User talk:BobbyDowler

St Peter's
The information that you added was one of many many small traditions associated with St Peter's. You added it, right bang in the middle of the introduction of a very long article, as if it was one of the very most important facts, as important as St Peter's chair, Michelangelo's dome, and all the papal ceremonies? To put a fact that is comparatively trivial into the wrong place is very poor editting.

For successful editting:
 * Look at the way the article is laid out. The Table of Contents is there to help. A long article will have many sections. Find the right section.
 * Read thoroughly before you add anything at all.
 * Don't' put minor facts into the introduction. Find the right section.
 * Ask. If you start reading an article and find that it is already long and well-written,  then it means there are a number of people watching it.  If you think you fact is very important, then leave a message on the talk page.
 * Correction If something seems to be wrong, unless it is obvious vandalism (you can check on the history page- most vandals don't sign in), it's a good idea to leave a message so it can be discussed.
 * Reference. If you add a fact, then it should be referenced. While some of the oldest articles on Wkipedia are not very well referenced, nowadays every added fact is supposed to have an appropriate reference.
 * Check what you have added by using Show Preview.

Always make sure that anything you have inserted goes with the flow of the sentences around it. If some fact gets shoved in where it doesn't belong, it can turn meaningful information into nonsense. One classic example was:
 * "The cathedral organ has 1800 pipes and three manuals. The wind is provided by a small diesel engine. There is a lunchtime recital on the organ every Tuesday at 1 PM. It is located in a purpose-built engine house beside the north choir aisle."

So why is the organ recital taking place in an engine house beside the cathedral? Simply because somebody didn't bother to read, either before, or after making their addition.

NOTE that many important article on Wiki get over a thousand visitors a day, and the standard of these article is usually rigorously maintained by a number of editors who screen every changed, often within minutes. On the other hand, there are many many articles that are in poor shape and need a lot of work. Sometimes it is a good idea to visit some of the linked articles that are about a major subject. You will find them listed under "See also" at the bottom of most articles.

Hope this is helpful!

It might be a good idea to start an article about the traditions of St Peter's, if there isn't one already! Remember, facts have to be referenced. Amandajm (talk) 04:21, 5 May 2012 (UTC)