Talk:Steven Novella

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A fact from Steven Novella appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 8 July 2014 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that Yale neurologist and skeptic Steven Novella has authored Dungeons & Dragons expansions?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2014/July. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Steven Novella.

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I emailed Novella

Just to keep everyone in the loop: soon after creating the article I emailed Novella and asked him to look over it & make suggestions. (I also discouraged him from editing the article himself). I've asked him to release a picture of himself under a free license and also to put a bit more information about himself online (such as his date & place of birth). Mikker ^(...) 08:24, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's funny. I also sent him an email. I had been meaning to ask him a question for a while, so I used the creation of this page as an excuse. JFlav (talk) 18:07, 28 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh well... let me know if he provides feedback. (I'll do the same). Mikker ^(...) 18:31, 28 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Lol, so did I ;) Voice-of-All 02:51, 29 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Haha... he's sure to know a Wikipedia page has been created then!! Mikker ^(...) 15:07, 29 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I asked him to send any info along that he would like to see on the page, particularly if he has second- or third-party sources. In his response to my email, he said, "Thanks - I will check out the wikipedia page." So at the very least he'll probably read it. JFlav (talk) 00:45, 31 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Selected essays

A feature I find particularly useful is a "selected essays / articles" section (Check out Richard Dawkins for how it can be done). Suggestions for additions? Mikker ^(...) 09:22, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I do have a suggestion for an addition to the "Media" section. Audio from a recent lecture he gave to the New York City Skeptics. JFlav (talk) 18:07, 28 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

NM. Already on there. Sorry. JFlav (talk) 18:08, 28 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Picture

I think the time has come to acquire a picture of Steve for the page. However, I am completely unaware of how the picture process works. I don't know how to upload them, and I don't know what hoops to jump through about rights. However, for anyone who does know, I have found a suitable picture. On Rebecca Watson's flickr account one can find this picture of Steve. As I said before, I don't know what to do about the rights for this picture, but if it's necessary, I bet someone could send an email to skepchick@skepchick.org asking Rebecca for permission and she would gladly give it. JFlav (talk) 01:57, 20 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Images has all the info you need. — Scientizzle 03:41, 20 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have to disagree with you there. I looked at Wikipedia:Images and Wikipedia:Boilerplate_request_for_permission and Wikipedia:Requesting_copyright_permission and this and GNU_Free_Documentation_License and User:R._Baley/Free_photo_essay. I am left even more confused than I began. JFlav (talk) 22:59, 20 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Check out Wikipedia:Boilerplate_request_for_permission. Mikker ^(...) 10:47, 22 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hello. I went ahead and added an image for Dr. Novella. It's not perfect (i.e. a Portrait would be better) but I believe it's better than nothing. I found it through Flickr and it is licensed under Creative Commons. Could someone please add a caption that notes that Dr. Novella is in the middle of the picture? --Cziltang Brone (talk) 18:07, 19 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

And now it's gone. Anyone know what happened to it?Ricree101 (talk) 05:20, 13 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

this is a picture I took and the rights are yours whom ever feels like putting it up, I don't know how yet to post pictures on wikipedia, so I wont. Its not a perfect picture, but it is a portrait almost. --Opcnup (talk) 01:00, 25 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sections

The article was just one long lead, so I've added several sections and sub-sections. I have not yet added any new content, but will do so shortly. Some of the existing content will obviously be reworded to fit the new sections Ole Eivind (talk) 02:30, 3 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Publications

He does skeptologists, neurologica, skeptic's guide, the rogue's gallery.

I'm sure PZ Myers has his Phyrangula blog listed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.187.199.192 (talk) 09:11, 13 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

New Draft Now Current

A friend and I have prepared a new draft of this article and will be posted soon. Reviews are warranted and appreciated. If anyone else has content they are preparing for addition please speak up so we can coordinate efforts. Kyle^(talk) 06:46, 11 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The draft is proceeding well. If anyone would like to comment on changes please do so. Your helpful input is requested. Kyle^(talk) 22:13, 25 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The new draft is ready to post. Any comments first? Kyle^(talk) 03:40, 2 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Didn't see the draft ahead of time, but it looks like a great job. Well cited and a large improvement in the article. Caidh (talk) 16:21, 2 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. I have requested a quality scale reassessment. Considering DYK submission after the 5X expansion. Jim and I spent a lot of time on this expansion as a draft article. Kyle^(talk) 17:15, 2 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I've rated it as a 'B' - it looks good overall and impresses as sober and sticking to facts, except for the time management segment, which comes over as a bit gushing, so I removed it as I can't see how it can be written neutrally. Good thing is, article still over 5x expansion. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:42, 6 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Casliber Wow that was fast! And thank you for the honest comments and copyedit. Kyle^(talk) 05:36, 7 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Seems like the Dr. Oz section is odd and not encyclopedia style. I would think it should be summarized in a sentence or two. TimidGuy (talk) 11:05, 1 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed, please summarise the Dr Oz section. Dougweller (talk) 17:43, 1 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Summary completed as requested. Kyle^(talk) 04:14, 2 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Should Novella be added to the category "American atheists"?

He has written on several occasions that he is an atheist. So shouldn't he be added to the category "American atheists"? I would think though that he should not be in the category "Atheism activists", because obviously he is not an activist for atheism.--80.216.86.175 (talk) 09:56, 20 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

That category has some defining criterion; "Atheists either past or present for whom their atheism was or is a defining characteristic or related to their notability and who have self-identified as atheists." In my judgement, Novella does not use atheism as a defining characteristic, his notability is unrelated to religion, and his self identification is agnostic. As a result I do not support the addition of this category. Kyle^(talk) 21:03, 22 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

But then shouldn't Steve Wozniak and Daniel Radcliffe be delisted from the atheist categories they are in? Their atheism is not what they are famous or notable for.--80.216.83.76 (talk) 18:58, 26 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Good point. It would be appropriate to recommend delisting on those talk pages as well if you wish. Kyle^(talk) 20:44, 26 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

RPGs

Surely the section on RPGs must refer to a different Steven novella?75.132.220.112 (talk) 00:12, 10 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

No - I don't think so. From the podcast, he definitely seems to be someone who is very interested in gaming and I have no reason to believe it isn't him. The reference makes it pretty clear it is the same individual.Caidh (talk) 02:24, 10 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified

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A science fiction podcast?

Are the Novellas involved in some sort of sci-fi podcast too? Alpha Centuari Six?

alpha quadrant 6. Facebook and YouTube RobP (talk) 21:11, 9 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]