Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2015 February 15

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February 15

Is this logo free content?

In attempts to avoid the whole "This image is not free" process, I come here to ask my question. I am currently in the process of updating Draft:Fifty Shades (film series), but I would like to add the main film logo. I found one that was not screenshot, and it contains the blank background. This is the logo which comes from this website's loading page. Is it or is it not a free image? WP:LOGO didn't exactly help me. Thank you Callmemirela (talk) 00:37, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

As is pretty standard on websites such as these - the Terms of Use at the bottom of the source webpage say "You should assume that everything you see or read on the Site is copyrighted unless otherwise noted" and "The trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed on the Site are registered and unregistered Trademarks of Universal and others". So no it is not free content. Nanonic (talk) 00:47, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Trademark and non-free is not the same concept, e.g., PD-textlogo and an impressive zoo of similar PD (public domain) templates on Commons are all used to tag free content including logos and icons, and an additional trademarked template still allows you to use the logo on pages about the company or whatever it is. The Wikimedia logos have a free license since 2014, but they are still trademarked (example). –Be..anyone (talk) 03:19, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

I'm no expert on this matter by any means but the logo is just simple text and therefore may be able to be uploaded to Commons. For instance, the logo for Xerox is there. Dismas|^(talk) 02:00, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

This looks well below the threshold of originality to me. I'd definitely slap {{PD-text}}{{PD-textlogo}} on it and upload to Commons instead of making a fair-use claim here. Relevant guidelines are here at Wikipedia:Logos#Copyright-free logos and on Commons at c:Commons:Threshold of originality. —Cryptic 02:42, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

How do I create an Awareness Day for Schnitzler's Syndrome?

Hello,

Just wondering how do I create an Awareness Day for Schnitzler's Syndrome? We would like the SS Awareness Day to be on June 1st. Thanks so much. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Schnitzlers Syndrome (talk • contribs) 01:15, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

If you want to do that, you will need to do so elsewhere. Wikipedia articles are based on notable subjects, as described in published reliable sources. We are not a platform for the promotion of new ideas, no matter how worthy the cause. AndyTheGrump (talk) 01:24, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

It might be best to contact local representatives and go from there. Beyond that, can't say. This sort of question would normally go in the reference desk. Also, I don't mean to sound critical, but you might not want to call it SS Awareness day because those letters are still associated with Hitler's SS. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 01:43, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

You beat me to it. We do have a Schnitzler syndrome article. But SS Awareness Day would be more likely to come on Hitler's birthday or something. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:54, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Or Himmler's. ―Mandruss ☎ 01:56, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I don't know how awareness days are chosen or whether Schnitzler syndrome has any connection to June 1 but that is the most common Children's Day. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:43, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The entries on our Awareness day list includes those "usually set by a major organisation or government". International observance list mentions several such entities, such as UNESCO and WHO. 71.20.250.51 (talk) 05:35, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

One of my sons was born with Sotos syndrome, which has occupied our attention for a quarter of a century. We don't capitalize the second word, and we certainly don't abbreviate it as "SS". Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 06:16, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Using my own picture of a bottle

Whilst looking at the article on arak, I came across this somewhat blurry image [1] of Kawar 45 meant to illustrate the Israeli Arab Kawar brand of arak. I happen to have some bottles of its stronger and better brother, Kawar 53, which has black text that would show up better (not to mention the lighting would be better and everything on the bottle would be in focus). Would it be okay for me to use such a photo on Wikipedia? Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 02:17, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Sure, it would be ok, since you took the photo. Whether it would be an improvement to the article would be a different question, and editors might disagree. Articles aren't simply repositories of related photos, a la Google Images. Would it add significant reader value? Would it harm layout? That article is already quite full of images, so adding one might require removing one less important. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I was thinking more along the lines of replacing that image and so the the number of images would stay the same. That one pic of Israeli arak would just be clearer. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 26 Shevat 5775 02:44, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I personally don't see a problem with that, but I don't know anything about the article subject. I think your best approach would be to take the best photo you can, upload it to Commons, boldly add it as you described, per WP:BRD, and see where it goes. The article has 61 watchers. ―Mandruss ☎ 03:05, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Need help explaining WP:V and WP:OR

Hello, could someone help to settle this conflict between myself and TheMeaningOfBlah. I added citation needed tags to two articles due to unsourced statements in the lede which are neither sourced nor repeated in the body. [2] and [3]. TheMeaningOfBlah reverted my additions of these tags. I have tried to discuss at User_talk:TheMeaningOfBlah#Manual notification but I think TheMeaningOfBlah still does not understand. To me this is clear violation of venerability and no original research. I hope someone else can explain better. Thanks starship.paint ~ ¡Olé! 02:25, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Resolution of content disputes is outside the scope of the Help Desk, although we can point you in the right direction. A good page to read is WP:Content dispute. The first step, and many times the only step necessary, is to discuss on the article's talk page. You can also ask for input at one of the Wikipedia noticeboards. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:34, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Mandruss: Whether citation needed is necessary is a content dispute? starship.paint ~ ¡Olé! 02:39, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

In my humble opinion, anything in an article is content, whether it's prose, images, refs, tags, message templates, or whatever, so any disagreement about anything in an article is a content dispute. In another humble opinion, the Help Desk is not for resolving disputes of any kind. There are other places for that, including the noticeboards. Others may disagree, so watch this thread for other opinions. There aren't many blacks and whites at Wikipedia, most things are matters of opinion. ―Mandruss ☎ 02:46, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

First, when posting a question to this Help Desk about an article, it is useful to include the name of the article in a proper link. The articles in question are WrestleMania 31 and WrestleMania 32. Second, in my opinion, any statement that is not in the body, sourced or otherwise, should probably not be in the lede. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:45, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I see that you have tried to discuss this at Talk:WrestleMania 31. I don't see your effort to discuss at Talk:WrestleMania 31. I will comment that, in general, tagging a statement is not a substitute for adding a reference. If you can't find a source for a statement, then the real issue is not whether to tag it, but whether to remove it. As the dispute resolution policy explains, the first place to try to discuss content issues (and whether to add a tag is a content issue, although, as I said, not a substitute for a source or for removal) is the talk page. If that fails, you may try one of the dispute resolution procedures mentioned in the policy, such as requesting a third opinion, publishing a Request for Comments, or moderated discussion at the dispute resolution noticeboard. I hope that this helps. Also, please advise the other editor, on his or her talk page, to read this discussion at this Help Desk. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:55, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Robert McClenon, did you mean "I don't see your effort to discuss at Talk:WrestleMania 32"?

WP:V and WP:OR are both covered in WP:42 in a very simple form. You may also try to see if the Simple English versions [4] / [5] have a more easy to understand explanation (different projects with different policies, but same intent, I believe) -- TRPoD aka The Red Pen of Doom 22:58, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

Aidan Gillen

Looking at the Aidan Gillen page using the Wikipedia app on my phone I'm seeing the image alright. However, the caption sayes "Irish actor for you(not the biggest guy on the plane)". Both the mobile and the regular version when viewed on the phone using Chrome don't have that. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 04:08, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The quoted text was in the Wikidata item. I have changed it to just say "Irish actor".[6] PrimeHunter (talk) 04:33, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

: Thanks. It's difficult to find on the phone. CambridgeBayWeather (mobile) (talk) 04:58, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

My created articles

How do I find out how many articles I created and what they are?--Doug Coldwell (talk) 11:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Go to https://tools.wmflabs.org/xtools/pages/index.php?user=Doug_Coldwell&lang=en&wiki=wikipedia&namespace=0&redirects=noredirects. There is a link to it near the bottom of your contributions page. —teb728 t c 12:18, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks and thanks.--Doug Coldwell (talk) 12:45, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Insertion of a new entry

Dear Wikipedia Supervisors, I should like to insert the translation of an Italian painter entry in the English version. The entry is already present in the Wikipedia Italian version. Is this translation insertion allowed? Which criteria must I follow, a part from the editing standard?

Best Regards Stefano Masson — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.232.158.179 (talk) 13:12, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Absolutely. It is usually welcome to improve a Wikipedia by translating an article from another language Wikipedia. The guidelines for how to do it are in WP:translation#How to translate. --ColinFine (talk) 14:38, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Talk page history redaction

If a comment is removed from a talk page, and the history presumably removed by someone with admin privileges, can that be proven? I don't need the content of the comment revealed, only the fact that it was removed and redacted from history.  — For now, consider this to be a hypothetical question; I'm asking more out of curiosity than any desire to make a BFD out of something that is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things.  —71.20.250.51 (talk) 13:54, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

It depends on the used method. See more at Wikipedia:Revision deletion and Wikipedia:Oversight. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:12, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Okay; thanks for the links. <obsolete comments deleted by author>  —71.20.250.51 (talk) 18:46, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Awards and nominations table

I believe I asked this question before but I am not sure. But anyways, my question is which type of table for the awards and nominations section is better and respects and honors Wikipedia policies? To be precise, is it better to have different awards in one table like the one with Maura West and Heather Tom or there should be different sections for each award like the one with Michelle Stafford? Thanks! Also, ïf these tables are good, what could be added to make it better to honor Wikipedia policies?  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 15:39, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Hi SoapFan12, it is usually better to have them all in a single table. You can split them if that table becomes too long. All the best, Taketa (talk) 17:59, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: Thank you so much for the fast response! I greatly appreciated it! However, I was wondering what is your definition of long? How long is long? For example, longer than Heather Tom's table or should I split them up right now? Thanks again!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 18:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@SoapFan12: - you are ofcourse very right, long is subjective. I think Heather Tom's table is nicely managable and looks fine. If you were to add those two tables above it to the table, that would be the length where I would start considering splitting it. I hope this helps. All the best, Taketa (talk) 18:56, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: Thanks again! So, for example if I add Michelle Stafford's and Maura West's tables to Heather Tom's, I should split them up? By the way, does this mean that I should put Michelle Stafford awards and nominations into a single table? I have another question, is there a right way to do the Awards and nominations table that honor Wikipedia policies? I mean, like everywhere on wikipedia different actors have different but yet similar tables for the accolades. For example, Eileen Davidson's table has the award first, but others have the year first. Others, have them in the Filmography sections such as Gina Tognoni etc... Thanks again! I really appreciate your fast response! Means a tons!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 19:16, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@SoapFan12: - To the best of my knowledge there is no specific guideline. In my opinion Michelle Stafford's awards section look fine. Don't change things unless it is an improvement. However in the future if they get alot of different type of awards, the current style may not be practical. For the moment I would leave it as it is. For these templates, in most cases the year comes first. But like I said, there is no guideline, meaning no one correct method. Simply make it look good in your opinion and respect the opinion of the original author in other instances (unless it is really bad). All the best, Taketa (talk) 19:41, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Taketa: - I want to thank you for answering all my questions! I must of been causing annoyance when I was asking all these questions but thank you! It means a lot! You are honestly the kindest and sweetest! Thanks again!  — SoapFan12 (talk, contribs) 20:37, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

First consider whether being in a table format is necessary at all. WP:MOSTABLE.-- TRPoD aka The Red Pen of Doom 16:00, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Fire point

What is the fire point of petrol..? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.206.17.96 (talk) 16:27, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

This Help Desk is for asking questions about using or editing Wikipedia. Our Science Reference Desk might be able to answer your question. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:31, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

question about a closed(?) AfD

I would like to know why the discussion of the AfD at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Eddie Hearn (2nd nomination) still appears to be open. It looks like it was closed back in November, but it is still appears in Wikipedia:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Sportspeople. I don't vote to keep articles all that often so I like it to be recorded when I do. I was going to edit the closing statement since I think that's why it didn't get recorded, but I'm not an admin and don't want to fiddle with anything I'm not 100% sure about doing. Thanks. Papaursa (talk) 18:15, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

That article was listed in four lists of deletion discussions, and it is possible that it was left in the fourth one by accident. As you say, the deletion discussion itself was closed with Keep, but a notation that the article "needs work". I don't think it was left in one of the lists simply because the article needs work. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:58, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Papaursa, Robert McClenon: The page at Wikipedia:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Sportspeople is made up of transcluded AfD discussions. In other words, the actual deletion discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Eddie Hearn (2nd nomination) is being called for display at the deletion sorting page and has no real independent existence. So in theory, any change to the actual AfD should be displayed at the deletion sorting page. Whenever something like this happens – where what you see at a page transcluding another is not the same as the transcluded page itself – you can safely assume that what has happened has to do with a caching issue (see also Help:Job queue). In other words, while the page being transcluded has been changed, the other page is displaying the older version which no longer exists live in that form. This is usually fixed by purging the cache of the page where the transcluded content is displayed, though in my experience you may sometimes need to purge the original page as well, and sometimes a null edit may help (though I've just read that null edits may no longer have any effect in MediaWiki 1.6). The AfD is now displaying as closed. If you are still seeing it as open now, that could also be a caching issue, but with your computer saving the older content to save space rather than a problem on Wikipedia's end. In that case, purge your computer's cache. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:19, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

I know that the deletion sorting lists are transcluded. However, the real question is why the closed deletion discussion has not been removed from the list of transcluded discussions. Robert McClenon (talk) 19:25, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

v.t.e.

what does v.t.e. mean in the box at the bottom of the article "Local Bubble"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1008:B12A:B7F2:9CA1:C2EA:FE08:1FF (talk) 18:33, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The V.T.E is a standard feature of Template:Navbox. The 3 letters stand in turn for "View", "Talk", and "Edit" for the navigation template which is in use there. - David Biddulph (talk) 18:40, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

My Profile Page Has Been Hacked

My Wikipdea account has been hacked. Probably quite a while ago. I have received numerous comments in other forums stating that I was known to disregard quantum mechanics and quantum dynamics. I could not figure out where this was coming from. Until this morning when I found that someone had hacked into my account and added the following fraudulent and damaging line to my Profile statement:

I also bully those, who don't agree with my "scientific" views of how the universe works. Since a baseball doesn't have a random trajectory I will dismiss quantum theory altogether.

I am concerned that whomever did this has also attempted other hacks into my digital life. Is there a way to trace past edits to my account? I am driving to the FBI office in San Francisco tomorrow to discuss this and another couple of extremely damaging incursions into my digital life. Any advise? Is there a way to talk to an actual person in the Wikipedia office regarding this matter?

Thank you,

Randall Lee Reetz

PS, if it matters to anyone (it matters to me) I am a hard line rational causalist and advocate for the standard model, quantum mechanics, the institution of science, and the objectivism it alone chooses as prime motive. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Randall Lee Reetz (talk • contribs) 20:52, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Your user page was amended on 5 February 2014 (just over a year ago) by someone using the IP address 90.184.126.46. I have now reversed these changes as they evidently weren't made or wanted by you: Noyster (talk), 21:08, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

The particular change to your user page was not a "hack" but was vandalism from an IP, and has been reverted. I suggest that you request semi-protection of your user page. Also, please use the New Section tab to post, rather than editing the page and adding to the top; another editor moved your post to its proper place at the bottom. I don't have any information about any of the other issues to which you report, but the change to your user page was vandalism, not a hack. Robert McClenon (talk) 21:11, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Further explanation: Any editor's user page, just like most articles and discussion pages on Wikipedia, are open to be edited by anyone, even those without their own Wikipedia account. It is normally not permitted to edit another editor's user page without their permission, but unfortunately a small proportion of edits maliciously ignore the rules. However, there is no reason to believe that anyone had access to the password for your Wikipedia account, that's why we say "vandalism" not "hack": Noyster (talk), 21:42, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

@Randall Lee Reetz: See Help:Watching pages (note the email section), Help:Page history and Help:Reverting for ways to monitor and fix your user page. The page history [7] shows the IP edits which were reverted by Noyster. Click "prev" to see the changes in an edit. Anyone can edit your user page and this is the normal situation at Wikipedia. Special:Contributions/Randall Lee Reetz shows edits by your own account. Assuming they were made by you, there is no reason to suspect your account has been hacked. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:17, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Spelling dissonance

Do we have to force ourselves to write using the spelling style that a page is set to, or can we leave it to other editors?

I ask this because, similarly to Canada (though not the same as it), the spelling system used in my area is not identical to "Associated Press Noah Webster Approved American Spelling". The spelling system I that learnt growing up, and that I use, is closer to Commonwealth or International English, although it does have some areal terms and spellings in it as well.

It feels awkward to me to write English with a Noah Webster spelling style, since that is not what I learnt growing up. Can I just leave it to other editors to modify spellings that might not be in line with the page's spelling style if I'm only adding in a sentence or two into the page? Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 21:40, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Please see MOS:ENGVAR, which broadly asks those editing any article to stay with the variety of English already used in that article and appropriate for the subject matter. But I don't see a need to worry too much about this: I know as a Brit if I tried to write in American English I'd make some mistakes, and as for South African or Indian English, not a hope. What we try to prevent is people officiously going through articles changing all the spellings to what they are used to and appears "correct" to them: Noyster (talk), 21:51, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Yeah, I wasn't talking about doing that. I just meant that, for example, I could never not spell "traveller", "omelette", "grey", "realise", "neighbour", "à la" etc. any other way than how I have just spelt them, nor could I call a bubbler, a trash barrel, a shopping carriage etc. some other name and not feel stiltedly forced. Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 22:11, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

Are you the user who "hates seeing double negatives clutter up the English language"? Maproom (talk) 18:00, 16 February 2015 (UTC)

Excuse me? What kind of descriptor is that? I think that you will find that there are plenty of users here that feel that way; enough so that a separate userbox was created just to express that belief. Furthermore, I don't know why you bother asking that question when you could have just gone to my userpage and looked at my userboxes.

Is this some subtle attempt at argumentum ad hominem? If so, I don't know why you bother, considering a large number of English speakers feel the same way as I do about double negatives. It doesn't make me look any better or worse that I dislike double negatives. What you have done is the general equivalent of asking "Are you the user that likes the colour orange?" Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 16:05, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

No, it was a feeble attempt at a joke. You have a userbox with the words "This user hates seeing double negatives clutter up the English language", and your sentence immediately above my response above says "I could never not spell "traveller", "omelette", "grey", "realise", "neighbour", "à la" etc. any other way". Maproom (talk) 21:50, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

Ah, I see what you are getting at now. xD

Humour doesn't work so well through plain text, unfortunately. Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 22:44, 17 February 2015 (UTC)