User talk:WZen

Arne Dagfin Dahl

Dear WZen, the source you've provided (Haga, p. 240) does not say that Dahl didn't see action at the Somme. All the while we've got a Norwegian government source that says he did see action, that's what we're going with. If your source is conversations you had with Dahl while he was alive, then I'm afraid that is far from good enough. We do not accept oral sources here at Wikipedia. Now, if these interviews were somehow published in a book or peer-reviewed magazine, then that's some else entirely. You having spoken with Dahl on its own isn't enough in this context. Manxruler (talk) 13:24, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

Dear Manxruler, the source showed that he was military attaché. He was part of the Norwegian Foreign Office with diplomatic immunity. He visited the front as part of a delegation. In my opinion this is not battle experience.

Historical criticism:
Wikipedia's Norwegian government source is not a primary source. There are not any references to the statement. The military historian, LTC Hans Børsheim, did only review the committee's chapters 6 and 7.[ref] Wikipedia's source is in chapter 8.

My point is that he did not fight in the battle.
Wikipedia does not need any sources if you take the statement away. I believe that the National Archives of Norway has his original report from the visit.
WZen (talk) 10:27, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

Yes, Wikipedia does need a source, of course it does. If the National Archives have the rapport it makes no difference as original research isn't permitted on Wikipedia. Secondary sources are what we use here, and only secondary sources. I'll have a look at it later, though, go through the sources and see what's what. I believe you are probably right in your assessment of Dahl's First World War experiences, but my opinions doesn't matter, only the (published) sources do. Manxruler (talk) 12:13, 3 April 2010 (UTC)