User talk:DukeofAntwerp

How Wikipedia works

Dear Mr Howe. I would like to point out a couple of things to you at this juncture:

1. It is considered extremely bad form to use sockpuppets on Wikipedia. Even more so when your purpose is to post snide off-topic comments that serve no purpose save to reflect poorly on you. More so as you have made such an effort of late in trumpeting your claimed noble ancestry to the world at large.

2. I have tried to do my best to re-write the Vikesland article so that it conforms with Wikipedia policies. I have done so on the basis of my experience as one who has studied the micronation phenomenon for over a quarter of a century, and who is directly responsible for adding and defending almost all of the content on micronations that exists within Wikipedia over a period of nearly half a decade. Were it not for my efforts we would not be having this discussion - 4 years ago the article would have simply been deleted within minutes of being created. I have lost count of the number of times I've had to fight to include micronation content in Wikipedia over the past half decade - so being attacked by johnny-come-latelies such as yourself and Mr Beyette who arrive out of nowhere seeking to promote their pet project while also attacking me for simply doing my best to assist - ill disposes me towards you.

It is likely, on present trends, that the Vikesland article will be deleted, which is unfortunate. However, deleted articles on micronations do from time to time get re-created further down the track. One example of this is Nova Roma, which was deleted after a huge amount of acrimonious discussion several years ago - but which was re-created with no undue comment recently.

The important thing to bear in mind is that simply existing as a web page is not sufficient grounds for including a micronation in Wikipedia. As far as far as I can tell, the only thing Vikesland has done in reality is mint 1 coin. Apart from that it has been noted in the Lonely Planet micronations guide, and mentioned in passing in the local Maryland newspaper you added as a reference. There is absolutely nothing else about Vikesland that can be verified at this point - and it doesn't appear to have actually done anything in the real world.

This is a problem because verification is the foundation of Wikipedia. Unless a statement can be verified it simply cannot be included in this encyclopedia.

You should note that every other micronation that has an article in Wikipedia has actually done lots of stuff - stuff that is verifiable in multiple independent sources as having taken place in the real world. Ceremonies, meetings, investitures, discussions, protests etc all constitute "done stuff", as they can be photographically documented as involving real, named people.

When Vikesland has reached that level you'll find there will be little objection raised to including an article about it in Wikipedia.

Until then, you and Mr Beyette would do well to hold in check the impulse to lash out at those of us who would be your friends in this matter - lest you be left bereft of friends. --Gene_poole 11:38, 3 October 2006 (UTC)