Talk:Steve Jones (biologist)

Creationism

I've removed some of the anaemic stuff about Jones "offending" creationists, since it's unsourced and of dubious importance. Instead, I've slimmed it down to his actual views. -163.1.176.254 20:16, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Image

Can anyone provide a photograph for the infobox? Snowman (talk) 11:26, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

Yes please! Llywelyn2000 (talk) 05:12, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Resolved

Personal

Is he married? Children? A note on this would round out the article. Drutt (talk) 19:56, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

In a radio interview he observed that he had lived to adulthood but not reproduced and had thus not been totally successful as an organism.Chemical Engineer (talk) 13:19, 11 February 2011 (UTC)

He married Norma Percy, the documentary maker, in 2004. Flying Fische (talk) 19:27, 22 May 2011 (UTC)

Jones was about 60 in 2004. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.30.71.244 (talk) 16:05, 18 June 2011 (UTC)

I've edited the information about Norma Percy with a reference to a 1997 interview: he said they met in the mid 1970s and had lived together since 1977; their marriage was obviously something they wanted to do later on. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 31.205.23.145 (talk) 09:42, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Spam

Much of the information in the article seems to come from Jones himself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.182.155.52 (talk) 10:03, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Is there any particular part, which you think might be skewed? Snowman (talk) 12:04, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Norman castle in Wales

Does anyone know the name of the remains of the ancient Norman castle, which Jones knew as a child? Snowman (talk) 12:01, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

BLP, please

I removed "It is not known what academic qualifications Jones possesses which enable him to pronounce on climatological matters." from the article as it seems to be negative unsourced POV. I would welcome discussion here before it is replaced. --John (talk) 05:41, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

I am inserting a quote from Jones's report to the BBC and a link to the report itself plus BBC comments. Peterlewis (talk) 05:59, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

It is now too long. We cannot ever use material like "Jones's climatological credentials are unknown." per WP:BLP so I took it out a second time. Please do not restore it. --John (talk) 08:36, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

The topic was well discussed in the press, and is of public interest. The final comment is neither libellous nor contentious. Peterlewis (talk) 08:38, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

It is not the main thing he is known for and does not need such detailed treatment here. The final comment is potentially libellous and by definition contentious as I am challenging it here. --John (talk) 08:42, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

Please specify exactly the libel under English Law. Other wise desist. He has become known for the BBC report in the media and elsewhere for the AGW controversy. Wikipedia has to reflect public interest and not your POV approach to editing. Peterlewis (talk) 09:39, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

We are not governed on Wikipedia by English law but by our own policies, in this instance specifically WP:BLP. It seems utterly self-evident why we cannot use material like this but as you are expressing dissent I will ask for a second opinion. It's really important that you do not restore the disputed material meantime; if you do it is likely you will be blocked. --John (talk) 09:56, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

Well, you should not use terms such as "libel" unless you can justify them (under any law). The excerpts from the BBC report are fair and NPOV. Since the previous versions of this article had no refs to the BBC website itself, it is only fair to Jones that the relevant excerpts are shown, and the reader can make his own judgments. Peterlewis (talk) 10:11, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

I was quoting from policy. Of all our policies this one is the least not open to negotiation. --John (talk) 10:36, 12 June 2012 (UTC) Amended in light of Dru's comment below --John (talk) 12:39, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

Once removed, it's contentious, whether you think so or not. Returning it without consensus discussion approval is Wikipedia:Disruptive editing; regardless, it's unreferenced. Jones' credentials are not unknown, they're unknown by you, and probably the media; someone knows them, probably including him. BLP is one of the three supported by international law, none are 'least open' (child pornography, copyright, and defamation/libel/slander), but still bright-line against BLP negative material requiring reliable sourcing. Dru of Id (talk) 11:42, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

I would leave the sentence out. It seems pointy, unneeded and seemingly impossible to source. IMHO. --Mollskman (talk) 21:10, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

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Video on the Web

Worth adding a link to Steve's participation in an episode of "The Next Big Thing"? Him discussing the potential end of evolution: http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/13 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.52.97.8 (talk) of 13:18, 18 March 2024 (UTC)