User talk:84.128.252.99

Hi Wiki community, what do you think about this:

Deletion of all my links

Dear Dr. VSmith, Wiki admin,

on Dec 20th Wiki deleted all links going to my website realgems.org because of "spamming". Meanwhile I know that I did something wrong when I added a lot of links to my own website. I will not do that again of course.

But Wiki admins have also deleted all links which were added by the international public. Now my website realgems.org is no more accessable on Wikipedia. So nobody can find all the photos and infos on my non-profit and educational website, after having read a Wiki page. Nothing happened with all the links you once added, e.g. to Mindat, Webmineral and Mineral Galleries. Why? Wiki accused me having spammed their mineral and gems pages with my own links but I don't see a difference between your links to some mineral sites and the links going to my site.

Would you be so kind and explain me why all your additions are no spam but my visitors' links are spam?

Oh, I just see that I cannot write my complete URL because this URL is blocked! So I have to write "realgems.org" instead of the complete address. It's a shame.

Kind regards, Redberyl —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redberyl (talk • contribs) 14:11, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

   Quite simple - I have no connection to those mineral websites. I simply use them to find technical mineral info and document my editing of mineral articles. I viewed your website as non-commercial and felt it had some quality images, but the data was available elsewhere. Your problem was in trying to promote your own work, that is a distinct no-no on Wikipedia for a very good reason. Too bad that the blacklisting was the result, but tough cookies. Am I going to work to change that? I see no reason to now. And that Dr. bit above is not appropriate as I'm not one, had to "drop out" and feed the kids. Vsmith (talk) 14:30, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

   And if you really want to help, why not upload some of those great images to Wikipedia and add content to gem and mineral article stubs - join in the fun as a real Wiki-volunteer. Vsmith (talk) 14:51, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

14:30, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

Dear VSmith, thanks for your quick reply - in contrary to the rest of Wiki admins. My international visitors also have no connection to my website but their additions (links) were deleted. Do you know exactly that all these people don't use my infos also, for editing mineral articles? Surely not. Thanks for having a look on my site. You are right: My project is mainly aimed on photos. To create such a collection seem to be helpful not only for collectors but also for U.S. scholars, according to my web usage statistics. Mineral data is also available elsewhere, not only on your favorite sites. Please tell me another website where you can see and compare more varieties of colors of gems and their minerals.

I really did not intend to promote my own work. The more visitors, the more I have to pay for traffic volume... I just thought that my efforts to compile all this stuff would be worth being linked on Wikipedia to help people finding a lot of gems varieties. That is (at least in my opinion) exactly the aim of Wikipedia: being a helpful resource for informations. I would have created articles but what would Wiki admins have said if I would have flooded Wikipedia with all these photos?

Your final sentence I don't understand, re "feeding kids". I hope you meant something positive, according to the Wiki ethics.

If I would start helping Wikipedia by editing etc., would Wikipedia re-install my links?

Kind regards, and happy 2009, Redberyl —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redberyl (talk • contribs) 15:00, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

   I'd say if you become a serious Wiki-contributor by adding valid content over time I would consider working to de-blacklist your site - not sure what that would involve though. Feed the kids simply meant I had a family to provide for and had to get a job to pay the bills instead of finishing a phd program. Vsmith (talk) 15:25, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

VSmith, Now I understand what you meant re "kids". My English isn't the best, it's old school English from the late 60ies. My dad had a slightly similar prob after the war, re finishing high school. He always suffered from that f... time.

Yes, I would like becoming a contributor but at first Wiki has to re-install all links and "whitelist" my URL. Even you seem to think that my site is not the worst. A lot of people worldwide would praise you, having saved their links / input.

Best, Redberyl —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redberyl (talk • contribs) 15:36, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

   No - first Wiki has to re-install all links and "whitelist" my URL, it doesn't work that way. If you want to contribute, then do so with no conditions. Build a reputation as a valid Wikipedian - then we'll discuss weblinks. Vsmith (talk) 16:11, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

I would say no because you (as an admin) have probably added more links to certain websites than any other of my international visitors. Regarding the Wiki spam politics you would have been regarded as a real spammer.

Let's have a look on "Red Beryl", "Painite", "Demantoid" or e.g. "Gahnite". What was your impacting input except from adding links? My visitors did exactly the same as you did but were put into the Wiki prison, together with me.

I don't need Wikipedia but Wikipedia should be happy about additional links to that rare (as you said) photo collection on my website. Therefore I repeat that Wikipedia (which is responsible for all deletions) has to "whitelist" my URL before I will become a true supporter and editor (mainly in de.wikipedia of course).

If that does not happen, and I will not be officially informed (email) about a positive solution, Wikipedia (at least some of its admins) is acting against its own dedication. I will not show this entry on my website until I get a positive response from you or another responsable admin.

When you sit back and relax, dear Vsmith, you will see that all this discussion is unnecessary. I would assist Wikipedia as a true supporter, you should release my URL from your "prison".

Happy New Year to you, Redberyl —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redberyl (talk • contribs) 16:31, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

   Sorry 'bout that, check [2] for my only addition to gahnite back in 2005 in which I basically doubled the size of the article and added three references to support my additions. Sourced content is what it's about. You seem to have a basic misunderstanding about how Wikipedia works and given your attacks on me in that reply and the demands you insist on I presume you don't want the support I offered - offer withdrawn and conversation over. Good day, Vsmith (talk) 17:56, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

Dear Vsmith, I'm very sorry having overseen your duplication of that short text. Today you might have added four references, including a link to my site, to support your additions because it's not unimportant for many of your Wiki visitors to see different varieties of gahnite. Re "sourced content is what it's about": Many interested people don't want to read technical data but wanna see photos too.

I may have a "basic misunderstanding" re Wiki's intentions. I always thought that Wiki is an international encyclopedia, serving the world with texts and pics.

If I may have attacked you, I am very sorry. That was really NOT in my mind. Nevertheless if you feel being attacked, I am no Vietcong but a simple German (oh God) Wiki user.

"...I presume you don't want the support I offered..." - Well, I want especially your kind support, in the name of Wiki's basic intentions. I never expected that an admin withdraws his help just because he feels not so good with this delicate matter (for which you are not responsible after all).

"...and conversation over..." Is that democratic?

Best regards, Redberyl 84.128.252.99 (talk) 18:25, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

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