Talk:War/Archive 6

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Archive 6

Big restructure

I have reverted an attempt to restructure the article. It was clearly made in good faith and each edit summary provides a reason. My main concern is that this is a huge thing to attempt without any discussion. That might be OK on many other articles that need a good restructuring but this is such an important topic that it would be better to discuss it first. Also, the first paragraph was ungrammatical and that made me worry about the rest, which I have not checked all of in detail. It may well be that there are a lot of good things in this edit that we want to keep but it doesn't seem to be all good and certainly not uncontroversial. So lets discuss it here.

• Here is the edit in which I reverted: Diff.
  (Yes. I now see that I mistyped my edit summary quite badly and that maybe I should not be calling other people's writing "ungrammatical". In my defence, it is just an edit summary.)

• You can see all the edit summaries in the history.

So, what do we think? How much of this do we want to include? Which changes are good or bad? --DanielRigal (talk) 20:01, 4 September 2018 (UTC)

Also, if people think I was wrong to revert it all then I won't get upset if they just revert my reversion. --DanielRigal (talk) 20:11, 4 September 2018 (UTC)

Just wanted to present what I saw to be the general problem so you will all see the general logic behind my changes. Here are the sections only in the TOC as I found it:

   1 Etymology
   2 Types
   3 History
   4 Effects
   5 Aims
   6 Ongoing conflicts
   7 Limiting and stopping
   8 Theories for [sic; should be "of"] motivation
   9 Ethics

Don't you need an account of the history of war as a basic social phenomenon before you present the special historical development of war into types? The criterion of chronology would seem to dictate that.

Since human beings need reasons and purposes for their action, why are the effects of having taken the action of war presented before the aims the combatants hoped to achieve in war? Why are a report about on-going conflicts and a discussion of the possibilities of limiting and stopping war presented before theories of motivation? It would seem that, once the overview of the social phenomenon is given, we should take the next closest phenomenon, the psychological dimension. I would say that motives come before aims since the same motives may underlie commitment to different aims.

Why should a one-line section about on-going conflicts occur in an article about the phenomenon in general? Since it only mentions one conflict, it isn't very informative in general, and even if it mentioned several, it would need to be updated continuously. Shouldn't it be removed? And why should attempts to limit and stop wars come before the ethical principles that govern the turn to war and conduct in war? You can't have a good reason to want to stop a practice until you have a good reason to think it is wrong.

Hence I propose this sequence of sections:

   1 Etymology
   2 History 
   3 Theories of motivation
   4 Aims 
   5 Types
   6 Effects
   7 Ethics
   8 Limiting and stopping
   

This is a sequence in which from history to effects the phenomenon is presented with ever increasing empirical concreteness, with ethics we consider the normative dimension, and then with the last section we consider empirical expressions of normative commitments.

Here are the problems I saw in the sub-sections:

   3 History
       3.1 Largest by death toll

Why is the highly specific ranking of wars by death toll a sub-section in history? Doesn't it belong in the section on effects, the first sub-section of which is about war casualties?

   4 Effects
       4.1 Military and civilian casualties in recent human history
       4.2 On military personnel
       4.3 On civilians
       4.4 On the economy
       4.5 World War Two
       4.6 On the arts

What's so special about the economic effects of WWII that they need their own sub-section?

   8 Theories of motivation
       8.1 Psychoanalytic psychology
       8.2 Evolutionary
       8.3 Economic
       8.4 Marxist
       8.5 Demographic
       8.6 Rationalist
       8.7 Political science

Aside from the fact that "psychoanalytic psychology" is redundant, why should it come first as a theory? The scientific consensus now is that, because its concepts and methods are not falsifiable, psychoanalysis is not empirical, so it is not a science. And since a Marxist theory is either an economic or a political theory, why should it have its own sub-section? If one argues that it deserves its own sub-section because it is a combination of the economic and the political, then there arises the question of why a partisan political ideology, whose economic principles all economists reject, should precede non-partisan theories? I take it as a general principle that in an encyclopedia article the succession of topics in a controversy should proceed from less to more controversial.

I propose this sequence (adding "theories" to titles to correct the unidiomatic use of a modifier alone without a modified noun):

8 Theories of motivation
       8.1 Evolutionary theories
       8.2 Economic theories (Marxist theories treated in a paragraph in this section)
       8.3 Demographic theories
       8.4 Rationalist theories
       8.5 Political science theories
       8.6 Psychoanalytic theories
       8.7 [Marxist theories]

I made some minor structural changes. The fact that the study of war is sometimes called "polemology" has nothing to do with etymology, so I moved the sentence to the intro. In the intro there is a long paragraph about the deadliest wars in history, but isn't it too specific to be of use in giving the reader a general orientation to the subject? Wordwright (talk) 17:04, 5 September 2018 (UTC)

Justification for adding "theories" to sub-section titles under "Theories of Motivation."

In the foregoing justification of the changes I proposed to this article, I pointed out that in the sub-section titles of the section "Theories of Motivation" there occurred several adjectives and attributive nouns or noun phrases without any noun to modify, and that this is not idiomatic English. I had given this justification in my original edit, which Daniel Rigal reverted.

Since more than a week has passed since DR first suggested a discussion of my proposals to re-structure the article, and since I did not know how to revert his reverts, I began this morning to edit again. When it came to editing the section entitled, in the version I found, "Theories for motivation," I edited in several stages. In one stage I pointed out, for the third time, that adjectives, etc., cannot stand alone, and then I added "theories" as the noun those attributive words should modify. After my changes, the TOC looked like this:

7 Theories of motivation

   7.1 Psychoanalytic theories
   7.2 Evolutionary theories
   7.3 Economic theories
   7.4 Marxist theories
   7.5 Demographic theories
   7.6 Rationalist theories
   7.7 Political science theories

I found later that Just Plain Bill reverted that edit, so that the TOC looked like this:

7 Theories of motivation

   7.1 Psychoanalytic
   7.2 Evolutionary
   7.3 Economic
   7.4 Marxist
   7.5 Demographic
   7.6 Rationalist
   7.7 Political science 

On my personal talk page JPB left this message:

Just as headings do not include a repetition of the article title, sub-headings do not repeat words in the parent heading. See MOS:HEAD. If you have a reason for going against Wikipedia guidelines, kindly explain it, preferably on the article's talk page. Just plain Bill (talk) 15:58, 13 September 2018 (UTC)

I checked the MOS sub-section and found that there is no statement to the effect that "sub-headings do not repeat works in the parent heading." The closest that comes to it is the statement that a heading should "not redundantly refer back to the subject of the article (Early life, not Smith's early life or His early life), or to a higher-level heading, unless doing so is shorter or clearer." I have italicized the closing subordinate clause because it does indicate that there are exceptions to the proscription of redundant reference in the title of a sub-section, even though, in fact, my changes do not make the sub-section titles "refer redundantly" to the higher-level section title, but instead make the sub-section titles conform to idiomatic English usage, because, as I will say for a fourth or fifth time, adjectives and attributive nouns and noun phrases cannot stand alone in English; a sub-section title that says nothing but "psychoanalytic" is bizarre. I did not go against Wikipedia guidelines.

If, however, someone can create sub-section titles in which the attributive words do not modify the word "theories" but still modify some noun appropriate to the topic, more power to them. Wordwright (talk) 17:34, 13 September 2018 (UTC)

Sub-headings do not stand alone; they inhabit the context of the parent heading. In an article on menu items available in a diner, one might find a heading structure such as the following:

• Eggs
  • Fried
  • Scrambled
  • Poached

and so on. That is perfectly clear understandable idiomatic English.

Mere repetition does not confer validity. It does not matter how many times Wordwright says "adjectives and attributive nouns and noun phrases cannot stand alone in English;" it still carries an aroma of something made up. The burden here is on him to supply credible justification for his notion that sub-headings consisting of modifiers are orphans without something like nouns to modify. His say-so that such usage is "bizarre" is not enough.

For my part, I will go with Strunk's classic "omit needless words." Doing otherwise misses the spirit of the MOS. Just plain Bill (talk) 09:30, 17 September 2018 (UTC)

Use of SLA Marshall and Dave Grossman (copy-pasted from my talk page)

The reason given was "the claims made have, in order, come from someone who is not reliable or taken seriously in any field (Grossman), have been considered debunked for 30 years (SLA Marshall), quote an encyclopedia for gun collectors that cites no sources stating a piece of data nobody has ever managed to corroborate (the civil war claim) and have very little to do with the article (the strange tangent about fascism)." Grossman in particular is a controversial figure and should never be treated as an unbiased source, you can "according to Dave Grossman" him, but not quote him as fact.

Some sources regarding SLA Marshall:

"SLA Marshall and the Ratio of Fire" by Professor Robert Engen, SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Royal Military College of Canada, comparing Marshall's figures to data from the Canadian Army in WW2. Finds that it does not in any way match Marshall's claims.

"SLA Marshall and the Ratio of Fire" (yes, same title) by Professor Roger J. Spiller, Deputy Director of the Combat Studies Institute, US Army Command and General Staff College, shows that Marshall could not possibly have gathered the evidence he claimed and concludes he almost certainly made it up. Quote:

"Why the subject of fire ratios under combat conditions has not been long and searchingly explored, I don't know," Marshall wrote. "I suspect that it is because in earlier wars there had never existed the opportunity for systematic collection of data."...

By the most generous calculation, Marshall would have finished "approximately" 400 interviews sometime in October or November 1946, or at about the time he was writing Men Against Fire.

This calculation assumes, however, that of all the questions Marshall might ask the soldiers of a rifle company during his interviews, he would unfailingly want to know who had fired his weapon and who had not. Such a question, posed interview after interview, would have signalled that Marshall was on a particular line of inquiry, and that regardless of the other information Marshall might discover, he was devoted to investigating this facet of combat performance. John Westover, usually in attendance during Marshall's sessions with the troops, does not recall Marshall's ever asking this question. Nor does Westover recall Marshall ever talking about ratios of weapons usage in their many private conversations. Marshall's own personal correspondence leaves no hint that he was ever collecting statistics. His surviving field notebooks show no signs of statistical compilations that would have been necessary to deduce a ratio as precise as Marshall reported later in Men Against Fire. The "systematic collection of data" that made Marshall's ratio of fire so authoritative appears to have been an invention.

(Emhasis mine)

"About Face" by Colonel David H. Hackworth, one of the most decorated officers in the history of the United States Army, among other things states that Marshall "never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

"SLA Marshall’s Men Against Fire: New Evidence Regarding Fire Ratios" by Professor John Whiteclay Chambers II, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Rutgers University, includes a full interview with First Lieutenant Frank Brennan, an officer who witnesses Marshall's interviews. Quote from his conclusion:

"Without further corroboration, the source of Marshall’s contentions about shockingly low fire ratios at least in some US Army divisions in World War II appears to have been based at best on chance rather than scientific sampling, and at worst on sheer speculation.

It seems most probable that Marshall, writing as a journalist rather than as a historian, exaggerated the problem and arbitrarily decided on the one-quarter figure because he believed that he needed a dramatic statistic to give added weight to his argument. The controversial figure was probably a guess."

Moreover, recent editions of Marshall's book Men Against Fire actually debunk his work in the book's own introduction, citing General Bruce Clarke who said they were "Ridiculous and dangerous assertions - absolute nonsense."

You want Wikipedia to hold this up as factual? Bones Jones (talk) 01:16, 12 November 2018 (UTC)

Edit war

I have fully protected the article and restored it to the pre edit War version. Please discuss on this talk page and come to a consensus as to whaty should stay and what should go. ~ GB fan 12:02, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Marshall & Grossman

Well I've already posted my points regarding Grossman not being RS for being quoted as fact, SLA Marshall being debunked and the fascism tangent not making much sense. This led to wolfchild saying he didn't need to discuss it with me on my talk page (erm...) and reverting again rather than engaging the comment I made here. At no point have I seen justification for his reverts other than that the content is "sourced," which is not a defence for a removal for bad sources or irrelevance. Bones Jones (talk) 12:12, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

This article about War is important and sensitive and I think to always should be under full protection and all kind of adding new sources, sections, subsections need to be first discussed at talk page. Especially adding new sections in current time, without proper historical distance and agreement between experts, historians etc.

1. I oppose add of new sub section "long peace" into history of war ( no historical distance, heavy criticism, no relevance, no wider agreement into academic community and it is mostly conected just with some parts of Europe and major direct wars between great powers without numerous proxy conflicts etc) It should stay as it is now.

2. User Bones Jones made some interesting remarks about Grossman and SLA Marshall so it can be changed to that authors argues or claims about their views etc. Indeed I think to note about fascism should stay in a way of importance etc. Duncangorka28 (talk) 14:26, 14 November 2018 (UTC) Strike comments by confirmed sockpuppet. Sunrise (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

Thank you, GB fan, for locking the page (I had actually started to write out a RPP request last night, but RL got in the way). There has been a deal of editing lately, especially the mass removal of sourced content. I had restored some of that content, as the reasoning given in the edit summaries did not seem sufficient. Unfortunately, instead of initiating the BRD process, the other editor involved, "Bones Jones", tried to initiate the edit war process. And while posting all sorts of complaints on their user talk page, then on my user talk page, then on your user talk page... it wasn't until well after that they finally posted here on the article talk page (like they should have in the first place), but then they immediately reverted, again, without any kind of discussion. As their main issue stems from a source, rather than other issues like content, lay out, etc., I would suggest the take that up first at WP:RSN first. If indeed the source is determined to be unreliable, then that would help address that singular issue. But there is more here than just that. (There is also more here than the content being debated, and repeatedly reverted by new user Duncangorka28.)

This is such a high profile page, with over 1800 views per day in the last 2 months and there are over 5200 links to this page. 'War' is obviously a very important topic making this an important article. One that not only provides the definition of war, but lays out the part it's played in human history, shaping that history and the world we know. Therefore, I think it's crucial that regular discussion is had here regarding content, especially when we're talking about mass changes with single edits. I haven't gone through the previous five archived talk pages, but I see that on this very page, just above, other editors have tried to initiate proposal-based discussions on the layout and content of this page. Then I see responses from the two editors affected by your protection.

I think we should again attempt to have a discussion on the layout, and more importantly the content of this page. We can use the previous proposals a guides, but post it as proper RfC and place notices on several related Wiki:Project talk pages to get as much community involvement as possible. The very changes attempted here by single editors deserve more than a debate between two people, they should be added (as is or altered) or removed by consensus, just as you indicated in your comment. Thoughts? Thanks - wolf 16:04, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Will you stop with the bullshit grandstanding and actually explain what your defence of the content you restored is? All I'm seeing is you trying to hand off the job of making your arguments for your position that this content belongs here to someone else.

Also good job lying about the timeline of events, there. I posted to your talk page and his talk page earlier today. I posted to this page two days ago. It's timestamped, you know. Bones Jones (talk) 16:17, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Wow, the charm just... oozes out of you. Have you taken that charm, and your sourcing challenge to the WP:RSN yet? You do realize that is place where the reliability of sources is determined, right? It is not determined in edit summaries on your say-so. Otherwise, what else can I say? You removed sourced content. I reverted you. No one here has spoken up to defend your edit, nevermind having enough people contribute to form a consensus. I told before, there are processes here. No matter how much you think you are right, no matter how much you rant and rave and needlessly disrupt numerous pages (in whatever order), we still need to follow these processes. So relax already. RSN is that → way. - wolf 18:53, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

I wasn't aware this was a Miss America contest, and having seen how you address people in your talk page edit summaries you're a fine one to talk about charm. You're the one who's disputing these edits, you defend the inclusion of this material. Stop demanding I go off and do your work for you: state your defence of this material (why these sources are appropriate, why the section on fascism is relevant), or I'll have to conclude you don't have one. FYI, RSN rulings are not policy, and not a substitute for discussion between editors. They offer a second opinion, you haven't yet presented a first one. And you have no more consensus for your revert than I have for my edit, I don't exactly see other users flocking to defend you.

Also, as someone so very fond of quoting the rulebook, I'd assume you're aware of WP:PROVEIT and WP:ONUS and whose job it is to show these sources are reliable? (hint: yours) Bones Jones (talk) 19:05, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

(edit conflict)

Were any of those edit summaries directed at you? No? Then wtf are you babbling about? Look, you are trying to remove a asignificant amount of sourced content and the only reason you've provided is that you have issues with the source. Unless otherwise determined, S.L.A.M. is a reliable source. While some his methodology has been challenged, he is still a noted historian and journalist with over 30 published books. He doesn't just suddenly become an unreliable and/or unusable source on your say-so. That is why we have the WP:RSN (could've sworn I just said that... somewhere... ) It's simple; take your complaint there. If he's determined as a source that can't be used, then anything supported by his works in this, and any other article, can be removed. Otherwise, it stays, as you do not have sufficient reason (or consensus) to remove this content. Btw; Marshall has never been challenged at RSN, so yours will be the first. Jsyk... - wolf 19:45, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Above I pointed to multiple authoritative sources, convenient link (three academic papers, a book by a respected contemporary of his, and the forward to modern editions of his own book) with two specific quotes from the papers stating the research that is cited is based on data that cannot be located and probably does not exist. Marshall has been considered debunked for a good thirty years. Unless you're arguing he's more reliable than Professor Robert Engen, SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Royal Military College of Canada, Professor Roger J. Spiller, Deputy Director of the Combat Studies Institute, US Army Command and General Staff College, and Professor John Whiteclay Chambers II, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Rutgers University? Please, feel free to scuttle off to RSN and get them to declare three Professors to be unreliable sources, I'll wait right here.

Again, the onus is on you to show he is reliable, not me to show he is not. The default state for wikipedia is non-inclusion: the one seeking inclusion bears the burden of proof. That's you. Sources are certainly not reliable until otherwise determined, that's patent nonsense. Bones Jones (talk) 19:58, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

"Above I pointed to..." yadda, yadda, yadda.... Great. Take it all to RSN. Let us know how you make out.

"Again, the onus is..." blah, blah, blobbity-blah, blah, blaahhh.... Says who? You? - wolf 00:24, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

Nope, I don't need to do that. We're supposed to discuss it here. It's now very clear you have no argument, and you need to WP:PROVEIT because the WP:ONUS is on you to do so. Do you really think this is how you build consensus, ignoring your opponent and hoping they don't notice that you have no defence other than "go to RSN because I hope they'll be better at this than me?" Bones Jones (talk) 05:07, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

What is there to discuss? This isn't a content dispute (or at least, hasn't reached that stage). You attempted to remove sourced comtent. You reverted. You're edit warring aside, that is when it goes to the talk page. Now we're here. Right off the bat, there is a dispute over the source of the content. You claim the source is not reliable. Well, that is what RSN is for (have you even been there? Do you even know what it is?). RSN is where sources are reviewed/challenged/debated etc., and ultimately determined as RS or not. If the source you're challenging here is determined as unreliable, then all content supprted by it can be removed without further debate. It's that simple, so why do you try it, like everything else, into some big dramatic conflict? Chill out. Go to RSN. Either way, this issue will quickly be resolved. - wolf 19:01, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

Again, I see you have no argument for this source being appropriate. Per WP:PROVEIT and WP:ONUS, this means the material should not be included. Bones Jones (talk) 20:52, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

Have you actually read PROVEIT or ONUS? The content is cited and, you think the onus is on me to do what? And have you gone to RSN yet? - wolf

It is not cited to the satisfaction of other editors, hence it is not cited. Under your interpretation of policy, I could cite information on contemporary American politics to Alex Jones and you'd have to go to RSN in order to say that wasn't ok. Do you really think that kind of stupid bureaucracy is how Wikipedia is supposed to function?

As for what you're supposed to do, you could provide higher-quality sources that make the same assertions, argue in favour of the existing sources to try to convince me (this is a thing called building consensus, there may be one or two obscure policies about it somewhere), or do literally anything other than expecting RSN to conduct a defence of a source you can't defend yourself. Bones Jones (talk) 05:07, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

Wow, you really don't get it. I don't "expect RSN to defend a source for me". That's not what RSN does. They vette sources to determine if they are reliable or not. You're challenging the source, you could've gone there days ago and had this resolved, one way or the other. But you seem hell-bent on having some kind of combative, snarky flame-war type of argument. That's not necessary nor how things are typically done. If you have as strong a case against S.L.A.M. as you claim you do, it should be quite easy for you to have him determined unreliable in short order (far less time compared to how long you've dragged this out). You could then come here and remove any and all content with him attached as a cite. You could do that on any page, and there would be no debate, nor could anyone revert you, as you would have the RSN link to back you up. Problem solved. - wolf 09:29, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

I don't need an RSN link to back me up. Like I said, that's not how this works. You need consensus. And I don't see you going to RSN to declare the three academic papers I cited criticising SLA Marshall as inadmissible. So I can provide three times the number of sources that disagree with the statement as you can provide that agree with it. That means I could immediately add a statement to the article declaring the previous "sourced content" to be false.

Also, I couldn't do that anyway, because that's not what RSN does. An RSN request is typically for asking in a particular source is valid used in a particular context. It doesn't allow for blanket removal of a source in any context: if imaginary author "Bill Smith" is agreed to not be an expert on Paraguayan molluscs, it doesn't follow that he can't be used as a source on Japanese tax law. That's why point 4 of the RSN request outline requires a link to the precise context the source is being used in, and why it ends with the specific statement "Many sources are reliable for statement "X," but unreliable for statement "Y"."

And as I previously noted, RSN rulings are not policy. That's right there on their front page, RSN users are just normal editors and their rulings are not law.

Not to mention that all your points apply to you. If you're so sure SLA Marshall wouldn't fail an RSN check, why do't you go there and get them to rule in favour of it? I mean, if you did that then I'd be forbidden from disagreeing you by some kind of mysterious wiki force, because that's a thing that can happen. Bones Jones (talk) 12:34, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

You're the one claiming sourced content should be removed because the source is not reliable. Have you posted that opinion, with whatever supporting info you have, at RSN? Simple question. - wolf 06:40, 18 November 2018 (UTC)

What did I just say? And as noted, I could do this:

"According to research conducted by SLA Marshall[1] which he didn't conduct[2][3][4][5]..."

This tends to be good grounds to remove "sourced content." Bones Jones (talk) 07:35, 18 November 2018 (UTC)

...aaannd the simple answer to that simple question would be 'no'. You've made 30+ edits to this talk page alone, almost a dozen more edits to the article, and yet another half-dozen related edits on your own talk page... almost 50 edits, all about the reliability of a source, but not a single edit to the "Reliable Source" noticeboard. - wolf 02:50, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

You mean you'd remove sourced content? This one editor told me that only bad little boys and girls do that! Bones Jones (talk) 05:11, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

Sure, if you went to RSN, made your case that SLAM is not a reliable source, and it was determined there that he is indeed was not an RS, then I would remove content with refs attached citing him a source. Give RSN a try. If it goes your way (as you seem to think it would) you and I could end up working together to remove any SLAM-supported content we can find. Imagine that... - wolf 05:28, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

No, we couldn't, because as I already pointed out, RSN is for ruling if a source is appropriate in a particular context. What I'm asking you is, if I added a statement after the current one stating that SLA Marshall did not conduct his research with three or four citations to scholarly and otherwise reliable sources, would you remove it? If so, based on the arguments thusfar presented, what justification would you have? Bones Jones (talk) 07:34, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

"RSN is for ruling if a source is appropriate in a particular context". Really. Is that stated somewhere? And are you sure they don't review submitted sources, and with additional info, help determine that said sourxe may or may not be reliable? Have you tried? Or do you want to keep playing these weird "what if" scenarios? You know, I've never met anyone here that was so concerned about the reliability of a source that had at the same time, never been to RSN, especially to post the source they are challenging. I know you're still fairly new and inexperienced here, but jeez... You do realize that RSN is a resource that available to you, right? (and you're sure "we couldn't"?) - wolf 08:40, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

Why does point four on the RSN request format want to know the context the source is used in if the context doesn't matter? And as I've said, if you're so sure this would pass an RSN, why don't you submit one? It's almost like you want me to do all your work for you or something. Bones Jones (talk) 05:22, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

I never said "context doesn't matter". I haven't said anything about context. I never said "I was so sure this would pass RSN". I've just pointed out that you seem certain it would. You are one that tried to remove sourced content, claiming the source was not reliable. I said you should go to RSN, (how many times now?), and you could've, days ago, but instead you just keep posting pointless comments here (talk about work). Instead of posting another dozen or so comments here, why don't you just post one there? - wolf 06:23, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Because I don't need to. It's your job to prove the source is adequate: if you cannot, the material should not be included. Bones Jones (talk) 07:30, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

So even though you are challenging the reliability of a source, you refuse to post it at RSN with a simple, single post. Instead, you somehow believe that posting dozens of useless comments here is more productive and solution-oriented. If that's what blows your skirt up, then keep on postin'... - wolf 09:11, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

FYI

The LTC Dave Grossman source was added on 12 July 2009 by Andrewjlockley, and the content noting SLA Marshall was added on 20 October 2011 by Kozy53. This content has been there for years and years, through literally thousands and thousands of edits. In reviewing the current talk page, as well as the five archived talk pages, it seems you are the only person to contest this content or these two military historians. All considered, that is a great deal of implied consensus, that you, alone, would have dismissed based on your say so. And considering this is primarily a sourcing issue, it is odd that you refuse to bring this to RSN. Anyway, 'fyi'... - wolf 10:06, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

...And? You can't bring up a single piece of support for it, nor can you summon up a single editor who supports its inclusion. "Implied consensus" is not consensus at all. Do I need to remind you there was an article, "Bicholim conflict," about an entirely fictitious war in India that was up on Wikipedia for five years and rated as a Good Article? Or of a similar article that was up for almost a decade about a fake Australian deity? Vintage is not an argument for preserving content, we're not bottling wine here. Bones Jones (talk) 13:53, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Which means nothing here. You tried to remove sourced content, I reverted you. If you disagreed with the revert, then per BRD, you should've started a discussion. Instead, you edit warred and the page was set to QUO and locked. Since then, you claim no one supports my revert, but no one has supported your edit either. It could just stay at QUO, but you have another option. You are challenging the sourcing of the content. You could've gone to RSN ages ago, and quite possibly had the result there and outcome here you're looking for. But instead, you just keep posting here... - wolf 05:37, 22 November 2018 (UTC)

Yes, and I suppose BRD allows you to edit war, per the hidden Wikipedia rule that rules only apply when you feel like it. And like I said, why don't you go to RSN and get them to approve your source? For someone who has a near-religious faith in its judgements, you seem awfully loath to actually use it. Bones Jones (talk) 12:02, 22 November 2018 (UTC)

Both of you have so much confidence that your judgement is correct but neither one has actually tried to confirm that by going to RSN and asking the question. You spent the last week arguing about who should ask the question. Either one of you could have been the more mature person and just asked the question there. ~ GB fan 12:16, 22 November 2018 (UTC)

To be fair, I just reverted what I saw as a removal of sourced content. B.Jones is the one challenging the source, he should make a case at RSN as no one has supported him here. I did not add that content, (I am AGF in the editors that did), it's not my source, so I don't see why I would need to go to RSN to defend it. I actually don't care either way, as long as a proper process is followed in determining whether or not this content is reliabley supported, and whether or not it should be removed. - wolf 16:04, 22 November 2018 (UTC)

If you don't care either way, it should be removed. Nice of you to admit you're just here to mess around with wikipedia's bureaucratic processes, I did rather suspect that. Bones Jones (talk) 10:24, 24 November 2018 (UTC)

I didn't say that, you did, and it's a rather silly assertion to make. But very little of anything you've said so far has been in any way constructive. And it still remains that despite the fact you are challenging the reliability of sources here, you haven't been to the RSN yet, the very place for discussing the reliability of sources. - wolf 02:48, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

That would be because I don't need to, as said repeatedly. If you feel the source is defensible, going there and get them to agree with you would at least be a start, if not the ironclad act of law you seem to think it to be. If you do not, then there is nothing more to be said and it should be removed. If you just want to play silly buggers making people jump through hoops over an issue you don't care about, I invite you to go and do it somewhere else. Bones Jones (talk) 08:55, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

Calm down, personal attacks and continued hostility will not accomplish anything. - wolf 14:26, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

I am calm. And if personal attacks don't accomplish anything, why is it that you're so fond of using them? Oh wait, I forgot, Wikipedia has one set of rules for you and another for everyone else.Bones Jones (talk) 16:42, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

...aaannd that proves my point. Thank you - wolf 18:09, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

Shall I take this latest tangent as your concession that you really did never care about the issue of whether or not the material should be included and are just here to make people jump though hoops for you own amusement, with no more justification than "this procedure exists, so I can enact it in any context?" Bones Jones (talk) 16:27, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

That five-word reply constitutes a "tangent"...? And you somehow got all of that out of those five words? Why don't you stop with these needless personal attacks and just go to RSN already? If your information will dismiss the Marshall and Grossamn sources as reliable, as soundly as you claim, then why not just go do that? You post there, then come back here and make the edits you want with "per RSN (+link)" in the summary and that's it. You could've done that weeks ago and have since long moved on to other things. That is all I have suggested you do this whole time, which is not unreasonable, considering you were trying to remove mass content, content that appears to be reliably supported and has been in this article for years... all on your say-so.

But for some reason, you instead insist on posting here, day after day, apparently trying to bait me into some kind of flame-war, which I'm clearly not interested in, and all for what? Ego? Do you think that this is some sort of 'contest of wills'? If you go to RSN, that you will have somehow 'lost'? Or are you afraid that if you go to RSN, these sources will be determined as reliable? Do you just keep posting here day after day, hoping that I will at some point say; "ok, go ahead, remove whatever you want"...? It's not my place to say that. That is why I have repeatedly suggested you go to RSN. This is a sourcing issue, why do you think Wikipedia has a "Reliable Source Noticeboard"...?

You seem to be taking this personally, (whereas I have no personal stake here, hence the "I don't care either way" comment), is this personal for you? What is your issue with Marshall and/or Grossman anyway? Do you have an undisclosed conflict of interest here? Why push so hard to have them removed, and then over-react so emotionally when someone simply says follow the rules before you do? You have no consensus to support your edit, you don't appear to have any interest in wp:dr and you won't go to RSN... I don't know what else to tell ya'. But go ahead, post another needless comment, see if that accomplishes any more than any of your previous equally-needless comments have over the past two weeks. - wolf 22:50, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

If only you put this kind of effort into actually discussing the merits of the source. Also someone told me personal attacks don't accomplish anything, so you should probably speak to him about those last two paragraphs. Since, you know, appeal to motive is a type of personal attack.

Also, as I've pointed out a few times at this point, RSN is not a council of wizards who read the entrails to decide if an edit is ok or not. Believe it or not, if I said "per RSN" in an edit summary, people would still be allowed to disagree with it. Astonishing, I know. Has to do with that "RSN is not policy" thing at the top of their page. If you had an actual argument for the inclusion of this material, fucking off to RSN to try to go over your head would be utterly counter-productive since it would not get rid of your own arguments. Because you don't, it's just completely unnecessary. Bones Jones (talk) 07:51, 27 November 2018 (UTC)

Long Peace

I agree to article about war is important and also to it is sensitive. Article is highly informative and focused on war, aims, efects, warfare, etc etc. Adding claims, theories under heavy challenges, personal views, not widely recognised and potentialy promotional should be avoided. Adding new sections and subsections first at talk page and then to decide why it should be added or no. About "long peace" I am against adding it especially as own subsection and I gave reasons, different ones. So it should stay like it is now. Btw,User Bones Jones for his part made a case for some edits about Grossman and SLA Marshall views so it can be changed to that authors argues or claims about their views etc, indeed not about fascism could stay and it seems to has a sense. Thank you. Duncangorka28 (talk) 16:47, 14 November 2018 (UTC) Strike comments by confirmed sockpuppet. Sunrise (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

You again removed an entire of section of sourced content based on nothing other than your personal opinion (and your edit summary here speaks volumes on your understanding of our policies & guidelines, collaboration and the purpose of talk pages). The section, titled, "The Long Peace" discusses the longest period in modern history without a major war involving the world's powwrs. It was partially imported (with attrition) from a long established, well sourced article, and you believe it doesn't belong... why? Because of relevance? Because of sourcing? No. Because there is "no section for WWI or WWII", even though both those wars are linked and discussed in the article. You also mentioned "challenges" but I'm not clear what you mean by that. This is what article talk pages are for, can you please clarify your reasons on why you believe the "Long Peace" must be removed from this page? (and don't forget to WP:INDENT). Thanks - wolf 18:53, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Again I will write clear. 1. It is article about war, still there is no independent sections of ww1, Vietnam war and many others what infulence war and human history in general in many ways. 2. Long peace is therm what is not widely accepted in schoolar community, consensus is mostly about to it is needed big historical distance to really see what is it about for any conclusion. 3. Long peace article was really personal pov and cherrypicked. 4. If you wanna, put it to talk page and lets see. If people agree to add. 5. War is protected article cos ppl were adding content already so before to add or make subsection bring it to the talk page. 6. Anyway recent studies also shows rise of number of conflicts in the world.7. Pinker book and whole concept has a lot of criticsim from different sides. 8. About big powers conflict, Long peace is mostly conected just with some parts of Europe and major direct wars between great powers without note about numerous proxy conflicts.Duncangorka28 (talk) 19:54, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Also when I said to there is no subsection of ww1,ww2, korea, vietnam and numerous other etc, it is good concept cos it gave history of war in short and clear. So there no need to be "Long Peace" subsection as one highly speculative and really heavy criticised concept what maybe will be/if really proved after some 100 years more. That about historical distance is accepted widely in the academic community. Ohhhh and also Long peace article was totally biased, low quality article, one sided, with avoiding any criticsm until recently. So all stays how it is now. Duncangorka28 (talk) 20:09, 14 November 2018 (UTC) Strike comments by confirmed sockpuppet. Sunrise (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

1. So add the sections you think are missing. You don't build articles by taking away.
2. This is all POV opinion on your part.
3. See #2.
4. Isn't that what we're doing here?
5. It's protected becasue you guys were edit warring instead of following WP:BRD
6. OK. Add them. The more the better. With refs. The more the better.
7. OK.
8. Uh... say what?

Re: "Also..." - see #2.

- wolf 00:37, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

• Comment I don't see any reason to include a section on "Long Peace" in this article and the version in this diff is egregiously undue detail; Duncangorka28's summarization of it seems accurate. Regarding the material about S.L.A. Marshall's research, I'm not enough of an expert to have an opinion. Regarding content such as Racism holds that violence is good so that a master race can be established, or to purge an inferior race from the earth, or both., I think that without sourcing that makes it clear this is a mainstream opinion (and not just one held by a few citable academics) it can be excluded. power~enwiki (π, ν) 00:43, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

The specific issue with quoting SLA Marshall is that we're saying it was research conducted by him, when I've already presented two academic sources that conclude he did not conduct the research he claimed to have at all. For a third source, here's a long article published in American Heritage. The best summary you could actually make of Marshall is "According to data SLA Marshall claimed to have gathered in WW2 which has never been seen by anyone else, some soldiers in some American units had a rate of fire of either 25% or 15%" (the number later got lower, an odd thing to happen with empirical data, wouldn't you say?) Not to mention the illegitimate generalisation that gets us from the two statements "some American soldiers in WW2" and "some American soldiers in the civil war" to "humans" having a natural reluctance to kill in the next sentence, how in the world does that follow? Bones Jones (talk) 08:26, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

• @power-enwiki, thanks for the reply, though your comments are usually more constructive it not detailed. The "Long Peace" does have relevance in regard to this article. While I agree that the length could certainly be trimmed as it comes from it's own article, the only reason given so far for removing, in its entirety, is "I don't like it". As gor for SLA Marshall, if it's the source itself being challenged, and not the content, that should be addressed at RSN. Cheers - wolf 19:01, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

User wolf or what is his name is trolling, he don't hold any argument and that is it. I don't see any reason to "Long peace" is included into "War" and there is no support for to it be included. power-enwiki explained all. Duncangorka28 (talk) 22:07, 15 November 2018 (UTC) Strike comments by confirmed sockpuppet. Sunrise (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

As the partial author of the Long Peace content, I agree that it is undue as it stands relative to the rest of the History section. My reasoning was that the History section itself is vastly under-detailed and that it was probably an appropriate amount of detail for the future article that should eventually be created - I'm comparing to examples in other top-level articles like Western world#Historical divisions (which is perhaps not strictly a history section but serves basically the same purpose). Of course, I won't object if consensus determines that it's too much, especially since I didn't analyze it for all that long, but the arguments in e.g. this diff are rather disingenuous, like the idea that information on the frequency of war is not relevant to the topic of war. I will also note that the references specifically state there is broad agreement among experts that we are in a Long Peace, and any opposing views should be downweighted accordingly.

Looking into the recent developments in the article, I see that Duncangorka (the one who was reverting the content) has now been identified as a sockpuppet so I have struck their comments. It would also be great if people could tone down the aggressiveness and insults... Sunrise (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

I'm not sure striking the comments is necessarily called for, given that no actual sockpuppetry was going on with regards to this article? Bones Jones (talk) 10:00, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

Striking through is correct per TPO. - wolf 16:04, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

@Sunrise: While I believe that "Long Peace" is worthwhile content for this page, I also agree that it should be trimmed significantly, with a hatnote to the main article. - wolf 16:09, 16 November 2018 (UTC)

Hello Fellow Wikipedia contributors.

I was just reading through this article and was considering making a few minor changes with the collaboration of your good selves.

I am studying for my PhD in History under Professor Eoin Devereux in UL.

I just realised that this page was protected and subsequently have read through the talk pages relating to edits etc.

I believe that the reasoning to keep the "Long Peace" is insufficient.

I would be in favour of removing it completely as it does not fit into the overall Historical consensus of researchers worldwide.

Many countries are in states of peace but to say there is an ongoing "Long Peace" is quite disingenuous.

To study and love history is to take an unbiased look at historical events. I am getting the feeling here that the personal held beliefs of my fellow editors need to be put aside and a true objective stance taken.

I would like to hear the views of any contributors who have not opined on this topic as of yet.

Regards, Ruth

RuthMargolis (talk) 21:48, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

• The main reason I don't support including the "Long Peace" section is that peace is the absence of war; perhaps it should be described in detail on Peace instead. It is clear we don't include a full Military history here, I don't see how the one exception should be something that is very clearly not war. The term is also very clearly less common than Cold War to discuss the 1945-1989 era. I think that claims that the end of World War II, the rise of the UN, etc. have led to a permanent end of wars of aggression would need significantly better sourcing (and probably 100-200 years more evidence). power~enwiki (π, ν) 22:24, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

I don't see why it can't at least be mentioned here with a link to the main article. - wolf 06:32, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

@power, it looks like you've actually misread some important parts of the content. There isn't any suggestion that there has been a permanent end to wars of aggression, nor that this is an alternate term for the Cold War. The primary observation, as described in the sources, is that the frequency of war post-1945 has been unusually low, and that this is the general consensus among the relevant experts. The sources are from academic journals and include specific consensus statements, so if that isn't strong enough to establish this as fact then I'm not sure what would be. The specific idea that we need a longer time to establish a trend is also discussed in several sources and appears to be generally rejected.

To address your other points, I do think the article should contain a military history, although it looks like the organization of the main article may not lend itself very well to easy summarization. I would also agree that this should probably be described at Peace as well, but the two options aren’t mutually exclusive. I think the term "Long Peace" might be a bit misleading though, since the central point is about the frequency of war rather than peace per se, and it would fit just as well in a section discussing how often people go to war with each other. Sunrise (talk) 18:11, 24 November 2018 (UTC)

No caption for the image?

Why is there no caption for the main images of the article? Is it not important to include a description of the images, and refer to the specific wars or battles the portray? --MrMineHeads (talk) 00:29, 7 February 2019 (UTC)

It got messy to add them in-line. They do have captions, though; hover over the images to see them. If you want to take a shot at finding a way to make the captions more visible, that's fine. --A D Monroe III^(talk) 02:38, 25 February 2019 (UTC)

I went ahead and added them. Please comment on if this is an improvement overall. --A D Monroe III^(talk) 22:34, 2 March 2019 (UTC)

Yea, looks fine. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MrMineHeads (talk • contribs) 20:40, 31 May 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 June 2019

In the section "Etymology", "11th century" should be hyphenated, per MOS:CENTURY. 80.13.242.33 (talk) 14:04, 9 June 2019 (UTC)

 Done NiciVampireHeart 15:23, 9 June 2019 (UTC)

So little mention of religion?

It seems remiss to not mention that so many wars rallied around religious affiliations. A search on the page shows only 1 mention of 'religion'. At minimum I think there should be a link to

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_war Howard.noble323 (talk) 12:51, 2 July 2019 (UTC)

Unfortunately, I don't see where the article, as it currently stands, has a good place to add this. It has types of warfare (methods) in the War#Types of warfare section, but not types of wars (causes), and religious warfare is really no different from non-religious warfare in methods. We could indeed add a section on type of war by causes, but that should be a huge section if done properly, or if just a list it would just duplicate Outline of war. Maybe some other editor will find the bandwidth to start this. --A D Monroe III^(talk) 16:20, 2 July 2019 (UTC)

Religious war is linked in "See also", along with other types. Johnbod (talk) 16:31, 2 July 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 October 2020

I propose changing "In the 21st century, worldwide anti-war movements occurred in response to the United States invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Protests opposing the War in Afghanistan occurred in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Organizations like Stop the War Coalition, based in the United Kingdom, worked on campaigning against the war."

to

"In the 21st century, worldwide anti-war movements occurred in response to the United States invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Protests opposing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq occurred in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The protests on 15 February 2003 against the imminent invasion of Iraq occurred on every continent and involved millions of people. Organizations like Stop the War Coalition, based in the United Kingdom, worked on campaigning against the wars."

reason: while there was some opposition to the war in Afghanistan the Iraq war of 2003 was far more controversial and the largest protests in human history, the February protests deserve to be mentioned in the anti-war section 217.209.1.128 (talk) 19:50, 1 October 2020 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Eggishorn (talk) (contrib) 23:13, 9 October 2020 (UTC)

War Legends

• War Legends; Wars spawn its own legends-one Prime Example is the American Revolution of 1775-1783:
  • General Putnam ride: a popular legend is that General Israel Putnam once escaped from capture by ridding his horse down steep stone steps; in fact an eywitness penson records report that while Putnam did ride a little way down the steps, he dismounted and led his steed down by foot!
  • Bird's invasion of Kentucky: as related in a 1930's biography of frontiersman Simon Kenton which claimed that Kenton and another scout suprized a canoe holding 4 of the invadors and a small cannon; Kenton and the other scout killed two enemies apeice and captured the cannon-as was retold in Allan Eckert's The Frontiersman"; British records tell a differnt story-British/Indian casualites were 1 killed and 1 wounded; likewise the expedtion did not return with 2 cannons it had started with..because they were hidden on the way back!
  • Francisco's Fight according to popular legend at Ward's Tavern, Amelia County Virginia, Peter Fransisco single handly fought 9 of Tarletons's cavalrymen, either killing or wounding all of them and then almost killed the tavern keeper for betraying him; in fact Francisco gave two different accounts of this fight- in a 1829 version to Congress he claimed to killed three and put the six to flight; in a earlier 1820 version which is more detailed"-he only killed one enemy cavalryman but both wounded and put the 8 others to flight. [One consistant fact is that he did capture 8 of their horses] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.5.184.226 (talk) 15:14, 7 November 2020 (UTC)

References

It is not clear what is being suggested here as an improvement to the article. None of these events are significant, especially for an article covering all of war. --A D Monroe III^(talk) 02:17, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 December 2020

get rid of this article 193.117.151.250 (talk) 14:36, 8 December 2020 (UTC)

Until the world does likewise, that seems unlikely. Nonetheless, WP:DELPRO is thataway if you'd like to give it a try. ‑‑ElHef (Meep?) 14:50, 8 December 2020 (UTC)

The term 'armed conflict' needs further treatment in this article

Armed conflict redirect to this article but it is not explained in the article. Apparently the term is different (more broad) than the term 'war' since the lead defines war as 'an intense armed conflict...'. I typed 'armed conflict' into the WP search engine to find answers and got tossed over to this article. The term needs more than just a definition. Is a liquor store shoot-out an 'armed conflict'? I don't think so. Was the fight against organized crime in the U.S. during the the 30s and 40s an armed conflict? Maybe, but this article doesn't give enough to make the discernment. There is also the issue of the use of term 'armed conflict' by various actors. Why do they use that term rather than 'war'? Is it for political reasons, legal reasons, to avoid triggering treaty obligations? There is a lot more that needs explaining in this article about the terminology and how and why it is used in various contexts. Sparkie82 (t•c) 07:58, 2 December 2020 (UTC)

I don't understand, this is one article about war. I think you focused about that "armed conflict" words just, but you have to pay more attention to the rest as it is "intense" and "extreme violence, aggression, destruction, and mortality". For me how it is defined in this article seems pretty fine this is not a dictionary, but even in a dictionaries, it is not much different. And this is article about war and warfare and focus is on that. Is a liquor store shoot-out an 'armed conflict? That is one incident or some criminal act.

Was the fight against organized crime in the U.S. during the the 30s and 40s an armed conflict?

Maybe if someone in some relevant source called it like that and it is accepted by the other sources and community, as for example that war in Mexico against narco-cartels. AnAnicolaidis (talk) 17:46, 2 December 2020 (UTC)

Ah also, in my opinion, that how various actors, especially ones involved in war, define something no matter, we define it here if that is a warfare/war, by how widely it is accepted in various relevant sources, academic community, by historians etc etc. Also some terrorist organisations or rebel groups state to they are in war, but they make couple of incidents or criminal acts and noone consider that as a war. This article is not about violent crimes, assault, assassinations or gang violence, to be an intense armed conflict/war there need to be significant military or paramilitary involvement with extreme violence, aggression, destruction, and mortality and to be recognised by numerous reliable sources as that.AnAnicolaidis (talk) 17:58, 2 December 2020 (UTC)

Let me put it another way... I'm a Wikipedia user and I want to know something about the term "armed conflict". Where do I go in WP to find that out? The answer is not in this article. Where is it? Sparkie82 (t•c) 05:53, 3 December 2020 (UTC)

Hello. I was thinking about that topic and you will find hardly that anywhere, I again consulted a couple of dictionaries, The Collins English Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary and some other ones and some literature and that term "armed conflict" is inside of their definition of war and listed also as one of the synonyms of/for war. AnAnicolaidis (talk) 06:41, 3 December 2020 (UTC)

I think to the term intense armed conflict is for people now days like the best and the most clear. Even if there is instead of the term "armed conflict" something as lets say "serious fighting" what I also saw in some literature, it is also correct. Some writers, sometimes the same event call as a war, than as an armed struggle, armed combat, fighting etc etc. But, as I said, intense armed conflict somehow explains much and clearly, also considering to people since long ago use many different weapons/arms in their warfare activities and in a dictionaries and literature is as a part of the definition or as one of synonyms for war/warfare and the most common.AnAnicolaidis (talk) 06:52, 3 December 2020 (UTC)

Armed conflict does indeed redirect here, as the best fit for that subject in WP. But the existence of a redirect doesn't automatically dictate the content of an article. Redirects can be created for subjects that do not merit an article, or even any coverage in another article. Most often, this is because they would only be a WP:DICDEF. I believe that is the case here. Armed conflict is very vague, and can only be described with something like "a conflict using arms". That's the kind statement belongs in a dictionary, not an encyclopedia.

In general, this comes down to sources. If several notable authoritative books cover the prospective subject, then we in WP can cite them and thus have something notable to say about the subject. Without these, we can't.

I'm okay with the brief note of "armed conflict" recently added, but no more, until multiple sources to cite specifically covering "armed conflict" are presented. --A D Monroe III^(talk) 18:43, 13 December 2020 (UTC)

I second that. And how it is now seems fine with that brief note. AnAnicolaidis (talk) 21:35, 13 December 2020 (UTC)

More Info on Political Science

Hello, I am very well read on a lot of the game theoretic and political economic literature that surrounds war. Lots of this literature is new but has the unique feature of, in many cases, being bolstered by quasi-experimental evidence and some authors have high levels of accurate in forecasting from this more abstract and mathematically rigorous form of political science. Is there enough room for me to mention that in the section? I only see references to realism/neorealism/liberalism and so forth, which are all examples of political theory, which is a subdiscipline in the large political science. Thanks. Adamopoulos (talk) 20:50, 18 February 2021 (UTC)

I would suggest posting your proposed changes here as an edit request, using the template
{{edit semi-protected}}, and the "change X to Y" (or just "add X") format, and be sure to include your sources. - wolf 23:05, 18 February 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 December 2021

I am suggesting adding a section on Actors in War. One category of actors being Private Military Companies or PMCs.

Private Military Companies (PMCs) are corporate firms that provide military services. Following the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq, the United States and British military frequently used PMCs as part of their post-conflict recovery effort in Iraq. The conflict in Iraq boosted British PMC business from 320 million British Pounds to 1.8 billion British Pounds in the year between 2003 and 2004.

Typically drawing their ranks from retired military members. The cadre within a PMC can engage in:

Direct combat
Training for a military or paramilitary force
Intelligence gathering
Security assistance
Logistical support
Post conflict recovery

The diversity of services divides PMCs into three different categories, provider firms, consulting firms and support firms. Provider firms are what are typically thought of as ‘mercenaries’, engaging in direct combat by providing a military force to accomplish a strategic objective. Consulting firms provide training, security and advisory services. Support firms provide logistical and maintenance support usually for a military client. Gkeck614 (talk) 18:58, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

 Note: @Gkeck614: Just wanna advise you that if you make 1 more edit anywhere on Wikipedia you will become autoconfirmed (this is done without having to request it - it's automated) and be able to edit this page yourself. Cheers! —Sirdog (talk) 19:08, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

Against. Not here in this article, this is one general overview article covering all of war as one activity. There is many "Actors in War". And that private military companies are one of them and not that significant at all. There is article about them already. So the main content on the main articles. Nubia86 (talk) 15:45, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. As this is clearly not an uncontroversial request, the "edit request" procedure is not the right way to go about this change. However, as has been pointed out - confirmed users don't need to use this procedure in the first place for semi-protected articles. PianoDan (talk) 22:39, 20 December 2021 (UTC)

"Political conflict" listed at Redirects for discussion

An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect Political conflict and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 January 1#Political conflict until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. _signed, Rosguill ^talk 17:32, 1 January 2022 (UTC)

"Hot war" listed at Redirects for discussion

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"Hot warfare" listed at Redirects for discussion

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"War against" listed at Redirects for discussion

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"Political conflicts" listed at Redirects for discussion

An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect Political conflicts and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 January 11#Political conflicts until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Regards, SONIC678 19:33, 12 January 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment

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Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 31 August 2021 and 25 December 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Metchison, Gkeck614, Jcdiozzi, Ryan Lazar.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 12:38, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Non-specified claims

"These studies suggest most military personnel resist firing their weapons in combat, that – as some theorists argue – human beings have an inherent resistance to killing their fellow human beings."

First of all, what a load of bull. 10s of thousands of years of violence and armed conflict apparently means nothing and "human beings have an inherent resistance to killing their fellow human beings" which sounds straight out of the mouth of some pretentious, self-proclaimed mental expert from the 1800s. But anyway this statement says, "as some theorists argue" but doesn't list them. This statement really needs to be improved as right now it doesn't read or sound anything like Wikipedia.8.48.251.116 (talk) 19:33, 25 February 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 3 March 2022

change "War is an intense armed conflict[a] between states," to "War, also known as a special military operation, is an intense armed conflict[a] between states," 92.85.60.254 (talk) 10:05, 3 March 2022 (UTC)

Oppose - there can be non-wartime military operations. (not closing the tag for now to let others chime in)Happy Editing--IAmChaos 10:20, 3 March 2022 (UTC)

 Not done: Pretty sure this is just a jab at Putin and what he called his invasion of Ukraine. "Putin Announces Special Military Operation in Eastern Ukraine" Cannolis (talk) 11:10, 3 March 2022 (UTC)

Winter War was not a defeat for Finland but it was more like a majority draw or technical draw for Finland!!!

The war is not considered a loss for Finland since they could have lost more territory than 10%. Since Soviets lost more than five times its men than Finland, they wanted to end this war as soon as possible!!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 186.148.194.130 (talk) 06:32, 17 April 2022 (UTC)

Content of history section

Hello, under War#History, I read: "A distinctive feature of war since 1945 is the absence of wars between major powers—indeed the near absence of any traditional wars between established countries. The major exceptions were the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Iran–Iraq War 1980–1988, and the Gulf War of 1990–91. Instead, combat has largely been a matter of civil wars and insurgencies." That does not sound right, especially in the light of current events. First, I would say that the Korean War was a war between the major powers of China, USSR and the U.S. And then, the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine is also one between major powers, it looks like being on a comparable scale as the war between Iran and Iraq. And weren't Egypt and Israel (Yom Kippur, 1973), Argentine and UK (Falklands, 1982), USSR and China (Sino-Soviet border conflict, 1969) not actual major powers? This section should be reworded - at least, the term "absence" must go in my opinion, as it is factually wrong. And the examples may be better chosen, maybe by removing the 1990 Gulf war and replacing it with the Russo-Ukrainian War. Regards, Grand-Duc (talk) 22:11, 8 June 2022 (UTC)

War and its effects

Voice 2402:8100:3917:2D4D:980F:A123:3F59:2B8D (talk) 10:27, 12 June 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 22 August 2022

Per WP:ITHAT, should we unitalicize within a hatnote by parameter:

"Conflict zone" redirects here. For the 2001 video game, see Conflict Zone.

193.34.132.126 (talk) 08:29, 22 August 2022 (UTC)

Done. --Mvqr (talk) 10:47, 22 August 2022 (UTC)

Overview of ethical positions

Hi, the following text was taken out of the ethics section as too random. I do not agree, as it gives a first overview of thd spectrum of positions towards war. So I dont see why it is not something for a general overview article. Quite the contrary it gives an concise overview and it isnt anything that was just written by some student. I am ok, if someone has a more cited categorization, but in principle I dont see the problem, on the contrary it is quite a good overview for a first read into the issue.

>> Martin Ceadel has categorized positions about war and peace in the following categories:

• Militarism (normalized)
• Crusading (interventionism)
• Defencism (prevention)
• Pacificism (prevention and abolition)
• Pacifism (rejection)

<< Nsae Comp (talk) 14:12, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

References

These questions may assist in determining the value of the insertion

- who is Martin Ceadel? How much authority and influence does he hold in this field?

- are the categories generally accepted? Or is this entirely the idea of one individual?

- why did Ceadal categorise in such a manner? What was the context and purpose?

- why did the source mention Ceadal's categorisation? What was the context?

- should the insertion into the article be put into context, or is the statement of the categorisation sufficient?

- why cite this as Ceadel's opinion? If it is just his opinion why include it at all?

- In terms of your description of the categorisation as providing an "overview of the spectrum of positions towards war", can you justify that claim?

I would be leaning towards suggesting that the insertion is not helpful to the article, but could be persuaded otherwise. Jameel the Saluki (talk) 20:23, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

Oppose as this is one general overview article and not helpful to the article in my view at all. The only way how some can be added as this is a general overview article is to it strictly connected to warfare not to other topics and to many political scientists and historians agree/use it. Nubia86 (talk) 14:14, 27 October 2022 (UTC)

Fascism and Pragmatism

How does Fascism “encompass” pragmatism? Seems like nonsense to me. Two separate concepts completely. 2001:56A:FE11:3200:A001:3F0B:9EE3:34DC (talk) 16:38, 2 January 2023 (UTC)

That section was put in by a single editor back in 2011, and that was his only contribution to Wikipedia. The entire section is IMO complete nonsense, and not remotely justified by the citations provided by the editor. I will remove. Jameel the Saluki (talk) 07:03, 3 January 2023 (UTC)

Restoration of odd text

Sjo restored the following text to the History section, citing WP:NOTCENSORED in their edit summary: "William Rubinstein wrote "Pre-literate societies, even those organised in a relatively advanced way, were renowned for their studied cruelty...'archaeology yields evidence of prehistoric massacres more severe than any recounted in ethnography [i.e., after the coming of the Europeans].'" I had removed it because the quote implies that it's only non-European prehistoric societies whose studied cruelty was renowned, and the established sources don't back this up. Either Rubinstein is a racist, or he has inadvertently used lazy language that could allow that interpretation, or he has been quoted in a way that allows it. WP:NOTCENSORED says "Content will be removed if it is judged to violate Wikipedia's policies (especially those on biographies of living persons and using a neutral point of view)". I believe this is the part of WP:NOTCENSORED that is relevant here, and this content ought to be removed until the problems associated with it have been dealt with. Stara Marusya (talk) 15:16, 6 January 2023 (UTC)

Could you explain how the interpretation of the quote being only non-European prehistoric societies that are included was reached. The wording is clearly "pre-literate societies" which includes all European societies up until the 19thC and some through to the 20th. The mention of Europeans relates to the timing of ethnography, not the timing of the violence. The insertion of "i.e., after the coming of the Europeans" looks like an editor though and should probably be removed. Jameel the Saluki (talk) 07:38, 10 January 2023 (UTC)

The editor who inserted this is taking a bit of a liberty. The first part of the quote "Pre-literate societies, even those organised in a relatively advanced way, were renowned for their studied cruelty" is from page 22 in the chapter "Genocide in pre-modern societies". This was part of an argument that stated that although greater numbers of people have been killed by genocide in modern times, as a proportion society has been on the improve.

The second part of the quote is from page 50 in the chapter "Genocide in the Colonial Age, 1492–1914". The full quote is "An escalation in both the scale and intensity of violence certainly followed the coming of the Europeans, who introduced guns, horses and alcohol, and whose conquests forced some native tribes to move into areas where they were compelled to fight other tribes. Nevertheless, such massacres occurred long before the Europeans came. According to Lawrence H. Keeley 'archaeology yields evidence of prehistoric massacres more severe than any recounted in ethnography [i.e., after the coming of the Europeans].'. This related specifically to the violence surrounding the colonisation of the US, and the coming of the Europeans does relate to the level of violence.

I would argue that the first part of the quote is valid and should stand, whilst the second part is deceptive and should be removed. I will make that change. Jameel the Saluki (talk) 08:09, 10 January 2023 (UTC)

Thank you Jameel, I'm happy with your edit. Stara Marusya (talk) 15:40, 10 January 2023 (UTC)

Reference 12 is poor

This reference is to an article published by an online newspaper, Asia Times Online. The article is essentially an opinion piece. It’s central theme has to do with a surmised popular misconception about the nature of so-called primitive peoples, and has nothing really to do with war per se. The idea seems to be that the author of this article refers to a conclusion of the author of the book (Keeley) referred to directly in the wiki article. Though I expect it is an accurate representation of Keeley’s opinion—-or let’s say scholarly conclusion—-Spengler does not quote Keeley but only refers to his book generally. Since Keeley’s book is central to this section of the wiki article it seems to me that the article should refer directly to, or at best, quote the stated opinion. In any case, the reference is superfluous and because of the editorial, non-scholastic nature of the article it should be deleted. Grandmartin (talk) 13:15, 26 January 2023 (UTC)

That reference seems totally good and valuable for the theme of this article. 178.221.65.14 (talk) 03:39, 1 February 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 April 2023

Diff:

−

{{portal|War}} * [[Outline of war]] * [[Grey-zone (international relations)]] {{-}}

+

* [[Outline of war]] * [[Grey-zone (international relations)]] {{-}}

remove a Portal:War was closed is delete. 122.2.122.171 (talk) 12:21, 1 April 2023 (UTC)

 Done M.Bitton (talk) 13:34, 1 April 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 June 2023

"The invention of gunpowder, and it's eventual use in warfare" should say "its". 93.72.49.123 (talk) 06:23, 15 June 2023 (UTC)

 Done Cannolis (talk) 06:52, 15 June 2023 (UTC)

"Digmaan" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Digmaan has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 July 4 § Digmaan until a consensus is reached. – dudhhr ^talk _contribs (he/they) 07:11, 4 July 2023 (UTC)

WW1 death toll

The table in the section Largest by death toll puts the death toll for World War I at 39 million. This is not supported by the cited source, which implies a cumulative death toll of about 8 million. The entry refers the reader to the article World War I casualties, which states that the total number of casualties was about 40 million, but that includes soldiers who were only wounded without being killed. This source https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/reperes112018.pdf also gives the total number of casualties as 40 million, and estimates the actual death toll to be about 20 million (about 10 million each for both military and civilian). I don't know if the table is confusing "casualties" with "fatalities" or is also counting deaths from the Spanish flu. 82.132.186.162 (talk) 11:38, 19 July 2023 (UTC)

 Done.Yeap, you are right, if we talk about number of dead people, not wounded or so, and we talk about it in that section. and I have fixed it with consulting the World War I casualties article and took source from there to this page. Nubia86 (talk) 19:01, 19 July 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 21 January 2024

Undue weight is given to an outdated “endemic violence” in prehistory. The research is drawn from a non-consensus book from the 1990s. See the Wiki page on Pinker’s Better Angels (criticisms) for a plurality of perspectives. Ferguson would be a good counterbalancing source. “Violence: An Anthropology of War”. This article could be a good source to include along with the book.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/war-is-not-part-of-human-nature/ 2600:100C:B05F:B4B6:7501:61A2:25C5:BFDE (talk) 21:45, 21 January 2024 (UTC)

"War and Militarism" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect War and Militarism has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2024 February 22 § War and Militarism until a consensus is reached. Steel1943 (talk) 22:33, 22 February 2024 (UTC)