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<noinclude>{{FAQ page}}</noinclude>

] '''To view an explanation to the answer, click the <nowiki></nowiki> link to the right of the question.'''

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=1
|q=Q1<nowiki>:</nowiki> Why is this article not called "Climategate" or have the word "scandal" in its title? |q=Why is this article not called "Climategate"?
|a=There have been numerous discussions on this subject on the talk page. The current title is not the common name, as is generally used for Misplaced Pages articles, but instead a ], one chosen to not seem to pass judgment, implicitly or explicitly, on the subject. A recent {{update inline|date=March 2014}} discussion has indicated that there is no consensus to move the article to the title of ], and so further discussion of the article title has been tabled until at least June 2011.
|a='''A1''': Article names are expected to exhibit the highest degree of neutrality to satisfy Misplaced Pages's ] requirements. The use of "scandal" or "-gate" frequently implies wrongdoing or a particular point of view. Such terms are ] and should not be used in article titles. ] is a redirect to this article, so users typing that in the search box will be directed here.}}
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=2
|q=Q2<nowiki>:</nowiki> Why aren't there links to various emails? |q=Why aren't there links to various emails?
|a='''A2''': The emails themselves are both primary sources and copyright violations. Misplaced Pages avoids using primary sources (]), and avoids linking to ]. If a specific email has been discussed in a reliable, secondary source, use that source, not the email.}} |a=The emails themselves are both primary sources and copyright violations. Misplaced Pages avoids using primary sources (]), and avoids linking to ]. If a specific email has been discussed in a reliable, secondary source, use that source, not the email.
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=3
|q=Q3<nowiki>:</nowiki> Why is/isn't a specific blog being used as a source? |q=Why is/isn't a specific blog being used as a source?
|a='''A3''': Blogs are not typically ]. Blogs by published experts writing in their field of expertise, however, are reliable sources.}} |a=Blogs are not typically ]. Blogs may, in some circumstances, be acceptable when produced by an established expert on the topic of the article whose work '''in the relevant field''' has previously been published by '''reliable third-party publications'''. Blogs should never be used as third-party sources about living persons, even if the author is a well-known professional researcher or writer; see ].
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=4
|q=Q4<nowiki>:</nowiki> Aren't the emails/other documents in the public domain? |q=Aren't the emails/other documents in the public domain?
|a='''A4''': No. Some of the hacked documents are covered by Crown Copyright, others by private copyright. The ] does not affect copyright.}} |a=No. Some of the hacked documents are covered by ], others by private copyright. The ] does not affect copyright.
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=5
|q=Q5<nowiki>:</nowiki>Why does the article refer to a hacking and to stolen documents? Couldn't this be an accidental release of information or released by a ] insider ? |q=Why does the article refer to a hacking and to stolen documents? Couldn't this be an accidental release of information or released by a ] insider ?
|a='''A5''': Misplaced Pages reports the facts from reliable sources. Norfolk Constabulary say that they, alongside a specialist team from the Metropolitan Police, are "investigating criminal offences in relation to a data breach at the ]", and both the University and a science blog, ], have reported server hacking incidents directly associated with this affair.}} |a=Misplaced Pages reports the facts from reliable sources. In their most recent statement on the issue, Norfolk Constabulary have said that the information was released through an attack carried out remotely via the Internet and that there is no evidence of anyone associated with the University being associated with the crime. Both the University and a science blog, ] , have reported server hacking incidents directly associated with this affair. The University has stated that the documents were "stolen" and "illegally obtained".
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=6
|q=Q6<nowiki>:</nowiki> Why is there a ] (BLP) notice at the top of this page? This article is about an event, and the Climatic Research Unit is not a living person. |q=Why is there a ] (BLP) notice at the top of this page? This article is about an event, and the Climatic Research Unit is not a living person.
|a='''A6''': The BLP applies to all pages on Misplaced Pages, specifically to all potentially negative statements about living persons. It does not apply solely to articles about living persons. The notice is there to remind us to take care that all statements regarding identifiable living persons mentioned in the article or talk page comply with all Misplaced Pages policies and with the law, per the BLP.}} |a=The BLP applies to all pages on Misplaced Pages, specifically to all potentially negative statements about living persons. It does not apply solely to articles about living persons. The notice is there to remind us to take care that all statements regarding identifiable living persons mentioned in the article or talk page comply with all Misplaced Pages policies and with the law, per the BLP.
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=7
|q=Q7<nowiki>:</nowiki> What do I do if I have a complaint about the conduct of other people editing or discussing this article? |q=What do I do if I have a complaint about the conduct of other people editing or discussing this article?
|a='''A7''': Follow the ] policy. It is not optional. Unduly cluttering the talk page with complaints about other editors' behavior is wasteful. In the case of egregiously bad conduct only, consider contacting an administrator.}} |a=Follow the ] policy. It is not optional. Unduly cluttering the talk page with complaints about other editors' behavior is wasteful. In the case of egregiously bad conduct only, consider contacting an administrator.
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=8
|q=Q8<nowiki>:</nowiki> I think there is inadequate consensus on a matter of policy. What should I do? |q=I think there is inadequate consensus on a matter of policy. What should I do?
|a='''A8''': There are several options. Consider posting the issue on one of the ], or starting a ] (RFC) on the question.}} |a=There are several options. Consider posting the issue on one of the ], or starting a ] (RFC) on the question.
}}

{{FAQ row {{FAQ row
|show=no |index=9
|q=Why doesn't the article report that BBC weather reporter ] received an advance copy of the leaked content?
|q=Q9<nowiki>:</nowiki>
|a=Because it isn't true. In fact, the only involvement Paul Hudson reports (see ) is that he had been the subject of emailed complaints from CRU climatologists concerning a blog article he had recently published, and that he was able to confirm that those emailed complaints which had been copied to him by the senders, and which later appeared in the zip file of stolen documents, were authentic. That is to say, Hudson received ''some'' of the later leaked e-mails, but only those originally also addressed to him or the BBC, which forwarded them. It appears that some blogs and newspapers have misinterpreted this. This was also confirmed by the BBC and when the issue arose again.
|a='''A9''': .}}
}}

{{FAQ row
|index=10
|q=Newspapers have reported that this article and a lot of the global warming articles are being controlled and manipulated. Why don't we report that?
|a=The items in question are opinion columns by James Delingpole and Lawrence Solomon. Misplaced Pages's ] discourage self-referential material unless publicity regarding a Misplaced Pages article is determined to be significant enough to be included. This requires the Misplaced Pages coverage to be a major part of the controversy. There is no consensus that the two opinion columns meet this criterion. This does not preclude coverage of those writers' opinions on Misplaced Pages in other articles, such as ], ], ], and ], but that would be a matter for the editors of those individual articles. On specific charges against an individual named by Lawrence Solomon and repeated uncritically by James Delingpole, please see on the ].
}}

Latest revision as of 17:26, 7 March 2014

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the corresponding page Climatic Research Unit email controversy. They address concerns, questions, and misconceptions which have repeatedly arisen on the talk page. Please update this material when needed.

To view an explanation to the answer, click the link to the right of the question.

Q1: Why is this article not called "Climategate"? A1: There have been numerous discussions on this subject on the talk page. The current title is not the common name, as is generally used for Misplaced Pages articles, but instead a descriptive title, one chosen to not seem to pass judgment, implicitly or explicitly, on the subject. A recent Requested move discussion has indicated that there is no consensus to move the article to the title of Climategate, and so further discussion of the article title has been tabled until at least June 2011. Q2: Why aren't there links to various emails? A2: The emails themselves are both primary sources and copyright violations. Misplaced Pages avoids using primary sources (WP:PRIMARY), and avoids linking to Copyright violations. If a specific email has been discussed in a reliable, secondary source, use that source, not the email. Q3: Why is/isn't a specific blog being used as a source? A3: Blogs are not typically reliable sources. Blogs may, in some circumstances, be acceptable when produced by an established expert on the topic of the article whose work in the relevant field has previously been published by reliable third-party publications. Blogs should never be used as third-party sources about living persons, even if the author is a well-known professional researcher or writer; see WP:BLP#Reliable sources. Q4: Aren't the emails/other documents in the public domain? A4: No. Some of the hacked documents are covered by Crown copyright, others by private copyright. The Freedom of Information Act does not affect copyright. Q5: Why does the article refer to a hacking and to stolen documents? Couldn't this be an accidental release of information or released by a whistleblowing insider ? A5: Misplaced Pages reports the facts from reliable sources. In their most recent statement on the issue, Norfolk Constabulary have said that the information was released through an attack carried out remotely via the Internet and that there is no evidence of anyone associated with the University being associated with the crime. Both the University and a science blog, RealClimate , have reported server hacking incidents directly associated with this affair. The University has stated that the documents were "stolen" and "illegally obtained". Q6: Why is there a biographies of living persons (BLP) notice at the top of this page? This article is about an event, and the Climatic Research Unit is not a living person. A6: The BLP applies to all pages on Misplaced Pages, specifically to all potentially negative statements about living persons. It does not apply solely to articles about living persons. The notice is there to remind us to take care that all statements regarding identifiable living persons mentioned in the article or talk page comply with all Misplaced Pages policies and with the law, per the BLP. Q7: What do I do if I have a complaint about the conduct of other people editing or discussing this article? A7: Follow the dispute resolution policy. It is not optional. Unduly cluttering the talk page with complaints about other editors' behavior is wasteful. In the case of egregiously bad conduct only, consider contacting an administrator. Q8: I think there is inadequate consensus on a matter of policy. What should I do? A8: There are several options. Consider posting the issue on one of the noticeboards, or starting a request for comment (RFC) on the question. Q9: Why doesn't the article report that BBC weather reporter Paul Hudson received an advance copy of the leaked content? A9: Because it isn't true. In fact, the only involvement Paul Hudson reports (see here) is that he had been the subject of emailed complaints from CRU climatologists concerning a blog article he had recently published, and that he was able to confirm that those emailed complaints which had been copied to him by the senders, and which later appeared in the zip file of stolen documents, were authentic. That is to say, Hudson received some of the later leaked e-mails, but only those originally also addressed to him or the BBC, which forwarded them. It appears that some blogs and newspapers have misinterpreted this. This was also confirmed by the BBC on the 27th November 2009 and on the 13th March 2010 when the issue arose again. Q10: Newspapers have reported that this article and a lot of the global warming articles are being controlled and manipulated. Why don't we report that? A10: The items in question are opinion columns by James Delingpole and Lawrence Solomon. Misplaced Pages's guidelines on self-references discourage self-referential material unless publicity regarding a Misplaced Pages article is determined to be significant enough to be included. This requires the Misplaced Pages coverage to be a major part of the controversy. There is no consensus that the two opinion columns meet this criterion. This does not preclude coverage of those writers' opinions on Misplaced Pages in other articles, such as James Delingpole, Lawrence Solomon, Global warming conspiracy theory, and Criticism of Misplaced Pages, but that would be a matter for the editors of those individual articles. On specific charges against an individual named by Lawrence Solomon and repeated uncritically by James Delingpole, please see this discussion on the Conflict of interest noticeboard. Category: