User:Lartoven/Coaching


 * General stuff:
 * this must be 100/100 at all times
 * Only 99/100 - I don't make enough major mainspace edits... Calvin 1998 (t-c) 03:38, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
 * two things to remember in a dispute: WP:AGF + WP:1RR

Links to keep track of everything:

You said that you need to strengthen your knowledge of our policy and content-writing.

Deletion
The button every sysop uses most is delete. Therefore, every sysop must have a strong grasp of deletion policy.
 * Practical exercise: participate in deletion discussions more, but never simply votestack like "delete per nom". Only participate when you have something non-trivial to add. Research sources, analyse other people's arguments, assess neutrality. Remember not to stick only to articles that you feel should be deleted, or vice versa.
 * I see no such participation from you so far. This part of your training is very important, please don't ignore it. 05:26, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Ok, I've participated more often. Unfortunately, most of them have been deletes, as most of the articles nominated should be deleted... Calvin 1998 (t-c) 03:38, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Images
You need to build up some experience with copyright-related issues. Primarily, this is about image. Your two non-free unfree image uploads are fine, but remember not to use non-free images outside of mainspace, even in userspace drafts. We have a boring Image use policy, and lots of other image-related policies, guidelines and so on. Just keep in mind that images must be free "as in speech" to be used in Wikipedia. This means two things: everyone must be allowed to use it for anything, including commercial use; and modification must be allowed. If the source website does not state explicitly that an image is under a free license, we can't use it. For limited cases where we can accept non-free images and media, refer to WP:NFCC. There's nothing terrible if you look it up whenever needed.


 * Practical exercise: find some free images to improve Wikipedia. There are three main sources of free images: oldies with expired copyright, images from US government (including NASA) and contemporary images under free licenses (a great example is Flickr, where images can be explicitly tagged with some of the Creative Commons licenses). For example, you could sweep through categories like 1895 deaths and use Google Images to locate a portrait of them. Caution regarding Flickr: only "Some rights reserved" images are suitable for Wikipedia, and of them, only combinations of BY and SA are considered free, NC and ND should be thrown away. Always upload free images to Commons, and you'll receive extra bonus points for going through interwiki links and adding the images you've uploaded to articles in other languages.
 * Is just CC-BY ok or does it need to be CC-BY-SA? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:59, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Both CC-BY and CC-BY-SA are acceptable, and CC-SA is theoretically allowed, but it does not exist. Here's a cheatsheet for using FLickr images. Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Right. So I've uploaded Image:Alcatraz Island from Pier39 with 500mm.jpg and Image:Alcatraz full view 210mm.jpg on Commons with my Commons account. I'll see if they can be used over at Alcatraz Island Calvin 1998 (t-c) 01:40, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Also just uploaded Image:NASA-Phoenix-Panels-Arm-Body.jpg a while ago and added it to Phoenix (spacecraft) (by the way, I marked it as PD-NASA, but it was taken automatically (not by a human) - who's the copyright holder? NASA? All organizations that helped build it? is it PD because it was taken by a non-human?).
 * It was made by NASA, so it should be PD, because its source page contains no special copyright notice, and none of exceptions outlined at PD-NASA seem to apply. Max S em(Han shot first!) 20:59, 25 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Practical exercise: go to Category:Images with no copyright tag and try to fix a few images that don't need to be deleted by removing deletion tag from images that actually have proper copyright tag and source; or adding a tag yourself where the uploader obviously stated what s/he wants, but just couldn't format it properly. Also, you can add appropriate fair-use tags to some images, but don't waste your time on images that don't satisfy WP:NFCC. Report back after you've fixed at least ten images.
 * Image:Bill Overal.jpg 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Australia 4.png 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Australia 3.png 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Cbc.jpg 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Welsh cup.jpg 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Tutu 65K.JPG 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Look good. Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Dr. Novães 4.jpg 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Lacks permission from the author. Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:BlydeRiverCanyonViewOfaSideofACliff.JPG 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:WeepingFaceofNatureInBlydeRiverCanyon.JPG 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * These two images look suspicious: uploaded by someone who claims he's the author from Flickr, but all his images at Flickr are marked as 'All rights reserved' and certainly not GFDL as tagged. Question: what should users do if they doubt the copyright ststus of an image? Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
 * :P looks like I never answered --> you take it to WP:PUI if it's doubted. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 00:51, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Exactly. Max S em(Han shot first!) 21:15, 7 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Image:Sumatra hen.jpg 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Had a duplicate, one of these images needed to be tagged for speedy deletion with db-i1. Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Looks like 10 of them to me! Also CSD's and IfD'd a couple of them with Twinkle. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:52, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Regarding speedy tags: you tagged Image:Soullink-logo.gif as CSD I9, although it wasn't exactly a copyvio, it just lacked a fair use rationale. Max S em(Han shot first!) 10:41, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

Can you take a look at Image:ESignal10 1 Screenshot.png and fix it? It claims the image is PD per it was part of a press release, but that info is inside a Non-free / fair use media rationale. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:08, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Here's how it's done. Max S em(Han shot first!) 21:14, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Got it. By the way, I just fixed up Image:KEPL Logo.png, Image:Gene edwards 2008.jpg‎, Image:CimaHouse.jpg, and Image:Orzlivethumb.jpg‎ 's copyright tags. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:22, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Vandalfighting
So far you're doing great, but you need to grow a thicker skin, some of your AIV reports related to your school are premature.
 * All your AIV reports for a very long period ended with a block. Excellent! Max S em(Han shot first!) 06:08, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

Article writing
While writing articles is not required to maintain the sysop status, all !voters expect admin candidates to have enough experience in this area, because ultimately this website is about writing the encyclopedia, and admins use their tools in relation to this.

Referencing
Go to your preferences choose Gadgets tab and enable refTools. It's a convenient way to add citations quickly. Use it, or don't use if you don't like it, but remeber to always source what you're writing. Source it immediately as you write. Unreferenced text is a crap no matter of how brilliant its prose is.
 * I can't get refTools (gadget version) to work. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 22:58, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Ahh...yes. refTools is incompatible with wikEd, which I use. Whatever... I source everything anyhow. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 00:53, 9 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Practical exercise: find a large enough article not written by you that lacks sources and try to reference as much as possible.

Creation

 * Practical exercise: create several stubs from scratch. Try not to abandon at least some of them. A DYK would be just great.
 * Stubs? There's Artemis Fowl I, User:Calvin 1998/Paradizo family, Butler family (Artemis Fowl), and Fowl family (Artemis Fowl) that I've created already. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:10, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * And User:Calvin 1998/PAUSD should be at Palo Alto Unified School District within the hour - but I didn't really write that one from scratch. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 01:24, 8 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Domovoi Butler was finished a few weeks ago (or just one?), even though it still needs a bit of work. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:26, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Improvement
There are lots of ways people participate in article improvement. You can be frequent at GAC or FAC discussions if you like, or just click "Random article" and improve what you see. I can't really help you with choosing a direction here, and I don't think that anyone can even give you the full list of every opportunity possible. Just adopt an article or two you care about, you'll see what needs to be done yourself.

Tasks
Your contributions seem to be focused around Artemis Fowl, while admins need more or diverse experience with articles. It will be looked at by RFA !voters, and I personally would like to see more from you before nominating. So, I have some tasks for you:
 * Add a few inline citations to Operation Anthropoid
 * Working on it, have added one reference (diff) so far (they really are hard to find...) Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:56, 26 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, I am still working on it... Calvin 1998 (t-c) 21:33, 15 July 2008 (UTC)
 * More or less ✅ - I might add some more on the bottom sections if I feel like it. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 01:21, 6 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Expand Jon Robert Holden - finding and adding information about his early life would be great
 * Create a stub on something from Requested_articles/Culture_and_fine_arts
 * Create a stub about Allods game series, we already have separate articles on games from it: Rage of Mages and Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul
 * Integrate trivia section of Tiamat (band) into prose
 * on it - perhaps not prose, but integrated into other sections nonetheless. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 01:21, 6 September 2008 (UTC)
 * ✅. Or so I think... Calvin 1998 (t·c) 23:41, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Admin practice
To try admin interface right now, you may want to register on http://wiki.xyrael.net and follow their instructions to obtain admin bit (but read below first)
 * I already have admin bit there as User:Calvin 1998 :) Don't think I've tried out the block form a lot, though (either that, or it's different from the block form picture below) Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:20, 26 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I had done everything but autoblock, so I just went and did it. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 01:31, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Security considerations
Wikipedia is currently world's #7 website, according to alexa.com. This means that being a Wikipedia sysop is a serious issue.
 * Make sure that your password is really strong: Don't leave your fly open
 * It is.


 * Never use your Wikipedia password for any other site. If you had, change your password.


 * Remember to disclose as less information about yourself as possible
 * I'll remember... hopefully.

Questions, batch 1
These questions don't need long answers. Uh, unless your answers will need further discussion.
 * What is the difference between TOR and open proxy?
 * I don't know all the technical details, but TOR is an anonymity network, and an open proxy is simply a proxy server that accepts incoming connections from the entire Internet. Both conceal the user's true IP address. Open proxies are hard-blocked on sight, TOR is often just soft-blocked b/c of its common use to bypass China's firewalls and the like.


 * Why we don't block vandalising users on sight, but warn them first instead?
 * A.) Courtesy B.)To see if they continue and actually have harmful intentions toward the encyclopedia, not just joking or test-editing Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * +AGF +avoid biting those who may later become a valuable editors. Max S em(Han shot first!) 20:56, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * You've found a page that was vandalised, but upon editing you see no sign of vandalism. How do you fix that?


 * If the page wiki-code doesn't contain signs of vandalism, how would you have known the page was vandalised? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Hehe, a template used on that page is vandalised, that's why you don't see it in page's text. To find out which one, check everything in the section "Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page" below edit box. Max S em(Han shot first!) 20:54, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * You see a vandal who adds a disgusting image to pages, however, this image by itself has some encyclopedic value and if legitimately used in some article(s). How do you prevent further abuse of this image?
 * If it only has possible use in a couple (1-3) articles, I think the Mediawiki:Bad image list is where to put it. As far as I know though, that's only for really disgusting images. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)


 * What is the difference between blocking and banning?
 * :P This question is starting to become a cliché... Banning is the removal of the right to edit, placed upon the user either upon ArbCom ruling, decision of Jimbo, or community consensus. An indef-blocked user that remains blocked after community discussion on the user is considered banned by the community. Blocking is the way we technically prevent a user from editing pages. Blocked users are not banned, a ban comes only after one of the normal banning procedures. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 20:07, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Questions, batch 2

 * When a user's first block should be indef as 'vandalism-only account'?
 * 4 warnings for vandalism and no positive/good faith edits at all. In other words, if they're a "vandalism-only account". Calvin 1998 (t-c) 18:34, 13 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Why was that guy unblocked while 99.9% of unblock requests like "it was my friend/child/grandma" are immediately declined?
 * The fact that he "apologized"? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 18:34, 13 July 2008 (UTC)
 * No. They all apologise. The difference was that this particular user wasn't registered 1 minute before starting vandalism. Max S em(Han shot first!) 19:06, 13 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Now how did I not notice that. . . especially when I was thinking of that too :P Calvin 1998 (t-c) 19:17, 13 July 2008 (UTC)


 * You discovered that a respected member of our community is involved in something completely inacceptable, say malicious sockpuppetry. The evidence is absolutely undeniable. What will you do?
 * 1.) Ask the user to explain 2.)Seeing that in this situation there probably won't be a good explanation, I would take it to WP:AN/I and have the community decide upon a solution. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 18:34, 13 July 2008 (UTC)
 * 1) Absolutely right, unless you have reasons to believe that they will start killing witnesses and eliminating all evidence:P 2) ANI is called WP:DRAMA for a reason - if the violations are really serious, writing directly to arbcom makes lot of sense. Max S em(Han shot first!) 19:06, 13 July 2008 (UTC)


 * When users edit-warring on a specific page should be blocked, and when it should be protected instead? Is it acceptable to protect and block at the same time?
 * Per WP:Edit war, a protection should be placed if the edit-warring editors might resolve the conflict. A block is necessary when it is clear the warring editor/s won't stop their behavior, as WP:Edit war puts it,

Blocks are preferred when there is evidence that a user cannot or will not moderate their behavior, often demonstrated by an inflexible demeanor, incivility, or past instances of edit warring and unchanged behavior.
 * Calvin 1998 (t-c) 18:34, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

Other discussions
This section is for miscellaneous questions. Ask here anything you like.
 * - :P I forgot what the difference between hard-block and soft-block was... Calvin 1998 (t-c) 03:07, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Hard-block means that editing from the IP is completely disabled. Softblock means that only unregistered users are blocked, and there is another option, whether to block account creation from that IP. The 'classical' softblock means that account creation is blocked. Max S em(Han shot first!) 18:26, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
 * So autoblock on would be hard-blocking? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 19:13, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Autoblock is for registered users only. Max S em(Han shot first!) 19:20, 31 May 2008 (UTC)


 * - Would changing my password on my Commons account change my en-wikipedia password and vice-versa if they're SUL-connected? I changed my Commons password and then couldn't log into this one, I had to reset my password here. And then my new Commons password was switched to my reset en.wikipedia password... Calvin 1998 (t-c) 00:31, 28 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Question: what should I do with this website? It's taking text from Wikipedia articles, but releasing it under CC-BY 2.5 instead of GFDL. What is the policy for these? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 22:05, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Sent a standard GFDL-violation email to the site owner, as CC-BY is not compatible w/ GFDL. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 23:36, 29 June 2008 (UTC)