Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2020 March 20

= March 20 =

Question about banning.
When we ban someone, why don't we just kick em of the website? Can't look at articles, etc. Just a question. New3400 (talk) 01:51, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * If we prevent viewing by user accounts, then they can just log out and read articles again. If we prevent viewing by IP addresses, then a lot of uninvolved people will get affected because most IP addresses are dynamic (and change users from time to time). Besides, why should we prevent people from reading articles? Darylgolden(talk) Ping when replying 02:20, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

I said ban, not block, User:Darylgolden New3400 (talk) 02:27, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * Why does that change the question? Why do you want to control what someone else can read? —[ Alan M 1  (talk) ]— 03:41, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * I know. That doesn't fix the problem. Darylgolden(talk) Ping when replying 03:50, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * Blocks and bans are not intended as punishment. They are defensive measures to protect Wikipedia and let us get on with our mission. Prohibiting reading would not increase the effectiveness of these measures and because of the technical difficulties would simply cause more work for admins, who have better uses for their time. -Arch dude (talk) 04:14, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Column formatting issue
In Arthur Miller (cinematographer), something funny happens in the filmography section. As I keep widening my window, it shifts from one column to two, then back to one, then back to two again. What gives? Clarityfiend (talk) 05:49, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * auto-sizes to fit the display width. I just narrowed it to 20em since most of the entries were narrower than the default 30em. It now fits 3 cols in ~1500px browser width. —[ Alan M 1  (talk) ]— 08:31, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Hyphenation and line breaks (iPhone/iPad)
All of a sudden, words at the end of a line are split and hyphenated when I read an article on my iPhone or iPad. (It doesn't appear to be an issue on my computer.) I find this very annoying. I want complete words. Badmotorfinger (talk) 11:39, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * Add the below to Special:Mypage/minerva.css. PrimeHunter (talk) 13:10, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Search box
Hello, I am hoping that you can solve a small problem for me. Recently, my pc was used by someone else and ever since then, whenever I use Wikipedia, the search box automatically shows three options before I enter anything. Is there a way I can stop this? In the past, the search box simply remained blank as one would expect until one started to enter a name etc and then the search box would begin to show suggestions as normal. However, the suggested searches (which do disappear when I start to enter any details) is a little annoying. Is there any way I can delete permanently these suggestions? Thank you for your help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Martyn Treadgold (talk • contribs) 11:42, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * That sounds like an autofill or autosuggest feature on your browser; there are ways to clear the suggestions depending on your browser. 331dot (talk) 11:44, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Thank you so much - I am a techno-numpty, but I think the problem is solved! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Martyn Treadgold (talk • contribs) 11:58, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

What's the point of contributing?
Dear Wikipedia,

I regularly read Wikipedia and am a sometime modest donor. I recently made a contribution to the page of Sophie Gustafson, a golfer. It seems that it was completely ignored. Despite it being totally factual. Why bother?

Regards, TKZZZ — Preceding unsigned comment added by TKZZZ (talk • contribs) 15:17, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * Same question also asked at the Teahouse. Will attempt to explain there. Nick Moyes (talk) 15:21, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Change profile name
Hi

How do I edit my Wikipedia login profile name? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ivanfaught (talk • contribs) 20:05, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * If you are referring to your username, you may request a change of username at either Special:GlobalRenameRequest (if you have an email attached to your account) or WP:CHUS (if you don't). 331dot (talk) 20:07, 20 March 2020 (UTC)
 * I have added two spaces to the entry above to make it look better. Feel free to revert if I did it wrong. --CiaPan (talk) 19:47, 21 March 2020 (UTC)