Wikipedia:New contributors' help page/questions

This help forum has been discontinued. New contributors will instead be made welcome at the Wikipedia:Teahouse, a friendly place to help new editors become accustomed to Wikipedia culture, ask questions, and develop community relationships.

There is an extensive Archive of old questions from 2004 onwards.

Oldest

Linking Account and IP Address

I've made a decent number of contributions without an account and it is logged under my IP address, but since I decided to create an account, is there any way I could link those contributions under my IP address with my current account? Dukester100 (talk) 04:08, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Old edits cannot be re-attributed from your IP address to your account name, I'm afraid. If you aren't worried about linking your user name to your IP address, you could create your user page, User:Dukester100, and write something there. -- John of Reading (talk) 07:59, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Re: Heli-logging

You might find the claim that Philip Jarman invented Heli-logging a slight exaggeration check this out: Philip Jarman Costa Rica

Dimitri Bender was engaged by our company to do historical research on the commercial use of a Russian patent. The exercise required a thorough understanding of a technology that was new to him and then numerous communications with people all over the former soviet union in order to gather the data we needed to make an assessment.

From the results he has submitted we have determined that the work was thoroughly performed inside our terms of reference at reasonable cost. We are pleased to recommend his services. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.114.40.128 (talk) 04:47, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Heli-logging (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

If you can improve the article with information from reliable sources such as books, journals and respected news media, please do so. If you're not confident to do that yourself, consider posting the sources at Talk:Heli-logging so that other editors can make use of them. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:08, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Someone who knows wikepedia can perhaps make this correction. The bio of Douglas Fairbanks Senior credits him as playing the role of The Black Pirate in the movie of that name. Yet, when you see the wikepedia entry on the movie itself, it says that Senior played the role of the father (who dies almost at once), and Douglas Fairbanks (Junior) is his son, who becomes the Black Pirate to avenge his father's death. Other credits for production and story may also belong to Junior, not Senior, for the film. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.100.238.73 (talk) 23:25, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

I think you are mistaken about that. According to both the article for The Black Pirate and the IMDb page for the film, Sr played both The Duke of Arnoldo/The Black Pirate; Jr (who would have been 16 at the time) is not credited for any role. —teb728 t c 00:25, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

Ah, I see what confued you: What the article says is that the old man is played by Sr's real-life father. —teb728 t c 00:35, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

January 18

Deleting erroneous informartion

I need to delete erroneous information that was previously entered about the following individual: Jean Jacques Honorat. Specifically, Mr. Honorat was not "sacked" from the prime minister post in Haiti; he resigned in June, 2012. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sansan0012 (talk • contribs) 04:50, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

Jean-Jacques Honorat (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

I see that you've edited the article. That "2012" in your question here is just a slip, isn't it? I've posted at Wikipedia:WikiProject Resource Exchange/Resource Request#"The Economist" subscriber needed to see if anyone can check the 1992 issue of "The Economist" to see what was said at the time. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:06, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

(More) "The Economist" used the word "sacked", so I have edited the article to reflect that. If you have reliable sources giving a different view, feel free to add them to the article or post them at Talk:Jean-Jacques Honorat. -- John of Reading (talk) 09:06, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

January 19

Going in circles - need next step to submit article

hello - i created an article in user sandbox - couldn't figure out how to submit for review. Created same article in article wizzard - can't figure out how to submit for review. Always end up on "This is a draft articles for creation submission. It is not pending review" — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tj760 (talk • contribs) 19:09, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

In Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/Bridge Card click on “click here” in the line “If this submission is ready to be reviewed, click here and hit save to request a review” —teb728 t c 19:21, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

Your draft is not ready for review, however: It has no references to independent reliable sources, and it does not show how the subject is notable. —teb728 t c 19:27, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

Reference problem

I am trying to add information from cite sources to a page. I have entered two sentences of factual information and then the "Web Cite" information for both. The <ref> for each entry shows up on the page when I enter it, but when I save the entry only one of the pieces of information shows up on the page and I get this message: Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{Reflist|group=2008 A+E Conference}} template or a tag; see the help page. Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{Reflist|group=2011 A+E Conference}} template or a <references group="2011 A+E Conference"/> tag; see the help page. I re-tried it and copied both <ref>s and pasted into the <reflist> at the bottom of the page, but the same thing happened. I am so confused - please help. Thanks!— Preceding unsigned comment added by Rmart123 (talk • contribs)

 Fixed in this edit. – ukexpat (talk) 21:30, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

January 20

Mark B. Newbauer

Collapsing draft article

Mark B. Newbauer is a Feature Film Writer and Producer born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1973. He graduated from Columbia College Chicago and The Second City Chicago Training Center where he was a writer, director and performer. His gripping short film debut, Dreamkiller, is an ambitious take on Sirhan Sirhan and the events leading up to the RFK assassination . Dreamkiller was winner of "Best of the Fest" at the 1999 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Newbauer also worked in the Talent and Literary departments at The Gage Group, an agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. After more than a decade in the entertainment industry, Newbauer took his passion for both the art of filmmaking and the business sense necessary for a thriving brand, and launched Mike The Pike Productions (www.mtpprods.com), a full-spectrum entertainment firm with a focus in Feature Films and Graphic Novel Entertainment. Recently, Newbauer optioned the film rights to the World Fantasy Award-winning werewolf thriller, George R.R. Martin's The Skin Trade ; and in 2011, he produced White Space, an effects driven sci-fi thriller starring Holt McCallany and Zulay Henao . In early 2012, Mike The Pike Productions acquired Saint James Films as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Saint James Films specializes in low-budget, entertaining genre films for the global marketplace. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.163.39.239 (talk) 20:16, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

This is not the place for a draft article. Please see WP:Requested articles. – ukexpat (talk) 20:30, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Why don't you treat NDAA as equally as important as SOPA

Benjamin Franklin said

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both"

"The whole of that Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals. ... [I]t establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of."

Everyone in this country is slowly loosing their rights. The constitution and Bill of Rights is ever so slowly being eroded away. Please help preserve this great nation.

--209.65.161.128 (talk) 20:25, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

This forum is for questions about editing and finding your way around Wikipedia. Do you have an on-topic question? —teb728 t c 21:00, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

external link guidelines

The short question, Do WP:SPS and WP:EL both apply to external links or is it just WP:EL?

COI disclosure, the website is mine, however the site was not added for promotion or advertising, the site is big enough that the traffic generated by listing it in the external links is insignificant and irrelevant. It was posted for the alternative perspective not present and likely not possible on the wiki page itself. The site does not violate any of the WP:ELNO guidelines.Rick36502 (talk) 20:43, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a collection of links. Your conflict of interest may prevent you from assessing the usefulness of your site to the article. As it recommends at WP:COI, you should propose your site at the article talk page and let others decide whether it merits inclusion. It looks like you are doing that. —teb728 t c 22:20, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Adding relevant references to support statement in article

I would like to suggest references for statement in an article. How do I do this?98.235.20.140 (talk) 21:46, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

The best place would be the talk page of the relevant article. – ukexpat (talk) 22:01, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

January 21

I cannot edit page XYZ. How do I find out why?

Specifically, I want to continue discussion on the Torque:Talk page. I was able to edit it a few days ago, but now the Edit links have disappeared.

(It might be nicer if they were greyed out, with an explanation of why on mouse hover.) 82.32.31.166 (talk) 12:06, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Why couldn't I find the answer in the help or anywhere?

• I found no message or logs saying I have been blocked. If I have been blocked or muted then I imagine I would have been clearly informed. None of my recent edits have been reverted anyway.

• I tried searches in the Help and Reference "Why can't i edit?" and "Why can't i edit a page" and these gave no results. Try it! Amazing huh?

• There was nothing in the FAQ either. I think there should be a FAQ question "Why can't I edit page XYZ?".

TIA. 82.32.31.166 (talk) 12:06, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

You've not been blocked; there's a "block log" link at the top of your contribution log. Which page were you trying to edit? It may be a protected page, in which case there would be a padlock symbol. - David Biddulph (talk) 12:22, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

I now see that this seems to be a continuation of the previous question, so I've changed the section heading here. If you are referring to Talk:Torque, it should still be editable. - David Biddulph (talk) 12:24, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

In the past there has been a glitch where unregistered users sometimes saw a tab saying "View source" instead of "Edit" on unprotected pages, but I haven't seen reports of this in a long time. Do you see a "View source" tab instead of "Edit" at Talk:Torque? If you do then click "View source" and you should be able to edit the page normally. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:02, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks guys. I don't remember seeing "View source", but today the Edit button is back. I will bear the glitch in mind for next time, and hope it's not some Wikipedia conspiracy.

Meanwhile, what do you think about an extra FAQ session? I suppose it wouldn't have helped me, but I'm surprised I couldn't find any information about being unable to edit a page. I guess it's not a common problem, only reserved for the anti-social. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.32.31.166 (talk) 23:56, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Pacific Highway

Safety on the Pacific Highway was put in the national spotlight on 8 January 2012. In a spectacular accident in the town of Urunga, a B double truck encountered a passenger vehicle which was on the wrong side of the road, after colliding with the passenger vehicle, the truck ran off the road, partly demolishing some nearby houses. An 11 year old boy, who was asleep in one of the houses, was killed, as well as the driver of the passenger vehicle. Following this accident it was announced, on Jan 21, that the pre-construction work on the bypass of the town of Urunga, as well as several other nearby towns, would commence within a fortnight. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.69.176.62 (talk) 13:34, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

What is your question about using Wikipedia? --ColinFine (talk) 15:24, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

If you are proposing that as a content addition to Pacific Highway (Australia), this is not a place to propose content; you would do that at the article’s talk page, Talk:Pacific Highway (Australia). But really that seems more a news story rather than encyclopedic content; so maybe a better place would be Wikinews:. —teb728 t c 18:55, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Editing New Submissions

I can't seem to get to the new articles I have proposed that have been reviewed, how do you do that? For instance how do I navigate to this reference: * If you would like to continue working on the submission, you can find it at Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/George Lynde Richardson - Marin County Pioneering Surveyor. Where do I paste in, Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/George Lynde Richardson - Marin County Pioneering Surveyor and do i use the bars? The sequence is not a hyperlink

I am most appreciative with you patience on this Newbie! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gkewin (talk • contribs) 16:29, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm not sure what the problem is. "Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/George Lynde Richardson - Marin County Pioneering Surveyor" is a link. You can click it and then click the "Edit" tab. Click "My contributions" at top of any page to see all your edits with links to the page you edited. Does that help? PrimeHunter (talk) 17:56, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Changing a page name that has "&" instead of "and"

Hi, Firstly, does it matter if there is an "&" instead of an "and" in the name of the page? If it does matter for search purposes then how would one go about changing the name of the page, if its at all possible. --Ddragovic (talk) 18:45, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

If you are referring to Institute for Bible, Theology & Hermeneutics, the Institute’s website uses “&”; so I would say that would be appropriate for the title of the Wikipedia article. See WP:MOVE for how to change an article’s name. For searching “&” and “and” appear separately; you could create a WP:REDIRECT to have an alternate name for an article. —teb728 t c 19:34, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Since the notability of the Institute has been challenged, it might be a good thing to merge the institute content into the parent St Mary's College article. —teb728 t c 19:40, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

I have redirected it to St Mary's College, St Andrews on the basis that there wasn't much notable there to merge. – ukexpat (talk) 02:49, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

January 22

External Links

Are External Links required to meet content standards if they are not referenced in the content and not listed as a reference? Specifically WP:OR Rick36502 (talk) 18:09, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Does the guidance at WP:EL help? – ukexpat (talk) 18:19, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

No, this is about a link that had enough value to readers to have a place on the list for years, being pruned specifically because it had original research. Original Research is not mentioned at WP:ELRick36502 (talk) 18:24, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

No, original research is not of itself a reason for rejecting an external link; but I can see that many websites which presented a personal theory or argument would be inappropriate. By the way, "have a place on the list for years" does not imply "had enough value to readers". "Wasn't noticed by anybody who cared enough" is another possible conclusion. --ColinFine (talk)

Experienced article writers

I am new to Wikipedia. Are there people that are approved to write articles for Wikipedia that I could hire to write or consult me.

Jim — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.252.175.2 (talk) 19:34, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

We are here to help you. Anyone can edit wikipedia, but there is certainly a learning curve to do it properly.--Wehwalt (talk) 19:50, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

While it is not technically forbidden, there is a very deep antipathy to and distrust of anybody who is paid to edit Wikipedia, within the Wikipedia editing community. See also our rather stringent restrictions on editors with conflicts of interest. --Orange Mike | Talk 20:15, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

January 23

New Page for charitable organization

I am the founder of an organization called Giveable Giggles. Here is the link to the website: www.giveablegiggles.org How can I create a wikipedia page for the organziation? I read the rules, and see that I can not create it myself. Thank you, Giveablegiggles (talk) 02:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

First read WP:ORG to see whether the organization meets the notability guidelines. If it does, request the article at WP:Requested articles. You will also have to create a new account as your user name does not comply with the user name policy. – ukexpat (talk) 02:42, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Well Known UC San Diego Alumni

How would one add the name of John R. Woodward, movie & TV Producer & Director with over 100 credits (including, i, Robot, The Shawshank Redemption, Gattaca, Poseidon, Wild Things, The Craft) to the list of well-known UC San Diego Alumni? Please refer to imdb.com for details. ---- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 166.250.11.74 (talk) 05:02, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

If his status as a UCSD alumnus is sourced to something more reliable than the IMDb, then add him to Category:University of California, San Diego alumni.--Orange Mike | Talk 05:38, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Hang on, it's not as simple as that. You add a subject to a category by inserting [[Category:(category name)]] in the Wikipedia article about the subject - but as far as I can see, John R. Woodward does not currently have a Wikipedia article, so cannot be added to a category, and should not be added to any list.

If you have sources that establish that he is notable by Wikipedia's standards, you could create an article on him. But I note that the current Wikipedia articles on the first two films in your list (I, Robot and The Shawshank Redemption) do not mention him. I haven't looked further.--ColinFine (talk) 10:37, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

His work as first assistant director on those films is unlikely to qualify him for notability. —teb728 t c 19:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Notability / thoery - based on truth as a relative concept (sic)

How can I achieve notability on something as a theory if I reject the traditional concept of notability? I mean - do I have to PHYSICALLY publish this for you guys to value a reference as notable? Help!

Cheers

Edgemeister (talk) 16:11, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

If you reject our concept of notability, as outlined here, then perhaps Wikipedia is not the place for your article. For something to be notable on Wikipedia, it must have significant coverage in independent third-party sources. TNXMan 16:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

And not only that: you couldn't self-publish, you would have to publish in a reliable source.

The problem with "Creative cosmology" is almost as much that it is original research as it is that it is not notable. Wikipedia does not publish original research.

In order to be just cited in a footnote, your theory would have to be published in a reliable source. In order to have its own article, OTHER people would have to have written about the theory in reliable sources. —teb728 t c 19:02, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

login change

Hello,

The girl who used to edit this for us has left and has not sent me her logins. I have some edits to make to a page which I want to re-submit asap and have made these edits. However they seemed to have been lost as I was not logged in.

Please can you help me re-set my account login?

Thanks Sarah <blanked> — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.201.133.242 (talk) 16:53, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Her account belongs to her personally; it would be a violation of Wikipedia rules if you used it. If you want to edit under an account, you need to create your own account. Her account does not own the pages she edited; anyone can edit them. But who do you mean when you say "us"? Do you want to edit on behalf of a company or organization? If so please read Wikipedia:Conflict of interest. —teb728 t c 17:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC) Specifically if the other woman’s account is Capitalmsl81, you can edit Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/BLME (Bank of London and the Middle East) as easily as she. But due to your conflict of interest, you almost certainly will have as much difficulty as she writing about that subject without being promotional. Neutrality is not just wording that is not “too self-serving and too hyperbolic”; it is essentially a lack of promotional intent. —teb728 t c 18:37, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

(edit conflict)I'm sorry, but accounts may not be shared. If you wish to edit Wikipedia, you must set up your own account. TNXMan 17:28, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

apparently conflicting information

Bisphenol A (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch

Under the subject Bisphenol A Paragraph 3, Production, states: "World production capacity of this compound was 1 million tons in the 1980s,[5] and more than 2.2 million tons in 2009.[6] " At 2000 pounds per ton, that would be 4.4 billion pounds in 2009 Paragraph 6, Use, states: "Bisphenol A is used primarily to make plastics, and products using bisphenol A-based plastics have been in commerce use since 1957.[14] At least 8 billion pounds of BPA are used by manufacturers yearly.[15]" There appears to be a conflict. How can 8 billion pounds be used yearly if world production (in 2009) is 4.4 billion pounds? I am not an expert. I'm reluctant to make any changes because I don't know the subject. If my math is correct, one or both statements should be corrected. Thank you. 96.233.94.70 (talk) 20:10, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I suggest raising your concern on the talk page of the article(s) in question.--Wehwalt (talk) 20:18, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Thank you. I have followed your suggestion. 96.233.94.70 (talk) 20:25, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

January 24

expermint to chek smoking is harm full for health

i want to know how smoking is harm full for health by expermint which have observatio, prection or reselt requrement — Preceding unsigned comment added by 115.249.10.252 (talk) 11:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I suggest you start by reading Health effects of tobacco. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:12, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I would avoid conducting any experiments yourself, if that is what you are contemplating. Keep in mind that the health effects may show up many years later. Please don't.--Wehwalt (talk) 12:22, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

changing article name

I am looking to edit the name of a page. Currently the title is listed as Intrepid-Sea-Air-Space Museum. The Museum is no longer referred to in that way but is instead Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. I searched for the answer and was told to include the Template:DISPLAYTITLE= however this has not worked... thanks!