Misplaced Pages

The Olive Branch: A Dispute Resolution Newsletter (Issue #1)

Welcome to the first edition of The Olive Branch. This will be a place to semi-regularly update editors active in dispute resolution (DR) about some of the most important issues, advances, and challenges in the area. You were delivered this update because you are active in DR, but if you would prefer not to receive any future mailing, just add your name to this page.

In this issue:

• Background: A brief overview of the DR ecosystem.
• Research: The most recent DR data
• Survey results: Highlights from Steven Zhang's April 2012 survey
• Activity analysis: Where DR happened, broken down by the top DR forums
• DR Noticeboard comparison: How the newest DR forum has progressed between May and August
• Discussion update: Checking up on the Wikiquette Assistance close debate
• Proposal: It's time to close the Geopolitical, ethnic, and religious conflicts noticeboard. Agree or disagree?

--The Olive Branch 19:07, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

Toolserver account registration failure

Hi. I have tried several times to request an administrator account for the UTRS tool at http://toolserver.org/~unblock/p/register.php but the registration form keeps refusing to accept the diff it requires, saying "You must provide a valid confirmation diff to your user talk page." I'm writing to you because your name is shown in the link to create the diff on my talk page. Any suggestions how to proceed? Any special way I need to format the diff link? ~Amatulić (talk) 00:26, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Do you have an IRC account? Can you catch me in the admin channel?--v/r - TP 01:29, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

It's defintely the format (there are different kinds of diffs, and it requires your username in it IIRC), I think I have a fix waiting to be pushed in beta, but I could be wrong. -- DQ (ʞlɐʇ) 01:38, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

IIRC, is the problem with the capital "U"?--v/r - TP 01:43, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

The diff does include my username, since it's a diff of my own talk page. The URL I'm submitting is http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=User_talk:Amatulic&diff=510995253&oldid=510908587

I tried with a lowercase 'U' (User_talk -> user_talk) but it didn't make a difference.

I don't have an IRC account. Until now, never saw a need. I guess I'll have to create one. ~Amatulić (talk) 02:18, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Does the "Misplaced Pages username:" field match "Amatulic" exactly with capital letters?--v/r - TP 03:12, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I believe I tried it both ways, but the error message concerned the diff only, nothing else.

I just tried it again and it worked! Whatever you did, thanks! ~Amatulić (talk) 03:57, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Glad you all fixed it. :-) Hersfold 04:02, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

I've activated it.--v/r - TP 12:45, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

disputes status of gibraltar

Mr. Hersfold.

I apologize, I did not see your post before submitting my application for dispute resolution, what do we do now? Is it possible to cancel the request?

Thanks --Juanmatorres75 23:33, 7 September 2012 (UTC)

Certainly, I've just removed it for you. Hersfold 00:09, 8 September 2012 (UTC)

CU Request

Hey Hersfold, could you see what IP User:Radiodj63 is operating under and where it tracks back to? I ask because that account is vandalizing WLNG and I am trying to give them benefit of the doubt since they are new, but if the account tracks back to a part of the country not near Long Island (WLNG is located on Long Island) or NYC, I know I am dealing with a vandal and can just go for the block. - Neutralhomer • Talk • 00:08, 11 September 2012 (UTC)

If there's a specific vandal you'd like me to compare to, I could (although I'd prefer a WP:SPI case), but I can't reveal what IP he's using, and even saying what area they're from is a bit iffy. Hersfold 03:03, 11 September 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 10 September 2012

• From the editor: Signpost adapts as news consumption changes

• Op-ed: Fixing Misplaced Pages's help pages one key to editor retention

• In the media: Author criticizes Misplaced Pages article; Wales attacks UK government proposal

• Featured content: Not a "Gangsta's Paradise", but still rappin'

• WikiProject report: WikiProject Fungi

• Special report: Two Wikipedians set to face jury trial

• News and notes: Researchers find that Simple English Misplaced Pages has "lost its focus"

• Technology report: Mmmm, milkshake...

• Discussion report: Closing Wikiquette; Image Filter; Education Program and Momento extensions

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• EdwardsBot (talk) 05:06, 11 September 2012 (UTC)

Please hide IP address logged out edit

Would you please hide my IP address on this edit on 15:10, 16 September 2012‎ in Help:IPA for Navajo: Revision history?

I got logged out of my account for no reason while I was editing that article. Do you know of any program that will keep me logged in or prevent me from editing while logged out? That would be very helpful for me. --Ephert (talk) 15:48, 16 September 2012 (UTC)

Done. For future reference, you'll usually get a much faster response (and avoid publicizing your IP further) by emailing oversight-en-wpwikimedia.org . Fortunately I happened to be online just now.

As to your question, one possible solution would be to go to your user CSS page (Special:Mypage/common.css for all skins, Special:Mypage/vector.css if you use Vector, Special:Mypage/monobook.css if you use Monobook, etc.), and add these lines to that page:

body{
    background-color: #AACCFF !important;
    background-image: none !important;
}
div#mw-head{
    background-color: #AACCFF !important;
    background-image: none !important;
}

You can change the colors to whatever you want, but what this will do is change the background color of the page from that white-gray to a light blue. If you're ever editing and you notice that the background is NOT that color, it means you've been logged out. Hersfold 15:57, 16 September 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 17 September 2012

• From the editor: Signpost expands to Facebook

• WikiProject report: Action! — The Indian Cinema Task Force

• Featured content: Go into the light

• News and notes: Tens of thousands of monuments loved; members of new funding body announced

• Technology report: Future-proofing: HTML5 and IPv6

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• EdwardsBot (talk) 16:28, 18 September 2012 (UTC)

Articles for Creation urgently needs your help!

Sent on behalf of WikiProject Articles for creation. If you do not wish to receive anymore messages from this WikiProject, please remove your username from this page.
Happy reviewing! TheSpecialUser 

• Delivered by EdwardsBot (talk) 09:00, 23 September 2012 (UTC)

Thanks!

For your quick action on my unblock request. It's nice to be able to edit again. Cheers! Ilva (talk) 14:24, 23 September 2012 (UTC)

Zarbonholio

Should the alternative account be blocked, too? I've not come across someone getting blocked and having a seemingly legit alternative before. Peridon (talk) 18:11, 24 September 2012 (UTC)

Probably should be blocked, yeah. It's not common, but it wouldn't be the first time I've come across a bad-hand-good-hand thing. I might take a look with checkuser, actually, I saw some edits that implied there may be other accounts as well. Hersfold 21:52, 24 September 2012 (UTC)

I did find a few accounts, and it turns out the IP range they're using has been subject to a fair bit of abuse lately. I've blocked it for a month. Hersfold 22:12, 24 September 2012 (UTC)

I think I've found a Duck in User:Reverend Bosco and have blocked it. Peridon (talk) 20:34, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Yes indeed. I'll see about expanding the rangeblock when I get home from work. Hersfold non-admin 20:53, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 24 September 2012

• In the media: Editor's response to Roth draws internet attention

• Recent research: "Rise and decline" of Misplaced Pages participation, new literature overviews, a look back at WikiSym 2012

• WikiProject report: 01010010 01101111 01100010 01101111 01110100 01101001 01100011 01110011

• News and notes: UK chapter rocked by Gibraltar scandal

• Technology report: Signpost investigation: code review times

• Featured content: Dead as...

• Discussion report: Image filter; HotCat; Syntax highlighting; and more

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• EdwardsBot (talk) 17:29, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

Point of clarification

Hi Hersfold. I wanted to ask a quick concerning on the scope of my current topic ban imposed under ARBFLG2. I'm working on taking an article through a GA review after its lead author went MIA. The reviewer proposed a bit of a structural reorganization to some sections, one of which has a couple sentences that could very broadly be construed as related to Falun Gong. I intend to just move it around a bit, and not make any changes to the content. Would this be alright? There are no other editors involved in the page who could do this. Any guidance would be appreciated. Homunculus (duihua) 18:41, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

Any request for clarification really ought to be put forth to the whole committee at WP:RFAR, and particularly with context, but my personal view would be:

• An edit re-ordering text without removing or deleting anything would probably fall under "uncontroversial corrections to style" and thus acceptable unless:
  • An editor has previously expressed opposition to the change or a similar one, or
  • The re-ordering may impact how the presented information is perceived by the reader (for example, mentioning a negative review before a positive one when it was previously the other way around)
• Whenever any editor subject to restrictions is unsure if an edit falls within said restrictions, the editor should err on the side of caution and assume it does unless explicitly told otherwise by community consensus or the restricting authority (being the admin who levied the sanction or, as in your case, the Committee)

That said, I would still strongly recommend that you file a clarification request. Without some more context into the matter that's all I can really say, and keep in mind as well that I'm not the one enforcing this. Hersfold non-admin 19:26, 26 September 2012 (UTC)