User:Stephanieann531/irc2

Copy of our IRC chat on 1st April 2009

[22:26]  Hi stephanieann531! Welcome to #wikipedia-en-help, the help channel for the English Wikipedia. Just ask your question, and one of our friendly helpers will answer as soon as possible. :-) [22:26] Hi [22:26] hello again [22:26] you were helping me friday night with my friends pate [22:26] How are things with you? [22:26] page [22:26] pretty good.. [22:26] how about you [22:27] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_hornsby [22:27] with the citing [22:27] and referencing [22:27] ok. Did you have a question? [22:28] ya, as far as referencing and citing, all she is sending me is emails [22:28] of letters she recieved [22:29] pertaining to her music.. [22:29] i can't really cite that or reference that right? [22:29] Not sufficient, I'm afraid. It's not a 'reliable source' [22:29] it has to be directed to an actual printed paper, magazine.. etc [22:29] thats what i though [22:29] thought.. sorry, i can't type today for some reason [22:30] I know it seems a bit odd; I had the same myself last week. An author emailed me saying that their bio page was wrong, as they'd moved - I couldn't do anything, until the author got his publisher to update their Bio of him - then I could cite that, and make the change. [22:31] Remember that the reader has to be able to verify the information. The reader will have no way to access your letters, and even if you made them available, the reader would have no way of ascerting their authenticity. [22:31] ya, i think she wants to publish them in her article.. [22:32] ya.. hmmm.. ok [22:32] Unfortunately, if that particular page is to remain on WP, a lot of it will have to go, as RS are not available to support the facts. [22:33] Imagine you were writing a bio of Chzz. I could email you and tell you I'm the Queen of Sheba. I could also write that I was the Queen of Sheba on my myspace page. [22:34] Unless the BBC News or similar picks up on my ascention to the throne, sadly Wikipedia will not be able to reflect the fact. [22:34] ya, i understand.. [22:35] :) Great! What a refreshing change :) Usually takes about 2 hours and an account block to explain that :) [22:36] she sent me a news article that says it was edited in 2008 and who it was written by, but nothing leading back to what paper the article was printed in.. I can't use that either right [22:36] i like to think im a fast learner.. haha [22:36] You need to find out the name of the paper. If it's an RS, then you can cite it. [22:37] Most 'decent' papers are considered reliable sources. [22:37] ok, that's what i thought. [22:37] you might be able to locate a copy of the article online, by googling for a quote from it, within quotes. [22:38] oh, ok, i'll try that [22:38] Note - you would not cite a website with a copy of the article; you'd still cite the paper, but you can add a 'convenience link' to the URL, to make it easier for readers to check it [22:39] once again, you have been a help. :) i didn't think i would be able to cite what info she was sending me, i just wanted to double check before i did anything [22:39] I have a suggestion for you, which has worked in similar cases in the past; [22:39] a) copy the article as is to a new page in your own user area, user:stephanieann531/nikki [22:40] b) ruthlessly edit the existing article down to a stub, with about 1 or two lines, with a good solid RS for proof - ie "Nikki is a singer from Long Beach" - and that's about it. [22:41] c) slowly, one at a time, add information to the article, citing a solid RS for each bit. [22:41] That's the suggestion [22:41] ok.. that would probably be easier [22:42] It's the best way to avoid problems with the article. Remember Wikipedia is 'live'; that way you can work on things at your own pace etc, and the article will always be in a stable form, etc. [22:42] ie it won't be deleted or anyth, while you build it up. [22:43] ok. [22:43] good suggestion [22:43] thank you [22:43] First thing I would suggest adding to the stub (assuming you go that way) would be a suitable infobox at the top, with a pic of her. If you can get a copyright free pic. Makes the article look much more polished. [22:43] A good stub article is way better than what is there right now. [22:44] You're welcome; if you have any doubts about adding something, etc - just write it on a version in your userspace, and then ask us here to check it over. [22:44] i see.. ok, would you be able to put a copy of this in my account? i just want to have someting to reference back to [22:45] yes, I can do that. [22:45] thank you so much [22:45] :)