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<translate> The Wikimedia Forum is a central place for questions, announcements and other discussions about the [[<tvar|wmf>Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia Foundation</>|Wikimedia Foundation]] and its projects. (For discussion about the Meta wiki, see [[<tvar|meta-babel>Special:MyLanguage/Meta:Babel</>|Meta:Babel]].)
This is not the place to make technical queries regarding the [[<tvar|mediawiki>Special:MyLanguage/MediaWiki</>|MediaWiki software]]; please ask such questions at the [[<tvar|mw-support-desk>mw:Project:Support desk</>|MediaWiki support desk]]; technical questions about Wikimedia wikis, however, can be placed on [[<tvar|tech>Special:MyLanguage/Tech</>|Tech]] page.</translate>

<translate> You can reply to a topic by clicking the "<tvar|editsection>[edit]</>" link beside that section, or you can [<tvar|newsection>//meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_Forum&action=edit&section=new</> start a new discussion].</translate>

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This page experimentally allows language localisation.

Opt-in global sysops

Hello. Comments are welcome on the draft policy for opt-in global sysops. Please don't comment about implementation, which is entirely up to the local wikis who choose to enable them. Rather, is the policy wording adequate? Are there situations it doesn't cover, or sentences that are too vague? Do you have suggestions?

Global sysops will be live (only on wikis that decide to enable them) once the first wiki enables them. —Pathoschild 22:24:35, 27 March 2009 (UTC) 22:24, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Skinning Issues

I've been looking to install the skin found here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Gallery_of_user_styles

The one called "Black Background w/ banner, similar to game forums"

I followed the instructions, placing the CSS file in myskin, renaming to main.css, changing the localsettings, however it just wouldn't work. When I manually change my skin to the "myskin" one it doesn't have any formatting at all! I'm probably doing something very simple wrong but any help would be appreciated. Thanks! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 94.195.15.181 (talk • contribs) 5 April 2009.

Dark shemes problem

I not sure my solution is match to your task. All Wiki engines and included themes is not friendly with dark backgrounds, while white background is burning our eyes. But, you can upload own css file. I try to upload monobook.css or common.css (with same content). You need to register to upload own CSS. I've spent 3 weeks and tear out many hairs to get almost working CSS for dark BG. It's --

/* this magic set is from 'Глобальный сброс Эрика Мэйера' */
html, body, div, span, applet, object, iframe,
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, p, blockquote, pre,
a, abbr, acronym, address, big, cite, code,
del, dfn, em, font, img, ins, kbd, q, s, samp,
small, strike, strong, sub, sup, tt, var,
dl, dt, dd, ol, ul, li,
fieldset, form, label, legend,
table, caption, tbody, tfoot, thead, tr, th, td

{
background-color: #080808 !important;
color: #eeeeee !important;
font-size: 16px !important;
# font-family: Arial;
-moz-border-radius: 6px; border-radius: 6px;
text-decoration: none; 
border: none;
/*font-style: normal;*/
} 

input {font-size: 16px;} /*'important' here is work, but search line size bad*/

a, a * {color: #00aaff !important;}
a:visited, a:visited *  {color: #9060ff !important;}
a:link.new {color: #ff0000 !important;}
a:visited.new {color: #ee0077 !important;}

a.external {color: #ff7700 !important;}
a.external:visited {color: #aa7733 !important;}
a:hover, a:hover * {text-decoration:underline !important;}

h1, h1 *, h1.firstHeading {font-size: 24px !important;}
h2, h2 * {font-size: 20px !important;}
big, big * {font-size: 18px !important;}
h3, h3 * {font-style: bold;}
strike, strike *, .strike {text-decoration: line-through;}

.editsection, .editsection * {font-size: 16px !important;}
small, small * {font-size: 14px !important;}
.prefsectiontip {font-size: 14px !important; color: #cc9977 !important;}

#content {border: none;}
#toc, #toc *, .toc, .toc * {font-size: 16px !important;}

pre {
	color: #ffddaa !important;
/*	background-color: #000000;*/
font-family: monospace;
}

div.thumb {border-color: #000000 !important;}
div.thumbinner { border: 1px solid #00aaff; background-color: #000000 !important;}

#preftoc li, #preftoc li.selected {
/*	background-color: #222222;
	color: none;*/
	border: none;
        margin-left: 0px;
        margin-right: 1px;
}
#preftoc li.selected  /* , #p-cactions li.selected  */
  {
/*	background-color: #222222;*/
	border: 1px dashed #ffaa55;
}


#footer { border-top: none; border-bottom: none; font-size: 14px !important;}

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 93.182.12.2 (talk • contribs) 29 August 2009.

Problem using templates

I recently set up my own wiki using MediaWiki software for a facebook group I am a member of. AANR I am attempting to copy templates from Wikipedia in order to boost the functionality of my wiki, but I am encountering numerous problems that I have so far been unable to solve.

The most apparent one to me at the moment involves receiving an error message of "Template loop detected." I understand what this is, but not why or what I can do to fix it. Example page: Template:!. I've been browsing for answers for hours and am just completely burnt out.

I already have the ParserFunctions extension installed if that makes any difference.

Any help at all would be most appreciated.

Thanks! Adam Christ —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.5.204.173 (talk • contribs) 29 April 2009.

You pasted the documentation there instead of the template. That template is the single "|" character. Rich Farmbrough 23:48 1 September 2009 (GMT).

Dropdown box with predefined and selectable items.

I am trying to add a dropdown box with a number of selectable entries to a template page.

The help and documentation doesn't mention dropdown boxes.

Can anyone help me out ?

Thanks in advance —The preceding unsigned comment was added by ColmDelaney (talk • contribs) 19 June 2009.

Error while accessing wikipedia URL

Hi all,

In our project, each one of us used to have access to our wikipedia(customized only in logos and extensions allowed).Recently, one of our project member lost access to it. The eror message that he got is as follows.

Notice:Undefined index:standarf in D:\sites\Wikipedia\includes\skin.php on line 116.

Warning:Skin::require_once(D:\sites\Wikipedia\skins\.php)[function Skin-require-once] failed to open stream. No such file or directory in D:\sites\Wikipedia\includes\skin.php Fatal error: Skin::require_once()[function require]:Failed opening required 'D:\sites\Wikipedia\skins\.php' (include_path=D:\sites\Wikipedia;D:\sites\Wikipedia\includes;D:\sites\Wikipedia\languages;c:\php;c:\php\ext)in D:\sites\Wikipedia\includes\skin.php on line 122.

Please help me to solve this issue.

I would really appreciate if someone could provide any inputs on this error.

Thanks in advance. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ramya r (talk • contribs) 29 June 2009.

dump download problem

I want to download the pages-articles-xml.bz2 file for importing of wikitaxi which build database base on this dump file for a offline wiki. The size of this dump file shows 5.1G in page, however, the dowload file size is actually 1.09G, how this can happen?

Looking for your answers.

Thanks a lot —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 170.148.96.107 (talk • contribs) 26 August 2009.

URl to the dump page please. Rich Farmbrough 00:08 2 September 2009 (GMT).

I think it is called interwiki...

I did not know where else to turn to (besides the local wiki, which I have already asked, but the local knowledge base seems to be somewhat limited about the higher ideas) to get an answer to this question.
What it is that I am asking about is involving the transclusion process. Now I know you can edit subpages to not be included when being called from another page, and I have also read up on how you can have stuff only be shown on the calling page, but not on the local view of that transcluded page.
My question is, can you select, without changing the page you are getting the text and information from, only certain parts (sections) from that source page?

So, for example: Page 1 being the page that has the information you want on another page, and Page 2 being the display page of that information.

• Page 1

== Section 1 ==

The section one text is here.
== Section 2 ==

The section two text is here.
== Section 3 ==

The section three text is here.

• Page 2

This is the text of page 2, and collects information from other pages to display.

== Section 2 ==

The section two text is here.

I hope this makes it clear what it is I am asking.

Also, a related question, is it possible, using the above example as a guide, to transclude that information section from another wiki? Specifically, I am a GuildWars Wiki user, and I want to be able to show information (page chunks) from the metawiki or english wiki on the GuildWars wiki page, using the usual transclusion style re-posting of that information. I am not sure if you would be able to get a hold of me here on this wiki, so this is my talk page on GWW GWW 13eowulf Talk page

If anyone knows for sure one way or the other, please let me know. And if you could, please post the links you found your information on. It would be very helpful. — The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.182.174.55 (talk) diff, please sign discussions with --~~~~ (UTC)

Hello, I could think of making what You are asking for like this: You put on page 1, where it should only display the information the subpages as inclusions, then if someone clicks on the section of the subpage he will be redirected to it and edit only that subpage. Here is an example of how it looks:

page 1, which should not be edited

• -> page 2, which is displayed on page 1 and will be edited when the headline is clicked.
• -> page 3, which is displayed on page 1 and will be edited when the headline is clicked.

Could look like this:

• the display page looks like:

{{Page 1}}
{{Page 2}}
{{Page 3}}

• the page 1 with the exact name 'Page 1' looks like:

<noinclude>
This is the text of page 1, and collects information from other pages to display.
</noinclude>
== Section 1 ==

The section one text is here.

• the page 2 with the exact name 'Page 2' looks like:

<noinclude>
This is the text of page 2, and collects information from other pages to display.
</noinclude>

Alternatively, you can use the following dpl

<dpl>
 mode=userformat
 title=page title
 includepage=%section number
 secseparators= ==%SECTION%==
</dpl>

Where the details in the italics are what you are wanting to transclude into the destination page. PuppyOnTheRadio

Industrial engineer wants to use wiki / methods to collaborate to build bottom-up (locally owned) basic industry in emerging markets

Hello, I am a consulting engineer and industrial (process plant) contractor who has compiled the full range of tools needed to help indigenous people identify, develop and profitably operate basic industry that fits their locale. I want to give these tools to a collaboration that uses wiki methods to attract like-minded others who can also contribute (investors, attorneys, accountants, programmers, business managers, tradesmen, etc.). Bottom-up (locally owned) basic industry means hard currency in the hands of the people, enabling them / motivating them to self-reliance and improved quality of life. The wiki system seems like a good way to find, screen and control collaboration. Can interested parties contact me via wiki or the email address I have used to log on?

Number of sections on page

I have an idea relating to abbreviated pages that require a little mathemagical skill. I'm trying to find something that will return the number of sections on a page as a variable, so that a psuedo TOC can be created for a talk page on a separate page, or something similar. I'm not admin, just a bog standard User/coder, and as far as I can see no-one has done anything similar to this previously, so I have no examples to cite/steal from. PuppyOnTheRadio

Send a notification to specific users when a change is made?

Is there a way to notify specific users (users that you can determine on a case by case basis) when a change is made to a page within the wiki?

If so how would you do that?

Apoyo para Proyecto WIKIGRAMAS

Me gustaría conocer que otras personas desean sumarse al grupo de apoyo del Proyecto de WIKIGRAMAS [1].

Es para nosotros de vital importancia que este proyecto resulte en buen término, para que así millones estudiantes en el mundo estructuren y creen herramientas de conocimiento que cualifiquen su aprendizaje y ofrezcan contenido académicos con rigidez y excelencia.

Problems with $IP - Wrong path set - Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required '/home/content/html/install-utils.inc'

Hi there,

I have installed already my second wiki at two different shared webspaces I'm hosting at GoDaddy. The first installation worked without problems. Now I ordered a new webspace and maybe the configuration of this new server deviates from the other one. Also the second installation said: "Finished, without problems", but as soon I try accessing my wiki, the following message appears:

Warning: require_once(/home/content/html/install-utils.inc) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/html/wiki/index.php on line 39

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required '/home/content/html/install-utils.inc' (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php') in /home/content/html/wiki/index.php on line 39

As I'm not very familiar with Linux and server administration, I've no idea what the reason is.

I modified the LocalSettings.php file and set the right link manually: $IP = "/home/content/html/wiki";

But it still does not work.

Does anybody can help me or made similar experiences with setting up a wiki?

Messages are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

A strange feeling...

I'll jump straight to the topic - open the door and see the mountain, to use a Chinese phrase. A lot of projects are now a mess. Namely, WB, WN, and (possibly) WV. I'm an active contributor of Wikibooks, and it's been really, really quite these days. After a controversial transwiki discussion, an admin, b:User:Thenub314, has decided to semi-retire. And after that, at Wikinews, n:USer:HJ Mitchell and n:User:Tempodivalse decided to retire. I've heard, in meta, from WB bureaucrat b:User:Adrignola that WV is a mess too. Shouldn't something be done about this? Kayau WP WB WN 11:29, 31 July 2010 (UTC)

...And, considering the WN matters, a global ArbCom probably won't help much. Kayau WP WB WN 11:30, 31 July 2010 (UTC)

I can best provide personal thoughts on the English language Wikibooks. Not that I'm complaining (I like involvement with the community), but I should note that there are times where my talk page at Wikibooks is more active than all the community discussion rooms at the time (such that I archive by month and after a seven day delay). I used to have to view the last 250 recent changes to patrol what's happened during the night; for the past couple months I've only needed 100. Apparently conflicts between editors have been responsible for problems at Wikiversity and Wikinews. Wikibooks has been pretty quiet, so quiet that any evaporation of its community would easily go unnoticed. For more objective analysis, I give you: 3 month admin statistics (I only consider five active—check contributions histories), number of admins over time (Wikibooks removes after 1 year of inactivity), content pages; stats.wikimedia.org hasn't been updated for Wikibooks since January, so it's not going to provide anything accurate for comparison. I don't know the solution, but I know it's not to be found at Wikimedia Wikipedia Outreach (try to find a page not about Wikipedia there). There is continual concern over Wikipedia growth, but the other projects would love to have even a fraction of the contributions and they have greater potential for growth than a mature platform. Adrignola 14:22, 31 July 2010 (UTC)

I'd hoped the quietness was due in some part to the summer vacation season, although it does seem quieter than last year. Unusual? Quite ^TalkQu 13:53, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

Wikinews is even worse now, it seems. I've just decided to take a stroll through the water cooler and I was surprised at how frank Wikinewsies had been with each other earlier this month. And I finally learnt some stuff I've overlooked before. C628 and Blurpeace left as well. It looks terrible. Wikibooks on the other hand is taking the opposite course. Thenub just came back and became a CU, and the discussion about Kohs is cooling down. Dunno about WV though... Kayau WP WB WN 13:45, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

GOK god only knows

Moved from Talk:Requests for comment#GOK god only knows. I added the bold. This message has been on that section since June 1st. 2009:

hello.

I am sure you are not where this message should go but I am also sure that you knot who to get it there. I am legally blind and I ccannot find a "contacht us" link.

I have two concerns. The first is simple. I love lyour printable version,. My conputer talks and is not too good at skipping the stuff I don't want, lke your left hand column. The printable link has stripped off the mechanisms and irrelevancies and leaves me a free field to read you with my JAWS screen reader. I wish you would publicise the way you manage to clean u p the page. Go to the magazine webpage, The Week and look at it as a an over illustrated maze full of irrelevant links. They don't do it on purpose. I think they would probably be willing to offer the printable version. You might want to talk with their bublisher, Henter Joyce, which has a web site to contact them Freedom Scientific / Henter Joyce 1 800 444 4443 while you're at it ask for their demos and have hun. WYNN is for kids and they love it.

My other concern is the Poison Control Centers. They are a reliable source on the dangerousness of various chemicals, etc. [they also identify pills and prescrible treatments for poisonings]They have an extensive database which I suggessst you access and add to articles as a free-standking attachment. I heard the eco-scare of the week -- sodium laureth sulfate causes everything from excema to cancer and homosexuality. It makkes the bubles in shampoos and laundry soaps, some foaming bathoil and other detergents. The Wiki did not addreess the quesstion. I ,ake no otjher concrete suggestions: the poison control centers have the technical expertise and I don't

I Love the Wiki. Never a contributor, no relevant expertise, butmany opinions that might help If I knew how to contact you.

Keep up the good work

Kristine Watkins kwatkins21@nc.rr.com

For the record

Moved to User talk:Vapmachado#For the record. -AlexSm 17:24, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

New Wikiprojekt

I want to start a new Wikiprojekt which is a wing of de-Wikipedia. But I dont know who can help me. Am I right here? Ne discere cessa! 18:41, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

You should probably visit Proposals for new projects and determine what to do from there, I'd imagine. Kylu 19:54, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Question about implementing a vertical slide menu

Hello Boys/girls,

This is my first post on this first. So excuse me if i do something crazy here.

Whats my question? I want to implement a vertical slidemenu within on my Wikimedia:Sidebar. And i want to use this slidemenu http://www.mediawiki.org or http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Does anyone know how to do this? I search everywhere on the net but i cant find it.

I've used Vector as my default Wikimedia skin.

Thanks in advance

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Fainaforumboy (talk • contribs) 15:37, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Arbitrary blocks on Commons

Commons is a central repository for images, and many projects do not allow local uploads. This means that it is very difficult to illustrate one's articles for editors that are blocked on Commons. So it should be a systemwide concern when commons administrators issue arbitrary blocks with false motivations. Some recent example:

• commons:user:Mbz1 was blocked for two weeks for uploading a collage; there was no copyright problem. The block was quickly rescinded, but no measures were taken against the unrepentant blocking admin.
• That same admin had permanently banned commons:user:Hcrepin for unclear reasons. User tried to appeal as an IP number (commons:Special:Contributions/91.178.228.98), but nobody listened. I brought up the problem on the commons IRC channel, Herbythyme was approached, who made this statement, then Huib/Abigor unblocked. No apology, no consequences for the blocking admin.
• And of course the reason for me posting this: I myself have been permbanned on Commons for no good reason. Commons administrators talk about "discipline", intimidating those that feel that my block is undeserved.

The problem is especially severe for contributors that cannot easily express themselves in English. /Pieter Kuiper 09:09, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Commons is a large enough community that it should consider the formation of an arbitration committee. Regardless, they do have a dispute resolution system in place that should be attempted. If you feel there's enough of an issue that it deserves multiple project scrutiny, you can start a request for comment here, but I would warn you that it's a bit of a drawn-out process and, frankly, only rarely results in any sort of useful change. There are many proposals for a sort of a "global arbcom", but none have reached enough support to be a serious contender in the dispute resolution arena. Kylu 01:24, 3 September 2010 (UTC)

(mis?)user pages

Of course the SUL global user accounts are a major step forward in making us all more connected in one global community, but I think there are also a number of rather negative phenomena associated with it that need to be addressed, because the success of such a community depends very much of the mutual respect we are willing to invest in it. There are global users that insist on having user pages generated on all sites, even the ones they have never visited or never intend to visit and put soft redirects on it in what is not the local language, imposing categories that do not exist locally. In fact they even have so little consideration with the local community that they do not even take the trouble to do that themselves but let e.g. Patoschild do it for them. If they do not even take the trouble to do that should they really be "entitled" to impose a foreign language on a community they don't care to contribute to at all and have no intention to either? They are not users or contributors, why should they be entitled to anything? Wikimedia should be for people who contribute in respect for other users. This is simply disrespectful and rude towards the local community and it needs to end nl:wikt:Gebruiker:Jcwf Jcwf 14:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree entirely. The global WMF community is, however, a reflection of our society, so I doubt that this will change. Regards, Guido den Broeder 23:14, 2 September 2010 (UTC)

I understand that some people may feel it's disrespectful, but is it functionally disruptive? Wikis aren't paper after all, and they can only possibly be convenient (if the user ever edits then there will be less confusion by the local regulars in case they forget to create the redirect). In case specific wikis opt to not have the script (Pathoschild's, in most cases) running we might set up a list that excludes those domains, which I'm sure won't be a problem. From my observations most wikis don't even tend to notice the creation of the userpages, though. -- Mentifisto 17:41, 3 September 2010 (UTC)

I always felt the creation of the page was fairly pointless but I can't agree that it is rude, disrespectful or "imposing" on the particular community. It's just a user page, I suspect nobody cares very much. QU ^TalkQu 20:56, 3 September 2010 (UTC)

In fixing death anomalies I've wound up editing a number of wikipedia's where I don't speak the language. I usually leave a little note on my userpage explaining who I am and why I'm there. I haven't yet had any complaints and I hope most people would support what I'm doing as useful. But sooner or later I'm bound to make a mistake and when someone does want to point that out to me I hope that a softredirect will make that easier. I'm not sure why anyone would want a userpage when they have zero edits, but if the only article I've edited on a pedia is subsequently deleted then that could happen to me. WereSpielChequers 13:25, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

I would almost say that every user that edits on other projects, must have on his/her userpage a link to the page where he/she can be contacted where the user also is active and sees his/her messages. I have been searching once for botowner where he was active, and due a missing link it was a hell of a job. Greetings - Romaine 19:14, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

Two interesting experiences for your information.

1) http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Information_desk#Deletion_of_user_page

2) Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:49 To: * From: "Virgilio A. P. Machado" <vam@fct.unl.pt> Subject: Disclosure of users' real data (addenda)

[...]

After being "banned forever", under the most suspicious circumstances (a mute point), from the Portuguese Wikipedia, on April 3rd, sysop Yanguas (http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usu%C3%A1rio:Yanguas) redirected my user page (http://pt.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Usu%C3%A1rio:Vapmachado&diff=19532251&oldid=19375493) to my discussion page. What entitles him to take such action? Or is it vandalism? I'm puzzled by the sysop Yanguas redirect since even user pages of sock puppets banned forever are maintained at the Portuguese Wikipedia (http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usu%C3%A1rio:Bruna228, http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usu%C3%A1rio:LPL, and http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usu%C3%A1rio:Azulinho).

I'm glad to be able to provide you all with real cases to discuss. You are all very welcome to comment. Maybe sometime down the line there will be a new policy that will establish that 1) all user pages in projects where the users have no other edits will be deleted; 2) all user pages in projects where the users do not make an certain number of edits per month will be deleted; 3) all user pages in projects where the users have not make any edits for a number of months will be deleted; 4) all user pages that another user doesn't like will be deleted; 5) all user pages can be subjected to community approval and will only be maintained if they get more than 2/3 of the votes in favor, all others will be deleted; 6) all user pages need to be pre-approved by a censorship board appointed for life. Sincerely, Virgilio A. P. Machado. Vapmachado 19:21, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

I suspect you aren't really suggesting these options as sensible alternatives. However, for what it's worth my view is that user pages should only be edited by the user themselves unless they violate a local policy (e.g., by containing spam). This is just a courtesy of course as the licensing allows anyone to edit the page. QU ^TalkQu 20:04, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

Not sensible indeed, but that's what's happening out there (see my two examples) and what the user who started this topic and the next one are advocating. If that is not already a policy, who's going to do anything about what happened in those two cases? Do you see anybody? I sure don't (Yes, that includes whoever is reading this, I'm afraid). You suspected that nobody cared very much diff. No need to suspect any more. There are people who care a great deal (see my two examples) and so much so that the topic is being discussed here. Sincerely, Virgilio A. P. Machado Vapmachado 22:03, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

A related example on nl:Wikipedia is a user creating and editing an archive in someone elses user space, against their wishes, e.g. [2]. Guido den Broeder 08:56, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

A policy that limits edits on user pages to the user themselves would be difficult given the licensing, although in effect this happens already in some circumstances through page protection (where edits are limited to admins). I'd happily support a policy that restricted edits to user pages to the user except where other policies were breached by the user. QU ^TalkQu 11:02, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

Both of you expressed opinions that I subscribe, but action speaks louder than policies. No one here dares to mess with the Wiktionary administrators or those of any other project for that matter, because that's the natural order of things on Wikimedia projects, for reasons that are self evident. On the Portuguese Wikipedia it is stated that although the user page may be edited by anybody, it is agreed that only the user edits it, being responsible by its content. There's at least an administrator from the Portuguese Wikipedia that has been sniffing and snooping around here, waiting for his chance to ask again for the old fart to be blocked here on Meta. He and one of his big buddies already did and FAILED miserably, despite begging for support from others (not much luck there also, I'm afraid.) All that is quite usual, the question is that you don't see any of them writing a word here or righting a wrongdoing, because that's the natural order of things on Wikimedia projects, for reasons that are self evident. Please don't take this personally, because I understand your reasons, but all it takes to undo the redirect of my user page is to go there and undo or revert it. It takes less time then writing nice platitudes. Now please go back to my comment above of 22:03, 4 September 2010 (UTC) Sincerely, Virgilio A. P. Machado. Vapmachado 22:06, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps you misunderstand me or think I have some kind of "power" to fix your specific problem. I agree there should be local policies per this discussion, but it's for each local community to agree and define that policy. I am not a member of any of the projects you are having problems with so it's not for me to go and try and dictate to the community there. If you want to propose a global policy (i.e., start with an RFC at Meta) then I'll happily contribute to that debate. However, I am not in a position of "authority" to somehow enforce what you are asking for (reverting the redirect on a specific Wiki). This forum is for discussions not enforcement actions, so you're in the wrong place if you are trying to get a fix - platitudes it is. QU ^TalkQu 23:33, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

"Please don't take this personally, because I understand your reasons," as stated above. Vapmachado 03:59, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

I don't take anything personally, don't worry. QU ^TalkQu 09:01, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

The following is not addressed to the user above but to you, the reader.

On the other hand, you may want to admire the looks of my user page now (Vapmachado) compared to how it used to be (Vapmachado). It was done after my comment above (diff and diff) with the summary: "more understandable then redirecting it to the discussion." You may still compare that to examples of user pages of sock puppets, banned forever, maintained at the Portuguese Wikipedia: Bruna228, LPL, and Azulinho. That is what it means "it is agreed that only the user edits it," in the Portuguese Wikipedia. Please don't forget to compliment the sysop who did this brave and honorable deed. Do you still expect or would like me to propose a global policy? For people that display that kind of understanding of the Principles of Fairness, Integrity, Honesty, Human dignity, Service, Excellence, Potential, Growth, Patience, Nurturance, and Encouragement? These are the platitudes of my human condition, consciousness, and conscience. Sincerely, Virgilio A. P. Machado. Vapmachado 05:19, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

In the absence of a written global policy explicitly disallowing editing userpages, the general concept of the projects being wiki (in that all pages are, by system default (as opposed to policies) editable supersedes an individual's preferences on the matter. If you think that userpages should not be subject to such, you're free to propose a global policy, of course, but I suspect that there will be little in the way of support for it however. Good luck. Kylu 21:09, 9 September 2010 (UTC)

I don't think that such an extreme policy is needed. A global policy describing the purpose and proper use of user pages, user talk pages and archives should suffice, and that might actually be a good idea. Regards, Guido den Broeder 22:37, 9 September 2010 (UTC)

Typosquatter alert

*.wikimwdia.org --Mkratz 13:38, 6 September 2010 (UTC)

Ah, thanks, but is there anything we can actually do about it? Kylu 11:46, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

shouldn't think so as it isn't infringing any copyright... if it was, say, "wikimedia.co.ru" you could usurp it, maybe. QU ^TalkQu 11:57, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

Not to be too pedantic, but unless a site is hosting copies of our pages without attribution, copyright wouldn't be an issue anyway. You're probably thinking of trademark violations instead. Kylu 23:50, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

Ah, yes, that's what I meant, thanks! QU ^TalkQu 09:01, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Open meeting tomorrow

There is an open meeting scheduled for tomorrow on IRC at 1600 UTC. –SJ · talk | translate 00:36, 11 September 2010 (UTC)

Steward rangeblock on zh-wp

Hello all,

today a steward range-blocked 114.44.128.0/18 and 114.44.112.0/20 on zh-wp with the reason "{{range block}}: Checkuser - Abusing multiple accounts" for six months (http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:%E6%97%A5%E5%BF%97/block ). He happens to have blocked for half a year the biggest ISP of Taiwan from zh-wp. I don't understand how can a steward issue such a range block without consulting local admins. I find this very unresponsible and upsetting.--Wing 17:59, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

My appologize, the block was requested by a zh-wp admin. Though I still think such a range block with such a long period is not proper. It can affect too much other users.--Wing 18:38, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

I personally prefer giving a recommendation for a range-block instead of doing it myself, as the local community should decide such an action. Laaknor 18:43, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

Basque wiktionary

Hello. I'm Ikatz from the Basque wiktionary. I’m realized that in IPAs icons are missing some ones that are necessary from the Basque pronunciation, so I want to put them. I don't know if this is the right place to speak about this but I thank you if you tell me where I can ask this question. Sorry for my bad English and thanks. EH-Ikatz ^{answer here} 19:47, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

Wikimania Committee

Not a question but a call for participation. Talk:Wikimania/Committee could really do with active participation for the formation of a committee to assist with the oversight of Wikimania. Many Thanks Seddon 00:45, 13 September 2010 (UTC)

Statement from Coolpolitealex

I want to say ,and to remind others of how difficult it can be for some people trying to get round the wiki projects and sections ,due to it rapidly turning into a language that is pure computer speak,and if like me you have a head injury and find it very difficult in the normal field of jargon and the like, then there is no need to say any more I suppose what i am saying is that ,Wikipedia and it's off-shoots is an alien concept for large portion of society and the more it becomes computeresque, the more it will put off the general reader or learner. As a child finding my first encyclopedia ,with pictures ,kept me engrossed and the pictures conveyed so much more of what i was reading,to my mind,and believe me i was in need of being taken out of my circumstances,even if it was just into a world created for me by reading loads of facts written in such a way that dragged me up a little more than i ever got in school. With so many little children in Africa and East European countries being given the chance to read and participate in the world of computers,it is imperative that we don't deter them with abbrv's scattered through our language coming from computer jargon. So what i am saying and hoping clearer ,is that my encyclopedia and what i got from it was so important and itf it was'nt for the pictures alongside,that allowed my mind to get interested and take part,as i did with the pictures aiding the process,but where is the pictures with learning computer language. I say that because i am reminded of it everytime i try and get into reading (because i have not got past reading the blurbs) before i am deterred further by so many areas i can't fathom, that is my own disability,through an accident ,but there must be a better way to learn computer ,because there must be children that are locked out,through whatever reason,and if their interest can't be tweeked another way then they will be lost. But maybe there is areas where learning computerspeak is easier,finally we must remember that peoples brains work in different ways,they process things in other ways but sadly with computer learning there only seems one way.
— The preceding unsigned comment was added by Coolpolitealex (talk) 12:27, 13 September 2010

• Minor refactoring by Kylu 16:48, 13 September 2010 (UTC)

While it's not "a kid's encyclopedia" certainly, you may be interested in Simple English Wikipedia, which seems to avoid the overuse of acronyms and technical jargon considerably more than other projects. Best. Kylu 16:48, 13 September 2010 (UTC)