User:Oddjob84/Archive 6

This is Archive 6

Sources behind paywalls

I was looking at the AFC help desk, and I happened to notice your comment about sources behind paywalls, in connection with the Wakayama Marina City article (now happily out of draft status, i see). You might want to be aware of Category:Wikipedians who have access to The New York Times and its parent Category:Wikipedians who have access to newspaper databases. You might want also to look over Wikipedia:The Wikipedia Library and Wikipedia:WikiProject Resource Exchange. All of these are ways to get access to sources that would otherwise be behind paywalls, or not readily available to every editor. You might find these useful if you ever want to find sources on a topic where Google searches won't do the job. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 00:08, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

@DESiegel: Thanks very much for the links. I did not know about these, and I will definitely make use of them. In fact, I am working on about a half dozen articles which need this help. Oddjob84 (talk) 02:03, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

Note that I am one of those with NYT access (Since I have a paid NYT digital sub for my own use), and I am happy to run reasonable numbers of searches. Ping me or leave a msg on my talk page. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 02:07, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

Indexing

To prevent indexing of pages other than User: and User talk: by the likes of Google, you either need to use one of the "user" templates (ie {{user sandbox}} that creates that oh so annoying top banner, or place __NOINDEX__ (two underscores on either side) at the top of the page. It creates the hidden category "Noindexed pages". I did that for sandbox2. I've seen speedy deletes done to user pages that didn't have that category enabled.  — Myk Streja ^(aack!) 21:22, 19 July 2017 (UTC)

To do list

You like to write lists, you'll love this template: {{to do}} (remember not to copy tlx if you view this in edit mode). Go to my talk page to see an example. You can use it on article talk pages to make lists others can follow, or just for yourself. As a bonus it adds a category listing for "Wikipedia pages with to-do lists" that might attract helpful editors (you can opt out with the |nocats=yes parameter). This is what I use:

{{To do|collapsed=yes|nocats=yes|nopreload=yes}}

I strongly recommend the nopreload parameter, it preloads the {{tasks}} template in substitute mode. Collapsed is up to you, default is uncollapsed. Take out nocats if you want to attract kitties, but you should leave it in for your talk page.

While you're at it, check out {{todo}} (no space). Not very helpful, but fun all the same.  — Myk Streja ^(who,me?) 04:04, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

Halloween

@Myk Streja: I wish people would not incentivize me to come after them. I have looked at the lead to Halloween, and it is so full of crap I'm going to have a hard time controlling myself. The first sentence says: Halloween... is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day and Reformation Day." Why is All Hallows' Day deliberately transliterated from All Saints Day, which is the actual Wikilink? Then there is this: "Some academics, however, support the view that Halloween began independently as a solely Christian holiday.[1][16][17]"

This is ref #16: "Die lückenhaften religionsgeschichtlichen Überlieferungen, die auf die Neuzeit begrenzte historische Dimension der Halloween-Kultausprägung, vor allem auch die Halloween-Metaphorik legen nahe, daß wir umdenken müssen: Halloween geht nicht auf das heidnische Samhain zurück, sondern steht in Bezug zum christlichen Totengedenkfest Allerheiligen/ Allerseelen"

Translation: "The gaps between the history of the history of religion and the modern historical dimension of the Halloween cult, particularly the Halloween metaphor, suggest that we must rethink: Halloween does not go back to the pagan Samhain, but is related to the Christian funeral feast of All Saints' All Souls." Just that much of it makes me think it comes from some religious tract.

Ref #1 really doesn't support what they say it does. This is the first critic (Nicholas Rogers) cited in the piece: "Boasting a rich, complex history rooted in Celtic and Christian ritual, Halloween has evolved from ethnic celebration to a blend of street festival, fright night, and vast commercial enterprise. In this colorful history, Nicholas Rogers takes a lively, entertaining look at the cultural origins and development of one of the most popular holidays of the year. Drawing on a fascinating array of sources, from classical history to Hollywood films, Rogers traces Halloween as it emerged from the Celtic festival of Samhain (summer's end), picked up elements of the Christian Hallowtide (All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day), arrived in North America as an Irish and Scottish festival, and evolved into an unofficial but large-scale holiday by the early 20th century. He examines the 1970s and '80s phenomena of Halloween sadism (razor blades in apples) and inner-city violence (arson in Detroit), as well as the immense influence of the horror film genre on the reinvention of Halloween as a terror-fest. Throughout his vivid account, Rogers shows how Halloween remains, at its core, a night of inversion, when social norms are turned upside down, and a temporary freedom of expression reigns supreme. He examines how this very license has prompted censure by the religious Right, occasional outrage from law enforcement officials, and appropriation by Left-leaning political groups."

I could go on. Do we really want to open this can of worms? Oddjob84 (talk) 20:17, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: I saw Anupam's latest post. I suggest the compromise, if you can live with it. We can always come back later, armed for bear. Oddjob84 (talk) 21:01, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

I moved the disxussion to here, where it really belongs, then I gave in. You're right, this isn't the fight we need with so much else going on in the article. We can revist things later (meaning you). You obviously have much more knowledge pertaining to the subject. The business with Unabomber is all the drama I need.  — Myk Streja ^(who,me?) 21:13, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: I regard the outcome as a win. After all, the goal was to repair the haunted attraction section, and that happened without a fuss. I really do think the article has an undue Christian slant, and is not really following actual scholarship. However, this is an issue for another day. Both of us are too busy to get into a pissing match right now. Perhaps we return this winter and see if we can build a new consensus. Oddjob84 (talk) 00:56, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

I think you can tell by the number of disputes I get into that I don't give in easily, but, yeah, this one is not today's battle. <sigh> Ah, well. Thanks for bringing me back to my senses. I was able to read between the lines.  — Myk Streja ^(who,me?) 02:06, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

<moved to user page>
 — Myk Streja ^(who,me?) 02:36, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: Thanks, Myk. I will treasure that. In fact, I think I will move it somewhere more obvious. Oddjob84 (talk) 18:37, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

I'm still trying to figure out where to put that Barnstar. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and do what you did.  — Myk Streja ^(who,me?) 00:29, 13 August 2017 (UTC)

Miscellaney

@Myk Streja: and anyone else looking for me: I will be on a mountaintop for about a week (soon), no electronics at all. It will keep. Talk to you later. Oddjob84 (talk) 13:01, 14 August 2017 (UTC)

Enjoy.  — Myk Streja ^(beep) 19:26, 14 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: "(You can't intervene this time, Odd. Sorry.)" Odd? Who's odd? Oddjob (the cat) was actually named after Oddjob (dapper Oriental gentleman in a black suit), and his nickname was Oddie. However, if you really insist on a nickname, use Mike, to which I will actually answer. BTW, I left you some information on Talk:Spinning tunnel, I don't know if you saw it. Haven't left yet, still packing. Oddjob84 (talk) 14:06, 15 August 2017 (UTC)

I meant no offense. Nice to meet you, Mike. Oddly enought, I've been known to answer to Mike too. If you meant that comment about the PANI Projectors and the use of gobo rotators, yeah, I saw it. If I find a ref for use in a spinning tunnel, I'll be all over it. Thanks. Have fun.  — Myk Streja ^(beep) 20:25, 15 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: and anyone else concerned: I will be away for a few days, and unable to respond to inquiries or requests. Please leave them for me with a notification, and I will respond when I return. Oddjob84 (talk) 17:58, 29 August 2017 (UTC)

• Note to self: Fright Nights needs a link to Haunted attraction (simulated) Oddjob84 (talk) 12:27, 3 September 2017 (UTC) Done
• NOTE to self: Knott's Scary Farm needs attention; very "promotional"-sounding in tone.

A Barnstar for you

<moved to user page> You deserve recognition for more than just keeping me out of the muck.  — Myk Streja ^(beep) 21:07, 16 August 2017 (UTC)

@Myk Streja: Thanks, Myk. That's very cool. I moved the Barnstar to the front page.

And, speaking of Halloween, while I was on vacation, I hung out with some old friends, one of whom is a writer with an unhealthy interest in Halloween. I brought back a bunch of academic references about Samhain being the source of Halloween. For later. This winter. When it's cold and we are ready to start a fight. Oddjob84 (talk) 21:29, 22 August 2017 (UTC)