User talk:Firebrandliberal
October 2008[edit]
Welcome to Wikipedia. It might not have been your intention, but your recent edit removed content from Rod Blagojevich. When removing text, please specify a reason in the edit summary and discuss edits that are likely to be controversial on the article's talk page. If this was a mistake, don't worry; the text has been restored, as you can see from the page history. Take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to this encyclopedia, and if you would like to experiment, please use the sandbox. Thank you. SheepNotGoats (Talk) 18:23, 27 October 2008 (UTC)
Please do not delete content or templates from pages on Wikipedia, as you did to Rod Blagojevich, without giving a valid reason for the removal in the edit summary. Your content removal does not appear constructive, and has been reverted. Please make use of the sandbox if you'd like to experiment with test edits. Thank you. SheepNotGoats (Talk) 18:33, 27 October 2008 (UTC)
Please see the discussion on the Rod Blagojevich page for the links to the press releases. They are copied verbatim. Even though they are public domain, copying them without citing them is plagirism regardless. --thequackdaddy (talk) 04:02, 29 October 2008 (UTC)
- Firebrandliberal, thanks for your note. I do encourage you to edit the article. For the record, I personally think when it come to criticism sections, less is better. Wikipedia does have a policy on something called on Undue Weight which discourages articles being blatantly pro or anti something. I think, because of the myriad of charges against Blagojevich, that his article has fallen a little on the anti side. With that said, I don't think that it is right to remove properly cited and referenced information. On the other hand, if you want to include information on his legislative priorities, that is perfectly acceptable given that it is encyclopedic in nature. Refer to him as "Blagojevich", not as "the Governor", "Governor Blagojevich", etc. Don't give him credit (or culpability) for things he is not responsible for. For example, don't say, "Blagojevich increased funding for children's healthcare." Instead, "Blagojevich signed into law a bill which increased funding for children's healthcare." Also, keep the additions to the important ones. I do not think that the laundry list of talking points you posted are encyclopedic. Most of the programs/proposals are, in reality, minor and a his role is merely signing the final bill. I would recommend you review the Neutral Point of View guidelines about this first.
- However, I must be clear. Copying a source, verbatim, without putting it in quotation marks and and citing it is plagiarism. Simply rewording a source, too, is plagiarism. Please read this guidance about plagiarism for what is, and what is not plagiarism. Plagiarism is unacceptable on Wikipedia and is grounds for removal. I cannot assume good faith on clearly plagiarized edits.
- Lastly, I'm concerned about your interest in the topic. It appears to me that you are a supporter of Blagojevich. While every editor has bias, it is important to be aware of Wikipedia's conflict of interest policy. If you are editing articles to advance Blagojevich's policies (especially if you are a volunteer, know him personally, work for him, etc.) you are in conflict of interest. If you are editing articles to share impartial information on Blagojevich's polcies, that is acceptable.
- I hope you enjoy this site and expand your edits to other things. I would recommend that you edit things that aren't as controversial as current politics. If you have an interest in something, help out with the article on it. I don't contribute much anymore, and mainly do small cleanup work. But if you want to help, Category:WikiProjects is a great place to go to search for something you'd like to share knowledge about.
- Oh and in case no one else has said this, welcome to Wikipedia!--thequackdaddy (talk) 21:26, 30 October 2008 (UTC)
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