Talk:Rahway, New Jersey

Spanktown?
Spanktown?

Noted Residents
This needed a bit of clean up. County college basketball coaches are NOT noted residents. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jmiz5 (talk • contribs) 02:41, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Highest elevation
"What is the highest point of elevation in Rahway? I can find the answer no where, although some map sites claim it to be 70 ft.  Where can I find verification and location of point? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.83.53.187 (talk • contribs)
 * That's a great question. The Geographic Names Information System gives an elevation by place, but I'm not sure what it reflects. It could be an average elevation or at a specific point. But I have no idea where to obtain the highest (or lowest) and I'd love to find this out for all of us. I will continue my research on this subject. Alansohn 12:08, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Highest Elevation
Panning around in Google maps, it appears to be at the corner of Inman Ave and Bramhall Rd. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.92.120.129 (talk) 21:25, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

Notable residents
A previous editor unlinked the name of Rahway resident Freddie Russo because the article about that person had been deleted, leaving a red link here. But the Freddie Russo article was deleted because the proposed content was a copy-and-paste copyright violation, not because the individual wasn't worthy of an article. It seems entirely possible for that article to be recreated in the future, with new and unencumbered content, and pass the Wikipedia standards of notability. A red link here would not be out of place. Unician &nabla; 06:01, 31 May 2014 (UTC)

Tesla?
Why would Tesla's lab on Irving St not be included in History? Rahway was the first city in the world to have modern electricity. That's way more interesting than on of 6 post offices in NJ...
 * Feel free to add it to the article, then, if you feel it's important. You have the power to change it if you have a gripe. Scarlettail (talk) 22:33, 22 July 2015 (UTC)

Rahway page (discussion copied from editor's talk page)
Hi Alan - do you think I would be ok removing the header "this looks like an ad" on the Rahway New Jersey page? I feel it should probably be removed but wanted to get someone else's view. Thanks in advance Bhdshoes2 (talk) 16:57, 16 August 2021 (UTC)
 * I think it would be nice if you didn't add promotional content to begin with.... 2601:188:180:B8E0:65F5:930C:B0B2:CD63 (talk) 16:58, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

I don't see promo content on the page. Bhdshoes2 (talk) 22:52, 16 August 2021 (UTC)
 * A few thoughts, (with apologies to Alansohn for appropriating this talk page--I'm happy to copy this and move it, should that be the best course). First, it's clear you've contributed a lot of good content; I especially liked the section on artists who painted on the Rahway River. But, though I am not interested in sifting through a lot of previous edits, I've found enough that do have issues with promotional tone, and am surprised that you're not aware of this. That alone makes me concerned about some form of COI. If you'd like, I can pull up the diffs, but I've already edited a few examples, so it shouldn't be difficult to discuss those. Apologies from shifting from my usual 2601. Thanks, 73.186.215.222 (talk) 23:14, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

At this point, to me, the "this reads like promo" sogn on the Rahway page just looks like vandalism. There is nothing on there that reads like promo. I feel like you purged it all out already so sign should n come down. I did change "clubs" to "community orgs" though.


 * Perhaps it can be removed, though I'd suggest it be done by someone else. This isn't the place to work it out, but as I noted in an edit summary, I don't think the garden club or friends of the library are appropriate to include in a Wikipedia article. That you're inclined to boosterism on behalf of NJ cities is evident; referring to the advert template as vandalism is a misstep. 73.186.215.222 (talk) 03:21, 17 August 2021 (UTC)
 * On second thought, I really hadn't looked at the lede until now. I'd suggest a consensus on whether it's appropriate for the second and third sentences of a Wikipedia article to be "Rahway was named the 2020 "Great Downtown" designee on the APA's list of "Great Places in New Jersey."[18] Rahway was also named the #2 Best Small Town Arts Scene in the country by USA Today in 2021.[19]" That really has advert written all over it. The first claim is based on a dubious WP:RELIABLE; the second looks more solid, but is rather glaring in the intro., I find it troubling that an experienced editor doesn't notice or acknowledge this area of concern. At this point, I'd welcome Alansohn's input, and that of other experienced editors. I'm happy to welcome divergent opinions. 2601:188:180:B8E0:4B7:A2AA:F35E:21A8 (talk) 19:33, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Hmm. I mean, to me, there should indeed be explanatory notes of significance in the lede like "named the best" this or that if it is a significant publication. It gives facts of significance. I also feel adding local organizations of longstanding does belong in an encyclopedia entry on a place. Is there a way to copy and paste this whole discussion to the Rahway talk page? If you know how, feel free! Not sure Alan is even seeing this. I put it on his page bc he is a Jersey guy. Bhdshoes2 (talk) 14:40, 18 August 2021 (UTC)


 * I can copy this and move it there, though I may not get to it until later. Will respond then, too. I'll likely request more eyes, so the discussion doesn't sit at the talk page until it grows stale. 2601:188:180:B8E0:65F5:930C:B0B2:CD63 (talk) 15:12, 18 August 2021 (UTC)


 * / and, I'm sorry that I hadn't been able to respond. I appreciate your respective positions, but I agree that the Rahway talk page is the best place for this discussion. While I agree that advertising tags are often unhelpful, there may well be legitimate issues with some of the content that's been added. As I'm sure that we would all agree that 98-99.9% of the article is not even borderline promotional, let's raise the issues at the talk page, discuss them dispassionately and reach consensus on them one at a time and update the article accordingly. Alansohn (talk) 15:38, 18 August 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for moving this here.

Ok, so the reason I feel the "this reads like an advertisement" sign should be removed ASAP is that 1) every sentence is factual in the article 2) all are written in a neutral tone 3) all are interesting and informative in an encyclopedic sense.

The mere presence of positive information in an encyclopedia about a formerly industrial place does not make it "advertising." Nor do I personally have any connection to Rahway or its "renaissance" (other than thinking it is interesting when a city regenerates - see my edits on Newark, Plainfield, Asbury, etc).

I also feel that the achievements and culture of these diverse "working class" places should be catalogued.

Additionally, given Rahway's industrial history, i feel the "ad" sign should be removed as potentially misleading.

Intentional or not, it kind of implies that the whole article is "BS" or "puffery" and that Rahway is somehow "really" a dump. That is not factual nor fair to the people of Rahway. Bhdshoes2 (talk) 15:05, 19 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Sorry, Bhdshoes2, but removing promotional or even merely "positive" information does not turn a place into a dump--that logic is severely flawed. Did you add those "local media"? Most of them aren't notable (or don't have articles yet) and they are NOT verified by secondary sources, only by links to the organizations--that's spammy. That applies to many of the organizations as well: we are not a tourist guide or a brochure. Drmies (talk) 17:16, 20 August 2021 (UTC)

Wait all media sources need their own Wikipedia page to be notable enough to go into a town's Wikipedia page cataloguing all media? That will never happen in NJ. It is a media desert between NYC and Philly. Are you saying that, say, the New York Times or the Star Ledger would need to report on these Rahway focused media sources to become notable enough to mention in a list of Rahway media on the page? If that is the rule, I guess that is the rule.

Also I don't think you followed my logic re "a dump." I don't mind removing the so-called promo itself. I was saying I think the banner about promo at head of article needs to be removed because it falsely implies there are currently phony puff pieces in the article. There are not. Bhdshoes2 (talk) 21:19, 20 August 2021 (UTC)

Bhdshoes2 (talk) 15:19, 21 August 2021 (UTC)
 * me again. My personal belief is that the well sourced achievements and local culture of these diverse "working class" Jersey places like Plainfield, Rahway, Asbury, Newark, Linden should be catalogued. I created the Oak Tree Road page for example. The people who make Oak Tree Road into a significant location should be able to look up facts in an encyclopedia about them. To me, the idea that Wikipedia should, say, include elaborate summaries of some snail's digestive tract or some 80s video game voice over cast, but not this local history and culture seems unencyclopedic. But fine to pare down the "fluff" i guess.