User talk:Oggmus

A reference problem
Hi! Some users have been working hard on Category:Pages with broken reference names.

Here you added a new reference  mccarthy2  but didn't define it. This has been showing as an error at the bottom of the article. " Cite error: The named reference  was invoked but never defined (see the help page). " Can you take a look and work out what you were trying to do? Thanks -- Frze > talk  14:02, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

This was corrected, but unfortunately to the wrong original reference. I have repaired that problem now and everything seems to be in order. Please let me know if I have missed something.Oggmus (talk) 07:34, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

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Thank you very much. The problem, which I am aware of, but do not always remember(!), has been fixed. Oggmus (talk) 12:26, 23 March 2014 (UTC)

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 * Thanks. I should have been able to guess that "Mercury" can several different meanings. But it is difficult to check these links while on the editing page. It will be fixed! Oggmus (talk) 11:49, 30 March 2014 (UTC)

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Thanks. Will fix that up.Oggmus (talk) 11:19, 8 April 2014 (UTC)

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Thanks. Done! Oggmus (talk) 11:38, 26 April 2014 (UTC)

Writing drafts
Hello, Oggmus -- I decided to transfer our discussion to your Talk page since it is not directly related to the Karoo article. Have you thought about writing your drafts in your Sandbox? It's at the top of your page. I haven't used it simply because I don't write articles, but you could use it. I also thought I'd mention something I have found helpful. If you click on "Preferences", then click on the "Gadgets" tab, you will see several sections of lists with small boxes at the left that you can click to select. If you go down to "Editing" and click on "wikEd", and then Save, you will see a new toolbar at the top of each editing window, when you are in Edit Mode, even if you are just editing a WP article. I believe it will also be available when you type drafts in your Sandbox. The nice thing about it is that, in Edit Mode, references are highlighted in one color (a kind of lavender-gray), picture captions are highlighted in another color (I think it's lime green), and notes to editors are highlighted in a third color (I think it's salmon, or pinkish-orange). The text of the article thus stands out, as it is in regular black letters on a white background. So you can focus on the text, or the references, etc.

I notice at the top of the Sandbox window that there are tutorials to show you how to use it. There's also a bar to click if you want to submit a new article for review. I don't know if you can select the editor you want to review what you've written or not. I'd be glad to proofread and make suggestions for improvement in sentence structure, organization, etc. (I have an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and taught for twenty-seven years before retiring), but I'm not very good at judging references. There are many editors who are experienced in reviewing new articles. Two editors I have found very helpful are Dougweller and Fayenatic london. I would go to either of them if you want someone to review articles or if you have questions about references and sources or about Wikipedia policy. You can ask me or Rothorpe if you have questions about grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, word usage, etc. If you have questions about etymology, I recommend asking Kwamikagami or Lfdder. If you have questions about geology or physics (which you probably won't have, since those are your fields), I recommend asking Vsmith or 0x0077BE. (Just put User talk: before the user name in the search bar to get to that user's talk page.) That's all for now. Best regards, CorinneSD (talk) 19:05, 27 April 2014 (UTC)

Thank you very much CorinneSD. I will try that in future. Great advice. Oggmus (talk) 04:57, 28 April 2014 (UTC)

May 2014
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 * * Great Escarpment, Southern Africa|Great Escarpment


 * fixed Oggmus (talk) 08:02, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

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 * s Eagles' prey on the Peninsula. Hockey, P.A.R., Dean, W.R.J. &amp; Ryan, P.G. (2005). Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. (VII Edition). p.531-532. John Voelcker Bird Book

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Done Oggmus (talk) 18:31, 22 June 2014 (UTC)

Uploading images to Commons
Hi, sorry, I won't be around the next while. Please ask at the Teahouse or another editor for help; or browse Commons help. There's a friendly wizard (software) to help upload images, so the actual mechanics of it are easy. The harder bit is dealing with permissions. Quickly, there are 3 routes: 1) the owner uploads the file, giving permission for their own work - that way it's all easy. 2) They upload it to Flickr (etc), checking the box for "CC-By-SA-3.0" giving everyone permission to use it freely. You reference the Flickr page and all is well. 3) They give you permission to use it on Wikipedia. You upload it to commons, and get them to fill in an OTRS ticket giving Wikipedia permission. The ticket is sent to a team of volunteers who check the ticket is ok and allow the image to stay. You then use the image.

What you can't do is upload someone else's file, say someone told you it was ok, and try to use it: it will be deleted and you get a pile of warnings. All the best, Chiswick Chap (talk) 16:21, 5 July 2014 (UTC)


 * Many thanks. I will explore those options as soon as the author I have approached agrees to make his images available to Wikipedia. Oggmus (talk) 06:17, 6 July 2014 (UTC)


 * Hi Chiswick Chap, I have been unable to contact the person who made the illustration of what happens if you average two faces. There is an in-line hyperlink to the website where this illustration is on display, but it would have been nice to have the actual three pictures in the Koinophilia article. So, for the moment the best available illustration is the one of Jessica Alba, whose facial features are all close to the population average. This is, of course, the corollary of what most researchers in this field have found. So, from this point of view it is a valuable illustration, showing that the averageness theory of beauty works both "forwards" and "backwards". Oggmus (talk) 12:01, 18 July 2014 (UTC)


 * The derived image is lawfully usable, and effectively illustrates the points about facial proportions, so it is helpful to the article: its presence is well justified. I have extended the quote in the Daily Mail citation (used in the image caption) to prove that the claim made in the citation is found in that source. While it would indeed have been much nicer to have a set of images as I suggested, the one here is fine and should remain. Of course, one day a researcher may donate some images from their study... All the best, Chiswick Chap (talk) 08:55, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

Thanks very much. I agree. Oggmus (talk) 09:25, 7 February 2015 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!
Thank you very much. I'm greatly honoured.Oggmus (talk) 11:10, 1 February 2015 (UTC)

On converting national styles of spelling
Regarding a recent edit: hopefully you understand that converting styles of spelling, such as British to American or vice-versa, can be quite contentious. Generally there is no problem fixing a few exceptions where there is a predominant style, but do tread cautiously. ~ J. Johnson (JJ) (talk) 23:29, 23 February 2015 (UTC)


 * I am aware of this, but in this case different contributors have used different styles. I also believe that the default Wikipedia spelling is US spelling, but that British (etc.) spelling is only used when dealing with specially British, or British Commonwealth topics (e.g. geography, or history). Is this correct? Oggmus (talk) 08:20, 25 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Nearly so. See MOS and MOS:SPELLING. There is no default, aside from a possible preponderance of American editors. Topics with "strong national ties" should use the appropriate variety (per MOS:TIES), but otherwise spelling should be consistent, following that of the initial editor, or as established by consensus. Note the templates available under Category:Varieties of English templates for specifying this explicitly. ~ J. Johnson (JJ) (talk) 21:48, 25 February 2015 (UTC)

That makes it a lot clearer. I had based my opinion on finding a banner that stated that the article I was looking at was specifically written South African English and contributors should bear this in mind (or words like that). I therefore assumed that unless stated otherwise Wikipedia uses US spelling.

But going through the "Altruism (biology) article again I notice that although a variety of different spelling conventions have been followed by different contributors, the original article was probably written using British spelling (judging by the opening remarks at the beginning of the article). I will therefore reverse by conversions into US spelling and restore the British spelling that I had altered in the section that I have been editing.

Thanks for all your help and advise. Oggmus (talk) 08:04, 26 February 2015 (UTC)


 * You're welcome. Advice is always easier than real work.
 * I don't see any indication there was any consensus to change the style of the article, so making it both consistent and in-line with the original should be acceptable. You should mention on the Talk page what you are doing, and perhaps add a suitable template to try to keep future editing in line. ~ J. Johnson (JJ) (talk) 23:18, 26 February 2015 (UTC)

Thank you for thanking me!
Thank you for sending me a thank you''. So many times I go through my editing on Wikipedia thinking that there isn't even one person who notices what's going on… But you did and I think you for it. With much appreciation,
 *  Bfpage &#124;leave a message 16:49, 12 March 2015 (UTC)

A great pleasure Oggmus (talk) 17:02, 12 March 2015 (UTC)
 * Came to say the same thing :) --Elitre (WPS) (talk) 21:42, 25 March 2015 (UTC) PS: So I think your name should be here!
 * Not sure you saw my PS above... Do you want me to do it? I think you may be the first user incorporating WPS experts'advice, I'm so excited about this! Thank you! best, --Elitre (WPS) (talk) 14:22, 1 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Hi again. I'm not suggesting you should also help with articles in the future if you don't feel like it, but it certainly helps the project to track down editors who already helped if these sign in the relevant section :) If it's misworded or something, please let me know? Thanks a lot! --Elitre (WPS) (talk) 11:26, 4 May 2015 (UTC)

Koinophilia
Please see Conflict of interest:
 * Using material you have written or published is allowed within reason, but only if it is relevant, conforms to the content policies, including WP:SELFPUB, and is not excessive. Citations should be in the third person and should not place undue emphasis on your work.

I am sure your article KOESLAG, J. I990. Koinophilia groups sexual creatures into species, promotes stasis, and stabilizes social behavior. Journal of Theoretical Biology I44:I5-35. Would count as a WP:RS how ever I can find no source that uses "koinophilia" to mean anything except Averageness. If you mean it to be something else third party review (even a negative one) would be needed.

Publications that use the term "koinophilia":


 * Unnikrishnan M.K. (2009) How is the individuality of a face recognized? Journal of Theoretical Biology. 261 (3), 469–474. doi:10.1016/ j.jtbi.2009.08.011


 * Unnikrishnan M.K. (2012) Koinophilia revisited: the evolutionary link between mate selection and face recognition. Current Science, 102 (4) :563-570.


 * Miller W.B. (2013) The Microcosm within: Evolution and Extinction in the Hologenome. (Chapter: What is the big deal about evolutionary gaps?) pp. 395-396. Universal Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida. ISBN 10:1-61233-2773.


 * Naini F.B. (2011) Facial aesthetics. Concepts and clinical diagnosis. (Chapter: The enigma of facial beauty). Blackwell Publishing, Chichester, West Sussex. ISBN: 978-1-4051-8192-1.


 * Ruby C.D. (2011) Koinophilia. International Book Marketing Service Ltd. ISBN 13: 9786139947881.


 * Otto S.P. (1991) On evolution under sexual and viability selection: a two locus diploid model. Evolution 45(6) 1443-1457. (not 100% certain of this one, as I have been unable to inspect the whole article)

Selection of important articles that cite the Koeslag 1990 paper


 * Alam M., Dover J.S. (2001) On Beauty: Evolution, Psychosocial Considerations, and Surgical Enhancement. Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology 137(6):795-807. doi:10-1001


 * Apicella C., Little A.C., Marlow F.W. (2006) Facial averageness and attractiveness in an isolated population of hunter-gatherers. Perception 36(12) 1813 – 1820


 * Rhodes G. (2006) The Evolutionary Psychology of facial Beauty. Annual Reviews of Psychology 57:199-226.


 * Leopold D.A., Rhodes, G. (2010) A Comparative View of Face Perception. Journal of Comparative Psychology 124(3): 233–251. Oggmus (talk) 22:27, 11 April 2015 (UTC)

Please help expand Averageness. J8079s (talk) 22:58, 10 April 2015 (UTC)

Also if this is you you need to say so.J8079s (talk) 02:31, 11 April 2015 (UTC)
 * See Conflict of interest above. Oggmus (talk) 15:26, 11 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I did not click on the "[1]" link, thinking you were referring to reference 1 of the article. The line you are referring to in the discussion on the Koinophilia Talk page was not made by me. I have no idea who made it because most of that discussion, after my last signed comment, was made overnight while I was blissfully oblivious of the very busy activity going on there. Oggmus (talk) 22:27, 11 April 2015 (UTC)
 * I was abuot to refer you to WP:Sockpuppet I am sure you are making a WP:Goodfaith effort to build a better encyclopedia. But there is work to do. J8079s (talk) 02:14, 12 April 2015 (UTC)

Reference errors on 15 April
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 * On the Koinophilia page, [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=656565574 your edit] caused a broken reference name (help) . ([ Fix] | [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Help_desk&action=edit&section=new&preload=User:ReferenceBot/helpform&preloadtitle=Referencing%20errors%20on%20%5B%5BSpecial%3ADiff%2F656565574%7CKoinophilia%5D%5D Ask for help])


 * Fixed Oggmus (talk) 15:57, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

Geology of South Africa
Hi Oggmus, I've noticed that you are adding geological information to articles about various regions/provinces of South Africa. Could I perhaps tempt you into contributing to Draft:Geology of South Africa as a "topic summary" article? IMHO it is one of the most fundamental missing articles about SA. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 09:48, 30 April 2015 (UTC)

Hi Dodger67, Thank you for inviting me to contribute to this article about the geology of South Africa. While I have a fairly good idea about the geology of the south-western, central and mid-eastern portions of the country I feel completely at sea about the Bushveld and Low Veld regions. Even Namaqualand and Bushmanland I find difficult to understand in a way that I would be able to explain it to others. I'd simply be copying and pasting from a geology book (i.e. plagiarising) without any understanding of what is going on in these regions. I have written as much (in full, and summarised) as I know about the Cape Fold Belt, the Karoo Supergroup, the Vredefort Dome, Drakensberg, the Great Escarpment and the Witwatersrand and Witwatersrand Basin. I am sure that much of that can be copied into the new article which brings all of these topics together, which is an excellent idea. Oggmus (talk) 14:06, 30 April 2015 (UTC)

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 * fixed Oggmus (talk) 15:57, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

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 * Fixed Oggmus (talk) 15:07, 31 May 2015 (UTC)

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 * Fixed Oggmus (talk) 06:34, 20 September 2016 (UTC)

Interesting articles
Hello Oggmus, I am from the Afrikaans Wikipedia and have "discovered" your amazing work on articles about the Cape Fold Mountains, Table Mountain, the Karoo Supergroup etc, as well as your spot-on illustrations. I just want to say I really enjoy your preciseness and I am now translating some of these articles. Really nice work! Burgert Behr (talk) 21:34, 24 February 2020 (UTC)