Talk:Misnomer/Archives/2015/February

Guinea pig
I humbly suggest guinea pig as a good example of a misnomer. There is of course the argument that there are already many examples but the guinea pig is a very common pet and word and a readily recognizable word to cite as a misnomer, and possibly better than, for example, a Norway rat, which I've never even heard of. And in the case of guinea pig both words used in its formation are misnomers.

The possible entry, under "Association with place other than one might assume" could be "Guinea pig:If s are native to South America not Guinea (and for that matter not pigs but rodents).good FourTildes (talk) 23:15, 25 January 2015 (UTC)

I posted here for "consensus" as per protocol and got no response after over three weeks. I am moving forward with my suggestion. FourTildes (talk) 01:46, 21 February 2015 (UTC)


 * If you actually look at the hidden comment immediately below your edit, you will see that there is long-standing consensus that no new examples are to be added without consensus. This article is a crap magnet. Your example is an actual misnomer (unlike most of the hundreds of previous examples), but editors have pared down the examples to a few good ones. This article is not "List of misnomers"; it is about the idea of a misnomer with a few examples. If everyone adds his favorite example, the article becomes unmanageable. If you want to add your example again, please get consensus to do so here. It might help if you make the case that your example is better than the current ones. Sundayclose (talk) 01:36, 22 February 2015 (UTC)

I did "actually" look at hidden comment below my edit, which is exactly why I did actually come here and ask for a consensus, as per instructions in the hidden comment; which no one chimed in on (until now anyway). I never believed, meant nor implied this article was a list of misnomers. I don't have a favorite example when it comes to misnomers and I am well aware from my experience at wikipedia about how too many additions can dilute a good article. I do, however, believe guinea pig is a better example of many of the examples listed because it is a double misnomer, hence my nomination. If there are enough examples already, then I think guinea pig is a safe replacement for, say Norway Rat, which I've never even heard of; when I could guess most native speakers of English have heard of guinea pigs. Can I please have an attempt at consensus? One person coming in and undoing my addition after I finally made my edit because nobody bothered to reply is not a consensus.FourTildes (talk) 08:29, 22 February 2015 (UTC).
 * No one "chimed in until now" after you "finally made your edit"??? One day after you added the item against consensus and one day after you made your comment here. That's not much of a consensus discussion. One editor does not make a consensus. And you are currently "having your chance at consensus". So again, please wait to see if a consensus develops here before adding the item again. Sundayclose (talk) 16:47, 22 February 2015 (UTC)

No one chimed in after I made my suggestion on January 25th, on this Talk page. I waited almost a full month for someone to respond before I made my edit. So the guideline in the edit window says "no additions without consensus" but the only way to get anyone to notice (so far one person), as has been proven right here, is to make an edit. That is why we are here talking now, right? The oft repeated conundrum of "no edits/additions without a consensus; no talk about consensus without an edit" rears its head again. I'm not sure what you mean when you are talking about "one day" above. Could you please explain? And while you are here, may I ask you about your opinion on "guinea pig"? I feel it is a good example of a misnomer, more well known as a word than some others on the list, and to boot, it is a double misnomer. I wasn't opting for replacement of another word before, but if the examples are already deemed too numerous, than replacement could also be considered. Thank you for your time. FourTildes (talk) 20:57, 22 February 2015 (UTC)
 * I don't have a problem with the guinea pig example except it needs consensus. If it is restored, another example in that category should be removed. As you can see in the most recent edit history of the article, your recent addition without consensus was an invitation for others to add their favorite without consensus. Sundayclose (talk) 15:34, 23 February 2015 (UTC)

I doubt that it is anything but random timing that anyone tried to make their own addition after I did. My addition was up only a short while, and only a regular user who knows the rules would probably even notice a one addition change. And I doubt a user who has yet to bother to make a User name would check the edit history, and if he/she did, it would've been clear that additions are controversial and quickly reverted - making them less likely to make an edit not more; unless you are assuming people just want to stir things up. This was certainly not my intention. I could see a possibility for your argument if someone had made another addition before you reverted, but this is not the case.

So how to go about getting a consensus? I am still unclear what you mean by this comment, "No one "chimed in until now" after you "finally made your edit"??? Was making suggestion on the Talk page not a good way to go about trying to get a consensus? I am asking you to please clarify what you meant. Thank you. FourTildes (talk) 20:44, 23 February 2015 (UTC)
 * WP:CON describes ways editors can and cannot try to get a consensus. You're certainly entitled to you opinion, but I don't think it was a coincidence that another example was added shortly after yours. It's been almost a year since an example was added. Before the hidden comments were inserted to try to prevent that, the article was a huge bloat of examples, most of which weren't even misnomers. Sundayclose (talk) 17:35, 24 February 2015 (UTC)

"editors open a section on the talk page and try to work out the consensus through discussion" Ah, well that's exactly what I did, almost a full month before I made my edit. If my suggestion gets zero feedback am I to just forget it? The only way I got any feedback was by editing. I followed the protocol. There would be no discussion going on had I not finally made an edit. If I get no other feedback in the next few days (about my addition, not about my following protocol or inviting other additions), I would humbly request you allow me to add Guinea Pig, likely replacing Norway Rat, the most similar example. The last addition to the examples in this article was "building" on January 25, 2015, which is considerably less than a year, so I don't believe that my edit invited others to add their pet* examples. (*no pun intended that my suggestion is guinea pig). FourTildes (talk) 21:28, 24 February 2015 (UTC)
 * You've been on Wikipedia more than seven years, and I don't want to insult your intelligence. But may I humbly suggest that you read the entirety of WP:CON, especially WP:CON. I will assume you understand all of it unless you let me know otherwise. If you follow all of the suggestions completely you won't have a problem from me. This is not a high traffic article, so I suggest waiting at least four or five weeks after you implement everything at WP:CON before concluding that no one else has an opinion. This is not a newspaper, so no one needs to be in a rush to make a change in the article. If you don't want to follow WP:CON then we have nothing further to discuss unless you blatantly violate the prevailing consensus about no new additions without consensus. Thank you. Sundayclose (talk) 22:54, 24 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Ah, you are correct. "Building" was recently added. But the point is that they have been few and far between because a few dedicated editors decided to enforce the consensus. Take a look at the article before that started happening, which includes a version of the guinea pig example (not to imply that it is a bad example). Sundayclose (talk) 23:56, 24 February 2015 (UTC)

The guidelines you link state that consensus is necessary when there is a difference of opinion about the edit itself. There is nothing in those guidelines that I could find that say I need to go look for a consensus about actually making an edit, just about the content of an edit. You said you are not against my suggestion for an addition/replacement in principle. Yes, this a a low traffic article, which is why, I assume, no one else has given feedback except for you - who does not have a problem with guinea pig as an example. We both agree it is a workable example, a small consensus of two for a low traffic article. How about I add it, and then if someone else comes in to revert it we can have a real discussion from some the dedicated editors you refer to? Then a more binding consensus can be reached. Isn't this how consensus is often reached in many cases? If the consensus is eventually against my addition, then I will, of course, abide by it. FourTildes (talk) 00:04, 25 February 2015 (UTC)

So, regarding my suggestion: I believe Guinea Pig is preferable to Norway Rat, as Guinea Pig is an example of a double misnomer and is also more well known than the Norway Rat. My replacement would be worded closely to what follows:

The Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) originated in the Andes not Guinea, and additionally is a member of the rodent family not the pig.

It may have one too many wikilinks in it, but there it is, for you consideration. FourTildes (talk) 00:15, 25 February 2015 (UTC)
 * No offense but I don't intend to continue repeating myself, so regarding your statement "There is nothing in those guidelines that I could find that say I need to go look for a consensus about actually making an edit", let me say once again (and for the last time): There is an existing consensus not to add new items without consensus. That means you either need a solid consensus to add an item, or a solid consensus to change the existing consensus. I don't think I can explain that any more simply. I'm also not repeating that you need to implement the suggestions at WP:CON; at the risk of appearing to spoonfeed you (and as I've said, I don't want to insult your intelligence), has the thought of WP:RFC even crossed your mind? As I said, if you make a reasonable effort to follow WP:CON you will not have a problem with me. Now, I'm not repeatedly making the same points over and over. I'm finished here until you decide to follow WP:CON or to violate it. Sundayclose (talk) 00:44, 25 February 2015 (UTC)
 * WT:WikiProject Popular Culture may be a better starting point than RfC. The point is, seek opinions (in a neutral way; no canvassing). Sundayclose (talk) 01:06, 25 February 2015 (UTC)