.

WP:WELLKNOWN says not to use public records, in this case a police report that The Smoking Gun reprinted on its website. Which is the more reliable source here? Andrewlp1991 (talk) 21:12, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

I have seen the smoking gun said to be ok, and if the song from her supports that, why not go with that claim, imo. I have seen were there are two claims that if hotly disputed, both have been there, but this seems a bit silly. Off2riorob (talk) 23:31, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

She was born in 1978, you just have to get over it. Even if you aren't supposed to use public record as a source, for whatever reason, it still makes her birth year as a fact. If allmusic reports her birth year is 1990, would you put that? Didn't think so. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.138.108.159 (talk) 08:18, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Article appears to have stabilized, one date is in the infobox and a note referring to the disputed date has been included. Off2riorob (talk) 21:07, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Sharla Cheung

Sharla Cheung is being vandalized and unreferenced BLP violations being added by probably a single editor using multiple IPs. Please keep an eye out. Thanks. Woogee (talk) 01:14, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Yair Garfias

Some IP editor keeps listing Yair Garfias (aka Yon Garfias) as the bassist of The Young Veins in contradiction to the band's own web sites which have listed Andy Soukal as the bassist. A Google news archive search for Garfias finds only Spanish-language sources whose reliability I am unsure of, the Wikipedia artucle has only primary and unreliable sources, and there's some discussion on the talk page that it may be a hoax. I added the {{BLP refimprove}} and {{hoax}} tags to the article but I'd appreciate a second opinion here — is this really a hoax (in which case we should take it to AfD) or just a very poorly sourced BLP? —David Eppstein (talk) 01:43, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Hello David. I did a quick Google search and I cannot find any sources other than Garfias's own site that cover Garfias in any detail. I think Garfias's article should be AfD'd as it does not warrant an individual article. As for your query, since no reliable source states he's the bassist, and the band's website mentions Soukal, you were correct in reverting the IP's changes. Live.love.laugh.dream (talk) 08:26, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, I started an AfD here. —David Eppstein (talk) 02:07, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Ellis Lankster

• Ellis Lankster (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) — I am currently in a bit of a dispute regarding a mention of this person on the webstie Failblog. My opinion is that Failblog does not constitute a reliable source and should certainly not be used for a living person, and that in this case, the purpose of the mention is solely to mock the subject. I would appreciate a third opinion; please weigh in at Talk:Ellis Lankster. Thank you. Chick Bowen 02:52, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Replied there. Live.love.laugh.dream (talk) 08:13, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Mr. Tyminski

Resolved

 – unsupported talkpage comment trimmed Off2riorob (talk) 23:59, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Please remove anonymous contentious topic of discussion in reference to Mr. Tyminski wife – the posting implies that she was poor and did not speak English when Mr. Tyminski met her – neither is true and the only reason for this posting is politically motivated slender:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Stanis%C5%82aw_Tymi%C5%84ski —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.35.228.18 (talk) 20:00, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Seems to have been removed. Aditya Ex Machina 23:11, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Thomas McDermott, Jr.

Resolved

 – Goofy01 (talk) 18:02, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Snakemeets012 keeps adding contentious and politically slanted stories to the above biography. As noted on his/her usertalk page, this isn't the only time or page that has been edited incorrectly by this member. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.176.158.44 (talk) 07:26, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

It's not Snakemeets anymore, rather established editors are adding that information. I'm watching the article closely. 5:40 (talk) 09:52, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Yes, established editors...That content is coatracking and totally excessive, adding them is nothing more than a political attack. Off2riorob (talk) 12:30, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Arthur Payson

Resolved

 – deleted, undisputed expired prod. Off2riorob (talk) 20:55, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Can anybody find any reliable sources on Arthur Payson? I can't find any, and I'm beginning to wonder about his notability. A BLP without reliable sources is by default problematic. Woogee (talk) 08:06, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Feel free to AfD. No coverage in reliable, secondary sources. 5:40 (talk) 09:47, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

I added a search template and had a look, he is a real person but not notable imo, I have prodded the article. Off2riorob (talk) 12:20, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Victor Keegan

Resolved

 – subject is alive. Off2riorob (talk) 19:44, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

• Victor Keegan (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

Can someone figure out if this guy is actually dead? Thanks. --MZMcBride (talk) 16:52, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

He's published an article thee days after the date the IP said he died and tweeted regularly to boot, so doubtful. –xeno^talk 16:57, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Omar Amanat

This article has a long history of problems, with a lack of neutrality and verifiability from solid sources, and attack material being added. Right now there is an issue with the re-adding of a "coatrack"-nature slur, via a business associate. I shall quote chapter and verse from Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons, "People who are relatively unknown" to the editor in question; but the position is apparently that a well-informed personal or business enemy of the subject is active in trying to slant the article, and is persistent. Charles Matthews (talk) 19:05, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Dave Salmoni

The bulk of this article is about accusations of fraud. It's heavy under the WP:WEIGHT of the criticisms. Woogee (talk) 21:02, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Quick look and it does appear excessive, the refs 6, 7 and 8 do not appear to mention the subject at all, the article could use a copy edit for weight. Off2riorob (talk) 01:58, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Volunteer? Off2riorob (talk) 19:43, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Jim Leavitt

Someone else may want to keep an eye on this page. Leavitt allegedly assaulted a player, but the allegations were found to be false, so I'm under the assumption that the incident doesn't belong in the page. An IP (and associated new editor) are adding the blurb, but I have kept it out thus far. Little Mookie (talk) 03:27, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I've started a discussion on the talk page about this one, while the incident was later recanted at least partially by the player, the allegations made national news and were quite notable. Leavitt is notable on a national level because of the incident, and searches for him are up because of the incident with Mike Leach. By my way of thinking, the best way to handle this as per BLP is not to delete the matter as gossip, but to show the highly notable allegations, and also the later denial by the player. I've updated the page with the initial allegations, and the rebuttal by the player. Any thoughts? Dayewalker (talk) 04:49, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Good move, looks well written and cited to me. Off2riorob (talk) 05:19, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Not sure if it's someone being funny, but a legal threat has been added to the talk page. Little Mookie (talk) 13:35, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

The above editor has been blocked as a sockpuppet of Crotchety Old Man (talk · contribs). Jim Leavitt's Attorney (talk · contribs) is also a sp of Crotchety.  5:40  15:56, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Schiavo

This is my first posting, so please forgive my errors.

I simply want to flag that this article does not seem to have been reviewed, and does not seem to meet the guidelines for biographical entries, especially for a neutral point of view, adequate references, and documentation.

This person is again in the news because of recent developments in aviation and terrorism, and may be used as a source material. I think it does not meet standards for that.

I cannot yet devote time to making needed edits. Jeffbrichards (talk) 17:20, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. The article is very poorly written, and seems to be promoting her views. This has exactly the opposite effect of what was intended. It looks like some editors are now working on improving the article. She seems to be a notable person. Steve Dufour (talk) 19:37, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Jenny Shimizu / Jenny Lynn Shimizu

Resolved

 – newly created article redirected. Off2riorob (talk) 22:35, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

I was dismayed to note that a recent article at Jenny Lynn Shimizu seems to duplicate the subject but not the content of Jenny Shimizu, a well-referenced article that has existed since 2006. Unfortunately from my point of view, the new article also appears to contain excellent citations and material which adds depth to the smaller amount found in the earlier article. Ordinarily I'd just turn the new one into a redirect to the existing one, but I can't help feeling that that's not the right thing to do; this really needs someone to go through both and selectively merge the two, I think. I know very little about the subject matter and would not be the right person to do that selective merge, I think; it needs an awareness of the topics that I don't have. I've asked for assistance from a colleague knowledgeable in the matters of LGBT topics but want to ensure that this situation gets attention so that we don't maintain two articles for very long. Comments and assistance would be appreciated. Accounting4Taste:talk 23:33, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

• The new one,Jenny Lynn Shimizu created by one new editor and an ip looks and reads like a COI advert to me. Off2riorob (talk) 10:08, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

One section starts...Featured Art and Publications...Likewise, her image is exhibited in museums and books all over the world. Exhibits include....bla bla. ...really? All over the world.. Off2riorob (talk) 10:11, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

The "new" article matches up in conspicuous places to text her publicists tried to add to the original article last summer. I'd treat the whole thing as spam until shown otherwise -- the referencing doesn't hold up well under close examination -- and have redirected the new article to the original. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 22:32, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Sister Vincenza

Resolved

 – article went for AFD and survived. Off2riorob (talk) 21:35, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Sister Vincenza is sourced, but I'd appreciate someone running an eye over it. ϢereSpielChequers 10:45, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

She is not even mentioned on the Pope article, it is a conspiracy theory, she is not notable for a bio and if there is any notability it is for this one event, or rather a conspiracy which isn't even really an event. Off2riorob (talk) 13:14, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Well, she wouldn't be mentioned in his bio, since the conspiracy theories are rather fringey; but she is mentioned in the article on those theories. Still, she's not independently notable, so the article should be deleted and merged into the conspiracy theory article. -- Zsero (talk) 15:25, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Ah yes, thanks Zsero, Pope_John Paul I conspiracy theories a small mention, I was going to prod it but then I discovered the article was created by an editor I have a degree of contact with so I have left him a note asking him about it. Off2riorob (talk) 15:49, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Actually you can find her in several books, and newspapers from her time. She is connected to one event for notability, but I considered her somewhat like Monica Lewinski. The pope is insanely famous and so is the president. Both ladies played a part in a famous man's life and therefore achieved notability by association. [[2]] is a google news search, and the remaining references to her have been within printed books. Hell In A Bucket (talk) 16:38, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

And if she'd had a widely-publicised affair with the pope, which led to a crisis in his papacy that occupied the headlines for years, she'd be notable. But no matter how famous the US president is, a White House janitor is not notable even if he gossips to reporters about what he's seen there. -- Zsero (talk) 17:21, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

I think a simple google search with her name plus pope will show she has widespread coverage...For thirty years now.....Hell In A Bucket (talk) 17:27, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

I have updated some of the sources too. Hell In A Bucket (talk) 17:17, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Popular opinion is against me. I think it should be included, as such I would've removed any prods on the page. I have therefore taken the liberty of Nominating to AFD with a Keep vote to avoid useless procedure. Please fell free to review the changes and comment [[3]] Hell In A Bucket (talk) 17:53, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Coyote Shivers

Info4coyote (talk · contribs) is adding information about recent arrests to the article. I've reverted the changes as they were written in a very biased manner although there was a source provided, bringing it here as I wasn't sure what to do if they continue, which I assume they will. Cassandra 73 (talk) 12:22, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

The addition was totally excessive, I have left the new account a note about the content, one of the citations is not reliable and the fox mentions accusations of this and that, if its re added in the same way I suggest semi protection. Off2riorob (talk) 13:00, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Article has been semi protected for a week. Off2riorob (talk) 23:36, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Arielle Dombasle

Arielle Dombasle (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) A user (IP) is trying to push through his alleged findings about Dombasle's birthdate and birthplace that contradict the actress's own web site and many other sources. According to the pictures of documents (?) he has published on his own blog, she's five years older (born 1953) than she admits (born 1958). The French and German articles have already been blocked due to his repeated and undiscerning actions. --Sitacuisses (talk) 20:36, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

I have found in my life that this is commonplace to say you are younger than you really are, I have at times done it myself. Are there any strong citation of any kind? Off2riorob (talk) 20:41, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Her own web site confirms 1958. No matter if it's true or not, it's the official version which can't simply be deleted from the article. There are various web sites that say 1958, there are also some web sites that say 1953, but I haven't seen a source as strong as the official site. The documents allegedely copied and hosted on his own blog by that french guy certainly don't qualify as evidence here. --Sitacuisses (talk) 22:46, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

You didn't mention 1953 was a possibility ? We have three dates now... Ill have another look at the citations. Off2riorob (talk) 23:28, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Three dates? 1958 (official), 1953 and ...? --Sitacuisses (talk) 00:05, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Excuse me, I thought I saw a third one, this is the citation the other editor wants to include, I did find a couple more around the Internet supporting the 53 date, all the 58 claims appear to originate from the subject, would that be correct? It appears that way to me. Why not add in the lede that this date is disputed and add the 53 date and the citation or citations that support that date. Off2riorob (talk) 14:26, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Another solution I have seen is to create an Age dispute section with the details of both claims. Off2riorob (talk) 14:35, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Unless a secondary source reports on the dispute WP should not mention it. Who cares anyway? Steve Dufour (talk) 17:03, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Some people seem to care, the position seems to be that there are weak citations for the birth date and they are different, what to do? We don't have to report a dispute but we can say birth of date reported as 53 by this website and 58 by this website. Off2riorob (talk) 17:11, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

We don't really know where either of these dates originate, all we know is that 58 is official and 53 is not. I can't judge the value of that citation myself, but it has been disputed by the French experts at her french discussion page. The discussions there about her birth date started in 2005 and there was obviously no citation presented that could convince the French admins to add the '53 date.

To me just another movie database is not a valuable source, since I know that the biographical data of these databases often is copied from other doubtful sources without much care. Ten of these databases are just as worthless as a single one of them. What we need to include the '53 date in the article is a high quality citation.--Sitacuisses (talk) 17:18, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

All we have for the 58 birthdate is her publication, the 53 citation is as strong as the other, they are both weak imo, I see no reason why not to incude both as a solution to the dispute, this solution seems to be quite acceptable here. Off2riorob (talk) 17:23, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Does that mean that any random citation is as good as the official info? --Sitacuisses (talk) 18:27, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Sitacuisses, Wikipedia doesn't recognize "official" sources, only more or less reliable ones. A person's own website, which is a self-published source, is generally admissible as a reliable source for what that person says about him/herself, but if other reliable sources dispute that information, then all of them need to be included. Crum375 (talk) 19:05, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Sorry for not finding the correct wording; English is not my first language. Wikipedia at least does recognize official links (WP:ELOFFICIAL), and we're talking about information found on an official web site. I'd call this is an official source. The real question is then: Do you really think that any random internet database is as reliable as what the person says about him/herself? Or have you found a source for the 1953 date that is known to be more reliable than a random internet database? --Sitacuisses (talk) 23:32, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Yes, we allow a person's or organization's website to tell us about themselves, as long as the information is not contradicted by other reliable sources. I found this source, but I don't consider it very good, esp. since its date math seems to be off (says she was 18 in 1976, yet born in 1953). Since her parents moved to Mexico when she was one month old, her mother died when she was 11, and her father remarried then, there may be some news articles from that era which add information, but I would stick with her official site until a reliable source is found disputing it. Crum375 (talk) 00:15, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Here's a citation for April 27, 1957. [4] There doea seem to be differing dates, I had a good look at her picture and have made a personal opinion.. I will have a look round for more citations. Heres one for April 27, 1953 [5] Off2riorob (talk) 00:35, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

This one which looks quite strong says that she was 11 when her mother died and that she was born on April 27 1953 . Off2riorob (talk) 01:09, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Is there a date of birth there? Crum375 (talk) 01:28, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Yes April 27th 1953, have a look its her whole childhood history in some interview, nice read. Off2riorob (talk) 11:12, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Sorry, that's not very convincing. Filmreference.com is exactly what I call just another random movie database that doesn't get the numbers right. 1957 simply looks like a typo. Monsieur-biographie.com is a copy of an obsolete version of the French Wikipedia article – forget it. Where did you find a birth date in the ariellenyc.com PDF? The search function finds neither "53" nor "58". BTW, ariellenyc.com is a web site set up for Dombasle's concert in New York City. That's hardly an independent source, either. --Sitacuisses (talk) 01:27, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

The sun report clearly says that she was 11 when her mother died, there clearly is a dispute as regards her birth date and imo it needs mentioning in the article, there are citations supporting the 1953 date independant of her assertions that she was born in 1958, perhaps not in the lede but certainely in the body of the article, later I will write a sentence about the differing dates. Off2riorob (talk) 17:14, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

John Rosatti

• John Rosatti (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

I have spent the last 4 hours looking through the records that Jezhotwells and others "CLAIM" they have solid evidence on John and Staluppi's involvement with the mafia.. ONCE AGAIN ! WHEN A PERSON READS A SO- CALLED- NEWS- SOURCE.. PLEASE !! LOOK AT THEIR SOURCE AS WELL AND THE EDITOR WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE. BECAUSE ALMOST EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR ONE(which really reworded the story from the village voice and made it his own) QUOTES THE DAMN SMOKING GUN SOURCE. News sources or the "try once" and sign up for a monthly membership fee, websites, DO NOT PROVE ANYTHING!!.. Wikipedia's Lead admins who write the rules for wikipedia should force people who want to write biographies on a living person, to get more than just news articles, because its a human life and its WRONG! Just to think their are people willing to take anything written from the INTERNET as a SOLID SOURCE OF EVIDENCE is real scary and strange to me. Protection Laws need to be created, fast. Otherwise, anyone can be slandered and reputation's ruined. NOT ONE TIME WAS STALUPPI OR ROSATTI MENTIONED IN THESE OFFICIAL FILES that i found on organized crimes with the CCC. Try the OFFICIAL FBI WEBSITE TOO!! I forgot to get the 2005 but i am sure it can be found .. Oh and DILLINGER CHARTER is still opened ! http://flightwise.com/pu/ai/ad.aspx?aptident=1nk4 jezhotwells, maybe the editor who wrote the story can book a flight and get the REAL SCOOP or maybe an agent might want to become a pilot

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/lcnindex.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/sci.

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2000

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2001

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2002

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2003

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2004

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/state-of-new-jersey-commission-of-investigation-2006

Crackofdawn (talk) 10:11, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

The article on this businessman was recently expanded to contain information about criminal charges and an allegation that the subject was a member of a crime family. The editor Crackofdawn has contacted me off-wiki to make the argument that this development is not appropriate. The crime family claim, they maintain, is dependent on a single source, William Bastone, whose Village Voice article is based on private documents of unverified information collected by FBI from interviews with suspects. While an "alternative weekly" tabloid like the Villlage Voice is generally considered a reliable source for entertainment articles and suchlike, there is a case that it and derivative sources fall far short of the standard demanded by WP:BLP for a claim as contentious as this. I have no horse in this race, but would appreciate input from other uninvolved editors.  Skomorokh  23:35, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

For God's sake. Until it fell into the hands of corporate tools a few years ago, the Village Voice was generally regarded as a high-quality, reliable news publication. It won three Pulitzer Prizes, as well as multiple awards for investigative journalism. It was particularly noted for its investigative work regarding corruption and organized crime in New York. [6] [7] [8] [9] Indeed, if I remember right, the Voice was the first news outlet to publish (accurate) reports of [Geraldine Ferraro]]'s husband's dubious business associations, which soon enough became national news. It's hard to find a more reliable source than the Voice on matters like this. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 16:58, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Well this perhaps would be better to take a couple of these cites for opinions at WP:RS this one looks reliable to me, comments? Off2riorob (talk) 23:44, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Looking at it a bit more the new content is weakly cited, not widely reported, quite controversial and should be better kept out until there are other citations or a consensus to keep this content. Off2riorob (talk) 23:52, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

I have removed the defaming information until such time as this can be resolved. (X! · talk)  · @050  ·  00:12, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

What is the problem with these citations:

• Bunch, William (26 October 2004). "Perzel playing with the 'numbers'" (Subscription required). Philadelphia Daily News, archived at LexisNexis. Philadelphia Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
• Lambiet, Jose (24 October 2004). "Is John Staluppi Saving Riviera Beach?" (Subscription required). Palm Beach Post, archived at LexisNexis. The Palm Beach Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
• "United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: Nos 922, 979, 980 August term 1996S". FindLaw. Retrieved 2009-12-31.

I see no problem with the Village voice citation either.

• "The Wiseguy and the Wetlands". Village Voice LLC. Retrieved 2009-12-27.

They are all far more reliable than than the puffery and paraphrased press releases in:

• "Honda Brooklyn | Acura Brooklyn | Toyota Brooklyn | Hyundai Brooklyn". Plaza Auto Mall. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
• "Ward's E-Dealer 100" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-15.

etc. Jezhotwells (talk) 00:26, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Jezhotwells, perhaps these are better taken to the RS board one at a time, it is not only the reliability of the individual organizations but as the content is quite controversial and has been disputed, but have the comments being supported at other reliable citable locations to support the claims? Off2riorob (talk) 00:36, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

RSN regulars seem to support the reliability of the Village Voice, please read [10]. If you actually care to read what I wrote above, the Philadelphia Daily News and the Palm Beach Post also report that Rossati is a convicted felon (grand theft larcency) and is a member of the Colunbo crime family. What more do you need? Jezhotwells (talk) 00:46, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Right now the content is disputed and contentious, please allow editors new to the content a degree of time to investigate, thanks. Off2riorob (talk) 00:48, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Further citations:

• Nelson, Jonathan (14 February 2008). "Christensen, New Zealand firm OK deal". The Columbian, archived at LexisNexis. Vancouver, Washington: The Columbian Publishing Co. Retrieved 2010-01-01. Rosatti is a multimillionaire who owns several car dealerships on the East Coast, and is also known for his past ties to the Colombo Mafia family of New York. Rosatti was also a previous co-owner of Millennium Super Yachts.
• "Dubya gets wiseguy vote, and wiseguy bucks". United Press International. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 2010-01-01. Federal Election Commission records show John Staluppi and John Rosatti, multimillionaire owners of car dealerships in New York and Florida and reputed leading figures in the Colombo crime syndicate, each gave the Bush-Cheney ticket the maximum individual donation of $2,000. The pair's role with the Colombo family has been discussed by several turncoat Colombo family members, including ex-captain Salvatore Miciotta, who spoke about Staluppi and Rosatti during 1993 FBI debriefings.Two convicted felons and Mafia rainmakers put their money where their mouths were with generous donations to President Bush's re-election campaign. The pair helped finance an insurgent Colombo faction that once sought to dethrone imprisoned boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico, TheSmokingGun reports. They later switched back to the Persico camp after a jailhouse heart-to-heart with mob boss, Dominick "Donny Shacks" Montemarano. {{cite web}}: Text "United Press, archived at LexisNexis" ignored (help) Jezhotwells (talk) 01:50, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Could you explain how to access the LexisNexis links? I don't see a sign-up page anywhere. (X! · talk)  · @119  ·  01:52, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

• Jezhhotwells, please do not muddy the waters here by simply adding these meaningless citations, what content are they claimed to support, it simply stops people reading the story as it was to long didn't read. Off2riorob (talk) 01:52, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

• The citations are those that have been removed from the article by WP:COI editor User:Crackofdawn, they support the Village Voice article already cited. I did add these but they were removed by User:Crackofdawn and User:X!. I dispute that they are meaningless as they are newspaper articles in the Palm Beach Post, The Philadelphia Daily News, UPI, The Columbian; that assert that Rosatti is a member of the Colombo crime family and a convicted felon. If you are asserting that they are not reliable sources then please provide some evidence. I am sorry if this is too much information for you. If so then there is no need for you to comment any further. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:41, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

• Again Jezhotwells,,,, your edit summary of response to inarticulate nonsense. is not helpful to discussion and also not very civil. Your whole attitude here is aggressive, please take a step back assume good faith, if you want to insert any of this disputed content then offer the individual edit and the supporting citation here for uninvolved editors to discuss. Off2riorob (talk) 02:58, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

OK, this edit made by me [11], citation is "United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: Nos 922, 979, 980 August term 1996S". FindLaw. Retrieved 2009-12-31.

Second edit: [12], citation is Lambiet, Jose (24 October 2004). "Is John Staluppi Saving Riviera Beach?" (Subscription required). Palm Beach Post, archived at LexisNexis. The Palm Beach Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-12-31. Take John Rosatti, for example. Also a local business stalwart and a convicted felon, Rosatti was found to be a "career offender" by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, based in part on testimony that he was a "made member" of the Colombo family. Rosatti is Staluppi's best friend and partner in many business ventures, including the Riviera Beach land investments. "They just grew up together," Richman said. Rosatti, too, declined to be interviewed for this story. And through his lawyer, Mike Burman, he denied being a member of the Mafia. "Mr. Rosatti has no idea why he was described as a career criminal and a Colombo soldier," Burman wrote in an e-mail. "He has no knowledge of why any individual . . . would make that kind of representation, except for their own self gain." Yet, previously unreleased details about Staluppi's history, and indirectly about Rosatti, came to light in 1992-93, courtesy of the Casino Control Commission. Staluppi appeared on the radar screen of casino authorities when his company, Dillinger Charter Services, applied for a license to shuttle casino patrons to and from New York City by helicopter. The license was denied on the basis of information that Staluppi was a member of the Colombo crime family, according to CCC records. Staluppi's name surfaced again a year later, this time as the CCC considered banning him for life from Boardwalk gambling joints. During that yearlong procedure, the CCC heard from law enforcement agents specializing in organized crime. One described how, in 1980, a Suffolk County undercover agent became Staluppi's limousine chauffeur and reported driving him to numerous meetings with high-ranking Colombo operatives, including then-boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico. The CCC also heard from an agent with the Jersey Division of Gambling Enforcement who obtained Staluppi's personal phone directory and appointment book. It contained the phone numbers of another onetime godfather, Victor "Little Vic" Orena, and of Colombo capos (or crew leaders) Theodore Persico Sr. and Pasquale Amato. The book showed Staluppi had been invited to the wedding of the daughter of another Colombo capo, Dominick "Donnie Shacks" Montemarano. Testifying in his defense, Staluppi admitted to meeting and knowing the Colombo leadership, but only in a business capacity. He told the CCC he sold cars to Orena, owned buildings with Carmine Persico's sons, bought carpets from Theodore Persico Sr. and was a close friend of Amato. But, Staluppi swore, he had no idea all were members of the Colombo family. "The Snake" Persico, Orena, Amato and Theodore Persico Sr. are serving life sentences in various federal lockups, while "Donnie Shacks" served 11 years for racketeering. Staluppi also brought his own set of character witnesses to the CCC. Among them was Palm Beach businessman and philanthropist Robert Cuillo, for whom West Palm Beach's Cuillo Centre for the Performing Arts is named. Cuillo appeared as a retired NYPD detective and a Florida car dealer who had done business with Staluppi. "John is a respectable businessman," he told the CCC, "and I think he is being stereotyped because he's Italian." In the end, the CCC denied the petition by the Division of Gaming Enforcement to ban Staluppi because there was "insufficient credible evidence" after FBI Special Agent Brian Taylor refused to reveal his sources. Then a strange thing happened: While the CCC was considering the ban on Staluppi, his name and that of his pal Rosatti popped up in FBI interviews of suspected mobsters. In the early 1990s, a war within the Colombo gang transformed Brooklyn into a battlefield. Eleven people, including an innocent bystander, were killed and 14 were injured. The gunplay between warring factions faithful to "The Snake" Persico and "Little Vic" Orena prompted the FBI to make a series of arrests. In transcripts of FBI interviews with some of those arrested and informants, no fewer than eight persons told the Feds on separate occasions that Staluppi and Rosatti participated in gang activities in one way or another. Several told the FBI that Staluppi and Rosatti sided with the Orena faction at first, then rejoined the Persico faction after Orena was arrested. In one of these interviews, Colombo enforcer Sal Miciotta, who was eventually sentenced to 14 years in prison, said in late 1993 that Rosatti had been asked by Orena to provide cars from his dealership to be used to carry out murders. Miciotta said Rosatti refused but gave Orena $50,000. Miciotta also told the Feds that Rosatti and Staluppi contributed another $50,000 for the legal defense of Orena and his lieutenant, Pasquale Amato, and that Staluppi lent his helicopter to high-ranking gangsters to attend a meeting in upstate New York. Another statement made by Colombo family accountant Kenneth Geller suggested that Staluppi and Rosatti were known to provide gangsters with "no-show" jobs in their dealerships - jobs for which gang members were paid $500 a week without working. Geller and his family are in a witness protection program. If there is anything Staluppi was ever guilty of, attorney Richman counters, it's growing up with people "who might otherwise have been investigated." Jezhotwells (talk) 03:41, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Oh, I missed this edit [13], cite is Bunch, William (26 October 2004). "Perzel playing with the 'numbers'" (Subscription required). Philadelphia Daily News, archived at LexisNexis. Philadelphia Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-12-31. The FBI has identified Staluppi and Rosatti - multimillionaires who own auto dealerships in New York and Florida - as members of the Colombo New York gang.

Jezhotwells, as you may or may not be aware, these references to LexisNexis citations are not useful to most of us, as most are not subscribers. Perhaps instead you could quote the relevant sentences or two from them that support the statements you wish to make in the article. --Slp1 (talk) 03:51, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

I have added the quotations to the citations above. Jezhotwells (talk) 16:52, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

I am struggling to see what you are offering here, but the citation from findlaw appears as if a primary citation and you appear to be using it to support this addition " In a 1997 US Court of Appeals: Second Circuit case, it was suggested that in 1991 Rosatti asked Columbo family caporegime Victor Orena to have Persico faction member Gregory Scarpa, Sr. killed "because he had apparently abused one of Rosatti's employees" .. is this the comment and its supporting citation? Are you supporting this controversial content with any third party citation? Off2riorob (talk) 03:53, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Here I am using a primary source ( US Court of Appeals: Second Circuit) to reprot its own opinion (Juge Miner) and attributing it. Jezhotwells (talk) 16:52, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Per WP:WELLKNOWN, we are not at liberty to use primary sources in BLPs if they have not been commented upon in secondary sources. --JN466 20:51, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

"US Court of Appeals: First Circuit". www.ca1.uscourts.gov. 15 October 1996. Retrieved 2010-01-01. As early as 1979, while Billmyer was the eastern regional sales manager, Cardiges, as zone manager for the mid-Atlantic states, accepted a $10,000 payment from a Honda dealer in Philadelphia, and split it with Billmyer. In late 1979 or early 1980, Cardiges presented Billmyer with a gold Rolex watch worth as much as $15,000 from a large Honda dealer in the Washington, D.C. area. Beginning with the 1984 holiday season and continuing through 1992, Cardiges received $20,000 to $25,000 each year from John Rosatti, a Honda dealer in New York City.Rosatti told Cardiges that he was paying Billmyer also, because, as Cardiges testified at trial, like other dealers Rosatti wanted "favorable treatment, wanted more automobiles, more franchises, and wanted the ability to have the ear of the people who were in power at Honda." has Joseph A. DiClerico writing on this in his judgement. Jezhotwells (talk) 16:52, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

We cannot cite the court document from the case against Billmyer as a source, per BLP policy. --JN466 23:32, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

No doubt The Smoking Gun's reliability will be questioned, but I'm hopeful that it's a question which has previously been resolved. I'm not a master of hunting through the RS noticeboard archives, however.--otherlleft 15:55, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

If a consensus is reached that the sources regarding crime activity are not reliable, I will nominate this article for deletion. Owning a fast yacht and a couple of used car dealerships fails WP:N on its own, and frankly this man would be better off without an entry otherwise because likely editors will continue to add sources related to his various convictions.--otherlleft 16:00, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

I found a discussion of thesmokinggun.com here, in the reliable sources noticeboard archives. There seems to be consensus that the site is a reliable repository of primary source materials well within WP:RS and WP:V, but there wasn't quite so much support for the view that it's a reliable secondary source in its own right. I reopened the discussion in the hopes to get a stronger consensus in either direction at this time.--otherlleft 16:42, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Again, per WP:WELLKNOWN, we are not at liberty to use primary sources in BLPs if they have not been commented upon in secondary sources. A primary source on TheSmokingGun cannot be used in a BLP, unless it has been the subject of comment in secondary sources. I would say that a paragraph of accompanying text on TheSmokingGun.com does not in and of itself rise to the level of secondary-source coverage required by WP:BLP. --JN466 20:55, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

But the primary sources have been commented on and quoted in the VV, Philadelphia Daily Nees, Palm Beach Post, etc. The latter two papers have also cited the VV article, supporting the reliability of that source. Jezhotwells (talk) 01:03, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Apart from the primary sources issue, I fail to see why editors are removing material supported by perfectly respectable sources. As WP:RS makes very clear, there is no requirement that sources be available for free (or even on-line). Most of this edit, then, seems inappropriate. If an editor wants to remove material that isn't sourced properly, then he or she should take care to remove only the problematic material and leave the properly sourced stuff alone. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 21:09, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

The reason why this info was removed was due to the fact that the subject of this article (or someone related to them) contacted me off-wiki and said that this info was false. As it was a potentially libelling BLP, I invoked IAR in order to protect the reputation of someone online while this was sorted out. I did not remove it due to being false, nor did I remove it because they were unreliable. I removed it because someone's real life is at stake here, and that is more important than the accuracy of the website. These sources may be true, or they may be false. Either way, this should be discussed in a civil manner either here or at WP:RS in order to decide if these sources are correct. (X! · talk)  · @995  ·  22:53, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

I'm sorry - whose life is at stake here. RS (VV, Philadelphia daily News, Palm Beach Post) have reproduced and commented on the primary sources from the Smoking Gun, court records, etc. Yet editor User:X! chose to remove them becuase someone contacted them off-wiki! What is going on here? Jezhotwells (talk) 00:57, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

An editor's lack of access to verify the Lexis/Nexis cites for newspaper content is not a reason to delete the material (See WP:SOURCEACCESS). We assume editors are acting in good faith. A reason to delete the material would be that it is false -- one would be able to source that claim, or that the citation itself is inaccurate. patsw (talk) 23:13, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Hi Jezhotwells, Sorry i am new to wikipedia and am not certain on where to post my response to your concerns. I had noticed you had issues with my article about "John Rosatti" and disagreed with not posting the village Voice sources. I hope I can help you understand why the sources you wanted to use were found unacceptable. The editor who wrote the village voice article, also owns the Smoking Gun website, which is not a valid source for wikipedia. Also, this editor gathered his original "information" from FD-302 document's from the FBI office(An FD-302 form is used by FBI agents to "report or summarize the interviews that they conduct" and contains information from the notes taken during the interview by the non-primary agent. It consists of information taken from the subject, rather than details about the subject themselves. A forms list from an internal FBI Website lists the FD-302 as Form for Reporting Information That May Become Testimony) which mean, this is only a witnesses statement and not a statement from John himself or evidence gathered by the FBI. John was never convicted or questioned by the FBI concerning this matter, because the FBI did not feel the witness's statement was verifiable or important enough. The Village Voice article was based from fines John had settled over 15 yrs ago by New York Attorney General "STATE RESOLVES JAMAICA BAY WETLANDS VIOLATION" http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2001/jan/jan31a_01.html. The editor of the Village Voice/Smoking Gun took this information and sensationalized what really happened and made it entertaining for the readers. Anything written after about John was sited from the Smoking Guns or Village Voice false information, which makes me question the other editors experience as a journalist. Therefore, if you can find one. Just one source, from an ethical news source (NY Times, The Washington Post or TV media CNN, ABC, FOX) claiming John is affiliated with the Colombo organized crime family, then i would question John myself. The New York Times has reported about the Colombo Crime Family over 2000 times and not once was Johns name mentioned. Sadly people take articles for face value and do not care to find out the facts. From what i am told, wikipedia thrives to be better than other information websites and more of a reliable source for researchers, which is why they are extremely picky on where the source originates and refuses to become a paparazzi magnet. I hope i answered all your questions about why the administrator decided to remove the information you wanted to add. Thank you X Crackofdawn (talk) 09:20, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

I don't accept the premise that the Village Voice is not reliable, but I agree that finding a variety of reliable sources about ties to organized crime isn't easy. [14] and [15] are all I could come up with in a search of Google News. I'll say it again: if there are no reliable sources relating him to organized crime, then there are not sufficient reliable sources to establish Mr. Rosatti's notability. User:MelanieN commented at the article's talk page back when it was between deletions that "a Wikipedia page will surely tell the bad about him as well as the good." (In fact, I am going to invite that editor to participate.)--otherlleft 14:39, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the invitation. I had some earlier discussion with the author of this article, crackofdawn. When the article about John Rosetti was deleted a few weeks ago for non-notability, see Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/John Rosatti, crackofdawn asked for my advice about recreating the article. I explained that it would have to be substantially different when recreated, or else it would be deleted again. I also warned him, since he seemed to want an entirely positive article, that I had found allegations about mob ties on Google and that those allegations would almost certainly get added to the article by other editors. I suggested that if he didn't want that to happen, he might be better off not creating a Wikipedia article at all. I explained that he did not "own" the article and could not control its content, and that he could not prevent other people from adding properly sourced information. He seems to have chosen to create the article anyhow and to try to argue away the mob allegations. I don't think he has a leg to stand on. The allegations are multiple-sourced and they certainly need to be part of any profile of this man; they are part of his public record. If crackoofdawn doesn't like having people add this information to the article, he should have read the warning at the bottom of the edit page; "If you do not want your writing to be edited, used, and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here." IMO the best solution to this dilemma would be to re-nominate the article for deletion, and for crackofdawn to let it go. --MelanieN (talk) 15:19, 2 January 2010 (UTC)MelanieN

There is a related discussion at Wikipedia:RSN#TheSmokingGun.com. Searching google news this is all there is: [16] The most I would support mentioning in the article is that there have been allegations, and I am not even sure about that. WP:NPF applies:

Wikipedia also contains biographies of people who, while notable enough for an entry, are not generally well known. In such cases, exercise restraint and include only material relevant to their notability, and omit information that is irrelevant to their notability. Material from third-party primary sources should not be used unless it has first been published by a reliable secondary source. Material published by the subject must be used with caution. (See Using the subject as a source, above.)

Material that may adversely affect a person's reputation should be treated with special care. In the laws of many countries, simply repeating the defamatory claims of another is illegal, and there are special protections for people who are not public figures. Any such potentially damaging information about a private person may be cited if and only if: (1) it is corroborated by multiple, highly reliable sources; (2) the allegations are relevant to the subject's notability and; (3) the Wikipedia article states that the sources make certain "allegations", with the Wikipedia article taking no position on their truth.

Even in the case of his associate Staluppi, where the allegations seem to be stronger, I noted that the state couldn't prove their allegation in court. --JN466 15:05, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

In this particular case, it appears that Mr. Rosatti is only notable for an entry via his crime ties, and consensus does not seem to be leaning towards including those sources. Considering the sensitivity of the topic, I'm going to go ahead and renominate this with a recommendation to WP:SALT it for the subject's sake.--otherlleft 15:26, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Who says consensus is against inclusion of those sources? There is a great deal of mischief going on here -- there are perfectly acceptable sources for that issue and no-one is giving good reasons for not including it. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 16:40, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Agreed, those who oppose the conclusion that the sources are reliable have failed to produce any actual eviidence supporting that assertion. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:01, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Chris Moneymaker

There is discussion that starts here and continues until the bottom of the talk page, including a RfC, concerning the addition of text refering to anonymous critics to the Chris Moneymaker article. The issues invole BLP, WP:WEASEL, WP:N, WP:RS and WP:V. Since discussion is underway there, I assume that it where the issue should be discussed rather than on this page. 2005 (talk) 01:06, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Doesn't look like there is much of a BLP issue there, it just looks like a load of talk? Off2riorob (talk) 01:13, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

It's primarily a BLP issue. Is it appropriate to say "some people say John sucks", or "some people say John is an incompetent physician", or "some people say John is a pervert", etc. Can dubiously reliable articles that state anonymous "some people say" derogatory things about a person be used as sources to state those deragoatory statements in a BLP? 2005 (talk) 01:29, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Excessive not notable partisan critisism should not be given undue weight in an article. Off2riorob (talk) 16:49, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Juan Manuel Rodriguez (writer)

• The article has been referenced using unreliable secondary sources, including those by Ilan Stavans. The following link concerns the reliability of Stavans:

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/13/books/be-both-outsider-insider-czar-latino-literature-culture-finds-himself-under.html Stavans attacked Mr. Rodriguez for having supposedly usurped Salomon Isacovici's book Man of Ashes in his book ' The Inveterate Dreamer: Essays and Conversations on Jewish Culture'. Not only are his accusations distorted, but also blatantly false. For example, Stavans claims Mr. Rodriguez was an ex-jesuit priest, but he does not say where he got such information. Considering the NYT article, Stavans is highly unreliable and should not be sourced on this page. Su Di and Cynthia Ozick are just as unreliable.

• Since I started the article, and now it is filled with libelous information with the sole purpose of denigrating the author, I either suggest the secondary sources be eliminated or the page deleted. After all, the page itself is a stub and has little information. It might be best just to delete it altogether.

Salomon Isacovici

• In addition, the page on Salomon Isacovici uses the same unreliable sources to discredit Juan Manuel Rodriguez. There is primary source evidence of copyright contracts which is not being allowed due to Wikipedia's policy of only using secondary sources. Nevertheless, discrediting the primary source information and relying on evidence like that of Stavans is ludicrous! Once again, I suggest that the sources be reconsidered and that either the page be deemed controversial and deleted or allow the usage of the primary source copyright material. As it is currently, there is a lot of erroneous material.
• These two sources are worrisome, as both confuse the existing controversy and harm Mr. Rodriguez by discrediting his authorship of the book 'Man of Ashes' and by sourcing unreliable books that purposefully tarnish the reputation of the author. I can't think of a worse thing for wikipedia to do, than allow disreputable sources and propagate lies that make an author look bad.

If you have any questions, please contact me. 137.22.122.201 (talk)Hoolio9690 —Preceding undated comment added 05:31, 2 January 2010 (UTC).

Note that issues regarding this matter have been discussed at ANI,[17][18], at the AFD for Rodriguez Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Juan Manuel Rodriguez (writer) and at the editor's talkpage User talk:Hoolio9690. Hoolio9690 fairly reasonably objects to the negative portrayal and lack of balance in the article about hi, and I personally agree that it would be best for the article to be deleted, given his request and marginal notability, though that is not the way the AFD is tending. On the other hand, his claims that all the academic sources, including two published by University Presses [19][20][21] are unreliable is unlikely to be accepted; the books are in fact also supported by mainstream newspaper articles that are mostly available only through Factiva etc.

I understand that Rodriguez strongly believes that he is 'right' about who wrote Man of Ashes and whether it is a memoir/autobiography, but we are required here to follow the reliable sources about this, and cannot include his original research and advocacy about this external dispute. Note that in fact neither article not comes down one way or the other about these issues, simply reporting who said/did what using the available reliable sources. --Slp1 (talk) 17:25, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Motty Perry

• Motty Perry (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - There is an image of this guy's kids on the page. Subject is conscientious objector, and image of children could be a threat. // Abductive (reasoning) 09:16, 2 January 2010 (UTC)
• I have removed the pic as BLP not notable children protection and without consensus to include it should not be replaced. I have added a COI template as the article appears to be self written and the major contributor was also the picture unloader. Off2riorob (talk) 14:47, 2 January 2010 (UTC)
  • I've requested deletion of the image on commons. Exxolon (talk) 04:35, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Andrei Pleşu

Andrei Pleşu (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - ever since yesterday, the article is being attacked by an account and what is transparently its IP (the latter of which appears to be almost single-purpose). Their edits and repeated reverts add exceptionally poorly sourced and highly dubious material to the article - presenting fringe opinions as facts, sourcing the claims with an attack page published on a blog, adding a faux reference (there is nothing in the link that would validate the text) and one journalists' opinion in a controversial newspaper (incidentally, a guy who has a legal dispute with Pleşu, and whose article, the very one cited here, presents his side of the story as "fact"). All of this to "back up" the following: "Pleşu relations with Ceauşecu's communist regime are controversial.[3], [4] As a "persecuted" academic he was allowed to benefit twice from Humboldt fellowships during a period when most Romanian academics could not even dream to travel in the West. Political controversy continued after 1990s too. Pleşu's mocking attitude towards Piaţa Universităţii movement was widely criticised.[5]" This manages to be misleading, weasel-worded, non-encyclopedic, guilt by association and partly nonsensical. The two accounts appear to be determined to continue, despite the fact that I've repeatedly pointed them to the applicable polices and warned them that they risk getting blocked. Please intervene. Dahn (talk) 12:00, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Arístides Mejía

Resolved

 – discussion now on talkpage. Off2riorob (talk) 14:34, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Arístides Mejía (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - Ever since a couple of weeks I have been locked in an editorial debate over the content of this article with the same IP over and over. It started when he put contentious information without a source and I took it off, and when I asked for help the IP finally put a couple of references. The sensitive information is about an arrest warrant, and I wrote the follow up to it since it seems that the warrant was for political reasons, yet the other editor took it off with only a meager explanation in the discussion page and without really putting forth a reason for the change. Could anybody weigh in on this please? Brumere18 (talk) 16:07, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Personally I like your version with the rebuttal , I have left the other editor a note about this discussion. Off2riorob (talk) 16:31, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, I think your help was very important in starting to work towards a consensus. Like I said in the discussion page, I feel the article can still be improved further but I won't act before we can agree in the discussion page. 13:03, 4 January 2010 (UTC)Brumere18 (talk)

Cool, I am also in the discussion there, this thread can imo be closed, as the issue is now under discussion on the talkpage of the article. Off2riorob (talk) 14:34, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Ken Wilber

Ken Wilber (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - contentious material is added repeatedly, see [22], [23] and Talk:Ken_Wilber#Hanegraaff and Talk:Ken_Wilber#Reception.2FGrof. -- BernhardMeyer (talk) 19:00, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

There are several other authors who have made similar statements about WIlber who is a controversial figure. They seem within the normal given and take that surrounds anyone in WIlber's position and form a part of balanced view. I can't see any issue and in this case the negative comment follows a paean of praise from the same author. --Snowded ^TALK 19:07, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Agreed, the additions, considering the size of the article don't appear to be excessive. Off2riorob (talk) 19:21, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

I agree also. I see the Grof comment as an easy case: It is in the Reception section, describing the mixed opinions of a notable person in a relevant field. The Hanegraaff comment may be slightly more complicated: If there is good reason (from reliable sources) to think that the "New Age" description applies to Wilber at one stage of his thinking but not at another, then the material may need more qualification. But that would be grounds for rewording, not for simply cutting the description. --RL0919 (talk) 00:35, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Mike Darwin contains poorly resourced information

A biography of a living person, Mike Darwin, contains poorly resourced information.

The statement, "Although his only formal training was as a dialysis technician, he is a self-taught expert in the field of cerebral ischemia,[2]" with the citation as follows:

^ a b c d e f Best, Ben (2008). "A History of Cryonics". The Immortalist. Cryonics Institute. http://www.cryonics.org/immortalist/november08/History.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-24.

I do not believe the general medical community would accept Mr. Darwin as an expert in cerebral ischemia, given he lacks any medical or allied health credentials beyond his work as a dialysis tech. That this statement comes from a biased source is the foundation for my concern. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Theala Sildorian (talk • contribs) 20:07, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

It does appear imo to be a bit fluffy, it is in need some independant citations and an editor that has a bit of medical experience. Off2riorob (talk) 20:53, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

I removed the world record part until a citation is given. Sounds like fluff. Cablespy (talk) 10:22, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

michael jackson

HI I AM INTERESTED IN FIXING SOME OF THE MICHAEL JACKSON PAGES I HAVE SOME IDEAS BUT THE INVINCIBLE ALBUM PAGE IS EDIT-PROTECTED, WHAT CAN I DO ----OZ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 169.139.19.114 (talk) 14:51, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

You may use the template {{editprotected}} on the article's talk page to request an edit, or you may register for an account so that you can eventually edit semi-protected pages like this one.--otherlleft 15:29, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

David Littman (historian)

David Littman (historian) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - Repeated addition of information from blog.unreliable sources. -- Avi (talk) 15:54, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Well, first, some people raise objections to this (french) article, which is from a pro-israeli blog but nevertheless documents and illustrates the following fact: that Littman was awarded at the highest level by the Mossad. My opinion is that the link can be used for this purpose. If not, I'll try to find a scholarly cover of the subject. Second, the references inside the article that qualify this guy as an "historian", are not serious and blogggesque-like (a la NRO...). TwoHorned (talk) 17:58, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

• First, that is a blog and although you are welcome to ask at the WP:RSN , better to find as you say a more reliable citation to support this content, is a British citizen and Mossad agent ("sayan" -or volunteer- involved in the Operation Mural ..which appears to be very controversial claims as regards a living person, please do not reinsert it without a consensus here or at the reliable source noticeboard. Off2riorob (talk) 18:09, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

• If anyone is following this issue or wants to comment, User:TwoHorned has opened a thread regarding this source at the reliable source noticeboard here . Off2riorob (talk) 15:17, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Shlomo Sawilowsky

The tone of the article Shlomo Sawilowsky concerns me, as being very point of view and (not just positive but) euphorically positive. It needs to be re-written in a more neutral tone.

The article lists a series of "fallacies" exposed by Sawilowsky, many of which require substantial qualification, imho; could labeling the results of living persons as "fallacies" counter Wikipedia policy regarding living persons?

Forgive my ignornace (and sloth) if this concern should be raised elsewhere. Thanks Kiefer.Wolfowitz (talk) 17:39, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Lily Safra

Ths page appears to be repeatedly edited (by a single editor: 81-200-176-13) to remove information that might be considered inconvenient to the subject of the article. Not long ago, the mere existence of her third husband was edited out (though I have re-inserted that reference and -- for now -- it seems to be sticking). The presently-active disagreement relates to the article's coverage of a dispute between Mrs. Safra and Lady Colin Campbell over a novel written by Lady Campbell (Empress Bianca). The article discusses in some detail that fact that, following representations from Mrs Safra's lawyers, the novel's UK publishers issued an apology to Mrs. Safra and withdrew the book from publication. My efforts to add to the section the (well-sourced) information that a revised version of the novel was subsequently published in the US (and is still available) have been repeatedly deleted by User 81.200.176.13, with the statement that the information is "not relevant". I have posted an invitation to seek a negotiated resolution on both the other editor's own page and on the discussion page for the article in question, but have received no response from User 81.200.176.13. 18:29, 4 January 2010 (UTC)Nandt1 (talk) 18:30, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

You have got to be kidding me. The only reference for this stuff is "www.amazon.com". Thanks for bringing this to our attention -- I have now removed both of the sections related to this issue. They can be readded when someone produces proper sources for them -- do have a look at WP:RS and WP:BLP. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 22:38, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Not kidding. But let me try to sure we are all clear about the specific point for which Amazon was used as evidence. The factual point that I sought to establish with my edit was whether the book in question was published on such-and-such a date and whether it is currently available. A listing on Amazon surely provides any reasonable person with precisely this evidence. As to the rest of the story, that was as I found it. Nandt1 (talk) 23:45, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

I see you've not only edited out the reference to the book -- which was at the center of the dispute -- but also the entire section dealing with all her husband's death as well, which as far as I know was not currently being disputed...?Nandt1 (talk) 23:51, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

That's correct -- there's no place for unsourced negative material like that. There would be no problem with including it if it can be referenced with proper sources. Nomoskedasticity (talk) 07:55, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Ummm, having just said that, I now see that, after a "properly sourced" account of the husband's death was subsequently added to the article, you deleted that too! This time around, you said that it was too much detail on the husband!! I think you may be missing the point that, for 99 percent of readers, it is the husband's prominence, and his very bizarre death, that make Lily Safra newsworthy at all, rather than the many paragraphs of her charitable gifts and awards that you have left alone! This is a ridiculous article and has now been made even sillier. I give up on it. Maybe someone else can now give it a try. Nandt1 (talk) 13:12, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

for 99 percent of readers, it is the husband's prominence...that make Lily Safra newsworthy at all - . This is an article on her, not her husband or his murder which we have an article for. Definitely I see no justification to include superflorous stuff like where her husband divided his time before his death Nil Einne (talk) 15:24, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

my biography

Jon J Muth

Hi,

I am new to Wikipedia, so apologies if I am making untenable requests.

A friend tried to make some alterations to my bio which included newer info about my work and found it was removed a little later.

So I am putting my toe in the water and asking that one specific inaccuracy be changed. If that works, we will see what else can be negotiated.

In the biography section it states that I was born "John Jay Muth." This is not true. My name at birth was "John J Muth." The "J" has no period, like "Harry S Truman." As I was told, Mr Truman was finally browbeaten, by copy editors in the government, to use a period after the "S".

I have the birth certificate if that is necessary.

Is this a change that can be safely made to my biography?

Yours in accuracy,

Jon —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mondrian5 (talk • contribs) 20:01, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Hi Mr. Muth, welcome to Wikipedia and thank you for taking the time to contribute. I believe that the changes you are requesting are not controversial and I would have already made them, but I am unclear on Wikipedia policy on punctuation in names (if there even is one), so I am waiting for the experts to chime in before I do anything. If you have any further concerns about your bio, you found the right place to discuss them. Again, thank you for your contribution.Jarhed (talk) 04:03, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Hi Jarhed, Thanks for the welcome and the attention to my request. best wishes,

Jon (Mondrian7 (talk) 06:08, 5 January 2010 (UTC))

Mr. Muth, please let's continue this discussion on the talk page for your bio: Talk:Jon J. Muth.Jarhed (talk) 19:54, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Move requested on bio talk page.Jarhed (talk) 19:54, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Sarah Palin-Branchflower report

This section on the Palin bio has been the subject of considerable discussion over the last year. However, the conclusion of the incident was that Palin committed no wrondoing. Therefore, I believe that all of the charges against her during this incident should be removed from her bio in accordance wih BLP policy. If necessary, the information could be moved to a separate article.Jarhed (talk) 00:22, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

It was discussed before -- and IMHO clearly is overweighted in the BLP (heck, a lot is overweighted in it). Where charges were without reasonable foundation, they should be removed. Where some doubt reasonably exists, kept. Treated succinctly in any event. Collect (talk) 00:30, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Robert A. Schwartz

This is a hell of a lot of stuff for a not-remarkably-notable dermatologist. Reads like a faculty bio, not an encyclopedic bio. Niremetal (talk) 01:27, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

It does appear a bit excessive, but there is nothing desperately troublesome. I have tagged it in the hope of attracting a medical expert that could wikify it. Off2riorob (talk) 17:50, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Steve Gaines (pastor)

The article on Pastor Steve Gaines has a section called "Handling of Minister Misconduct". I believe that this section had been given undo weight due to some libelous material and third-party criticisms that are not to be considered encyclopedic material. There is a reference from a radio personality, Michael Reagan, making comparisons to a huge scandal that is completely unnecessary to point out. Third party criticisms have no place in an encyclopedia and this is a very biased point of view. We want to strive to have a very neutral article about a living person. Along with Reagan's comments, James Dobson, a local newspaper reporter, has comments in this article that are meerly opinions that are given undue weight. Is this considered vandalism and can third-party criticisms be deleted when there is a biased tone? Thanks so much! HappyMemphisNative (talk) 10:53, 5 January, 2010 —Preceding undated comment added 17:01, 5 January 2010 (UTC).

I see criticism from the president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in the Associated Baptist Press: [24], reports of dissension in the ABP [25] and the Baptist Press: [26] & [27] as well as the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Is that what you are talking about? Jezhotwells (talk) 17:27, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Yes. There is also a sentence after that from Michael Reagan about the Roman Catholic sex scandal. The criticisms from the local newspaper reporter (Dobson) and the conservative radio host (Reagan) were what I thought had no place in an encyclopedia. The one from the President of the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary does have relevance, possibly. Thanks for the quick response.HappyMemphisNative (talk) comment added 17:34, 5 January 2010

It appears the Reagan is a notable national talk show host so his comments on the incident and the ABP and AP reports of the affair are notable enough to mention, I would have thought. Alongside Gaines own explantion and the church commission report. Jezhotwells (talk) 17:41, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Is it fair to say that the James Dobson comment should be taken out since he is not a notable source on the matter? In this situation, should we get comments from the Pastor himself and the church to even out the point of view? Thanks!HappyMemphisNative (talk) comment added 17:51, 5 January 2010

Dropping out

Resolved

 – I will add references where available and remove any remaining unsourced names. Jezebel'sPonyo^shhh 16:02, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

I'm concerned about the laundry list of supposed "drop-outs" contained in the article Dropping out. There isn't a single reference provided for any of the individuals noted within the article to substantiate the claim. Should the list be deleted with a hidden message to only add individuals that can be verified via a reliable source? Jezebel'sPonyo^shhh 19:54, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

You could go for removal as an uncited BLP issue, if someone wants to replace them the names are in the history and they can add the name back with a citation, another option is just to tag the section and wait a couple of days and see if anyone adds any citations if not then remove. Or...if your not busy and have the inclination, do some searching and add some citations. Off2riorob (talk) 20:14, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

I would tend to agree that they should have a reliable source that not only sources that they dropped out, but also supports the claim that they are a notable example of someone who dropped out. –xeno^talk 20:16, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the advice. I will start going through the list and add citations where available. Once complete I will cull the names that can't be sourced. Cheers, --Jezebel'sPonyo^shhh 16:02, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Joseph Farah

Hi I'm having trouble finding where to put this so I guess I'll put it here. The Joseph Farah Page has been the subject of much debate (judging by the talk section) and a lot of vandalism (source: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=120926, screenshots included). I propose that the page be locked to editing as other contentious pages have been (i.e. Barrack Obama etc.). If I'm proposing this in the wrong area please tell me so I can fix that.Wikiiscool123 (talk) 20:03, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

The article is semi protected and unconfirmed editors are not able to edit the article and there are some very experienced editors involved there so the article is well protected, without a specific complaint it looks fine. Off2riorob (talk) 21:17, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Okay thanks so much I didn't see the semi-protected part of it on the talk page and I just know that he is trying to come up with some grounds for a lawsuit so I wanted to try and help Wikipedia avoid that problem. Closed as far as I'm concerned. Wikiiscool123 (talk) 19:46, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Marshall Sylver

• Marshall Sylver (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

The subject of this bio is a Las Vegas stage hypnotist with a history of criminal fraud and other legal troubles. If it weren't for his entertainment career I'd suggest deleting it outright but he seems to be notable enough and I do think a neutral article is possible. However the subject himself appears to have edited the article and there's a banned user with a vendetta against him so the article has swung between non-neutral versions. After I stubbed the article a sock of the banned user added well-sourced material that was entirely negative. I've moved that to the talk page pending a more balanced treatment. I'm asking for more eyes to watch the page and, if anyone is interested, some active editing on this bio.   Will Beback  talk  20:38, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Philip Bloom

Resolved

 – AfD closed as SNOW keep. Relevant input has been unanimous that the person is notable. All normal content cautions apply, of course. Jclemens (talk) 20:15, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

• Philip Bloom (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

Activist4HumanRGHT5 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), a probable sock of Bricks10 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), claims here this article is defamatory and was created as an attack page. --Rrburke^ekrubrR 15:45, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

As part of the complaint is that Bloom's activities are not of interest, there seems little harm in putting the page up for deletion on this basis and having the normal discussion on notability. Though some of the sources may need re-visiting, articles such as this one in the NY Times give the article credibility and there is support for most of the facts quoted. As for the rest of the request, it seems to verge on WP:NLT without reasonable justification if the facts are available to the public in newspapers.—Ash (talk) 16:04, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

As the article was later put up for PROD, I have now put the article up for full deletion. Please discuss any opinions on deletion on the AFD discussion linked from the article itself.—Ash (talk) 19:09, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Iris Robinson

Iris Robinson (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

Born again Christian, and Northern Ireland MP. Just over half the text in this article is a controversy section, most of which is devoted to her views on homosexuality. It has recently come to light that last year she had an extramarital affair. This really needs some eyes. Martin451 (talk) 19:32, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Agree I tried to de pov this article but gave up, talk about undue weight. BigDunc 20:09, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

I have had a little look and it does at first glance appear to be unbalanced to these comments. Off2riorob (talk) 20:12, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

It is indeed unbalanced... but most of the things that are listed appear to be reliably sourced. Does UNDUE require us to curtail coverage of the firestorms she's unleashed by her public comments, even if that's most of what she's been noted for? FWIW, I took out a bit of partisan language, but there's going to need to be carefully thought out surgery on what's there. Jclemens (talk) 20:32, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Her comments on sexuality were very controversial and resulted in a significant amount of media coverage. With that in mind it does not seem that the text we have is undue weight. Rather the onus is on contributors to beef up the section dealing with her parliamentary and political career. 81.155.240.216 (talk) 20:44, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Care must be taken with her bio despite her political views in light of her mental health issues and attempted suicide.Cathar11 (talk) 20:46, 6 January 2010 (UTC)