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March 13

Has the activity of the reference desk reduced?

Maybe there is a way to check with wikidata, but while looking through the reference desk, I have felt that the activity has reduced compared with other years, is this more than a gut feeling? --2A02:8109:B5C0:3400:11BD:B210:4A6C:956A (talk) 01:33, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

This is really a question for the RD talk page, so I was going to move it there, but you're an IP user and for some reason IPs are currently blocked from posting there. Anyway, my gut feeling, as a long-term RD editor, is that you're correct. As for the reasons, I have no idea. Despite what others may say, the RD still has no competitition for authoritative, well-sourced answers to general knowledge questions. Maybe everyone is just on social media these days. There's a lot of discussion on the RD talk page at the moment about how the RD may be "improved", but little if any clarity on what it is that actually needs improving. One thing's for sure: whatever it is that people like Guy Macon are complaining about, it isn't what's causing the decline in activity here. --Viennese Waltz 07:57, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Is there an automated way to count the number of questions asked per month across some number of years? Or would it require a totally manual effort? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:26, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

There was a vandal who spent a lot of time recently causing trouble on the reference desks and access was limited. That didn't help with participation. Dmcq (talk) 20:16, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Faded red scale

An analog Multimeter that still works after many years has red scale markings that have gradually faded to invisible. Is there a chemical treatment to restore them? DroneB (talk) 11:30, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

That seems unlikely, as the red pigment has been destroyed, most likely by UV light. However, if the paint remains, but without pigment, you may be able to rub a red pencil on it and get it to stick, or maybe a red marker would stick better. If that doesn't work, you would need to draw new lines or replace the scale. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:34, 13 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]