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Errors in the summary of the featured article

Today's FA

Tomorrow's FA

Day-after-tomorrow's FA

Errors with "In the news"

• A series of attacks by the National Liberation Army in the Catatumbo region of Colombia leaves more than a hundred people dead.

The number killed in Catatumbo is erroneous. The figure of 100 comes from France 24 but that is reporting "across three Colombian departments -- from the remote Amazon jungle in the south to the mountainous northeastern border with Venezuela". The breakdown seems to be 80 in the north and 20 in the south so 80+20=100. But these numbers seem to be rough estimates because these regions are quite wild. Andrew🐉(talk) 10:40, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

Our article doesn't mention attacks outside of the Catatumbo region. Secretlondon (talk) 13:36, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

The lead of the article is inaccurate as it misrepresents the sources. It also doesn't explain who was attacked and why. This is not a quality article. Andrew🐉(talk) 17:03, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

Indeed. The "attacks" section is woefully thin on the who, where, when, etc., even after several days on the main page. Moscow Mule (talk) 13:02, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

• Looking for the latest news on this, I find that the BBC explains it as a feud between drug mafias over a lost stash. The lead of the article says nothing about drugs or the narco-cartel nature of the conflict. It's just a naïve "OMG, some people have been killed" and it still hasn't got the number right. Andrew🐉(talk) 11:12, 23 January 2025 (UTC)
  • I have fixed the number given in the article – none of the sources support more than the "at least 80" given by Wednesday's BBC article that I can see – but the ITN listing continuues to say "more than a hundred". Caeciliusinhorto-public (talk) 10:58, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Errors in "Did you know ..."

Current DYK

What on Earth does "Browning was named All–Mountain West Conference at three different positions" mean? The link is to a league, how can a person be 'named' a league? From Browning's own article, I *think* this is referring to him winning 'player of the year' for that league, or some similar award, but I'm not sufficiently familiar with college football to propose replacement wording. Regardless, this blurb should be phrased in a way that is intelligible to non-experts. Modest Genius 12:10, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Next DYK

Next-but-one DYK

Errors in "On this day"

Today's OTD

• (La Paz, Bolivia): should be "in La Paz, Bolivia". Locations are conventionally mentioned with "in", and years/calendars with brackets. Also, Bolivia should be unlinked as per MOS:OL and MOS:GEOLINK. — RAVENPVFF · talk · 00:04, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Tomorrow's OTD

• Dwynwen (Wales); Tatiana Day (Russia): should be "Saint Dwynwen in Wales; Tatiana Day in Russia", for the same reasons as above. — RAVENPVFF · talk · 00:05, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Day-after-tomorrow's OTD

Errors in the summary of the featured list

Friday's FL

Monday's FL

Errors in the summary of the featured picture

Today's POTD

'it stands on the site of at least five cathedrals that have occupied the site' is unnecessary duplication. I suggest 'it stands on the site of at least five earlier cathedrals'. Modest Genius 12:15, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Tomorrow's POTD

General discussion

Shocking and Unbelievable Images?

Why have shocking pictures been featured recently on the main page? First there was the one showing the hideously scarred back of a black slave, and now we have one of a pit of Holocaust victims (with one more about to be shot.) These are NOT the kind of images most people want to see in the "cover" of an encyclopedia; I'm not saying they articles, where people would find them only if they're intentionally looking for them. Is this part of some agenda? How are featured images decided on anyway? -Wilfredo Martinez 01:40, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

The order of images is usually determined by the featured picture time frame. The fact that they are "shocking" is just coincidence. Your Grace Lord Sir Dreamy of Buckland 01:46, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

See User talk:Howcheng#POTD for an explaination of the order from the defacto POTD director. Also see Misplaced Pages:Featured picture criteria for the criteria featured pictures must meet. (Any picture which meets these criteria can be a featured picture after going through the process here Misplaced Pages:Featured picture candidates) Nil Einne 01:54, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

That still doesn't justify the use of shocking pictures as featured images. I have the Main Page set as my default homepage, because I enjoy reading news and facts as soon as I log in every day. Pictures of mayhem are NOT what I want to see here, and I'm reasonably sure most people don't either. If anything, this shows very poor judgment. Just write me down as opposing this -Wilfredo Martinez 13:43, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

That they're "shocking" is POV. What you want to see may differ from what others do. And frankly, that's a pretty tame Holocaust image, as Holocaust images go. --Dweller 13:58, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Personally I don't want Misplaced Pages to reflect a skewed POV. If images were excluded on the basis that they might be considered shocking, then that's not reflecting the world we all live in. Cuddly guinea pigs are great but there's more to the world than fluffy cuteness. MorganaFiolett 15:23, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• An encyclopedia should reflect its contents - all of it. Besides, we humans need the reminders of just how in-human we can be. Genocides are not a thing of the past, nor is slavery, which is back in business not only in the third world but in Europe and the US... God help us all. Which is the more shocking? Shir-El too 22:37, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• Misplaced Pages is not censored. Chubbles 23:37, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

• Hi. I knew that, but why don't we include in the "10 things you may not know about Misplaced Pages" that it isn't censored, since I'd think a lot of newcomers don't know that? Thanks. ~AH1 00:31, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

'cause then there'd be eleven. Macbi 18:30, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd be 100% behind that. Chubbles 05:38, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

• Maybe it can be added under one of the existing headings. BTW, I read the article after commenting. The ease with which a band of bullies brutally took over a supposedly civilized nation, to the point where the judicial system sanctioned murder after-the-fact, is VERY frightening. I'm glad I read it. Shir-El too 21:40, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

No, you don't get it: WP:NOT#CENSORED. —Vanderdecken∴ ∫ξφ 11:37, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

There are some other shocking pictures lurking in the Featured Picture pool that haven't made it to the front page yet. Have a look at Image:DeadchinesesoldierEdit.jpg and Image:V-2victimAntwerp1944.jpg. Do I need to warn you they are shocking? Carcharoth 09:51, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

I am afraid I am with Wilfredo.. Nobody is disputing that terrible things happen or arguing that Misplaced Pages, et al, should shy away from them. The argument is that "shocking" images should not be posted on the Main Page. The reason is that there is no warning or preview or choice involved when a user accesses the Main Page. Put it another way, if you type "holocaust" into the search bar, you cannot complain if you read about and see photos of atrocious things. But if you come to the homepage, you have no prior warning of what it might contain. No news site would do this and neither should we. There are children accessing this site, for goodness sake... --Oscar Bravo 10:03, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Come up with a definition of "shocking" that most people accept and take it from there. Bazza 13:11, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

It's ironic that a "shocking" image is the best of Misplaced Pages. These pictures can be way out of context when they are on the main page. But that's the point, isn't it? It gets your attention, and allows you to get the context if you want. That they are out of context can be dangerous. In spite of that, our readers are smart enough to understand that they are going to be faced with unpleasantness from time to time. It's inevitable. Hires an editor 13:50, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Incidentally, guinea pigs bite. More like cute little hamsters, if you really wanted something more harmless. ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 14:25, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Section Edit Break 1

In my opinion, the current criteria for featured images is good. Suppose we accept that we're basically going to censor Misplaced Pages by by only displaying non-shocking images, which I disagree with. However, you still have what Bazza pointed out- the term shocking is not clearly defined. Some people will find a sketch of a skeleton offensive, others will object to a picture of child labour. In my opinion, not featuring images simply because they display unpleasant truth is censorship. Anyways, this is a wiki. You can participate in the decision making process. Cheers! Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 12:12, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages is essentially already user censored; we submit the content; we nominate the best material to be featured periodically on the main page. If you feel an image is too shocking for the main page, you have every opportunity to express that before a picture is featured. But a lot of people must have felt otherwise for a "shocking" picture to make it as far as the main page. 007patrick 22:41, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

To Bazza, Re: definition of "shocking": Stop playing the smug Philadelphia Lawyer and put yourself in the position of an educated 12-year-old. We all know what's shocking and a picture of dead bodies and someone with a gun to his head is one of them.--Oscar Bravo 07:44, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

You must know different 12-year olds than I do. APL 18:07, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

I knew these sorts of pictures existed as a 12-year-old, and I saw them, and I was not psychologically wounded by them. But most of my classmates, who did not read books about the human reproductive system and the inner workings of guns and minds, and who did not reason for themselves about why people were cruel to each other, would be psychologically wounded by these pictures if they were younger. Their parents really should've explained this to them - I only knew this all because I was gifted enough to have to read novels generally reserved for "older teenagers" at age 8. But given that Misplaced Pages is not in the least censored for the other people, this sort of wrangling is useless. ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 23:21, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

• Sometimes guidelines and policies are linked, but the content is not quoted. Misplaced Pages is not censored. contains this statement: "some articles may include objectionable text, images, or links if they are relevant to the content" (my italics). Some images placed in isolation on the main page may not be "relevant to the content", and if such images may reasonably be expected to have a shock effect then due consideration to their value in relation to the negative impact should be considered. Wiki is not censored is not an absolute statement, we have and do exclude text and images we consider unwise. A deliberate use of a shocking image on the main page could appear to be rather provocative. It would certainly be worth reviewing Misplaced Pages:Featured picture criteria, and I'll be going over there to have a look at what it says. SilkTork *SilkyTalk 10:47, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

I've started a discussion here. SilkTork *SilkyTalk 11:23, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

For User:Oscar Bravo's benefit, I am neither a lawyer nor from Phildelphia. Whether a picture shocks or not is subjective, and it is not for you or anyone else here to decide on another person's behalf. "We all know what's shocking..." — apparently not, otherwise this discussion would not be taking place. My point was to suggest that a definition of unacceptability is needed — which of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 would "pass" or "fail"? As the archives show, there are lots of excellent pictures in Misplaced Pages, and it is not surprising that some people find one or two uncomfortable — sometimes even distressing — to view, but I do not think that that is a reason to hide them away. Life's like this, and I'm glad that my children (who are all now past 12) have had access to information like this to see what the world's like in reality, as opposed to the censored comfort of the middle of the last century which I grew up in. I hope that wasn't too smug. Bazza 13:30, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Who's talking about "hiding them away"? I've absolutely no objection to the pictures appearing on pages that relate to them. That's in context and the user has passed a disclaimer page by then. I'm talking about the Main Page - no pre-defined context and no disclaimer. Regarding your list of pictures - the ones with dead or dying people shocked me, didn't they you? BTW, "Philadelphia Lawyer" is an idiom - I wasn't claiming to be psychic :-) --Oscar Bravo 16:08, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

The PoTD pictures all relate to the main page: they're ones which have been voted "excellent pictures" regardless of their content and are shown on the main page because of that, not because they relate to any other content there. And no, none of the ones I picked shocked me to the extent that I would not want to see them on the Main Page (I chose them because I recall most of them stimulating a similar conversation to this one at the time they appeared on the main page). Which is why I made my point: you can only come up with a policy on not showing shocking pictures on the main page if you can get a general concensus on what it means. Also: there is no disclaimer page a user must pass on leaving the main page; there's a link to one at the bottom of every page, but I doubt many people read it before selecting the page they want to visit. Bazza 09:46, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but there's absolutley no way the community will agree to censor the main page. Our contributors have chosen to allow even the most shocking FAs to be on the front page, and have defended vigorously our right to do so. Misplaced Pages is not consored; this will not change. RyanGerbil10(C-Town) 02:23, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages:Content disclaimer is an essential read. If you haven't read it already, do so. I'm not going to throttle the rate of FPC promotions just because someone thinks the image I am about to promote may be offensive. That way, nothing will be promoted. Featured Pictures aren't politically correct and will never be (at least while I am there). MER-C 09:58, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Images are just a representation. They can not be shocking in and of themselves. People feel shocked when confronted with ideas they would prefer to suppress. When children eat dead bodies (eg chicken) they feel and touch and taste those murdered dead bodies. Once I saw children acting grossed out at a cat eating a bird so I reminded them that they eat chickens which are birds too and they were immediately non-grossed out now that they could relate. Children see what some would call child porn when they look in the mirror naked; it's all about context and meaning and ideas. Taboos and emotional response to images are all defined by the ideas one holds in their mind. There can be no objective determination of which images are shocking. WAS 4.250 19:34, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Bravo Bazza, RyanGerbil10 and MER-C!

The problem with censoring is that once it starts, there's no end to it. So given a choice, I'd rather be occasionally shocked than protected for my own good. Besides, we all have a choice: we can refrain from viewing WP. Shir-El too 01:43, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

'cause then there'd be eleven. Macbi 18:30, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Lol thats funny... we are human and that is our history. If you don't like it then you can't even watch the news, turn it on right now and you'll see 10 stories of shootings or car accident related deaths guaranteed, your parents were to sheltering to you as a child.Catherine the Great does not deserve her title 23:41, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages is not censored, for anyone, It's simple - dont look at the pictures. Discussion closed. This is Zanusi 07:24, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Im 15 and I use Misplaced Pages all the time for homework and such like. Persionally I dont find these sort of images offencive, but thats just me, i know and advise children of 12 and younger to use this source, and am quite sure that they get upset by these pictures, there 12 for christs sake! They will have nightmares! Something needs to be done, censoring, as some have mentioned, seems a bad idea as it is too time consuming, I think that the page where the pictures that are going to be shown on the main page had options, for example boxes form 1-5 where each person looking at them could say weather they though the picture sutiable or not, then tehy would get censored quickley and easily. However, i also think that there needs to be a definition for shocking, as theres a picture of a big spider on the main page atm, and many adults would find it "horrible" or "grotesque" there for some order needs to be sorted out. Soon. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Katie-yippedy (talk • contribs) 20:24, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Radical proposal

Lets add a Featured Quote of the day!Tourskin 00:43, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

That could actually be pretty interesting, where could it go though?
Ferdia O'Brien The Archiver, Reformatter And Vandal Watchman (Talk) 01:08, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

I would say that it should go between the featured article section, and the Did you know... section. Lord Dreamy 01:09, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Wikiquote says "Hi!" The Placebo Effect 01:13, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Misplaced Pages is not wikiquote. PseudoEdit _(track) 01:14, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

If you put this between the featured article section, and the Did you know... section, how many items would you remove from In the news and On This Day to maintain some sort of balanced layout? Zzyzx11 (Talk) 02:01, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Remove? I would say add, to keep it equal. Like this:

You see? Lord Dreamy 02:06, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

The point of the main page is to feature the encyclopedia's content. A quote is not encyclopedia content. Plus, how would they be seleted? "*Support very intelligent sounding" and "*Oppose doesn't sound good"? That's rather subjective, as can be expected, since there is really no objective way to pick a quote. In conclusion, this isn't happening. Picaroon (t) 02:10, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

I was merely pointing out how it might fit in. Lord Dreamy 02:12, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

And, to be fair, that's essentially how featured pictures are chosen now :) -Elmer Clark 14:49, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

This wouldn't fit well, as wikipeida is not a repository of quotations. We have Wikiquote for that purpose. ffm 13:46, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Ok, lets go ahead and get rid of ITN then, we have Wikinews for that
Ferdia O'Brien The Archiver, Reformatter And Vandal Watchman (Talk) 21:35, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

• Where would we get the quotes from? ITN is to highlight newsworthy information that led to an article update in Misplaced Pages - nothing to do with WikiNews. I don't think there are enough quotes that belong in Misplaced Pages articles to make something like this work. - Mgm| 11:23, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Featured media of the day

If you want to put something new on the main page, I think it would be a much better idea to do a "featured media" of the day - a movie or sound file, like the Media-of-the-day I set up on Commons. Raul654 02:13, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

For that one, I must agree. Lord Dreamy 02:14, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

This sounds like a better suggestion than the quote thing. But are there enough featured media files for one a day? Picaroon (t) 02:24, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

There is a large enough pool of videos and sounds to feature a different one every day for several years. (I say this having upload a very large number myself) But they aren't "featured", because the "featured sounds" process is basically a ghost town, and there is no such "featured video" designation that I know of. Raul654 02:42, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

We should just use Commons' list of featured media; having our own processes for those is redundant anyway. Might help promote Commons, too, which would be good – Gurch 14:18, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

I think it might be cool to have a variable section. The first day a video, then a list, then a sound etc. Maybe a different type of a thing every day of the week. I think it would be cool, if technically possible.
Note: I didn't really think about it too much, so there's probably a major flaw. Oh well...Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 13:48, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

I didn't even know we had a Featured sounds process. Mr.Z-man 17:18, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

I stumbled across it about a week back, but forgot about it until now. Maybe raising awareness of the fact that Misplaced Pages contains videos, and sounds (let's face it, most of our readers don't know about that), would show people that Misplaced Pages is really different than the traditional encyclopedias, and display the website in a different light. It would also bring editors to featured nominations discussions which are currently little known (like featured sound). Of course, we would have to emphasise that encyclopedic value counts. Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 19:08, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

unindent: I would suggest that since the Main Page belongs to all of the Misplaced Pages community, that this discussion will need much wider play than just here at Talk:Main Page. I would suggest posting a note at the Community Portal and the village Pump. For the record I ardently opppose the addition of anything to the Main Page, sounds, lists, doesn't matter. IvoShandor 21:45, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually, Videos are included in features picture (see Last Weeks Signpost) And I would be opposed to adding featured sounds to the main page before they start getting promoted at a constant rate (greater than 2 a week) Although Featured Lists are being promoted at a rate at about 1 per day. The Placebo Effect 21:57, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

For the above listed reasons I slightly oppose adding a Featured media. Reason why is because i thought a quote was more different than what we already have. A featured media is similar to a featured picture. A featured quote is informative because quotes are used by people all the time - like "I'll be back" for instance. Just my opinion. Tourskin 22:11, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

To slightly modify, I suggest

if you have to. If not... ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 22:17, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

May I suggest the following:

Since that way we'd be adding on the FQ (featured Quote) near the bottom as if its a new addition to the Main Page. A new quote in my opinion would be very informative - you know... what people in the past said. Tourskin 22:50, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

wat is it bout becuzz i got 2 do a project —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.144.53.230 (talk) 22:58, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Let's not lose focus that this is the Wikimedia encyclopedia project

Let Wikiquote have its quote of the day and Commons have its media of the day. Picture of the Day is even tenuous and highly duplicative with Commons, but I'm not about to suggest that section be removed - yet. The four main sections at Main Page play a direct role in showcasing and encouraging improvement in the encyclopedia (TFA - > better content, ITN -> currency, DYN -> expansion, OTD -> history, which binds all human knowledge). That said, a portal at en.wikimedia.org fed by RSS feeds from all Wikimedia projects in English would be a wonderful idea. But let's not have that portal here. --mav 03:37, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, we could replace the featured picture with a featured list.... I'll get my coat. -- !! ?? 11:28, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Mav makes an excellent point. I think featured pictures differ from featured pictures on Commons, because here, we focus on encyclopedic value in a way that Commons doesn't, but that's neither here nor there. A featured quote would also suffer from serious POV problems- are we endorsing what is said in the quote? Wikiquote is the place for quotes, not here. J Milburn 12:05, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Not necessarily just a suggestion of endorsement either. For example lot of Bush quotes may obviously not be an endorsement but will have serious BLP, POV and other issues so yeah for many reasons a quote is probably a bad idea Nil Einne 15:26, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Hah, what an argument, considering how a picture of a whipped slave, a Jew being shot by Nazis and various other images attract such issues. Tourskin 21:12, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Um no? Those pictures are in no way POV and the objections have been to their being shocking. Atropos 22:28, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

{end indent} I agree with mav, I would like a site that showcased most Wikimedia sites: quote, picture, article, book, course, animal, etc., etc. As to content, each site already chooses their own, so the same one for that day would be on the showcase page. Simple. Shir-El too 23:57, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Strange how they are shocking but seemingly nuetral? You gotta be kidding me. They are shocking because they were offensive. Thats why its shocking. Ok well I see that the usual Atropos and Nil have come to counter my suggestion so I think I better withdraw before I "take it personally" Tourskin 02:54, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

No, according to most of the comments I have read they were shocking because people didn't like to see the brutality that humans are capable of or felt it was unsuitable for children. They didn't find the content offensive per se but just horrific. Perhaps if we'd had a hardcore porn picture then people would have found it offensive but we didn't (and besides that the issue of neutrality still doesn't come in to such a situation). On the other hand, "Wow! Brazil is big" or " Rarely is the question asked, is our childrens learning?" have a far different set of issues Nil Einne 10:21, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

I just think its funny how a wikiquote would not be neutral and everything else neutral. What people say can be important or comical.Tourskin 18:49, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't want to get into a fight with you, Tourskin, and I certainly don't want this to escalate into some month-long flamefest, but I'm not sure you quite understand what we mean by neutral. Quotable comments are frequently significant either because the position they advocate or how they reflect on the speaker. Quoting Gandhi or Hitler or Hobbes or Voltaire could easily be interpreted as Misplaced Pages endorsing the stance the quote is taking, which would be non-neutral of us. Quoting a "Bushism" or something similar could easily be interpreted as mocking the person being quoted, which would be non-neutral of us. Being "shocking" is far less of a problem than being "non-neutral." In fact, if the shocking information is educational, it isn't a problem at all. Atropos 23:12, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Hmmm... now I see more clearly what you mean. I still think its a good idea, though I can imagine the long list of losers who have nothing better to do than complain - I still think its great to have certain quotes placed up there - whats the harm of having an Arnie quote of "I'll be back" or say Richard Dean Anderson of SG-1 saying "Stronger, faster, better!". We don't have to have Hitler screaming a quote about how pure his Aryan race is - we could have a Churchill quote instead - how many would you say know of the famous speech of Churchil after B of Britain? I would say in this day and age few in my younger generation. Therefore to counter your point regarding the endorsement of quotes, we can carefully select appropriate quotes that will be meaningful and yet neutral. Only a nazi-sympathizer can argue against a Churchill quote - and I say to hell with them!! By the way I appreciate your argument... Tourskin 07:35, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, because those of us who are not Conservative are blatantly Nazi. (And yes, I know Churchill was once not Conservative, but I can CERTAINLY think of a quote of his that I despise- something like 'When you're young, it is evil to not be Liberal. When you have grown up, it is stupid not to be Conservative.') J Milburn 20:03, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

A bit off topic, but see wikiquote:Winston Churchill#Misattributions. Laïka 23:32, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh bollocks. Sorry. J Milburn 18:50, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe I haven't been clear on my point, so hear it is, with extra extra emphasis: "CAREFULLY SELECTED QUOTES". Gees. Tourskin 20:11, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

These "CAREFULLY SELECTED QUOTES" won't be biased because we can have someone like Raul choose them and people ask for them on certain days - like the way we select FA's. So like on Battle of Britain Day we can have Churchill's speech: "never in the field of conflict... so many to so few etc..."Tourskin 20:16, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

On what completely non-biased criteria would they be carefully selected?--APL 21:11, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

This NPOV argument that people keep spouting, is it not similar to suggest that[REDACTED] is currently endorsing The Siege of Malakand on the front page? I mean, we're displaying a whole bunch of info on it, if we have a featured quote, couldn't the quote context also be included, therefore reducing this supposide bias? Its the same premise really.
Ferdia O'Brien The Archiver, Reformatter And Vandal Watchman (Talk) 21:33, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Each of our sections, with the exception of Featured Content, serves to highlight a point of Misplaced Pages which we are proud of, but which may still require work: ITN highlights articles about recent events, which often need sourcing or copyediting, DYK highlights new articles which often need expanding, OTD highlights articles on important events - something Misplaced Pages is surprisingly bad at. Plus, there's an obvious copyright issue: Misplaced Pages's Main Page is currently only for free-content. Without reopening that old debate, I'd like to point out that many quotes are copyrighted: Wikiquote can only use most quotes under fair use (to take examples from above "I'll be back", "Stronger, faster, better!"). Another issue is that a combination of WP:ASR and WP:OR would forbid us from using quotes of Wikipedians, and hence all the quotes would be by other people with no connection to Misplaced Pages; how does that showcase the uniqueness of Misplaced Pages's user generated content? Laïka 23:32, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

THANK YOU!!! Surely someone from the East India Company said something important, we could tie it in with this day for instance or something like that! That doesn't mean that[REDACTED] is trying to revive an extinct mercenary service or celebrate British rule over India. And yet if we included Richard Dean Anderson giving a humourous quote its somehow biased? Give me a break!!Tourskin 23:31, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

What about Historical quotes, like "vae victus" and "veni vidi vici"? Surely these are not under Imperial Copyright law, lol? There's lots of quotes that pre-date copyright era that we can use no?Tourskin 23:47, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

The thing is that all of the things currently on the front page are time-related. Featured articles, Featured photos and DYK entries are from recently promoted or recently created articles. The 'On this day' and 'In the News' sections relate to this specific day of the year. All very topical stuff. But quotes just "are". Getting a decent quote from something someone said today might be tough on a regular basis - getting a quote that relates specifically to this day of the year - also tough. Using a "Featured quote" would be the job of WikiQuote - not Misplaced Pages. I don't think this is a good idea. SteveBaker 05:11, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

"the rest of the library"

I think "Misplaced Pages's sister projects" on the main page should read "Misplaced Pages's sister projects (the rest of the library)". WAS 4.250 17:59, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Are you serious? We're talking about the press room, the very very large reference dictionary database, the Capitol, the free university, and the museum. The only real library around here is Wikisource! ;-) ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 19:17, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes I am serious. All large libraries have multiple dictionaries, newspapers, administrative offices, univerity text books, image collections, and under-glass museum-like displays. WAS 4.250 23:42, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

What's the point? To give it a "cutesy" feel? That doesn't really seem appropriate for a project of this type, and certainly doesn't seem beneficial... -Elmer Clark 04:06, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

The for-profit Wikia is being sold as "the rest the library" by Jimmy Wales when he sells both Wikia and WikiMedia in his talks. I don't object to his efforts to put food on the table for his daughter, but I would like WikiMedia to act like it had a spine. WAS 4.250 05:26, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Thats an interesting position. Not really on topic.. Atropos 05:33, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

I LOVE WIKIPEDIA

I got lot of information from Misplaced Pages and it is my best Encyclopedia webpage. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kayani007 (talk • contribs) 18:03, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. Nice to know we can help someone. :-) ΚαροτΜαν 18:15, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

I also have found a lot of valuable information from Misplaced Pages in just my first time of using this sight. It gave me some much needed information on just one issue. Thanks Misplaced Pages for being here for the one's that get what they are looking for. This is the best sight I've been introduced to and i'll use it for as long as it's here. Thank You!! (user CCradick) October 26, 2007.CCradick 02:22, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Again, nice to know we helped someone. Dreamy 02:24, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Be sure not to use Misplaced Pages as a reference for academic work. The academic community does not consider Misplaced Pages a reliable source for anything, ever. --Haizum μολὼν λαβέ 00:49, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Case in point, the woefully biased article on plug-in hybrids being championed on the main page as a beacon of hope for all mankind alongside a marxist world government. Don't you dare think for yourself or disagree, you will be called a neocon! --Haizum μολὼν λαβέ 10:56, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

What backwards university accepts any encyclopedia as a reliable source? IvoShandor 14:11, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Header suggestion

I think that the header should be changed from "The 💕 that anyone can edit." to "The free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit." --Coastergeekperson04 00:25, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Is this to make it a full opposite of Uncyclopedia? Dreamy 00:29, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, yeah but Misplaced Pages is a free content encyclopedia, or at least I think it should be added. --Coastergeekperson04 02:05, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Regardless, the way it is is fine. Dreamy 02:08, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

The thing is, the current header is designed to match up with the project's strapline. How far would you want to take the change? Even if we changed the English-language strapline to match, there're still 200+ other projects to get through. GeeJo ⁄_(c) • 10:26, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

But many other languages have a different word for the concept of free content, and are already using it e.g. the Spanish Misplaced Pages uses gratis instead of libre. We should improve the article free-content first, or link to a different page in Misplaced Pages: space that explains it. I wouldn't be opposed to changing the strapline too. the wub "?!" 12:25, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Nothing's going to be changed. Misplaced Pages is free in every sense of the word. --Agüeybaná 21:53, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Picture at the donate page

I am speaking way out of turn here, and of course I realise who the person in the picture is, but at least three of us (two non-wikipedia users and I) thought the picture thought the picture currently being displayed, with the play icon on it, was an indication that WP had been compormised for the potential purpose of political propoganda. (Trying not to say terrorism, and Arab). Could someone consider a more appropriate photograph?! Ade1982 00:41, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

So we should change the picture because Jimbo reminds you of an Arab terrorist (you tried not saying it but you blatantly said it)? 01:35, 27 October 2007 (UTC)128.227.209.44

That's got to be one of the strangest criticisms of Jimbo I've ever heard... :/ Terraxos 01:44, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

I have been thinking the same thing but was too embarrassed to be The first to say it. It has to do with The way the "play" icon overlays the photo. It looks fine when I'm looking right at it but at a glance it reminds me a lot of a poor quality video of a man with a beard and turban addressing the camera, of the sort Bin Laden has become known for.

I don't think it needs to be changed or anything. I'm Just glad I'm not the only one who sees it! I thought I was crazy.--APL 21:08, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

I feel the exact same way, no offense. Play button gives a turban effect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Luddz (talk • contribs) 08:34, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Of course, how silly of us. A man appears to be wearing a turban and looks to be of Arabian descent... it must be a terrorist or some kind of hacker spreading their propaganda through the Wikimedia Foundation donate page! Won't someone think of the children/domo-kun? Please, pick up a book... better still start here and read, read, read! Fakelvis 09:05, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, yes. Very clever. But seriously, the reason it's worth mentioning is because Mr Wales does not actually look like that. 69.95.50.15 18:46, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

How do you know that? Bazza 13:56, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

A hypothetical question

Just wondering: What would we do if, for some reason, we ever wanted to create an encyclopaedia article named 'Main page'?? Not very likely, I know, but it's theoretically possible! (i.e. if something called 'Main page' became notable in its own right.) Let's just hope it never happens. :) Terraxos 01:43, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Disambiguation, I assume. -Killian

No, as the Main Page is not an article, it would be in the article namespace. Or if it was a book called "Main Page", the title would be Main Page (Book), and so on... Dreamy 03:04, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

If someone asks this question again I'm gonna get a dirty 18th century flintlock and stick it to my mouth... I know this has been asked a brazillian times in the last few months. Tourskin 05:19, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

What will we do if someone writes a book called Main Page about a guy called Flintlock who lives in 18th century Brazil? Nil Einne 09:39, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Note this doesn't actually says what we would do. Disambiguation or redirects here/see also would be exceptionally ugly solutions which is why many people believe it's a mistake for things to continue as they are now. Simply calling it Main Page (book) without disambiguation or 'redirects here'/'see also' would be bad, particularly if the item is very noteable. If we changes things soon then very likely by the time it occurs (if it occurs), most people will have updated bookmarks etc so it won't matter so much. However all this has been discussed before Nil Einne 09:43, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Damn I'm out of gunpowder... Tourskin 19:46, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Girl Scouts of the USA appearing on tomorrow's main page

I'm sorry people but I really must object to this article appearing on tomorrow's main page. It's just a group of unsourced stubs, for the most part, linked into one article. If this is the standard[REDACTED] is setting itself in 2007, then we're going to face speedy criticism. I understand this standard was acceptable until about mid-2004 but come on people, the criteria for featureship has become much more concrete since then. This article should be de-listed as a featured article, and I object in the strongest possible terms to it appearing on tomorrow's main page --Hadseys 01:41, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Obviously not, or it would not have been made a Featured Article. Dreamy 01:48, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

• Perhaps only the contributors voted; all I'm saying is, it mighta looked good in 2006, but it ent looking to great now --Hadseys 02:40, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

• 3 parts of the history section are uncited, there's really no reason for that, you must have read the history somewhere, so cite the source —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hadseys (talk • contribs) 02:43, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

And if you object to this being a featured article, you should have brought it up in the Featured Article nomination process. Dreamy 01:51, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually it looks like it was promoted on 11 November 2006. We can always go to the page history and examine the version when it was promoted. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 01:57, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

• I'm not omniscient on Misplaced Pages, how am I supposed to know if its been nominated for featureship. All I'm saying is looks like a group of unreferenced stubs merged together, and the fact that it was promoted in 2006 is even worse, Misplaced Pages was very much established by then and should have had more stringent guidelines.

Well, there's always Misplaced Pages:Featured article review if you really feel it's not worthy of FA status, but obviously that process wouldn't be complete until after the article's appearance on the main page. -Elmer Clark 05:37, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

You don't have to be 'omniscient'. The Misplaced Pages:Featured articles nomination process is well documented and every article will appear as a Misplaced Pages:Featured article candidates before being promoted. Nil Einne 11:40, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

(unindent)Another example of why having one person unilaterally decide anything on Misplaced Pages is a bad idea. I am sure this thought is not popular, as Raul is well-liked. This comment is not an affront to him, but to the idea that one person should be deciding anything in a supposed community, especially about the Main Page's content. IvoShandor 05:49, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Raul simply decides what appears on the main page. I'm pretty sure he does not, and should not consider the 'quality' of the article since all FA are decided by the community already and should meet the FA standard. If they don't it is up to the community not Raul to fix such problems. Even if we were to use a community process for chosing TFA, it should not change this, it's a recipe for disaster... There are existing ways to raise problems with the community driven process of promoting articles and keeping articles as FA including FAR. If you do feel there are significant quality problems with the chosen article you are welcome to raise objections preferably sometime before the day before. As long as an article is FA then it should be eligible for TFA until and unless it's demoted (or looks likely to be demoted). Neither Raul, nor your or me, not the community should arbitarily decide that an article is FA but not eligible for TFA because of alleged quality concerns. Nil Einne 11:31, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Many refs have been added, we'll keep working. — Rlevse • Talk • 12:04, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I mentioned the problem on the talk page Talk:Girl Scouts of the USA. This is usually the best way to highlight specific problems with an article as very often, the people who are most involved with the article and so can actually help don't check out the main page talk page. Nil Einne 12:21, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Regardless, the fact of the matter is, TFA is done by one person and with more community input on what hits the front page (which not all FAs do based on some discussion in the past on the page) then these problems can be avoided. Just my two cents, I was certain my comment would be immediately dismissed, I was right. Quoting the numerous processes that exist to reevaluate the article helps no one, on top of this those processes require foreknowledge of what is already FA, and what is to appear on the main page (often not posted until a week or even a few days before-not enough time for a review to be certain), unless one searches through the many FAs on a regular basis, many of us haven't the time nor energy for such an endeavour. Thus, I stand by statement that more community input at TFA could only help.IvoShandor 17:41, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, some Wikipedians haven't been around that long and for those of us who haven't been, an article that reached FA in November 2006 might indeed require omniscience to know about. IvoShandor 17:41, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I also believe, at present, the process is completely arbitrary. The present number of featured articles and promotion rate pretty much guarantees that not every FA will appear on the main page, thus selectivity should be okay, especially when considering front paging older FAs. Again my opinion, feel free to go back to your chastising. IvoShandor 17:43, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

While I agree, having a longer lead time between being selected for TFA and appaearing on the main page is ideal, there is a simple way to fix that and it doesn't require anything complicated. Just suggest it and if there is consensus I'm sure we will have no problem convincing Raul to increase the lead time. Having said that, this article was made TFA on the 22nd October. There was more then enough time for people to raise points and get it through FA review, at least to an extent if it had major problems these would have either been fixed or it would be much clearer it may not been FA (if the FAR had been going for 5 days without the problems resolved I'm sure we could have put something else instead). However the community did NOT do any of this so I fail to see how a community driven TFA process is going to change that. Can you explain how it will? Furthermore, if someone is not aware of the TFA que and FA process because they are new then how is that person going to be aware of the community driven TFA selection process? It makes no sense... Finally at best, quality selection of FA for TFA will mean that we will hide the fact some of our FAs are less then satisfactory. I fail to see how this improves things. We need to prevent poor quality articles being FA rather then hiding the fact we have them. Indeed, it seems likely that quality selection for TFA will mean that FAs which are poor quality are NOT improved or removed because they're just ignored by TFA instead of now where they are usually improved or removed (although I don't think there has ever been an article which has FARed immedietly after being TFA). Nil Einne 21:51, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

BTW, the reason why selection would be a disaster has already been explained every time such a suggestion comes up. It's almost definitely going to result in an increase in systematic bias and in a lot more unnecessarily heated discussion and ill feeling. The simple fact is there is no way a community can choose a TFA other then by voting but voting tends to be a bad idea on wikipedia. We operate by consensus. Nil Einne 21:51, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

I am aware that we operate by consensus, stop acting like this is my first day, please, it is insulting. Your argument is flawed in several ways. If we operate by consensus why is TFA unilateral, how is not operating by consensus at TFA likely to decrease systemic bias? As for making suggestions at the FA pages, no thanks, I have no interest, they don't like to hear suggestions in my experience, or even questions for that matter. A community driven process at TFA would most certainly help, a listing of articles that haven't been TFA and the regulars in the area to comment on them couldn't hurt. Articles that have been FA for over a year are far more likely to not be up to the current criteria. A small amount of discussion could initiate the process for a review. You seem intent on it staying selected by one person, but this seems to be antithetical to your essential point that we operate by consensus. Keeping articles off the main page that don't meet the current criteria should be able to happen without a full review, especially if not every article is going to the front page, which seems to be the case. Blindly saying all FAs are up to FA so they are good enough for the front page unless they get reviewed and delisted is a bit absurd in light of that. Not to mention that the review process is absurdly long, there is a pre-review review process if I recall correctly, this takes weeks and weeks. All of these things take time, and we need a simpler way to ensure that Today's Featured Article is really Misplaced Pages's best work. If no one closely involved with the Main Page content cares that much, I am certainly not going to take away the time I devote to what I do on Misplaced Pages, writing articles, to expend even more energy for something that has pointed (and imo pointless) opposition. IvoShandor 09:28, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

The referencing seems poor for an FA, but we're featuring it tomorrow. There's no way we could reach a valid consensus in that time. If anyone's interested, here's a link to the FA discussion, and the peer review. Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 16:26, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I've seen worse articles so stop complaining and start donating!!Tourskin 21:43, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

No thanks, if you mean monetary donations, I donate enough of my time. IvoShandor 09:28, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Getting sued for writing stuff

Just a hypothetical question, has anybody on Misplaced Pages ever gotten in to legal troubles for editing stuff? Like libel or something else? What about image copyrights? Just curious... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.112.233.165 (talk) 06:53, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Seigenthaler controversy.Kfc1864 talk _{my edits} 08:43, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Chris Benoit murder-suicide#Misplaced Pages controversy. See also: all of the recent WikiScanner stories that've been carried in a number of major newspapers. GeeJo ⁄_(c) • 09:31, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Arguablly the most serious is the Fuzzy Zoeller case where the person is likely to be sued. In first above case, the person lost his job but is not likely to be sued, the second case it appears to be genuine vandalism and so although it has had some rather nasty consequences for the people involved, nothing much is likely to come from it... Nil Einne 11:27, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Going by memory; the Seigenthaler controversy vandal resigned his job but was rehired, the Chris Benoit murder-suicide#Misplaced Pages controversy vandal was interrogated by the police and had his computer confiscated as evidence (don't know if he got it back or not), and the Fuzzy Zoeller vandal has yet to be identified (last I heard, they knew what company owned the computer that the vandalism/libel came from but had not yet identified the individual responsible). WAS 4.250 19:16, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Don't forget Skutt Catholic High School. --Maxamegalon2000 19:23, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Read and Google WikiScanner to find out about hundreds of people and organizations that have gotten into hot water for anon editing that was vandalism or conflict of interest editing; from royalty in Europe to CIA to Australian politicians to some guy in the South African Gov't who was relieved of his job. WAS 4.250 19:50, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

The Skutt Catholic High School case seems pretty absurd to me. I revert vandalism like that to school articles daily. I can't imagine if the school decided to sue each time. In fact, the stuff the article quoted seems pretty mild to me.

"It's (sic) tuition is ridiculously high, too. Not to mention you get an awful education there. 
They put more emphasis on sports than they do education. No wonder almost all kids there are complete idiots."

"As many have found, kids have gone unpunished for such crimes as verbal assault, physical abuse and alcohol and substance abuse."

No profanity, no personal attack on a teacher/classmate. Vandalism to school articles is usually worse than the above. Of course, the school has a full legal right to sue, but I personally strongly disagree with their stand. Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 22:21, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe because it was a rational argument rather than an irrational, childish smear. Would you sue a 12 year old kid who cursed at you or a young adult who wrote a convincing piece about how you did something illegal? 128.227.146.247 23:41, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I see our point. I still think the school overreacted, but perhaps this will scare away the vandals. Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 13:47, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Hey, I got a good idea, if we put a BIG warning on the edit page that vandalizing Misplaced Pages could get your house raided by police and SUED I think vandalism will stop. lol —Preceding unsigned comment added by Stupid2 (talk • contribs) 05:41, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

75 000 articles

ukrainian wiki has got already more than 75 000 articles --Riwnodennyk 09:37, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

So has Volapuk and their entries missing from the 50K and 25K levels too. (Numbers should be 12, 8 and 14.) Time to consider re-drawing the boundaries?--Peter cohen 12:00, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I've moved the Ukranian link up to the next level. As for the missing entries - the Volapük, Lombard, Newar / Nepal Bhasa, Cebuano, and Telugu Wikipedias were removed from the list a few weeks ago due to mostly being bot-created and not really having much quality/depth (for example, check out a random Volapük's page). --- RockMFR 14:49, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Really? I've seen discussion on this page about removing some of the low-depth wikipedias, but the discussion always favored keeping them. Was there another discussion somewhere about changing the main page? Was it linked here? If there was no discussion, why was the previous discussion ignored? For the record, I favor linking any[REDACTED] that has more than the current minimum number of entries. — Gavia immer (talk) 17:20, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

There was some discussion at Template talk:Wikipedialang. I haven't read over all of it, though, so I don't know how much agreement there was. --- RockMFR 17:41, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Powderfinger

How many times have powderfinger figured on the front page in the last few weeks? WHo are they?--Kitchen Knife 11:00, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

I can change any content in this page??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.18.79.211 (talk) 12:39, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Technically, yes. However, read Misplaced Pages:Talk page guidelines, to see what is allowed. You can change most things at Misplaced Pages. However, for obvious reasons, you can't edit the main page, and other protected pages. Anyways, welcome to Misplaced Pages! Puchiko (talk • contribs • email) 13:52, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

On this day

2002 - Ho Chi Minh City ITC Inferno, a fire destroys a luxurious department store with 1500 people shopping. Over 60 people died and over 100 are missing. It is the deadliest disaster in Vietnam during peacetime. Why isnt it in on this day? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.71.211.66 (talk) 14:57, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Because people from WP:OTD weren't notified before hand. --Howard the Duck 15:58, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Clam

That should be an ocean quahog clam. 139.62.127.95 16:00, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Please go to WP:ERRORS for faster responses. --Howard the Duck 16:02, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

DYK - number of US islands over 3,000 sq.miles.

According to Long Island, it too is over 3,000 sq.miles - it's not listed anywhere in the List of islands of the United States by area article either?!? SteveBaker 16:29, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Number 11. --Howard the Duck 16:51, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

The two islands lists give it as over 3,000 sq. kilometers while the Long Island article gives it as over 3,000 sq. miles. Which is correct? Rmhermen 17:03, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Both List of islands of the United States by area and List of islands by area have Long Island at 1,401 square miles, however the Long Island article itself states it is 3,567 square miles. Naturally none of the three articles have any citations for the island's area. Let me see if I can dig up some references for either number. --Kralizec! (talk) 17:17, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Suffolk County, New York that covers about 2/3 of the island is listed at 2,373 mi², uncited. Also, I think this should either go to WP:ERRORS or the talk pages of the respective articles. --Howard the Duck 17:39, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Also, a quick inspection at Google Earth will show Long Island is longer than PR, but PR is wider. --Howard the Duck 17:41, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

It would appear that the Long Island article lists the wrong area. Encyclopædia Britannica states that Long Island, "is 118 mi (190 km) long, 12–23 mi (19–37 km) wide, and has an area of 1,401 sq mi (3,629 sq km)." Using this information, I added citations to both List of islands of the United States by area and Long Island. --Kralizec! (talk) 17:52, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Looking at the edit history for Long Island shows a chain of mistakes:

• On 8/30 an anonymous user changed the area from "1,377" to "10,3777" sq mi.
• The next day an editor removed one of the two extra numbers, so the article stated "10,377" square miles.
• On 9/6 an anonymous editor noticed that the mi² number (10,377) was larger than the km² (3567), and switched them without checking the math. (One may wish to note that 3567 mi² = 9238 km², while 10,377 mi² = 26,880 km²).

How embarrassing for all of us that such obviously wrong information was added to the article 59 days ago, and it would never have been caught were it not for a WP:DYK entry. --Kralizec! (talk) 18:15, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

That means Suffolk County MUST be wrong too... --Howard the Duck 18:28, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

The Suffolk County (NY) article is correct. The total area includes a substantial portion of water (roughly 60% of the county). The land area of Suffolk County is consistent with the corrected island area. --Polaron | Talk 20:36, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Curious question about Donation

What determines how full the green donation bar is? Is it the number of people or the amount of money? Tourskin 19:51, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

People. Well numbers of donations technically, since a person could be counted multiple times if they made multiple donations. Dragons flight 21:49, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

ok thanksTourskin 23:19, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Money is an intresting thing. Some people have alot of it, others don't. Some people use to much of it, while others clean up the mess they make. Money is actually important as more and more things are being given prices. Things like getting braces, some may argue that it should be free for your child to have braces and i happen to be one of those people. Teeth are very important and with be with you for the rest of your life so the National Health people should pay for children to have braces no matter what. Some children havent been brought up with loads of money and have appauling teeth which need braces, but as they can not afford it, they have to live there lives with teeth that may cause alot of problems in the future. Others argue that the National Health is being sensible by not paying for everyone to have braces if needed, because if the children looked after there teeth, less of these issues would happen! User Parent of two girls] If you argree with what i have said then please comment below! (PoppyHitchen 15:49, 30 October 2007 (UTC))

Active cursor in search box

A WP donor earlier today suggested the implementation of an active cursor in the search box on main page. Seems like a good idea, doesn't it? --Camptown 09:11, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Giving focus to the search box prevents the user from using the arrow keys or other shortcut keys to navigate. We long ago decided that being able to scroll down at the push of a button was the more important function. Dragons flight 09:26, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

It's in the FAQ btw Nil Einne 13:03, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Will Halsey

Will Halsey is just a pussy and thinks the beavers are a stacked ass team, which there not. Ducks are going to spank the beavers with a wooden paddle.

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