Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents

Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents
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User:CodyJoeBibby continued

• I archived earlier discussions under WP:Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive691#User:CodyJoeBibby: WP:NPA and WP:POINT, for the discussions lasting from 26 April 2011 to 2 May 2011. Further discussion continues below.... -Wikid77 (talk) 18:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That's a shame. I had been hoping for some sort of credible response to the concerns that I expressed here. SuperMarioMan 19:02, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Fair enough, your specific concerns have been noted, but few other admins have had time to respond now. Perhaps meanwhile you could help, using your experience in similar matters, to check this week's edits to "Osama Bin Laden" (or some other controversial article) which is taxing the resources of the active admins. Thanks. -Wikid77 19:26, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

"Few other admins have had time to respond" - was that your reason for archiving it? Odd, seeing as this page is archived by bot. pablo 20:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I only archived the upper portion, beginning with concerns about WP:NPA and WP:POINT, which had been closed by another admin & hatted, and the concerns had drifted into WP:COATRACK, which is still being discussed below. I did not archive the top to stop all discussion, just to focus on recent concerns. I apologize if that has upset you. -Wikid77 20:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Sorry, but that isn't true. You archived an open discussion as well as the part which had been closed. It's unsatisfactory to close a discussion one has been involved in, especially when it is still open. Can you see why? --John (talk) 20:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

It hasn't 'upset' me at all. I just said that it was odd. And hinted that it was pointless. pablo 20:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You guys don't need to worry. I will be busy working on a whole new Wikipedia page, which may take me quite a while. It's nothing to do with MoMK, so a topic ban won't hurt me. I won't have the time or energy to engage with this interminable futile thread concerning me here at AN/I. It should be pretty obvious by now that no sanctions are going to be applied to me, but by all means continue bloviating. Ciao! CodyJoeBibby (talk) 21:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Same disruptive behavior in different articles

Since this user's self-declared moratorium on editing the Meredith Kercher article, he has moved on to Italy and Perugia, attempting to create a "human rights" section in the former, and a blurb about press freedom in the latter. Both are about as clear a case of WP:COATRACK as one can find. We have an editor here with a singular obsession on the Kercher case; how long will we play whack-a-mole here? Tarc (talk) 17:29, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Please check the talk sections of the relevant articles for discussion about content, thanks. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 17:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• There are already articles for "Human rights in China" and "Censorship in Italy", so perhaps, the focus should be on creating a new article "Human rights in Italy" while also noting whatever improvements in Italy's handling of human rights following the fascist period during World War II. By noting improvements, as well as problems, then WP:NPOV balance can be sought. -Wikid77 (talk) 18:19, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

As far as I could see a lot of articles about various countries had a short section on human rights issues. If they have such a section, the article on Italy can have such a section. If people don't like the alleged 'coatracking' material, i will substitute it with material about press freedom issues in Italy sourced from Wikipedia itself. I intend to resubmit the rewritten human rights section tomorrow. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 18:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Ridiculous. "a lot of articles about various countries".. yes, China, Libya, Burma etc i.e. countries were there is some notability/history of human rights abuses. AFAIK, no western European country articles have "human rights" sections, and for good reason. Blatant attempt to pursue the Amanda Knox obsession outside of the Meredith Kercher article. DeCausa (talk) 20:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The UK has an entire entry thousands of words long devoted to the subject of human rights in the UK. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_United_Kingdom

LOL. you might want to try the old search button occasionally. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 21:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Pay attention to what was written. United Kingdom does not have a human rights section. You want Italy to have a human rights section in order to denigrate human rights observance in Italy to advance your POV supporting Amanda Knox. DeCausa (talk) 21:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Ha ha! Italy, unlike the UK, France, Germany and Spain, does not have a separate entry on human rights. I think I'll be writing one. That might take a while though, with the considerable number of abuses in Italy. Sorry everyone, my next update to Wikipedia will not be tomorrow, as promised! I have a big job to do! CodyJoeBibby (talk) 21:18, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Good luck with that endeavour. However, bear in mind that, to ensure a neutral tone, a prospective "Human rights in Italy" article would have to be more than a mere "List of human rights abuses in Italy". SuperMarioMan 21:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Did i suggest that would be the title? Why don't you find something, anything, to do with your life other than talking to me? Maybe you could help out on the Osama bin Ladin article as Wikid suggested? That might genuinely help out Wikipedia. Why not just let me write the article and you can tear it to pieces when it's finished. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 21:52, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

"That might take a while though, with the considerable number of abuses in Italy." I think that post will used in any discussion on whether anything you "write" on that subject is in good faith and is NPOV. DeCausa (talk) 22:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I can't help it if Italy accounts for the largest number of human rights abuse cases in Europe. I object to your putting the word 'write' in quotes. That is a personal attack, please see WP:NPA for guidance and desist from making such attacks, thank you. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 07:14, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

• • "Sourced from Wikipedia itself"? That might not be such a good idea. See WP:V. --John (talk) 19:29, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Sourced from the approved sources used by other Wikipedia articles, then, if you insist on making a point of pure pedantry. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 19:35, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That wasn't pedantry but a very important distinction, which I am glad you are beginning to understand. The other thing you have to get your head around is that you need consensus at article talk to add this material, however well referenced it is. Good luck. --John (talk) 19:39, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Should I take your statement of 'good luck' as an encouragement or as a threat that you will continue to stalk me and wholesale revert any edits I make, in violation of WP:WIKIHOUNDING? I guess we'll find out soon enough, won't we? CodyJoeBibby (talk) 19:55, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

If you continue to make WP:COATRACK/WP:UNDUE edits about a topic that's already got you in hot water, your edits will be reverted and other actions may be occur. I suggest you broaden your scope of topic interests if you want to make constructive contributions here. OhNoitsJamie ^Talk 20:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

But I'm not in hot water. No sanctions have been applied despite the inordinate length of this thread. I'm as free as the day I was born to edit Wikipedia, and I intend to resume doing so tomorrow. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 20:18, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You're only not in "hot water" because you pledged to back off for awhile (a pledge that you never really carried out, since you went about adding MoMK material to other articles, where you were rebuffed by numerous editors, including editors who were not previously involved with any MoMK disputes). That should tell you something. OhNoitsJamie ^Talk 20:35, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

So as I said, I'm not in hot water, to be precise. No need to bloviate. CodyJoeBibby (talk) 20:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

If you think this is "inordinate length" for an ANI discussion, you might want to look through the archives. We also like to warn people about their behavior before we have to block them, so you should take heed. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 21:34, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I won't be blocked. I intend to write a whole new Wikipedia article. I'll be too busy doing that to continue responding to the petty disputes some people have with me. And a topic ban won't hurt me because my new article won't be related to the MoMK article even broadly construed. Ciao! CodyJoeBibby (talk) 21:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• I hope this whole incident highlights that there are numerous topics, and articles, which people editing about "Amanda Knox" are actually discussing. There seems to be a misperception that the only issue they see is to "Free Amanda" (and Sollecito) but there are so many other issues: "pre-trial publicity", "due process" (for shorter trials), "sequestered jury" (if shorter trials are used), "falsified evidence", "rules of evidence" (how long can a negative test for blood be withheld from the defence), "police brutality", "false confession", "crime scene contamination", "RFU peaks", "systemic bias", "delayed grief", "character assassination", "human rights", "race card", "British tabloids", "geo-location" of mobile phones, "LCN DNA profiling" and why the judge believed the forensic evidence did not match Guede's version of events that he left Kercher beside the bed with the bed quilt (duvet) and pillow on the bed, without returning to arrange the scene. That is the reason many editors have rejected censorship here, because they are not advocating for Knox, they are addressing any of 20 major topics which concern millions of people. However, the Kercher case is what motivates some people to come to Wikipedia, with intensity, and I think we need to understand such energy and help to channel it into productive editing. User:CodyJoeBibby is just one, in a long line of editors, who thought to come here and write about some of those issues. -Wikid77 (talk) 08:25, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I read that as a manifesto (or is threat the right word?) to bring the "Free Amanda" campaign to a wide variety of articles. Transparent. I think you'll find yourself disappointed by the reaction of the knowledgeable editors who have contributed to those articles over a long period. DeCausa (talk) 09:36, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

If nothing else it suggests a worrying campaign of "issues" - Wikipedia is not the place for such coat-racking. We do not lead the field, we record the sum of human history. Many editors in this topic area do not seem to comprehend this. --Errant ^(chat!) 09:43, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

And why is this sort of blatant soap-boxing even being tolerated? I sincerely hope it's not because of which individuals support it. DeCausa (talk) 09:55, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I think that a couple of users are encouraged by J. Wales' recent interest in this case and now feel they have license to spray this kind of POV-spam anywhere that has even a tangential connection to the case. pablo 10:39, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Massive number of Playboy-related AFD nominations by a single user

User:Damiens.rf has, over the last few hours, nominated more that 100 articles converning Playboy models (mostly Playmates) for deletion; the count is steadily growing. The nominations really can't be bundled together, and typically require examination of each individual's movie/TV credits. There's no way that interested editors can handle this volume of nominations, which often prove controversial. This runs afoul of the fait accompli principle set out by Arbcom in the TV episodes and characters cases; while not formally adopted as policy or guideline, I think there can be little doubt that the principle enjoys community support -- without it, consensus-building becomes a war of attrition. Make no mistake, I believe Damiens is right on principle on the notability issues involved, and disagree with him only as to exactly where to draw the lines involved. I don't doubt his good faith; while not all the AFDs on Playmates he made in the recent past were successful, I think they demonstrated significant support for the arguments he's advanced. But this is too much for the process to handle in one batch, far too much. It's inherently disruptive, despite the nominator's good faith, and it's likely to turn into a contentious mess that prevents the sort of article-by-article decision making that ought to be going on. Similar large bundles of Playmate nominations in the past have led to cookie-cutter voting and unpleasantness, and didn't contribute enough to building an encyclopedia to justify the effort and bad feelings involved. Full disclosure: I've been working in the same direction as Damiens for some time now, working gradually and using "soft" redirects to convert the large number of poorly sourced Playmate stubs into better-organized, more notability and BLP-compliant components of group articles. That process has been minimally controversial so fsr, and I believe it offers a better compromise that can enjoy a broader consensus. But even if I agreed entirely with the nominator, this is too much to handle in a single wave of AFDs. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 04:05, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Damiens has agreed to stop, so I think this is set for now.--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 04:24, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Is everything set? Damiens.rf has a history of doing these large scale mass nominations for both images and articles. He's been brought here more than once for this very issue. He'll likely be brought here again. AniMate 04:58, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Geeze, and I thought I did too much when I did about 10 at once. BelloWello (talk) 05:08, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Didn't we tar and feather another editor who went on a AfD spree of articles that may or may not have had appropriate justifications? Just wondering if we intend to trot out the WikiMob on this case as well as 100 is significantly more than the ~20 articles that were nominated in the other case (with the other case also having the multiple distinct "events" of nomination frenzies). Disclosure: I've interactied with Damiens before on a discussion about a picture's Fair Usage Rationale. Hasteur (talk) 12:40, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

There's an important difference here -- Damiens did a much smaller batch of Playmate nominations a short time ago, and these nominations are reasonably consistent with the results there. The previous spree you're referring to, by a different editor, was completely off the wall, and completely indiscriminate -- and used an automated tool in evasion of his blacklisting from the use of that tool. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 18:00, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, Wuhwuzdat had it coming. HalfShadow 21:25, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

background - Some years back, folks at WP:PORN decided to include "is a playboy playmate" as one of the final evidences of notability in WP:PORNBIO. What followed was that there were articles created for every girl that has ever striped for playboy. When this piece of WP:PORNBIO was brought to an wider audience via an RFC, the community decided that being a playboy playmate is not, by itself, evidence of notability, and playmates should have articles only when otherwise notable.

These deletions were expected. I have not run across all of the playmates. And I have not nominated all I have ran across. Of course, some of them may be proven otherwise notable, but that's why we have a discussion process.

Most of the articles will surely end up being deleted or redirected to a list. After that, the playmate's enthusiast's efforts may concentrate on improving the articles on really notable playmates, as today, many of these are stubs just because there's simply not enough volunteers to keep up with an playmate sub-encyclopedia. --Damiens.rf 13:21, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

The concern, I think, is that those who are interested in this topic area have to go through a large number of AFDs at once, each debate generating its own discussion and finding its own consensus. If I were intent on Keeping each of the articles you nominated, checking and following such a large number of debates would be a full-time job for the coming week. I'm sure as hell not going to edit much else, either. Here, the scale of the nominations detracts from the (probably valid) point that the subjects just aren't notable.

If you were intent on keeping each of the articles I nominated you'd be wrong to begin with. Each case should be judged on its own merits, and an intention of blindingly keeping all playmates was the original problem we started from. --Damiens.rf 15:24, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

I think it would have been far better to nominate a dozen or so to establish your test cases, and then bundle 5 or so at a time thereafter. If, as you say, these articles are sure to be deleted, the second and third sets of articles would have precedent to follow, and the debates would be much simpler. UltraExactZZ ^Said ~ Did 14:01, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

He did do a run of test cases. They're in the deletion log for April 4. [1] Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 18:07, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

@Damians. Restrict the nominations to a level that the guys at Wikipedia:WikiProject Pornography can handle. For example, 7 AfDs per week. Just make all your research in one go, write the AfDs, and save the list of AfDs in a text file. You can open it every week and mechanically nominate the first 7 items via copy/paste. You can combine this with Ultraexactzz's advice above. I know, this is nowhere near as rewarding as doing all of them in one go :-) . --Enric Naval (talk) 14:22, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

7 Afds in a week would be a good rate; you don't want Wikipedia:WikiProject Pornography to be slammed to hard, after all. UltraExactZZ ^Said ~ Did 14:32, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Pacing AFD nominations is especially important when nominating biographies whose potential sources are likely to predate the Internet era. It's pretty easy to determine notability -- or the lack thereof -- for someone active in 2002 or even in 1995. But some of these nominations are from the 1970s, and may require additional legwork (especially due to newspaper paywall policies). Serpent's Choice (talk) 14:41, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Seven articles per week is ridiculous low. Why should I restrict the pace of deletion nominations where there were no restriction of the pace of creation for such articles?

It has been a long time since the rfc that established that it was a mistake to consider all playmates notable, and I have seen not organized effort from wp:pornbio to clean up the mess.

There's no reason to worry. AFDs that do not have enough participation get relisted. And if a stub of the form "Rose Rosewood was the Jan 1961 Playmate. She was clicked by Mr. Photographer" get deleted, and we later find out that Ms. Rosewood was notable, it can easily recreated. As easily as it was first created. --Damiens.rf 15:24, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

(Non-administrator comment) WP:KITTENS works both ways. And there are significantly fewer people able to handle AfD nominations than there are people willing to create articles. --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 15:30, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

You should restrict the pace of deletion nominations out of respect for the people who will be trying to determine consensus on each article. Seven per week is ridiculously low, but there is no reason at all why you can't limit to say, five per day. And I would say to nominate no further articles until the current backlog clears. Resolute 15:41, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

I will nominate no further Playmate-articles until the current backlog clears. --Damiens.rf 15:46, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Thank you. Resolute 19:46, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

I think the nominator should be commended for instigating these long-overdue AfD discususions. Particularly so for going through the AfD process honestly, rather than sneaking around a discussion by creating a redirect. A subject whose only claim to fame is to being a Playboy Playmate is not notable, as consensus has determined. It is wrong to redirect this article to a list of 12 other such non-notables, whose only claim to fame has been specifically determined to be non-notable. List of Playboy Playmates of 1961 for example links to not one artice, contrary to all guidelines, and the subject of the list is in itself non-notable. If the subject is notable, she will have a standalone article at which her Playmate centerfold can be mentioned. Including her on a list of a non-notable subject is simply wrong. Kudos to User:Damiens.rf for stepping up and doing the honest work that the fans have been covering up. Dekkappai (talk) 18:15, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

• On a separate note, Dekkappai's nomination of said list he linked, AfD here, seems to be failing spectacularly. And my arguments would be the same as is stated in the AfD, essentially that Dekkappai is completely wrong about what lists are for, considering in most cases they are specifically for listing people or other information that are not notable enough to have their own article. Silverseren^C 00:29, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

• Comment - Automated tools to send material to AfD for existing articles should be banned. This reminds me of the case of a recent editor who went WP:IDONTLIKEIT on sororities and fraternities, starting with the Alphas... Carrite (talk) 04:17, 29 April 2011 (UTC)
  • Sure. Only tools that send material to AfD for non-existing articles should be allowed. --Damiens.rf 05:31, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

It seems Damiens.rf is simply implementing previously established site-wide consensus, against a minority of vociferous WikiProject members. How many articles are we talking about here in total? Tijfo098 (talk) 19:20, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Except for the fact that Damiens.rf has not been previously banned from using automated tools, I honestly don't see much difference in his deletion nominations here and the ones for which Wuhwazdat was banned from starting AFDs. How can you possibly be following WP:BEFORE if you post an AFD at a rate of one a minute, and use a completely boilerplate rationale in every AFD? The proposition that being a Playboy Playmate does not guarantee notability does not in turn mean that being a Playboy Playmate means that you are not notable. The results thus far seem to be varying widely, suggesting that these were just as indiscriminate as the past sprees against British models or fraternities, targeting a subject rather than considering each article topic on its own merits (for example, that sufficient sources exist here, or that the subject is notable for other things here or here). I agree with Carrite: there needs to be some restriction on using automated tools to AFD articles, even if it's just a cap on the noms per day or per hour, because that kind of bot-like editing is completely at odds with the kind of consideration that an AFD requires, Isn't the point of automated tools to make noncontroversial edits easier? The purpose is not to make one side of a deletion debate labor-free, while imposing the unreasonable burden of researching 100+ articles a day upon those who are interested in seeing if they can be saved. Particularly where the AFD nominator obviously hasn't bothered to do that work. postdlf (talk) 19:42, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Q - "How can you possibly be following WP:BEFORE if you post an AFD at a rate of one a minute, and use a completely boilerplate rationale in every AFD?"

A - It would be only possible if the articles were almost all just one paragraph long and equally boilerplatelly written. Oh, wait a second!

The proposition that being a Playboy Playmate does not guarantee notability does not in turn mean that being a Playboy Playmate means that you are not notable.

Are you implying I used this rationale? I haven't.

"The results thus far seem to be varying widely, suggesting that these were just as indiscriminate"

No, they are not. Most of the articles are going to be deleted/redirected.

My nominations were not undiscriminated. I reviewed every article and, when needed, searched for the model's page on imdb. Of course, in some of the nominations, it could turn out that the model is notable after all. But these will be the exceptional cases.

You know, many of the articles say nothing more than "Ms. Nice Flower was <insert date> Playboy Playmate. She was shot by photographer Mr. PhotoMan". Since being a playmate is, by community consensus, a grant of notability, such articles are qualified for WP:CSD#A7. But I have sent them to AfD anyway. --Damiens.rf 19:58, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Oh really? Explain your review process for someone like Ms. Teen Oregon USA 1994 who has multiple acting credits? Garbage. Just like how you seem to interpret the consensus that playmates are not inherently notable to mean that reliable source coverage about their "playmatehood" are disqualified in determining notability, which is a perverted interpretation that defies WP:BASIC. The proper reading of that consensus is that playmates are not notable in and of themselves if they do not have independent coverage by reliable sources. If several newspapers cover some girl with some depth because she was named playmate or only cover her because she is a playmate, that's her notability! Morbidthoughts (talk) 06:24, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

It is also clear from your mention of WP:CSD A7 that your understanding of deletion criteria is weak. CSD A7 is for articles that don't indicate why a person is important. It "is a lower standard than notability" and to use it on Playmates just because playmates are not inherently notable would have been improper and probably would have gotten you blocked if you had done 100 in a day. Morbidthoughts (talk) 06:35, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

There's no use arguing with deletionists. They don't care about concensus. They live to delete stuff... and vice versa: If they don't get their daily ration of deletions, they could shrivel and die. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:40, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

No need to be nasty, Bugs. Many of us care about consensus and take the time to clean up around here.—Kww(talk) 07:15, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

The editor in question says he doesn't care about concensus, he's nominating for deletion anyway. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:38, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

Welll, A7 isn't about notability, so that part's just a common misapprehension. As for "Since being a playmate is, by community consensus, a grant of notability, such articles are qualified for WP:CSD#A7. But I have sent them to AfD anyway.", the only way that parses at all is if you assume he mean "...by community consensus, [not] a grant of notability,...". Either way, it doesn't excuse discussing people that work at identifying the material that needs to be removed from Wikipedia with such negative tones and implications.—Kww(talk) 07:50, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

If he meant to say "NOT", then he should have said "NOT". I'm not a mind-reader, I can only go by what he said, or appeared to me to say. As far as negativity... deletionists are pretty much useless. They take away instead of adding. They aren't interested in value to the readers. They are only interested in deleting stuff. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 08:38, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

I'm strongly inclusionist myself, but I think that there are definitely some deletionists who do add some quality content to the project. The problem is when some of them get in their minds that all articles on certain topic are all inherently non-notable and do spray and pray style nominations. I mean, if they just took their time and picked the low-hanging fruit they'd have more success getting junk deleted with much less drama. (Though I accept that the nominator in this case was acting in good faith) Qrsdogg (talk) 14:39, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

Let's be clear here, Bugs: I don't think that I am "pretty much useless", nor do I consider my preference for removing material to be one that doesn't add "value to the readers". I take your statement as a personal insult, and think you should stop. A project where no one took out the trash would be just as useless as a project where no one added content.—Kww(talk) 15:22, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

• At Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Serria_Tawan I see the only two people trying to delete it are copying and pasting the same exact argument time and again without even reading the article, considering its merits, or looking for sources. I clicked the Google news archive button at the top of the AFD, and found she had written a book which was reviewed in the news, and she interviewed for it. WP:BEFORE exist for a reason. You can't expect people to go through a hundred different AFD at once. And the mindless boilerplating "Delete them all, I don't need to bother looking for sources or even reading the article" should be stopped as well. Dream Focus 09:23, 30 April 2011 (UTC)
  • The editor's AFDs here are at best incompetent, and at worst malicious / bad faith, and should all be immediately dismissed. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 10:09, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

• • Right, DreamFocus. Damien says above that he was 1) nominating on the basis of the article's current state, rather than its potential, and 2) doing no more than "review[ing] every article and, when needed, searched for the model's page on imdb". That's not compliance with WP:BEFORE, and you can't justify this by saying that most are delete-worthy, even if it's only a few that are notable. We don't expect every AFD to be correct, but it's simply not acceptable to post an AFD on the based on averages related to the subject matter rather than a careful consideration of that particular article topic.

    So we do we need a ban here from Damien.rf using automated tools to list articles at AFD, or is it enough that he's said he will stop? postdlf (talk) 14:59, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

    • No, it's not enough. The AFD's need to be deleted, as being driven by incompetency and/or bad faith. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:13, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

I agree. Close all of them. If people want to nominate just a few at a time, after doing things properly, such as taking a few seconds to do a Google news search first before each nomination, so be it. Dream Focus 16:06, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

I think it would be fair to at least speedy close all the AFDs that just have the same copied and pasted boilerplate comments from the nom and the delete !voters, with no other substantive comments. postdlf (talk) 18:01, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

I wouldn't go that far. After the RfC change, these Playmate articles do need to be reviewed, and speedy closing them would force someone to start all over again with AfDs. And if a speedy-closed article were re-nominated soon, someone would object with a "this was just speedy closed a few weeks ago". I would be more in favor of (1) speedy closing only the clearly notable nominations, and (2) a promise from Damiens not to make any more nominations until this backlog is fully cleared. --JaGa^talk 18:32, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

They should be rolled back as if the nominations had never occurred. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:07, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Why nominate them at all? Why not just merge them all into some big "List of" articles? That lets the articles get broken out again if notability is established. 69.111.194.167 (talk) 07:54, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

If this is a repeat problem for Damiens.rf, ie, if he has a repeated history of causing problems, then he should be stopped. BarkingMoon (talk) 23:09, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

(non-Admin comment)I'm troubled by the very act of mass AfD nominating by anybody. I disagree with the inclusion of some content, but that doesn't entitle me to create headaches for the people who put it in & defend it with good reason (even if I disagree with them). That appears to be what's at play here. I'd also disagree Playmates aren't inherently notable. Any member of such a readily-identifiable group would seem to be, IMO. Moreover, deletion risks deleting useful information. (Yes, I am strongly inclusionist most of the time.) IMO, this kind of behaviour should be discouraged strongly. In this case, it's way over the top IMO. TREKphiler ^{any time you're ready, Uhura} 16:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Should automated tools ever be used to list articles at AFD?

Apart from the conduct of any individual editor, it seems like the use of automated tools generally to post AFDs just causes ill will and can easily be abused (whether or not in good faith) by the rapid posting of bulk nominations. Per WP:BEFORE, we expect that those listing articles for deletion individually assess each article and its potential as a topic before listing it, and we expect tailored deletion rationales rather than boilerplate votes. Automating this process obviously runs counter to those expectations, and I see no inherent benefit to enabling people to post more AFDs at a faster rate. When is it ever a good idea to post AFDs in bulk? When has it ever improved the accuracy and validity of deletion nominations and rationales? As I noted in the last AN/I posting about abuse of automated AFD postings, it not only causes a wide net to be cast that inevitably catches valid article subjects in with the crowd, however few proportionately, it also hinders deletion of the articles that should be deleted because the whole process ends up being mistrusted as indiscriminate. Listing an article at AFD shouldn't be quick and easy; it should be cautious and deliberate.

So I think we need to evaluate whether this feature should be disabled entirely in all automated tools, or at least hindered in some way to prevent rapid-fire mass nominations, such as by capping the rate (e.g., no more than one every ten minutes) or absolute number (e.g., no more than ten per day). postdlf (talk) 17:55, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

As a regular participant in AfD debates, I place great importance on WP:BEFORE and believe that AfD nominators who ignore it create a fair amount of dissension. Automated nominations pretty much assure that individual assessment of the notability of the topic and the avaiability of reliable sources has not taken place. I agree with most of what Postdlf has said. However, I think that a hard working and conscientious editor could make more than ten nominations a day, if each was researched and had its own rationale, so I would oppose such a limit. Cullen328 (talk) 19:55, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

The limit I propose is not for manual AFD listings, just automated ones. postdlf (talk) 20:12, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

The AfD templates are also set up the be pretty self-automating. I mean, once you {{subst:afd}} into an article, you get links for the the AfD page preloaded with templates, the day's list where the new AfD is reported, and the author notification template. IMO, it's not that hard to take the AfD the rest of the way manually for there.

That said, I know there are some editors who batch process. They will find 10–20 articles they have concerns about, research them, and then post all the AfDs consecutively for the ones that warrant deletion. If they choose to use an automated tool to help them post the AfDs, I don't object to that usage—so not every person who fires off a bunch of AfDs consecutively has not thought them through. However, those batch-processing editors are probably the exceptions to the rule, with the editors who do start a bunch of ill-considered, cookie-cutter AfDs being more common—and if the latter group is abusing the automated tools, then the tools need to be either throttled or disabled. —C.Fred (talk) 20:28, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

Does this proposal treat individual (i.e. non-bulk) Twinkle-style AfDs as "automated"? Orange Suede Sofa (talk) 20:33, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

Lots of responsible editors use automated tools for nominations. Anyhow, a general proposal like this should be at the Village Pump, not ANI. --RL0919 (talk) 20:37, 30 April 2011 (UTC)

I use twinkle to place xfds. Automated tools for such purposes are convenient for avoiding mistakes, like forgetting to notify. I think there's nothing why with doing mechanical things by using machinery. Judging when to nominate for deletion is needed no matter how one is going to do it. It's true that the availability of the tools makes it easier to be thoughtless, but the lack of required thought is in the responsibility of the editor who uses them. Large batch nominations have been a problem for a long time: there are some times when individual attention is clearly not needed, but often it is. Nobody should be nominating in significant batches, either in one group nomination of in many closely spaced individual ones, without making it very plain from the start that they have searched carefully each of the individual items, and how they have done it. Proper preparation makes things go much smoother, than placing the nominations without such comment, and then having to justify oneself in response to criticism. DGG ( talk ) 05:21, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Short answer, no. Mass edits of any sort need to be approached carefully, and in particular invocations of a deliberative process like an AfD need to be done deliberatively rather than in mechanical fashion, lest Wikipedia turn into a battle between editors and bots. That's not to say there's anything wrong with helper bots and Twinkle, applied carefully, or that you can't do just as much harm by cutting and pasting. The point is that unleashing a whole bunch of processes at once swamps anyone's ability to deal with them. Seven (or five, or fifteen) per week is not ridiculously slow, as Wikipedia has no deadline. But it would still need some consensus, as it's not reasonable for a single editor to dictate process for everyone else. There's a threshold somewhere between several dozen and several hundred pages with the same issues, beyond which AfD is just not the best venue for making decisions. Anyway, best to put the brakes on things before people invest too much in it. For example, why not keep all the AfDs open as is, but announce a schedule for closing them in batches of a period of 30 days? Or maybe group all the sub-stubs with no claim to notability other than being a playmate into a single batch (all of which would be deleted within 7 days if no further sourced claims to notability are made). That would give people enough time to handle it. - Wikidemon (talk) 08:40, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Editing from 125.162.150.88 (Jack Merridew)

• 125.162.150.88 (talk · contribs · WHOIS)

An IP address is accusing me of "bad faith"[2] and "harassment" [3]. The IP address has now received 4 warnings [4]. Since the IP appears to be attacking me, I would like another admin to intervene and block if the IP doesn't stop. Gimmetoo (talk) 10:25, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Not sure what those warnings for edit warring is for. You seem to be doing the same thing? Nymf _hideliho! 11:01, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

It's the same old story. Jack makes a table sortable on year, which most folks consider an improvement. Gimme removes endashes from date ranges because Safari 4 (!) doesn't sort them properly. Jack puts the endashes back per MOS:ENDASH on the grounds that hardly anybody uses Safari 4 anymore - it's now on Safari 5, a free update. Gimme then perversely decides that "since the changes that allow sortability to work are repeatedly removed, consensus appears to be that sortability is not desired"[5] and removes the sorting functionality. Jack puts the sorting back, and the cycle begins again. Gimme knows how to make the table sortable for Safari 4 (because I showed him how), but would rather escalate a situation to an edit war than do the fix or update an outdated browser. This combative behaviour really needs to stop: it's perfectly possible to have tables with sorting functionality on date ranges that also comply with MOS. --RexxS (talk) 11:45, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

It's often not as simple as just a "free update" to Safari - for example, Safari 5 for Mac requires OSX 10.5.8 or later, so people who have not bought 10.5 cannot use it. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 12:17, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

They can use Safari 4.1. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:22, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Yes, I know that - but the suggestion above is that Safari 5 is needed, and I'm pointing out that that is not always an option. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 12:26, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

either undermines the idea the " to " is warranted. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:30, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

• That IP address is apparently Jack Merridew. I first encountered him here on a Article Rescue Squadron page, where he was making unhelpful comments like this, this, and this. For the most part, the rest of us just ignored him and went on with the discussion. However, when this happened, I filled out an SPI report, found here. I didn't know the situation with Jack or whatever is going on with Arbcom and just thought he was a blocked user evading his block. Apparently, it's more complicated than that. As you can see from the report discussion, Jack was extremely rude and uncivil toward myself and Doc9871. There have also been multiple other incidences that i've noticed of recent hostility and incivity toward others recently. The history of his talk page could show some of that too, since he routinely blanks any warnings or notifications put on the page. Silverseren^C 11:12, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Jack should use his account per his sanctions that are still in place. His many accounts are blocked so shouldn't he have to go to arbcom and figure out how to edit again since he last retired/quit? Some of us can tell it's Jack editing with this IP but there are editors who do not know who this is plus with Jack being rude to some it just complicates things even further. If Jack wants to continue to edit than he needs to get an account unblocked or some other acceptable thing done. Right now it looks like he is socking around a block. Sorry Jack but that's what it looks like. Please go back to the arbitrators and get this sorted out, please. Just my opinion of the situation but this is only going to get worse before it gets better if he continues to use this IP and behave like has been shown. --CrohnieGal^Talk 12:07, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

The Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees all WMF projects including Wikipedia, has declared open editing to be a founding principle. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:38, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Irrespective of this issue, that founing principle does not prevent Wikimedia communities from sanctioning, and stopping from editing, users who are disruptive. This does not mean that you, Jack, are so disruptive, just that the "anyone can edit" mantra is not a defense against accusations of shenanigans, which Crohnie appears to be implying. --Jayron32 12:41, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

But "they" don't stop most disruptive users; they're everywhere, making this project suck, driving away those who actually have a clue. The mob hates that.

@Crohnie; why the fuck should I allow myself to be tied to the Jack account with shite like this out there. The Jack account has been impersonated out there many times. What do you and the WHL coterie do when you spot me? Tie me back to that shite. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that's toxic in the extreme. As Fetch said, the problem with wikipedia is the *participants*. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:56, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Jack I have never been disrepectful to you like you are being right now. The reason is because the arbitrators, as far as I'm aware, haven't released you from using one account, the Jack Merridew account. Remember you withdrew your request to have those sanctions removed? This is the last I remember about this and though there is discussion about allowing you to have socks to play with, the discussion doesn't seem finished or accepted. --CrohnieGal^Talk 13:41, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Why are you in this thread? (it's a rhetorical question). Because I proved your friend WHL wrong across the board on a lot of issues; it's what's up Doc9871's ass, too, as he said on user talk:diannaa, and which she lit into him for. Look harder, the diff you're needing was already offered to you on Doc's talk. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 14:17, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

The only thing you've proven, at least to me is that you can behave poorly to other editors and do as you want and no one cares so neither do I. Yea Jack, you're right and all the rest of us idiots should go away and let you do what you want, so have a good time, I'm out of here. --CrohnieGal^Talk 17:29, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Jack isn't sanctioned. My understanding is that his main account is blocked because, apparently, it was hacked. He is not personally under sanctions, and is free to edit under a new account or IP address, and may regain his account if he can prove to stewards who he is. However, this edit warring behavior is itself troubling, and should be addressed. --Jayron32 12:14, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I scuttled the accounts; they're blocked because I posted the password; sul:locked, too. The password was scrambled again after that. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:22, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I'd appreciate comments both from Jack Merridew on the overall situation and from Gimmetoo on RexxS's description above. Newyorkbrad (talk) 12:09, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Gimme's been dogging my edits for a year, surreptitiously reverting at first, but always finding something to take exception to. It's harassment. He creates a hostile editing environment, as do far too many here. He went way over the line trying to ban me from cites last year, and has generally been a prat in all manner of discussions (with RexxS and Rossrs, too). He's unfit to be an editor much less an admin. RexxS is right, as far as he goes. Brad, you and others need to fix the toxic environment; many have left, leaving the field to idiots. Jack 12:19, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm cross-posting (a redacted version of) Rexx's summary of the technical issue to WP:WPT. Rich Farmbrough, 12:48, 1 May 2011 (UTC).
No I'm not since Rexx's post make it clear there is a technical fix here. Rich Farmbrough, 12:59, 1 May 2011 (UTC).

Rex's fix is this, which snots-up the wiki-text for a tiny number of users (ma'af).

Some statistics are available here. Rich Farmbrough, 13:15, 1 May 2011 (UTC).

Safari 4.0 usage is well below 1%. Anyway, the Gimme-shite issue is across the board; he's targeted most areas that I've tried to work improving structure. He's not the only one nipping at my heels; doc9871, I/Okip grawp ... the wiki-mob never forgets anything and is always vicious.

Brad, perhaps you could read through Talk:Yvonne Strahovski#Sortable table which is one of the issues Jack is referring to, with RexxS and me. Gimmetoo saw a problem in the sorting in the filmography table at Yvonne Strahovski, but failed to define the problem despite being asked several times, over the course of 2 days. See how long the discussion is. Gimmetoo should have said "The dash causes a sorting problem for editors using Safari 4". Eleven words. Easy to understand. We could then have fast-forwarded through to a solution. Any editor, let alone an admin, should be acting in good enough faith to provide an eleven word sentence to answer a question, instead of creating an atmosphere where other editors had to guess what he was on about, and then be ridiculed for failing to guess. From Gimmetoo's talk page, his question Has it occurred to you yet that "that particular incompatibility" may be something other than what you think it is? (Answer: No) Obviously RexxS had no idea what he meant, and I certainly didn't. And on and on it went with Gimmetoo refusing to give a straight answer. To RexxS's credit, when he finally realized what "the problem" was, he came up with a "fix". Satisfactory, rather than ideal. If Jacks's frustrated and fed up, I don't blame him, and going back to RexxS's comment above, I think RexxS sums it up well. Rossrs (talk) 13:59, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

See [6] RexxS was condescending and insulting, and stated without reserve that everything I had said was "patently untrue". Do you and RexxS admit you were wrong in any way? Gimmetoo (talk) 18:31, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

It's interesting that you link to another long chunk of dialogue that you could have nipped in the bud by actually saying what the problem was. Other editors made similar comments there. Both RexxS and I failed to read your mind, but you escalated it and kept it going. I don't know how RexxS would answer your question, but no, I did nothing wrong. I didn't understand what your problem was because you failed to spell it out, but that's your failing, not mine. Rossrs (talk) 22:35, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Hold on. This is *Merridew*?! And the IP is accusing me of "dogging" his edits? Absolutely unacceptabe. First, if that's true, then some of the responders here are WP:INVOLVED and have failed to note their involvement. Second, Merridew has a long history of abusive editing, including arbitration cases for targetting a user and for abusive editing from multiple accounts. If Merridew is still doing this, it's more than past time that Merridew was banned. Gimmetoo (talk) 15:39, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

• I'm uninvolved here wrt to past disagreements and who did what to whom and when, so I'm ignoring all of that. What I see here is a positive attempt to improve a table in an article, which caused a minor technical problem for an old version of a browser, and which was quickly fixed once the problem was properly explained and understood. Besides that, I see hints of people trying to restart old arguments and settle old scores, but none of that seems pertinent - now that the technical issue is sorted, is there anything of actual relevance that needs admin action here? -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 15:45, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
  • First, the technical issue has not been fixed on all involved articles. Second, the issue here is the IP/Merridew's targetting of my edits, and the IP/Merridew's accusations of harassment and "bad faith". Merridew has a long history of targetting other editors. If the IP is, indeed, Merridew, then the IP is continuing to edit without disclosing clearly who he is and the associated arbcom sanctions. The IP should be blocked at this point. Gimmetoo (talk) 15:50, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
    • Well, regarding the technical issue, now that a fix is known then surely it just needs to be applied to the relevant articles, doesn't it? -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 15:59, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
      • Two fixes have been known for months. If the IP is indeed Merridew, then the IP is well aware of those fixes, and has knowingly not implemented either of them. The IP undid my fixes, and, indeed, appears to be systemaically undoing my edits. The IP has not opened discussion, and shows no interest in opening discussion on this issue. Gimmetoo (talk) 16:12, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
        • It's not anybody else's individual responsibility to implement the fix - now that a fix is known that will enable to table to be sortable in the problematic browser too, why not just do it instead of all this bickering? If there is still a dispute about the best fix, go discuss it on an appropriate article page and decide by consensus. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 16:20, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
        • Oh, and as far as I can make out, the *user* JackMerridew is not blocked or banned - the *account* was blocked, but only because it was compromised. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 16:26, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
          • When an IP knowingly removes a fix for a problem, that IP's editing is not good. When this is part of a pattern of targetting users, and with refusal to discuss the issues, it is WP:DISRUPTive editing and the IP should be blocked. Gimmetoo (talk) 16:35, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Please post some diffs of this behaviour. Thanks. --Diannaa ^(Talk) 16:46, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

For instance [7] [8] [9], [10]. Gimmetoo (talk) 16:50, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

OK, so will the fix detailed above by RexxS make the standard "dash" version work in Safari 4, yes or no? -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 17:02, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Perhaps, but the IP doesn't want that fix [11]; also notice the abuse in that edit. There are many other disputed changes involved in the IPs recent edits. If this is, indeed, Merridew, remember that Merridew has a history of targeting users. One lead to arbitration; there is also [12] and [13]. Gimmetoo (talk) 17:06, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Nope, those 'fixes' for a dead browser are unwarranted. We don't support telegraphs or Campbell Soup Cans, either. If such a fix is centralised, mebbe, but snotting-up thousands of articles to accomodate a tiny number^{(an ever-diminishing#)} of users is just going to make a mess and impede editing by editors who know nothing of this faux-issue. You "dispute" anything I've tried to do, and don't discuss in good faith; that's harassment. You've ownership issues, too, mosty re hottie celebrity bios. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 04:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

How about some diffs of the discussions you opened on this topic that the IP refused to join? Or some diffs of him targetting users? These are serious accusations, and you are calling for a block, so please post these diffs too. --Diannaa ^(Talk) 17:04, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

The IP has accused me of harassment. Why have you not asked the IP for diffs to support that very serious accusation? In any event, [14], and the IPs response was [15]. Gimmetoo (talk) 17:06, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

That was you making a pointy and sarky comment, and the other guy removing it. What you are being asked for is some evidence of *you* or someone else actually starting a discussion on the relevant issues and the other guy refusing to join in - not evidence of your demanding that he start it -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 17:25, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Regarding the technical issue, please stop evasively poking sticks at the other guy and just answer the question. If you have a content dispute (which is what this is) then show us where the discussion took place and show us your attempts to resolve it. Where were the alternative fixes discussed? Where was it decided not to go with RexxS's fix? Where was the discussion held that resulted in a consensus to replace the standard "2001-2006" format with "2001 to 2006"? Where was the impact on Safari 4 users discussed? How badly does it affect them? Does it just make that column sort wrong or does it screw up the whole table? Where was it decided to go with a non-standard date format to fix a sorting problem that only affects less than 1% of our readers? That's what you should be doing - discussing this on its merits, not arguing back and forth just because you don't like each other -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 17:20, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

The IP chose to re-revert rather than discuss, contrary to WP:BRD. The IP then continued to make disputed edits to multiple other articles, also without stopping to discuss. On the technical issue, see Talk:Ursula_Andress#Accessibility_and_dates, specifically near the end where RexxS said: "I've also restored the "1987 to 1988" format for the date range, as I can't see that producing any problems for any browser." Nevertheless the IP did [16]. Gimmetoo (talk) 18:18, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, WP:BRD is only an essay, and you're still not presenting us with what was requested - evidence that *you* tried to discuss the issue and the other guy refused to join in, and so support the accusations you are making against him. (I had the comment below ready to add when I got an edit conflict, so I'm going ahead with posting it as it was - if you genuinely wish to solve this problem rather than just carry on fighting with someone you don't like, I hope you will respond positively). -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 18:36, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I opened discussion on the IP's talk page. The IP did not engage, and has not engaged. Instead, the IP has accused me of harassment and continued to make the same disputed edits. Why have you not asked the IP for diffs supporting that very serious accusation? Gimmetoo (talk) 18:58, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

• Looking back into some of the history of this table sorting business, I came across User talk:Gimmetoo#Yvonne Strahovski from back in September 2010, where Gimmetoo was plainly and simply asked to explain what he saw as the problem. But he responded just as obtusely and tendentiously as he is still doing today, steadfastly refusing to just clearly state what he meant. I apologize if I'm wrong (and I hope I am), but what I think I'm seeing is a long-running personal feud rather than any genuine attempt to make Wikipedia better. Gimmetoo, I think you need to put up or shut up - start a discussion explaining the technical problem (not other people, and not your feuds with them, but the technical issue itself), and offer constructive suggestions for a solution so we can discuss it and get a consensus - I'm a Mac user myself, and one of my old machines still has Safari 4, so I can help technically -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 18:36, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
  • And in the light of the above, how about we stop the "It's all his fault" game based on selective quoting, and instead start a brand new attempt to solve the technical problem with table sorting and get a consensus on what to do? Then it will be sorted (pun intended, sorry), and we can all leave the playground and get back to making Wikipedia better. How does that sound? -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 18:40, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Boing, this issue here is abusive editing. The technical discussion has been had before, at for instance Talk:Ursula Andress. The IP editor is not helping. Technical issues could be discussed again if the disruptive editing by the IP is stopped. But if this IP is indeed Merridew, then there is another facet; Merridew has picked on editors before (see prior arbcom case, prior ANI) and has picked on me in the past. That needs to stop. Gimmetoo (talk) 18:58, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Again I would like to call for some recent diffs giving examples. All you have here is some diffs of six-month-old ANI reports and references to a ban that was lifted in 2008. --Diannaa ^(Talk) 19:20, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

• Gimmetoo, I have no previous interaction with this dispute, so I hope you don't mind me being open and honest here when I tell you that what I see is egotistical dickishness all round - I see each of you just trying to win a willy-waving contest, and little or no willingness from anyone to actually get together and solve the underlying problem. The arguments on this technical issue and the related fallout have been going on for at least 8 months as far as I can see, and I think the only way forward is tackle the issue itself is in one consensus-driven discussion that involves more than just the same three or four people - and not one that excludes any specific individual you don't like! I honestly don't think you will succeed in making this a one-sided accusation of abusive editing, because I see just as much dickishness from you as from anyone else - and again, that's just an honest observation. Basically, I'm offering to help solve the underlying problem, and if we can get a consensus about that then there should be no basis to any further arguments. But if all you're interested in is kicking shite out of each other and don't really care about Wikipedia itself, then I'm afraid I'll be walking away and leaving you to it. So come on, why don't you take a major constructive step and agree to join me in a civil discussion on the technical issue? -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 19:23, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Boing, I have been attacked by the IP in edit summaries, and in comments on this very thread. Are you going to do anything about that? Are you going to block the IP if there are any further abusive edit summaries or attacks? Gimmetoo (talk) 20:03, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

My offer of assistance with a discussion on the technical issue still stands, but I thought I'd made it clear I'm not going to take sides in the dick war -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 20:13, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

If you can get that editor to discuss civilly, fine, but whatever I may or may not have done in the past does not mean that I have to be subject to never-ending abuse from that IP/Editor. If you wish to support and enable the environment such editors foster, that's your choice. If this IP is Merridew, then Merridew was under restriction to edit only from the Merridew account, though apparently the editor indicated a week ago intentions to disregard the arbitration motion [17]. Gimmetoo (talk) 20:21, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I've had a look at quite a bit of this going back some time now, and I have to say I've seen bone-headed stubbornness that would be the envy of a Triceratops. So no, it is absolutely not a case of my allowing the other guy to carry on being abusive - and if you stick with the "I'm 100% right and the other guy is 100% wrong" attitude, then we are unlikely to get anywhere. If, however, all sides are prepared to discuss the problem openly as members of the same Wikipedia team rather than slugging it out like street brawlers, we might actually get somewhere. It's getting late where I am, so I'm going to get some rest - and tomorrow I'll find a suitable place for a discussion of the table sorting issue where we can hopefully get a consensus on what to do (and I've already downloaded copies of Safari 4.0 and 4.1 for comparison purposes). And I suggest you get some rest away from this dispute too - it is, after all, not real life. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 20:48, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

tldr

There have been discussion attempts w/gimme since about last August; they never go anywhere. This didn't even start with the sorting or dashes; it was citation templates at first. Gimme has decided to take-on Merridew, since no one else has the "guts" to; said so last August or so.. Discussions with him never go anywhere because he's not acting in good faith; his intent is to pin my ears back and thwart whatever it is I'm trying to do. WP:HA-101. I LOL re his feigning to not have realized that I'm me; [18] [19]. He's seen this before. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 03:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Yes more accusations of WP:HA from the IP. Ironically, the IP notes a "toxic environment"[20]. Since User:Boing! said Zebedee seems reluctant to do anything about these sorts of comments, is there any admin who will do anything to encourage the IP to contribute without creating and expanding that toxic environment? Gimmetoo (talk) 14:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Silver Seren accuses Jack of incivility

I suppose in order to have people actually discuss on the ongoing incivility that Jack is exhibiting, I need to make this a subsection, since people just ignored my comment and keep going on about Gimmetoo's incident (not that your incident isn't important). So i'm just going to re-copy what I said above here so people can actually comment on it.

"That IP address is apparently Jack Merridew. I first encountered him here on a Article Rescue Squadron page, where he was making unhelpful comments like this, this, and this. For the most part, the rest of us just ignored him and went on with the discussion. However, when this happened, I filled out an SPI report, found here. I didn't know the situation with Jack or whatever is going on with Arbcom and just thought he was a blocked user evading his block. Apparently, it's more complicated than that. As you can see from the report discussion, Jack was extremely rude and uncivil toward myself and Doc9871. There have also been multiple other incidences that i've noticed of recent hostility and incivity toward others recently. The history of his talk page could show some of that too, since he routinely blanks any warnings or notifications put on the page."

Jack has been extremely uncivil to multiple people over the past few days. I strongly advise you to look at the discussion in that SPI report. Silverseren^C 20:48, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Further evidence of incivility would be here. This led to an edit war with Qwyrxian who thought it was an unconstructive comment, though Bishonen ultimately kept it. Ultimately unimportant compared to the stuff above. Silverseren^C 20:53, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

[Embarrassed, Bishonen hastily updates her Safari 3.] I "ultimately" kept it, Silver Seren? What does that mean? I wrote to Qwyrxian to stop reverting the IP as soon as I saw the edit war on my page. By then, however, Nikkimaria had already asked Qwyrxian why he was so insistently reverting the post on my page, which didn't look anything like vandalism to her (or to me), and Qwyrxian had already realised that he'd made mistake and apologised nicely to the IP.[21] And this you describe as "further evidence of incivility" (by the IP, not by Qwyrxian), and hint that the edit war was the IP's fault, not Qwyrxian's "who thought it was an unconstructive comment"? Yes, well, he thought so until he realised he'd made a mistake. Then he very properly apologised. You didn't think that worth mentioning, I guess. Silver Seren, your post about my talkpage is completely misleading, in a particular direction, which makes it uphill work to assume the slightest good faith of you. Clicking on your other diffs makes your "extremely uncivil to multiple people" look ridiculous, too. (And you feel impelled to let us have your text twice? What's that about?) I encourage everybody to click on those diffs and form their own opinion. Silver Seren, please go read WP:BATTLE. Slowly. Carefully. P.S. I have changed your header to a more neutral and truthful one. Bishonen | talk 23:03, 1 May 2011 (UTC).

Um...that comment wasn't meant to be an attack on your or to say anything about you either. It was meant to point out that Qwyrxian's trying to remove the comment was a little pointless (because I was sure someone else would have pointed that out if I hadn't said it myself). That, however, doesn't change Jack's incivility in the comment directed toward this ANI discussion. I apologize if I upset you, I never meant the comment to be negative toward you at all. I've gone ahead and removed it, so there isn't an issue. Again, I apologize. Can we instead focus on Jack? Silverseren^C 23:09, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

(e/c) Thank you, but it's a misdirected kindness to remove the words I quoted, as it makes some of my reply incomprehensible. This is something you should never do in a discussion. Please put them back. What you should do if you regret something you said is cross it out with the <s></s> code. Please don't bother to cross out anything whatever on my account, though; I didn't think you said anything about me, so we're in agreement there. I merely thought the "ultimately" comment was somewhat contributory to the misleading way you described Jack's role on my page. And I see you now (as a counsel of desperation?) suggest he was being incivil towards ANI on my page. Wow. Good job you can't see what people say about ANI on IRC, you'd probably faint. Bishonen | talk 23:40, 1 May 2011 (UTC).

I added it back in, as you've asked, but struck through the entire comment, since it is unimportant compared to the diffs I have at the beginning and below. I'm not sure if you're purposefully trying to direct this away from Jack, but can we please focus on the comments that Jack has made and I have linked to above and below? Silverseren^C 00:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

And let me just add that Jack making comments like "another “anyone” hauling out one of the usual wiki-weapons. all part of teh toxic-wiki" and "wp:boomerang 4 teh trolls ;)" is not helpful at all and is what I mean by incivil. Silverseren^C 23:20, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Not to mention "you're not trying hard enough; you should be asking me to assume good faith, pointing out some of teh diffs on your list-of-bad-acts, that I call you a troll and an asshole. that's the wiki's core problem; it's open to all and fails to remove the likes of you." Silverseren^C 23:21, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Silver, I'd have thought you'd learned your lesson about jumping in feet first by now. Elen of the Roads (talk) 00:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Okay, seriously, I know that we have past disagreements, Elen, but trying to redirect this onto me without addressing the topic of the section is rather unhelpful. Silverseren^C 00:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

People who loudly accuse the community of some vice are almost invariably guilty of, but blind to, some variant of that vice themselves. → User:Antandrus/observations on Wikipedia behavior#31 –MuZemike 00:22, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Silver seren is simply an ARS partisan who's taking shots at an ARS critic. Mostly this is left over from my sorting the A Nobody issue. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 02:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC) (sorting problematic editors for seven years;)

Have I ever really interacted with you, Jack? If so, it's been a long time since then, since I really don't remember you at all. The only reason i'm making this report is because of your hostile actions and words toward myself and others, nothing more than that. Silverseren^C 03:37, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

This shite count? I'll have to look into whatever Elen and Bish are on about; Mike seems to see it, too. hint: flee. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:29, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Just in case there was any lack of clarity, I was wrong (and admitted as such) to revert the IP's comment on Bishonen's talk page. I mistakenly thought I was seeing a pattern of disruptive behavior by an IP editor(s) across multiple pages via Huggle (there was a multi-page attack allegedly from the GNAA going on at the same time); this was compounded by edit summaries that appeared to confirm bad intentions. However, after the issue was raised on my talk page and I looked more carefully, I agreed that I was mistaken to call the edit vandalism, and apologized on my and the IP's talk page. Qwyrxian (talk) 00:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Apology accepted. You really need to not be so aggressive with the Huggle-matic. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• *sighs* This is why I dislike starting sections on ANI, because it's just like lighting a lamp to all of the editors that dislike me. I notice that no one responding to this section has yet to actually address anything in regards to Jack or the diffs I presented. Silverseren^C 01:09, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

If you dislike it, and are unable to fathom what causes the WP:BOOMERANG effect, maybe you shouldn't do it. Funny how often we get this on ANI: Stop talking about me, we're talking about that guy ! See WP:BOOMERANG: "Anyone who participates in the discussion might find their actions under scrutiny." Compare your experiences in the Noleander RFAR case, which I suppose is what Elen is referring to above. Bishonen | talk 07:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC).

Except all of you aren't specifying anything that I did wrong, you're just insinuating things about me. What exactly have I done wrong here? I'm not the one that has been making comments like Jack has above. Tell me straight off, what exactly have I done wrong here? Silverseren^C 09:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I'll tell you what you're doing wrong here; a) you're being a civility-prig. When I criticize editors, people take notice and teh subject usually fares poorly over time. b) people look unfavourably at editors doing the pile-on to an ani-cluster-fuck thing, which is what this little sideshow amounts to. ANI magnifies one of the wikis major problems; it offers a platform to anyone who wants to play the talk-like-an-admin game. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 12:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I mean, you're the one making comments like this. Silverseren^C 09:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Jack is a strange duck, he can be tough to handle, but he does good work. I have nothing remotely good to say about Silverseren, and plenty of bad things to say about him. However the greater point here is that this is an incredibly stupid situation. After what must be months of this battle playing out, the proper solution would have been to hold a binding RfC on the sortable tables issue, (another one on color use is in order as well), and then whomever's edits were going against said binding RfC would be warned then blocked. It should never have gotten this far. Sven Manguard Wha? 01:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The RfC on colour has been had; twice, actually. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 02:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Can you show us where the RfCs on the tables were held? (I'm planning to start a new one, so the old ones would be very useful). -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 08:54, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers/Archive 5
• Wikipedia talk:Consensus/RfC

the first ranges over a bunch of issues and is about a quarter meg ;) The second had a pretty wishy-washy close. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 10:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Gee, thanks. What are you talking about with sortable tables? Is that Gimmetoo's thing from up above? I'm not involved in that whatsoever and know pretty much nothing about it. I made this section to discuss the incivility Jack has been showing toward multiple editors. Silverseren^C 01:34, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, the problems (caused by all sides - this is not one-sided) all stem from a disagreement about sortable tables -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 08:54, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

This is not about tables, or sorting, or colour, or cite templates, specifically; it's about my having been critical of a lot of poor users and poor editing over years and they and their friends endlessly nip at my heels and oh-so-much want to see me dinged. The mob loves to have a user offered up on the pillory. Wiki is a blood sport, with live targets. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 10:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Is Doc9871 involved in this dispute? Is that why Jack was bad-mouthing him in the SPI case? If not, then I don't see the relation at all between Gimmetoo's incident and mine. Silverseren^C 09:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Didn't you mention him first here? You notify him? The moar, the moar toxic ;) 125.162.150.88 (talk) 10:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Sortable tables RFC

I'm planning to start an RFC on the sortable tables issue, which seems to be a long-simmering cause of aggravation. It's a content dispute, so it's not something to be fixed here at ANI. But as the main protagonists seems to be present here, if anyone knows of any previous RFCs or other attempts to get a consensus, would they please provide some links. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 09:00, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Mean to say, RexxS has provided what seems like a good basic summary of the technical issue, at User talk:Boing! said Zebedee#Table sorting and ANI (though if people want to add to that, please save it for the RFC itself) -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 09:02, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Not sure if this is needed; WHL's the only one who was strongly against sorting and she folded. This is about editors harassing me and that the AC's left old sanctions gathering dust for years. Moar broadly, it's about the extreme toxicity of this project. It's not getting any better, either. 125.162.150.88 (talk) 10:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, we have you saying it's all about other editors harassing you, and others saying it's about you harassing them. And we're certainly not going to get anywhere with the two sides just sticking their fingers in their ears and butting heads - frankly, whatever the origins of this dispute, you're coming across as bad as each other right now. If at least part of the root cause is disagreement on a technical issue, then resolving that technical issue has to be worthwhile, don't you think? Otherwise the headbutting over it, which has been going on for at least 8 months, will not stop. Anyway, thanks for providing the links above - I'll read them later and see where they lead -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 10:45, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

On first glance, the two previous discussion you linked to above seem to be wide in scope. The specific disagreement here is about whether to accommodate Safari 4.0 in table sorting, and if so, how, as that seems to be what people have been edit-warring over. But it's all useful, thanks -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 10:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I referred to colour RfCs, and you asked after table RfC; the one at ACTOR is both, and huge. It got into sorting rather late-on, and gimme was not involved in any of it. He came in a bit later and is reverting my on mere newlines (horizontal format of table, which is necessary for adding proper scope attributes to the headers). And anything else I do to his articles.

A much more important issue to settle would be the citation templates and list-defined references one.

125.162.150.88 (talk) 11:05, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That sounds good too - if we can define the problem clearly (as a technical issue rather then a "He did, he said" spat) then that might also be productive -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 12:58, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Draft RFC

I've started a draft RFC at User:Boing! said Zebedee/Sandbox/RFC - please make any comments at User talk:Boing! said Zebedee/Sandbox/RFC. Please do not start any discussion in the RFC itself yet - I just want comments about any errors or omissions that should be rectified before it goes live. Actual discussion of the issue itself should wait until it's live. (And please note that any personal attacks or incivility at this stage will be removed) -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 15:30, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

User:Palliomine

New user Palliomine has wreaked havoc on palestine categories. I have a very slow connection at present and cannot revert his changes. (It relates to Palestinian rabbis in various ategories) Chesdovi (talk) 20:01, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

It looks like they're tagging empty categories for deletion. Is this incorrect? The categories do appear to be empty. TNXMan 20:16, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I suspect User:Debresser is behind this. He has depopulated nearly 100 pages in various Palestine categories without responding to my reply on my talk page. Action needs to be taken. Chesdovi (talk) 20:56, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I only depopulated what you recently created and started to actively populate without any prior discussion and in disregard of immediate protests on your talkpage. You can't push your ideas through against the will of the community. Debresser (talk) 22:31, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Ok. Since we're here. Let's have it!

Chesdovi has recently created a whole group of "Palestinian" categories. He continues to create more of them and to populate them, despite the fact that 1. This term is controversial 2. He is replacing another term with his new term, and splitting up existing categories. 3. All of this without seeking prior consensus, and 4. in disregard of the protests of two editors on his talkpage, each of these editors with several arguments

I also agree that action has to be taken. And that action is that Chesdovi should be admonished to desist from creating and populating these categories he created until he can show consensus, rather than protests. Debresser (talk) 22:29, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

Debresser has acted wrongly in this case. If he felt certain categories were controversial, he should have raised it at category disscusion page, or the like. Without coming to an amicable solution, he proceeds to depopulate tens of pages, the vast majority which had been under that category for a number of weeks. He has not responded to clear proof that this term does exist in acdemic circles. His claim that the term Palestine did not exist in the 13th century is nonsensical. I have not "replaced another term. Most acuartely, i have sorted rabbis who lived in ottoman and british palestine in centuries to be onisten with all other such cats. He has want also to delted Category:Medieval Jews in Palestine. Wholly unacceptable. Chesdovi (talk) 22:41, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

since this disscussion has started, Debresseer contines to enforce his edits. [22]. Chesdovi (talk) 22:47, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

So do you..., so let's not go there. The difference is, you are the one trying to change things and introduce new terms. So you should show consensus. Debresser (talk) 22:51, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

The first protests on you page are a week old. Why do you continue making controversial edits? All these categories are your idea, replacing the term Land of Israel and splitting up Category:Rabbis in Ottoman and British Palestine. You're just pushing through your ideas, and can not accept the fact that the community sees them as problematic, and thinks you should refrain from doing so unless and until you can show consensus. Debresser (talk) 22:48, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

First thing first: How do you justify depopulating over 50 pages without seeking the communities consensus if this is so controversial. I spent a long time creating and populating many pages and you come along and revert all my work without a conclusion to the matter. That in itself deserves investigation. Chesdovi (talk) 23:13, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I told Chesdovi one week ago that unless he could find sources supporting that all those individuals were Palestinians, then I was gonna restore the original category, one week has passed, and he has still not added any sources, so the removal of the categorys is appropriate. But he provided one source at his talkpage for one guy, so at that article the Palestinian cat could be added. --Supreme Deliciousness (talk) 23:26, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

I'd say that even there the best thing is to use the naming system that was in use till Chesdovi made his whole new category system. To avoid misunderstandings and controversies. After all, we have no obligation to use the specific wording of each and every of our sources. Debresser (talk) 23:36, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

(EC) I do not obey you sd. Its your opinion against mine. You have no right to wilfully decat over 50 cats based on some irrational demand of yours. We don't need to cite each and every word. If a person has lived a significant portion of his life in a palce, he automaticaaly can be categorised as beloning to that place. Palestinian means "of Palestine". Not member fatah or Hamas. And it applies to all those people I added. I am backed up by a plethora of academic works. Chesdovi (talk) 23:42, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

This is getting old. If no sources calls those specific people "Palestinian", then you cant ad the cats.--Supreme Deliciousness (talk) 23:47, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

"misunderstandings and controversies. "? Pls elaborate Debresser. Chesdovi (talk) 23:43, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

We have Land of Israel. We have explanatory combinations like "Ottoman and British Palestine" (which could be split, of course into Ottoman and British, or even per century categories). Even if during some time the land was called "Palestine", we should disambiguate that. But in this case you are simply wrong. Because usually somebody born in Germany is also an ethnic German. But in this case none of these rabbis and other Jews was an ethnic Palestinian. Somewhat like Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews. So here we should be more careful with how to name our categories. All this is obvious and has been explained to you for a whole week on your talkpage. And you refuse to recognize that your edits are controversial, and that is what WP:ANI needs to explain to you. Debresser (talk) 23:49, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

DBRSR; Acc. to ur reasoning, we should have no German rabbis as thery are not "ethnicly" German. They are ethnicly Jews! Your reasoning if flawed. You yourself have revealled that you are confused. You agree when it comes to Israeli Arabs and Jews that they are both Israeli. So why can't you agree to have Palestinian Jews and Palestinain Arabs? AFAIMC my edits are not controverail. Why should they be? You have never expalned that have you? Have you? NO! Chesdovi (talk) 23:56, 1 May 2011 (UTC)

You seem to be confused here, since you are repeating my arguments now. Anyway, the problem here is not so much the content discussion. That has been going on on your talkpage, and today a little on mine. The problem is that you continue to create and populate controversial categroies, while two editors have expressed arguments for their objections against your innovations and changes. Debresser (talk) 00:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Have you just admitted to being a sock of Palliomine? Stop wasting my time and trying to wriigle out of the subject at hand. It ALL about the content. The content you want censored. expalin why we cant use the word Palestine to describe people who lived there in the medieval era. Chesdovi (talk) 00:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, if it is about content, then you have quite a few arguments against it in this section already. But let's take an example, to amke the point. I was almost shocked when I saw Nachmanides being called a "Palestinian rabbi". Of his 76 years long life he lived only 3 years in the Land of Israel!! Not to mention that the Land of Israel was then under Egyptian Mamluk rule, so he actually should be called an Egyptian rabbi! Chesdovi, calling Nachmanides "Palestinian" is absurd! Sorry, but it really is! Debresser (talk) 00:30, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

And again, this point has been made by Supreme Deliciousness on Chesdovi's talkpage. The real problem here is Chesdovi's unwillingness to see reason, or to at least accept that his innovations are controversial and contested. He should refrain from them unless and until he will get consensus for them. But he won't, obviously, so he decided to push them... Debresser (talk) 00:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Is there any reason why these edits ([23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28]) should not be seen as a violation of WP:POINT? I have rolbacked them, and recommend Chesdovi for a 24 hour block. Debresser (talk) 00:40, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Well done. Now we are getting somewhere. Having now made you see sense with regrd to the fallacy of this cat indicated "ethnicity", you are beginning to come round that a person living in a region attains that regions label. If the Egyptains ruled Palestine at the time would not make a difference, since the region was known as Palestine notwithstanding. So you agree that living in a place bestows upon you the designation of that place? Many sephardi Jews in aragon were not ethnic aragonesse, but they are called aragonses Rabbis. The fatc that you had an issue with Ramban could have been solved instead of going on your palestineophobe crusade. Chesdovi (talk) 00:45, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I reverted you because of Wikipedia:REICHSTAG, and that is why I recommend you be blocked for 24 hours. You have proven the issue is first and foremost behavioral for you. Debresser (talk) 00:47, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Explain to me why MM Schnersohn can be called an American Rabbi, But Issac Luria can not be called Palestinian? You should have been bloked long ago. Chesdovi (talk) 00:49, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have explained that earlier in this section. You seem not to have understood it, as I mentioned above as well. Your Wikipedia:REICHSTAG behavior was a mistake. I'll see you tomorrow (or after 24 hours). Debresser (talk) 00:55, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

well you better had think how to explain yourself much better, b/c s far as i'm concerned you have wasted hours of my time without giving acceptable rationale why you 1) saw fit to depopulted over 50 pages beofre the discussion had come to and end 2) cretaed a new account to deleted the empty cats. 3) cayy on revrting afte you had strted a discussing th matter here 4) explained why Mediveal Jews in Palestine is not a worthy category. 5) hy there cannot be be something calle da Palesting Jew.. etc. Chesdovi (talk) 00:59, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

This edit, in which you call the greatest Jewish kabbalist who ever lived a Palestinian, and use the edit summary "Yup, he's also Palestinian. Debresser, You daven using nusach Palestine! Have I sent a shudder down your spine? "Palestine". Oi vey!" makes me doubt your capability to edit Wikipedia objectively. That was a sick edit, which no doubt would offend many, and rightfully so. Debresser (talk) 15:26, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Sockpuppet Break

These are all אֶפְרָתָה (talk · contribs). The following are  Confirmed matches:

• Palliomine (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Ram it home (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Bigpudd (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Bustermccrabble (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Pheochromocytoma (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Bigg gee ben (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Anglesey in North Jerusalem (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Dodomain (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Palaeoperenethis (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Tomtwiles (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Shoukii (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Da da manny 2 (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Safe for the surfaces (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki) TNXMan 01:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Both primary disputants topic banned for 72 hrs

Both primary disputants here (Deb and Ches) have edit warred and disrupted unacceptably, along with actions of the sockpuppeteer which escalated the situation. Both are topic banned under ARBPIA for 72 hrs to enable the situation to calm down from the current pointless head-butting. Notifications on their talk pages and the arbcom case logs to follow. Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 03:16, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Topic ban accepted, but I'd like to argue the following. I knew nothing about WP:ARBPIA, and simply have a very specific dispute with a user here who has been making undiscussed reforms and doesn't want to postpone his actions until after reaching consensus. Doesn't seem completely fair to me to ban us from other articles. Perhaps you'd reconsider and narrow down the ban to only the specific categories involved. I think we are both editors without a known history of edit warring in this subject area, and that this is overkill. Nor, on a more personal note, does it seem fair to me to treat the aggressor and the defender in the same harsh way. Note on Chesdovi's talkpage that he has been blocked a few times before for edit warring and problematic edits in connection with WP:ARBPIA, while I don't even have a warning on mine! Debresser (talk) 13:18, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You can appeal at WP:AE. I suspect that lack of prior warning may be sufficient grounds. Or it might not, they change the rules all the time. Tijfo098 (talk) 14:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks you for the suggestion. I have asked for the banning admin to look into it again. In addition, I really have no interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hold that the present disagreement is not really related to it. The connection was made by the banning admin, perhaps without sufficient consideration of the nature of this disagreement. Debresser (talk) 14:40, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I take this back. I wasn't aware Chesdovi had been banned and blocked several times before in connection with WP:ARBPIA. This, however, is all the more reason not to treat me the same way. Debresser (talk) 22:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Debresser caused the problem here. He depopulated over 50 pages and nominated numerous categories for deletion before a conclusion had been reached on a disscusion at my talk page. He first seemed to be amblivient to the new categories, and then did a mass edit before disscusing the subject at length. Cats should be discussed at the appropriate page. His mass-edits were a massive POV violation which has cause massive disrutption. The case of Ephrata and his sockpuppets is not know to me, but i am highly convinced that Debresser created a new account to nominated the cats he deopoluated for deletion [29]. Can someone look into this please. Chesdovi (talk) 14:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have never edited with any other than my main account on any Wikipedia project. Apart from when I accidentally forgot to log in. I have no problem with any admin checking this, since I find the accusation made above slanderous and highly offensive. Debresser (talk) 14:30, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Palliomine is not Debresser. TNXMan 16:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank you. Debresser (talk) 16:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I'd like to report that Chesdovi has been making personal attacks, insinuating that I am a fanatic zionist, and a right-wing zionist, and in the latter post also suggests I might be a sockpuppet (as he did on this page as well in this and this edit). He also calls my edits a "massacre" and a "crusade". I find all of these highly offensive, and indicative of the behavioral problem on Wikipedia which he has so amply demonstrated by pushing through his "Palestinian" categories. I can't help but feel myself victimized by this editor and the topic ban against me, and have approached the banning admin to reconsider. Debresser (talk) 14:50, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

In this edit Chesdovi clearly states that he will not seek consensus, but will continue to edit war. I really think that treating both of us the same way is rather unfair. Debresser (talk) 18:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You behaviour is audacious at the least. You think you are the teacher round here. You did not keep on discussing the matter before you carried out a mass-revert and category deletion nomination. Thats what i call acting without consensus. Chesdovi (talk) 19:00, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

After two editors tried to persuade you on your talkpage for a week to stop creating and populating controversial categories... Debresser (talk) 21:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Tendentious editing, POV pushing, and ownership by Barnstarbob

Barnstarbob (talk · contribs) is being very difficult at Chevrolet Vega. He was brought to this page a couple of weeks ago, but his behaviour has not improved and he continues with tendentious editing and presumed ownership of the article. If anything it has got worse. I have tried to improve the article, but many of my changes have been reverted. Today 842U (talk · contribs) made a series of edits which started to address the bias and reduce the trivia that was present in the article. Now Barnstarbob has reverted those edits (multiple times) and refuses to engage, as I have asked him to do, on the article's talk page to explain why he thinks 842U's edits are wrong. Instead he states all the current content was approved by other people implying that we have no right to make any changes. I'm not going to revert him again because I may have already tripped 3RR, for which I apologise, but I would ask that someone take a look at his actions and consider what can be done to help. --Biker Biker (talk) 00:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Update - he has once again reverted - making it four straight reverts in a row, and once again has refused to take the discussion to the article's talk page. --Biker Biker (talk) 00:50, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Hard telling who's "right", content-wise, but Bob has reported you and another user at the edit-warring page. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:22, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

There have been two discussions of which Biker Biker and 842U have not participated in. One two years ago, AND one started by 842U in a Project discussion recently, but he DID NOT participate. Any of the suggestions, deletions and changes made by any User were NOT reverted by me during that discussion. Biker Biker however has made several deletions and changes (only recently) of which I have not reverted as well. However three sections, the Lead, Problems, and Reception were totally changed by 842U after they were approved and judged neutral two years ago and in the recent projects discussion. These three section edits were reverted by me to the former. My work and research used in the three sections was deleted in these three sections AFTER the discussions they did not participate in and were judged neutral and complete. I have followed ALL suggestions in those discussions before making any major changes to the article and have not reverted any of those Users changes during those discussions. 842U is making major changes to the article after the fact. I reverted those major changes and Biker Biker reverted back to 842As changes. Again, The two Users did not participate in ANY of the discussions regarding the article's content, size, or neutrality. 842A is exhibiting Ownership as he deletes complete sections and ignores the discussion suggestions and outcomes, with Biker Biker recently reverting back 842Us major changes as well. More than two Users have concluded the lead, Problems, and Reception are proper and neutral and do not require complete changes or deltion of the material. (Barnstarbob (talk) 01:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC))

Baseball Bugs - thanks for pointing out the edit-warring entry. I have added my side of the story there including the four reverts done by Barnstarbob - thus tripping 3RR. --Biker Biker (talk) 01:40, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You may want to retract that "thank you". It's hard to tell from the reverts just what's going on, as a lot of it seems to be reshuffling of the same info. But I detect that the OP here is trying to promote a more negative view of the Vega (which was pretty much of a "throwaway car", as I recall) while Bob wants to present it in a more positive light. In short, it's a content dispute, and the main players here are all guilty of edit-warring, when they ought to instead take it to some sort of dispute resolution. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:43, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree that some sort of dispute resolution is in order. It wouldn't hurt for Barnstarbob to have a look at WP:Consensus#Consensus can change, though, especially if he's citing discussion that took place two years ago as support for "his version" of the article. It may be time for another discussion on the content to see where consensus is now. —C.Fred (talk) 01:51, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The discussion started by 842U was recent and he did not participate, and did not like the outcome and proceeded tp make major changes after it was discussed and determined no further prunning was needed. But he just does what he wants.(Barnstarbob (talk) 01:59, 2 May 2011 (UTC))

The current opinion is the article is neutral and there are no ownership issues then or now on my part. There have been two Users that have accused me in two years, including you, of which it was determined these were false.842A', You are the one who thinks he OWNS it. You start a discussion in Project Automobiles, then you don't participate, then you proceed to go against everything that was discussed. I'm following that discussion and the suggestions of the Users from it and the discussion from two years ago as well. Stop accusing me of ownership and conflict of interest. I have all the referenced text, Do you think I would if I didn't like the subject? It has helped the article, not hurt it. I've worked on it as a group effort from the beginning with other Users, most offering suggestions. I do not delete contributions. You're only kidding yourself if you think I hurt the article. The Problems section has been in the article for two years. The facts pertaining to all aspects of the car, good and bad should be more important for an encyclopedia article than reviews, as reviews are a combination of fact and opinion which can be biased depending on its source; nonetheless the reviews here are unmatched anywhere in one article. Your sole contributions to the article - non-automotive sourced criticism, was not deleted, nor were any other contributions from any User. I've added much automotive press sourced criticism past and present from 1970-2010, and reverted the deleted praise to keep the article neutral. If anyone is looking to render the article non-neutral or one sided its 842U.

A sampling below from the WikiProject Chevrolet Vega Discussion 842A initiated to accuse me of ownership, but did not participate in, concludes there is no ownership or conflict of interest issues on my part. In this sample it is clear by my working with other Users and the User comments below, the original accusations by 842U are false, and currently Biker Biker's discussion here is nothing more than frustration of his inability to OWN the article making major changes without discussion or approval by anyone first.

• Agreed, this is not the stubborn Vegavairbob I wrestled with, & I'm glad of it. I like this one much better. :D (I'm no angel, either, so... ;p) And moving the Wankel content to its own page IMO solves that one. I asked Bob this, & let me ask here, since there's still a problem: is there a page where the "aluminum block" section of Vega could be moved to? IMO, it's too OT to stay in, but too worthwhile to just junk. TREKphiler 07:59, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I moved large Aluminum block section to GM 2300 engine. A paragraph of the section retained (same size as reduced Wankel section) for Chevrolet Vega and Chevrolet Cosworth Vega pages as per discussion. Click links to view section versions on the three pages. Also I moved large Wankel section to a new page (with additions) General Motors Rotary Combustion Engine by the recommendation of TREKphiler any time you're ready, Uhura who made a new smaller edit for the Chevrolet Vega page. I made a few edits as well to the smaller version. Again click on these two links to view the new GM-Wankel page and the smaller Vega page Wankel section. Vegavairbob (talk) 17:44, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

• As for Bob's adding his own pix, I don't see the beef. I added mine to custom car because there weren't any. If there are better ones (not just different ones...), replace them. TREKphiler 08:43, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

• I don't see this article as having any issues really worth mentioning any longer. That one user makes most of the edits to an article is in itself not an issue, and I feel that accusations of ownership have lost their foundation. ⊂| Mr.choppers |⊃ (talk) 20:22, 15 February 2011 (UTC) (Barnstarbob (talk) 04:27, 23 April 2011 (UTC))

And current discussion on Vega page -

• I do feel that Barnstarbob has managed to lose most or all of the ownership issues that were previously problematic. He is still a bit hotheaded at times (as correctly stated in the previous section), and I would suggest endeavouring to remedy this. Nonetheless, I think that these problems are best dealt with on Barnstarbob's own userpage and not here on the Chevy Vega page. I would like to separate any possible issues with Chevrolet Vega from the problems of User:Barnstarbob entirely, which for me does not currently require any major pruning to Chevrolet Vega. Welcoming further remarks, I am yours:  ⊂| Mr.choppers |⊃  (talk) 06:47, 23 April 2011 (UTC)(Barnstarbob (talk) 02:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC))

I agree with the admins who have pointed out that this is indeed a content disput. The way to achieve consensus about content is by discussion, which Barnstarbob is steadfastly refusing to do, instead he states again and again that the page was "approved two years ago" and thus doesn't need chaning. As stated here consensus can change and that needs discussion not reversion. My beef is not about the article, but about Barnstarbob's behaviour in this content dispute and his refusal to play fair - which is why I have brought him to ANI. I welcome discussion, have invited him to discuss, but he won't. --Biker Biker (talk) 02:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The article was discussed in a lengthy discussion in Project Automobile RECENTLY of which you and 842U did not participate in. Had you participated you would know it has been determined the article no longer needs MAJOR pruning, or constant lengthening of the lead, or deletion or major changes in the sections, of which you have tried and failed to do on your own against the discussion outcome. I've tried to explain, but all did was start this accusation discussion, probably out of your own frustration of not getting your (own) way... Your editing including the External Link deletions and other changes were not reverted (excluding your deletion of the five gallery images) AS no MAJOR changes or deletions of the sections are needed or necessary according to the opinions expressed in the recent projects discussion and the recent article talk page. (i.e. "which for me does not currently require any major pruning to Chevrolet Vega. Welcoming further remarks, I am yours": User:Mr.choppers) My conclusion for what its worth is 842U doesn't care about those discussions based on his persistence of constantly making MAJOR changes to the article, and Biker Biker hasn't read the discussions at all. Stop deleting the discussion approved, careful, neutral work made by other Users either from their suggestions or actual contributions.

another discussion example...Ok ObtuseAngle, paragraphes removed. It has been returned to a shortened version of the lead used in the last article discussion. (Now it looks like other Wikipedia article's lead paragraphs). If you think anything else is not needed in the lead, please advise. (Barnstarbob (talk) 16:52, 14 April 2011 (UTC))

Looks good. I wouldn't change a thing. The shortened intro makes the article stronger. ObtuseAngle (talk) 01:15, 15 April 2011 (UTC)

But 842 has continued to completely change and lengthen the lead paragraph every few days, still ignoring other Users in previous or current discussions. 842 has been warned to stop framing criticism with HIS opinions. (reserved for reputable sources in Criticism) and now Biker Biker... the Problems section, as added by User suggestion to remove a neutrality flag, lists facts of the cars issues or problems in a separate section. It also is not reserved for 842Us or any Wikipedia User's opinions. This is not a web blog. The car's problems are presented with facts from referenced reliable sources. The fixes over the car's seven year production run are noted there as well as part of the article's factual and neutral tone. The Reception section lists all verifiable Praise and Criticism, both automotive and non-automotive sourced, past and present. As per Wikipedia policy, Wikipedia Users are not to express their opinions of the subject of the article, rendering it biased or non-neutral. (Barnstarbob (talk) 03:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC))

For the last month or so, using the discussion page to cite the plethora of sources that encapsulate the Vega's legacy as a promising but seriously flawed product, I've tried to introduce information to the body of the article and to the lead. These edits have been continuously reverted by Barstarbob, previously Vegavairbob, despite all efforts to discuss the lack of balance in the article, as well as the article's reliance on promotional material from the manufacturer, his own photographs as well as photographs, photos of his own cars as well as bloated fancruft (a whole section on the article on fake wood siding application, but where is the ongoing damage the Vega continues to affect on General Motors reputation with small cars?). Most recently, the discussion page reflects Barstarbob's contention that books written by historians as well as Time, Newsweek and Popular Mechanics are somehow not worthy of being introduced into the article. Barstarbob has spent the last weeks discouraging edits, has attacked me personally, and has used a machine-gun approach to editing the article -- basically to protect his singular viewpoint. He insists on burying any information of substance about the car's broad legacy. Taken individually, these problems (i.e., the photos of his own cars) aren't egregious. But taken together, Barnstarbob is owning the article, trying to shut out any other points of view besides his own. He is essentially using the article to grandstand for the Vega – in an especially narrow, minutely-focused manner.842U (talk) 11:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Misrepresentation of sources at the White Latin American article

The White Latin American article contains the following statement in the lede:

"Composing about 36% of the population as of 2010, White Latin Americans constitute the largest ethnic group in the region.[24][25]"

As I have pointed out in an edit summary [30], neither source cited refers to 'white Latin Americans' as a unified ethnic group. Lizcano [31] refers to 'Latin or Iberian' ethnicity in the English-language abstract, and from what I can tell via Google translate, makes no claim that there are unified ethnic groups crossing national boundaries - the article is however in Spanish, and I'd appreciate if someone familiar with the language will check this. The CIA Factbook [32] likewise makes no claim that 'white Latin Americans' is an ethnic group - though I very much doubt that the Factbook could be considered WP:RS on this subject, given the disparate reporting regarding ethnicity, and the total lack of any indication of sources. The statement that 'white Latin American' is an ethnic group is therefore WP:OR, and the figure arrived at is WP:SYN. Rather than responding to my comments, USER:SamEV has chosen to slap an edit warning template on my talk page: [33]

I consider SamEV's actions to be in breach of the expected standards from editors, and given his refusal to answer my objections to the above sentence from the article lede, ask that appropriate action be taken against him. AndyTheGrump (talk) 01:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I've edited the above to remove the <ref></ref> tags. They don't work well on noticeboards like this, especially if multiple sections use them. Cheers. lifebaka++ 01:50, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

About Lizcano's paper I give you an analysis of the paper done in:[34]

Lizcano text is very generally used to support assertions that are central. The source is poorly used, poorly referenced, it does not indicate the precise spot where Lizcano says this or that. Moreover, Lizcano is talking about people "ethnic" (culture), and he often say "independently of skin color" when referring to any of the ethnic groups ('white or not). Speaks about "white" only when referring to statistics of population, but before anything else speaks of "criollo" in the sense of European (culture) transplanted in Latin America. Lizcano, never made ​​explicit what is the method by which concluded that the minority criolla population is the largest component of Latin America.

As the paper is in Spanish, it's easier to believe it says something that does not actually say. Be manipulated very easily. I apologize for my English. Best --Jcestepario (talk) 23:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your response. As I suspected, it seems that Lizcano is being misrepresented. As it turns out, other contributors have reworded the lede to the extent that the edits made by SamEV are moot, and given his lack of response, I can only assume he is either unconcerned about the article, or has accepted that my objections to the original text are valid. On that basis, unless he attempts to revert to the earlier POV-pushing version of the article, I'm prepared to consider the issue closed. AndyTheGrump (talk) 04:11, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

3RR blocking for reverting back to consensus-agreed version?

{{resolved|Unblocked. King of ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ 09:16, 2 May 2011 (UTC)}}

On Day of the Moon a recent Doctor Who episode, part of the plot involves a resolution that is unclear to the viewer (any statement made about it is engaging in OR). Earlier today there was an IP along with a few editors including User:U-Mos that discussed the wording of this section to avoid consternation on the phrasing and avoid OR. (see Talk:Day of the Moon#Amy's pregnancy). The change was implemented per how consensus operates by U-Mos here [35]. Note the invisicomments to highlight the issue to new editors.

Some time later editors changed this sentence to readd the language that was contested before, at least a couple times. U-Mos proceeds to revert back pointing to the talk page discussion. At this point User:SarekOfVulcan warns him of violating 3RR (which, if one didn't see the talk page discussion, certainly can be interpreted as that) [36] and then after another U-Mos revert back to the talk page consensus version, Sarek blocks him ([37]), and the review of the block was denied because apparently reverting back to a consensus version after something has been contested is not a valid 3RR reason. ([38]). Note that there was no 3RR report filed, Sarak took this initiative, apparently related to an earlier similar problem with the 7th Harry Potter book or movie. Now, there may be other issues going on personality-wise and past history, but I'm not looking at the people involved, only what actually transpired.

Now, since then, a registered but infrequent editor - uninvolved with the talk page discussion - has added back the text that was in consternation in the first place, basically nullifying the whole take page discussion. I am afraid of reverting it for the same reason of being blocked despite the fact this text had consensus from the talk page. Is this really how 3RR is supposed to work? I could understand that if U-Mos simply reverted without any talk page discussion that the 3RR block is warranted, but when consensus has come to a conclusion and that conclusion is overridden by an unaware editor (acting in good faith), I cannot see how a reversion back to a consensus-agreed (particularly as recent as that was completed) version with appropriate change notice to the talk page can be seen as a strike towards 3RR. But as the reviewing admin noted, there is no "written" allowance for such revisions within WP:3RR, nor could I expect that to be codified because it will be gamed. But I don't believe U-Mos was gaming anything here. It feels like people are jumping at this mechanically and not considering the entire issue... --MASEM (t) 02:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

And again, to be clear, before the completion of the discussion on the proper phrasing U-Mos was approaching 3RR-like editing and appropriately warned about it. --MASEM (t) 02:19, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

WP:3RR is part of WP:Edit warring for a reason. Reverting to a version that has a demonstrated consensus should not be completely exempt from being considered edit warring (it's not a stated exemption), but it should certainly be given a lot of leeway. That doesn't seem to have happened here. Rd232 ^talk 03:21, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree that there could be editing warring, and am not seeking a full exemption for that type of use (again, chance of gaming is high). But as you note, a non-mechanical analysis of this situation would show that 3RR doesn't immediately apply. --MASEM (t) 03:55, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I am tempted to unblock here, per WP:IAR. There is no User:3RR Blocking Bot; there is a reason administrators are supposed to use judgment when blocking. And I don't believe that Sarek's judgment was correct, at least with regards to the final strike. NW (Talk) 04:18, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I'd support unblocking here, based on Masem's report (haven't checked all the details/context). Rd232 ^talk 04:32, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks all. U-Mos (talk) 10:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

To clarify the comment about Harry Potter 7, I hit 7RR while attempting to keep an article about a newly-released movie accurate and neutral the day after its release. When I realized what I had done, I insisted on receiving the same block that anyone else would have received in the same situation. My initial warning to U-Mos indicated that I was sympathetic, but that he was (significantly) over the line. He agreed to step away from the article, but then returned to make his 13th revert (just on the Undos, ignoring any reverts as part of other editing), at which point I blocked him. While I have no problem with the unblock, I fail to see why this was a lapse in judgement on my part. If there was a strong consensus for this wording, that means there were other people who could have made the revert. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 13:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I think it's important to remember what 3RR is meant for; it's meant to prevent singular editors from insisting on their version of the article compared to what consensus has said or without seeking additional consensus. In this case, consensus had been gained, and U-Mos was reverting to that version from a random IP/infrequent editor's change. Though for all practical purposes it looked like a 3RR over the course of 24hrs, it was special circumstances (the intervention of consensus discussion) that interviens here. I don't know the details of your case at HP to know if there was discussion towards a consensus, but as you simply describe it, I can certainly understand why you requested the block.

But again, I think the comments above highlight the heart of the matter - 3RR is not some mechanical rule. It is meant to discourage editors from edit warring to a preferred version, and thus the circumstances of the 3RR need to be investigated before it can be slapped down. Some cases are very easy (same article, we have one user StacyGMU who did just that and warned off on revert #3) but U-Mos' case here is far from that and is the type of case that judgement is needed as suggested per WP:3RR itself. --MASEM (t) 13:35, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

There is an argument that unilaterally deviating from a consensus could be perceived as vandalism anyway, which is exempt from 3RR. It's up to the admin's judgment whether that is a valid defence in the case of this article. Betty Logan (talk) 13:45, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

At the same time, a new IP editor or infrequent registered editor coming to make the change against consensus once is difficult to call vandalism (if anything, its more than likely a change in good faith). I'm not trying to fit U-Mos' actions into the mold of what is an acceptable 3RR exempted allowance, only that the situation is more complex than just counting the number of reverts and block if that's more than three. --MASEM (t) 13:49, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

No, no, no. Don't let's redefine "vandalism", please. Half the POV pushers I know falsely claim consensus for everything they do. There's no way we need to open up editing against their actions to charges of vandalism.  – OhioStandard (talk) 14:05, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I see that my 3RR block was discussed at Wikipedia talk:Edit warring#Reverting crap from high profile articles, which I missed at the time. I don't see that a clear consensus was formed for or against maintaining consensus as a 3RR exemption, but I suggest continuing discussion there. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 13:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Actually, WP:3RR is a mechanical, or at least bright-line, rule. There are very specific exemptions: the edit warring page explains "If you are claiming an exemption, make sure there is a clearly visible edit summary or separate section of the talk page that explains the exemption. When in doubt, do not revert." U-Mos claimed "talk page consensus" -- this is not an exception to 3RR. And now that I count your reverts, Masem, I see you made 4 reverts on Day of the Moon yesterday, every one of which you marked as "reverted good faith edits". You were quite right to be afraid of being blocked as you stated above.--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 16:34, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Protection of Osama bin Laden

I changed Osama bin Laden from semi-protect to full protect. I have had comments on my talk page for and against that action. Feel free to revert this action but I couldn't revert vandalism of the semi-protected page faster than the edit conflicts were happening. Rmhermen (talk) 03:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You did the right thing. I had made the suggestion on its talk page.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 06:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

It's too late to protect him. He gawn, bye-bye. :) ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 11:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Admins needed at Osama Bin Laden

Osama Bin Laden is dead and the article is locked down the sheer volume of Edit requests is swampin the talk The Resident Anthropologist (talk)•(contribs) 03:09, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

(Non-administrator comment) As of 8:10pm (PDT) the "official" announcement from the White House hasn't been made. CNN and Fox are quoting "unnamed sources", and have engaged in speculation before that turned out to be inaccurate. Suggest leaving the article at Full protection for at least 3 hours until something a bit more definitive comes out. --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 03:12, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Prodego unprotected it but has taken no action to remove the false information from the article. After ten consecutive edit conflicts trying to remove the "fact" that Obama had a press conference and announced this already (which has not occurred yet but is still in the article), I wash my hands of the matter. At least someone managed to get the I love Chooee. removed. Rmhermen (talk) 03:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Obama is expected to address the nation at 03:30 UTC (about 5 minutes from now). –MuZemike 03:26, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Admins aren't super editors - there is no reason to restrict that page to editing only by admins at this time. Prodego ^talk 03:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Some eyes also needed on Death of Osama bin Laden, as I doubt this is going to be deleted. –MuZemike 03:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives has also been semi-protected for a bit. –MuZemike 03:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

President Obama is on TV now confirming it - however, obvious care should be taken with the article. Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 03:42, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Maybe also semi-protect "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" in case of an attempt to redirect it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:49, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

WP:BEANS much? Strange Passerby (talk • cont) 03:51, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Too late Really shouldnt give people ideas Bugs The Resident Anthropologist (talk)•(contribs) 04:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

...and nothing of value was lost. God, I've always wanted to say that... HalfShadow 05:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

"Nothing of value was lost." I wouldn't say that. Osama will make good fertilizer. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

We may also want to protect "America, Fuck Yeah", as an article might be created from that redirect (I know, heaven forbid we (re)create new articles, WP:BEANS be damned). –MuZemike 06:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Sorry to repost it below - I'll comment here. I do think protection will be needed there for a while, there will be a lot of people trying to edit and it's no easier getting edit conflicts through on an active article than an active talk page. On the talk page, we can at least edit in a section and not affect the editing for other users elsewhere, so that seems the best bet right now. CycloneGU (talk) 03:52, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Per the precedent of Death of Michael Jackson and the WP:SNOW, I closed the AfD for Death of Osama bin Laden. I gave some further explanation on the nominator's talk page. Fences&Windows 03:58, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Also need eyes on US Navy Seals, Delta Force, and other USSOCOM related articles. May want semi or full protection on all of them too. Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 04:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I say keep all'em articles protected until we see a Long Form Death Certificate, that doesn't have no fuzzy print on it. Let the "deather" movement begin!.Volunteer Marek (talk) 04:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That's one of the funniest things I've read in a long while: Count me in! :-) Cheers,  – OhioStandard (talk) 14:58, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

US Navy Seals semiprotected for 1 hr after ongoing foo... Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 04:52, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Too late, the term "deathers" is taken. [39] Ironically they are likely to be the same people as the "birthers"--RaptorHunter (talk) 05:04, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group semiprotected for 3 hrs. Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 05:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC

Hah! Wikipedia is protecting the Navy Seals! Take that Marines. Googlemeister (talk) 21:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

In other Wikipedia-related business, we should go back to full-protection, as Spork4beans (talk · contribs) intentionally busted autoconfirmed to vandalize the article. –MuZemike 07:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Death date

Since it appears that Osama died on April 29th in the morning when the operation was undertaken, it would be helpful if some people could keep an eye on May 2nd, since IPs are probably going to try to keep adding that as his day of death (I already reverted once), when that is just the date that his death was announced. May 1st as well, it seems. Silverseren^C 08:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Uh, but the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in a statement dated May 2, that "Osama Bin Ladin was killed in the surroundings of Abbotabad in the early hours of this morning". So, it appears bin Laden did die on May 2 (where did April 29 come from?). They're not vandals. -- tariqabjotu 08:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I suspect people are getting their time zone conversions wrong. From what I've heard, it sounds like it took place around 12:30am or 1:00am on May 2nd (very early morning). ← George ^talk 08:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Ah, I see my confusion. The article says that Obama decided to make the raid on April 29th, but it apparently wasn't actually done until May 1st, which the article doesn't say, but the sources do. Now, the question is, are we going by May 1st here or May 2nd there? This needs to be decided, because his death is being added to both days. Since Obama gave the announcement on May 1st here at 11:30 PM that Osama was dead, are we going by that? The Death article itself flip-flops on dates. Silverseren^C 08:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I don't see why this is a discussion for ANI. But if it's clear it was 2nd May at the place he died then that's what we go by for the date of death (if it's felt that's needed for the article). The date at the US when he died is irrelevant for his date of death even if it was their forces that killed him although there's nothing wrong with also putting the time and date of the annoucement by Obama of his death (but the date/time of the annoucement shouldn't be confused with when he died). Nil Einne (talk) 10:13, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The reason why I made this section is because his death is being listed on both the May 1st article and the May 2nd article and it should obviously be on only one. If we're all agreed on which one it should be, then we need to take it off of the other one and make sure it stays off. Silverseren^C 10:26, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I still don't see any reason to have this discussion here particularly since it may take a few days to resolve yet that doesn't mean there will be many comments (meaning we will have to keep this open) and it will likely be missed by many who can contribute (not thinking they have to check out the ANI for what is a local issue that doesn't require administrative attention) and in the future anyone who wants to see how the decision was reached isn't going to find it in the archives because the discussion was at WP:ANI. Instead this discussion should either be at the ObL article (where there are already multiple discussions) or start a discussion at May 2nd (or May 1st) and linked to that discussion at May 1st (or May 2nd). Note that asking people to keep an eye on the articles here doesn't mean the discussion or where to list the death has to be held here. Nil Einne (talk) 12:09, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm not sure in which place it should be had though. I feel like if it is done on the Death page, it's just going to be drowned in all the other discussion sections that are being made there. Silverseren^C 14:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Now his death is listed on both pages. This is not optimal. :/ Just one of them needs to be chosen. Silverseren^C 09:22, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
  • The issue seems to have been resolved once the sources got their facts straight. It was announced in the evening of May 1 in the US, but it had happened in the early morning hours of May 2 in Pakistan. So the answer is, "May 2, local time". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:13, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
    • Yep, but we still need to keep an eye on May 1, since IPs keep trying to add it in. And i've submitted a request for protection of May 2, mainly because a bunch of IPs keep trying to add in Voldemort's death, but also because people keep trying to remove Osama from it. Silverseren^C 18:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
      • Unless the movie came out early, I thought Voldemort's death was scheduled for July 1. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
        • According to the Harry Potter Wiki, he did die on 2 May; it's been quite a while since the last time I reread the series, so I didn't remember by myself. What do you mean? Nyttend (talk) 03:36, 3 May 2011 (UTC)
          • OK, you're talking about the books, I suppose. The final movie is coming out July 1. I'm assuming the bad guy gets killed off. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:18, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

User:Paedophile

Resolved

 – Handled by Lankiveil. Moonriddengirl ^(talk) 10:55, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

If Wikipedia takes child protection seriously, and especially stomping out pedo-advocacy, then why oh why is the howlingly-inappropriately named Paedophile (talk · contribs) not blocked?? Needs a prompt block, admins. I report it here because "Usernames for administrator attention" says "Accounts that haven't edited in 3 weeks or more should not be reported." I happen to think User:Paedophile should be blocked anyway. WP:CHILDPROTECT and all that. 203.118.185.117 (talk) 07:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I suggest a soft block is in order, despite the length of time.--Wehwalt (talk) 07:16, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Indef blocked as clearly inappropriate. Lankiveil ^{(speak to me)} 07:47, 2 May 2011 (UTC).

Good block, but the account apparently never edited anything, so it seems a case of Chicken Little. Tijfo098 (talk) 13:54, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

(Non-administrator comment) I think a case could be made for WP:U violation, but it would require a better lawyer than me. Doubly so since I'm not a lawyer. --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 15:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The probability that a sleeper account with that name is ever going to be a positive contributor, is considerably less than the probability of my getting elected Pope. Good block. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:31, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Signature of India Politician

I have some doubt about Signature of popular living people. Are signature is public domain material or can any one upload signature of any popular living people like politician claming that his work??

see the list of Signature of India Politician by User:GaneshBhakt. - Jayanta Nath ^{(Talk|Contrb)} 09:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Claiming it's his "own" work is never going to be appropriate, unless he's the individual, but the question about whether the content is public domain is a bit of a legal grey area, I believe. See Commons:Commons:When to use the PD-signature tag and Wikipedia:Signatures of living persons (proposed). I have no idea where India stands on the issue. The template he's attempting to use, Template:PD-signature, does not exist on Wikipedia, but does on Commons. --Moonriddengirl ^(talk) 10:52, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

It is a grey area. I helped draft that proposal (I am not a lawyer!), we never got around to finally trying to get consensus for it to be adopted as a guideline. And yet, plainly those {{own}} templates are not true, for example Sting would be miffed at someone claiming to own his signature: File:Signature of Sting.svg. Fences&Windows 17:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

p.s. You didn't alert GaneshBhakt on this thread or even discuss the matter with them afaics. I've done so. Fences&Windows 17:32, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Probably not an ANI problem but would the signatures be original research without some reference to a reliable source, not sure how these signatures can be used without some evidence that they are in fact the correct signatures. MilborneOne (talk) 17:36, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

True. The proposal mentioned reliable sources, but didn't specifically mention WP:V. I've updated it. Without a source to demonstrate that these are the correct signatures, they fail WP:V and should be removed from the articles. Fences&Windows 18:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

thank for comments, yes ANI is not discussing such about this king of problem. So please let me know,Wikipedia talk:Signatures of living persons may be right place for discussing. How are we treat this kind of signature without verification ?--- Jayanta Nath ^{(Talk|Contrb)} 06:22, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

IP range making nationalist edits

I'm not entirely sure where to go with this, but it's not entirely about nationalism because it's also going to move into edit warring and also throwing extraneous flags into paragraphs, so I bring it here. There's an IP range that is insisting on being verbose about the difference between the People's Republic of China (commonly "China" in English) and the Republic of China (Commonly "Taiwan"). Here are some examples of the range's edits:

• [40] - Insists on adding "Taiwan" after every mention of the ROC
• [41] - Adds flag icons to every mention of China, even changing the position's name, also adding "(PRC)" after every mention of the country.

Since it's a large range (with IPs including 208.157.149.67 and 208.168.230.177) and because he's now begun to revert my reversions of his edits, I wanted to bring it to the wider community, and ANI is always the first place I think of to do that. :) --Golbez (talk) 14:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Edit: The main reason I came here before leaving him a note was because of the fact that the IP changes so often, but I have left a note at the most reason one [tersely] expressing my concerns and linking here. --Golbez (talk) 14:07, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

They're also insisting on, among other things, listing Martha Stewart as a Polish American businesswoman in the lede of her article, rather than, you know, American. And reverting to get this through. This is a clear violation of WP:BRD and is now approaching edit-warring, of which I have become a party. Please see my contributions to see the articles I've encountered this range on, as I will be approaching 3RR and would like backup. --Golbez (talk) 14:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I've made some reverts too, and gave a 3-rr warning to the IP Golbez warned, but it has moved on to another IP now. Thanks Jimbo for one of the many "joys" of open editing. - BilCat (talk) 14:29, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Coming soon to G4 TV...Celebrity Whac-A-Mole(tm)! --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 14:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Since I have now reverted three times on [42], I'd appreciate some guidance before continuing. I could just go blocking, but since there's a large range involved... --Golbez (talk) 15:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Since you've been reverting the IP, best to get another admin to rangeblock if required. Exxolon (talk) 19:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• I reverted the flags from China Medical University (Taiwan) and an returning user/administrator User:La goutte de pluie who is in dispute with me about an AFD I have opened on an article he is interested in has begun reverting me there, stating - non neutral edit. Off2riorob (talk) 20:19, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

It has nothing to do with the fact that I am in dispute with you. The guidelines on ROC/Taiwan go back a looonnng time, and I looked at how other articles about Taiwanese/ROC institutions and cities are formatted. Elle _{vécut heureuse} ^{à jamais} (Be eudaimonic!) 20:23, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Also I didn't mean to revert you twice. My internet is being really slow and obnoxious and I simply hit the send button twice. Elle _{vécut heureuse} ^{à jamais} (Be eudaimonic!) 20:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

As a returning user you should step back a bit and get a feel for how things work round here these days. Where is this link to the guideline that flagcruft in article body text is correct in this case where you are reverting? I see the user has self reverted and seems to have accepted the situation. Please don't follow me around from article to article when in dispute with me, its conflict escalation, thanks. Off2riorob (talk) 20:27, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

My issue was not with the flag icons, but rather with ROC/Taiwan naming issue. Just a note: it is usually common decency to use cruft in much lighter, more civil and more humourous fashions.Elle _{vécut heureuse} ^{à jamais} (Be eudaimonic!) 20:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

RevDel needed at Jack Kevorkian

Resolved

Recent schoolboy IP vandalism (two rounds so far today), targeting classmates by name and identifying the school they attend. Targets are apparently private persons and minors. Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk) 14:46, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Blocked for 1 month, revdeleted as appropriate. NW (Talk) 15:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Eyes requested

Resolved

Could we get some admin eyes over at Talk:Gay? I'm afraid there's a need for some RevDel work... --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 15:23, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That was fast. Many thanks. --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 15:34, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

User:Davidglen77 at Maurcio Macri bio

I apologize if this is not within the remit of this noticeboard, but it seems the most appropriate place. This came up at WP:BLPN some time ago which is why I watchlisted it.

Davidglen77 (talk · contribs) shows up once a week or so at Mauricio Macri to add negative content about him based on personal recollections. This is a slow motion edit war and WP:3RR has not been violated while I've been watching the page. He has been warned many times and apparently blocked once for 72 hours, and consistently re-adds the identical content every time. I put the AN/I discussion tag on his page. Jonathanwallace (talk) 16:43, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Indef blocked, there's no place for vendettas here. If he pledges to use RS and avoid OR, he can be unblocked. Fences&Windows 16:54, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Can someone who speaks Spanish fix their version? They've protected the "wrong version" with the unsourced material included: http://es.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauricio_Macri&action=history. Fences&Windows 16:59, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Done, I can't believe they where online for over a month. I'll watch it. pmt7ar ^(talk) 17:23, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank you, I'm not autoconfirmed over there. Fences&Windows 18:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Bizarre case of WP:OWN

Resolved

 – Nimur duly warned – ╟─TreasuryTag►draftsman─╢ 21:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Nimur (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This editor seems to have taken it upon himself to police the talkpage of the reference desk, closing all the threads for no clear reason and deleting other editors' comments [43] [44]

Unless I'm missing something, I think an admin should tell him to cut it out? ╟─TreasuryTag►cabinet─╢ 17:26, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Also relevant are these diffs: [45] [46] – ╟─TreasuryTag►Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster─╢ 17:28, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

For what it's worth, he's also well over the WP:3RR (or '6RR' in this case!) [47] – ╟─TreasuryTag►most serene─╢ 17:37, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Nimur has decided to take ownership of the ref desk talk page. He needs to be told that he cannot do that. He's currently engaged in an edit war with at least two of us, to hide comments and questions he doesn't feel like looking at.

This is an outgrowth of a heated discussion about how to handle a long-standing ref desk troll named Light Current. There has been lots of back-and-forth on it, but it was confined to that page. Now, with Nimur deciding to take ownership of that page, it has tipped the scales. It is not his place to tell others what to talk about on the talk page, especially as the topic is the ref desk.

I've already warned him I was going to bring him here if he made one more edit-warring move, and he did, so here we are. I predict he will gripe about my behavior and downplay the activities of the LC troll. So be it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Nimur is a longstanding RefDesker, he evidently thought the multiple discussion threads were going nowhere and was trying to calm the storm in good faith. I've asked him to stop, as others obviously disagreed. That should be the end of it. Franamax (talk) 20:12, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• It has always been my understanding, based on very limited but adequate observation, that the ref desks exist here purely as an venue for people to troll or be trolled. Delicious carbuncle (talk) 21:57, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The vast majority of RefDesk traffic is people asking legitimate questions and getting (mostly) good answers. You may just be looking at the talk page, where the spillover shows up from the few bad questions that get removed. The people who like drama hang out there, and the serious answerers ignore it and get on with the questions and the research. Franamax (talk) 22:43, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Quite so, I gave up on the RefDesk talkpage years ago. I strongly recommend anyone else who loves the desks to do the same. DuncanHill (talk) 22:47, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The problem is that when an obvious trolling question gets deleted, there is a small group of users who demand that it be retained, and that's where the "drama" starts. Following the off-wiki advice of an admin, I've decided to do no more deletions, no matter how outrageous the question is, and to just let the troll(s) have their/its way, and to let the clique handle the troll(s) as they see fit (or not). ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:17, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank god for that. Your continual sticking your nose in was getting right up peoples noses. You just avoided becoming wabbit stew. well done —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.25.100.75 (talk) 10:17, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

User:Chess dove

Chess dove (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Please sort out this imposter. Chesdovi (talk) 17:50, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Looks like that dove is now a dead pigeon. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Another n00b and NexCarnifex

NexCarnifex (talk · contribs) came onto IRC and asked for help dealing with another user, the aforementioned Another n00b (talk · contribs), after he "spammed" Nex's userpage. After a quick look, the edits in question - [48] and [49] - are less spam and more outright vandalism. According to Nex, the vandalism was provoked when Nex added an image to an article ([50]), which he objected to because the image was "obscure creepypasta". From the looks of it there's not been a whole lot of discussion between the two, but it still doesn't justify the vandalism to Nex's userpage. —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 18:57, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

User has been notified, but on his talk page he admits that he did it "for the lulz", so my warning bells are already starting to move. —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 18:59, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

This was intended to be humourous, as he persists in uploading this shock image, even though it is not appropriate or notable enough for wikipedia. - Another n00b (talk) 19:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Homorous or not, it's still vandalism. —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 19:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Oh, so adding to a user's userpage is worse than uploading un-useful, junk onto commons?? I object. - Another n00b (talk) 19:04, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Both appear to be edit-warring on List of Internet phenomena -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 19:10, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

It's not even the "original" image so it has no legitimate use. Tagged for deletion as an unused non-free copyrighted file. Fences&Windows 22:09, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Objection to the use of a certain image in an article

Article: Manx2 Flight 7100 (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
Earlier today, IP 84.137.93.219 (talk · contribs · WHOIS) removed File:Metroliner OLT D-CSWF.jpg from the Manx2 Flight 7100 article, leaving a legal threat in the edit summary. I issued the IP with a uw-legal. I've now received a message on my talk page claiming to be from OLT Gmbh stating that the airline objects to the use of an image of one of their aircraft in an article about an aircrash that they have nothing to do with, basically the objection is that by having the image, they are shown in a negative light. A counter-argument is that there are plenty of images of the crashed aircraft available. Indeed there are plenty of images, but none of them on a compatible licence. I fear that any attempt to use an image of the actual crashed aircraft would result in the deletion of that image as not passing all the NFUR rules. There are other images in Commons:Category:Fairchild Metroliner that could be used, but the image that was being used (removed again by the IP) was chosen for its quality. What advice can we give the IP/airline as to the use of the image. They claim the use images of their aircraft on Wikipedia are unauthorised by them. This may well be the case, but the image is licenced by its author as PD. Mjroots (talk) 20:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Did the author of the image indeed release it as PD? If so, OLT can't do squat about it because they aren't the ones who took the picture. And if *they* released it as PD, they can't put use restrictions on it because PD is more or less waiving copyright. —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 21:01, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

From the licencing of the image:-

I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide.

In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so:

I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

Looks pretty clear to me. So, restore the image and semi-protect the article? Mjroots (talk) 21:05, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict) I think their objection is fair. We should not use an image of an aircraft with a different Airline's logo on it to illustrate an article about a crash unrelated to said airline. While not a copyright issue, I think the image should stay out of the article. Monty₈₄₅ 21:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Adopting that would strip many aircrash articles of infobox images. Mjroots (talk) 21:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Do most aircrash infobox images have such a prominently displayed logo of an unrelated airline? Monty₈₄₅ 21:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

In lit I've read about airline crashes, any pictures of aircraft either illustrate the crash in progress or an aircraft of like model in the livery of the same airline. —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 21:24, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Obviously, it is nice to have a photo of the actual aircraft. Failing that, one from the airline (actual livery is better still). Unfortunately, there isn't always a photo available that meets these criteria. So we go for a photo of the model of aircraft involved, picking the best quality image that we can get. Mjroots (talk) 21:35, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Would you find this photo manipulation an acceptable substitute: File:Metroliner_identifcation_removed.jpg? Monty₈₄₅ 21:40, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Only one way to find out! Mjroots (talk) 21:51, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

My highly unscientific review of the first 20 transclusions of the {{Infobox aircraft occurrence}} found one example of a photo from another airliner being used as an illustration [51], and imo the logo was not as visible. Monty₈₄₅ 21:58, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Make a copy with the logo blurred or Photoshopped off for such use in the crash articles. postdlf (talk) 21:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

That seems like a good solution, let me try to come up with something in that regard. Monty₈₄₅ 21:19, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I've got some experience at that sort of thing, so feel free to post a link or two on my talk page if there are any you get stuck on. postdlf (talk) 22:17, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Slow-burning edit war

At: George I of Greece, George II of Greece, Constantine I of Greece, Constantine II of Greece, Alexander of Greece, Paul of Greece.

Elizabeth II's monogram

King George II'smonogram, an example of the current Greek monograms using blue

User:Fry1989 insists on adding monograms colored blue to the articles above. There are no sources showing the monogram in blue, and so consequently I remove them as original research. Compare with the monogram which is the most familiar in the modern world: that of Elizabeth II (shown right). The monogram does not have to be colored, but when it is colored the lettering is always in yellow. Like company logos, flags and coats of arms, the color of monograms is set. If altered, the file is no longer that person's royal monogram, but is instead an inaccurate pastiche.

I have tried to explain this to Fry over several weeks, articles and talk pages without success. I have repeatedly asked him to provide a source showing the monograms in blue. He has never provided one. I have asked for the files to be corrected [52][53], and I thought we had agreement here that he would remove the color but he has now refused.

I have attempted to engage him and explain my reasoning for removing the inaccurate files, and in return he has replied with comments like: you're so thickheaded I don't trust anything you say You were wrong You WERE WRONG You're too lazy Can you read? you clearly have problems You're being disruptive childish, you're a troll and piss off.

As a result, our interaction has now descended into a tit-for-tat Fry inserts file; I remove file. I cannot disengage because I feel attached to George I of Greece, as it is a featured article that I brought to promotion. If the file remains, the article will no longer meet the FA criteria as it will contain original research. DrKiernan (talk) 21:17, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The only issue regarding these monograms that DrKiernan actually contests, is the colour. Yet he has never given proof that the colour blue is not right. He claims that a Medal, which is made of gold, is proof the monograms should be either gold or colourless. But that is not proof. Monograms come in a variety of colours based on use, such as in stationary. There' is plenty of proof of this. such as this pic which shows that monograms are used in even rather unorthodox colours in stationary. In this case, the creator of these monogram files on Commons for the Royal Family of Greece, has chosen blue, the national colour of Greece, which makes sense. Meanwhile, DrKiernan continuously remoees them claiming the colours are wrong. He doesn't contest the fact they exist. His only claim to inaccuracy is a medal and necklace made of gold, which of course then is going to be coloured gold. Unless he can prove that another colour was used in the stationary use of these monograms, the user who created them has no obligation to change the colours. Also, DrKiernan, in his constant removal of these monograms from their rightful pages, also removes Royal Titles infoboxes, claiming they're unneccesary. This in itself is a contradiction because the infoboxes have been there for months, and contained an image of the Royal Coat of Arms of Greece, and DrKiernan had no issue with them, having made numerous edits to those pages and leaving the infoboxes there. However, when I replaced the Coats of Arms with the Monograms, he suddenly claims the infoboxes are unneccesary. DrKiernanis making a childish attempt to deprive these pages of the monograms for an idiological issue he has with their colour. He has not made an effort to prove the colours in use are wrong, he simply says they are. I don't take his word for it, I want proof. He even admits in talk that he would "let" the monograms stay on the pages I have added them to, IF they are changed from blue to either gold or black. But he has NOT provided any proof towards his claims. aAgain, without proof, we have no obligation to change the colour of the monograms just to please him. His behaviour is contradictory, and baseless. He needs to be instructed to stop removing these monograms, which he admits are correct and belong there, simply because of an issue of colour, without making an effort to back his claims. Fry1989 (talk) 21:37, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Is there a definitive heraldic source that can be cited one way or the other? --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 21:40, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The creator of these monograms has marked sources on each of their file pages. Most of them are traced from medals and awards, which again, being made of gold, are ofcourse going to be coloured gold. DrKiernan has resisted that both myself, and the files' original creator do not feel that is sufficient proof the change their colour from blue to gold. Therefore he just removes them from the pages. It's childish, and rude. Fry1989 (talk) 21:46, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

But that doesn't answer the question...a question which speaks directly to WP:V. Is there a definitive heraldic source that can be referenced and cited one way or the other? --Alan the Roving Ambassador (talk) 21:49, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have not been able, so far, to find direct sources of the monograms outside of the medals they are traced from. However, neither has DrKiernan, IF he has even tried. His behaviour regarding this issue is however, worthy of note. Fry1989 (talk) 21:56, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Then if his version at least has a verifiable source (the medals) but yours does not, why do you just not leave the monograms as they are until you find a reliable source? --NellieBlyMobile (talk) 22:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• Fry, if your point is that there is no reason for them to be any particular colour ("Monograms come in a variety of colours ... an idiological issue he has with their colour") then could you please explain why you are so adamant that they should be blue? Why could you not just let the status quo stand if it really doesn't matter what colour they are? At a first glance – and I stand to be corrected by any source you can point us to – your behaviour seems to be rather POINTy. ╟─TreasuryTag►estoppel─╢ 21:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I am adamant for two reasons. One is that monograms come in a variety of colours. Denmark's are commonly blue, the Netherlands are often orange, Norway's are mostly red. In this case, being that blue is the national colour of Greece, it makes perfect sense, which is why this is the colour the files original creator chose to render them in. The second reason is because DrKiernan is so vehemently certain they aren't blue, but has yet to prove it. Fry1989 (talk) 21:56, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

"The creator of these monogram files on Commons for the Royal Family of Greece, has chosen blue". Therein lies the problem. You need to show that this colour is used in monograms by this royal family, Glasshouse's original colour choice was by his own admission according to his own whim. Go to the sources, not each others' opinions. Fences&Windows 21:58, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

My $0.02:

1. A is not B just because "it makes sense."
2. While I personally don't think blue is objectionable for Greek royal cyphers, why can't it be just black? Colour printing was not as popular when most of these kinds were reigning.

--Samuel di Curtisi di Salvadori 22:02, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Therein lies the problem. Blue is not objectionable, nor has it been proven wrong. The only problem is ONE user, who claims without evidence, that blue was never used, something he can't prove. I have the ability, but do not like to completely change another user's files on the whim of someone who has behaved in the manner DrKiernan has. His contradictory edits remove their validity in my eyes. I feel this is in the personal discression of the creator, unless proven otherwise. DrKiernan has not shown how their being blue hurts the article, even though he has claimed such nonsense in the past, and again admits the monograms are real. Why should I change them without proof just so he, in his "personal grace", will allow them on a page where he already admits they belong?. Fry1989 (talk) 22:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have archived the discussion above about which color should be used for royal monographs. This question will not be resolved on this page. To the extent this issue requires admin intervention, it is about the edit war and other editor conduct issues, not the color.  Sandstein  22:14, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I've restored the comments, that was pretty presumptuous Sandstein. Some of the comments, including my own, are an attempt at dispute resolution. ANI is not just for handing out blocks, bans and page protection you know. Fences&Windows 01:27, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

A look at the history of the articles above shows that Fry1989 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and DrKiernan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) are actively edit-warring with one another across these multiple articles, and that Fry1989 is also strongly incivil about it. I see no evidence of proper dispute resolution as provided for in WP:DR. I invite both editors to provide reasons why they should not both be blocked for edit-warring (and, in Fry1989's case, also for personal attacks and incivility).  Sandstein  22:22, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, as Fry has just reverted for a 4th time in a 25-hour period, I think that's going to be a tall order. DrKiernan (talk) 22:27, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have only called DrKiernan a troll once, at great frustration. He goes without let about how the colours are wrong, but he doesn't prove it. He removes infoboxes that he has absolutely no issue with BEFORE I have anything to do with the pages, but suddenly as soon as the coat of arms in them is replaced with a monogram, he feels they're "unneccesary". I have contacted him several times in the past on his page regarding this mater, asking him to find proof of his claims, and that I will happily change the files if he does. He refuses to do so. I am in an edit war yes, but I am not the one removing files that even I admit belong there, because of my personal conviction that their colour of choice is wrong, and refuse to back it up. If you want to punish me because I wont change someone else's files without evidence, then that's your decision but I would greatly disagree with it. All I've ever asked in this matter is proof from DrKiernan. He won't even try to give me any. Fry1989 (talk) 22:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

You say you called me a troll once, but on the 1st May, you called me a troll 12 times. DrKiernan (talk) 22:39, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I called you it once, and copy/pasted that summary in each revert edit on the 6 articles in question. Even if each edit counts seperately, then I only called you a troll 6 times, NOT 12. Fry1989 (talk) 22:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

123456789101112

• My 0.02, behaviour-wise:
  1. The colour of the royal cypher is by itself de minimis, especially Fry1989's preference of blue would not cause a misleading result. I see no reason why DrKiernan would consider this a high-priority issue, nor do I consider DrKiernan's first removal of these images as appropriate.
  2. The resultant edit war, however, is the fault of both of you.
  3. I think the current images can be put on the pages while you two discuss about WP:CITE issues.
  4. You two should cool yourselves down.
• --Samuel di Curtisi di Salvadori 22:34, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I am calm. I have consistantly throughout this problem asked DrKiernan for proof, so that I can change the files colours to suit him. He won't do it. Instead, note now on his talk page he's calling me a pusher of inacccurate files. Wh y is this such a personal issue for him, and why won't he give any proof? I've asked politely so many times, and all he does is cite the medal. I don't think that's proof, and neither does the creator. I don't like this edit war, but what I don't like more is his contradictions. If anybody should be calming down, it's him, a person who constantly removes files his only issue with is colour, starts incident reports on users who disagree with him, and won't try and engage in correcting what he feels is an problem. I've tried, whether you like my reverts (yes I'mpart of the problem too) or not, atleast credit me for TRYING to correct the problem, something DrKiernan isn't interested in. Fry1989 (talk) 22:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

One other note, for Samuel Curtis. Blue isn't my preference. My preference is respecting the file's creator's choice in colour for his files until proven otherwise. I agree the issue should be de minimis, however DrKiernan is obsessed with it. I'm guilty of edit warring. I'll admit it. But I'm not obsessed with something as trivial as the colour of a file(which I won't even try to prove was a different colour) that I constantly remove it from pages, and start discussions about other users over it. Fry1989 (talk) 23:03, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• As far as I can see, and as Sandstein hints at, Fry1989 and DrKiernan are both guilty of edit-warring and therefore both should be blocked. Seems rather straight forward actually. DeCausa (talk) 22:59, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

If that's the punishment, so be it. But atleast I'm willing to admit where I'm wrong. Someone else has chosen not to. Fry1989 (talk) 23:12, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

• We are not in the punishment business. We try to prevent disruption that bothers the work of others. I suspect that a block would not lastingly resolve the conduct problem, which is two editors unreasonably edit-warring over what seem to be mere personal color preferences. Fry1989 and DrKiernan, I propose the following solution to your problem. You both agree not to revert each other again on these articles or over issues of color. You also agree that whoever of you disagrees with the color of the monogram the articles are now left with may start a WP:RFC on the article talk page to settle the question, and that you will both abide by the outcome of that RFC as established by an uninvolved administrator. Fry1989 also needs to agree not to be uncivil to others again, and particularly not to use disparaging terms like "troll", "thick-headed", "piss off" etc. If both of you do not expressly and unreservedly agree to this, I see no option other than a block to prevent your continued disruption of the editing environment.  Sandstein  23:17, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I have absolutely no problem with those terms. All I have ever desired, is for DrKiernan to stop removing monograms that he has in the past admitted are correct, under false claims that if they're they wrong colour, it's "dishonest" and "hurtful", even calling it a a "pastiche". Fry1989 (talk) 23:22, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

To make sure that you understand these conditions, I ask you to please repeat what you agree to here, without further commentary.  Sandstein  23:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Just to be clear, "dishonest" and "hurtful" are Fry's words, not mine. DrKiernan (talk) 07:47, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree to refain from using disparaging terms towards users of whom I am in conflict with, and to not engage in edit wars. Fry1989 (talk) 23:37, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks, but these are not the conditions I proposed above. Please repeat the exact conditions to which you agree so that I am sure that it is not necessary to block you at this time.  Sandstein  23:39, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree not to revert DrKiernan again on these articles or over issues of color. I also agree to engage in WP:RFCs on the article talk page to settle the question, and abiding by the outcome of that RFC as established by an uninvolved administrator, as well as to remain civil towards other users. Fry1989 (talk) 23:43, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

All Sandstein's points fine by me. See Talk:Constantine II of Greece#Monogram. DrKiernan (talk) 07:47, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank you both. To summarize, both have agreed not to revert each other any more, to abide by whatever outcome an RfC may bring, and Fry1989 has agreed to stop being incivil. As such, no administrator action seems to be needed at this point and I suggest that this thread be closed. Should any party fails to live up to this agreement, the issue can be brought to ANI again and should result in blocks.  Sandstein  10:38, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

A comment

I remember seeing this discussion months ago, and I suggested that the editors look to the definition of the word monogram. Per Wikipedia:

A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol.

A grapheme (from the Greek: γράφω, gráphō, "write") is a fundamental unit in a written language.

Since the composition of the monogram is solely an assembling of graphemes to create a symbol, and graphemes (aka letters) have no particular color, the ONLY non-Original-Research color they could be is black. But really I don't see how color would matter at all. Unless Wikipedia is mistaken on the definition of what a monogram is, I think this entire issue of color being Original Research has no basis. -- Avanu (talk) 06:24, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

And DrKiernan is wrong about Big Liz's monogram. Where it appears in colour on a document eg here, the lettering is yellow (or uses gold ink) and the crown is 'proper', but it can also be gold paint on blue ground silver on a black ground with the monogram separate from the crown or even entirely painted red. --Elen of the Roads (talk) 10:18, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Er, no. As already discussed at Talk:George VI of the United Kingdom#Inclusion of Monogram, I'm using "colored" to mean the crown and writing being different colors, i.e. the emblem being multicolored. We've already established that "not colored" means monochrome. DrKiernan (talk) 10:46, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Joseph C. Hoagland

Can someone restore the edit history for Joseph Christoffel Hoagland. Someone made a manual move from Joseph Christoffel Hoagland to Joseph C. Hoagland by cutting and pasting which doesn't move the edit history and is a no-no for preserving the copyright. --Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) (talk) 03:09, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I went ahead and hist-merged them, since it doesn't take long. I'll leave Kraxler a note about not doing cut and paste moves again. Cheers. lifebaka++ 10:43, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Move war over typography of en dash versus hyphen

A long-stalled requested move with no consensus was closed today as "move" by a non-admin, at Battles of the Mexican–American War. Since that time we've been having a bit of a back and forth by involved editors on both sides (myself included), as it is such an obvious travesty to claim that there was a consensus for a move in this case, and the guy who closed it somehow dismissed all the arguments about keeping it with the three-year-stable consensus as trivial. Now what happens? I thought old stalled RMs would just fade away, but if they hang around until someone jumps in and takes sides this way, where is the integrity of the process? Dicklyon (talk) 05:35, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

The hyphen–en-dash war still rages, I see. I'm assuming no one followed up on the binding RfC suggestion that came up during the last WP:AN go-round? 28bytes (talk) 05:47, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

The proposal has been batted around some more, but I haven't been told what it means, so am not so comfortable saying yes to it, and PMAnderson has pretty much said no anyway. It seemed for a while that we were discussing things rationally, but then we went back to calling me and Tony and Noetica and anyone else who disagreed with him liers and out to destroy wikipedia. He seems out to destroy the MOS; so it's a bit of a stalemate. And of course, it can be written off as trivial, as it is by many who don't care about typography, but for those who care it seems worth fighting for, as you've probably noticed. Dicklyon (talk) 05:54, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Well, it is trivial in the grand scheme of things (and I've no doubt another dozen people will chime in here to repeat that point), but it also needs to get resolved one way or another or else we're going to be seeing this pop up again and again on the noticeboards until the end of time. Am I correct in assuming that the hyphen-dash battle has largely been settled except for articles/categories/templates associated with the Mexican American war? 28bytes (talk) 06:00, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

It would have been better if the decision whether the page was moved had been made by an admin who was not involved in any of the many hyphen disputes. The move was actually made by User:Born2cycle, who appeared to be a neutral person (he had not made a posting either way on Talk:Battles of the Mexican–American War).

Supporters of the dash immediately attacked the move, assuming bad faith:

• Claiming that Born2cycle's assessment was "clearly prejudiced in favour of one side against the other"
• Claiming that an IP editor who made a posting should not have been counted as: "It could easily be one of the named supporters coming in anonymously."

It is of course true that there is no consensus either way. Of 14 editors who have expressed an opinion so far:

• 8 favour the hyphen: CWenger, Toddy1, Septentrionalis/PMAnderson, Ucucha, 65.93.12.101, Enric Naval, Fut.Perf, User:Born2cycle
• 6 favour the dash: kwami, McLerristarr/Mclay1, Tony, Noetica, Dicklyon, ErikHaugen

--Toddy1 (talk) 06:06, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Why are you counting the guy who closed it, User:Born2cycle? Oh, right, he did say the arguments against were all worthless. Also, the guy who did the speedy delete and the move was an admin, but not an uninvolved admin; User:Jonathunder was a supporter of Septentrionalis/PMAnderson's previous RM of Mexican–American War to the hyphen, with the brilliant analysis "per Septentrionalis". Is there anyone who has not misbehaved a bit here? Dicklyon (talk) 07:21, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I'll say what I've said before: we need to decide as a community (1) whether we want to have a Wikipedia MOS or if we should simply adopt the various MOS's of the primary sources used for our articles, (2) whether TITLE is supposed to cover style and formatting or just cover terminology, and (3) more specifically, do we want to restrict disjunctive en dashes to numeric ranges, as some style guides do, to geographic or temporal ranges, as other style guides do, to terms named after more than one person, as still other style guides do, or to use them for disjunctive relations in general, such as wars, borders, and the like. IMO it's a huge waste of time to fight this out on individual articles when one of the main points of the MOS is to avoid such repetitive problems. If we decide we don't want an MOS, then let's scrap the MOS. If we decide that the MOS does not apply to titles, but to content, then let's spell that out at MOS and at TITLE. If we decide that we want to restrict or eliminate en dashes on WP, then let's spell that out in the MOS. But until we do one of those things, as a community and for WP as a whole, then articles should follow the MOS unless there is compelling reason not to, with IDONTLIKEIT not being considered a compelling reason. — kwami (talk) 06:31, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

The RM was closed by an uninvolved editor, while Dickylon, the reverter, was involved in the RM. Could someone please revert the move, warn Dickylon, and warn in the talk page that this shouldn't happen again? --Enric Naval (talk) 07:00, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

I already stipulated that I was an involved editor who reverted your revert of Noetica's revert of the improper move. But a warning might be nice so I can be told what I did wrong. One thing is clear: there was no consensus for a move. Another thing is clear: those who argue in favor of the move for consistency, as they guy who closed it did, are clueless about what's going on here, when all the related articles except the one that was improperly moved use the en dash. Dicklyon (talk) 07:09, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Of course I reverted the improper closure of the move by User:Born2cycle. That editor was acting without any right. We should therefore feel free to revert the article to its original state, as equivalent to undoing vandalism: without fear of action against us. Here is relevant policy concerning closure by non-admins (my underlining):

Experienced editors in good standing are allowed to close some requested move surveys.
Non-administrators should restrict themselves to moves:

  • Which result in unanimous or nearly unanimous discussions after a full listing period (seven days);
  • Where there is no contentious debate among participants;
  • Which do not require a history merge or history swap; and
  • Which do not have large numbers of subpages ...
...

For me the four salient points are these (and I have been insisting on such points throughout and attempting to make peace, rather than joining in on the substance of the contested claims in totally inappropriate forums):

1. If there are naming issues specific to the suite of articles concerned with the Mexican~American War, the established mechanism for dealing with them is a multiple move. Any single move is only advertised to the community as that. If by subreption such an RM is successful, it cannot legitimately be parlayed into a multiple move.
2. If the matter concerns interpretation of WP:MOS or WP:TITLE, or the "jurisdiction" of WP:MOS or WP:TITLE, the discussion belongs at WT:MOS, WT:TITLE, or both. Any other way of proceeding must result in prolonged and wasteful turmoil.
3. If it were proper to close such ill-formulated RMs as the one that moved us away from MOS-compliant Mexican–American War by considering that a simple count of votes reveals consensus (perhaps along with a blinkered and unexamined view of the policy issues that I mentioned just now), then the present RM for Battles of the Mexican–American War ought to be dismissed in a consistent way. If "no consensus for change" was a good reason for failing to revert at the first article, why should it not be a good reason to dismiss an RM at the second article? But of course, that's all speculative: those local and limited forums are of course improper for deciding on matters of policy and guidelines, which have very broad consequences for the structure of the whole Project.
4. As I have maintained from the earliest stages, we ought to undo the initial erroneous and biased move, closed by an admin who despite the arguments I clearly laid out for him refused to look at the big picture, or to act in way that would prevent the turmoil that we now see. It is not too late for that to happen; but it would take more far-sighted action than we have yet seen from any admin who has ventured into the matter.

Noetica^Tea? 08:06, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

@Dickylon. Once an article is renamed, it's "child" articles and categories should be also be renamed. That's plain common sense and common practice. Nobody should be forced to endure multiple RM and move-wars just to perform these gnomish moves. --Enric Naval (talk) 10:48, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Oh, my goodness, not Dickylon has reverted the RM closure, but he has edited the page in purpose to prevent being reverted[54]. Nice non-admin way of having the article locked in your preferred name. --Enric Naval (talk) 10:53, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Failure of binding RfC proposal

The last AN proposed a binding RfC. Unfortunately the binding RfC is being rejected (and one of the accepters won't agree to be binded by the results), and one of the rejectors has even asked for a topic ban of the proposer. --Enric Naval (talk) 10:48, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

It's just a mess at the moment. Proposing a binding RfC was one of the few positive suggestions to come out of that discussion. I'm at a loss, and really a bit dejected by how requests for help are being received at AN/I. -- Avanu (talk) 10:54, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Request of 1RR and strict WP:BRD at Mexican-American War article

Request withdrawn by Avanu

In an effort to encourage resolution of the dispute over whether to use a dash or hyphen, I would like to request that an Administrator institute a 1-month temporary 1RR and strict WP:BRD rule for the Article and Talk page at Mexican-American War. Please do not do this in an effort to punish any of the editors, as it appears that all are trying to act in Good Faith. As an alternative or addition to this proposal, if an Administrator would like to take an active role in assisting these editors to come to a consensus, it would be helpful. I appreciate your thoughtful attention to this matter. Thank you. -- Avanu (talk) 07:18, 3 May 2011 (UTC) This was already discussed at length fairly recently on WP:AN: Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archive222#Topic ban proposal concerning the lame "Mexican-American War" hyphen/en-dash dispute. Mathsci (talk) 07:48, 3 May 2011 (UTC) No, it wasn't. I'd really just prefer admin commentary on this, a simple yes or no will suffice, but I really don't want this to turn into another off-topic thread. -- Avanu (talk) 07:50, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Exactly this topic was discussed, although different proposals were made there. A separate thread here, extremely closely related to the previous thread, does not seem wise. Mathsci (talk) 08:01, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Different proposal, different reasons, different time. Could we please leave this to an admin decision rather than extend this little argument? -- Avanu (talk) 08:05, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Avanu, you haven't even given a description with diffs of what you think is going on in edits to the article at present. If you expect any administrator to intervene or even comment, please do so. Thanks, Mathsci (talk) 08:09, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Its about a simple request, this is the place listed for such requests. "This page is for reporting and discussing incidents on the English Wikipedia that require the intervention of administrators." Closing and moving due to off-topic commentary. -- Avanu (talk) 08:19, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Please leave this archiving to somebody uninvolved. Mathsci (talk) 08:22, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Please, I have now asked you 4 times to leave it for an admin. I'm not sure why you keep insisting on this, but could you please just let this alone so an admin can review and stop micromanaging it? Thank you. -- Avanu (talk) 08:25, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Anybody can comment on this noticeboard. I have no idea why you referred to the link to Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archive222#Topic ban proposal concerning the lame "Mexican-American War" hyphen/en-dash dispute as being off-topic. Please calm down. Thanks, Mathsci (talk) 08:35, 3 May 2011 (UTC) It's just another of these extremely lame, petty, pedantic debates that have nothing whatsoever to do with helping the wikipedia readers in any way, shape or form. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:17, 3 May 2011 (UTC) FWIW, Avanu has taken this to WQA too: Wikipedia:Wikiquette_alerts#User:Mathsci_disruptive_editing_on_AN.2FI William M. Connolley (talk) 09:27, 3 May 2011 (UTC) No, I didn't, I took the issue of Mathsci's behavior there. The substance of the AN/I request has nothing to do with that, and I *tried* to just close this. I am at a loss at this point. You guys have taken a little request and its really pointless now. -- Avanu (talk) 09:30, 3 May 2011 (UTC) I'll say here what I've said elsewhere about this topic. Ignore it. If someone wants to move it from a hyphen to an n-dash, let them do it. If they want to move it from an n-dash to a hyphen, let them do it. It doesn't matter. Either way, the readers can find it just as easily in the search window, and that's what matters. Some things are worth fighting about. This isn't. It's a total waste of everyone's time. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 09:45, 3 May 2011 (UTC) I really have no view at all on this matter. Whenever I have created an article in mathematics with a hyphenated title, User:Michael Hardy will correct it to whatever it is supposed to be. Slightly more complicated and harder to remember is how to put a minus sign in plain text (the length and the spaces) ... now I hardly dare look at the article on my home town Aix-en-Provence :) Mathsci (talk) 09:55, 3 May 2011 (UTC) In looking at this a week or two ago when the subject last came up, I became aware that the real problem is that the rules are not sufficiently defined. For example, there's usually not much trouble with when to capitalize or not, as that rule is pretty clear. But the hyphens and n-dashes rules are just too vague, too obscure; and that's why there is constant battling over them. I recall there were two different users who interpreted the rules two different ways. How do you fix that? By fixing the rules. If the rules were clear, the amount of debate would be almost zero. In fact, I would say that a significant quantity of the battles at wikipedia are centered on unclear rules and guidelines. That's what needs fixing - not any particular article's hyphens or n-dashes. Fix the rules, and the hyphens and n-dashes will "take care of themselves". Your comment about Michael Hardy, who I assume is a true expert on the matter, gives me an idea: How about having some sort of committee of experts to turn to, on matters of this nature, i.e. "syntax" questions? They could help define the rules better and uniformly, and apply uniform standards. We've got a user named Cuddlyable3 who is an English syntax expert and could probably help on this if he were willing. Not me, for sure. I don't know enough about it. But these battles over technicalities do not serve wikipedia's best interests, as I see it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 10:01, 3 May 2011 (UTC) I'm willing to help. A "simple" attributive compound is written with a hyphen. A dash is used differently and is not to be confused with Hyphen or Minus sign. Conclusion: Mexican(hyphen)American War is correct English. Comment: the editing summary for this change to en dashes argues for intra-article consistency which is only a circumstantial claim, see WP:OSE. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 11:27, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Comment I would have thought you guys would have been embarrassed enough to have even one AN/I thread on such a lame issue, let alone two AN/I threads and a WQA thread...sheesh.... DeCausa (talk) 10:04, 3 May 2011 (UTC) This is why I didn't want the distracting non-admin comments. My thread (which I would prefer to drop entirely now) is based on a 3 day timeline that we discussed in the Talk page of the Mex-Am War article. It has NO relation to the other thread and really just needs a yes or no from an admin. But really, just drop it, ok? Please. -- Avanu (talk) 10:08, 3 May 2011 (UTC) =WP:OWN DeCausa (talk) 10:11, 3 May 2011 (UTC) WP:OWN applies primarily to articles, this is not a Wikipedia article page, it is a page for "reporting and discussing incidents on the English Wikipedia that require the intervention of administrators". I *specifically* asked that this be left to the admins, and rather than simply honor my request in a WP:CIVIL fashion, its turned into this. -- Avanu (talk) 10:16, 3 May 2011 (UTC) You don't get to say who posts messages on an AN/I thread. So drop the ownership (and last word) syndromes. DeCausa (talk) 10:20, 3 May 2011 (UTC) {ec} Avanu, just to make it clear - anyone can comment in a thread on this board, and no-one can tell other editors not to comment. Elen of the Roads (talk) 10:22, 3 May 2011 (UTC) DeCausa, it seems like circumstances prove you more than right. I was only asking for some courtesy, it is certainly not an obligation on anyone's part to grant that. -- Avanu (talk) 10:24, 3 May 2011 (UTC) ...you've been given good advice from William M. Connelly on the WQA thread. DeCausa (talk) 10:30, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Comment I have no idea if an actual admin has commented yet, but you've managed to take a polite, simple request for a gentle, thoughtful intervention and turn it into a war on me. I realize I'm not entitled to ask for cooperation, civility, and courtesy. These things are luxuries at times. But the last thing I wanted was for this to become a messy debate of this sort. In the future, I'll take some time to independently find an admin whose record shows that they are supportive and considerate, and simply avoid this page altogether. I know a lot of my fellow editors try to help, and believe me, I appreciate that, but like it or not, this page is supposed to primarily be for asking Admins to intervene. I don't understand when people *insist* on derailing a request like what has been done here. -- Avanu (talk) 10:39, 3 May 2011 (UTC) An admin (and member of ArbCom I believe) has commented. Draw your own conclusions. DeCausa (talk) 10:41, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Would someone please check this edit?

Hi, this edit contains two changes, of which at least the upper one looks suspicious. Would someone please check if it's vandalism, and if so, remove it? If it's not vandalism, the [[link]] should probably be shortened/adapted to match an appropriate article. -- 78.43.60.13 (talk) 10:29, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Early closure of DRV about a User talk page

User:Spartaz has closed early a DRV about User talk:David Tombes. I object to the early closure, and would appreciate review by others. DuncanHill (talk) 11:10, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

• Duncan Put the stick away and go find something productive to do. Spartaz ^Humbug! 11:15, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

  I have no view on this issue, but Spartaz – that's simply not an acceptable answer to a reasonable concern raised by an editor. See Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Betacommand#Communication. ╟─TreasuryTag►Speaker─╢ 11:16, 3 May 2011 (UTC)