Misplaced Pages

Your recent comments on ANI

when an Admin mis-uses her tools to block half of one of the World's largest cities and its inhabitants are still being blocked four hours after she was told to desist - you tell me who is imcopmpetent and stupid? Instead of chasing me, the Admins should have been sorting it, but that is too much to ask! Now you were fast enough to de-sysop SV for unblocking let's see some action for blocking. I will have this sorted. Giano (talk) 16:24, 13 December 2008 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages:RFAR#Motions_2

Could you please vote or abstain on Motion 1.3 in the Matthew Hoffman appeal? It currently has 5 supports out of ten, but the new Arbcom is going to come in in two weeks, and then everything will be thrown into chaos. It has been up for three and a bit weeks, the appeal itself is a month old. It would be nice to be able to get this over with and move on, instead of leaving it to the new Arbcom to sort out.

Thank you,

Shoemaker's Holiday (talk) 01:56, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

Request for help on a non-Wiki matter

Fayssal, you are evidently Moroccan, or at least know the country well. I need a little help. I'm in the middle of writing a short story set in Marrakesh and the Draa valley. My hero goes to a village in the Draa (not a real one - this is fiction) to look at old manuscripts in a mosque. My questions are about the words I should use, and the realism of the whole idea. Would a scholar of Arabic (my hero is a postgrad student of Classical Arabic) realistically expect to find old manuscripts in a village like this? If so, where would they be - in a mosque, or where? And what would the name for such a repository be - something based on kutub perhaps, or just "mosque"? I hope you can help, otherwise I'll have to travel all the way to Morocco to do first-hand research, whioch would be expensive, tho enjoyable. PiCo (talk) 07:22, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

Happy holidays

Thanks for making 2008 an interesting and enlightening year for me; I shall look forward to working with you on the Arbitration Committee in the coming year.
Wishing you and yours a joyous holiday season, and happiness, health and hopefulness in 2009. I trust you'll enjoy this little token, a favourite performance of Baby, it's Cold Outside, for your holiday amusement.
Best, Risker (talk) 22:18, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Risker. Wishing the same for you. -- FayssalF - 21:11, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

Merry Christmas from Promethean

FayssalF,
I wish you and your family all the best this Christmas and that you also have a Happy and safe new year.
Thankyou for all your contributions to Misplaced Pages this year and I look forward to seeing many more from you in the future.
Your work around Misplaced Pages has not gone un-noticed, this notice is testimony to that
Please feel free to drop by my talkpage any time to say Hi, as I will probably say Hi back :)

All the Best.   «l| Ψrometheăn ™|l»  (talk)

Thanks Promethean. Happy christmas for you and your family as well. -- FayssalF - 21:11, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

An article you created

FYI, I've CSD A7'd Massimo Dutti. I was gonna template you, but I figured nah. Might be pushing it to template an arbitrator. ;) Rockfang (talk) 05:34, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

Template me whenever I am wrong :) Well, i see that someone added a few references and sources. Are you satisfied with them? -- FayssalF - 13:30, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

I'm sorta indifferent. I do admit that being mentioned in the Times London is potentially a big deal, but the article in my opinion still doesn't actually mention why the company is either significant or important. But, after a recent IFD/DRV I was in, I've pretty much given up on discussing my point on anything anymore. Thank you for replying though.--Rockfang (talk) 13:39, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

I see. Well, the Italian Massimo Dutti brand (with 444 stores worldwide) belongs to the Spanish Inditex (€8.196 billion in sales), the owner of Zara. -- FayssalF - 13:45, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

feedback requested at Misplaced Pages talk:Misplaced Pages Committees

Hi, if you have time, I'd appreciate any feedback on a slightly crazy idea I had at Misplaced Pages:Misplaced Pages Committees. It's related to the Arbitration Committee. Thanks! rootology (C)(T) 18:32, 29 December 2008 (UTC)

KAOVF is Back & Surprise Surprise among first acts is editing Western Sahara Arties from Stable Language

To no one's suprise KAOVF played his usual game, go silent and then go silent editing. Despite the http://en.wikipedia.org/User:Koavf/Community_sanction of September, yesterday KOAVF returned to start editing, and immediately started out with stealth edits to Western Sahara pages. The edits themselves are merely minor, if irritating, semi-POV edits to stable language, but right out of the gate, mate, right out of the gate:

KOAVF Edit History: http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Special:Contributions&limit=500&target=Koavf

Immediate W. Sahara Edits: SADR: http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Sahrawi_Arab_Democratic_Republic&diff=260640377&oldid=246168664 (Comparison is merely w my last revert from some vandalism, highlighting he removed stable language, not a new addition, never mind he's specifically banned from editing W Sahara; I would note the deceptive "edit description" note marking it as spelling, when in fact it was POV on content).

Sagui El Hamra: http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Saguia_el-Hamra&diff=260639740&oldid=257753630 (Editing again, rather more defensible insofar as he restored information, however as he is banned and already changing stable but to him controversial text, I would suggest he could have editing a talk page and asked a neutral party to take the same action, without violating his ban.)

Either way, I rather predict he'll be back to his old habits full out shortly. I do hope Admins will actually take some action rather than tut tutting. (collounsbury (talk) 10:23, 30 December 2008 (UTC))

(Added, I added a report here: http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Incidents#KAOVF:_Community_Sanction.2C_editing_banned_pages)

IP is blocked

Salam Faysal, How are you?

This IP:(194.225.166.11) belongs to Tarbiat Modarres University. Apparently it's been blocked due to vandalism. However many students want to use it. Can you please unblock it.--Seyyed(t-c) 08:13, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

Salam Sayyed. I am fine and thanks for asking. Well, as you may have noticed, this IP used to remove content from a Romania-related article. It was then blocked indefinitely by User:Dmcdevit on May 2007 with an expiry time of indefinite as an open proxy. More than 18 months have elapsed now and it may be that the IP address has been eventually transferred or dynamically reassigned, or the open proxy closed. I am not 100% sure about that but since you say that some students --who, apparently, have little to do with Romanian articles-- have requested an unblock I see no problem in unblocking it. However, I may not be able to get back to verify any possible misuse of this unblock. You can, Sayyed, keep an eye on it. Otherwise, I am keeping this notice and rationale at the IP talk page in order for any other user or admins to do so. Thanks. -- FayssalF - 15:54, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, That's your favor. I can't watch the issue and anybody can misuse a public IP. However, I think there should be a good policy or guideline for public schools and universities.--Seyyed(t-c) 16:20, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

Template:SharedIPEDU can be added to the top of the IP talk page. -- FayssalF - 17:11, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Dear FayssalF, I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Day, and that 2009 brings further success and happiness! ~ YellowMonkey (bananabucket) 04:05, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Here is some fuel from my tree to keep you firing in the new year! Happily retired from AC.... YellowMonkey (bananabucket) 04:05, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

File:ConcordiaDistSing.jpg listed for deletion

An image or media file that you uploaded or altered, File:ConcordiaDistSing.jpg, has been listed at Misplaced Pages:Images and media for deletion. Please see the discussion to see why this is (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry), if you are interested in it not being deleted. Thank you. —Bkell (talk) 17:44, 3 January 2009 (UTC)

Please take a look

At your convenience, please take a look at Misplaced Pages talk:Misplaced Pages Committees#Content authority: a different approach. It builds on some ideas you mentioned earlier on that page. -- Noroton (talk) 05:35, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Talk:Royal Moroccan Army

Thanks very much indeed FayssalF. When you get the time, the translation of the southern zone, and more importantly, getting references for the whole thing, would be great. I realise that's a big project so I appreciate you offering to start it, at least. Best regards, Buckshot06(prof) 17:05, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Translation completed. I'll do my best to verify all of that. -- FayssalF - 17:19, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Do you have any unit locations for the Algerian Army? - there's only the 8th Armd Div we have details for at the moment. Buckshot06(prof) 19:17, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Nope, I don't. -- FayssalF - 15:48, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

Question about Amir al-Mu'minin

Hello. I cannot register an account (because I rarely use Misplaced Pages as it is), but I am writing a book on Islamic Caliphates, and I believe "WikiProject Islam" would be able to help, so I am asking you and others who has put their name on the "Expert Wikipedians in Islamic issues" list who might be able to help. I am about the title "Amir al-Mu'minin" which many Caliphs claim and which is the standard Arab-style Caliphate title. What I want to know is: Do everyone who uses the title "Amir al-Mu'minin", by extension, claim they are also the Caliph? So would the Morroco Sultan, Muhhamed Omar (leader of the Taliban), and the Sokoto Sultan, all implictly claiming the title of "Caliph" by claiming the title "Commander of the Believers"?

(As you are an expert on Morroco, you would likely know what the Sultan of Morroco intended when he claimed the title of Amir al-Mu'minin, I hope. If you can tell me what he means by holding that title, that would be great.)

If you can help me with this question, that would be really helpful.--72.208.76.124 (talk) 01:25, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

The title of "Amir al-Mu'minin" in Morocco was first introduced by the Almoravids though the concept of the Caliph has never been used. The Moroccan constitution stipulates that "Islam is the religion of the State which guarantees everyone the freedom of worship." The Constitution does not specify the terms of worship. This leaves a great freedom of interpretation. "The King, Amir Al Mouminine, Supreme Representative of the Nation, a symbol of its unity, guarantor of the permanence and continuity of the state, ensures respect for Islam and the Constitution. He is the protector of the rights and freedoms of citizens, social groups and communities". The King is, therefore, the guarantor of the diversity of opinions and beliefs. In fact, Hassan II --Mohammed VI's father-- needed clerics in 1981 to agree to legitimize his religious supremacy and support a population torn between a nascent "fundamentalism" and a leftist "atheism" in vogue at those times.

The establishment of al-Imarat Mouminine is now the only one to combine politics and religion. It should be noted that institutions linked to al-Imarat Mouminine as the Higher Council of Ulema, the Ministry of Religious Endowment and Islamic Affairs and the League of Mohammadian Ulema of Morocco, meet the demands of society, without any partisanship.

The King has also the title of Grand Imam. This means that all official fatwas and sermons are issued on his behalf. The political management of the religious affairs in Morocco has been set in place so that the spiritual security is protected, under the Moroccan specificity, represented by the Commanderie of believers, safeguarding the ideological and doctrinal unity in connection with the Maliki rite and Achâarite doctrine, and promote the spiritual through the Sufi experience that has shaped the religious spirit of Moroccans for centuries.

Note that, under the Constitution, the King is also the Chief of the Army. As with the military title, the religious title does not go beyond the scope of the Moroccan State and nation eventhough the Alaouite family claim descent from Muhammad through the line of Fāṭimah az-Zahrah, Muhammad's daughter, and her husband, the Fourth Caliph ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib.

It should be also noted that the function is contested by the movement Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane -a movement calling for a Calipahte. However, the moderate Islamist party Justice and Development Party has never objected to the function.

I hope this is helpful. -- FayssalF - 18:03, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

It is very helpful. Thank you!--72.208.76.124 (talk) 22:29, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

Hamas

Hi FayssalF! You recently removed an addition I made to the Hamas site. Perhaps you didn't notice, but I had placed my addition, references and all, in the talk page for over 24 hours. Nobody even commented on it, so I was surprised to see you removed it after posting. Perhaps I'm being unrealistic, I guess I can't expect every editor to check the talk page first.

In any case, I suspected that the Youtube link my have been considered lackluster to some editors for such a controversial issue. That is why I added an additional link to a newspaper reporting on the speech.

I'm somewhat offended that you didn't clarify why that ref was also unacceptable. I'm also concerned that now that you've made the revision, you'll be hesitant to accept the other reference I provided, whereas if I'd never used the youtube link, you might have left the passage be. I hope this doesn't offend you or seem impolite, but from my perspective of your edit summary, it looks like you didn't consider the other reference and chose to delete all my work rather than amend to remove the youtube link.

Thanks buddy, get back to me. Martin0001 (talk) 12:20, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

Hi Martin, there are two problems with that section. a) verifiability (translation) and b) neutrality (biased sources). They are both policies and not just guidelines. I appreciate the fact that you had used the talk page before inserting the section but the fact that no one has commented doesn't mean that people agree. I'd agree if you just use some of the resources we have at Human shields#Gaza and the West Bank instead as they are well-sourced and verified. And please, avoid quote farming because we have Wikisource for that. -- FayssalF - 12:40, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

Hey again. You noted " I'd agree if you just use some of the resources we have at Human shields#Gaza and the West Bank instead as they are well-sourced and verified.", I did use the source from that site... it was that so famed second reference I mentioned. Didn't you look at it? or compare it to the ref provided on the site you asked me to look at?

BTW, thanks for telling me about the quote framing thing. I guess I'll have to try and rephrase it. Or I could copy paste the relevant info from Human shields#Gaza and the West Bank, but I think what's been written for that site could be improved upon. Martin0001 (talk) 12:56, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

I know you used a source apart from the Youtube video. In fact, there are many third party sources that are unbiased wich represent neither side of the conflict. There is a big difference about the reporting of -say- the BBC (an example) and others who may be one-sided. Someone else may argue with you and refer to this video. Misplaced Pages is about neutrality and using one-sided sources are contradictory to our mission here. -- FayssalF - 13:05, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

I can see how someone could argue with me and link that youtube video, in which case I would take the position that while their video is a BBC news report with opinions, mine was a direct quote which supports my position that Fathi Hamad said X, Y and Z, where it not for the translation and verifiability issues. But that doesn't matter anymore FayssalF, we're past that. Now I'm asking you why you're telling me "I'd agree if you just use some of the resources we have at Human shields#Gaza and the West Bank" when I did just that. The second source is right from that article. It's after midnight here, so maybe I just wasn't being clear. Martin0001 (talk) 13:27, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

There's a BBC source at Human shields#Gaza and the West Bank. -- FayssalF - 13:54, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

Thanks

thanks a lot for your block i am now semi retired from wikipedia i'd like to see you contributing to the article i almost reached to an FA status at parts. --Der_Blaue_Reiter 87.203.206.115 (talk) 18:51, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

Quick favour

Can you please check ar:كالغورلي to make sure I haven't insulted anyone's mother or anything? :) Thanks. Orderinchaos 08:50, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Good job OIC! Just some minor copy editing was needed (i.e. a city in arabic (madina/medina) is feminine instead of masculine). -- FayssalF - 19:39, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Ireland article names: Request for Remedy 2

The case was closed on 2009-01-04. Attempts to achieve consensus regarding Remedy 1 began shortly thereafter. It is now 2009-01-18, and no consensus has been achieved. Will the ArbCom now proceed with Remedy 2, please? -- Evertype·✆ 10:19, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

Arbcom mailing list help

Hi, sorry to bother you, its just that I noticed you are part of the ArbCom mailing list and I require some help on that matter. I sent an email to the mailing list about 36 hours ago and received an automated message saying it was being held and that further action would be taken in the future. However nothing has happened for quite some time and I have received no response from anyone involved with the mailing list. I was wondering what do I have to do to help make the case be taken? Thanks for any help.78.16.66.185 (talk) 12:43, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Ok. You can send it to me via szvest@gmail.com. -- FayssalF - 12:46, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

I forwarded the email to you there. Can I confirm you received it? Thanks.78.16.66.185 (talk) 13:11, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Received, read and just shared with the other members of the Committee for their views. Please allow us a couple of days before hearing back from us. -- FayssalF - 13:24, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Just so you have the rest of the story, this is User:Wikipéire, who is a serial sockpuppeter with a focus on Irish-related articles. His most recent unblock rationale was "Unblock me, or I'll keep on socking to the maximum." . SirFozzie (talk) 19:13, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

It's okay SirFozzie I sent a long email explaining the full story. FayssalF and the rest of ArbCom know that I am Wikipéire and that I have socked a lot and my previous conduct wasn't the best. I made a few other points too which I hope Arbcom will understand and acknowledge. There's no need to horribly twist my words, ArbCom know what they are doing and they will make the decision they think is best. May I, SirFozzie quote you this diff regarding the beneficial nature of my edits? The judgements you have made on me seem to be quite rash.78.16.203.109 (talk) 19:46, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

RfA thankspam

		Thank you for your participation in my recent RfA, which failed with 90/38/3; whether you supported, opposed or remained neutral. Special thanks go out to Moreschi, Dougweller and Frank for nominating me, and I will try to take everyone's comments on board. Thanks again for your participation. I am currently concentrating my efforts on the Wikification WikiProject. It's fun! Please visit the project and wikify a few articles to help clear the backlog. If you can recruit some more participants, then even better. Apologies if you don't like RfA thankspam, this message was delivered by a bot which can't tell whether you want it or not. Feel free to remove it. Itsmejudith (talk), 22:43, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Denbot (talk) 22:43, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Would like your opinion on something...

Hi,

Remember me? You were once my admin coach. I could use some advice even though I have been an admin for over a year now.

This came to my attention via WP:Administrators' Noticeboard#Insulted by a user.

Could you look at that section and then at Talk:Proprietary software under the sections Talk:Proprietary software#Pejorative? and Talk:Proprietary software#Civility warning?

Some users such as User:Cyclonenim think that User:Jimmi Hugh did not engage in incivility. I think he did but I'm not sure that blocking him would have been the appropriate response. I left him a warning and he responded in a less than civil way. At this point, I see little value in fueling the fire. I am inclined to back off because I don't think he will "see the light". I figure he will go on being obnoxious in disputes but, as long as it doesn't get much worse, it's just something we'll have to put with.

What do you think?

--Richard (talk) 04:28, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

historian19

I notice you blocked one of historian19 socks for one week only. This is a very persisent copyright violator who just goes from one addresss to another do do his thing. It is very difficult to revert his enormous output of junk. I also notice that 41.249.57.101 is another account he used and which is not yet blocked. Hmains (talk) 23:35, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

That's policy (WP:BLOCK#Block evasion). However, next time it would be indefinite. -- FayssalF - 01:42, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

more socks?

Hi, I think user:AlJoseph and user:ScottishGunner (who you blocked) are the same person. Can you check them out? Thanks, Renata (talk) 12:08, 26 January 2009 (UTC)