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This article refers to WP:COI but fails to identify any e.g. WP:NPOV violations... WP:WHYCOI? -- samj _in ^out 17:51, 26 February 2009 (UTC) reply

...Um.. the author was "TDRMaryland". COI is indeed a serious violation and I strongly believe that any users of this article should be aware that the article was typed by a person very likely to be personally related to the company. This style of editing is not what Wikipedia is about. Themfromspace ( talk) 04:51, 27 February 2009 (UTC) reply

This incident was listed for discussion at WP:COIN -- samj _in ^out 04:22, 28 February 2009 (UTC) reply

There still haven't been any supporting violations identified so I suggest that the {{ COI}} tag be removed. -- samj _in ^out 03:55, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

The tag doesn't point out violations like references and notability and the like. The tag says "A major contributor to this article appears to have a conflict of interest with its subject." This is true, the contributor TDRMaryland does appear to be a conflict of interest account whos reason to join Wikipedia was to write this specific article. The article can't be deleted because of the COI so it's not going anywhere unless people argue over its notability. The tag continues: "It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page." This is why I defend the tag. It places this article into a category that Wikipedian's use to cleanup pages. In essence, the tag isn't an accusation but a cry for help. Editors like me routinely pick out random articles tagged with this tag and give them our say in the matter and attempt to fix them up and reduce the bias implicit in COI edits. This tag can only benefit this article and I believe it should remain here. Until the article is fully addressed and looked over for any possible violations.

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill here. I don't even remember tagging this article. I probably saw COIbot identify it as possibly having a conflict of interest, and I saw the account did appear to promote this article and tagged the article as so. Themfromspace ( talk) 04:57, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

So why not tag the talk page? Doing so achieves all of your goals without calling into question the integritiy of the author, subject and article itself. -- samj _in ^out 11:41, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

Because that's not how we tag articles on Wikipedia. These tags also tell readers that something is up with the article, most of which wouldn't know what a talk page is. The tag directs readers to the talk page where they can know the history behind the tag, which in all cases they deserve to know. Themfromspace ( talk) 11:58, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

Ok so what specifically is up with this article (aside from the fact that it was created by an editor who disclosed a potential conflict via their username)? -- samj _in ^out 13:07, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

User:TDRMaryland has been blocked indefinitely, and with them the conflict of interest concerns. Removing the tag, closing COIN discussion. -- samj _in ^out 20:16, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

User:TDRMaryland violates WP:U and has been reported for same. -- samj _in ^out 13:17, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply

Blocked -- samj _in ^out 20:16, 2 March 2009 (UTC) reply