User talk:I.l.boyd
Speedy deletion nomination of Hebridean Trust
[edit]Hello I.l.boyd,
I wanted to let you know that I just tagged Hebridean Trust for deletion, because the article doesn't clearly indicate why the subject is important enough to be included in an encyclopedia.
If you feel that the article shouldn't be deleted and want more time to work on it, you can contest this deletion, but don't remove the speedy deletion tag from the top.
You can leave a note on my talk page if you have questions. Thanks!
Message delivered via the Page Curation tool, on behalf of the reviewer.
Meatsgains(talk) 19:33, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
Speedy deletion nomination of Hebridean Trust
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/48px-Copyright-problem.svg.png)
If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read the guide to writing your first article.
You may want to consider using the Article Wizard to help you create articles.
A tag has been placed on Hebridean Trust requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section G12 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the page appears to be an unambiguous copyright infringement. This page appears to be a direct copy from http://hebrideantrust.org/. For legal reasons, we cannot accept copyrighted text or images taken from other web sites or printed material, and as a consequence, your addition will most likely be deleted. You may use external websites or other printed material as a source of information, but not as a source of sentences. This part is crucial: say it in your own words. Wikipedia takes copyright violations very seriously and persistent violators will be blocked from editing.
If the external website or image belongs to you, and you want to allow Wikipedia to use the text or image — which means allowing other people to use it for any reason — then you must verify that externally by one of the processes explained at Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials. The same holds if you are not the owner but have their permission. If you are not the owner and do not have permission, see Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission for how you may obtain it. You might want to look at Wikipedia's copyright policy for more details, or ask a question here.
If you think this page should not be deleted for this reason, you may contest the nomination by visiting the page and clicking the button labelled "Contest this speedy deletion". This will give you the opportunity to explain why you believe the page should not be deleted. However, be aware that once a page is tagged for speedy deletion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag from the page yourself, but do not hesitate to add information in line with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. Meeanaya (talk) 19:34, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
November 2019
[edit]![Stop icon](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Stop_x_nuvola.svg/40px-Stop_x_nuvola.svg.png)
{{unblock|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}}
. Bbb23 (talk) 19:41, 11 November 2019 (UTC)![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Appointment_red.svg/48px-Appointment_red.svg.png)
I.l.boyd (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))
Request reason:
Well, this is the first time I've tried to create a page and you've just blocked me permanently. Don't I get a chance to try something first and learn? This is pretty unreasonable. I'm obviously happy to give what I did another shot. The page I was trying to create relates to a non-profit UK charity and you have lots of those listed on Wikipedia, like the National Trust, just as an example. Not impressed...
Decline reason:
The draft had no independent reliable sources to support its content. Wikipedia is not a directory of charities; a charity would only merit an article on Wikipedia if it meets Wikipedia's special definition of a notable organization as shown with significant coverage in independent reliable sources. Not every charity or nonprofit does. It also seems that you have some sort of connection to this charity, which would be a conflict of interest. You're going to have to be clearer about what it is that you want to do if unblocked and, if you have a connection to the charity, describe it. I am declining your request. 331dot (talk) 20:15, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Appointment_red.svg/48px-Appointment_red.svg.png)
I.l.boyd (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))
Request reason:
Fair enough. But I have no idea how to proceed from here. I'm only trying to provide information which one would find in an encyclopedia. The trust in question restores old buildings which are of high historical value to give them a modern use. It conserves some the UK's most iconic scenery with some of the most highly designated locations for wildlife and it tries to give children from inner cities a chance to experience something which might change their lives. If I got it wrong first time I can only apologise. If I have a conflict of interest it is minor. I don't need to do this, I don't get paid to do this and I get no personal benefit from doing this. I do it because its a virtuous act.
Decline reason:
I don't think "minor conflict of interest" is an appropriate summary of your association with the Trust (I'll not go into detail here for privacy reasons, though that may be an overabundance of caution given the amount of personal information you have provided on Wikipedia; I'll gladly provide the details to any interested admin by email). The tone of your draft was blatantly promotional, and that's not appropriate for an encyclopedia, no matter how deserving or virtuous the charity might be. So far your almost exclusive interest on Wikipedia other than the Trust has been the article on a certain Ian L. Boyd, where you probably won't try to argue that your conflict of interest is minor and where you added quite a bit of unsourced, arguably promotional content. This is not a matter of wanting "people like you" but of wanting the kinds of edits you have chosen to make. You will need to address that. Huon (talk) 23:27, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.
Someone else will review your request, but it would likely help the reviewer to know if there are any other subjects you want to edit about. 331dot (talk) 20:55, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
- I could offer quite a lot I think, although much of what I have to offer will involve adding to current entries. I'm an academic zoologist by training who has spent a career studying key environmental processes including scale-free complex dynamics in ecological systems in different subjects from whole ocean systems to hormone dynamics in individual animals. I have also had a lifelong interest in the geography and natural history of the Hebrides. On behalf of the Hebridean Trust, I voluntarily wrote the management plans for the Treshnish Isles and for the Hynish Lighthouse Supply Station. These are detailed analyses of the natural and human history of these features and historical assets. However, I'm not fussed. If Wikipedia doesn't want people like me then that's fine. I came on to contribute (I also make financial contributions) by just trying to do something very simple and easy so that I could learn the system. I now regret that.— Preceding unsigned comment added by I.l.boyd (talk • contribs)
There is no pathway to redemption then?
- This isn't really an unblock request, so I'm moving it out of the template to make it a normal comment (too many declined unblock requests don't tend to be regarded in a positive light). There is absolutely a pathway to redemption (or at least back to editing, we're not the Pope) and it's fairly simple. You simply need to raise a new unblock request in which you address the problems that led to the block. You need to convince us that:
- you'll declare any conflict of interest (you can do this on your userpage once unblocked)
- you'll use the requested edit process on articles where you do have a conflict of interest, rather than editing them directly
- you understand the issues with copying content directly from another website into Wikipedia (you'll need to go into a bit of detail here)
- you've familiarised yourself with Wikipedia's policies on neutral content, sourcing and verification
- An unblock request that addresses all of these issues to a satisfactory degree is likely to be accepted. Yunshui 雲水 08:31, 12 November 2019 (UTC)
That is really helpful and exactly what I was looking for. The previous responses just seemed like I'd stuck my toe in the water and a shark had come up and bitten off my leg. I was perplexed by the lack of empathy towards somebody trying this out for the first time. I made mistakes, definitely, but I did not expect to be punished irrevocably, which was the impression being given. Thank you!
- I had no intentions to give a lack of empathy; only to be clear. Nor did I mean to imply you had no pathway back, there was just some points I wanted to see addressed. I am sorry. 331dot (talk) 11:10, 12 November 2019 (UTC)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Appointment_green.svg/48px-Appointment_green.svg.png)
I.l.boyd (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))
Request reason:
Thanks again to Yunshui for helpful advice. For a while I thought I was dealing with bots. I will take each point in turn. :* Declaring conflict of interest. Of course. I am entirely happy to do this. I am completely used to doing this in other roles I have so I will provide a complete listing (see example below) of anything that could possibly be seen as a conflict. This is likely to be quite invasive of privacy though - for example, where I live is important but I won't be giving my home address, and I hope that's alright? But I need access to do this. However, in mitigation, I am learning how to do this in wikipedia and its worth noting that I have never attempted to cover up who I am. Anybody can trace connections to my interests which are pretty much an open book (in wikipedia and well beyond). This is, I suspect, in contrast to many of those I have been in correspondence with on this site. Nobody is without conflict of interest, declared or undeclared, and we kid ourselves if we think we know our own conflicts - see Peter Springer's book on practical ethics. Is this an issue that Wikipedia needs to reconsider when it comes to article editors? :* I commit to using the "requested edit process on articles where you do have a conflict of interest, rather than editing them directly". However, after my recent experience I don't think I'll be venturing in to any articles which are even slightly of this type. When I do look at wikipedia again I won't be publishing a page without trying to find somebody to review it for all the issues raised by Yunshui. The culture I have experienced to date within the editing fraternity of wikipedia makes me uncomfortable. Do I want to be a part of that? - I don't know yet, but I'd like to have the choice. :* I commit to the copyright rules/laws and will not copy from other web sites. I think this was my biggest mental block because, as a multiple book author, author of several hundred scientific papers and occasional professional photographer, I am well aware of copyright law! What caught me out was that the original content I copied was written by me (a conflict, I know), but I guess I had maybe sacrificed copyright. I could easily have written original text but I was doing a trial run to see what worked and I should have been a lot more aware of the meaning of the "publish" button. It is a legal commitment. :* I have, as suggested, re-familiarised myself with the policies on neutrality, sourcing and verification. I'm not sure what more I can say other than that I have obviously now got a much greater acuteness of sensitivity to these principles. But, I won't be publishing anything without having it reviewed to ensure anything I write is compliant. :*I hope that covers it but I'm very happy to have another shot at this if there are gaps. I don't have much faith that any of this will do any good, but I guess its worth a try, I've suggested areas where I might be able to contribute below, if you'll have me. Thanks for your patience. _________________________________________ Here is how I would intend to set out declare conflicts of interest. I will adjust (and format) these later and update then as they change and/or arise: PERSONAL: Nationality: UK Gender: Heterosexual Male Race: White Caucasian Residency: UK, St Andrews AFFILIATIONS: INSTITUTION
Accept reason:
This is over and above the required disclosure, but your willingness to abide by Wikipedia's policies is noted and appreciated. I have lifted the block; welcome back. Yunshui 雲水 14:01, 25 November 2019 (UTC)
You do not need to provide your entire life story and personal details, you just need to declare your COI.(i.e. "I am a board member of XYZ Company"). Someone else will review your request. 331dot (talk) 22:37, 12 November 2019 (UTC)
Thank you. I.l.boyd (talk) 18:47, 21 November 2019 (UTC) _________________________________________
Here is how I would intend to set out declare conflicts of interest. I will adjust (and format) these later and update then as they change and/or arise:
PERSONAL:
Nationality: UK
Gender: Heterosexual Male
Race: White Caucasian
Residency: UK, St Andrews
AFFILIATIONS:
INSTITUTION | ROLE | REMUNERATION
University of St Andrews |Professor in Biology |Yes|
UK Research Integrity Office |Chairman |No|
National Oceanography Centre |Trustee |No|
Fera Science Limited |Non-executive Director |Yes|
INSITE (Oil & Gas UK)/NERC Advisory Board |Chairman |No|
Natural Environment Research Council Marine SPF |Chairman of Steering Group |No|
Royal Society Living Landscapes Programme |Member of Steering Group |No|
Royal Society Science Policy Advisory Group |Member/Fellow |No|
Royal Academy of Engineering End of Life Advisory GP |Member/Fellow |No|
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council /Innovate UK Transforming Food Production ISCF |Member of Steering Group |No|
International Network of Government Science Advisers(INGSA) |Contributor |No|
University of St Andrews, Sustainability Board |Chair |No|
____________________________________
General area where I am able to contribute are as follows:
- Resources and in particular International Resource Panel
- marine mammals
- neonicotinoid and pesticide policy
- waste management policy
- vertical farming
- Hebrides: For example, in the short-term I would wish to edit pages relating to the Treshnish Isles mainly about the history of the islands including their apparent strategic importance in the clan feuds and at the time of the Civil War. The geology needs to be improved as well. Some better photographs are also needed. Much of the information is currently derived from the Management Plan (which I wrote). This is a primary source for some information but is a secondary source in some cases. This needs to be corrected. It should refer, for example, to the Statistical Account of Scotland. This will include editing pages on:
- Bac Mòr mainly about the history of management of grazing
- Bac Beag historical management of the island as part of the management associated with Bac Mòr
- Lunga mainly about bird populations but also about history
- Fladda
- Cairn na Burgh Mòr mainly about history of the castle but also mythology surrounding Iona treasure
- Cairn na Burgh Beag mainly about the history of the castle
Other more ad hoc contributions I can make are as follows:
- Signalling when a page need to be re-written. For example this is needed for Badger culling in the United Kingdom is in need of significant editing but not by me. It is currently a very one-sided view of the issue and is poorly structured.
- Possibly writing a new entry. For example, Hynish a new page may be needed on this. It is an important 19th Century historic site constructed initially by Alan Stevenson as the shore station for the Skerryvore lighthouse.
- This seems more than reasonable to me. Unless @Bbb23: has any objections, I am quite happy to unblock. Yunshui 雲水 09:16, 25 November 2019 (UTC)
- @Yunshui: If you're satisfied, go ahead and unblock.--Bbb23 (talk) 13:08, 25 November 2019 (UTC)
I'm more than happy to provide additional information if needed. I.l.boyd (talk) 17:42, 18 December 2019 (UTC)
A note on copyright
[edit]Just to point you in the right direction with regards to copyright on Wikipedia - because of the way Wikipedia is licenced, we need a suitable license release even for your own work, if it has been previously published elsewhere. If you want to use text on Wikipedia that you have already published, you'll need to go through one of the processes described at WP:DCM - which one will depend a bit upon the specific situation. Obviously, copying other people's text is a different matter, but as you pointed out in your unblock appeal, as an academic you're already aware of that! Yunshui 雲水 14:11, 25 November 2019 (UTC)
Thanks, that's very helpful. This aligns with my previous experience on copyright.I.l.boyd (talk) 17:39, 18 December 2019 (UTC)
ps. Apologies for the long silence!I.l.boyd (talk) 17:41, 18 December 2019 (UTC)