Help desk
< June 26	<< May \| June \| Jul >>	June 28 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.

June 27

An article that won't publish

Greetings, I'm trying to publish an article and can't figure out what it is not working. There seem to be a number of small problems. Help! — Preceding unsigned comment added by FahnbullehV (talk • contribs)

What's the exact issue? —A little blue Bori v^_^v ^{Jéské Couriano} 06:55, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Is this about User:FahnbullehV/sandbox? If it is, the first of many problems is that you will need to let the reader know what ceramic rocket stoves are, before explaining how to insulate them. Another and more serious issue is that Wikipedia is Wikipedia is not a manual. Maproom (talk) 08:12, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@FahnbullehV: Wikipedia already has a rocket stove article, so you may want to add some insulation information there. Happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 14:42, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Given advise on own Talk page about ref formatting errors. David notMD (talk) 15:27, 29 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Charlene McKenna

Charlene McKenna is from Ireland not Northern Ireland — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:BB6:6A56:1E58:A4CE:7CB3:F51C:1C52 (talk) 08:04, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The IP above appears to be correct: McKenna is from County Monaghan, one of the three Counties of Ulster that are in the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. The article correctly said so until a recent and fairly sizeable edit by AmorPatiturMoras, who added significant career updates to the article, but also incorrectly changed or inserted several passages to read "Northern Ireland."

In view of the mix of (likely) correct and incorrect information involved, AmorPatiturMoras's not inconsiderable experience (over six years, nearly 50 new articles) as an editor, and the potential contentiousness of the error or "error", (plus my own status as a deliberately non-Account editor at which some look askance), I have not simply reverted, and will leave it to their and other more experienced editors to sort out. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.59.177 (talk) 12:50, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

It could be that the editor meant "northern Ireland" and not "Northern Ireland", but it is confusing. 331dot (talk) 13:17, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

However, it has been linked to the 'country' of Northern Ireland rather than an area. Also, Ulster has been linked to and placed before NI as if it were a part of NI rather than NI being part of the region or province, known historically as Ulster. FWIW I think the NI reference should be restored to plain Irish as it was before Amor's GF edits. Eagleash (talk) 13:57, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Uploading to Wikipedia. Why so difficult?

As a longtime user of -- but first-time contributor to -- Wikipedia, I'm stunned by how complicated you make things. Even the note I type now appears on my screen as minuscule. How about a decent font? Also, the acquaint myself with your uploading rules, I was shocked at the computer coding hurdles you put up. It all seems archaic to me. Like this advisory: please sign any statement you post here by placing 2021DutchSailor (talk) 08:28, 27 June 2021 (UTC) at the end of your post That's the type of instruction computer users were given decades ago! 2021DutchSailor 2021DutchSailor (talk) 08:28, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

You can adjust the font size in your browser options. —A little blue Bori v^_^v ^{Jéské Couriano} 08:32, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

2021DutchSailor The Visual Editor is easier for some users, as it does not require knowing wikicoding. As for signing posts, Wikipedia has users from all over the world with varying degrees of computer literacy, so such advisories are necessary to help the rest of us. Most changes to Wikipedia itself require a consensus, which isn't always easy to obtain. For example, most people would agree that the Main Page needs to be changed, but the disagreement is over what to change it to, which there is no agreement on. 331dot (talk) 08:35, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I have tidied up your draft here Draft:Peter van Oossanen and added a submit template for you. Theroadislong (talk) 09:02, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Please note 2021DutchSailor that creating an article from scratch is the very hardest task on Wikipedia and to attempt it before anything else is rather adventurous! Theroadislong (talk) 09:20, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@2021DutchSailor: Yes, there are processes about editing Wikipedia that are complicated and non-intuitive. Your assistance in making them easier would be appreciated! In the meantime, I suggest you please review Help:Footnotes and update your draft accordingly before you submit it. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 14:38, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Warren Buffet

Helping the less fortunate — Preceding unsigned comment added by 147.194.187.6 (talk) 14:01, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Hello there! The Help Desk is for asking questions about using Wikipedia. Do you have a question? GoingBatty (talk) 14:34, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Image upload and display problem

I recently uploaded File:Mary Dunn photo in 1959.png. The image does not display and appears to be 0 × 0 pixels, but when I click on this link I can see the image. I have no idea how to fix this and I am unfortunately a very techinically challenged person. Anyone who could fix this or explain in very simple words would be a hero. Flibirigit (talk) 14:39, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This problem seems to be fixed by a helpful editor. Thanks. Flibirigit (talk) 17:23, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Entry for Stakeholder Capitalism

Hi, six months ago I submitted an article on Stakeholder Capitalism and it appears stuck. I never received a response. Then I got a notice it had been suspended because it had not been edited. I requested that it be re-stated and have never heard back. This is a very timely subject that is not yet in Wikipedia. Thanks. Bruce Bolger — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bolgerb1953 (talk • contribs) 15:08, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Bolgerb1953: The draft Draft:Stakeholder Capitalism still exists. It had not been submitted for review, so I added the template {{subst:Submit}} to the very top of the draft so it is now added to the pile awaiting review. You can work on it while it awaits comments from those editors who do the reviewing. Good luck. Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:53, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I note that one major problem with the draft is that you have external links within the text, instead of standard citations/references. Please see WP:Cite for how to add references in the approved manner. Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:59, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Unauthorized page with my name

There is a fake Chris Baker page that needs to be taken down. The comments are defamatory and damaging my professional reputation. I can not log in to change it or challenge it. This inaccurate and damaging information needs to be removed.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.119.236.130 (talk)

Which Christopher Baker are you referring to? Theroadislong (talk) 15:16, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

(ec) There are several articles(not "pages") about persons named Chris or Christopher Baker, listed at Christopher Baker. Perhaps the one you looked at is not the one about you? In any event, please tell us which article you are referencing and detail the nature of the errors(either here or on the associated article talk page). Note that one cannot grant or deny permission for there to be an article about them, as Wikipedia summarizes what independent reliable sources say. 331dot (talk) 15:17, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

You would need to create an account (or request one at WP:ACC) to log in, but logging in is not required. 331dot (talk) 15:18, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I'm wondering if you perhaps looked at Google search results or a Knowledge Graph and a Wikipedia article about a different person named Chris Baker came up when searching for you? Wikipedia has no control over Google search results, but such results provide a link to contact Google for assistance. 331dot (talk) 15:24, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Since the IP's address geolocates to Omaha, I'm guessing that Chris Baker (talk radio host) is the relevant article here. Deor (talk) 17:01, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Great Caesar's ghost. That page was was basically an attack page. I redacted the attack (which leaves little). I know everyone is really busy, but I wish our ears would perk up a little when someone writes "The comments are defamatory and damaging my professional reputation... This inaccurate and damaging information needs to be removed". Here's a person in distress and it's our fault and our job to fix it (if we can; of course, sometimes the complaint is false or the situation is more complicated). I mean I barely caught it either, and I don't watch this page much myself, so I'm just as much to blame. But as a team, this stuff is more important than "how do I format a table" and all. Herostratus (talk) 01:51, 1 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Dr. Shiva Ayadurai - Psuedoscientist

Courtesy link: Shiva Ayyadurai

How can a person with 4 degrees from MIT be termed as a Pseudoscientist? How can you allow such content? You are unabashedly displaying such content and expect the public to believe and all the more give you donation?

This is unacceptable. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.142.115.72 (talk) 15:38, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

We don't based content on donations(or the lack of donations) because if we did everyone would blackmail or bribe Wikipedia to get their way. Wikipedia summarizes what independent reliable sources state. If the bulk of such sources use the term pseudoscientist to refer to this peron, then we do as well. If you can demonstrate through coverage in independent reliable sources that this person is considered a legitimate scientist, please offer them on the article talk page. 331dot (talk) 15:45, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

It is perfectly possible for a highly qualified scientist in a particular field to nevertheless put forward pseudoscience in a related or unrelated field, whether due to dishonesty, self-delusion or honest error. Consider, for example, Sir Fred Hoyle, who was a distinguished astrophysicist (and a moderately good Science Fiction writer). During his scientific career, he proposed several theories that turned out to be incorrect – fine, that's part of the scientific process – but also (amongst other things) argued that viral diseases were spread from passing comets, and that fossils of Archaeopterix had fake feather impressions added.

For a less amiable, more mercenary and more relevant example, see Andrew Wakefield and the Lancet MMR autism fraud. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.125.73.1 (talk) 07:57, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Regarding "expect the public to believe" – nobody is saying "you must believe" (or at least they shouldn't). Don't trust Wikipedia; you can verify that it is accurately stating what its sources state by checking those sources. If there aren't any sources for a claim, don't believe it simply because Wikipedia said it. Don't trust; verify – whenever possible, both on Wikipedia and outside of it. DesertPipeline (talk) 03:34, 30 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Ade Sutrisna

Courtesy link: Ade Sutrisna

Hello, please see this newly-created article there is some big red message which appears difficult to remove. Thanks 🌌Zoglophie🌌 17:18, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Done: Two ref tags were incorrectly closed with self-closing tags (e.g. <ref>content<ref />) instead of proper closing tags (e.g. <ref>content</ref>). – Rummskartoffel 17:38, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

John McAfee

I would like to mention that he was survived by a daughter, Jen Brady.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.211.139.231 (talk) 17:18, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

And forty-six other children apparently. The place to suggest this is on the talk page of that article. Please include a reliable source to support your assertion.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:27, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

From the looks of things a more appropriate phrasing might be that his children managed to survive him. E Eng 18:36, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia looks horrible on Edge

— Preceding unsigned comment added by AwkwrdPrtMskrt (talk • contribs) 17:40, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like it just didn't load all the way. That can happen in any browser from time to time. Try doing a hard reload by pressing Ctrl+⇧ Shift+R. – Rummskartoffel 17:45, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, I was having the same issue as well (but on Firefox) and it turned out to be caused by the adblocker. Whitelisting Wikipedia solved it. I hope this helps! Helpful Cat (talk) 02:52, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Visibility of the page

Hey , i want to make my page visible in Google search, also i want to upload photoes. Can you help me? How can i do it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Գևորգ Ալեքսանդրի Սարգսյան (talk • contribs) 19:06, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This is the English language Wikipedia, your draft is in a different language (I don't know the name of it). If you want to create an English draft, please use Articles for creation. 331dot (talk) 19:11, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

It's Armenian, 331dot, and I see the OP has now posted hy: Գևորգ Ալեքսանդրի Սարգսյան in hy.wiki. --ColinFine (talk) 22:25, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I would like to be included to you local media listing

Hello - I am the CEO of Valley Scene Magazine, a Family Entertainment and lifestyles publication in Los Angeles since 1999. Any chance we can be added to the appropriate lists for this genre?

Many Thanks! Josh S. Kushner — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:8000:2A00:51B4:4566:95FE:148:A3F6 (talk) 19:41, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Your publication would first need to have a Wikipedia article about it, and that would only happen if it is shown to meet Wikipedia's special definition of notability, with significant coverage in independent reliable sources. Wikipedia is not a directory and to be frank we are not concerned with your company's internet presence. 331dot (talk) 20:04, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

What to do when a file on commons contains original research?

This file: File:FAA Phonetic and Morse Chart2.svg] appears to contain several kinds of original research. My question is this; if indeed it contains original research, what should I do about it? Flag it somehow on commons? Just remove it from the English Wikipedia with nothing to tell the next person who adds it that it may be OR?

The boring details:

The image starts with Morse Code, used in telegraphy starting in the 1840s and used in radio starting in the 1890s, adds a column called "Telephony" with a phonetic alphabet that was never used in telephony but was used in voice radio starting in the 1950s, then adds a "phonic (not phonetic!) pronunciation" column arbitrarily picking one of the multiple respellings found in different sources.

The thing is, nobody has ever listened to the Morse Code Dot Dash and written down "Alfa" or anything other than A. Nobody has ever listened to the NATO phonetic alphabet Alfa and written down Dot Dash or anything other than A. The four columns are only related by all being forms of the alphabet while other forms of the alphabet such as EBCDIC are arbitrarily omitted. --Guy Macon (talk) 20:53, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Guy Macon: According to WP:OI, Original images created by a Wikipedian are not considered original research, so long as they do not illustrate or introduce unpublished ideas or arguments. I don't think the particular image you highlight would offend that policy, as none of the individual components are original. Mike Turnbull (talk) 14:34, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No need to ping me. I have a watchlist and I know how to use it.

Let's start with the question I asked: if indeed it contains original research, what should I do about it? What is the general procedure for dealing with commons images that contain original research? --Guy Macon (talk) 15:11, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think you need to do anything, even in the general case. For example, any diagram uploaded from a US government website (such as one I uploaded commons:File:Fomesafen use USA.png) is in the public domain as it is work of the US government. So the issue is copyright, not whether it is original. Granted, use of a specific file in a Wikipedia article might be original research (if it illustrated some novelty not sourced elsewhere) but that's an issue here, not in Commons. After all, almost any photograph uploaded is "original" if taken by the uploader. Mike Turnbull (talk) 16:01, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The policy Commons:Commons:Project scope/Neutral point of view specifically says that WP:NOR does not apply. Mike Turnbull (talk) 16:26, 28 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Infobox officeholder help please

The infobox on Freddie Guest only lists him as MP for Plymouth Drake 1931-37. It should list all his previous terms (visible at bottom of article in succession boxes). I don't know how to make it do that. Could anyone help? Thanks, DuncanHill (talk) 23:51, 27 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]