Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 22:38, 14 April 2008

• Essay: A few thoughts on writing Featured Articles

• A damnation of our spiteful and malevolent Arbcom, with which I completely concur.

• An Arb, playing an organ, failing to grasp a few rudiments discussing me off site.

• and further off-site discussions on the subject

• Thought provoking post, some editors may want to think about.

• Another Arb, more confused than usual, explaining why I'm the reason there are no "reasonable IRC guidelines." Some may note that having silenced me, they still seem unable to put their house in order.

File:Animalibrí.gif

Old messages are at

• User talk:Giano II/archive 1 (2004)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 2 (2005)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 3 (2005)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 4 (2006)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 5 (2006)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 6 (2007)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 7 (2007)
• User talk:Giano II/archive 8 (2008)

Kannada literature

Thanks for the support.Dineshkannambadi (talk) 20:29, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Images again!

I see all of the images I took for West Wycombe Park have disappeared from Misplaced Pages to commons without so much as a word - this is really pretty bad, how can they be deleted from Misplaced Pages with no word of notification. Now they are only on commons and this one Image:West Wycombe 3 (Giano).png " released into the public domain by its author, PNG crusade bot at the wikipedia project" Well bolox to that, I am its author, if I copy a book to do I suddenly become it's author? Giano (talk) 12:06, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Giano, if you released it into the public domain no attribution has to be given- to require attribution you need to use a Creative Commons license. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel (talk) 13:50, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

I fixed the description for you anyway. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel (talk) 13:53, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

I am not complaining about attribution, so much as moving to commons and deletingg from Misplaced Pages - where it can now de deleted with no one knowing anything about it her, because no one even bothered to tell me it had been deleted and moved. Giano (talk) 18:17, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

and it iis still happening here is another gone as I was writing the above Image:Brympton DEvercy.gif why are my images all being moved, I just don't see why thet can't stray here as well. There not evn that great pictures by commons standards. Giano (talk) 18:28, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Moving them to commons just means that they will be availiable for other projects to use, nothing is being deleted in reality. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel (talk) 20:43, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

In theory, you are correct. In fact, it is not at all uncommon for images to be deleted from Commons. Worse yet, the categorization system sometimes makes it impossible to find the "right" image there, even when one knows it should be there somewhere. Giano, my suggestion to you would be to open an account on Commons and put all of your photos on your watchlist there, then log in once every few days to see which ones they propose to delete. Just remember to use your same login including password and email account, so you will be ready for Single User Login when it is offered to us plebes in the near future. Risker (talk) 21:45, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

This policy of deleting Misplaced Pages images as soon as they are uploaded to commons will end in tears - you see if I am not right, may be not this year but one day. From now forward I shall just upload with the {{KeepLocal} template, but for how long will that be good? Here for instance Image:Tong Castle Shropshire.jpg has whizzed of to commons - why - I have not even finished the page for which it us destined, I may well upload a better version or never use that one at all. No one on Misplaced Pages ever looks further than tomorrow - I upload potentially useful images all the time, I stop the car and photograph useful buildings all the time, now these people want to upload all to commons and delete others as orphans because I have not yet had the time or inclination to write the page - what sort of clever policy is that? This Kelly is just going through every image I ever upoad - thousands - why? I have better things to do with my time than keep logging into commons to see if Misplaced Pages has decided to throw away the images I upload Giano (talk) 21:49, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

(ec)I'm pretty sure that you can set preferences on Commons so that you get an e-mail (if any items on your watchlist are edited. Or you can just remove the 'W' from the {{NowCommons}} template to turn it into {{NoCommons}}, in which case it won't be deleted, but users from other projects can easily find the same image on Commons. {{KeepLocal}} is for images that have not yet been copied to the Commons. Kelly 21:52, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Why not you just write page and upload your own images instead of fidling? Giano (talk) 21:53, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

being less shy and retiring than I probably should be, I thought I'd pipe up here (although I'll be careful how I sign!) - in truth, there's an unspoken movement which is gathering pace to move all images to commons - many people cannot understand why 'english wikipedia' should have images at all - they all should be available to all of the projects, is how the thinking goes. Not really having thought about it, but having had pic.s nearly deleted from commons without my noticing (my fault mind, wrong / missing licensing stuff) - my jury's out. It's not being discussed anywhere (why bother, when you can just go and do it!) - and to be honest the way the tide seems to be heading to me, we simply won't have local images in a year or so..... just a tuppence worth.. Privatemusings (talk) 21:56, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Interesting point, Giano. And thanks for that information, Kelly. Last night, I experimented and uploaded a photo; it isn't all that good, and it is solely intended for my userpages, instead of the traditional pet/family/similarly too personal photo. I've since been informed that any photo that isn't in an article *should* be uploaded to Commons for everyone to use. (Sound about right, PM?) Now really...why would Commons want personal photos of individual wikipedians, their kids, their dogs, their snakes, their failed efforts at baking bread, their bathrobes, etc.? Well..I have no interest in uploading a barely average image to commons, but if someone copies it there I suppose I shall survive. Risker (talk) 21:59, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

I agree with Giano, that unless some kind of system for notifing users when images are moved to commons, and deleted from en.wikipedia is developed (AND SOON) there will be tears and dhrama. --Rocksanddirt (talk) 00:30, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

I also think that Kelly, knowing my views, continuing to plave a NowCommons template on picture I have uploaded (several more throughout the night) is rather extraordinary behaviour, when she could just as easily place a no commons template. Giano (talk) 06:21, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Can someone keep an eye on these images for me today, as I'm away. I have not the time to retag all the ones Kelly ghas deemed suitable for seletion, I have already wasted the hour on this that I had planned to spend on the new page - it is impossible to get on with writing here these days. Giano (talk) 07:07, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Won't be able to do much during daylight hours today, Giano, but I will go over to Commons this evening and start watchlisting the images that have been transferred, and try to set up something on en-WP to keep track of the rest of the images still here. I have another project in mind for the weekend that you might find of interest as well. Risker (talk) 14:00, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Giano, do not be deceived. This has nothing to do with "sharing" content with other projects and has everything to do with fair use. Specifically, commons does not allow fair use content. The anti-fair use crowd have been desperately trying to purge the English Misplaced Pages of all fair use by any means necessary. Since they have lost the battle to end all fair use through consensus, they now resort to exploiting policy to achieve their goals through unscrupulous tactics such as this. First, they started mass deleting images that were *obviously* mistagged and could have been fixed in an automated fashion. Then they mass deleted any fair use that just had a boilerplate, demanding that a 2-3 sentence explanation be given for each image, despite most being *obvious* cases. Now, this is their final assault. To truly get rid of fair use, they must make all content hosted on the commons. I happen to prefer freely-licensed images, but I'd rather have some image rather than no image at all. Lack of content other than text is truly awful in a media-rich world. You can see the dramatic effect it has had on the quality of many articles, now that so many fair use images have been deleted. Quality has taken a major hit and if it weren't for people like you and a few others, it could have been much worse. For that, I thank you for your constant hard work despite the petty attacks by some rather useless administrators who have developed a cult of personality. Anyways, like you hinted, these so-called freedom activists don't really do anything useful for the project like write articles or find free images to replace fair use ones. Rather, they seem to only to abuse process and make it suck more and all in the name of freedom. These are the same one-issue activists that make projects like Debian really suck, since half the effort is wasted debating them over what is free and what isn't. Quite frankly, I think all bots should be totally banned. If you can't be bothered to take the time to personally do your own edits, then you shouldn't edit at all. --Dragon695 (talk) 12:07, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

• I see. Well I think the history of this sad image is quite interesting as it is not so much a book cover as a photograph taken by myself - I find all this very confusing. Giano (talk) 12:37, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if you feel like hosting a debate here on the use of fair use images in Misplaced Pages but it's a challenging issue that I think will continue to cause problems for the project in the future. Cla68 (talk) 16:18, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Discuss what you like here. Another half hour wasted - have ing to revert a bot that still wants to delete images, even those with the please keep template - how does one put a bot out of action? Giano (talk) 21:57, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

It's the same problem as ever. -Bots don't work on individual cases: they work globally. -Bot mentality is similar. When one is young, one thinks in absolutes in every area of life, and then one realizes that there are nuances, exceptions, oddities, and things that are impossible to define. It is not possible to say "no fair use" or "fair use is fine," because both statements are discussions of attributes without context. I.e. the happy upload plaster -bot that throws up every Warner Brothers Recording Artist is obviously bad, and the impossible copyright status of a 1930 book cover that is out of print (but which might have been renewed the last day of the author's daughter's life) is obviously fine. There is no way to make a universal law and then unleash a -bot.

What's more, "fair use" is itself a recognition of the fact that copyright is sometimes tight, sometimes very tight. It is a legal acknowledgment of times when context is the sole determination of legality. To use anything or make any statement that obliviates examination and careful consideration of context -- each and every single one -- by judgment and intelligence and deliberation -- is a priori wrong, if not stupid.

I'm an existentialist: I get suspicious when anyone starts talking about universal cases when it comes to human beings. (Yes, a Kierkegaardian, so there are universals, but not with "the crooked timber of humanity.") Geogre (talk) 22:23, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Giano, I left a report with the bot owner. To be fair, that image had {{NowCommons}} on it in addition to {{KeepLocal}}. Kelly 22:26, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Well this particular bot has a button on it that will blow it up except when I pressed it, like all things on Misplaced Pages it can only be destroyed by an admin - so you go an press it Geogre - and give it a kick from me while you are there. 22:29, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

And in other news

Do you use Excel? The software, not the verb. Risker (talk) 13:58, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

No idea what I use! It says Windows XP when I start the computer. Giano (talk) 15:28, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh good grief. That explains so very much. Risker (talk) 15:59, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

For your information, Windows XP is an operating system, while Excel is an application program that runs under the OS (in this case, a spreadsheet program). They're both by Microsoft, so naturally they're pieces of crap, and you should use something better that's open-source. But how is this relevant to Misplaced Pages? *Dan T.* (talk) 16:13, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Who said it had anything to do with Misplaced Pages? Risker (talk) 16:18, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I don't know, how it's relevant, perhaps Risker is just inquisitive. I don't do operating systems, and things like that, far too complicated. My last computer went very odd after I tried to fix it by squirting WD40 into it, which was strange because in my experience WD40 fixes most things. Giano (talk) 16:58, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

My wife has found out the hard way that squirting WD40 into me doesn't really fix things. Still, done the right way it does render me unconscious for a few hours, which provides a welcome hiatus. If she were to squirt in a very large quantity maybe it would fix me for good. If anyone's interested, Dan T. is on the money when it comes to XP, but (open-source) OpenOffice so sedulously apes MS Office that there's not much between the two behemoths. Except the price: a lot for legal MS Office, zero for legal OpenOffice. This difference makes the choice simple for me, and the clincher is that MS Office won't run on my computer. Anyway, OpenOffice displays XLS files. ¶ 'Nuff of that. I've recently been disturbed by the mediocrity of articles on buildings -- Pitzhanger Manor, Wotton House, Moggerhanger House, etc -- designed or remodeled by John Soane. I've done some fiddling with them and hope I haven't thereby messed them up, but somebody much more knowledgable about architecture (Joopers, even Giano?) would do a much better job, I'm sure. -- Hoary (talk) 23:30, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Yeah yeah, I know all about the evil Microsoft conspiracy theories and terrible software. Unfortunately, since files written in OpenOffice don't work terribly well with the version of Excel I must use at work, and we are restricted in loading software anyway (an appropriate security move, given what some of my colleagues might put on their computers), I am stuck with Microsoft products. C'est la vie. ¶And you're quite right about those articles, Hoary. Seems there's always something to fix up around here, isn't there? Risker (talk) 23:40, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

My edits to your userspace

Hello. A user asked to be removed from the access list of the admins channel, and also asked to be removed from a few on-wiki copies of this access list, for privacy reasons. Two of those pages were in your user space. I have removed the two mentions of the editor in question: here and here. I hope this is okay with you. - Mark 05:16, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Buckingham Palace

I am being trolled here by an Anon. I don't want to be incivil perhaps an Arb wpuld like to deal with it! Giano (talk) 18:59, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Buckingham Palace

reported your unhelpful attitude to me as a new user to Jimbo! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.77.19.104 (talk) 19:15, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Good luck! - DiligentTerrier (and friends) 19:55, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

I must say that seeing an editor reporting his/her own 3RR violation directly to Jimbo is a first for me :-) SandyGeorgia (Talk) 19:28, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Just to make clear, in case anyone reads this before investigating further, that Giano only reverted the ip once while other editors also reverted (as said, the ip reverted far in excess of 3RR) including at least one other editor twice. However the ip only commented on the actions of Giano at User talk:Jimbo Wales, which lead me to believe that the ip was disruptively targeting Giano. In any case, I have issued a short block on the ip on that basis. LessHeard vanU (talk) 19:40, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh, goodie, now the IP will blame me for getting blocked :-(( SandyGeorgia (Talk) 19:52, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Interesting to look at the IP's edits before Buckingham Palace - all Irish topics. Wonder if that has anything to do with your earlier comments elsewhere, Giano. Risker (talk) 19:55, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

The IP address is from the United Kingdom. - DiligentTerrier (and friends) 19:59, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Of course they were to do with earlier comments I made today, I questioned a decision of an Admin in a contraversial area, and this is the result - a trolling anon. - Oh well I have broad shoulders (thank God) - Thanks a lot all of you. Thanks too to all the Arbs who broke off from their chatting to resolve the situation, having cleverly placed me a position unable to defend myself! Giano (talk) 20:13, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Giano, I came here after your latest snipe on my talk page. Your comments here, read together with your latest on my talk page, appear to be an allegation that I was in some way involved in whatever this dispute here is about. Please either file an ANI complaint or a checkuser ... or drop your unfounded sniping. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 22:11, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Snipe, My dear, is a very overrated dish, but since you insist she who who snipes first will generally find herself looking very silly. Giano (talk) 22:15, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Giano, it is extremely unlikely (less likely than Jimbo turning up at your house with a bottle of really expensive wine, together with a third of ArbCom singing "Hosannah") that BrownHairedGirl has anything to do with the trolling - she is the type of admin that I wish I could be in some areas. No individual can be responsible for the actions of their "disciples" - or for anyone who sees an avenue for attacking someone they do not care for. In this instance I think that your disapproval of BHG (or her WP personae) has clouded your judgement. I really think the best thing is to step back - both of you - in this matter. Please. LessHeard vanU (talk) 22:27, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

...and what makes you think Jimbo and I don't often share a bottle of Dom P together, while being serenaded by the Arbcom accompanied by Uninvited Company on his organ? Giano (talk) 22:31, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

I guess the quality of the wine might depend on how 'twas paid for. Sarah777 (talk) 22:34, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

*Withholds smart-aleck comment about expenses* Risker (talk) 22:36, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

... cos he is eating a 'ansome Pastie (and only emmetts say "Cornish Pastie") at the Slaughtered Lamb, St. Buryan! LessHeard vanU (talk) 22:43, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

What on earth are you talking about LHVU? Please remember this is an intelligent page, only posted on by the intelligent. I have never eaten a pastie in my life, and that film was appalingly awful. And who on earth is St Bunyan - I hate Cornwall, all those one sided trees, and people thinking they are "new age" or whatever, when frankly they are just unwashed and odd. Come to think of it half of them probably edit Misplaced Pages. Giano (talk) 18:00, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

"unwashed and odd." I didn't know Cornwall was in Northern California? --Rocksanddirt (talk) 19:57, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

All people are odd, unless perhaps if they are conjoined twins - in which case they are rare. LessHeard vanU (talk) 12:34, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Good is an odd number and evil is an even number (Trinity, the thrice trinity, vs. the cloven hooves, the devil and anti-Christ). Therefore, it's good to be odd, and getting even is bad. Utgard Loki (talk) 12:41, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Palazzo Pitti

Hi again, If you feel Palazzo Pitti is high importance please feel free to change it, however you could take a look at The "importance scale" on Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Museums/Assessment which says "Major Museums of specific types" & "Well known Museums" are Mid with "National Museums", "Types of Museums" & "International Museum Organisations" are High. It would be great if you would join the discussion about these at Misplaced Pages talk:WikiProject Museums where perceptions of "greatest paintings" can see if they get general acceptance - but I don't think the sites selected for your ashes will make it into the criteria.— Rod 19:32, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh I really can't be bothered. I expect it's just another dreary stop on most people's intinery. Who cares anyway? Those that are interested know where it is. Giano (talk) 19:34, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

User:Vintagekits

Please stop the edit war over at User:Vintagekits. There is absolutely no policy in WP:BP or anywhere else that supports either view in this rather trivial incident to get excited about. Most blocking admins do tend to replace the whole userpage with the blocked template, because;

• the blocked user cannot edit Misplaced Pages with that account anymore, so what is the point of having a userpage, and,
• a simple page made up of the blocked template makes it much clearer to passers by that this account is now inactive. There have been pranks occuring where people apply blocked templates to others / their own userpages for a laugh, and it could get mistook for one of those.

Please leave the page as it is now. It is really not worth warring over and getting blocked over. Thankyou. Lradrama 10:32, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Had a respected and reputable admin decided the page had to be blanked that would be one thing, but Kittybrester trolling is quite another matter . The reason why the page should not be blocked are adequatly explained in it's history and elsewhere. The Editor has written and created many valuable pages. Do not come here threatening to block me - because it cuts little ice, and does not alter my views or actions in the slightest. Giano (talk) 12:36, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

If there are things people need from the userpage, then they can get it via looking through the history. And all the admins involved in this are respected and reputable thankyou, there's no need to snap like that. The userpage has been protected once, we shouldn't have to do it again. We have discussed this elsewhere, and if you continue to be disruptive and contradict anyone else, you will be blocked for edit warring. That will be a shame, and no-one, at heart, wishes to do that to you. That is the decision of more than one person / admin. Please stop. Thankyou. Lradrama 13:11, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Don't come here threatening and telling me not to be disruptive, you clearly have no idea of the problems many are anxious to avoid in that area. I suggest you go and do some research. Finally, if you want to make a name for yourself I am happy to advise you, but I suggest you do it in the normal way, your 10 minutes of fame for blocking me, will hardly put you in the celebrity bracket! Giano (talk) 13:20, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I think Kittybrewster could have been more communicative with the manner in which he advanced his approach. Likewise, Lradrama's approach comes across as overly intimidating and distant. There's no urgency here. El_C 13:33, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Don't worry E1 C we are quite used to such behaviour on this page, in fact it is deliberatly intended by the Arbcom - I hate to dissapoint. If ever anyone ever wanted banning for deliberated disruption it is them. I'm sure it gives them a little thrill every time it happens, and allows Uninvited to have a whinge from the organ loft that is his own chatroom.Giano (talk) 13:38, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Maybe I can help. El_C 13:16, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm afraid you've got the totally wrong end of the stick here. I am not doing this for fame or celebrity or anything at all like that, what do you think I am? I'm am no attention seeker (and if you look at my userpage - the big, fat, Awesome Wikipedian AWARD is just one of the reasons why I'm perfectly happy with my administrator 'image' at the moment). That's the first time ever I've been forced to point out good things about myself to others, and trust me, I don't like having to do it. If you want to be patronising when all I was doing was making a request, then I want nothing more to do with you. I won't ask next time...I'll just do what needs doing. Lradrama 17:14, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Certainly living up to the 'drama' part of the username with threats like this. 216.37.86.10 (talk) 18:23, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I've changed my mind after thinking about this. Someone left a very valid point in our discussion. Giano II, despite having a very curious way of discussing things here, has made some very valuable contributions to Misplaced Pages also. I cannot block someone like this, and the edit war has stopped anyway now. We've reached a conclusion that if the malarky continues, the userpage will be protected. End of argument. Lradrama 18:27, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

You can't block me because you have no reason to block, if you take the time look at the edits you will see there are no 3Rs. Now go and do your research, and I don't need you to point out the value my contributions. Giano (talk) 20:21, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

It's resolved. The situation could have been handled better (and not only by me, I might add). It's best we never cross each other's paths again ;-). Lradrama 21:02, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I beg your pardon? what on earth are you talking about now? Have admins such as yourself nothing more useful to do about the project? I suggest you go and find constructive to do. Giano (talk) 22:59, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Winter Palace images

Giano, I happened to notice you were working on the Winter Palace article - there are a lot of freely-licensed images here. If there are any you would like, just let me know and I'd be happy to copy them to the project for you. Kelly 12:44, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, I think we have those views. Images needed are those taken in the courtyards, or from the small estern garden, or (in our dreams) very good quality interior shots - having said Alex and I have uploaded some brilliant watercolours of the interiors - this could be one of the good pages, but it os going to be a very slow job, as it need to be thought through, and I'm still incertain how to play it - using so much information but still keeeping the page reaonably concise and interesting. Giano (talk) 13:25, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I grabbed some interior shots - not sure if you can use any of them but have a look when you get a chance:

• Image:Winter Palace State Room.jpg
• Image:Winter Palace State Room 2.jpg
• Image:Hermitage archway.jpg
• Image:Inside Winter Palace.jpg
• Image:The Great Coach.jpg
• Image:Ambassadors' Staircase.jpg
• Image:Winter Palace through arch.jpg
• Image:The State (Jordan, or Ambassadors') Staircase.jpg
• Image:The State (Jordan, or Ambassadors') Staircase 2.jpg
• Image:Throne in the Hall of Peter the Great.jpg
• Image:Gold pillars in Armorial Hall.jpg
• Image:Elaborate doors in Armorial Hall.jpg
• Image:St. George Hall throne.jpg

This is just a sampling of some that I was able to dig up...if this is the type of thing you're searching for, or have any special requests, I will be happy to try. I found many interior Hermitage shots, but I'm not sure if you're interested in any of those or just strictly the Winter Palace for now. Kelly 16:32, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Some of those we have, some we don't - thanks - the courtyard one is good. The Hermitage is not being included in the page, this was the result of opinions sought on the tal pages of both by the editors concerned with the pages. hence the page will concentrate just on the palace and events prior to 1918, rather than it's renaissance as part of the Hermtage. I'm not sure how this will pan out, but pan out it will. Giano (talk) 16:40, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I will pull together as many images as I can and try to organize them into some kind of semi-coherent galleries on Commons, organized by room, if possible. I'll drop you a note when I'm done, if it's OK, and you can have a look at the images to pick out the best. If I can find enough good images, some of the links from the piano nobile diagram could possibly be to galleries on Commons rather than individual images...what do you think? Kelly 16:47, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

The piano nobile images are only plonked there at the moment so I remember what is what. Giano (talk) 16:49, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Protection

I think Renaissance architecture is in need of protection! You are doing a noble job there, but it the problem appears to be never ending. Amandajm (talk) 07:00, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Mention on

Vintagekits' user page

You might want to weigh in on the ANI discussion here - Alison 08:45, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

• I have said all I wish to here . I shall not be commenting further as I'm tired of these protracted Misplaced Pages threads where whichever 14 year old shouts loudest and last gets to carry the day. We all know, if only privately, some of the factions and behind the scenes politics that VK was fighting against. His methods may have been wrong and misguided, and I may not condone his behaviour, but I can give him some understanding. I have never yet trashed the grave of an an enemy or a friend, an I have no intention of being party to such petty, puerile and pointless actions now. You must do as you think best Alison. Giano (talk) 09:18, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Is this a trend?

That's twice in 24 hours when I have unequivocally agreed with you - MONGO and Vintagekits. Obviously Bishzilla has burned some sense into one or both of us. Guy (Help!) 15:05, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, it worrying isn't it, God knows what Bishzilla will say when she returns from her sunny sojourn at my Palazzo Splendido, Caymen isalnds. (all credit card booking accepted).Roar, I expect. Giano (talk) 15:08, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Needless to say I am not happy about the way things turned out either. Sometimes drama gets whipped up to the point where it takes on a life of its own - I'm pretty sure if that had been any other user and I'd unblocked in the way I did, there would have been next to no reaction. Instead I end up having to reblock because the masses feel that punishment of this nature achieves something. Sad days, indeed. Orderinchaos 15:36, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I find it disturbing that someone gets blocked for insufficient subservience to the commands of the Misplaced Pages boyars. Kelly 15:38, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

In my real world existence I am an educator. I have found in that context that punishment for its own sake only makes things worse rather than solving anything, and what is better is a measured approach to things. In my view blocks are handed out all too readily for certain kinds of offences (and I use that word with a deliberate double meaning), and never readily enough for the ones that actually harm the encyclopaedia. If one works in content and it becomes necessary to rid an article or subproject of a thoroughly tendentious SPA troll, it's almost impossible and can take weeks or months, seeing valuable editors driven off the project in disgust in the meantime, unless you can prove they are a sockpuppet. Orderinchaos 16:02, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

• In the great scheme of things I don't regard "get lost," in the heat of a moment, as particularly offensive. The Admin was presumptious and patronising. I'm afraid in my considerable experience many of these admins are promoted after being here for a few months, voted for by their friends, and then want to strut about with shiny little badges expecting due deference. Sadly, for them neither the world nor Misplaced Pages functions in quite that way. That one should be so stupid as to think he could block Mongo for a week for the crime of failing to massage his ego beggars belief, but there you are - the clones all squeak with anger at a perceived insult to one of their own. Of course, it all boils down to damn the content, but protect the cliques and the egos. What should have happened was that the blocking admin should have been immediately de-sysoped and sent for re-training. Giano (talk) 16:49, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
  • I don't either - I've heard far worse from my students! :)
  • Re the general point, I think the sad reality on the modern Misplaced Pages is that compared to even 2 years ago when I first arrived, many admins are not editors, and stopped being so a long time ago (a case of "ye shall know them by their contribs"...) If they do go into mainspace it's usually solely to revert vandalism or continue a battle with someone they are already in a dispute with. Solid editing is the main thing that makes the encyclopaedia what it is, creates our best articles and develops the reach of knowledge we cover, and yet this has become an extremely low priority for many of the "new generation" of admins (although plenty of readily identifiable exceptions exist). Orderinchaos 13:12, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

I am encouraged by the fact that so many are now coming to that few, but until the arbcom are forced (and it will eventually be by force) to accept that view little can change. The power structure of Misplaced Pages is now so at odds with the fundametal concepts of the project, that the encyclopedia either will improve or implode. Giano (talk) 13:43, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Well it does look like the Arbcom are now being forced kicking and screaming to accept the case after so many voted with suspiciously indecent haste to reject it, the trouble is having seen how quick they were to reject before half the evidence was presented - what confidence can one have in them? Giano (talk) 11:50, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

RFA thanks

Thanks for your support in my RFA, that didn't quite make it and ended at 120/47/13. There was a ton of great advice there, that I'm going to go on. Maybe someday. If not, there are articles to write! Thanks for your support. Lawrence § t/e 17:51, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

I am truly sorry, you could have been one of the best. Let's face it you could hardly have been worse than some I could care to mention today. Giano (talk) 17:54, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

He will be one of the best. Give it three months. Jehochman 02:06, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Have you seen Star Wars? I know, it's horrible American culture. Jehochman 02:06, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Exploding Houses

How's it coming along? --Counter-revolutionary (talk) 19:33, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh still exploding! Giano (talk) 21:02, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Don't suppose I could make a few banal and repetitive edits to it? --Counter-revolutionary (talk) 08:15, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

No, you suppose correctly. Giano (talk) 08:46, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

RfAr

Hey Giano, just letting you know I removed your section in the arbitrators voting section. As I hope you can understand, to leave such comments there will create a major headache in many cases to come. I'm sure the arbitrators will see your most recent comment via the use of a subsection, which will appear in the table of contents (and stand out a tad!). Edit summary; happy to discuss if you disagree. Cheers, Daniel (talk) 12:56, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Oh that's most kind. Thank you. Giano (talk) 12:57, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Note

You have mail. --Relata refero (disp.) 19:10, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

3RR warning for User talk:FT2

You are in danger of violating WP:3RR, further reverts will result in blocking. _(1 == 2) 22:29, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

That's most kind, thank you for pointing that out. What a sad day when we can no longer ask one of our Arbs a straight, honest and civil question. When exactly were you promoted to the Arbcom 1=2?, or are you just some form of staff? Giano (talk) 22:34, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

I know from history that you defend Wikipedians are allowed to remove content from their user talk pages. I would grant this courtesy to any user who was having a message repeatedly reverted back onto their page against their will. You have done well to chose a neutral and topical venue to re-post your concerns, your posting at Misplaced Pages talk:CheckUser is a perfectly reasonable way to pursue these concerns. Thanks. _(1 == 2) 22:38, 14 April 2008 (UTC)