Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 November 29

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November 29

Link got removed from my blog

Hello,

I posted a link to my website named http://indiaholidaydiary.blogspot.com but it got removed many times, why is that?

Looking forward to responce from you.

Thanks in advance. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Indiaholidaydiary (talk • contribs) 06:53, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Where did you post this link? --Ouro (blah blah) 07:03, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

If you post a link many times in articles here it would be considered spam and therefore removed. It is best not to use your own written references in articles as it looks like self promotion and conflict of interest. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 07:21, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

A blog is not normally considered a reliable source and links to blogs should be avoided. Please see Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources and Wikipedia:External links#Links normally to be avoided.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:44, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

I can't see anything in Special:Contributions/Indiaholidaydiary - was it done under a different Wikipedia user name, or on another website? --Colapeninsula (talk) 09:46, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

I didn't see anything in Tourism in India, Incredible India or India either some of the more obvious articles. If you added it to some other wiki, we can't specifically comment on their policies particularly without knowing what wiki you are referring to. But many would not welcome people adding links to their own websites. Presuming your link is acceptable to the wiki, it may be okay to ask on the talk page if a link can be added if you declare the affiliation but it's quite unlikely your blog will be welcome either as a source or as an external link on en.wikipedia so there's no point doing that here. Nil Einne (talk) 03:40, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

U. K. railways

How did the 4`8.5" rail guage come about? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.108.76.58 (talk) 11:31, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Standard gauge --Viennese Waltz 11:39, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

negotation skills

what is the negotational development among buyers and organizations — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.20.254.3 (talk) 15:30, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Can you rephrase? --Ouro (blah blah) 16:21, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

May I suggest reading the article on Negotiation?TheGrimme (talk) 22:31, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Tell you what, if you ask us specifically what you want to know about negotiation, we will do our best to answer. Do we have deal ? StuRat (talk) 03:58, 30 November 2011 (UTC)

Passport question

I was reading the online guide about applying for a UK passport, here. It states that the application needs to be countersigned by someone who has known me for 2 years. I thought about this, and realized that nobody fits that criteria. I don't have any friends or relatives, I don't work so I have no work colleagues, I rarely leave the house, I don't even know my neighbors and they don't know me. I truly do not have a single person who I could ask to sign this. What would happen in such a circumstance? I am not actually applying for a passport at this time so I don't want to waste money calling the non-freephone number to ask the Passport Adviceline. I'm just curious, and hoping the ref desk can dig up some information about situations like this. Thanks LonerMillionair (talk) 18:44, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Are you registered with a doctor? As long as they know you, they may countersign the application, but they often charge a fee. Otherwise you'll have to pay up and use the adviceline. -- Arwel Parry (talk) 19:37, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Bizarrely, doctor isn't on the list. It says it's just a list of examples, so it isn't intended to be exhaustive, but that seems like an oversight! (It has dentist and chiropodist...) --Tango (talk) 22:41, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

You could try a bank manager, if you've had an account in good standing for those two years. I've never tried this, but here in USA I've heard of people who used bank managers for similar purposes. APL (talk) 21:44, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Specifically the requirement is that the signer "know you personally" (the document LonerMillionair cites says "know", the one I've cited adds that "personally" clarification). These days, at least in the UK, a lot of the responsibilities traditionally invested in a (George Mainwaring-type) branch manager (knowing about their customers' business affairs, and being involved with local businesses and local people socially) have devolved to head office, so relatively few retail bank customers have ever met their bank manager. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 22:33, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

The link you added that specifies 'personally' is for the DVLA when applying for a driving license - they seem to have different requirements (evidence of 'joined up thinking'...?) But my suggestion would be your local MP - they should be able to see your details on the electoral roll, and if the Passport Office tries to kick up a fuss, they would be a good person to have on your side! Cucumber Mike (talk) 22:50, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

I don't think MPs have any greater access to the electoral roll than anyone else, and seeing that someone's name and address is on a list doesn't really count as knowing them. --Tango (talk) 00:11, 30 November 2011 (UTC)

Although a millionaire would potentially have a closer relationship with someone at the bank then most people. Nil Einne (talk) 14:08, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

The list on the page you linked to includes "licensee of public house" - do you go to the pub often enough for the landlord to know you? You say you don't work - do you claim unemployment benefit? If so, someone at the job centre might be able to sign it. --Tango (talk) 22:31, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

The Canadian passport has similar requirements. On the application form itself there are instructions about what to do if you do not have a qualified guarantor:

Your guarantor must have known you personally for at least two (2) years*;

*If you have not known an eligible guarantor for at least two (2) years, complete form PPTC 132, Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor, available at any Passport Canada regional office in Canada or any Government of Canada office in the USA. This form must be completed at your expense before a person authorized by law to administer an oath or solemn affirmation. This may delay the processing time of the passport.''

Perhaps the UK has a similar provision. Bielle (talk) 01:00, 30 November 2011 (UTC)

The list is quite extensive - is there no former teacher or lecturer, no former employer, or an old school-friend who's now in any of the categories? Or a postman, medical practitioner, social worker, accountant, who you've had dealings with in the past? If you've not left the house/not worked because you're disabled there are provisions for this and they'll have to take account of it. My understanding is that if you've known them in the past, then even if you've not had contact in the last couple of years it's ok. There are a lot of eligible people, and I think you'll find most will be surprisingly happy to help if they know you at all (although GPs always seem to be grumpy about everything). --Colapeninsula (talk) 09:42, 30 November 2011 (UTC)

At least they have added "...a professional person..." and extended the list of examples to more of the kinds of the kinds of people you might actually know. It used to just say "...a person of good standing in the community..." and gave much shorter list of 'acceptable' people like church minister, company director, doctor, member of parliament, or judge - not a lot of help if you were a healthy, working class, atheist. Astronaut (talk) 12:28, 30 November 2011 (UTC)