User talk:Tanotkoff

Bobby Notkoff
Hi there - firstly, my condolences for your loss.

We have a policy on Wikipedia to cite any facts which are reported to a reliable source (a publication with editorial oversight such as a newspaper), allowing readers to verify for themselves what is written. While this is always important, it is even more important when dealing with biographies of living (or recently deceased) people - we even have a special policy for it. This helps ensure that any material which is potentially damaging to someone is backed up by a publication which has a reputation for fact checking and editorial oversight; meaning people can't make up untrue information about someone.

While I understand that this can be frustrating (especially so as someone close to them), but please try to think of it the other way around - a new (or unregistered) user changed the article to report a family member or close friend of yours was dead, when they were actually alive - it would probably be even more upsetting, especially if other people saw the article and took action such as publishing obituaries or sending condolence cards for someone who is still alive.

If you would like to restore the edit, and you have something from which other people can verify themselves (such as a newspaper obituary), then please go ahead and re-add it with the citation. stwalkerster (talk) 22:27, 9 October 2018 (UTC)