Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2022 March 4

= March 4 =

Are there any official criteria for protection other than semi-protection?
There is official criteria for semi-protection, but is there official criteria for the others anywhere? Or just any rough criteria at all? InterstateFive (talk) - just another roadgeek 00:50, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Protection_policy is the offical policy for all types of protection. RudolfRed (talk) 01:11, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Oxford comma
Hello! So I"m curious about the oxford comma. Wikipedia's policy on Oxford commas is very vague and simply says that it be consistent through the article. However most of the time when I see someone add or remove an oxford comma, I don't know if it being there (or not) is consistent in the article because there's no easy way to search for it. I'm mainly asking because a user in this edit removed an oxford comma and I have no clue if it's constructive or not. ― Blaze WolfTalkBlaze Wolf#6545 01:37, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I sometimes search for ", and " in the page if I want to see if Oxford commas are being used, and consider getting 0 matching items an indication, albeit not infallible, that they are not. Determining the reverse is a bit more difficult. I have reverted the edit you referenced as it appears Oxford commas are used elsewhere in the article, and there was no edit summary. Bazza (talk) 12:25, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * @Blaze Wolf: If someone adds or removes a serial comma, I'd let them do it; even if it is unconstructive, it's easy to undo (without leaving a notification), and a copyeditor can just go through the entire thing if you feel like using the copy edit template to grab our attention. 's suggested string is helpful for a quick skim. — Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 19:29, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Template substitution and copyright
When a template is substituted, the wikitext is copied onto the page. Does this create a copyright issue? I.hate.spam.mail.here (talk | contributions) 01:45, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * No. Almost everything on Wikipedia is released under CC BY-SA licence. Why would there be a copyright issue?--Shantavira|feed me 09:12, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I mean, the wikitext is copied without giving attribution to where it is from. This page says that when copying content from a page, attribution should be given. However, substitution does not say where the text that was substituted was taken from. I.hate.spam.mail.here (talk | contributions) 01:41, 5 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Copyright applies only to creative work. Please provide an example of where you think creative work is included in a substituted template.--Shantavira|feed me 09:19, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the reply. Are templates creative enough to be copyrighted? I.hate.spam.mail.here (talk | contributions) 17:31, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

Reverted wikipedia pages
I edited Jordan Peele's wikipedia page to include his appearances in Epic Rap Battles of History. It is factual that Jordan Peele performed on the youtube show twice in 2013 Torrieth (talk) 02:46, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I took a preliminary stab at helping on this user’s talk page, but I’m editing on a phone - something I seldom attempt because it’s nearly impossible - so if someone could help out further I’d appreciate it. I don’t think I did a great job. —Floquenbeam (talk) 03:49, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Hi! I was the person who reverted your edit. I did it from the angle of if it didn't have a source, was it really notable to be in the article. I only reverted your portion on "Jordan Peele has not commented on if he will appear in future Epic Rap Battles of History videos." portion. Sea Cow (talk) 04:03, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

newspapers.com subscription
Where do I request a renewal for my subscription? Clarityfiend (talk) 08:36, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * via TWL. –– FormalDude  talk  08:39, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * The specific link for this is, then on the right hand side, there's a link "Has your account expired? Request renewal". Joseph2302 (talk) 12:28, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * And note, I volunteer for TWL but am not the person who qualifies people for that resource. Usually they will see the request within a few days but then there can be an uncertain amount of time before it gets okayed on the Newspapers.com side. You can ask over on TWL talk pages if you have more questions, but just wanted to set expectations appropriately. Jessamyn (my talk page) 20:25, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

My Wikipedia page is "William Browning Spencer" and it has been tagged with this message "This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification."
Everything is accurate and easily verified. I am William Browning Spencer. A friend started this a long time ago, but I went to great pains to insure its accuracy. Is this an objection to one or more of the links? I am completely baffled. — Preceding unsigned comment added by WilliamBSpencer (talk • contribs) 10:14, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia articles(not "pages") require more than links, they require citations. This guide to citations should be helpful; in general, however, you should avoid direct edits on the article about you, instead making formal edit requests(click for instructions) detailing changes you feel are needed.  If you just want to add citations, however, that is probably all right. 331dot (talk) 10:19, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * 331dot explained what is needed, but not why. First, we cannot take your word that you are who you claim you are (per a famous cartoon, on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog). Second, even if we could, the subject of a biography article is not the best person to write it; not only do they have a tendency to paint themselves in a flattering light, their memory might be faulty, etc. Third, even if you could convince Wikipedia editors that the article is entirely true, accurate, balanced etc., we want readers to be able to check that themselves - an idea that is summarized as "verifiability, not truth". Tigraan Click here for my talk page ("private" contact) 11:23, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Ivan Misner Wikipedia page
A banner has been put on the top of my Wikipedia page that is false. It says that the page was created or edited for undisclosed payments. I have NOT paid anyone to create or edit this page: Ivan Misner

I have asked an associate who claimed to have editing status to see what she could do to update my page. She tried and was unsuccessful. She was NEVER paid in any way.

My questions are:

1. How can I have this false banner removed?

2. How can I have a legitimate qualified editor update the page (for example there are citations needed that I can provide).

I would really appreciate someone's help.

Ivan Misner — Preceding unsigned comment added by Misner (talk • contribs) 17:40, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I would correct you in that it is not "your Wikipedia page", but a Wikipedia article about you. You are welcome to offer suggestions for changes on the article talk page, including stating that you did not pay anyone to edit, in the form of an edit request(click for instructions). Note that an employee is considered a paid editor even if not specifically paid to edit. There is no such thing as a "legitimate qualified editor"; we're all editors. 331dot (talk) 17:56, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * If you founded a company and asked "an associate" who has any professional relationship to the company to do something, then that would constitute "paid editing" by our definition (WP:PAID). If you have any other relationship with "an associate" to whom you made such a request, then the associate has a "conflic of interest" by our definition. (WP:COI). The associate should clarify the nature of the relationship on the talk page, whatever it is. -Arch dude (talk) 18:03, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * TimTempleton (talk) (cont)  18:49, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Done, the template was added by a single edit anonymous user who left nothing on the talk page. I reverted that edit, restoring the previous 2018 template that it reads like an advert. I advise to leave the article be for a while so that this may be considered a stable version before pursuing any further improvements which may jeopardize the removal of the COI and create further confusion.--TZubiri (talk) 01:24, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

The article almost certainly has been dominated by paid editors. There's also some strange editing, likely by anti-fans. The article needs a complete review, and the new tags do not indicate the level of work needed. --Hipal (talk) 23:00, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

Article with two talk pages
Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School has two talk pages:


 * Talk:Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School
 * Talk:Gateway to Health Science High School

Evidently there were originally two separate articles, but Gateway to Health Science High School was blanked and redirected to Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School as they cover the same subject, leaving an orphan talk page. How should this be dealt with? Ruбlov (talk) 18:29, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Similar situation at Talk:Jacob Riis Park Historic District. Ruбlov (talk) 18:32, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the heads up. Just add the  template to the top of the redirected article's talk page.  See how I did it. TimTempleton (talk)  (cont)  18:46, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I see, thank you. Ruбlov (talk) 18:52, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

New
How do I add a new listing? I’d like to add a breast cancer support group — Preceding unsigned comment added by BosomFriendsBfd (talk • contribs) 19:54, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * With non-routine, in-depth, independent news coverage from outlets with editorial oversight and identifiable authors. —<i style="color: #1E90FF;">Jéské Couriano</i>  v^_^v  a little blue Bori 20:16, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Hi there! Creating a new article is one of the hardest things to do on Wikipedia, especially when you are part of the group you want to write about, and therefore have a conflict of interest (COI).  To learn how to edit, you could view Help:Introduction and go through The Wikipedia Adventure.  I suggest spending a significant amount of time editing existing articles to hone your skills.  When you're ready to create an article, you would gather independent reliable sources that have provided significant coverage of the group, and determine whether you meet Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion, called "notability".  If so, you first should declare your COI on your user page.  Then follow the instructions at Help:Your first article, and be prepared for a process that may include months of waiting, rejections, and rewrites, before an article is created.  If you are successful, then you could never edit the article directly due to your COI, but could submit edit requests on the article talk page.  Hope this helps.  GoingBatty (talk) 20:42, 4 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Note OP has been indefinitely blocked for promotion and violation of our username policy. CodeTalker (talk) 21:16, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Adding Spouse
Hi How do I add spouse to right hand side of wikipedia page? I was married to Tommy May 12, 1990-96.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mikal_Ford

Thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by WandaLouise (talk • contribs) 22:57, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * We can't just take your word for it, as (while I believe you) we have no way of knowing if you are who you say you are. If you have an independent reliable source with this information, please offer it at Talk:Thomas Mikal Ford. 331dot (talk) 23:24, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I reverted the editor's addition to the article body, since it was unsourced. I can't find a substantiating source with a simple Google search. Sorry - we don't know if this is a hoax or not, and want the encyclopedia to be reliable. <b style="color:#7F007F">TimTempleton</b> <sup style="color:#800080">(talk) <sup style="color:#7F007F">(cont)  01:38, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
 * As an ex-wife, you would have a conflict of interest (COI) and therefore should not be editing Ford's article directly. First, you should declare your COI on your user page. Then post your suggestion on the article's talk page with an independent reliable source and the edit request template, or use the Edit Request Wizard.  Thanks!  GoingBatty (talk) 04:25, 5 March 2022 (UTC)