Wikipedia:TWA/Teahouse





Memorable editing tales?
The more I get involved in Wiki editing and read Teahouse and Help Desk replies from senior editors, the more I’m curious if somewhere there’s a collection of stories about intriguing editing situations they’ve been  been involved in over the years. I can just picture the old-timers sitting around a campfire under the stars sharing memorable tales.

Augnablik (talk) 02:50, 12 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Some of this may be of interest:
 * WP:HOAXLIST
 * WP:LAME
 * WP:PRESS 24
 * WP:SIGNPOST
 * Depths of Wikipedia
 * Wikipediocracy
 * User:JPxG/Oracle/Largest AfDs
 * Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 06:39, 12 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, @Gråbergs Gråa Sång … you’ve certainly expanded my to-do list exponentially! I delved into your first suggestion, WP:HOAXLIST, and found myself alternately in laughter and horror that so many hoaxes had actually gotten through Wikipedia’s security posts — even if they amount to only something like 1% of all posts. That’s 1% too many.
 * I think I have my reading all cut out for me over the next week, with your suggested list. Augnablik (talk) 09:29, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Augnablik One more: WP:CITOGENESIS. This is a favorite of mine. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:46, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Augnablik You might find some of the 'hairiest tales' being dewscribed during the week-long discussion process when an editor applies to become an administrator. Quite ofte,n the applicants are asked to describe difficult or challenging editing situations they have found themselves having to deal with. You can read mine here, and you simply have to change the url by replacing the username of the editor you're interested in hearing more from.
 * Sometimes the questioners tease out fascinating issues the applicant has encountered - sometimes dealing with them well; other times not. Regards, Nick Moyes (talk) 09:59, 12 May 2024 (UTC)
 * My already long reading list provided by @Gråbergs Gråa Sång has expanded hugely with your suggestion to read “some of the ‘hairiest tales’ … during the week-long discussion process when an editor applies to become an administrator."
 * Actually, Nick, this will probably surprise you but it's the second time that I’ve read your write-up for your exam week. The first was a few months ago when, as has occurred with some frequency, you gave me a particularly helpful answer to one of my questions in the Teahouse. I don’t remember what that question was, but I do remember the deep resonance I felt. So I decided to find out more about you. When I went to your user page, I eventually found a link to your write-up.
 * Reading it made me feel an even closer bond with you and the other senior editors as well, even those I hadn’t yet connected with, as I became aware of some of the behind-the-scenes work you’ve all had to carry on. I think it must have been through reading your write-up that I felt an unusually strong sense of commitment to the Wikipedia mission and of belonging in its editor community that brought me to a much further point than no accumulation of editor points could have.
 * I hope all editors get to find out about such stories from your merry band. Augnablik (talk) 10:45, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * And for a (somewhat) fictitious cases, but based on "real" events, and also and to highlight the sometimes very pronounced hairiness of Wiki-bureaucracy, see WP:LIGHTBULB and No climbing the Reichstag dressed as Spider-Man. Maybe also the BJAODN part of Wikipedia:Silly Things. Lectonar (talk) 11:36, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 😱 WP:LIGHTBULB is a scream, @Lectonar! Once recuperated from the acute hilarity attack it brought on, I'll get to your other suggestions. Augnablik (talk) 16:56, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Augnablik What a kind thing to say! Thank you. I'm glad my and others efforts here have inspired you. That's precisely what we need in order to ensure a good supply of younger enthusiastic and committed editors. Regards, Nick Moyes (talk) 16:09, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * "Younger" editors? If only you knew, Nick! 😂  Well, your other two adjectives fit me ("enthusiastic" and "committed").
 * Now, thanks to you and several others, I have my own private collection of memorable editing tales. Wish someone would do a great service and weave them together for the enjoyment of all involved in Wiki editing, from the badgeless to those with the largest badge collection. Augnablik (talk) 10:11, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Augnablik, you are "someone" - did I hear you volunteering? WP:JUSTDOIT - Arjayay (talk) 10:19, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Arjayay, I just checked WebMD to see what might account for your question and this is what I found out:
 * ”If what you heard really doesn’t have a source, it might be an ‘auditory hallucination.’” 😂 Augnablik (talk) 10:48, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Another one for your collection: Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:29, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Gråbergs Gråa Sång, you’ve contributed to this thread several times now, and you seem to be an editor who might have quite a badge collection in addition to memorable editing tales … how about you taking this project ahead? Augnablik (talk) 10:56, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I edit pages like WP:PRESS 24 quite a bit, I also add items to "This article has been mentioned by multiple media organizations:" when I find them (see Talk:Recession for an example). With those and the other pages, I think the area is reasonably covered (with some bonus-content on my userpage). We also have a, thankfully small, number of WP-articles about WP-content, see Category:Wikipedia content. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 12:04, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

Question
hello, i was wondering when i can use the twinkle bot because it doesnt let me use it. GoodHue291 (talk) 23:01, 13 May 2024 (UTC)


 * @GoodHue291 You need to be WP:AUTOCONFIRMED, meaning you need to have made at least 10 edits and have created your account at least four days ago. You'll have to make at least another 6 edits and wait at least another 3 days. CommissarDoggoTalk?  23:06, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Alright, thank you. GoodHue291 (talk) 20:26, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Unclaimed Moneys in Banks in the U K
I recently discovered my Father left me Money in 1955, as per his Probated Will. I never knew where my Father banked. Frustrated after writing to banks and Building Societies, I wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, no real response from any of them. Registered with the Web Site 'My lost Account' for the second time, again nothing. as I understand Dormant Accounts after 15 years Banks forward the moneys to the Government for safe keeping. How and when do the Banks Transfer the Moneys, and which Department receives it. I am 89 so 69 years have passed since my Father died, there must be some Bank employees out there who can direct me, please do so. Jamiesonandy (talk) 04:11, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * The Teahouse is for asking questions for how to use Wikipedia. We can't help with other matters.  RudolfRed (talk) 04:24, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * For the general question How and when do the Banks Transfer the Moneys, and which Department receives it, you may ask this at WP:RD/H. But note that reference desks are not a place of legal or personal advice, and the question could only be asked as a general curiosity question. Also Wikipedia is not a forum. Thanks, Exclusive Editor  Notify Me! 14:05, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

Deletion of an Article
Hi team,

I've added an article with title Bridge India, but it keeps getting removed. Can I get what exact thing I must do to keep it live and prevent it's removal? Prathmesh9309 (talk) 14:43, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * @Prathmesh9309 Welcome to the Teahouse. There are several messages about this on your Talk Page and the links to the deletion discussions give information suggesting that experienced editors thought the content was promotional, not encyclopaedic. Please read carefully the links at the top of your Talk Page about what is expected in articles (summarised at WP:YFA). Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:09, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Please can I ask you a question please 🙏🏿 Draykaayrg (talk) 15:13, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Draykaayrg Please do so in your own thread (above) so as not to confuse your question with Prathmesh9309's. Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:18, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Ok I won't Draykaayrg (talk) 15:20, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Your article was moved to Draft:Bridge India. Work on it there and submit it for review, but not before you address all the concerns in Articles for deletion/Bridge India. ~Anachronist (talk) 06:48, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Picture
Hi I upload a picture I made on Wikimedia Commons on my personal page. I tried to link it to an article in Wikipedia as I already did many times, but it shows only as a downloadable/clicable line of text instead of a thumbnail... On Wikimedia Commons, my picture shows properly, but for an unknown reason I can't seems to be able to use it on Wikipedia... Can someone help me by explaining me what I do wrong? Thanks F. M F Gervais (talk) 16:06, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * , there's a file on Commons at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M_F_Gervais_Monarchs_of_Spain.pdf but it's 0 × 0 pixels. Is that the one you're tryinhg to use? Maproom (talk) 17:45, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, but on commons it seems to show properly? Or did I do something wrong? M F Gervais (talk) 18:24, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * For me, it does not show properly, or indeed at all, on Commons. As its size is reported as 0x0 pixels, I'm not surprised. Maproom (talk) 19:48, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I've just found that I can download it from Commons, and then view it in Chrome. Something is wrong somewhere (but not at en:Wikipedia). I suggest you ask about it on the Help Desk at Commons. Maproom (talk) 20:00, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @M F Gervais, ask for help on Commons at their Village Pump. It is very strange. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M_F_Gervais_Monarchs_of_Spain.pdf says it has 0x0 pixels but links to https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/M_F_Gervais_Monarchs_of_Spain.pdf which is all there. StarryGrandma (talk) 20:05, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * MediaWiki tries to display PDF files as a PNG image of one of the pages. Something in the file appears to be incompatible with MediaWiki so this conversion doesn't work. I don't know whether the problem is in the file or MediaWiki. Anyway, PDF is not an image format but a file format which can hold multi-page documents. It's better to upload an image file like PNG or JPG if a PDF file is only used for one image. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:26, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Is my request done correctly?
Plz see

Talk:History of Palestine Johnywhy (talk) 16:58, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * It was opposed and ❌ for the reason of
 * Not done. Wikipedia is not here for you to push a POV, make WP:FORUM speeches or to berate other editors. Edit requests need to be simple and straightforward, require no argumentation and EC editors will decide whether to implement them. Babysharkboss2 was here!!  I killed JFK 13:02, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

How can Edit Requests Exclude Reasons?
I was told that edit requests should not include reasons for the requested edit. How does that make any sense? Johnywhy (talk) 17:06, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Hello. Who told you this, and where?(could you link to it?) 331dot (talk) 17:07, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Looks like it was on your user talk page. What they mean is that edit requests are for edits that are simple and uncontroversial- where the reason is obvious. If you have to give a lot of reasons, it's not simple and should be handled with a discussion to establish a consensus, not an edit request. 331dot (talk) 17:11, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * "should be handled with a discussion"
 * How and where do i initiate that discussion?
 * Johnywhy (talk) 17:13, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * , you are not an Extended confirmed editor, and therefore you are not permitted to engage in substantive discussions about articles in the Arab/Israeli conflict topic area until you reach that status. Only then can you begin such a discussion. Cullen328 (talk) 17:33, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Johnywhy A better link to explain Extended Confirmed is at WP:XC. Mike Turnbull (talk) 17:37, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Is it correct to say that a person who isn't an Extended Confirmed editor may submit edit requests using the Edit Request Wizard for Protected pages? Johnywhy (talk) 01:28, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Johnywhy: Editors that aren't extended confirmed are allowed to make edit requests in controversial areas, provided that the request is not controversial. — Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 01:52, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * See WP:EDITXY Selfstudier (talk) 10:53, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Finding a non-controversial edit related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will likely be difficult- that's why the topic area has such stringent restrictions. The community needs to see that you can edit dispassionately before permitting you to contribute in that area- that's the reason for the EC restrictons.  If you think your proposed edit is at all controversial- meaning that its entirely possible someone could disagree with it- you shouldn't request it.  As a practical matter that would be limited to things like spelling or grammar fixes, nothing substantive. 331dot (talk) 11:02, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Looking for an editor to write an article (Short Bio and Work)
Hi there, I'm looking for an editor to write an article (Short Bio and Work) on Wikipedia since we can do it ourselves. Ideally I want to pay adequatively a contribution that can help Wikipedia itself. Can you help? Arnaud Ahmed Segla (talk) 19:15, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * In general, we're not keen on paid editing (it's barely tolerated). In particular, if a subject isn't notable enough for a Wikipedia article, then paying someone isn't going to fix that. -- D'n'B-t -- 19:45, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * You were not notable in Wikipedia terms back in 2019 when you first attempted an article, it is clear from a quick Google search that this is still the case, be VERY wary of paying someone to create this for you, you will be scammed and you will still not have an article about you. Theroadislong (talk) 19:58, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Theroadislong is right, and what he says is well-intentioned. Now that you've posted here, you may be contacted privately by scammers. (A well-intentioned person would respond here.) Maproom (talk) 20:04, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Contributions to Wikipedia and the encyclopedias (English and all others) are entirely separate entities. Contributing to the former has no impact on the latter. David notMD (talk) 01:15, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Proper citation
I'm making an edit on a page, but need assistance with proper citation. Note this article; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Webcomics_are_no_good_as_sources.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses_in_popular_culture#:~:text=A%20character%20from%20the%20internet%20fiction%20series%20Homestuck%20is%20named%20Calliope,%20since%20they%20are%20a%20%22Muse%20of%20Space%22. This article is about references to the greek muses in popular culture. The fact stated is without a doubt true, but the above article says "Webcomic characters aren't "noted experts" of the fiction they live in" To fix the citation I could quote the webcomic page directly, or a fandom page on the character. I've never cited a page before as well and require assistance. TerraFantasy (talk) 20:12, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * In this one case, you could likely cite the comic itself. The primary citation does not establish notability, however. You could also try looking around the internet for sources. Do not use Fandom as it is User Generated Content. ✶Qux  yz  ✶  20:26, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * There is not alot of info on how to cite webcomics. Would I use the citation rules for normal comic strips? TerraFantasy (talk) 20:28, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * If you are on the visual editor, if you click on the quote button and then click on website, you can just fill in all the information. Note that fanmade or pirated content would not be able to be cited; but if it is an online version of a text published by the original author it can be cited per WP:Primary on a limited number of basic things. To switch between visual and source editor, you can click a dropdown button near the top on the screen. ✶Qux  yz  ✶  21:11, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Formatting help.
How can I turn the footnote 13 in this article into a "note 1" note and why is it broken ? https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fusajiro_Yamauchi&oldid=1223861452 Maxime12346 (talk) 20:33, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * @Maxime12346, for putting it into a note, see Help:Footnotes. StarryGrandma (talk) 20:39, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * @Maxime12346, and for putting references correctly inside a note see Help:Footnotes. StarryGrandma (talk) 20:43, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I used this to make my edit : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Explanatory_notes. How are these different and in which cases should they be used ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Explanatory_notes Maxime12346 (talk) 20:52, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Linked accounts in languages I don't speak
Hi, I accidentally created local Wikipedia accounts of languages I don't speak from my global Wikipedia account. Is there a way to remove them?

Thanks in advance! Nelisd8 (talk) 21:18, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Hi Nelisd8, welcome to the Teahouse. A local account is automatically created if you view any page while already logged in at a Wikimedia wiki. It's normal to have a lot of accounts created this way. They cannot be removed. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:12, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Formating help again.
I have been reading the Footnotes pages again and again and I can't see what is wrong. Why won't the [13] turns into [note 1] ? Why is there an error message ? What is wrong here ? https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fusajiro_Yamauchi&oldid=1223880271 Please tell me the exact thing that is wrong and what characters I need to change exactly to make this work. I need you to be very clear because of my autism. Maxime12346 (talk) 22:46, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Maxime12346, your question is somewhat confused, so let's take this stage by stage. In one "Cite web" template, you have . That produces a syntax error, because the value of the attribute "website" may not be a URL. Correct it to, for example, . (I am assuming that you are editing the "source". I know nothing about the "visual editor".) -- Hoary (talk) 23:59, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Making one of those biography boxes on the left of almost every Wikipedia article.
I don't know what it's called but, in my work, creating an article of Ayten Gökçer I want to know how to make one of those boxes on the far left of almost ever Wikipedia article that contains a picture and info about that topic. Advice for creating one would help with some of my other work too but if you want to make on yourself with this article please tell me how to make one for future use. Thanks, Fewsnake. Fewsnake (talk) 22:59, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Hi Fewsnake. Those are called infoboxes. There are a ton of them, each tuned to the types of information most appropriate for a certain type of article. One way to learn exactly how it's done (what information to put in each fied, etc.) is to look at a page of interest in the wiki editor. For an actor, that would be Infobox person. DMacks (talk) 23:25, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you so much! This is really helpful! Fewsnake (talk) 23:28, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Is it better to edit Wikipedia with a tablet or a laptop and what operating system is best?
I'm curious to hear from you whether it is better to edit with a tablet (maybe with a keyboard) or a laptop. I currently have a laptop running Windows and I know that editing Wikipedia on a smartphone isn't ideal since editing is designed for bigger screens. The boundary between a tablet and a laptop is blurring since you can do basic tasks easily with both devices. I'm curious to know if anyone has edited Wikipedia with an iPad or Android, a Mac, or a Chromebook and their opinions on editing. What are some things you can do easily with those platforms and what are some challenges related to editing that should be noted? Interstellarity (talk) 23:27, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * I edit on a computer, and I think that it is superior. It has more data processing so it's less laggy. The keys are easy to edit quickly with and the screen is big enough for any article. The only downside is that it is not that portable. (Laptops are probably "technically portable" because of their small size.) Fewsnake (talk) 23:31, 14 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Whether or not the device has a full-sized keyboard is the most important for me. By "full-sized" I don't mean whether or not it's as big as a (now antique) Northgate keyboard; I'm referring to the distance between the centre of the Q key and the centre of the P key (assuming that it's a Qwerty layout). I might prefer the combination of full-sized keyboard and the OS I loathe most to that of miniaturized input device and the OS I like most. (My laptop is "practicably portable" because of its small size and trivial weight; but I move it around very little as I don't want to risk having its SSD fall in the wrong hands.) If you're tired of Windows, note that you can install an alternative OS. Please don't attempt to start a discussion about which OS is best; you'll find discussions ad nauseam if you care to look for them. -- Hoary (talk) 23:51, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Here is a different perspective: I have done the vast majority of my editing for many years on smartphones. I have written many articles including Good articles on smartphones. I became an active administrator six years ago on a smartphone. I have answered thousands of questions here at the Teahouse and also at the Help Desk on smartphones. A smartphone is a miniature computer. I wrote an essay called User:Cullen328/Smartphone editing. Cullen328 (talk) 23:56, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I always edit with a laptop. I start with off-line documents stored on my computer where I collect all my notes from various reliable references. If I have trouble finding needed data I may spend months working on a note file. If I’m going to rewrite a paragraph or two of an article I first work on it offline so that I don’t feel rushed to finish a project before I’ve put sufficient time into it. (I do search for online reliable sources to use in my offline projects, plus I have a collection of printed reference books on favorite subjects.)
 * I usually have multiple Wikipedia projects I’m working on offline, for sometimes I temporarily set aside some of them, if I become more motivated to work on a different subject. I am an older Baby Boomer female editor, and spent most of my writing life without Internet in my home, so I never got out of the habit of working offline before its time to publish my work. This is what works for me, but everyone needs to find the process that they are most comfortable with.
 * Karenthewriter (talk) 00:11, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you everyone for sharing your opinions. I appreciate it. Interstellarity (talk) 09:29, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

How does OR works? Pl. join @ WP:NORN
Requesting experienced users, who know how OR and synth works, to pitch in a little at No original research/Noticeboard, since the question asked likely to be interest of new as well as experienced users both. &#32;Bookku   (talk) 04:01, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Template parameter formatting
Hello! I hope your day is good. I am trying make a userbox, and I am learning template parameters. I have the userbox in my sandbox. I want there to be a parameter where the user can write it like   and it will read as "This user plays quadball as a position" and they can fill in position with whatever they like. I've managed to get that after some learning, but I'd like the template to also be able to just say "This user plays quadball" if no parameter is filled in, but I've read through WP:PARAMETER and I'm still stuck. This is an exercise for me in learning templates, so please explain how it works even if it is not possible in userboxes. Thank you so much!! -- NotC hariza rd 🗨 04:24, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Just to make sure I understand, you will have two parameters, identified by position (1 and 2) rather than name. You want to display some text that contains the first parameter. And you want to display some text that contains the second parameter but only display if there is a second parameter given. The positional parameters are identified as and . Each of those expands to whatever value is passed, so you can write "foo  bar" and the value of the first parameter will be filled in. If no value is passed, it expands to nothing. You can use conditional expressions to take different actions depending on various values. See Help:Conditional expressions for an example of checking whether a parameter has a value. DMacks (talk) 04:46, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * The link for using the "if" parameter is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much!! I'm super greatful. -- NotC hariza rd  🗨 05:02, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

How to create a Wikipedia page for a public figure?
Hello,

How do I create a Wikipedia page for a public figure in India? I tried creating one in Sandbox and it got declined.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User%3AKumarmk%2Fsandbox&oldid=prev&diff=1223923706

Best,

Kiran Kumar Kumarmk (talk) 06:13, 15 May 2024 (UTC)


 * @Kumarmk Have you read and understood the reason it was declined? That contains the things you need to do. Please read HELP:YFA as well, and return to this thread if anything is unclear. 🇺🇦 Fiddle Timtrent  Faddle Talk to me 🇺🇦 06:18, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Your draft User:Kumarmk/sandbox completely fails every one of the points made in WP:Golden Rule. ~Anachronist (talk) 06:42, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Unless you can provide references to what people have written about him, there is no potential for your draft to be accepted. David notMD (talk) 10:52, 15 May 2024 (UTC)