User:XLinkBot/Analysis

Here some discussions which resulted in analysis of certain rules:

Official MySpace pages in external links

The Wikipedia:External_links#Links_normally_to_be_avoided section's first statement is an exception: "Except for a link to an official page of the article's subject". I examined the last 20 "myspace" related edits of this bot and have these statistics: of the 20 edits 8 were unofficial pages and 12 were official pages. However, when examining bot reverts made to edits specifically placed in sections entitled "External links" then included were all 12 official pages and only 4 unofficial pages. This is a ratio of 3:1 unnecessary reverts. My proposition is to specify a command for the bot to allow edits which include "myspace" to remain when they are under a section "External links". Would this be possible? - Steve3849 ^talk 11:00, 16 November 2008 (UTC)

I am having a look. But first, WP:EL is not the only reason, still the header of that also applies, as does WP:NOT#REPOSITORY, WP:NOT#DIRECTORY, WP:COI, WP:COPYRIGHT, etc. etc. What I mean is, that a site is the official myspace of the subject does not mean that we have to link to it. Period of these edits: 10:09, 17 November 2008 - 10:32, 16 November 2008, about one day.

1. diff - not the myspace of the band, but 'Jona's first band'
2. diff removes two other links, replacing it by the 'Offical Myspace Fansite' - Fansite, not 'an official page of the article's subject', it is the page of the fanclub.
3. diff - Denver Harbour Myspace (page is about Ilan Rubin) - not official site of subject (there are more that have to go in that page)
4. diff - 'Vince Rones, random black guy' on page of school
5. diff - this seems one that is correct
6. diff - some link to a former band-member, not to the page of the band itself. Inappropriate place anyway, there should be a wikilink to the member, if notable enough
7. diff - some links to myspaces of former band-members, not to the page of the band itself. Inappropriate place anyway, there should be a wikilink to the member, if notable enough
8. diff - again bandmember, not band itself
9. diff - WP:NOT#DIRECTORY - if the band is notable enough for this list, then it should have a wikipage, not an external link
10. diff - Thalidomide is a drug, here is a link in the text to a band with the same name .. inappropriate way of linking
11. diff - one appropriate and 2 inappropriate myspace links. I hope the message on the talkpage made the editor adapt the edit
12. diff - WP:NOT#DIRECTORY - myspace links to all local myspaces of radical, anti-authoritarian queer projects within the United States
13. diff - 'the blue flower is a central symbol of romanticism' - the myspace is of a cabaret group.
14. diff - 'the blue flower is a central symbol of romanticism' - the myspace is of a cabaret group.
15. diff - maybe appropriate (there is quite a linkfarm there)
16. diff "The Dante Club is a mystery novel by Matthew Pearl and his debut work" - the links should be to the site of the book, not to the writers myspace or the official fan page of the author. 'Indirectly linked'
17. diff - maybe appropriate, though not 100% sure, this is not about the band, but about their classics.
18. diff - inappropriate linking, could be good in the external links section though
19. diff - vandalism edit anyway, I don't think this is the official myspace.
20. diff - WMPG is a radio station, is this the official myspace, and if so, then it looks that the more official site got removed here?
21. diff - a town in northeastern Italy, this is not the myspace of the town, but of an inhabitant, should be a wikilink if the inhabitant is notable enough.
22. diff - the original Purgatory myspace, so maybe not the official anymore?
23. diff - in template, this is not the official site apparently, but another site of him. Breaks page. May have been appropriate in external links
24. diff - addition of other band members myspaces, not of the band (is already there)
25. diff - addition of other band members myspaces, not of the band (is already there)
26. diff - inappropriate place for myspace, is of member, not of the subject of the page
27. diff - Romanian hip-hop, myspace of an artist, should be wikilink if notable enough.
28. diff - Musician in Liverpool, New South Wales, not of subject. Should be wikilink if notable enough
29. diff - Maybe appropriate, in this edit inappropriate place
30. diff - replacing another one, could be appropriate

There are some which, without checking what is actually linked to, may be appropriate, but that amounts to 1 for sure, and 3 or 4 which may be appropriate:

1. diff - is correct
2. diff - one is the official myspace, but the other two are not
3. diff - the old one redirects to the new one, seems the real one (though, there are quite some links here, what does this myspace add)
4. diff - dead link
5. diff - is a myspace of the band
6. diff - vandalism edit anyway, - private myspace (no data on page, may be blocked for viewing), adds nothing.
7. diff - not the myspace of the radio.
8. diff - not official
9. diff - should be in external links
10. diff - hmm, not sure here
11. diff - nope, "Ricky B. Infinite Memorial"

So there are indeed a couple here which are appropriate myspace pages. About 5-6 out of 30 are at least really linked to the subject (that is 20%). Some of the myspaces, which are almost general blogs, still fail the statement 'Such pages could contain further research that is accurate and on-topic; information that could not be added to the article for reasons such as copyright or amount of detail; or other meaningful, relevant content that is not suitable for inclusion in an article for reasons unrelated to its accuracy.' (they simply don't add anything new). Other edits should be cleaned up, etc. I think the bot does generally a good job, remember that it on the first edit reverts and just gives a friendly message of what the user needs to think about.

However, I'd like to see your interpretation here, I see your statistics differ significantly, I hardly found any official myspaces, and when they were there are still questions to be asked (though that is not up to the bot to judge that; that is why XLinkBot does not have a bot-bit, so it does come up in recent changes and can be reviewed by human editors). --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 14:39, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

When I searched through the edits prior to my original post they were the prior 20 from that recorded time. If I had the results you came up with I wouldn't have bothered. Your findings show the bot is doing a fine job. My only concern is that a majority of myspace related reverts were external links to official myspace pages for wikipedia articles mostly about musicans. You've made clear that is not true. - Steve3849 ^talk 16:07, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

I must say that I am surprised that there are clearly quite a number which are quite appropriate, and there may be moments when this ratio is different. Difficult to assess. It should also be said that this list does not include the numerous times a myspace link is inserted which is not reverted (as it is not performed by an IP or by a new user, because it detects it is in a reference or template (the latter being difficult to detect for the bot), or because XLinkBot detects another 'error'. I do know that myspace and similar are difficult, there are often appropriate myspaces that can be added, and I do hope that the message that the bot leaves on the user talkpage for a first revert is not scaring the user away... --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 16:34, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

Youtube

• diff
  • Top of list, is about subject, might be a nice reference for the article
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  • Sending people offsite to get more info, in this way inappropriate
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  • prob. COI edit, inappropriate placing of youtube link in a section which needs a serious rewrite.
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  • prob. COI edits, inappropriate linking and placing, article needs cleanup
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  • inappropriate placing, not an official video, might be the subject of the article .. but what does it add
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  • I don't see the link between a visualisation of the pink panter motive with the subject of the article. COI edit.
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  • Inappropriate placing, and why is this a video? I see only a star vizualisation and the same lyrics as reproduced on wiki. Does not add anything
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  • Commercial with ZZ top .. this might actually be coi editing ..
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  • Recording of a language party over WWVH on the wiki page of WWVH. Hence, does not tell about the subject.
• diff
  • Inappropriate linking

Note, none of these are channels .. they are all individual video's by individuals. --Dirk Beetstra ^{T C} 15:48, 27 March 2009 (UTC)