User talk:Macdonald-ross/Archive 2

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Hello

Hello, my changes were NOT vandalism at all. But, I added now more sources. These are very important info about the subject. Have a nice day. Lkmen (talk) 13:58, 24 March 2011 (UTC)

You may be interested in..

Not sure if you would find any use in one, but Credo accounts have been donated to the WMF for use by active content-builders. Cheers. sonia♫ 06:55, 25 March 2011 (UTC)

Thanks!

Thanks for your help here. Makes more sense to me now! Deadstar (talk) 15:11, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Lamarck

As you have probably seen, I have removed the complex tag on the article. I added a few sentences in the "Life" section, but changed little else. Good work.... --Eptalon (talk) 12:44, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Some concerns

Hi,

I noticed this comment you made: http://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk%3AJames_B._Dudley&action=historysubmit&diff=2733967&oldid=2733966

There are a few problems here. First of all, you are wrong to assume that all slaves were black. Also, describing someone as "black" is not thought of as polite among a great many people. Putting those two mistakes together to say "he was a slave, so he was black?" and describing it as "obvious" when talking about someone else's work, is both insensitive and rude. Please remember that editors of the Simple wikipedia can be from different countries, not just your own country, and they might be bothered by things like that, or they might have ways of saying things locally that are different to what you are used to.

Also, when someone is new to Simple wikipedia, and has recently created their first article, please try to be welcoming.

Thank you. Demiurge1000 (talk) 01:15, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

1. It's not offensive in my country, and I was not writing on the actual page. Also, I wrote nothing disparaging about any race, and never have.
2. Are you saying that there were slaves in America at that time (that is, pre-emancipation) who were not of African descent? If so, it is news to me, but it may be so.
3. The original article in enWP makes the same omission. It greatly increases the interest of the page and any DYK for readers to realise that this man climbed socially (and on merit) from being the child of slaves (and so a slave himself at birth) to being an important member of the local community.
4. When an article arrives on our front page it represents all of us. The motive of criticism is to improve it. Criticism of DYKs is not criticism of individuals. Macdonald-ross (talk) 06:42, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Regarding point #2, Slavery in the colonial United States would be a good read. Native Americans were also forced into slavery. Goodvac (talk) 06:52, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Yes, that section is interesting, and I had not known of it. DYK item on Dudley is now good, and interesting. Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:09, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Constructive criticism is good, but criticism that is both incorrect and insensitive is not so good. Neither the en.wp article nor the Simple article "omit" to mention that Dudley was born a slave.

My alternative hook for Simple (the hook that mentions that he was born a slave but went on to be successful) had already been considered as a hook for en.wp; however we decided against it because hundreds of thousands of people in that era were born as slaves but went on to hold significant positions of responsibility. (Slavery was abolished when he was a small child.) So it would have been a "so what?" hook. Totally unacceptable. Now, I realise that Simple may have lower standards for main page hooks than en.wp, and in this case the slavery/achievements hook was more appropriate because in some ways it's easier to understand immediately why it's interesting - and of course it's conceptually simpler as well. (The en.wp hook is interesting because of subtextual assumptions about discrimination and redlining.) So a more appropriate hook for the purpose, yes, but in no way was the original hook inaccurate, as you implied it was.

I am well aware that commenting on contributions is not the same as commenting on contributors, but a little improvement in the approach can help get people "on side", rather than discourage them. There are some more categories that an article can be added to? Great! So adding those categories is appropriate, or if there's uncertainty, asking on the talk page "would it be correct to add this page to :Category:African-Americans?" Choosing instead to make a talk page edit starting with incorrect assumptions, adding a culturally insensitive comment, and ending with "Much more work needed here", inevitably gives the wrong idea of your purpose. Adding two categories, and adding two words to the article to make something explicit, is "much work"? Clearly not.

Simple is a collaborative project just like en.wp is, and although the content is indeed the end result, it does need collaborative working to reach that end result. I appreciate the work you do to create and improve articles (and DYK nominations) on Simple, but I also suggest that the approach you take to other contributors is one area that could be further improved on. Demiurge1000 (talk) 21:49, 4 April 2011 (UTC)

MiszaBot

Hey, Mac I noticed that this talk page is getting to be rather long. I suggest using MiszaBot to archive the page moving what isn't being currently discussed to am archive page. Just an idea. Thanks, _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 12:20, 2 April 2011 (UTC).

That sounds like a great idea. I'll try it out. Macdonald-ross (talk) 12:37, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

If you need any help setting it up you can ask me, you can find the code and templates on the MiszaBot page or you can check the example on my talk page on enWP. If you need any help let me know. Thanks, _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 17:34, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

I think I've got this one now, thanks. I'm pretty ignorant about bots; I work on article content almost all the time. You may be able to help with my main page, which lists the article I started or greatly extended. I'd like to create boxes which are normally closed, but which open when a button is pressed. I know there's a way to do it. Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:27, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

This is one of my favorite things to do. I originally started messing with WP because I like to do things with code I know how to do it :). I will make it in my user space and if you like it copy it into your page. _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 22:05, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Here you go :) I added in the collapsible tables hope you like it. I can make any changes you need me too. Hope your happy and let me know if i can help you with anything else. Thanks, _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 23:30, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Try it now :), I think i solved most of the problems as well as added in a few touches of my own. _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 11:34, 4 April 2011 (UTC)

┌─────────────────────────────────┘
Ok, I know I may have omitted a few of you requests but I would like you to see the new version, I personally like it better. It includes all of the same info in a little bit more of an aesthetically pleasing way. I hope you enjoy is :) _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 22:31, 4 April 2011 (UTC)

I have made some more changes, I hope you like it. It has come to my attention that some of the features of the page don't work on certain browsers, but I do know it works on Mozilla Fire Fox (as I use). I hope you like it and I would be glad to here any constructive criticism that you have on it! _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk

I'm grateful for your work; you have an imangination for this sort of thing, which I don't. However, I can't use your idea because it doesn't do what I want, which is:

1. to make the page shorter
2. to make the list less conspicuous (less flashy)

Regards, Macdonald-ross (talk) 05:09, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

What exactly could I do to it to make it less "flashy". I removed the colored title, but anymore suggestions? And I can't really make the page shorter without removing information (which you may be okay with) and if you do want something removed what would you want me to take off? Thanks for your advice _{A d \/\/ | | |}^Talk 01:49, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

Let's leave this subject alone now. Thank you for all your work. Macdonald-ross (talk) 03:09, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

Incertae sedis

Hello Macdonald-ross, could you have a quick look at incertae sedis, when you have the time? - Thanks. --Eptalon (talk) 11:30, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

I corrected the caption (a fungus cannot be green; they do not photosynthesise). Otherwise fine. Macdonald-ross (talk) 21:59, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

About creating an article

Hello sir, I noticed your name on my talk page. Thanks for answering me. I'm planning to create an article on Swami Vivekananda. I searched for the article but couldn't find it on this wiki. Should I create such an article? I want your suggestions. I've also asked User: Kansan's suggestions, but I want yours too.--Soumit ban (talk) 11:57, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

You certainly can. Advice:

1. Read our guidance page carefully (find link on our main page)
2. Use simple language
3. Page need not have so much in it as the enWP version. You would pick what you think are the most important things for a reader to know about the subject.
4. You've chosen a rather difficult one to start with. You could do most of the work on a sandbox page [user:Soumit ban/title]. This means it doesn't go public until you put the page in as a new article. Macdonald-ross (talk) 21:40, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

Plebiscite

Hi Mac-ross, I noticed this edit and just wanted to point out that a plebiscite is similar too, but not the same as a referendum; a plebiscite is not binding on the government, referendums are. Cheerio :-) fr33kman 22:24, 13 April 2011 (UTC)

The OED disagees, whether a referendum is binding depends upon constitutional usage. They bind in Switzerland (where the earliest use of the word is found), but not in the UK. A plebiscite is defined as "a public expression (with or without binding force) of the wishes or opinion of a community." --Bärliner (talk) 18:29, 17 April 2011 (UTC)

Bobby Fischer

I've proposed Bobby Fischer, which I see you worked extensively on, for GA. Kansan (talk) 15:16, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

It's been promoted. Good work! Kansan (talk) 13:43, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Adolf Hitler

Hi there! Can you please take a look there. I tried to fix your comments and hope it is better now. best, -Barras (talk) 21:43, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

Long response to your POV accusations at History of the United States

Please read it. Also, Jamestown WAS settled by people from England; and that IS how the Texas Republic and Annexation went down (I might add it's almost exactly the same as the English article portrays it, except WE say more). I largely believe any POV accusations are baseless. Purplebackpack89≈≈≈≈ 19:00, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Evolution

Hey MacD-R. Just a quick heads-up that I'm looking at Evolution with a mind to nominate it for demotion from VGA. Frankly it's nothing short of a rambling essay. It's way short on in-line references, whole sections going without any kind of citation, it transitions from an encyclopedic article to something which is guide-like "Your height or weight..." etc, 6 dabs etc etc. I thought I'd mention it since you seem to be our most active "recent" editor of this article. I'll give it a couple of days then nominate it at WP:PAD. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:27, 4 May 2011 (UTC)

Life processes

Hello, Macdonald-ross; on the deletion discussion page you mentioned that today, life processes are defined differently. I have tried to come up with a quick article here, and wondered how accurate this actually is.So I would be glad if you could have alook in a free minute. Thanks.--Eptalon (talk) 12:52, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

I have responded there. Macdonald-ross (talk) 15:27, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

About the new article of "Swami Vivekananda"

Hello Macdonald-ross I've started a new article on Swami Vivekananda. Would you please check it in case the article contains errors of editing?--Soumit ban (talk) 05:00, 24 May 2011 (UTC)

Yes, I see you need some help. However, at the moment I can't do it myself. I'll try and find someone who can. Macdonald-ross (talk) 09:54, 24 May 2011 (UTC)

Eptalon has helped me a lot. Thanks very much.--Soumit ban (talk) 05:05, 25 May 2011 (UTC)

DYK

Hi Macdonald-ross, questions - I could move the John McDouall Stuart award into the intro, but I do not want to have any citations there. I am working it ready for GA/VGA and the current rule seems to be either cite everything or nothing in the intro. So could the hook come from the intro, but the cite be, as you put it, cunningly buried in the article?

And two - we seem to need some new hooks in a hurry. I'll search.--Peterdownunder (talk) 11:58, 17 June 2011 (UTC)

I do not see any such requirement on refs in the intro (Requirements for GA). I think you should either put the medals hook in the intro plus refs, or in a section headed 'Awards'. Either would be easy to find. Regards, Macdonald-ross (talk) 12:10, 17 June 2011 (UTC)

Jean Balukas at WP:PAD

Hi there, just wanted to mention that I've (finally) got round to responding to the comments that were left regarding the closure at the Jean Balukas PAD - apologies for my delay! Just wanted to let you know in case you'd given up all hope - I've been really busy IRL, not ignoring them! Cheers, Goblin 10:05, 23 June 2011 (UTC) I ♥ Belinda!

Talkback

And on a simliar note, please see my comments at WP:PAD and WP:PGA. I think, if there's a consensus, you should lead a motion to change the way things work around here. If not, we should, as a community, make more of an effort to focus on excellence at SEWP. In fact, in either case, the latter is true and essential. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:16, 23 June 2011 (UTC)

Saturn

Hi Macdonald-ross, there has been a lot of work done on Saturn which is now well beyond GA level. I think it is ready for VGA again. Have a look and tell me what you think. --Peterdownunder (talk) 23:16, 20 June 2011 (UTC)

It may be better tactically to get it through GA first. Perhaps you could ask for a consensus on the PGA page. Anyway, I would support for VGA also. Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:05, 21 June 2011 (UTC)

Just a comment about how cumbersome and time-consuming it is to have VGA articles demoted to zero, followed by the lengthy PGA procedure. We should only demote one step. Editing time is limited, and most admins are not helping the editing and resubmission process. They should at least be giving their opinions. As usual, just a dozen or so people are doing most of the content work. Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:05, 21 June 2011 (UTC)

I have nominated Saturn (planet) for a VGA. Thanks for your work on the article and the Solar System template. --Peterdownunder (talk) 07:27, 4 July 2011 (UTC)

SPL et al

Hello Macdonald-ross. Having just had a quick sneaky peak at the SPL article, it needs a serious overhaul or else a quick trip to WP:PAD. Also, I was surprised that pretty much every Scottish club article is two or three years out of date. I know you're not responsible for their upkeep but I've tagged them and noted it here in the hope that you can resolve some of the issues there too. Cheers. The Rambling Man (talk) 17:36, 5 July 2011 (UTC)

Help wanted

Hello there Macdonald-ross, I am preparing to promote another two articles. Could I get you to have a quick look before I nominate them just to make sure I have got them right against the criteria. Sometimes I think you can get too close to the material and it can be difficult to look objectively, or you see things that just are not there. The two articles are: John McDouall Stuart which I think is VGA, and the other is Ned Kelly which is PGA (there is still a bit to be added to make it comprehensive). Your comments would be greatly appreciated.--Peterdownunder (talk) 23:09, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

Well, you know I'm not so good on details as TRM or Albacore. Personally, I would not put Stuart up for VGA directly. There's work needed. But I enjoyed reading it, and in general it is one of our better articles. First thoughts on talk page. Macdonald-ross (talk) 04:48, 8 July 2011 (UTC)

You comments on Stuart have been helpful - I am looking for general feedback at the moment, rather than TRM's line by line check. Feedback on the lines of is it simple enough, does it cover the topic, are there any glaring errors, bits that need more info or bits that need pruning etc. So again, thanks.--Peterdownunder (talk) 12:41, 8 July 2011 (UTC)