Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2024 July 17

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July 17

Is there an available list of articles that lack voiceover, or need new voiceover?

Im looking to help do voiceover for articles, and would love if there is a list of those that need it, thanks! (new user also, if this is not in the appropriate place please point me to it if possible) CoffeeEnjoyerz (talk) 01:09, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

@CoffeeEnjoyerz, yes this is the right place to ask. Wikipedia:WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia should sort you out. Commander Keane (talk) 01:24, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! CoffeeEnjoyerz (talk) 16:44, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Why does Wikipedia render in-page SVG images as PNGs?

This has been puzzling me for a while and I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere. Every modern browser nowadays has SVG rendering capabilities — what gives? Luunarr (talk) 01:29, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

c:Help:SVG/yue#librsvg does mention that older computers may struggle with svg rendering in real time. Also, we have very big svgs in some cases. Downloading a 20mb svg for a 200px wide image would suck. Commander Keane (talk) 01:38, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

If I remember correctly, sometimes it renders it as SVG and sometimes as PNG Emicraft 03:17, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

You may be right. phab:T5593 might be of interest @Luunarr. Commander Keane (talk) 03:50, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

How can I add a profile for a credited actor?

My son Kayden Price is a accomplished and credited actor, his latest series is "Nautilus" which aired June 12th on SVT Play in Sweden and will be aired around the world. How can a profile be created for him? [1]https://www.imdb.me/KaydenPrice Jodi Price (talk) 06:38, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Wikipedia isn't a directory, we don't have profiles. Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia that has articles. All articles have inclusion criteria called notability, the requirements for entertainers is WP:ENTERTAINER. It requires significant roles in multiple major productions. Beyond that though there is no need for you to do anything, when your son becomes notable enough, someone else will create an article. - X201 (talk) 06:47, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you :) Jodi Price (talk) 07:04, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

@Jodi Price Welcome to Wikipedia. I googled for sources that would indicate WP:NOTABILITY, WP:s "rule" for "should we have an article about [whatever]?". Per what I saw, this seems like WP:TOOSOON. Fwiw, he's mentioned at Nautilus (TV series). Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 08:44, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Excellent, thank you :) Jodi Price (talk) 07:04, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

User:Jodi Price Something else you need to know (in connection with no "profiles", only articles). If ever there is an article on your son, neither he nor you will own it or control it. Virtually anybody in the world will be able to come in and edit it. And even if he doesn't like someone's edit, if that edit is relevant and well-supported in reliable sources, there's very little he can do about it. Uporządnicki (talk) 11:57, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you, this is very helpful. Jodi Price (talk) 01:34, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Jodi Price Please see WP:PROUD. There are good reasons to not want an article. 331dot (talk) 12:27, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

This is great insight, thank you so much. Jodi Price (talk) 01:34, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

How to indicate lack of footnotes

A friend pointed me to the List of Batman: The Animated Series episodes article and noted that there are very few footnotes for references, they suggested that the Template:More footnotes needed/doc template might be appropriate (but weren't able to add it themselves due to an IP block). I'm wondering if this would be advisable for me to add, or if there is a better way to note this, or if I should discuss it specifically on that article's talk page first, or maybe there are specific expectations for list-class articles like this. Thanks! Agashlin (talk) 07:35, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Hello, Agashlin.

There are always several options. Ideally, whenever any of us find an article with problems, we would just fix it. Of course that often doesn't happen, because we lack the knowledge, or the interest, or the time, to do a proper job (usually it is a matter of finding and citing appropriate sources, which can be a lot of work).

A common option (which I do myself) is to add an appropriate cleanup tag to the article, like the one you mention - I use Twinkle to do so easily. However some people regard "drive-by tagging" as not helpful.

Discussing it on the article's talk page is always an option (possibly as well as tagging it) - whether that is worth-while depends on how much traffic the talk page gets, and how many people watch it.

And there is no requirement on you to do anything at all.

Please see WP:Tagging pages for problems for a fuller discussion. ColinFine (talk) 09:58, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

A question about adding a new language

Hello!

I have recently gained an interest in the Shavian alphabet, which is an alternative alphabet for English proposed by George Bernard Shaw, due to the confusion caused by the use of the Latin alphabet in English.

I would hence like to ask if the Shavian script could be added as a language.

I understand that this is not a typical question asked in the Help Desk, but I found no other way to ask this question.

Thank you! TheShreyinator (talk) 08:00, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

TheShreyinator, it's not a language but a mere script. I don't understand what you mean by "added as a language". (And had you written "added as a script" I still wouldn't have understood. I might have made guesses, but I wouldn't have known which guess was right.) What exactly are you hoping for? -- Hoary (talk) 08:11, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

There are Wikipedias in some languages that use more than one script, and the servers for those Wikipedias are adapted to provide alternatives. See M:Wikipedias in multiple writing systems

I believe that what you are asking for could technically be done by making a corresponding change to English Wikipedia, though I don't know the details. However, I suspect it would take some work, and very few people would see it as a benefit. The place to ask about the possibility, is WP:VPP. ColinFine (talk) 10:05, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

TheShreyinator: the Chinese Wikipedia exists in six presentations: three using simplified Chinese characters (Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore) and three using traditional Chinese characters (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau); see List_of_Wikipedias#Variations_in_editions. Someone could do the same for Shavian-alphabet English. This automated transliteration has the advantage over different versions, that they all get updated when one gets updated. Someone could arrange to do the same for Shavian-English Wikipedia. But it would be a lot of work, for the benefit of readers whose preferred language is English but who find the Shavian alphabet easier to read. I wonder how many they are? Maproom (talk) 13:36, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

How to make a table?

Hi, I'm trying to make a table for a list of actors who have worked with Spike Lee but the problem is that it's not lining up perfectly. I'm must've missed something. Can someone give some pointers? Brigando (talk) 08:54, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Asked and answered at the Teahouse. Please don't ask in different places, it duplicates effort. ColinFine (talk) 10:07, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

How do I add a third source for weather boxes?

Title says it, whenever I try adding a third source in a weather box to add extra data I get the following message: "Preview warning: Page using Template:Weather box with unknown parameter "source 3"". Checking the page for weather boxes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Weather_box) I cannot find any information about adding a 3rd source, only about adding a 2nd source. Is there a way I can add a third source or is it not possible to make a single weather box using more than 2 sources? Appreciate any help. Javier1957 (talk) 11:16, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

As you say, the template {{Weather box}} is currently written to accept only two sources. If you want it changed to allow a further source, make your suggestion at Template talk:Weather box. ColinFine (talk) 11:45, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

I have made a suggestion, thank you. Javier1957 (talk) 04:33, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

@Javier1957:You may be able to cheat by placing multiple sources between the "ref" tags in the "source" parameter. you will need to experiment to get then to display in a reasonable way in the reflist. -Arch dude (talk) 15:32, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for the tip, I played around for a while trying to get it to work but I want able to get it to display in a reasonable way. Javier1957 (talk) 04:18, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

Question about copyright issue

Greetings

I wanted to ask if it is ok with Wikipedia if I write down on paper or on digital form such as Microsoft word or notepad or something like that a list of the countries of the world including the names of the countries, population, area, capital and large cities, demographics and religion of each country from information from Wikipedia for personal use only. The reason why is because this makes it easier for me if they are all in one list on one page rather then having to click on every country each time.

Saleh Malaeb Salehmalaeb (talk) 11:28, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Almost all the content of Wikipedia may be freely reused for any purpose, as long as you attribute where it came from: that is a core part of the purpose of Wikipedia. You don't need to ask anybody's permission. See reusing Wikipedia content for more information. ColinFine (talk) 11:47, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

@Salehmalaeb: Multiple points, all in your favor. Point 1: If you create a document and then never show it to anyone, you have not "published" it and it does not violate copyright law. This would be true for any source, not just Wikipedia. Be careful, though: in the modern world, your "private" document may actually be visible to others if you store it, even "privately", on the Internet. Point 2: raw information is not subject to copyright. This would include the information you used to create your list. Copyright covers "creative elements", such as the organization and selection of items in a list, so you cannot simply copy an existing list under this rule if that list has "creative elements", but you are creating a new list. Point 3: What Colin said, Wikipedia has licensed its contents to you. -Arch dude (talk) 15:26, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Ok thank you very much Salehmalaeb (talk) 18:48, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

need help with "sandbox organizer"

can anyone please explain how the "sandbox organizer" works, especially the sorting function? I'm kind of confused. aprpeciate any help. please ping me if you reply. thanks! Sm8900 (talk) 14:47, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

also, it says it will add notes on how to use it, in the coding, but i don't see any such notes. i appreciate any help. thanks. Sm8900 (talk) 14:48, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

This seems to be the work of @John Cummings, who made a total of eight edits to it in February 2021. My guess is that he then abandoned it, but I may be wrong. Perhaps he will reply here, since he appears to still be active. (I had never neard of it). ColinFine (talk) 15:16, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

ok, could you please tell me the link to find that? you are still ahead of me on this. thanks. Sm8900 (talk) 15:50, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

I searched for "WP:Sandbox organizer" (as I said, i had never heard of it before) and found it. I immediately wondered whether it was current or not, so I looked at the page history, and found it had not been edited since February 2021, and the only person who had done so was John Cummings. I pinged him above, so he should get a notification of this discussion. ColinFine (talk) 16:50, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

@ColinFine, ok thanks. Sm8900 (talk) 13:40, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

Hi Sm8900 and ColinFine, thanks very much for the ping :) OK, so the instructions of how to make your own and how to use it are all on Wikipedia:Sandbox_organiser. I think I had the idea for it and then me and NavinoEvans did the outline and design and he did all the technical stuff. Its not abandoned at all, I just ran out of technical ability to make any more changes. If you are interested in imporving it I'd love to work with you on it :) I designed it in a way that you can create your own and then personalise it, which I hoped would allow people to experiment with different tools and layout etc. John Cummings (talk) 17:50, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

Neil Gaiman

Hello, somebody provided a clean up on Neil Gaiman biography about the serious accusations of rape moved by Tortoise on July 3rd. The page is not editable anymore. It’s horrific that Wikipedia allows censorship about an author’s accusation of rape by 2 different women, with more accusations on the way. Please reinstate the accusations news as we cannot do it ourselves. 2A00:23C4:A06:1B01:197F:9267:80FB:63EA (talk) 17:42, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Who are "we"? For the interested, discussion at Talk:Neil_Gaiman#Sexual_assault_allegations. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 18:15, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Thread

I really thought I had solved my wikipedia problem - great articles, great search, lots of answers. and clueless fund raising. After many years of fruitlessly contributing 3 times a year, until last year I realized I could contribute a smaller amount per month. 12 months of blissful quiet followed until today. Today - the old guilt drive kicked in - plus they finally have the bright suggestion to subscribe. Stay tuned. Gal5322 (talk) 18:15, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

This doesn't seem to be about Neil Gaiman, so I put it in its own thread; but I don't know what it's about, which is why I have given it the title "Thread". If it's a question or a request, please rewrite it as a question or a request. (True, there is "Stay tuned", but to what?) -- Hoary (talk) 20:34, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Hi @Gal5322. Note that us Wikipedia volunteer editors have zero control or input on the fundraising drives that the Wikimedia Foundation organises. Some of us are quite against these considering the very strong financial position the foundation is in. Qcne (talk) 21:18, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Gal5322, you no longer have a wikipedia problem! It is gone, departed, it has forsaken you! Here's why: When you donate through Wikipedia, you are actually donating to the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF), which funds the internet connectivity and the servers on which all Wikipedia projects run. Hint: the Wikimedia Foundation is not in the slightest bit cash-poor at the moment, and really doesn't need your hard-earned dollars. Almost all of us here on English Wikipedia don't get paid a cent - we are almost without exception volunteers, and a number of us object to Wikipedia projects being used as a front for donations to the WMF, over which we have no control whatsoever. Donate or not? It's your choice. :>MinorProphet (talk) 22:45, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Agree Sm8900 (talk) 13:40, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

Help avoiding an edit war with an IP editor

Hi there, someone is objecting to a sentence at Edict of Expulsion regarding antisemitism inspired and developed from the Edict; this is fully sourced in the body of the article. I've requested that discussion takes place on talk, but I am expecting the editor may remove the sentence again, at which point it is just tit for tat reversions. Is there anything further I can or should do to avoid this escalating? What do I do if there is a further reversion without discussion? Jim Killock (talk) 22:04, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Hello JimKillock. The best way to avoid edit warring is to not engage in any edit warring behavior whatsoever. After all, it takes two (or more) to edit war. The IP editor is explaining their opinion in their edit summaries. Continue to engage with those arguments on the article talk page, as you are already doing. There are many forms of dispute resolution available to you. Use them as a valid alternative to edit warring. Cullen328 (talk) 22:47, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

JimKillock, you have added the italicised (by me) part of this sentence: "The expulsion had the lasting effect of embedding antisemitism into English culture, especially in the medieval and early modern period." That clause seems pretty vacuous. You're saying that the effect of the expulsion was felt most strongly in the two or three centuries after it happened. Well, duh. Maproom (talk) 23:01, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

The addition was to avoid the implication of a permanent effect on English culture, which seemed to be triggering the sentences removal. The editor implied they would accept the sentence with a time limit added, so this was a pragmatic addition to stop the to and fro. I have explained that this statement is fully sourced, and the sources are in the body, and I have requested they discuss on the talk page, where I have started a discussion. The IP editor hasn't offered any sources for their assertion that the statement or the sources quoted is / are wrong. Jim Killock (talk) 06:01, 18 July 2024 (UTC)