User talk:Eric Corbett

"It was reading the ultimate paragraph of this post: [1] that finally convinced me it was time to go, yes, Hans is quite right, I am stuck in a vicious circle and there was no likelihood of things improving."

— Extract from Giano's retirement statement

Precious

	forum
	Thank you for content such as today's Chadderton, for adding quality to the articles of others, for speaking up to the point with "amore e studio elucidandae", and for running your talk as a fascinating forum of ideas and beers, - and yes, to quote you, "we need some perspective", --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:52, 31 May 2012 (UTC)

Well Deserved! PumpkinSky talk 00:04, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

"we need some perspective".One of the most intelligent comments I've heard in a long time on here. If only most of the ANI wiki gods had a good perspective of what is important.. Lack of perspective that we are actually an encyclopedia not a law court is probably one of the biggest site problems in my experience. If they cut their crap and started actually contributing to articles we'd be many times richer as a resource.♦ Dr. Blofeld 08:10, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

The perspective that I find is most missing is that the editor behind the online avatar is a real person with feelings and human frailties. It was a real joy to meet Malleus a few months ago, and to experience what a jovial and interesting character he is. How badly this project is let down by those who can't see past their screen and appreciate the other human beings they are interacting with. --RexxS (talk) 16:29, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

The missing perspective seems familiar, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:40, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

Hope you are well.PumpkinSky talk 22:14, 10 June 2012 (UTC)

• Get back to work, Mally; you're welcome in Our House ;) Br'er Rabbit (talk) 04:41, 13 June 2012 (UTC)

Our House ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:25, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Celebrate, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:03, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Hot chicks here

Now that I have the attention of all the talk page stalkers, can I just remind everybody that a bunch of us miscreants will be getting together for a few drinks in Manchester tomorrow - meta:Meetup/Manchester/13 for details, but all are welcome 13:00 onwards at The Sir Ralph Abercromby, 35 Bootle Street, M2 5GU. It would be really great to chat with you again, Malleus, but no pressure if you're busy. Cheers, --RexxS (talk) 22:09, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

I'd thought of coming along, but my wife's getting ready to go into hospital early next week for an operation, so I want to spend time with her. Hopefully I'll make the next one. Malleus Fatuorum 23:08, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

Family comes way, way, ahead of WP. I wish you both well. Hopefully, we will meet up again at some point as there are a couple of issues on our personal agenda that we keep saying will be addressed. Nonetheless, I am pleased to see that you did not completely rule out the idea of attending if personal circumstances had been better. You know that you will be amongst friends. - Sitush (talk) 00:38, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Indeed Malleus, family always first and I wish your wife a speedy recovery. There's always another meetup in a couple of months – and we'll all be looking forward to seeing you again when the chance arises. Regards, --RexxS (talk) 01:29, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

My very best wishes to Mrs Malleus; family has to come first! My own experience of ops is that they go extremely well indeed; I hope she has the same good fortune. And hospital staff are a laugh and lovely people. And the beds and food are much, much better than they were when I was a kid! Tell her I'll be thinking of her. Pesky (talk) 06:19, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Well wishes to your wife, Malleus! LadyofShalott 13:48, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Agreed. I think we all hope and (as appropriate) pray that the operation is as quick and uncomplicated as possible. Basically, that it winds up being a quick vacation in a big building with lots of people in it, many of whom have little sense of fashion innovation. John Carter (talk) 16:49, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Well wishes for your wildflower lover, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:47, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

You've got a very good memory Gerda. :-) Malleus Fatuorum 01:08, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Only for things and people that matter, like Wildflowers and you two, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:18, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Best wishes for her speedy recovery Mal. PumpkinSky talk 21:53, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

All the best, and everything positive...Modernist (talk) 21:55, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

All the best. Parrot of Doom 23:19, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

My best wishes to Mrs. Malleus as well! Keilana|^{Parlez ici} 23:24, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

• All my best wishes, thoughts, and prayers to you and yours Mal. — Ched :  ?  00:48, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for all the good wishes. Malleus Fatuorum 01:07, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

You Have New Good Wishes

Give her our best, All of Jack's Socks ;)  Br'erRabbit  02:50, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

How did things go (if you don't mind me asking)? GFHandel ♬  07:18, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Alan Turing centenary

I've just tried to get the centenary of the birth of Alan Turing in either 'on this day or in the news and I'm getting opposition at both. What planet are we on? Richerman (talk) 22:29, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

I can kind of understand that. The article really ought to be featured as an FA I think. Malleus Fatuorum 23:26, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

Unfortunately it's only a GA but lesser articles get plugged all the time at ITN and OTD. It is getting a couple of words in OTD though. Richerman (talk) 23:50, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

I was going to say "Bugger!" then thought better of it. Although now you have seen the unintentional pun anyway. Sorry.

I am astonished that an article concerning someone such as Turing is not already FA status. I've only had one involvement with the FA process (James Tod) but I am prepared to put some time into it if others are willing. OK, we have missed the centenary but the guy deserves better than a GA and I feel that it is entirely within our collective abilities to rectify that situation. There is tons of stuff out there and the real problem is likely to be that of where the cut-off point is with regard to detail. I must admit to not being aware that there was a nom process for ITN/OTD, but I suppose it figures. - Sitush (talk) 00:34, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

I've done loads of FACs, and it really isn't so tough. I see that I'm the third-highest contributor to the Alan Turing article, but the problem often is in getting the entrenched editors on board over things like the bulleted list in Tributes by universities. Very often it's just not worth the hassle, especially if you have any aspirations to one day becoming an administrator; it rarely makes you any friends. Malleus Fatuorum 02:26, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Adminship has been suggested, but working as I do in the India-related stuff would stymie that, and in any case I am primarily a content person (as is material, not necessarily state of mind). I have just had yet another botched complaint against me at ANI, which makes 20 or so in 18 months. If I carry on at this rate, I will surpass you! - Sitush (talk) 12:59, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

If you know how many times you've had your arse dragged to ANI then you've still got some way to go. I just gave up caring about it, much less counting. Malleus Fatuorum 13:13, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Someone told me ;) - Sitush (talk) 13:16, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

According to (a previous incarnation of) the YouTube video about me, it was 232. Not that I care. I suspect MF is ahead of me, not that he or I care about that, either. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 21:03, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Hug me!

I haz my first FA :D And a congratulatory hug from you has more value than a pretty star. One of these days, you'll have to come down to my neck of the woods and get a real, live hug. And a beer. Or three. Or more ... Pesky (talk) 06:21, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

That's very well deserved Pesky. Good luck with the rest of your pony series, which ought to be easier now you have an idea of what to aim for. Malleus Fatuorum 12:47, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

I'm really looking forward to all the nerdy research required for the others, heh! The one thing I really wish is that we had some really excellent photographs of really excellent representatives of the various breeds. If you fancy trawling around for historical and prehistorical and archaeological references to horses in various parts of the British Isles, just for fun, y'know .... and then dumping links onto, for example, User:ThatPeskyCommoner/equine research material, and turning it into a blue link, I would be your slave for life. Or at least until the end of the week ;P Pesky (talk) 07:09, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, I couldnt reply sooner! (Poppy Meadow)

Hi! Im back editing on Wikipedia now, and looked through your edits to Poppy Meadow. I have to admit the article looks great, but I did add back in the Development section, as although to you it may seem the same as the plot section, its not, its has quotes and interviews in. Anyway, thanks for all your edits to the article. Poppy has just returned to the soap, though not much critical commentry has become of this, and still some details are a tad bit shady, on whether she is staying or not.

However, the article is quite stable (which is surprising for a returning character), and if you would like to go over it one more time before I propose this, if your free, would you like to nominate Poppy to FA with me? Youve done so much towards the article, I feel its only best to allow you too put your name towards it. Of course, I will have to put some credit towards the other user (Frickative), whom edited the article with me when we first made it. So, if your still awake from my drivel, what do you say? — M.Mario (T/C) 20:04, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

This is crazy talk. Everyone knows that Malleus is just here to drive away good-faith editors and generally disrupt the entire encyclopedia! Parrot of Doom 20:18, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

I'm afraid that; I disagree. MF has never shown that attitude towards me, nor hardly anyone else as I know of. So, although I respect your opinion, I am going to chose to ignore it. — M.Mario (T/C) 20:30, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Mr Stephen (talk) 20:50, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

(I think that was sarcasm :) )--Gilderien Chat|List of good deeds 20:56, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Just a touch, yes. Although sometimes that is hard to determine online. Personally I've always found Malleus quite even-handed. If you're polite to him, he's polite in return. If you're an ass, he smacks you. Seems fair to me. Intothatdarkness (talk) 21:01, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Seems fair to me as well. Malleus Fatuorum 21:08, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

If it wasn't, I'm going right round to PoD's house and give a piece of my mind. ;-) Malleus Fatuorum 21:06, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

@Mario. I'll leave it entirely to you whether or not to include the Development section. The article does still need a bit of tweaking though I think. For instance, "Poppy, Jodie's best friend, is a brunette beautician." What does that mean exactly? She's brunette and a beautician, or she's a beautician specialising in brunettes? Also needs a little bit of updating given Poppy's return. The section in development beginning "According to an EastEnders spokesperson, there is potential for Poppy to return in the future ..." seems a bit wrong tense-wise given Poppy's return. Malleus Fatuorum 21:08, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Okay will do :), and of COURSE I knew it was sarcasm, cough, cough... :D — M.Mario (T/C) 21:10, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Give me an hour or so to look through the article again, but as for your generous offer of a co-nomination I haven't done anything like enough to deserve that; the credit is all yours. Malleus Fatuorum 21:13, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Flixton is a gated community Malleus, we don't let Stretford scallies like you in. ;) Parrot of Doom 21:31, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

I always thought the gates were to keep you lot in custody, not to keep anyone out. Malleus Fatuorum 21:39, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

That's just what we want you to believe... Parrot of Doom 21:48, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

(WARNING: Ignorant American post upcoming.) ... What are "Stretford scallies"? ... and I can I assume that "scallies" is the plural form of scally? Chedzilla (talk) 22:03, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Short form of scallywags, otherwise known as Scousers. And Stretford is where I live, looked down upon by the posh bastards like PoD in rural Flixton, about two miles away. Malleus Fatuorum 22:39, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

They call em chavs, skegheads, or safes around here in southern Wales. Basically the lads you see with shaved heads wearing navy and white tracksiuts, baseball caps, and drive Vauxhall Novas with unfeasibly large bumpers and alloys, unfeasibly powerful sound system, blaring hip hop, garage, drum and bass or other crap "music". Most towns have them, although probably a lot of towns in the "posher" areas of Britain like Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire probably less so.♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:58, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Ahem! Speaking as someone who lived in the allegedly-"posher" area of Oxfordshire for a while, I can assure you that the subspecies Homo non-sapiens chavii, in most of its known variants, was alive and kicking (often each other) across much of the county, although appearing generally in small pockets of sub-habitat within the greater ecosystem ;P Pesky (talk) 23:37, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

LOL, that's the correct subspecies name I believe LOL. Well, I'm sure most of the towns have them evne if in the minority but I tend to associate rural Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Notthinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Hampshire with a better class of people and those counties seem to have a higher proportion of wealthier folk I think than most other places in the country. The Chipping Norton set etc.♦ Dr. Blofeld 09:47, 27 June 2012 (UTC)

Nobody's mentioned scrotes yet. Richerman (talk) 18:32, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

Ah...another term with multiple meanings? Should be interesting. Intothatdarkness (talk) 18:45, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

Well, they're pretty much the same as scallies. It's short for scrotum. Richerman (talk) 20:27, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

Ah. Same meaning it had where I grew up, then. Except it was more an individual insult than a collective group term. Instead of calling someone a...uh...glorified term for a part of the male anatomy (or, to quote Anthrax..."sexual organ located in the lower abdominal area"...one must watch for the Civility Patrol these days), you'd call them a scrote. As in "What a scrote!".Intothatdarkness (talk) 20:31, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

Re:

Risible is a new one for me. Thanks for the vocabulary boost. Tiderolls 17:36, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

For Mrs. Malleus

	The flower of Manchester
	Mrs. and Mr. Kiefer's thoughts and prayers are with the clan Malleus. Kiefer.Wolfowitz 07:36, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Rhetorical question?

[2]] By failing to adequately kowtow to the block admin, obviously. Surely you knew that already?? Nobody Ent 21:00, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

I did know that yes. Isn't that what indefinite blocks were designed for? Malleus Fatuorum 21:02, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

But...they aren't punishment... They come with flowers and everything (or so they say). Intothatdarkness (talk) 21:16, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

You know, I really do think that there are some naive souls here who genuinely believe that blocks are not intended as punishments. Malleus Fatuorum 21:43, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

I agree. I also don't think they understand that when you combine Block with Admin it is almost automatically viewed as punitive. Message board culture and all that. Admins block. Admins ban. It's what they do. Except here, of course. Wiki-exceptionalism and all that. Intothatdarkness (talk) 21:48, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

They ultimately end up as punishments, but we should still try to not issue them as such, and ask ourselves if that is the intention. Yes, yes, I'm forever the optimist living in Pollyanna-land, but I only have control over my actions and not other's. I still feel the problem is one of culture, hence my efforts to focus there and on the talk pages of admins who make "unusual" blocks, hoping they will eventually tire of my frequent questions and move a bit slower. Minor victories are better than none. Dennis Brown - 2¢ © 14:47, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Yeah...it's a culture problem. And one I think may never really change. Intothatdarkness (talk) 15:28, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I notice a few more have joined up at Wikipedia:WikiProject Editor Retention, including one admin, and I know of one other admin who I expect is joining soon. It isn't much, but it is designed to address the culture issue, as well as all the reasons why editors leave. A great many people are concerned about the subject in general, some one area more than others, but still, the lever gets a little longer. Dennis Brown - 2¢ © 15:41, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I shall take a look, Dennis! I have to say, the more I see of you, the more I like you. There's an interesting thread on my talk (typically rambly!) which started with Intothatdarkness pointing me at your project. Pesky (talk) 06:41, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

Thanks!

Thanks for participating in my RFA! I'm honored to have your support. Zagalejo^^^ 06:05, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I noticed

you had been tinkering with the reference section at Bradford Colliery. Does this mean I am doing something wrong by using a semicolon to bold headings? J3Mrs (talk) 13:44, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

It seems it causes problems with text-to-speech readers. The reason is given here but, like me, you may want someone to explain the explanation. Richerman (talk) 15:06, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Well that seems as clear as mud, and unlike you I don't really think an explanation would make me any wiser :-( All this fiddling with incomprehensible stuff is so off-putting to the likes of me. You know it takes me all my time to hit the right keys. J3Mrs (talk) 15:21, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

It's to do with HTML definition lists and how they're rendered by a screen reader when they're incomplete. Basically what precedes the semicolon is a term, but there's no matching definition for it, a bit like an empty entry in a dictionary, which can throw a screen reader. Essentially the ";" to force the entire line to be bold (which was all it was there for) was a quick and dirty hack. Malleus Fatuorum 18:36, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

You lost me in the first half dozen words, after that my short attention span completely evaporated. Will wikipedia survive if I continue to do the wrong thing? I expect it will. J3Mrs (talk) 18:45, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

It will, but you would be making life harder for the visually impaired - which I know you wouldn't want to do. Three apostrophes either side is a much better option. Richerman (talk) 18:50, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

It's as Richerman says, a courtesy to our visually impaired readers. Imagine if you will a dictionary full of words but with no definitions of any of those words; that's the best analogy I can come up with. Malleus Fatuorum 18:53, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Now I've become aware of this issue, which frankly I was oblivious of until RexxS (talk · contribs) shoved it under my nose, I've determined to go through all the articles I've created and make the same changes I made to Bradford Colliery. Malleus Fatuorum 18:59, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I am losing the will to live... J3Mrs (talk) 20:47, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I think it could be automated using AWB, so don't worry about having to do it manually. I think I've still got AWB access, so if nobody else gets to it before me I'll have a go at it later. Now get back to proper work on a colliery or two. Malleus Fatuorum 20:53, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

I've done it. I've created about 100 articles. Is there anything else I've learned that I ought to unlearn?J3Mrs (talk) 21:45, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Only one thing. Don't ever, ever, get sucked into Wikipedia. Malleus Fatuorum 21:47, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Now you tell me. J3Mrs (talk) 22:20, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Never have I made so many edits and added and added so little information, well none.J3Mrs (talk) 08:53, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

But you've helped those less fortunate than yourself in the hearing seeing department. Malleus Fatuorum 09:01, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

I thought it was the seeing department. Oh well.J3Mrs (talk) 09:17, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

Duh! Malleus Fatuorum 09:20, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

If ruled the world ...

• Any editor obviously vandalising an article would be instantly and permanently banned
• Any administrator who issued a bad block would receive a block of the same length or more
• Anyone who emitted the "AGF" guff would be blocked for an hour or so, to give them time for their head to clear or the effects of whatever substance they'd been abusing to wear off

Any more? Malleus Fatuorum 10:43, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

I was mulling over an idea recently which wouldn't work and wouldn't gain traction... What if an administrator was only allowed to have one "unratified" block in place at any one time. In other words, I were to merrily come along and indef block you, I lose my block ability until someone else comes along and agrees with it. Checks and balances. Doesn't help to poor chap blocked badly, but it does limit damage. Also, it would be possible to see if a block was "ratified" or not, improving the block log. Worm^TT(talk) 11:08, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

Editing someone else's comment

You changed the signature of another editor here. Please undo this part of your edit. Fram (talk) 11:05, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

Fix it yourself. Malleus Fatuorum 11:08, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

If it had been an obvious error, I would have. This seemed to be intentional though, so I wanted to draw your attention to it and wait for your reaction. It turns out to be quite telling. Fram (talk) 11:13, 4 July 2012 (UTC)