User talk:Pedant/2006-08-19

Citation needed/The smartest 14 year old in the world
I'm glad someone played along with my bit of fun. Every time I tag an article like that, I've been tempted to tag it {NPOV} or with another such template. I finally caved, I guess. Cheers! -- Merope 20:08, 11 August 2006 (UTC)
 * You would think the smartest 14 year old in the world would know he has to cite sources... and that brand new articles by redlinked users would be read pretty quickly by someone. Which makes me doubt the claim even more.  Then again, there must be somewhere, the smartest 14 year old in the world, and it's nice to think he would be a wikipedia contributor...

Reconstruction of Iraq
Hello, I see you contributed to "Reconstruction in Iraq". I send out several daily news articles re the recontrcution to Iraq CPA vets and other interested parties. If you want to get them, usually 15 a day, contact Jdurso. Thanks.
 * Sure, I never have enough stuff to read, bring 'em on! User:Pedant 23:24, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

I usually email them, than post 'em, as its the quickest way to get them to the 194 people on the distribution list. I can send them to an email address.

AMA fun
Thanks for being available. Here are some quick questions (possibly not the last, don't have a lot of time right now):

1. Is the advocate's activities supposed to be entirely public? (as in can I work out deals away via e-mail, not talk pages as to avoid flaming and whatnot)
 * entirely up to your good judgement

2. Is the advocate supposed to focus, in Arb cases, on the client's innocence, or is he free to look into the accusers?
 * whatever is needed to resolve the situation appropriately

3. Do advocates ever go up against each other?
 * advocates don't 'go up against' anyone at all, we merely help people reach a solution to a problem

4. Are there any things you've learned in hindsight that you can save me from? :D]
 * yes. Say "please, thank you and I'm sorry" as often as you can fit them into the conversation, and remember you aren't trying to 'win', just help someone who is having a tough time with something.
 * see my extremely unofficial FAQ for advocates for the thorough version of these answers.

Thanks! --Wslack (talk) 13:28, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

An irregular verb
I am precise/You are picky/He is pedantic User:David.Mestel 21:25, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Niiiice !!! Gotta love it. User:Pedant

If you like irregular verbs, you might like this one too (from Yes Minister):
 * I give confidential briefings/You leak/He has been charged under the Official Secrets Act. David Mestel(Talk) 17:42, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Wonderful FAQ :-)
You really handled Wslack's questions wonderfully! :-) It's a perfect addition to the FAQ page, and I would strongly recommend you incorperate them into the AMA Handbook that is currently in the works. :-) One minor mistake is the only thing that I found with it: You used the word "client." :-) I know it's tricky to find a good word to refer to whom you're Advocating, but "client" is one that the AMA traditionally avoids (as it brings up images of judges and courtrooms and "I object!" and the like :-) ). I, personally, like to use the word "charge" or "ward," and I think that this might be an important topic that we should discuss in a meeting. But as I said, other than that, the FAQ was stellar! :-) אמר Steve Caruso ( desk / AMA / vote for me ) 02:24, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Advocacy request
Here it comes again! Heyo, Steve Caruso here. There is a Request for assistance by Typing_monkey  (talk) on  Stephen Colbert. Would you be willing to take their case? If you will, please leave a note and sign under the entry on WP:AMARQ and change "(pending)" in the heading to "(open)." When you're finished with the case, set it to "(closed)". If you're not able to take the case, please leave me a message on my talk page so I can continue searching for a willing Advocate. Many thanks! General Eisenhower said he was free to take it, but I haven't heard from him since, so this one looks like it'll be good for you. :-) אמר Steve Caruso ( desk / AMA / vote for me ) 02:34, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Hi there, and thanks for offering to help out. My position on the link is basically that if we can't know with any certainty that its Colbert's, we probably shouldn't link to it. I know that a lot of people do believe the site is Colbert's, but I see this as a situation where, potentially, the site is both impersonating a celebrity and infringing on his intellectual property for profit, so it seems we should err on the side of caution. I also feel that if we don't know the site is real, it fails to qualify for the "unique, valuable resource" clause in WP:EL which has been discussed, since, if the site isn't Colbert's, it's just a lengthy piece of fiction borrowing a minor joke from Stephen's TV show (the origin of "Tek Jansen" is a segment on The Colbert Report in which Colbert jokes about a sci-fi book he wrote). The forums there are lively, but mostly they seem to be about the site itself and the book there, and besides, I can't see the forum being the basis for calling it a "unique resource" when WP:EL says to avoid linking to forums. I have nothing against the site, and will welcome it with open arms if we've got some sort of hard evidence that the site is real. I'm open to "outside-the-box" proof, just not entirely subjective proof, like a similar style of writing.  I'm also willing to follow the consensus whatever it is, but right now, it seems like most editors who have weighed in think the link should not be in the article. I'd be happiest of all if we could just wait -- if the site is legit, it seems like there should be some official acknowledgement eventually. That's my take on it. I appreciate you taking the time to look it this; I admit it is rather complicated, and I do understand Typing Monkey's view.  Hopefully we can get this straightened out with a minimum of angst, hair-pulling, and bloodshed. :)  -- (Lee)Bailey(talk)  23:01, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Pedant, thank you for agreeing to help. I withdraw my request. Bailey, if you think the link is relevant, include it, if not, that's fine. I am just tired of the argument.Typing monkey 12:50, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Hi again, Pedant. I recieved a similar message from TM on my talk page about this issue at the same time I recieved your second set of questions. If s/he changes his/her mind, I'm still available to answer any questions you need, just give me a heads up. I'll be on wikibreak for an undetermined part of next week, but I should be available all this week, and then the week after that. Thanks again for agreeing to help. -- (Lee)Bailey(talk) 13:55, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Reconstruction of Iraq
Dear Pedant: I see that you have reverted the section on Stated Aims in Reconstruction of Iraq. I was the person who took this out and still believe that it should be removed. I have re-written the Introduction section to clarify the scope of this article. In my understanding, it does not include the political transformation of Iraq. This is a huge topic and is handled well in other articles that I have referenced. Hence, the content of “stated aims” is not relevant to this article. User:Dpahlfeld
 * "restored part of previously removed text" was my edit summary, which was accurate. This was not a revert, but only includes a part of the previously removed text.  The Reconstruction is more than just repairing broken things and rebuilding, new things are being built, and one of those is the government.  The short paragraph "stated aims" merely summarises some of the political situation regarding the government, which I believe illuminates the context of the article.  Please feel free to edit the article as you see fit, of course, but I believe the paragraph I restored was of value to the article and that it is reasonably short.  There should probably be a link at the top of the paragraph though, to point readers to the relevant article, should someone be interested in reading more about the political aspects of the Reconstruction of Iraq.  Thanks for your comments and diligence, and also thanks for your contributions to the article. Again, please feel free to edit the article in whatever manner you feel best suits the topic. User:Pedant 23:14, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

HappyApple contact
Hi, i have just send to you an email about Hwacha article. Cheers --HappyApple 04:46, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Thanks, glad you worked it out. I'll check the grammar and 'English' on that page tomorrow, let me know if you need anything more.User:Pedant 08:05, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

About Bob Arno
Hello Pedant. Thanks for your comments. I am not Bob Arno, and I did try to write neutrally. As a first poster, I guess I better spend more time on the articles you listed. I'm afraid, though, that I will be away from the project for about three weeks. Then, if the entry remains, I will try to better-reference it. Thank you for your help.Mercurie 14:10, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Another Advocacy request :-)
Heyo, Steve Caruso here. There is a Request for assistance by Knowledge for All  (talk) on  Destiny. Would you be willing to take their case? If you will, please leave a note and sign under the entry on WP:AMARQ and change "(pending)" in the heading to "(open)." When you're finished with the case, set it to "(closed)". If you're not able to take the case, please leave me a message on my talk page so I can continue searching for a willing Advocate. Many thanks! This one looks like a simple content dispute. אמר Steve Caruso  ( desk / AMA )  16:59, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Advocate Status
That's my template, just replace the Wslack with Pedant, then click the Edit button on the displayed template and change it. Busy is automatically red and available automatically green. You can change your template at the AMA member page to auto reference the status of your template. --\/\/slack (talk) 21:45, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

It's a userbox, but you dont have those, so just put it on your talk where your other one is now. Just my opinion, see how it looks! --\/\/slack (talk) 21:49, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I put it at busy. Click the little e on the right to change it to available or something else. --\/\/slack (talk) 22:21, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

No problem. Thanks for your help in answering my questions. I was glad to return the favor. Enjoy your spiffy status. --\/\/slack (talk) 22:32, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

About Bob Arno
You are a most helpful Pedant. Thanks so much. I've begun adding a few details and sources, but I shall do more. I will have limited internet access for the next three weeks though, so it will be ... eventually. I have much to learn about how to reference, and quite a chore ahead in finding reliable sources.Mercurie 03:05, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

About Destiny
Pedant, thank you for your offer to help - I accept. Please let me know what are the next steps. Knowledge for All 07:36, 17 August 2006 (UTC) I've replied on your user talk page User:Pedant 09:40, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Counter Vandalism Unit
Hello Pedant the CVU is the Counter Vandalism Unit WP:CVU Æon  Insane Ward 16:40, 17 August 2006 (UTC)