Talk:Main Page

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Administrators: Clear all reports

Errors in the summary of the featured article

Please do not remove this invisible timestamp. See WT:ERRORS and WP:SUBSCRIBE. - Dank (push to talk) 01:24, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

Errors in "Did you know ..."

Current DYK

• ... that Matahi Brightwell (pictured) introduced the sport of waka ama to New Zealand?

  Please change introduced to reintroduced. This is the wording of this supporting reference from the article: Brightwell travelled the country reintroducing waka ama to Māori communities as the founding president of the first Waka Ama Club. This is also the wording used by other reliable sources like this journal article: Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell reintroduced waka ama or outrigger canoe to New Zealand. — MarkH₂₁^talk 03:03, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

   Done. Pinging Chocmilk03 in case she has a different take. Firefangledfeathers (talk / contribs) 03:19, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

Errors in the summary of the featured list

Friday's FL

(August 2, tomorrow)

Monday's FL

(August 5)

Errors in the summary of the featured picture

Notice to administrators: When fixing POTD errors, please update the corresponding regular version (i.e. without "protected" in the page title) in addition to the Main Page version linked below.

Main page general discussion

Page structure of the main page for portable devices

The main page structure means that, when navigated to from the limited browsers available on a portable device, the search box (in the quickbar) is almost the very last thing loaded on the main page: necessitating waiting for the entire content to download and then scrolling through it (at least, on my blackberry). The display and structure of content should degrade gracefully with limited browsers and bandwidth, and putting the search functionality (which after all is what most people will be looking for) at the very end, violates this. Any thoughts anyone? James Harvey 00:09, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Check out Wikipedia:Main Page alternatives, test your Blackberry on one of those pages listed, and set a bookmark or home page to the best one. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 00:17, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

I still think that, if a page is not going to work well for portable devices (or for that matter disabled folks with screen readers, or people using text only browsers), it should degrade gracefully: if you're going to have a version better suited to those users, then it should be linked early in the page - not after you ask on the discussion page!

FWIW WCAF 1.0 states in checkpoint 13.8: "Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc. [Priority 3]. Note. This is commonly referred to as "front-loading" and is especially helpful for people accessing information with serial devices such as speech synthesizers."

Additionally, the pages you refer me to aren't actually any better structured than the main page: but that is an issue I will take up there!

James Harvey 12:18, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

What evidence do you actually have that the search box is what most people are looking for? Also I'm not sure if this is really a main page issue. As I understand it, the search box is provided by the wikimedia software. It's not something directly affected by the wiki source for each page. While there may be some CSS hack, if not if you want the left frame to load before the right frame this would entail a change in the software config and would be en.wikipedia wide. Nil Einne 01:50, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Freely admit that I don't have any evidence. I was just assuming that people come primarily to an encyclopedia site to search for information. I know I do. The only other options seem to me to be that they come to edit the wiki (a tiny proportion of visits), or that they come to view other content - such as the articles of theday on the main page.

If the issue is wikipedia wide, what is the correct place to discuss (although I think this mainly affects the main page TBH).

James Harvey 10:55, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

The other option is to use http://wapedia.mobi/en/ which acts as a proxy server that reformats current Wikipedia content for mobile devices. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 00:23, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Unless you wanted en.wap.wikipedia.org - which is the "official" proxy server for mobile devices. ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 00:02, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Shocking Images?

Why have shocking pictures been featured recently on the main page? First there was the one showing the hideously scarred back of a black slave, and now we have one of a pit of Holocaust victims (with one more about to be shot.) These are NOT the kind of images most people want to see in the "cover" of an encyclopedia; I'm not saying they shouldn't be included in the site, but only on their respective articles, where people would find them only if they're intentionally looking for them. Is this part of some agenda? How are featured images decided on anyway? -Wilfredo Martinez 01:40, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

The order of images is usually determined by the featured picture time frame. The fact that they are "shocking" is just coincidence. Your Grace Lord Sir Dreamy of Buckland ^tm 01:46, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

See User talk:Howcheng#POTD for an explaination of the order from the defacto POTD director. Also see Wikipedia:Featured picture criteria for the criteria featured pictures must meet. (Any picture which meets these criteria can be a featured picture after going through the process here Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates) Nil Einne 01:54, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

That still doesn't justify the use of shocking pictures as featured images. I have the Main Page set as my default homepage, because I enjoy reading news and facts as soon as I log in every day. Pictures of mayhem are NOT what I want to see here, and I'm reasonably sure most people don't either. If anything, this shows very poor judgment. Just write me down as opposing this -Wilfredo Martinez 13:43, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

That they're "shocking" is POV. What you want to see may differ from what others do. And frankly, that's a pretty tame Holocaust image, as Holocaust images go. --Dweller 13:58, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Personally I don't want Wikipedia to reflect a skewed POV. If images were excluded on the basis that they might be considered shocking, then that's not reflecting the world we all live in. Cuddly guinea pigs are great but there's more to the world than fluffy cuteness. MorganaFiolett 15:23, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• An encyclopedia should reflect its contents - all of it. Besides, we humans need the reminders of just how in-human we can be. Genocides are not a thing of the past, nor is slavery, which is back in business not only in the third world but in Europe and the US... God help us all. Which is the more shocking? Shir-El too 22:37, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• Wikipedia is not censored. Chubbles 23:37, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• Hi. I knew that, but why don't we include in the "10 things you may not know about Wikipedia" that it isn't censored, since I'd think a lot of newcomers don't know that? Thanks. ~AH1^(TCU) 00:31, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

'cause then there'd be eleven. Macbi 18:30, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd be 100% behind that. Chubbles 05:38, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• Maybe it can be added under one of the existing headings. BTW, I read the article after commenting. The ease with which a band of bullies brutally took over a supposedly civilized nation, to the point where the judicial system sanctioned murder after-the-fact, is VERY frightening. I'm glad I read it. Shir-El too 21:40, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

No, you don't get it: WP:NOT#CENSORED. —Vanderdecken∴ ∫ξφ 11:37, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Selection choices for today?

Who thought it would be a good idea to have TWO holocaust related items today (the EinsatzGruppe execution photo, and Night of the Long Knives)? Honestly, are we hitlerpedia now? Couldn't we possibly come up with two unrelated, non-nazi subjects for the main page? ⇒ SWATJester ^{Denny Crane.} 14:51, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Erm, I have guinea pigs as the FA today, with long knives coming tomorrow. --Dweller 15:06, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Just TWO items, one is a Featured Article, the other a Featured Image, and the two are used on the main page on DIFFERENT DAYS, and you're complaining? --76.64.77.176 15:12, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Nazi guinea pig Wikipedia shock. -- !! ?? 15:25, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Guess what? Just a few days ago, we had someone complaining about Holocaust article not getting featured status. Guess no one is ever happy. 128.227.113.49 15:59, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

FP and FA are usually chosen independently and as such, it sometimes happens that two items are fairly similar coincidentally. For example one time we had a space related FA and space related FP. As far as I'm aware there has not been a Nazi related subject as FA or FP for a while before these Nil Einne 01:48, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, while Night of the Long Knives is certainly a Third Reich topic, it is not a Holocaust topic. -Elmer Clark 05:23, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Godwin's Law right out of the starting gate. ffm 14:44, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Godwin's Law applies especially to inappropriate, inordinate, or hyperbolic comparisons of other situations (or one's opponent) with Hitler or Nazis or their actions. It does not apply to discussions directly addressing genocide, propaganda, or other mainstays of the Nazi regime Raul654 14:46, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Shakespeare

Is the picture of Will Shakespeare in Main Page/tomorrow supposed to have an earing? It seems weird to me... Astrale01^talk_contribs 00:47, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

In fact, the earring is, strange though it may seem, in the original Chandos portrait. Joe 03:06, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Moved discussion to Talk:William Shakespeare Nil Einne 10:34, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

9 October: What about Che?

I believe it would be fitting to add Che Guevara's death in 9 Oct 1967 at the "On this Day" section. After all, this is the 40th anniversary. --Michalis Famelis (talk) 00:47, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

At present, the guidelines for SA/OTD inclusion provide that a birth or death should be mentioned only on its centennial or subsequent significant anniversary (except to the extent the death itself, as, for instance, the Kennedy assassination, is encyclopedically notable). The last discussion about the issue, though, appears to have occurred nearly two years ago, and so any revisions might surely be suggested at Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries or, I suppose, on this page (of course, if our practice no longer follows the written guidelines, one may, inasmuch as policy is descriptive, not prescriptive, be bold and update them accordingly). Joe 03:17, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, the Che Guevara article has been plagued by edit wars and POV for the past several months – not appropriate to be posted on the main page. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 03:37, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Hahaha, I was about to ask why it wasn't featured since most high-profile controversial articles, especially those with edit wars, tend to get improved through community discussion until they're featured. I clicked the link and saw the article is not only featured, but tagged with the {{npov}} template. Nice. 17Drew 06:55, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Did you Know?

Any particular reason today's DYK is about twice as big as it normally is? 63.167.237.65 13:24, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe to compensate the very long ITN? --Howard the Duck 13:36, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

ITN is very long now to compensate for the very long DYK, which has a backlog of eligible and expiring items. We need more admins to keep DYK more frequently updated. --74.13.131.169 15:16, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Well the frequency of DYK updates diminishes the amount of time an entry is displayed, so I'd rather increase the DYK items with longer refreshes rather than more DYKs with little screen time. But this is not within the scope of this talk page... --Howard the Duck 15:26, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

FAs are shown on the main page for 24 hours. DYKs shouldn't be shown longer than that. The current 6 to 8 hours seems right, except that we don't always have an admin available after each 6~8-hour interval. Suggestions regarding DYK policies can be discussed at Wikipedia talk: Did you know. --74.13.131.169 17:41, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Someone is playing with Night of the Long Knives

The Vandals are back! Clicking Night of the Long Knives results in a link to a "Penis" article. Can this please be fixed immediately? Thank you! Mkpumphrey 18:29, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Fixed, in less than a minute. Usual TFA vandalism. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 19:15, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Again, thanks! Mkpumphrey

Fourm

Dosent Wikipedia have a forum? all other wiki's do. where is it?12.216.165.50 19:09, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

It has a mailing list, and a village pump. ffm 20:23, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

...and an IRC channel - oh wait, actually it has several of them. 130.88.79.24 09:17, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

HELP!

whenever i try to click on "my talk", the whole set of buttons go across the screen to the wikipedia logo!Starwars55 22:32, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• not doing it anymore, strangeStarwars55 23:49, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Are you using a Mac computer? Perhaps OSX? Your Grace Lord Sir Dreamy of Buckland ^tm 23:40, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• No, i use windows. never used a mac, ever.Starwars55 23:47, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

If not, your settings may be whats making this occur. Your Grace Lord Sir Dreamy of Buckland ^tm 23:44, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• What settings?Starwars55 23:47, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• If it keeps on happening, report a bug or post a report on the Technical Village pump. ffm 23:52, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Starwars55 (talk · contribs), to ask questions about using Wikipedia, please go to Wikipedia:Help desk. --74.14.17.30 04:01, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

It happens to me every so often as well, on many different computers. It's incredibly annoying, but usually stops after a few hours. Skittle 14:15, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

hey!

what sort of stuff do they have on wikipedia?T.ZBowman 17:24, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Everything. Ok, well maybe not everything, but close nonetheless. Thanks. ~AH1^(TCU) 17:45, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Here is a list. For general information about Wikipedia, see Wikipedia. -Elmer Clark 18:33, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Mathematical formula

Can it be linked "more clearly" - and, as a general request for such articles, a sentence along the lines of "This formula is used in (xxxx field) to do (yyyy process)" - for those of us unfamiliar with the particular topic. Jackiespeel 23:10, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Are you referring to that formula on DYK earlier ? It's gone now. Next time, to suggest changes to the text on MainPage, please make use of WP:ERRORS. Response is usually quicker there. Thanks. --PFHLai 01:09, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

spell

change "practise" to "practice" Xxanthippe 04:51, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Fixed, since it being used as a noun. Next time, to suggest changes to the text on Main Page, please post on WP:ERRORS since responses are usually quicker there. Thanks. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 05:04, 11 October 2007 (UTC)