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People, we are desperately in need of some consensus here. Can we all please vote for one of the following options. Given that there are three options, I think a 51% plurality would suffice. Some of the options have subordinate polls: please vote again in each of these subpolls. GeorgeStepanek\ talk 01:34, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
agreed.ca
"An international charitable effort is underway to help the estimated 5,000,000 victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunamis."
What the hell, is this a typo ? Unless we have another earthquake soon in the middle of Sumatra, that number is just way too high.
jeez...when editing articles people are mean- bstar
yes...it's their standard deviation from societal norms - Blair P. Houghton
All contributors are expected to show respect and consideration for one another, as a norm. If they do not, they earn a reputation for poor citizenship, to use an old-fashioned term. See Wikipedia:WikiLove for one of the founding principles of the community, dating back to the founding of the Wikipedia, and perhaps before that. Ancheta Wis 23:48, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
man...if you have to explain a joke - Blair P. Houghton
Since I came back to "Wikipedia", I have suffered from some extremly long response times. It's gotten progressively worse. Today, it took almost ten minutes to post an edit. Is it just me? Rick K 00:22, Jan 4, 2005 (UTC)
PLEASE seriously consider including a well highlighted and regularly updated (very short) summary of WIKIPEDIA STATUS (in layman's terms)right at the beginning of the Main Page. (Or at the very least a high-profile link to [1]. **Wikimedia Technical Group think this would just overload them too, so maybe a bad suggestion on my part** ). I feel we could lose many potential users and contributors during extended periods of significantly slow access during maintainance, hardware/software problems etc..etc.. Wikityke
It's great to have a concise intro, but I'm missing the links to CSS-free and textonly version of the main page. Shouldn't they be readily available to our readers without too much searching around? Mgm| (talk) 10:47, Jan 6, 2005 (UTC)
To whoever edits the front page...
"Did you know..." today (1/6/05) starts off:
Clicking "Department of Veterans Affairs" takes one promptly to this article. Clearly the US isn't housing offices in Ottawa just yet, David Foster Wallace hypotheses aside. Should be linked to Department of Veterans Affairs (Canada).
Maybe this should be in the navigation bar and discussed on the mediawiki site, but there ought to be an easy way to search other namespaces easily from the main page. The only way I've found so far is to search for a nonexistent article, which brings up a search page with checkboxes for namespaces. I don't want to search other namespaces by default. -- Theodore Kloba 15:13, 2005 Jan 7 (UTC)
What's silly is that hitting "Search" without typing anything in doesn't take you to a generic search page, but instead an oblique error message. -- Fastfission 05:33, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Yes. I know. But there are lots of people out there who are *not* geophysicists. :-) Might we expand the Special by those 2 words? -- Baylink 20:24, 7 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Not knowing how to edit the main page, I am using this forum to correct an error. The Hejaz is NOT "present day Saudi Arabia". Saudi Arabia occupies almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. The Hejaz is the smaller region on the eastern shore of the Red Sea that includes the cities of Medina and Mecca. Too Old 06:49, 2005 Jan 8 (UTC)
I've moved the donation box down. It's been two weeks since the disaster, unless anyone's been living under a rock they'll have heard about it and heard for calls for donations - and probably donated if they've wanted to. Tom- 00:48, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
As multicultural as it is, I find that the multilingual front page they just installed is more unwieldy than it's worth. (above unsigned)
The severely injured crewman has died and the current number of injured is 23.
I saw a swear word so I deleted it.-- 67.68.15.69 20:45, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
How come the main page changed to a new screen (www.wikipedia.org). I liked it better when it simply came up to the page with the search box, news, and articles.
Now it comes up to a language selection screen, which takes a while to load, from where I have to select my language to go to the original main page, which is also slow.
Is there a way to set a cookie or have the webpage simply go to the proper language website, based on the user's previous choices and browser configuration? I mean when I enter www.wikipedia.org for a URL, not set a homepage to the actual domain, or create a special bookmark.
Actually, that's a good idea, but only under prime conditions. It's practical for one or two computers on which one has superuser privledges, but in situations where one logs on from work (in my case) or from various locations, it's not the most feasable (on work computers, lusers don't get to change the hosts file, and at various places, people don't generally like you playing with their operating files. In my case, it's workable from home, but not from work, with the pun quite intended.
I figure that having the main page read the browser's user-agent language component should be enough to select the proper main page. If some has a proxy that alters that and has an unknown language, then a redirection to either a specific language main page, or to the language select page. This begins to address the problem of language preferences. Why not take the user to his own language automatically?
Bahhh, the hosts file thing doesn't work after all. After quick observation, it seems the IP addresses of www.wikipedia.org and en.wikipedia.org seem to change every few minutes. What the hell? Is there any way I can tell my system or even just Firefox -- hell, my LinkSys router if I have to -- to automatically reference en.wikipedia.org whenever www.wikipedia.org is referenced? This is stupid. I want to be able to get the English wikipedia from any instance of the referenced www. prefix via a solution that actually works. Any ideas? -- I am not good at running 01:14, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Everybody, JUST TYPE IN EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG instead of whinging about the removal of the redirect! Everything people have discussed here has already been discussed on wikipedia-l and meta, ad nauseum. If you want, you can still participate although discussion is mostly over. YThere was a poll on this a long time ago, and people think that a redirect may be bad although a highlight of preferrred language seems possible still. -- Node 04:35, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
The page for Pompey says "in the spring of 49 BC Caesar crossed the Rubicon and invaded Italy with his thirteenth legion". -- Paraphelion 02:28, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC)
There's a missing pic or something.
Very Simple Problem to fix. Wikipedia just needs to detect the language of the user's web browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically redirect them to their language (en.wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language then wikipedia should show the different languages available. Any advanced web developer should know this. -BW
ok, i unterstand that www.wikipedia.org goes to a global page, where you can choose a language etc. but why does www.wikipedia.com go to that page?? this adress should go the english page.
it freaks me out because now i have to click on english and wait for the english page to load before i can search. And don't tell me to use en.wikipedia..., i'm used to www.wikipedia.com, as everybody else i think.
I'm sorry, but I'm someone else who thinks the new language-selection main page is a severe step backwards. Feel free to disregard me (as I don't have an account ;). The design is ugly with no pretty pictures, it's slow, and on many computers (eg. mine) the Japanese characters display as "???" - yuck. It doesn't even have a clear statement of what Wikipedia is on that page! I can't see how a new user who'd never heard of the project (if there are any left) would be tempted to carry on and browse the encyclopedia. In any case, there's an "other languages" link right there on the top right of the English main page. If we really have to have this new page, can there at least be a cookie set so people only have to see it once? Thanks.
One reason the first page seems slow to load is because it causes many, many fonts to be loaded into your display server, just to display one word in every proposed language. PLEASE replace this text by images! My mozilla grows by 120Mbytes and my X server by 200Mbytes when I pass on this first page. People with smaller/slower computers will just give up waiting. Check the wiki server logs to see how often the "client stopped connection before send body completed" on this first page.
On the .org portal page, Wikinews' address needs to have an en in it, not just an n. -- user:zanimum
Picture of Abbas with Yushchenko lead? Anyone fix this? --[[User:TheGrza| The Grza]] 22:01, Jan 10, 2005 (UTC)
Read why Wiki is slow. Dan100 14:29, Jan 12, 2005 (UTC)
Could we have a link to Special:Allpages on the Main Page? In my opinion, it's better than the Quick index, and better for namespaces than the search engine. Lee S. Svoboda 01:11, 13 Jan 2005 (UTC)
why are we back to ungrammatical
?? don't tell me it won a poll or something. How can we convince people there is anything of value in WP when even the first sentence is wrong. Or is this in the spirit of "weeding out elitism since 2001"? dab (ᛏ) 18:35, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Those who know me know that I generally oppose censorship (and I specifically voted to delete the censored Abu Gharib page). However, is it really appropriate to show that image on the main page? - Ld | talk 00:25, 15 Jan 2005 (UTC)
to Wikipedia :) I love this project.
Also, what happened to the article counter?
Of all the many bad ideas I have seen floated at Wikipedia, this "language template" thing is one of the worst. To new visitors, it will be totally meaningless and confusing, and will discourage use of the encyclopaedia (something I know many users don't care much about). To everyone else, it is just a redundant nuisance. Adam 06:26, 16 Jan 2005 (UTC)
"Mahmoud Abbas is sworn in in a ceremony in" - I suppose its valid english but it reads terribly. Change 2nd 'in' to 'at' ?. - Wombat 01:09, Jan 17, 2005 (UTC)
Hello All
I'm a new visitor to this site, having only just discovered it a few weeks ago. For this reason please excuse this comment if it infringes any pre-defined rules on suggesting new changes. In this same spirit, please excse it if it has been porposed before. It is late, and I have not yet had time to peruse the site for all of the rules on proposed changes etc.
I have used the Wikipedia intensively since I discovered it just over six weeks ago. In general, I have found every single article to be concise, informative and very well written. The links have been exceptionally helpful and have always led me on many an interesting diversion.
I do have one suggestion to improve the usefulness and integrity of the site though and it is pretty fundamental. My suggestion is actually more of a question - Is it possible to automate the generation of hyperlinks so that every word within the text of an article is checked against every topic in the Wikipedia to determine whether or not a link should be established ?
In conjunction with this - Is it possible to establish a set of synonyms and associations for each topic to aid the above process so that the checking does not miss anything just because it is worded the wrong way ?
For example - I might write a 4,000 word essay on King James I of England. Upon submission, the hyperlink checker would check every word in the article against every entry in the Wikipedia and create hperlinks for all known entries. It would also create links for related entries - for example, King James I of England also refers to King James VI of Scotland. The word "King" might also link to the word "Monarch" and so on.
Of course, the automated hyperlinks may be manually vetted by human operator to cull any irrelevant links (eg - "Monarch" => Monarch Butterfly" etc) but the process would still save thousands of man hours and produce a much richer document.
You may think that this may lead to nearly every word becoming a hyperlink but in fact that is the goal - to have every single word and phrase in every article become some sort of searchable reference. I know that this is a pretty major ask but if it is possible then imagine the possibilities - an endlessly searchable database of the entire sum of all knowledge.
Please comment on this topic as I will be checking regularly - as I said, I'm new to tis site and am not sure what the correct protocol is in this regards. Again, please excuse any errors in etiquette that I may have committed.
Thank you or your time.
rory@romad.com.au
Why does it say Jews are Subhuman on the wiki frontpage? Perhaps someone should change it. Soon.
The main page says there are 600,000 members. The Kiwanis page itself says there are under 300,000. -- Paraphelion 01:06, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Wouldn't it be nice to have a link to Wikitravel on the starting page? Nobody knows about this project.
There is a typo on the front page (which I am unable to edit personally). Where it says: "the unrest over the goverment's new taxes", it is meant to read "the unrest over the government's new taxes".
Thank you Bobo192 04:10, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)
It was 1985, wasn't it?
Me (and in fact all the collaborators of Galician Wikipedia) are no happy with the related translation made for "Galician" in the wikipedia languages list performed above. The real translation for Galician in Galician is "GALEGO", not "gallego". Even wherever you may see the mistaken "gallego", never has been a Galician word. I only ask to whom who may concern to change please this error (as I don't know how to change it). Many thanks and best wishes.
Sobreira User
In the "This day in history" section, "beter" should be "better." -- Fermatprime 11:10, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Although the Wikipedia logo was not doubled up in Firefox, it was in IE when MediaWiki 1.4 came out. Now it looks good; Congratulations on the fix! Ancheta Wis 22:24, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Under Selected anniversaries for January 25 is listed " Tu Bishvat in Israel". Since Tu Bishvat is a general Jewish holiday, and thus not only relevant or celebrated in Israel, the words "in Israel" should not be used here. Furthermore this is correctly portrayed in the January 25 page, so I don't understand why it has been written up as such for Selected anniversaries. -- jnothman 01:15, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC)
hey i just started at this website but its pretty cool and hey i have a question!!! is there any info on what people think about how far we should take our new technology and abilities ????????????? and if any body has any good info or a view let me now cause i have a debate to do soon and could as much help as pssible if u do email me at Mowgliandtink07@aol.com thanks so much
Why are links in the sidebar (along with some others) no longer underlined? Shouldn't they be consistent with the choice made by the user? It looks wrong to be to have them without the underline. violet/riga (t) 19:09, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC)
was deleted. Which I guess is OK, maybe I was too flippant, but the fact remains there was an item on the (supposedly protected) main page earlier today that said Viktor Yuvschenko had been nominated for an award based on his role in a porn film. I assume I'm not the only one who saw this. Would anybody like to comment?- rastro
Hello everyone, this is my first time to this web site. I have a project to do and I need some answors. Please! My son was born in Augest 2002 and Im doing his baby book It ask me questions like:
**Important National events **Current national Leaders ** Important worldwide leaders **Best-selling books and authors
And the price of things: MIlk, Gas ,ect
Can someone please help me to where i know to look this information up?????
The main page says:
1951 - Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site began with a one-megaton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flats.
That's grossly inaccurate. Operation Ranger, Able shot on jan 27 1951 was of a 1 kiloton bomb. The first meagton detonation was the Mike shot (Mike for Megaton) in october/november 1952 during project Ivy.
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/index.html
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Ranger.html
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Ivy.html
-- J-Star 09:02, 2005 Jan 27 (UTC)
The KJV article on the main page says:
"emains one of the most widely-read literary works from its time, surpassed only by the works of playwright William Shakespeare."
It is difficult to imagine this to be true as the sales of the KJV Bible are reported as many many multiples of any other book, period.
--[[User:Eagle|Eagle|
Why has the graph of the earth on the main Wikipedia page
Image:Wikipedia mainpage of.PNG
lost the North Pole ?
Hans Rosenthal (hans.rosenthal AT t-online.de -- replace AT by @ )
Now that I see the new introduction at the top, it occurs to me that the blurb on top of every page that says From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia should be changed to From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. It says the pro and con of wikipedia, that it anyone can edit it and that it is not necessarily reliable, which is something that would not be immediately clear to somebody seeing a printout of an article or coming directly to any article other than the main page. Of course this is not the appropriate talk page to raise this issue, but ask me to figure out which one is. -- Ezra Wax 05:21, 4 Jan 2005 (UTC)
>>Feb 20th, 2k5 ::Each web page should have a warning/disclaimer ikon prominently placed on it indicating the possible unreliability of the written contents. [elyah_ @ eSefardi]<<
Now that it is not necessarily reliable, which is something that takes up an entire browser window, but that takes up an entire browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically arises everyday: as an English speaker, I have only purpose was to detect them to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would be the new introduction at the tabloid media and automatically redirect them have less than the miscommunication that basically redirectly to any article or coming direct them to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would get in the main pages of space and detracts from an other. Now that Nederlands, but those who don't think its only purpose was to direct the both the top 20, even the top, it occurs to wikipedia.org, etc). If this type arrangement. Some of them to the copycats who would be the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would not be immediately clear to somebody seeing a printout of any language, can you imagine what sort of response this would try to outdo each other. Now that it anyone can edit. It says From Wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language (en.wikipedia the free encyclopedia that everyday between native and detracts from an other. Now that threatens to ruin this entire project.
This is a real security flaw that threatens to ruin this type arrangement. Some of the user's web browser window, but those who don't advocate something new everyday in the top 30 Wikipedia, it serves more than that. Look at the top 30 Wikipedia, include national minority language (en.wikipedia that basically arises every page that says From Wikipedia?
While something that it and that Nederlands, but those who don't advocate something new everyday between native and learn something new every simple to fix. Wikipedias, and some people are way, way, way, way too obsessed with over 1000 article others have only language (en.wikipedias, such as the English Wikipedia, that I see the copycats who would try to outdo each others have only languages with an itsy bitsy mainpage. I don't advocate some people are way, way, way too obsessed with over 1000 articles, otherwise clear and concise project.
The problems mentioned below are very simple to fix. Wikipedia just needs to detect the language of the user's web browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically redirect them to their language (en.wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language then wikipedia should show the different languages available. Any advanced web developer should know this. -BW
--
How come putting in 'www.wikipedia.org' doesnt take us to the main page anymore, but to a language-choice sorta page?
I hope this isn't a permanent choice... the initial page for Wikipedia ought to be the version of the encyclopedia which gets the most visits and has the most quality pages (a pair of factors which likely are effected by and affect each other). Dumping to a language selection page (before giving you any indication of the content of the website) is not, in my opinion, very good web design, much less for an encyclopedia. But we'll see, I guess... -- Fastfission 05:30, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Where have you all been? I've been on Wikipedia for nearly 2 years now, and for most of that time it's been accepted that www.wikipedia.org should not point at the English main page. It's inherently POV to point at one language version, particularly since it has lost its' pre-eminence in terms of volume. It's been discussed on the Wikien mailing list. I've been bookmarking "en.wikipedia.org" and giving it in references for about 18 months. The change has only now been actioned because someone finally decided to be bold, and admittedly aesthetically it could do with some tweaking, but I fully support the principle of the change. -- Arwel 22:21, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
My humble opinion is that the frontpage should direct users to the English main page until the day another language surpasses English. FLafaire 22:54, 10 Jan 2005
If wikipedia is all for equal coverage of different language versions of the encyclopedia, regardless of how many people speak it or how many articles it has, then why does wikipedia.co.uk direct only to the english wikipedia? what about cymraeg? -- 81.135.218.135 15:48, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Has anyone considered using the Accept-Language HTTP headers that all browsers send? If it starts with en then it should issue a redirect to http://en.wikipedia.org. If it starts with de then it should redirect to de.wikipedia.org etc. Debian do this for a number of their pages and it's a really great idea because everyone feels like wikipedia isn't preferring one language over another-- PdDemeter 20:52, 12 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Geez, everybody quit whinging about this. This has already been discussed on meta and on wikipedia-l, you missed your opportunity, and a looooooooong time ago there was a massive poll you may or may not have participated on, on Meta. The anglocentrism of the redirect has long been despised by the VAST MAJORITY of Wikipedians and a GROUP DECISION was made to change it to a portal which you can edit at Meta. -- Node 04:30, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
And anyway, if there is going to be a laguage page, it should include Klingon! - Unknown Klingon 21:08 27 Jan 2005
Hey, Node, it's not anglocentric if it redirects to each user's language's page, and then goes to the language select page if it can't find a matching language. That seems totally fair to all users. BTW, what exactly was the old main page? If it couldn't find a language, would the en page or a language select page be default? If it was the en page, than a new redirect system using a default language page would fix the anglocentric problem. If there was a language page previously, then what's the problem? And about this topic already being discussed, why can't there be a new vote? Recounts aren't that uncommon. -- Y2kBugxp90 18:17, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Bold textI agree with 'Mikeh'. I myself have a number of friends who seem to find it amusing to come on this site and edit the articles in a comical fashion. I find this disgusting. I think this site is a marvelous creation, but has its downfalls. The fact that anyone can edit it is the obvious one. A suggestion would be to have some sort of username-password-registering system, allowing only people registered on Wikipedia to edit pages. Keep up the good work, Wikipedia!
Really nice decision to put the language page up. I know several non-english speaking people that dindt even know that there were wikipedia on their own language.
Ok. I really don't understand what all the hub-ub is about. So there's a language selection screen before the main page .. so what? This isn't the gross anomoly that some people here are making it out to be. Being Canadian, I'm very used to being asked to select between English and French before continuing to the main page of a website. If you really hate the language selection screen, just type en, instead of www. How dificult is that, really? -- Azkar 16:25, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
run this night over the 50,000. Can anyone change it and place it in the head group? Thanks
Today's news talks of a one month anniversary which is a howler. Anniversary relates to annus which is the latin for year
Hope that it can be changed asap. Jack Hill
See the History of Antarctica article to know that the discovery of Antarctic mainland is disputed between Russia, England and USA. For example, Russian sources claim, that it was discovered January 28, 1820 by the Russian expedition lead by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, which approached to the Antarctic coast in the point with coordinates 69°21'S, 2°14'W [2] So, the controversial statement on the main page should be removed. Cmapm 09:44, 30 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Since www.wikipedia.org no longer redirects to this page, the issue came up as to whether we needed that gigantic languges section. I have gone ahead and converted it to interwiki links (which is the standard for every other page on Wikipedia and is done by most of the languages main pages) for the languages over 10k articles. What does everyone think? →Raul654 19:49, Jan 28, 2005 (UTC)
Perhaps a link to www.wikipedia.org would help too? violet/riga (t) 20:08, 28 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge , mabye.....
What about an innovative artist? like Graham Nicholls or artist group like Monochrom -- Maria N 23:31, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Why is Mahatma Gandhi's image on the main page entitled "Mohandas Gandhi?" When I checked out the image, the subtitle said Mahatma Gandhi. ???
I'm confused. It is 9:00 pm where I am and the featured article is Super Mario 64. Two Hours ago, it was Gandhi. Whats up?
en.wikipedia.org now shows "Wikipedia in other languages" and "Wikipedia's sister projects", but they no longer answer a need. Wikipedia.org now makes the visitor immediately aware of Wikipedia's sister projects and its many translations. Mentioning the same things over again on the main pages of specific Wikipedias, such as the English Wikipedia is redundant a waste of space and detracts from an otherwise clear and concise project.
We should clean up the front page by liberating it from these artifacts and using the extra space to better organize our content and perhaps include a new section. - Exigentsky
one of the disadvantages of not being able to edit the main page is not being able to remove vandelism such as the erect penis photo shown now.
Disagree - a first page needs to outline all the facets of the following pages. Wikipedia is intended to make information free for everyone and increase awareness of the world for everyone. Therefore informing members and visitors of the many languages available and the subdivisions of the concept is necessary. The home page is a guide for new visitors and a starting place for a logical exploration of available invormation. The home page is fine as it is as anyone dissatisfied can use search imediatley and get on with their business. ERS
As many will be aware, the main page used to be protected because of regular vandalism. It isn't currently protected because at least two of the components used to build it are not protected. As a result it's easy to vandalise it. Time to revisit the discussion of whether protecting the main page is preferable to goatse.cx on the main page. No view expressed by me in this case. Simple choice: protection or goatse and penis pictures regularly. Over to the rest of the readers here to discuss this question again... :) Jamesday 01:39, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The main page is already protected. I oppose protection of templates used on the main page. Although templates used on the main page are often vandalised, the vandalism is usually reverted within minutes. This is good enough. We do not need to ensure that things visible on the main page are never vandalised. I would not characterise the current system as security through obscurity, because there is very little obscurity, and what obscurity exists is an unfortunate consequence of the way templates work, not a feature intended to provide security. The system I want to see is better charracterised as eternal vigilance: leave all the templates open for editing, but revert vandalism promptly. Vandalism visible on the main page for a short time does hardly any harm, whereas protecting things all over the place causes great harm. (The harm is that, when people want to fix problems but can't edit the page, they are more likely to give up leaving the problem un-fixed than they are to ask for a change via the talk page, or to ask for unprotection.) It seems to me that most of the people arguing in favour of protection are admins, who are able to edit protected pages, and so are unlikely to see how harmful protection is. — AlanBarrett 17:06, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Nineteen hours ago I was assailed by some of the most revolting pornographic images I have ever seen. As I set Wikipedia's main page to load in one of four tabs when I start my Firefox browser, this could have easily been seen by anyone of my kids -- with the very real possibility of psychological scarring. As I said these images were utterly revolting -- as in bizarre/extreme.
This is a real security flaw that threatens to ruin this entire project. You can imagine what sort of response this would get in the both the tabloid media and among those opposed to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would be the copycats who would try to outdo each other.
I'm not a technical person but, surely, the main page could be set up to randomly load articles and related graphics from Wikipedia's database, with a reputable RSS feed providing the news. It, at least, needs a gatekeeper -- either a real person or a robot/script -- to ensure the main page content is genuine.
This was not appropriate content. I'm pretty broadminded. I know what gratuitious offensiveness is when I see it. Images were not accompanied by an explanatory text. They were just repeated ad nauseum on a yellow background. Yes, encyclopedias can contain material that is offensive to some but that is no reason to keep them away from teenagers!
For those that don't know - this was goatse - uploaded and added to the sister projects template and the recent changes header. Because of an unrelated site slowdown, those of us trying to fix it couldn't access the site. This meant that the image was up for in excess of 20 minutes. The blue ribbon goes to fvw for getting to the delete button first and Hadal for fixing the template and recent changes. We've had complaints via email again (to Jimbo and the board) - one from a teacher who was showing the site to her class. We need to stop this NOW. This happens on a regular basis. It's true that this incident was made more problematic by an unrelated problem, but this sort of vandalism happens very regularly - and on our most public face. I can't say strongly enough that I believe we have to fully protect the front page. It's only recently that it was unprotected in any way. Before templates were used, the page was locked. Until we get a new system that allows for an alternative solution such as delayed editing on problem pages , let's protect -- sannse (talk) 14:02, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC) (fvw - yes, I know I said I was done ranting on this, seems I was wrong :)
Protect it all. violet/riga (t) 19:29, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
"We've had complaints via email again (to Jimbo and the board) - one from a teacher who was showing the site to her class. We need to stop this NOW." Well we all knew this day would come, but security through obscurity does not work without obscurity. Lock the templates down and look for ways to protect images displayed on protected pages. -- mav 20:35, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Protect them. We should figure out a way to make it easier for non-sysops to help keep Template:In the news and Template:Did you know up to date, though. I'm thinking of some sort of associated pipeline page where any user can add items for sysops to copy over to the main template; something like Template:Did you know/To be added might be appropriate. It would be clunky and annoying, but certainly not as bad as goatse images on Wikipedia's most public face. — Charles P. (Mirv) 20:56, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Template talk:Did you know already has a list for pending new items which works like Charles P's suggestion. 68.81.231.127 21:47, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
If this enterprise is to have any credibility (and it must have if teachers are using it in live classroom demos) the front page(s) MUST be protected from vandalism or corruption of any sort whatsoever. This is the primary interface with the rest of the world - it must be faultless at all times. In the short time I have been browsing, I have not been able to ascertain the exact procedure used to put the page together, but it would seem wise to allow contributions/edits for a prospective new version to occur up to, say, 12 hours beforehand, then protect the page for final vetting/approval before putting it in place. The vetting process could be open to everyone, but edits only by a consensus of administrators. -- Mikeh 13:49, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I guess this is the best place to mention it, but I hadn't even noticed the front page was protected until today. Just spotted a typo, can't fix it, don't know who to contact to get it fixed.
sheridan 09:58, 2005 Feb 15 (UTC)
This should have a comma after the poor conditions
Agriculture is the main economic activity, but due to the poor conditions output trails that of other parts of the country, and this is Thailand's poorest region.
In the news seems to feature a lot of pictures of dead white men, literally. Anyone else notice this? Hyacinth 08:37, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Yes. It means only admins can edit it now - and none have done so. I question how up to date it will remain when there are only 300 or so people who can edit it, and many fewer with the inclination to edit it, jguk 10:02, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
This has probably has been suggested before... if not tried somewhere. But why isn't there a rating system for the articles? This would create a feedback loop to ensure high quality material. When explaining some ridiculously complex theorem the writer could check back to see if her explanation was useful and edit it accordingly. It would also give a good idea of where improvements could be made.
I think that there's a large subset of users that the talk pages are missing. For the casual user my guess is that they never contribute and rarely look at the talk pages. Furthermore, they're a little out of the way of someone just trying to get some information. Some easy rating system on the side would be a simple way for anyone to provide feedback quickly. It could even be used as a way to automatically tag extremely poorly written articles for cleanup, review, etc. Lastly, I think there's a subtle nuance in the type of feedback I'm hoping we'd get. Rather than a reader thinking: "I know what would be great for this article... I'll make a suggestion," I'm actually suggesting we listen to the people who come away from an article thinking: "Now what in the world was that about? I am no better off than I was before reading that article." This type of feedback is harder to illicit on discussion pages.
Presumably you'd need something on the toolbar to the left saying "rate this article" - then allowing a 1-10 rating, say, plus a gap for people to say why. Could be interesting (as would a "X people have visited this page" counter). Could the developers do this easily? jguk 14:06, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Any article with NPOV problems would get a bunch of 1's and 10's and probably little inbetween.
I also think that the most useful ratings would be ratings with explanations of what's good/bad about the article. Otherwise, it is almost useless Patnaik 01:41, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I don't think the Super Bowl turnout should be on the main page, let alone the top story.
The Slovenian Wikipedia reached 10,000 articles, can someone update Template:Wikipedialang since, it is protected. Jeff8765 03:07, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)
The Chinese Wikipedia (zh:) has just passed 20,000 articles and also deserves promotion to the Premier League. How long before it overtakes the English Wiki I wonder? -- RHaworth 13:00, 2005 Feb 8 (UTC)
I don't watch much television, though. But, 1974 in television to 1978 in television has been vandalized by Ezhiki, of deleting content. Anyone could revert the pages back, look at the history of 1974 in television to 1978 in television.
User: 4.xxx.xxx.xxx Feb 07 2005
Ho hum. Who cares? Has she done anything to change humankind, really? I was upset when I tuned into BBC World News on BBC America this morning and they were in the middle of some lovefest for this woman. Where was the real news? Breaking a record like this is not all that notable. (I can only assume that a British person put this up. (I love Brits, don't get me wrong.)) Now, if Wikipedia had been around in Magellan's day . . . 13:59, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)
"The Al-Aqsa intifada ends..."
Um, yeah. That's a bit optimistic, ain't it? I'd hate for us to have to eat crow in a few days. -- Penta 23:49, 8 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Is anyone else bothered by the number of different fonts in the first seven lines of the main page? dcm
May I be the first (I think...) to congratulate the Slovenian wikipedia, which just eclipsed 10,000 articles! I think a front page edit is in order!
...whoops, I guess Jeff8765 mentioned this about a day ago. In any event, if an admin could edit www.wikipedia.org to reflect the change, that would be appreciated, I'm sure. Apparently Template:Wikipedialang was edited, but the front page still puts the slovenian wiki in the 1,000-10,000 category. ral315 05:33, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
Would somebody with access please fix the first line of the featured article description from "Jonathan Wild is" to "Jonathan Wild was", in line with the actual article? - BanyanTree 05:34, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Would anyone mind me adding the Wikiportal link to the following list at the top of the main page? Browse Wikipedia - Article overviews - Alphabetical index - Other category schemes. I think the portals are very helpful surfing aids for readers. Mgm| (talk) 12:15, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
As for reader-oriented, I disagree. Besides, categories which are linked from the main page have stub subcategories, which also makes them editor-oriented in some way. We want people interested in specific fields to contribute, not just to read. Wikiportals are to function as both the main page and the community portal for specific topics. Ausir 08:21, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Though Muslims do generally celebrate Muharram as the new year, only the Shiite celebrates the Festival of Muharram. Maybe the front page should reflect that by saying, Festival of Muharram in Shi'ite Islam (2005, A.H. 1426 begins). __earth 05:21, Feb 10, 2005 (UTC)
Oh my, the ugliest man alive is marrying someone in his own league. Quick. Let's make it a top headline. What was that about North Korea and nuclear weapons? Sod it. Who cares when we got Ole' Tractor-Ears to put up front. I really don't mean to be as disrespectful, I rarely am, but someone should get a sense of priorities, and let The Sun, Der Spiegel, or whatever they're called, deal with royal gossip. -- TVPR 09:51, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Let's not forget, "Newest item goes on the top, older items are removed from the bottom." Going by this, the newest news goes at the top, no matter what. We list based on time, not relevance, as relevance is really just a form of POV. -- user:zanimum
Hello, first of all sorry if this doesn't go here...
My aim is to create a web interface that holds a collaborative editor, so a text would be presented and you could enter the translation (the basic problem is being collaborative, that is, many people simultaneously editing). Maybe could be identificated users, but not necessarily.
Recently I worked with a wiki for a student work and I suppose MediaWiki could be the technology I need, but it also fits with the CMS concept.
I have searched by the web and I conclude those six could be good choices. Which one could suit me? -Plone -Silva -Mambo -OpenPHPNuke -OpenCMS -and of course, Mediawiki
I see Mambo is very used, but also Mediawiki with all the wikimedia ; Plone and Silva are Zope-based and seem good, but maybe too powerful for my needs? (it's only a portal, the main problem is the workflow-simultaneous edit problem...) Seems also that OpenPHPNuke and OpenCMS are also very popular.
Other suggestions? Some advices?
Thanks in advance
Jordi
I'm a new comer here
I could not find any criteria for how the front page synopsis of a featured article was created, so I wonder why a picture would be included that has no relevance to the content of the synopsis. For me, when I see "economy of the Republic of Ireland" and a big picture of a beer with no explanation connecting the two, the connection in my head is "the economy of the Republic of Ireland is based on beer!" which, from my reading of the article, is not true any more than it's based on fishing or potatoes. I feel that either the connection should be made clear in the synopsis or the picture should be one with no connotations from which one could draw such a conclusion.
-Note that my objection is not based on the subject being alcohol, though that may have helped bring it to my attention, and I would have (I hope) objected had it been potatoes or Lucky Charms cereal or whathaveyou. ;) Cigarette 14:22, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Anybody else have a problem with an Article on the Irish economy having a picture of a pint of beer? Isn't beer a stereotype for Irish people? Would there be a picture of landscaping tools when the economy of Mexico is discussed? A picture of a car accident for the Japanese economy?
From Did you know?:
That I know of, senior prom is an American institution -- so shouldn't it be identified as such? Citing it in "Did you know" as a kind of common point of reference is bothering me, though I realize the complaint is perhaps a bit petty. -- Oarih 18:08, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I just thought of an idea for a new wiki. This wiki would be all about lyrics and scripts.
The quality of In The News section has plummeted since only Wikiclique-approved news stories were allowed - XED. talk 12:56, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The bombing of Dresden was in the Selected Anniversaries section (and its featured picture), but now Konstantin Chernenko is staring sternly out at us. Why was this change made? Seeing as how this is the 60th anniversay of Dresden, and there are significant observances taking place, it should at least be listed on the front page. The bombing is also more deserving of the featured picture than one stern faced short term Soviet leader.
Of course, today is Sunday. People have to go to work on Monday. And people are probably busy with something else on Valentine's Day tomorrow ..... -- PFHLai 16:51, 2005 Feb 13 (UTC)
I am writing this in hopes of someone helping me to identify a flag on a plate from the 1918 Peace talks. There are five national flags around a dove and laurel leaves with the word "PEACE" above a sheild marked USA and the date NOV 11th 1918 underneath. From left to right the flags are UNKNOWN, GREAT BRITAIN, USA, FRANCE and BELGIUM. The unknown flag has the same colors as the Italian flag, three vertical bars, red on the left, white in the center and green on the right. In the center of the white bar is a sheild with a silver outline, red with white cross inside it and a cap or crown on top. I have confirmed the nationality of the other flags through the CIA book of facts website but have been unable to locate any flag which matches the one described here. Any postings in regards to this would be greatly appreciated or just send an Email if you like. Send comments to [jimharris155@hotmail.com]
If the reversion keeps happening and Wikipedia keeps rising up the Alexa rankings, Witold Pilecki may become one of the most famous Europeans of the 20th century. Wincoote 03:02, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The images or pictures on the Main Page should have caption. As it is now, it can be hard to tell what news notice or what "Did you know .." or what Selected anniversary the image belongs to. Of course you can always hold the mouse over the image to see the ALT-tag but I don't think that that's sufficient.
A small caption would do. Today there is a picture of Alexander Graham Bell. Just his name underneath the picture would suffice.
As it is now, you wouldn't know whether the picture depicts Bell or Elisha Gray until you either hold the mouse over, or click. This is also often the case with news pictures.
Bong 14:28, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
<div style="float:right;margin-left:1em;width:100px;text-align:center;font-size:smaller"> [[Image:Alexander Graham Bell.jpg|100px|Alexander Graham Bell]]<br/>Alexander Graham Bell</div> <div style="margin-left:-1em;">
<div style="margin-left:-1em;">
The Main Page says 1989, but the article says 1978. Fingers off-by-one typo?
According to astronautix.com, the ones from 1978 to 1985, called GPS Block 1, was a prototype -- I call it the demo. GPS Block 2, the operational phase, started with the first launch on February 14, 1989. How's this for an answer ? :-) The link to astronautix.com can be found in the External links section of the Wikipage Global Positioning System. -- PFHLai 17:36, 2005 Feb 14 (UTC)
On this date (February 14) in 2000 the Shoemaker/NEAR spacecraft entered orbit around asteroid 433 Eros, the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid. What is the normal channel to propose a topic for the history section on the main page? Rsduhamel 18:21, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
"With 48 percent of votes cast, the Shiite Muslim coalition wins a slight majority"... 48 percent is a plurality, not a majority. And the phrasing makes it sound like the voting results are incomplete, not that UIA won. 68.81.231.127 17:23, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Has just been vandalised (1830 ish).
Can somebody undo this please.
Maybe it is a good news for the english main page, that the german Wikipedia today got its 200.000th entry. It is the second Wikipedia version following the english one. The last german 100.000 entries came in the last 8 months. Best regards, Stern 10:24, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The www.buysafe.com site is trying to hijack the wikipedia name. I'm at an airport's browser. Ancheta Wis 21:03, 16 Feb 2005 (UTC)
There's a minor vandalism above the table of contents on this very talk page and I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix it.
==like this==
). —
Dan |
Talk 22:58, 16 Feb 2005 (UTC)
If a brand new user winds up on the homepage, and happens to be captivated by Today's Featured Article, enticed as it were to delve,, and if they were to click on the most captivating thing for many if not most readers of blurbs-with-pics on the web (the pic), where would they find themselves?
Frequently, mostly, they find themselves looking at a larger version of the pic and reading about licensing.
Does this pass a laugh test?
- Ozzyslovechild 03:20, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I agree. I have many times witnessed my students clicking on a main-page-image with the intent of reading more about the topic - and seeing them be miffed to just see a larger version of the image. it would be a good idea to have main-page-images take users to the related article instead. Kingturtle 05:32, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)
fag
...that a Pd/H2 electrode is a reference electrode similar to a standard hydrogen electrode (with platinum), but with the added ability to adsorb molecular hydrogen? <- Should read absorb
Why has the article of the day not changed for 3 days?
I just saw the news-item relating to the lost plutonium at Sellafield. I was shocked to find out that 30kg of plutonium were missing. Has it been stolen? Has terrorists raided the plant? Have they dumped it into fresh-water supplies? I quickly went to wikinews to see the whole story, however there were no mention of it on the front page. On to google-news were i found out that the plutonium were not actually missing, it had just not been accounted (and yes, I realize it says this on the front page too, but it doesn't make it clear). Apparently this happens all the time (last year they "lost" 19kg) and some years they even gain (!) plutonium. This news seems sensationalist too me. Unless we clarify, maybe that news-bit should be removed. No need to create panic in the streets :P Gkhan 19:42, Feb 17, 2005 (UTC)
Should we include it on the Main Page? Wikipedian231 17:17, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
shouldn't the iran event be more prominent than the christening of a sub? (should it be on top?) Kevin Baas talk 20:02, 2005 Feb 20 (UTC)
Wikipedia is not a good source for information. People can put false information and change the whole meaning of a word. Wikipedia in not a good site to depend on and should not be used for reports or educational projects.
I want to know if there is any randomization to the feature article, I know you like to pick well written articles and all, but seeing as today's feature article is on the Big Bang Theory -- Which is perfectly fine -- I wanted to know if there are any biases in the system by which feature articles are chosen. thanks - Scott
The various Big Bang articles, a part of the featured article, are being vandalized at the moment and some are attempting to continuously revert the changes, however, I do think they should be protected. Also, za.wikipedia.org's Big Bang article is being vandalized. Comrade Tassadar 01:48, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC)
What about having an "Upcoming events"-pane on the frontpage for various events to take place? Like important meetings to be held, etc. Csl77
Would rather say ``Fatherland? ``Otechestvo definitely refers to ``father (otets). However, it is true that the English convention is ``Motherland. Saying ``Fatherland might sound alien, while the semantics of English ``Motherland and Russian ``Fatherland are the same.
do unions cause businesses to fail?
I don't want to seem disrespectful to Sid McMath, but isn't the term hero inherently POV? Unless of course he was the offspring of a greek god and a mortal... -- Neo 08:57, 24 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I'd just like to say that the layout of the wikipedia.org layout is very nicely done. Much better than the older one.
I'd just like to express my hardened joy that the Big Bang Theory Article is off the Main Page -- yah
Today's featured article: Sir John Vanbrugh links to Restoration (a disambiguation page). I believe that it should link to English_Restoration (as the main article does). Jarich 09:00, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I am extremely concerned about such vandalism because it occured to me:
In order to do something for a high visibility article for the Featured Page article, one would simply have to do this:
By doing so, now the featured article is on another page that is named in a way that is probably offensive and makes no sense at all, and the link from the main page leads to a potentially pornagraphic/vandalous page. Furthermore, users trying to revert the pages would be frustrated by the fact that first of all, the page history would be missing, and second of all, moving the page back would be technically impossible.
Of course, I have not tested this theory yet, but I have observed some of the phenomena of page moves in my own copy of MediaWiki, and the fact that page moves are not documented in History is disturbing in itself, but this potential vandalism more so. If anyone knows that what I have presented is not the case, feel free to tell me what actually happens in this scenario so I can go and edit some of the anti-vandalism pages to include these instructions. Ambush Commander 17:46, Feb 25, 2005 (UTC)
I could have sworn that there were many more topics on this talk page, like about the big bang being gone... what happend?
It's been annoying me for a while now, and I finally dived into the source to see what exactly what was happening. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm using Firefox 1.0 and IE 6.0 and they both show the same thing: this weird monobook bg that normally resides quietly in the background of all pages, but now is abruptly cut off. I checked the source, and I realized this was because there was an overlaying element just under the top of the page that had a white background: effectively cutting off the bg. So, I'd like to propose one of two things: first, totally remove the background by issuing some superceding CSS instruction (helps cut down page load size too) or reconfigure the page so that the background is utilized better (however, it fades into grey, which may not be ideal for visibility of text). Ambush Commander 04:20, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)
i want the "who they suspect to be..." about the BTK killer to be changed to "whom they suspect to be...". i am also a grammar fanatic, so i understand it if the general populace of wikipedia does not care! just a suggestion, really. gaidheal 01:24, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Dear Andrew pmk 03:24, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC),
Hello. I deleted the inaccurate data that was in the article. I believe that encyclopedias should represent the truth as much as possible. Otherwise society would be misinformed or misled. I don't believe that Wikipedia would consciously want this to happen.
Thank you for your concern.
--posted 04:05, 27 Feb 2005 by User: Lmears, possibly the same person as User: 216.175.69.49.
This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
Archive 30 | Archive 31 | Archive 32 | Archive 33 | Archive 34 | Archive 35 | → | Archive 40 |
People, we are desperately in need of some consensus here. Can we all please vote for one of the following options. Given that there are three options, I think a 51% plurality would suffice. Some of the options have subordinate polls: please vote again in each of these subpolls. GeorgeStepanek\ talk 01:34, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
agreed.ca
"An international charitable effort is underway to help the estimated 5,000,000 victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunamis."
What the hell, is this a typo ? Unless we have another earthquake soon in the middle of Sumatra, that number is just way too high.
jeez...when editing articles people are mean- bstar
yes...it's their standard deviation from societal norms - Blair P. Houghton
All contributors are expected to show respect and consideration for one another, as a norm. If they do not, they earn a reputation for poor citizenship, to use an old-fashioned term. See Wikipedia:WikiLove for one of the founding principles of the community, dating back to the founding of the Wikipedia, and perhaps before that. Ancheta Wis 23:48, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
man...if you have to explain a joke - Blair P. Houghton
Since I came back to "Wikipedia", I have suffered from some extremly long response times. It's gotten progressively worse. Today, it took almost ten minutes to post an edit. Is it just me? Rick K 00:22, Jan 4, 2005 (UTC)
PLEASE seriously consider including a well highlighted and regularly updated (very short) summary of WIKIPEDIA STATUS (in layman's terms)right at the beginning of the Main Page. (Or at the very least a high-profile link to [1]. **Wikimedia Technical Group think this would just overload them too, so maybe a bad suggestion on my part** ). I feel we could lose many potential users and contributors during extended periods of significantly slow access during maintainance, hardware/software problems etc..etc.. Wikityke
It's great to have a concise intro, but I'm missing the links to CSS-free and textonly version of the main page. Shouldn't they be readily available to our readers without too much searching around? Mgm| (talk) 10:47, Jan 6, 2005 (UTC)
To whoever edits the front page...
"Did you know..." today (1/6/05) starts off:
Clicking "Department of Veterans Affairs" takes one promptly to this article. Clearly the US isn't housing offices in Ottawa just yet, David Foster Wallace hypotheses aside. Should be linked to Department of Veterans Affairs (Canada).
Maybe this should be in the navigation bar and discussed on the mediawiki site, but there ought to be an easy way to search other namespaces easily from the main page. The only way I've found so far is to search for a nonexistent article, which brings up a search page with checkboxes for namespaces. I don't want to search other namespaces by default. -- Theodore Kloba 15:13, 2005 Jan 7 (UTC)
What's silly is that hitting "Search" without typing anything in doesn't take you to a generic search page, but instead an oblique error message. -- Fastfission 05:33, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Yes. I know. But there are lots of people out there who are *not* geophysicists. :-) Might we expand the Special by those 2 words? -- Baylink 20:24, 7 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Not knowing how to edit the main page, I am using this forum to correct an error. The Hejaz is NOT "present day Saudi Arabia". Saudi Arabia occupies almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. The Hejaz is the smaller region on the eastern shore of the Red Sea that includes the cities of Medina and Mecca. Too Old 06:49, 2005 Jan 8 (UTC)
I've moved the donation box down. It's been two weeks since the disaster, unless anyone's been living under a rock they'll have heard about it and heard for calls for donations - and probably donated if they've wanted to. Tom- 00:48, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
As multicultural as it is, I find that the multilingual front page they just installed is more unwieldy than it's worth. (above unsigned)
The severely injured crewman has died and the current number of injured is 23.
I saw a swear word so I deleted it.-- 67.68.15.69 20:45, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
How come the main page changed to a new screen (www.wikipedia.org). I liked it better when it simply came up to the page with the search box, news, and articles.
Now it comes up to a language selection screen, which takes a while to load, from where I have to select my language to go to the original main page, which is also slow.
Is there a way to set a cookie or have the webpage simply go to the proper language website, based on the user's previous choices and browser configuration? I mean when I enter www.wikipedia.org for a URL, not set a homepage to the actual domain, or create a special bookmark.
Actually, that's a good idea, but only under prime conditions. It's practical for one or two computers on which one has superuser privledges, but in situations where one logs on from work (in my case) or from various locations, it's not the most feasable (on work computers, lusers don't get to change the hosts file, and at various places, people don't generally like you playing with their operating files. In my case, it's workable from home, but not from work, with the pun quite intended.
I figure that having the main page read the browser's user-agent language component should be enough to select the proper main page. If some has a proxy that alters that and has an unknown language, then a redirection to either a specific language main page, or to the language select page. This begins to address the problem of language preferences. Why not take the user to his own language automatically?
Bahhh, the hosts file thing doesn't work after all. After quick observation, it seems the IP addresses of www.wikipedia.org and en.wikipedia.org seem to change every few minutes. What the hell? Is there any way I can tell my system or even just Firefox -- hell, my LinkSys router if I have to -- to automatically reference en.wikipedia.org whenever www.wikipedia.org is referenced? This is stupid. I want to be able to get the English wikipedia from any instance of the referenced www. prefix via a solution that actually works. Any ideas? -- I am not good at running 01:14, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Everybody, JUST TYPE IN EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG instead of whinging about the removal of the redirect! Everything people have discussed here has already been discussed on wikipedia-l and meta, ad nauseum. If you want, you can still participate although discussion is mostly over. YThere was a poll on this a long time ago, and people think that a redirect may be bad although a highlight of preferrred language seems possible still. -- Node 04:35, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
The page for Pompey says "in the spring of 49 BC Caesar crossed the Rubicon and invaded Italy with his thirteenth legion". -- Paraphelion 02:28, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC)
There's a missing pic or something.
Very Simple Problem to fix. Wikipedia just needs to detect the language of the user's web browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically redirect them to their language (en.wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language then wikipedia should show the different languages available. Any advanced web developer should know this. -BW
ok, i unterstand that www.wikipedia.org goes to a global page, where you can choose a language etc. but why does www.wikipedia.com go to that page?? this adress should go the english page.
it freaks me out because now i have to click on english and wait for the english page to load before i can search. And don't tell me to use en.wikipedia..., i'm used to www.wikipedia.com, as everybody else i think.
I'm sorry, but I'm someone else who thinks the new language-selection main page is a severe step backwards. Feel free to disregard me (as I don't have an account ;). The design is ugly with no pretty pictures, it's slow, and on many computers (eg. mine) the Japanese characters display as "???" - yuck. It doesn't even have a clear statement of what Wikipedia is on that page! I can't see how a new user who'd never heard of the project (if there are any left) would be tempted to carry on and browse the encyclopedia. In any case, there's an "other languages" link right there on the top right of the English main page. If we really have to have this new page, can there at least be a cookie set so people only have to see it once? Thanks.
One reason the first page seems slow to load is because it causes many, many fonts to be loaded into your display server, just to display one word in every proposed language. PLEASE replace this text by images! My mozilla grows by 120Mbytes and my X server by 200Mbytes when I pass on this first page. People with smaller/slower computers will just give up waiting. Check the wiki server logs to see how often the "client stopped connection before send body completed" on this first page.
On the .org portal page, Wikinews' address needs to have an en in it, not just an n. -- user:zanimum
Picture of Abbas with Yushchenko lead? Anyone fix this? --[[User:TheGrza| The Grza]] 22:01, Jan 10, 2005 (UTC)
Read why Wiki is slow. Dan100 14:29, Jan 12, 2005 (UTC)
Could we have a link to Special:Allpages on the Main Page? In my opinion, it's better than the Quick index, and better for namespaces than the search engine. Lee S. Svoboda 01:11, 13 Jan 2005 (UTC)
why are we back to ungrammatical
?? don't tell me it won a poll or something. How can we convince people there is anything of value in WP when even the first sentence is wrong. Or is this in the spirit of "weeding out elitism since 2001"? dab (ᛏ) 18:35, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Those who know me know that I generally oppose censorship (and I specifically voted to delete the censored Abu Gharib page). However, is it really appropriate to show that image on the main page? - Ld | talk 00:25, 15 Jan 2005 (UTC)
to Wikipedia :) I love this project.
Also, what happened to the article counter?
Of all the many bad ideas I have seen floated at Wikipedia, this "language template" thing is one of the worst. To new visitors, it will be totally meaningless and confusing, and will discourage use of the encyclopaedia (something I know many users don't care much about). To everyone else, it is just a redundant nuisance. Adam 06:26, 16 Jan 2005 (UTC)
"Mahmoud Abbas is sworn in in a ceremony in" - I suppose its valid english but it reads terribly. Change 2nd 'in' to 'at' ?. - Wombat 01:09, Jan 17, 2005 (UTC)
Hello All
I'm a new visitor to this site, having only just discovered it a few weeks ago. For this reason please excuse this comment if it infringes any pre-defined rules on suggesting new changes. In this same spirit, please excse it if it has been porposed before. It is late, and I have not yet had time to peruse the site for all of the rules on proposed changes etc.
I have used the Wikipedia intensively since I discovered it just over six weeks ago. In general, I have found every single article to be concise, informative and very well written. The links have been exceptionally helpful and have always led me on many an interesting diversion.
I do have one suggestion to improve the usefulness and integrity of the site though and it is pretty fundamental. My suggestion is actually more of a question - Is it possible to automate the generation of hyperlinks so that every word within the text of an article is checked against every topic in the Wikipedia to determine whether or not a link should be established ?
In conjunction with this - Is it possible to establish a set of synonyms and associations for each topic to aid the above process so that the checking does not miss anything just because it is worded the wrong way ?
For example - I might write a 4,000 word essay on King James I of England. Upon submission, the hyperlink checker would check every word in the article against every entry in the Wikipedia and create hperlinks for all known entries. It would also create links for related entries - for example, King James I of England also refers to King James VI of Scotland. The word "King" might also link to the word "Monarch" and so on.
Of course, the automated hyperlinks may be manually vetted by human operator to cull any irrelevant links (eg - "Monarch" => Monarch Butterfly" etc) but the process would still save thousands of man hours and produce a much richer document.
You may think that this may lead to nearly every word becoming a hyperlink but in fact that is the goal - to have every single word and phrase in every article become some sort of searchable reference. I know that this is a pretty major ask but if it is possible then imagine the possibilities - an endlessly searchable database of the entire sum of all knowledge.
Please comment on this topic as I will be checking regularly - as I said, I'm new to tis site and am not sure what the correct protocol is in this regards. Again, please excuse any errors in etiquette that I may have committed.
Thank you or your time.
rory@romad.com.au
Why does it say Jews are Subhuman on the wiki frontpage? Perhaps someone should change it. Soon.
The main page says there are 600,000 members. The Kiwanis page itself says there are under 300,000. -- Paraphelion 01:06, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Wouldn't it be nice to have a link to Wikitravel on the starting page? Nobody knows about this project.
There is a typo on the front page (which I am unable to edit personally). Where it says: "the unrest over the goverment's new taxes", it is meant to read "the unrest over the government's new taxes".
Thank you Bobo192 04:10, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)
It was 1985, wasn't it?
Me (and in fact all the collaborators of Galician Wikipedia) are no happy with the related translation made for "Galician" in the wikipedia languages list performed above. The real translation for Galician in Galician is "GALEGO", not "gallego". Even wherever you may see the mistaken "gallego", never has been a Galician word. I only ask to whom who may concern to change please this error (as I don't know how to change it). Many thanks and best wishes.
Sobreira User
In the "This day in history" section, "beter" should be "better." -- Fermatprime 11:10, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Although the Wikipedia logo was not doubled up in Firefox, it was in IE when MediaWiki 1.4 came out. Now it looks good; Congratulations on the fix! Ancheta Wis 22:24, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Under Selected anniversaries for January 25 is listed " Tu Bishvat in Israel". Since Tu Bishvat is a general Jewish holiday, and thus not only relevant or celebrated in Israel, the words "in Israel" should not be used here. Furthermore this is correctly portrayed in the January 25 page, so I don't understand why it has been written up as such for Selected anniversaries. -- jnothman 01:15, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC)
hey i just started at this website but its pretty cool and hey i have a question!!! is there any info on what people think about how far we should take our new technology and abilities ????????????? and if any body has any good info or a view let me now cause i have a debate to do soon and could as much help as pssible if u do email me at Mowgliandtink07@aol.com thanks so much
Why are links in the sidebar (along with some others) no longer underlined? Shouldn't they be consistent with the choice made by the user? It looks wrong to be to have them without the underline. violet/riga (t) 19:09, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC)
was deleted. Which I guess is OK, maybe I was too flippant, but the fact remains there was an item on the (supposedly protected) main page earlier today that said Viktor Yuvschenko had been nominated for an award based on his role in a porn film. I assume I'm not the only one who saw this. Would anybody like to comment?- rastro
Hello everyone, this is my first time to this web site. I have a project to do and I need some answors. Please! My son was born in Augest 2002 and Im doing his baby book It ask me questions like:
**Important National events **Current national Leaders ** Important worldwide leaders **Best-selling books and authors
And the price of things: MIlk, Gas ,ect
Can someone please help me to where i know to look this information up?????
The main page says:
1951 - Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site began with a one-megaton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flats.
That's grossly inaccurate. Operation Ranger, Able shot on jan 27 1951 was of a 1 kiloton bomb. The first meagton detonation was the Mike shot (Mike for Megaton) in october/november 1952 during project Ivy.
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/index.html
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Ranger.html
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Ivy.html
-- J-Star 09:02, 2005 Jan 27 (UTC)
The KJV article on the main page says:
"emains one of the most widely-read literary works from its time, surpassed only by the works of playwright William Shakespeare."
It is difficult to imagine this to be true as the sales of the KJV Bible are reported as many many multiples of any other book, period.
--[[User:Eagle|Eagle|
Why has the graph of the earth on the main Wikipedia page
Image:Wikipedia mainpage of.PNG
lost the North Pole ?
Hans Rosenthal (hans.rosenthal AT t-online.de -- replace AT by @ )
Now that I see the new introduction at the top, it occurs to me that the blurb on top of every page that says From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia should be changed to From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. It says the pro and con of wikipedia, that it anyone can edit it and that it is not necessarily reliable, which is something that would not be immediately clear to somebody seeing a printout of an article or coming directly to any article other than the main page. Of course this is not the appropriate talk page to raise this issue, but ask me to figure out which one is. -- Ezra Wax 05:21, 4 Jan 2005 (UTC)
>>Feb 20th, 2k5 ::Each web page should have a warning/disclaimer ikon prominently placed on it indicating the possible unreliability of the written contents. [elyah_ @ eSefardi]<<
Now that it is not necessarily reliable, which is something that takes up an entire browser window, but that takes up an entire browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically arises everyday: as an English speaker, I have only purpose was to detect them to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would be the new introduction at the tabloid media and automatically redirect them have less than the miscommunication that basically redirectly to any article or coming direct them to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would get in the main pages of space and detracts from an other. Now that Nederlands, but those who don't think its only purpose was to direct the both the top 20, even the top, it occurs to wikipedia.org, etc). If this type arrangement. Some of them to the copycats who would be the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would not be immediately clear to somebody seeing a printout of any language, can you imagine what sort of response this would try to outdo each other. Now that it anyone can edit. It says From Wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language (en.wikipedia the free encyclopedia that everyday between native and detracts from an other. Now that threatens to ruin this entire project.
This is a real security flaw that threatens to ruin this type arrangement. Some of the user's web browser window, but those who don't advocate something new everyday in the top 30 Wikipedia, it serves more than that. Look at the top 30 Wikipedia, include national minority language (en.wikipedia that basically arises every page that says From Wikipedia?
While something that it and that Nederlands, but those who don't advocate something new everyday between native and learn something new every simple to fix. Wikipedias, and some people are way, way, way, way too obsessed with over 1000 article others have only language (en.wikipedias, such as the English Wikipedia, that I see the copycats who would try to outdo each others have only languages with an itsy bitsy mainpage. I don't advocate some people are way, way, way too obsessed with over 1000 articles, otherwise clear and concise project.
The problems mentioned below are very simple to fix. Wikipedia just needs to detect the language of the user's web browser (i.e. en-US) and automatically redirect them to their language (en.wikipedia.org, etc). If the user is using an unrecognized language then wikipedia should show the different languages available. Any advanced web developer should know this. -BW
--
How come putting in 'www.wikipedia.org' doesnt take us to the main page anymore, but to a language-choice sorta page?
I hope this isn't a permanent choice... the initial page for Wikipedia ought to be the version of the encyclopedia which gets the most visits and has the most quality pages (a pair of factors which likely are effected by and affect each other). Dumping to a language selection page (before giving you any indication of the content of the website) is not, in my opinion, very good web design, much less for an encyclopedia. But we'll see, I guess... -- Fastfission 05:30, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Where have you all been? I've been on Wikipedia for nearly 2 years now, and for most of that time it's been accepted that www.wikipedia.org should not point at the English main page. It's inherently POV to point at one language version, particularly since it has lost its' pre-eminence in terms of volume. It's been discussed on the Wikien mailing list. I've been bookmarking "en.wikipedia.org" and giving it in references for about 18 months. The change has only now been actioned because someone finally decided to be bold, and admittedly aesthetically it could do with some tweaking, but I fully support the principle of the change. -- Arwel 22:21, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
My humble opinion is that the frontpage should direct users to the English main page until the day another language surpasses English. FLafaire 22:54, 10 Jan 2005
If wikipedia is all for equal coverage of different language versions of the encyclopedia, regardless of how many people speak it or how many articles it has, then why does wikipedia.co.uk direct only to the english wikipedia? what about cymraeg? -- 81.135.218.135 15:48, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Has anyone considered using the Accept-Language HTTP headers that all browsers send? If it starts with en then it should issue a redirect to http://en.wikipedia.org. If it starts with de then it should redirect to de.wikipedia.org etc. Debian do this for a number of their pages and it's a really great idea because everyone feels like wikipedia isn't preferring one language over another-- PdDemeter 20:52, 12 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Geez, everybody quit whinging about this. This has already been discussed on meta and on wikipedia-l, you missed your opportunity, and a looooooooong time ago there was a massive poll you may or may not have participated on, on Meta. The anglocentrism of the redirect has long been despised by the VAST MAJORITY of Wikipedians and a GROUP DECISION was made to change it to a portal which you can edit at Meta. -- Node 04:30, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
And anyway, if there is going to be a laguage page, it should include Klingon! - Unknown Klingon 21:08 27 Jan 2005
Hey, Node, it's not anglocentric if it redirects to each user's language's page, and then goes to the language select page if it can't find a matching language. That seems totally fair to all users. BTW, what exactly was the old main page? If it couldn't find a language, would the en page or a language select page be default? If it was the en page, than a new redirect system using a default language page would fix the anglocentric problem. If there was a language page previously, then what's the problem? And about this topic already being discussed, why can't there be a new vote? Recounts aren't that uncommon. -- Y2kBugxp90 18:17, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Bold textI agree with 'Mikeh'. I myself have a number of friends who seem to find it amusing to come on this site and edit the articles in a comical fashion. I find this disgusting. I think this site is a marvelous creation, but has its downfalls. The fact that anyone can edit it is the obvious one. A suggestion would be to have some sort of username-password-registering system, allowing only people registered on Wikipedia to edit pages. Keep up the good work, Wikipedia!
Really nice decision to put the language page up. I know several non-english speaking people that dindt even know that there were wikipedia on their own language.
Ok. I really don't understand what all the hub-ub is about. So there's a language selection screen before the main page .. so what? This isn't the gross anomoly that some people here are making it out to be. Being Canadian, I'm very used to being asked to select between English and French before continuing to the main page of a website. If you really hate the language selection screen, just type en, instead of www. How dificult is that, really? -- Azkar 16:25, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
run this night over the 50,000. Can anyone change it and place it in the head group? Thanks
Today's news talks of a one month anniversary which is a howler. Anniversary relates to annus which is the latin for year
Hope that it can be changed asap. Jack Hill
See the History of Antarctica article to know that the discovery of Antarctic mainland is disputed between Russia, England and USA. For example, Russian sources claim, that it was discovered January 28, 1820 by the Russian expedition lead by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, which approached to the Antarctic coast in the point with coordinates 69°21'S, 2°14'W [2] So, the controversial statement on the main page should be removed. Cmapm 09:44, 30 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Since www.wikipedia.org no longer redirects to this page, the issue came up as to whether we needed that gigantic languges section. I have gone ahead and converted it to interwiki links (which is the standard for every other page on Wikipedia and is done by most of the languages main pages) for the languages over 10k articles. What does everyone think? →Raul654 19:49, Jan 28, 2005 (UTC)
Perhaps a link to www.wikipedia.org would help too? violet/riga (t) 20:08, 28 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge , mabye.....
What about an innovative artist? like Graham Nicholls or artist group like Monochrom -- Maria N 23:31, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Why is Mahatma Gandhi's image on the main page entitled "Mohandas Gandhi?" When I checked out the image, the subtitle said Mahatma Gandhi. ???
I'm confused. It is 9:00 pm where I am and the featured article is Super Mario 64. Two Hours ago, it was Gandhi. Whats up?
en.wikipedia.org now shows "Wikipedia in other languages" and "Wikipedia's sister projects", but they no longer answer a need. Wikipedia.org now makes the visitor immediately aware of Wikipedia's sister projects and its many translations. Mentioning the same things over again on the main pages of specific Wikipedias, such as the English Wikipedia is redundant a waste of space and detracts from an otherwise clear and concise project.
We should clean up the front page by liberating it from these artifacts and using the extra space to better organize our content and perhaps include a new section. - Exigentsky
one of the disadvantages of not being able to edit the main page is not being able to remove vandelism such as the erect penis photo shown now.
Disagree - a first page needs to outline all the facets of the following pages. Wikipedia is intended to make information free for everyone and increase awareness of the world for everyone. Therefore informing members and visitors of the many languages available and the subdivisions of the concept is necessary. The home page is a guide for new visitors and a starting place for a logical exploration of available invormation. The home page is fine as it is as anyone dissatisfied can use search imediatley and get on with their business. ERS
As many will be aware, the main page used to be protected because of regular vandalism. It isn't currently protected because at least two of the components used to build it are not protected. As a result it's easy to vandalise it. Time to revisit the discussion of whether protecting the main page is preferable to goatse.cx on the main page. No view expressed by me in this case. Simple choice: protection or goatse and penis pictures regularly. Over to the rest of the readers here to discuss this question again... :) Jamesday 01:39, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The main page is already protected. I oppose protection of templates used on the main page. Although templates used on the main page are often vandalised, the vandalism is usually reverted within minutes. This is good enough. We do not need to ensure that things visible on the main page are never vandalised. I would not characterise the current system as security through obscurity, because there is very little obscurity, and what obscurity exists is an unfortunate consequence of the way templates work, not a feature intended to provide security. The system I want to see is better charracterised as eternal vigilance: leave all the templates open for editing, but revert vandalism promptly. Vandalism visible on the main page for a short time does hardly any harm, whereas protecting things all over the place causes great harm. (The harm is that, when people want to fix problems but can't edit the page, they are more likely to give up leaving the problem un-fixed than they are to ask for a change via the talk page, or to ask for unprotection.) It seems to me that most of the people arguing in favour of protection are admins, who are able to edit protected pages, and so are unlikely to see how harmful protection is. — AlanBarrett 17:06, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Nineteen hours ago I was assailed by some of the most revolting pornographic images I have ever seen. As I set Wikipedia's main page to load in one of four tabs when I start my Firefox browser, this could have easily been seen by anyone of my kids -- with the very real possibility of psychological scarring. As I said these images were utterly revolting -- as in bizarre/extreme.
This is a real security flaw that threatens to ruin this entire project. You can imagine what sort of response this would get in the both the tabloid media and among those opposed to the concept of a user-compiled and edited dictionary. Then, of course, there would be the copycats who would try to outdo each other.
I'm not a technical person but, surely, the main page could be set up to randomly load articles and related graphics from Wikipedia's database, with a reputable RSS feed providing the news. It, at least, needs a gatekeeper -- either a real person or a robot/script -- to ensure the main page content is genuine.
This was not appropriate content. I'm pretty broadminded. I know what gratuitious offensiveness is when I see it. Images were not accompanied by an explanatory text. They were just repeated ad nauseum on a yellow background. Yes, encyclopedias can contain material that is offensive to some but that is no reason to keep them away from teenagers!
For those that don't know - this was goatse - uploaded and added to the sister projects template and the recent changes header. Because of an unrelated site slowdown, those of us trying to fix it couldn't access the site. This meant that the image was up for in excess of 20 minutes. The blue ribbon goes to fvw for getting to the delete button first and Hadal for fixing the template and recent changes. We've had complaints via email again (to Jimbo and the board) - one from a teacher who was showing the site to her class. We need to stop this NOW. This happens on a regular basis. It's true that this incident was made more problematic by an unrelated problem, but this sort of vandalism happens very regularly - and on our most public face. I can't say strongly enough that I believe we have to fully protect the front page. It's only recently that it was unprotected in any way. Before templates were used, the page was locked. Until we get a new system that allows for an alternative solution such as delayed editing on problem pages , let's protect -- sannse (talk) 14:02, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC) (fvw - yes, I know I said I was done ranting on this, seems I was wrong :)
Protect it all. violet/riga (t) 19:29, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
"We've had complaints via email again (to Jimbo and the board) - one from a teacher who was showing the site to her class. We need to stop this NOW." Well we all knew this day would come, but security through obscurity does not work without obscurity. Lock the templates down and look for ways to protect images displayed on protected pages. -- mav 20:35, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Protect them. We should figure out a way to make it easier for non-sysops to help keep Template:In the news and Template:Did you know up to date, though. I'm thinking of some sort of associated pipeline page where any user can add items for sysops to copy over to the main template; something like Template:Did you know/To be added might be appropriate. It would be clunky and annoying, but certainly not as bad as goatse images on Wikipedia's most public face. — Charles P. (Mirv) 20:56, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Template talk:Did you know already has a list for pending new items which works like Charles P's suggestion. 68.81.231.127 21:47, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
If this enterprise is to have any credibility (and it must have if teachers are using it in live classroom demos) the front page(s) MUST be protected from vandalism or corruption of any sort whatsoever. This is the primary interface with the rest of the world - it must be faultless at all times. In the short time I have been browsing, I have not been able to ascertain the exact procedure used to put the page together, but it would seem wise to allow contributions/edits for a prospective new version to occur up to, say, 12 hours beforehand, then protect the page for final vetting/approval before putting it in place. The vetting process could be open to everyone, but edits only by a consensus of administrators. -- Mikeh 13:49, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I guess this is the best place to mention it, but I hadn't even noticed the front page was protected until today. Just spotted a typo, can't fix it, don't know who to contact to get it fixed.
sheridan 09:58, 2005 Feb 15 (UTC)
This should have a comma after the poor conditions
Agriculture is the main economic activity, but due to the poor conditions output trails that of other parts of the country, and this is Thailand's poorest region.
In the news seems to feature a lot of pictures of dead white men, literally. Anyone else notice this? Hyacinth 08:37, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Yes. It means only admins can edit it now - and none have done so. I question how up to date it will remain when there are only 300 or so people who can edit it, and many fewer with the inclination to edit it, jguk 10:02, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
This has probably has been suggested before... if not tried somewhere. But why isn't there a rating system for the articles? This would create a feedback loop to ensure high quality material. When explaining some ridiculously complex theorem the writer could check back to see if her explanation was useful and edit it accordingly. It would also give a good idea of where improvements could be made.
I think that there's a large subset of users that the talk pages are missing. For the casual user my guess is that they never contribute and rarely look at the talk pages. Furthermore, they're a little out of the way of someone just trying to get some information. Some easy rating system on the side would be a simple way for anyone to provide feedback quickly. It could even be used as a way to automatically tag extremely poorly written articles for cleanup, review, etc. Lastly, I think there's a subtle nuance in the type of feedback I'm hoping we'd get. Rather than a reader thinking: "I know what would be great for this article... I'll make a suggestion," I'm actually suggesting we listen to the people who come away from an article thinking: "Now what in the world was that about? I am no better off than I was before reading that article." This type of feedback is harder to illicit on discussion pages.
Presumably you'd need something on the toolbar to the left saying "rate this article" - then allowing a 1-10 rating, say, plus a gap for people to say why. Could be interesting (as would a "X people have visited this page" counter). Could the developers do this easily? jguk 14:06, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Any article with NPOV problems would get a bunch of 1's and 10's and probably little inbetween.
I also think that the most useful ratings would be ratings with explanations of what's good/bad about the article. Otherwise, it is almost useless Patnaik 01:41, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I don't think the Super Bowl turnout should be on the main page, let alone the top story.
The Slovenian Wikipedia reached 10,000 articles, can someone update Template:Wikipedialang since, it is protected. Jeff8765 03:07, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)
The Chinese Wikipedia (zh:) has just passed 20,000 articles and also deserves promotion to the Premier League. How long before it overtakes the English Wiki I wonder? -- RHaworth 13:00, 2005 Feb 8 (UTC)
I don't watch much television, though. But, 1974 in television to 1978 in television has been vandalized by Ezhiki, of deleting content. Anyone could revert the pages back, look at the history of 1974 in television to 1978 in television.
User: 4.xxx.xxx.xxx Feb 07 2005
Ho hum. Who cares? Has she done anything to change humankind, really? I was upset when I tuned into BBC World News on BBC America this morning and they were in the middle of some lovefest for this woman. Where was the real news? Breaking a record like this is not all that notable. (I can only assume that a British person put this up. (I love Brits, don't get me wrong.)) Now, if Wikipedia had been around in Magellan's day . . . 13:59, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)
"The Al-Aqsa intifada ends..."
Um, yeah. That's a bit optimistic, ain't it? I'd hate for us to have to eat crow in a few days. -- Penta 23:49, 8 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Is anyone else bothered by the number of different fonts in the first seven lines of the main page? dcm
May I be the first (I think...) to congratulate the Slovenian wikipedia, which just eclipsed 10,000 articles! I think a front page edit is in order!
...whoops, I guess Jeff8765 mentioned this about a day ago. In any event, if an admin could edit www.wikipedia.org to reflect the change, that would be appreciated, I'm sure. Apparently Template:Wikipedialang was edited, but the front page still puts the slovenian wiki in the 1,000-10,000 category. ral315 05:33, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
Would somebody with access please fix the first line of the featured article description from "Jonathan Wild is" to "Jonathan Wild was", in line with the actual article? - BanyanTree 05:34, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Would anyone mind me adding the Wikiportal link to the following list at the top of the main page? Browse Wikipedia - Article overviews - Alphabetical index - Other category schemes. I think the portals are very helpful surfing aids for readers. Mgm| (talk) 12:15, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
As for reader-oriented, I disagree. Besides, categories which are linked from the main page have stub subcategories, which also makes them editor-oriented in some way. We want people interested in specific fields to contribute, not just to read. Wikiportals are to function as both the main page and the community portal for specific topics. Ausir 08:21, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Though Muslims do generally celebrate Muharram as the new year, only the Shiite celebrates the Festival of Muharram. Maybe the front page should reflect that by saying, Festival of Muharram in Shi'ite Islam (2005, A.H. 1426 begins). __earth 05:21, Feb 10, 2005 (UTC)
Oh my, the ugliest man alive is marrying someone in his own league. Quick. Let's make it a top headline. What was that about North Korea and nuclear weapons? Sod it. Who cares when we got Ole' Tractor-Ears to put up front. I really don't mean to be as disrespectful, I rarely am, but someone should get a sense of priorities, and let The Sun, Der Spiegel, or whatever they're called, deal with royal gossip. -- TVPR 09:51, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Let's not forget, "Newest item goes on the top, older items are removed from the bottom." Going by this, the newest news goes at the top, no matter what. We list based on time, not relevance, as relevance is really just a form of POV. -- user:zanimum
Hello, first of all sorry if this doesn't go here...
My aim is to create a web interface that holds a collaborative editor, so a text would be presented and you could enter the translation (the basic problem is being collaborative, that is, many people simultaneously editing). Maybe could be identificated users, but not necessarily.
Recently I worked with a wiki for a student work and I suppose MediaWiki could be the technology I need, but it also fits with the CMS concept.
I have searched by the web and I conclude those six could be good choices. Which one could suit me? -Plone -Silva -Mambo -OpenPHPNuke -OpenCMS -and of course, Mediawiki
I see Mambo is very used, but also Mediawiki with all the wikimedia ; Plone and Silva are Zope-based and seem good, but maybe too powerful for my needs? (it's only a portal, the main problem is the workflow-simultaneous edit problem...) Seems also that OpenPHPNuke and OpenCMS are also very popular.
Other suggestions? Some advices?
Thanks in advance
Jordi
I'm a new comer here
I could not find any criteria for how the front page synopsis of a featured article was created, so I wonder why a picture would be included that has no relevance to the content of the synopsis. For me, when I see "economy of the Republic of Ireland" and a big picture of a beer with no explanation connecting the two, the connection in my head is "the economy of the Republic of Ireland is based on beer!" which, from my reading of the article, is not true any more than it's based on fishing or potatoes. I feel that either the connection should be made clear in the synopsis or the picture should be one with no connotations from which one could draw such a conclusion.
-Note that my objection is not based on the subject being alcohol, though that may have helped bring it to my attention, and I would have (I hope) objected had it been potatoes or Lucky Charms cereal or whathaveyou. ;) Cigarette 14:22, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Anybody else have a problem with an Article on the Irish economy having a picture of a pint of beer? Isn't beer a stereotype for Irish people? Would there be a picture of landscaping tools when the economy of Mexico is discussed? A picture of a car accident for the Japanese economy?
From Did you know?:
That I know of, senior prom is an American institution -- so shouldn't it be identified as such? Citing it in "Did you know" as a kind of common point of reference is bothering me, though I realize the complaint is perhaps a bit petty. -- Oarih 18:08, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I just thought of an idea for a new wiki. This wiki would be all about lyrics and scripts.
The quality of In The News section has plummeted since only Wikiclique-approved news stories were allowed - XED. talk 12:56, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The bombing of Dresden was in the Selected Anniversaries section (and its featured picture), but now Konstantin Chernenko is staring sternly out at us. Why was this change made? Seeing as how this is the 60th anniversay of Dresden, and there are significant observances taking place, it should at least be listed on the front page. The bombing is also more deserving of the featured picture than one stern faced short term Soviet leader.
Of course, today is Sunday. People have to go to work on Monday. And people are probably busy with something else on Valentine's Day tomorrow ..... -- PFHLai 16:51, 2005 Feb 13 (UTC)
I am writing this in hopes of someone helping me to identify a flag on a plate from the 1918 Peace talks. There are five national flags around a dove and laurel leaves with the word "PEACE" above a sheild marked USA and the date NOV 11th 1918 underneath. From left to right the flags are UNKNOWN, GREAT BRITAIN, USA, FRANCE and BELGIUM. The unknown flag has the same colors as the Italian flag, three vertical bars, red on the left, white in the center and green on the right. In the center of the white bar is a sheild with a silver outline, red with white cross inside it and a cap or crown on top. I have confirmed the nationality of the other flags through the CIA book of facts website but have been unable to locate any flag which matches the one described here. Any postings in regards to this would be greatly appreciated or just send an Email if you like. Send comments to [jimharris155@hotmail.com]
If the reversion keeps happening and Wikipedia keeps rising up the Alexa rankings, Witold Pilecki may become one of the most famous Europeans of the 20th century. Wincoote 03:02, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The images or pictures on the Main Page should have caption. As it is now, it can be hard to tell what news notice or what "Did you know .." or what Selected anniversary the image belongs to. Of course you can always hold the mouse over the image to see the ALT-tag but I don't think that that's sufficient.
A small caption would do. Today there is a picture of Alexander Graham Bell. Just his name underneath the picture would suffice.
As it is now, you wouldn't know whether the picture depicts Bell or Elisha Gray until you either hold the mouse over, or click. This is also often the case with news pictures.
Bong 14:28, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
<div style="float:right;margin-left:1em;width:100px;text-align:center;font-size:smaller"> [[Image:Alexander Graham Bell.jpg|100px|Alexander Graham Bell]]<br/>Alexander Graham Bell</div> <div style="margin-left:-1em;">
<div style="margin-left:-1em;">
The Main Page says 1989, but the article says 1978. Fingers off-by-one typo?
According to astronautix.com, the ones from 1978 to 1985, called GPS Block 1, was a prototype -- I call it the demo. GPS Block 2, the operational phase, started with the first launch on February 14, 1989. How's this for an answer ? :-) The link to astronautix.com can be found in the External links section of the Wikipage Global Positioning System. -- PFHLai 17:36, 2005 Feb 14 (UTC)
On this date (February 14) in 2000 the Shoemaker/NEAR spacecraft entered orbit around asteroid 433 Eros, the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid. What is the normal channel to propose a topic for the history section on the main page? Rsduhamel 18:21, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
"With 48 percent of votes cast, the Shiite Muslim coalition wins a slight majority"... 48 percent is a plurality, not a majority. And the phrasing makes it sound like the voting results are incomplete, not that UIA won. 68.81.231.127 17:23, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Has just been vandalised (1830 ish).
Can somebody undo this please.
Maybe it is a good news for the english main page, that the german Wikipedia today got its 200.000th entry. It is the second Wikipedia version following the english one. The last german 100.000 entries came in the last 8 months. Best regards, Stern 10:24, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The www.buysafe.com site is trying to hijack the wikipedia name. I'm at an airport's browser. Ancheta Wis 21:03, 16 Feb 2005 (UTC)
There's a minor vandalism above the table of contents on this very talk page and I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix it.
==like this==
). —
Dan |
Talk 22:58, 16 Feb 2005 (UTC)
If a brand new user winds up on the homepage, and happens to be captivated by Today's Featured Article, enticed as it were to delve,, and if they were to click on the most captivating thing for many if not most readers of blurbs-with-pics on the web (the pic), where would they find themselves?
Frequently, mostly, they find themselves looking at a larger version of the pic and reading about licensing.
Does this pass a laugh test?
- Ozzyslovechild 03:20, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I agree. I have many times witnessed my students clicking on a main-page-image with the intent of reading more about the topic - and seeing them be miffed to just see a larger version of the image. it would be a good idea to have main-page-images take users to the related article instead. Kingturtle 05:32, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)
fag
...that a Pd/H2 electrode is a reference electrode similar to a standard hydrogen electrode (with platinum), but with the added ability to adsorb molecular hydrogen? <- Should read absorb
Why has the article of the day not changed for 3 days?
I just saw the news-item relating to the lost plutonium at Sellafield. I was shocked to find out that 30kg of plutonium were missing. Has it been stolen? Has terrorists raided the plant? Have they dumped it into fresh-water supplies? I quickly went to wikinews to see the whole story, however there were no mention of it on the front page. On to google-news were i found out that the plutonium were not actually missing, it had just not been accounted (and yes, I realize it says this on the front page too, but it doesn't make it clear). Apparently this happens all the time (last year they "lost" 19kg) and some years they even gain (!) plutonium. This news seems sensationalist too me. Unless we clarify, maybe that news-bit should be removed. No need to create panic in the streets :P Gkhan 19:42, Feb 17, 2005 (UTC)
Should we include it on the Main Page? Wikipedian231 17:17, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
shouldn't the iran event be more prominent than the christening of a sub? (should it be on top?) Kevin Baas talk 20:02, 2005 Feb 20 (UTC)
Wikipedia is not a good source for information. People can put false information and change the whole meaning of a word. Wikipedia in not a good site to depend on and should not be used for reports or educational projects.
I want to know if there is any randomization to the feature article, I know you like to pick well written articles and all, but seeing as today's feature article is on the Big Bang Theory -- Which is perfectly fine -- I wanted to know if there are any biases in the system by which feature articles are chosen. thanks - Scott
The various Big Bang articles, a part of the featured article, are being vandalized at the moment and some are attempting to continuously revert the changes, however, I do think they should be protected. Also, za.wikipedia.org's Big Bang article is being vandalized. Comrade Tassadar 01:48, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC)
What about having an "Upcoming events"-pane on the frontpage for various events to take place? Like important meetings to be held, etc. Csl77
Would rather say ``Fatherland? ``Otechestvo definitely refers to ``father (otets). However, it is true that the English convention is ``Motherland. Saying ``Fatherland might sound alien, while the semantics of English ``Motherland and Russian ``Fatherland are the same.
do unions cause businesses to fail?
I don't want to seem disrespectful to Sid McMath, but isn't the term hero inherently POV? Unless of course he was the offspring of a greek god and a mortal... -- Neo 08:57, 24 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I'd just like to say that the layout of the wikipedia.org layout is very nicely done. Much better than the older one.
I'd just like to express my hardened joy that the Big Bang Theory Article is off the Main Page -- yah
Today's featured article: Sir John Vanbrugh links to Restoration (a disambiguation page). I believe that it should link to English_Restoration (as the main article does). Jarich 09:00, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I am extremely concerned about such vandalism because it occured to me:
In order to do something for a high visibility article for the Featured Page article, one would simply have to do this:
By doing so, now the featured article is on another page that is named in a way that is probably offensive and makes no sense at all, and the link from the main page leads to a potentially pornagraphic/vandalous page. Furthermore, users trying to revert the pages would be frustrated by the fact that first of all, the page history would be missing, and second of all, moving the page back would be technically impossible.
Of course, I have not tested this theory yet, but I have observed some of the phenomena of page moves in my own copy of MediaWiki, and the fact that page moves are not documented in History is disturbing in itself, but this potential vandalism more so. If anyone knows that what I have presented is not the case, feel free to tell me what actually happens in this scenario so I can go and edit some of the anti-vandalism pages to include these instructions. Ambush Commander 17:46, Feb 25, 2005 (UTC)
I could have sworn that there were many more topics on this talk page, like about the big bang being gone... what happend?
It's been annoying me for a while now, and I finally dived into the source to see what exactly what was happening. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm using Firefox 1.0 and IE 6.0 and they both show the same thing: this weird monobook bg that normally resides quietly in the background of all pages, but now is abruptly cut off. I checked the source, and I realized this was because there was an overlaying element just under the top of the page that had a white background: effectively cutting off the bg. So, I'd like to propose one of two things: first, totally remove the background by issuing some superceding CSS instruction (helps cut down page load size too) or reconfigure the page so that the background is utilized better (however, it fades into grey, which may not be ideal for visibility of text). Ambush Commander 04:20, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)
i want the "who they suspect to be..." about the BTK killer to be changed to "whom they suspect to be...". i am also a grammar fanatic, so i understand it if the general populace of wikipedia does not care! just a suggestion, really. gaidheal 01:24, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Dear Andrew pmk 03:24, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC),
Hello. I deleted the inaccurate data that was in the article. I believe that encyclopedias should represent the truth as much as possible. Otherwise society would be misinformed or misled. I don't believe that Wikipedia would consciously want this to happen.
Thank you for your concern.
--posted 04:05, 27 Feb 2005 by User: Lmears, possibly the same person as User: 216.175.69.49.