User:R~enwiki/Adopt/Users/Corvus coronoides

Hey Corvus coronoides! This will be our discussion page for your adoption. Ask any questions you want by placing a question in it's own section, by titling the section using the format ==title here==, and then putting the question right below it. Please don't erase answered sections, as I would like to keep them. If this page becomes big, I'll archive some of it. So that you know when I answer your questions, please hit the "watch" button that's to the right of the "edit this page" button at the top. Whenever the page is updated, it will appear in your watchlist.--TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 23:46, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

The Basics
I don't know if you've read it yet, but some of the basic things can be found here. Feel free to ask me about any of it or to ask me about anything else.--TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 23:46, 11 March 2007 (UTC) I've read through some of it, and the main problem I'm having is eyestrain, so I'll probably come back on later and re-read it thoroughly. Corvus coronoides 23:55, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

User Page
I know how to create a user page, but I'm unfamiliar with Wikipedia coding. Could you tell me how I could put an About Me section on my user page similar to the one on yours? Corvus coronoides 23:57, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Above your userboxes, put, and at the bottom put . --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 00:05, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, and is there somewhere I can find the different wikipedia categories? Such as Wikipedians by Language and Wikipedians by Musical Instruments, except I've already found those. Corvus coronoides 00:08, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
 * This will give you every single category that starts with "Wikipedian". Many userboxes also come with categories. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 00:15, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks :) Corvus coronoides 00:45, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Starting Articles
a) how do I start a new article, and b) in general, how much information/content should I have before I do so, and c) is there anyway I can collaborate with a more experienced user? Corvus coronoides 20:52, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
 * 1.To start a new article, type the title you want in the search box and hit go. When the search page comes up, click the "Create this page" link. *2.Quality, not quantity. See WP:STUB. *3. Well, I'm an experienced user. If you mean someone who knows information about a certain thing, you can probably find someone in a WikiProject that has advanced knowledge of something and would be happy to collaborate with you. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 23:15, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Hmm... well, I was thinking of starting an article on the Norris vs. Alabama, which is one of the two Scottsboro Supreme Court cases, the other one being Powell vs. Alabama. Anyway, so a stub is basically an introductory paragraph to the topic? Corvus coronoides 13:00, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Citing Sources
When writing an article or stub, do I need to cite my sources/write a bibliography? If so, how should I do so?Corvus coronoides 17:56, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes. You should always cite sources. An easy way to do this is to put after the info you want to cite. For example, you can put:

Birds like potato chips. , which produces Birds like potato chips.

Then at the bottom of a page, make a section called References, or something of that nature, and in the section, put. That will automatically create a numbered list of all the references, with the titles that you provided after the site address above. On this page, it results in this:

P.S. I just picked a random site, and Bob's Potato Chips doesn't exist:) --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 22:18, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

My First Article!
Slightly excited, yes :) I joined the WikiProject Birds and created the Mariana Crow article.  And I'm actually getting somewhat used to this wikified coding.  Australian Raven 21:40, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Images
I've read the Wikipedia Image Policy, and I'm wondering where in the world am I supposed to be able to find non-copyrighted images to put into articles. How can I incorporate images into articles without breaking copyrights, and how can I find these images? Australian Raven 21:38, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 * The easiest way to get a non-copyrighted image is to take it your self. Many sites also have disclaimers that there stuff can be used provided you don't see it, that you link to their site disclaimer, etc. You can probably find more info here. There are very few users that are experienced in image policy. I think this user is one of those few. Try asking him. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 21:53, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 * It looks like I was right. I hope he helped. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 22:39, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 * It was helpful, thank you :) Australian Raven 23:52, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

Barnstars, other stars, and other award things
I keep seeing these things on other user pages, so I read the wikipedia article on them, and I know what they are. However, one thing that's not clear to me. Who is allowed to give them?Australian Raven 21:22, 16 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Anyone! Just leave them on a user talk page with a nice message. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@ 21:25, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

Arbitration
What exactly is it? I saw something about it on someone's talk page, checked out the links provided, but still don't get what it is. Corvus  coronoides  Contributions  M Go Blue 00:17, 3 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Arbitration is a way to solve major disputes. The results are a binding solution, and sometimes a ban, desysopping, etc. --R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 21:10, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Sourcing
I've been finding that sometimes when I use the same source more than once in an article, I get the same source listed at the bottom more than once. Is there a way to get around this? Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  20:34, 3 June 2007 (UTC)
 * No, there's no way around this. But if they use the same source, they should maybe be together. --R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 20:43, 3 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Can I just not put the source in-line when I use it later in the article? Especially in sources about animals, they tend to have a wide range of info. Cheers, Corvus   coronoides  10:32, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
 * If you use it later, that should be fine. --R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 20:36, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Sourcing for Fictional Topics
I want to help improve the article Daemon (His Dark Materials), which is about daemons, metaphysical beings in a fictional series. How does one cite sources for this type of thing? Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  00:09, 13 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't really know if I'm understanding right, but you would cite it the same way you cite a real thing. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@(Let's Go Yankees!) 00:23, 13 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Well, when the only cause for the article comes from a fictional book, do the books themselves count as a source? Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  00:27, 13 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes they do. See here. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@(Let's Go Yankees!) 01:18, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Vandal Patrol
Sorry to bug you - I know you're busy. What's Vandal Patrol? Actually, I have a general idea of what it is, but can you direct me to somewhere that tells you how to do it? Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  11:41, 15 June 2007 (UTC)
 * WP:RCP tells you about it. I recommend using TW as a tool. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@(Let's Go Yankees!) 14:58, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Opinion Please?
I've fiddled around with userbox code and was wondering what you thought of this:

Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  00:46, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
 * It looks good (I don't even know how to do this! I'm not that good of an HTML wizard). It looks like the only problem is that the show and hid columns cover the first userbox. You could probably insert a break of something. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 22:21, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! By the way, tell me the next time you have an RfA, so I can run along and support, will you? Cheers, Corvus  coronoides  00:43, 30 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Hmm...the RFA people wouldn't like that :) -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 03:51, 30 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Maybe, but isn't it different if I've read your past RfAs and think that mistakes were made both times? Besides, how are you canvassing me if I've requested that you let me know? By the way, I'm leaving tomorrow for vacation so I won't be on. Cheers, Corvus   coronoides  13:19, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Twinkle...
Is Firefox downloadable? Cheers, Corvus coronoides talk 15:24, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually, I just downloaded it - except, I don't understand what I do now. Can you give me a brief explanation?  As in... how does one revert vandalism using Twinkle?  I'm a bit lost.  I'm sure I can figure out most of the rest of it from there.  Thanks! Cheers, Corvus coronoides talk  22:07, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * First, bypass your cache in FireFox, assuming you've put the code into your monobook.js. To bypass your cache, hit CTRL+R. To revert, go to the history of a page, and compare the current version to the one before it. You should see the revert buttons on the right side version. Those will revert all edits made by a user until another user made an edit. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 00:12, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Ready to leave the nest
Hey R, I think I've figured out the whole wiki thing, at least to the extent that I think I'm ready to "graduate" from the adoption program. I've gotten an article to GA, joined a few wikiprojects, done some vandal-fighting, reviewing, copy-editing, etc. What do you think? Cheers, <b style="color:#7D26CD;">Corvus coronoides</b> <sub style="color:#000000;">talk 14:42, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Since you're on break, I just went ahead and changed the template on my page. Thanks for all your help, and I hope you come back soon! Cheers, <b style="color:#7D26CD;">Corvus coronoides</b> <sub style="color:#000000;">talk  19:31, 6 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Your welcome! And thanks for being my only very active adoptee, ever :D. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 04:22, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
 * You're welcome, and thanks again for all the help! Cheers, <b style="color:#7D26CD;">Corvus coronoides</b> <sub style="color:#000000;">talk 14:14, 7 October 2007 (UTC)