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Images

Following on from this, just in case you were interested I finished off the image review for List of birds of Maryland. I'm a bit burnt out with images so I'm not sure I'll get round to doing papal tombs one, however I'll try and keep up with the current candidates. Best, Rambo's Revenge (talk) 10:01, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Seeking help in writing more effectively

I write to you because of your recent edit to WP:Too long; didn't read-- here.

I'm told that I need help in improving my writing. Articles present no problem, but I don't do well enough in talk page venues. I know that this is a non-standard request. I urge you to construe it as just one step in a process of mitigating fundamental flaws in in the way I address issues like logical fallacies or unfounded complaints. Until this week, I theorized that my problems arose when I attempted persuasive writing rather than expository prose, but it's not that simple. An illustrative example of my writing is to be found at Misplaced Pages talk:Requests for arbitration/Tang Dynasty/Proposed decision.

ArbCom remedy

Voting is underway at WP:RfA/Tang Dynasty/Proposed decision.

Proposed ArbCom findings of fact included:

  • 3.2.2 Tenmei and dispute resolution. "... many of Tenmei's talkpage posts and submissions during this arbitration case have been very difficult for other editors to understand, to the point that experienced participants in dispute resolution have had difficulty in following them, despite what we accept as Tenmei's good-faith best efforts to assist us in resolving the case."

ArbCom remedies included:

  • 3.3.2 Tenmei and dispute resolution: "Should Tenmei become involved in any further disputes with other editors, whether concerning the content of articles (beyond ordinary day-to-day editing issues) or more formal dispute resolution procedures, he shall seek the assistance of a volunteer mentor or adviser to work with him in maximizing the value of his presentation by assisting him with formulating it in a clear and civil fashion."
  • 3.3.3 Editors advised: "Editors who encounter difficulties in communicating with others on-wiki are advised to seek help from others in presenting their thoughts clearly, particularly when disputes arise or when dispute resolution is sought."

When I initiated this ArbCom case, my intentions were quite limited, as explained best in my response to John Vandenberg here and as presented initially at WP:RfA/Tang Dynasty#Statement by Tenmei. However, the proposed decision's locus of dispute explains that "evidence in the case has expanded to include other disputes in which Tenmei has been involved."

Backstory

Caspian blue and others have determined that I am Japanese, despite the fact that I have avoided self-labeling in terms of nationality, gender, marital status, etc. I gather that Caspian blue has endured a number of caustic disputes with anonymous contributors and sockpuppets; and many of these were seen to have originated in Japan. Caspian blue is Korean; and aggrieved complaints about perceived anti-Korean bias are commonplace, not only involving those like me with perceived or actual Japanese backgrounds.

As ipso facto "evidence" of my "long-term harassment", Caspian blue alleges here that in 2008 "Tenmei ... attacked my ethnicity and taunted my ancestors ...." Inexplicably, Caspian blue's 2008 complaint at WP:AN/IncidentArchive471#User:Tenmei's abusing AfD and personal attacks did not encompass this specific claim ... which I would have thought implies that it simply didn't happen.

This one example suggests complicated subtexts affecting a broad tranche of wiki-edits. A risk aversion strategy has thus far proven inadequate; and ArbCom is correct in anticipating future difficulties.

I'm guessing that this message to you is arguably the sort of gesture ArbCom wants from me. Perhaps you will construe it as an illustrative example of WP:TLDR.

If you are willing to discuss this off-wiki, I've activated the e-mail send/receive option in my user preferences. If you can think of some other editor I might contact, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you for the time you invested in reading this. --Tenmei (talk) 23:19, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Outline update - Good news and bad news - 06/08/2009

The big push continues.

And it seems to be working!

The good news is that there's growing support for outlines, and there are more editors than ever editing them!

The bad news is that the complainers are disproportionately represented on the project's various talk pages. While many editors work diligently on the front end, a handful of complainers are trying to tear down the project behind the scenes. Fortunately, barely enough supporters have been watching those pages that no consensus for moving or merging the outlines has succeeded. So far...

Big problem: ignorance of what outlines are for and their benefits

Most of the opposition seems to be unaware of the complete range of what outlines are used for. They just don't get it.

This is why it is important to complete the outline article draft. An article with a comprehensive treatment of outlines would be the perfect place to refer anybody unfamiliar with outlines to.

Opposers also don't seem to understand how outlines differ from some other page type that they prefer. Some think articles are good enough as an overview, others think portals are more in-depth, still others think categories or navigation boxes are the most efficient and useful way to organize and present topical information. Some have simply never seen an "Outline of" page before and think they are a new type of page (they've been around under other names since 2001).

If you run across anyone who doesn't understand the role of outlines on Misplaced Pages, Misplaced Pages:Why do we have outlines in addition to...? might help reduce their misconceptions or uncertainties about outlines.

On the bright side, you've got to see this...

To add the outlines and related support pages to your watchlist (takes less than 30 seconds), cut and paste them from Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Outline of knowledge/Watchlist into your raw watchlist. For a way to improve the display of your watchlist - by namespace (very useful) - see Watchlist sorter, or use the "super fast upgrade" at WP:OTS.

Or go to Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Outline of knowledge/Watchlist using Related changes (currently without the talk pages) and click on "Related changes" in the toolbox menu on the sidebar on the left side of your screen.

The big push

The big push started with about a thousand banners and notices being placed on article talk pages all over Misplaced Pages.

But it didn't stop there...

Welcome our new members...

The following Wikipedians have joined the OOK team.

Be sure to stop by their talk pages and introduce yourselves.

Enter the mentors!

I asked a bunch of mentors at WP:ADOPT for advice. Several of them answered on my talk page. Most of those who replied were happy to help, and posted some very good ideas. A couple even joined the project.

Here are their ideas, and what is being done about them. A few of the tasks still need volunteers:

Linking to outlines has begun

To the tops of about 30 subject articles, I placed a test batch of hatnotes leading to the corresponding outlines. The hatnotes look like this:

For a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of X.(Hidden: <!- PLEASE LEAVE THIS LINE IN PLACE because it leads to the page that serves as the table of contents for Misplaced Pages's overall coverage of this subject. Thank you.-->

The rationale for the hatnotes is that each outline is a topical guide for its subject, and since tables of contents go at the front of a book, a link to each outline should be placed at the front of its subject.

Unfortunately, not all editors agree. Some of the hatnotes have already disappeared.  :(

Some past discussions pertaining to the existence or location of outlines

Note that the "Lists of topics" are of two types, including outlines and indexes, so discussions to remove, move, or merge those are usually relevant to the OOK. Also, outlines are a type of list, so discussions that affect lists in general also pertain to outlines. We've got to be on our toes!

I've excluded links to live discussions, out of respect for WP:CANVASS.

Table of contents to OOK-related stuff

Here's a directory of outline support pages:

Keep up the great work!

The Transhumanist    04:26, 8 June 2009 (UTC)

WPOOK advert banner under development, here's the beta...

Thank you to those who suggested WPOOK have an animated advert banner. Penubag got working on it right away. Here's what he's come up with so far:

Penubag needs feedback.

I've posted a few changes for him to make to it.

Please post additional comments and suggestions for him at User talk:Penubag#Chocolate banner.

Thank you.

The Transhumanist    02:38, 9 June 2009 (UTC)

Outline collaboration!

As you know, Penubag is working on a banner to advertise the Outline WikiProject. And he's almost done.

The banner prominently presents the "Outline of chocolate", which of course will become the most widely advertised outline as soon as the banner goes live. The first thing many editors will do after seeing the banner is look for that outline.

The problem is, we don't have one.

So that's our first outline collaboration!

I started a draft this morning.

It needs to be finished and moved to the article namespace before we can start using Penubag's banner ad!

Come join in on the fun. It's chocolate!

The Transhumanist    22:00, 9 June 2009 (UTC)

WikiCup Newsletter XIX and XX

The WikiCup Newsletter (last week)

The WikiCup Newsletter
Round III, Issue 1 - June 7, 2009

Archive before | Archive after

Pool leaders

In this round of the WikiCup, the top contestant from each pool, along with four wildcards, will advance to the next round. The pool leaders are:

Pool A
  1. Mitchazenia (40)
Pool B
  1. Iceland Scorpion0422 (38)
Pool C
  1. Denmark Candlewicke (68)
Pool D
  1. Sweden Theleftorium (100)
Wildcard leaders
  1. Mexico Durova (75)
  2. Republic of Ireland Juliancolton (47)
  3. United States Useight (46)
  4. Wales Shoemaker's Holiday (35)
Content Leaders

As of this newsletter, the following is a list of participants in this round with the most:

WikiCup At a Glance

As of this newsletter, the WikiCup participants have collected a Round 3 total of:

This combines with the Round 1 totals and the Round 2 totals to make a grand total of:

Biggest Jumps

The difference between each contestant's point total from last week, and their point total from this week are:

Rank User LF TF D
1 Sweden Theleftorium 0 100 100
2 Mexico Durova 0 75 75
3 Denmark Candlewicke 0 68 68
4 Republic of Ireland Juliancolton 0 47 47
5 United States Useight 0 46 46
6 Mitchazenia 0 40 40
7 Iceland Scorpion0422 0 38 38
8 Wales Shoemaker's Holiday 0 35 35
9 Thailand Rlevse 0 14 14
10 Japan Wrestlinglover 0 12 12
11 Colombia ThinkBlue 0 6 6
12 Toronto GaryKing 0 3 3
13 Michigan the_ed17 0 3 3
14 Switzerland Sasata 0 0 0
15 Cambodia Paxse 0 0 0
16 Maryland Ottava Rima 0 0 0
  • LF = Last Week's score, TF = This Week's score, D = Difference between last week and this week's scores
  • This was generated from this diff.
From the Judges

Wow, what a big start to Round 3! We already have people past the 50 point mark, in one week. We can tell that this round is going to be tight, and we'll likely see every Top 8 contestant with over 500 (maybe 400) points by the end of this round. Keep working hard! – weburiedoursecretsinthegarden,  iMatthew :  Chat  , and The Helpful One

If you don't wish to receive this newsletter in the future, remove your name from this list. If you are not a participant, but would still like to receive this newsletter, feel free to add your name to the list.

The WikiCup Newsletter (this week)

The WikiCup Newsletter
Round III, Issue 2 - June 14, 2009

Archive before | Archive after

Pool leaders

In this round of the WikiCup, the top contestant from each pool, along with four wildcards, will advance to the next round. The pool leaders are:

Pool A
  1. Mitchazenia (74)
Pool B
  1. Iceland Scorpion0422 (51)
Pool C
  1. Denmark Candlewicke (171)
Pool D
  1. Sweden Theleftorium (228)
Wildcard leaders
  1. Republic of Ireland Juliancolton (118)
  2. Mexico Durova (106)
  3. Japan Wrestlinglover (59)
  4. United States Useight (59)
Content Leaders

As of this newsletter, the following is a list of participants in this round with the most:

WikiCup At a Glance

As of this newsletter, the WikiCup participants have collected a Round 3 total of:

This combines with the Round 1 totals and the Round 2 totals to make a grand total of:

Biggest Jumps

The difference between each contestant's point total from last week, and their point total from this week are:

Rank User LF TF D
1 Sweden Theleftorium 132 228 96
2 Denmark Candlewicke 85 171 86
3 Republic of Ireland Juliancolton 50 118 68
4 Switzerland Sasata 0 46 46
5 Japan Wrestlinglover 19 59 40
6 Mitchazenia 40 74 34
7 Mexico Durova 75 106 31
8 Colombia ThinkBlue 7 37 30
9 United States Useight 46 59 13
10 Iceland Scorpion0422 41 51 10
  • LF = Last Week's score, TF = This Week's score, D = Difference between last week and this week's scores
  • This was generated from this diff.
From the Judges

Turns out last week's newsletter was never sent out. Sorry about that! Since we already had it done, we are sending you both. This newsletter is the one for this week though. Anyway, we're seeing you guys working really hard. There are a few of you over 100 points in the first two weeks. Also, we have switched Ottava Rima from Pool D to Pool B, and Shoemaker's Holiday (who has withdrawn) from Pool B to Pool D. Scorpion0422 is more than likely to withdraw before this round ends, because he will be inactive next round. That would leave 2 contestants in Pool B. So, to make things fairly even, we have switched the two contestants. Sorry for all of the confusion!

Finally, we know it's very early, but you can already sign up for the 2010 WikiCup, here! We want to get everything ready way in advance for next year. So we opened the list up, and we'll start working things out in September/October, most likely. Information is all on the page, and you may leave any questions on the talk page. So go sign up before your favorite flag is taken! 'weburiedoursecretsinthegarden,  iMatthew :  Chat  , and The Helpful One

If you don't wish to receive this newsletter in the future, remove your name from this list. If you are not a participant, but would still like to receive this newsletter, feel free to add your name to the list.

Delivered by The Helpful Bot at 21:58, 13 June 2009 (UTC) for the WikiCup. To report errors, please leave a message on the talk page.