The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Duma arson attack#Ya'alon on Jewish extremists ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Settleman ( talk · contribs)
• Pluto2012 ( talk · contribs)
• Nableezy ( talk · contribs)
• Nishidani ( talk · contribs)
• Huldra ( talk · contribs)
• Igorp_lj ( talk · contribs)
• Balckagaming ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

I have added this "Ya'alon said... and mentioned that "It is necessary to know that most of those extreme right wing activists are not residents of Judea and Samaria and they definitely don't represent the settler-communities over there." ^[1]" which is based on this offline newspaper. It is straight forward WP:V, WP:RS, WP:NOR etc'. Users objected it for various reasons like undue and irrelevant. UNDUE argument was abandoned and now the main complaint is it is irrelevant b/c it is a general statement, meaning he speaks in general about attacks on Palestinians. I can't see what policy this argument is based.

In addition, the article contains two general statements 'manual of incitement' and UN stats about 'settlers violence' but when a statement of Defense Minister Yaalon from a briefing about the attack was added, it was removed because it is a 'general statement'. Even if 'general' is somehow a reason to leave material out, I can't see any reason for the difference except for personal POV. Included

• A manual of incitement written by Moshe Orbach, an Israeli from Bnai Brak, entitled “Kingdom of Evil,” which provides details on how to set fire to mosques, churches and Palestinian homes, has also been mentioned in connection with the Duma attack. ^[2]
• According to the UN, since the beginning of 2015 at least 120 settler attacks have been documented in West Bank, and Yesh Din statistics suggest over 92.6% of Palestinian complaints lodged with Israeli security forces never led to charges being filed. ^[3]

In the attack Jewish extremists are suspected by most including the Israeli authorities. this makes the statistics source from Al-Jazeera not just general but irrelevant (extremists≠settlers). The second one about 'manual of incitement' may or may not actually connected but if we allow general information, it should be in. But Ya'alon statement was said in a briefing about investigation progress. It is general since they don't know the identity of the attackers.

Please don't personalize the discussion. Direct the conversation towards the content dispute instead. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:14, 24 September 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Nableezy insisting on including the first two but not the last is purely based on his POV.

All my request for a reasonable explanation for the difference were dodged which is why I am taking the very long route to DRN. Settleman ( talk) 18:16, 23 September 2015 (UTC)

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Lengthy discussion on the talk page.

How do you think we can help?

A few sets of fresh eyes can help involved parties (all with strong POV on Israel-Palestine conflict) to determine whether all or some of the three statements should or shouldn't be included. I have failed to get a straight answer as for what is the difference and why anti-Israel statements belong and opposing statements don't.

Summary of dispute by Pluto2012

• Comment - FYI : a similar issue based on complaint against Nishidani's behaviour was raised by Settleman on wp:an/I 10 days ago and the long discussion leads to a WP:BOOMERANG and mentorship proposal for Settleman to which he hasn't answered whereas he keeps editing numerous articles and whereas he opened this WP:DRN. Settleman also raised similar comments (content, behaviour) on the at ArbCom. The content isse was discussed at length in the talk page with several points kept unanswered by Settleman. All this is just Wikipedia:Forumshop. There is no reason to start discussing here until the WP:AN/I case is closed. It is up to Settleman to decide if he agrees the mentorship. Pluto2012 ( talk) 06:06, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Nableezy

A reliable source specifically links the material that Settleman objects to, using this incident as an example of a wider pattern. The material by the Israeli defense minister however isnt about this attack, he is making a general statement about most extremist right wing Jews not being settlers, but not saying that the arsonists are not settlers. The pertinent part of his statement, that the attack hurt the position of the settlers, is already included in the article. nableezy - 16:23, 22 September 2015 (UTC)

Please do not personalize the discussion. Keep the conversation focused on the content dispute. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:18, 24 September 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Every single other person to comment on this, with the exception of an obvious sockpuppet who hasnt commented on the talk page but only reverted in the article, has agreed that Yaalon's statement on extremist right wing Jews is not relevant to the article on the attack, and the only reason we are here is one user refuses to accept that and is insisting on "balancing" everything that they feel is negative about the settlers by something that is positive. This is just more time-wasting.

Summary of dispute by Nishidani

This has been discussed exhaustively on the talk page. It is a matter of a straightforward construal of English grammar, which does not allow the inference that Settleman and Igorp, both non-native speakers, lend to Ya'alon's statement. I always find quoting politicians in a murder case ridiculously unencyclopedic. Our job as editors, unlike politicians, is not to comfort or absolve constituencies, but to provide them with facts. I would abolish were I a dictator all 'Reactions' comments from Wikipedia articles. One should stick to the key elements of the mystery. Don't take this as a willingness to participate here, but simply as a courtesy note in response to the query on my page. Nishidani ( talk) 11:20, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Huldra

I agree with Nableezy: "The material by the Israeli defense minister however isnt about this attack, he is making a general statement about most extremist right wing Jews not being settlers, but not saying that the arsonists are not settlers." To me what Moshe Ya'alon says here, sounds more like "wishful thinking", especially when the people named in relation to this attack happens to be settlers. Huldra ( talk) 23:59, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Igorp_lj

Let's see what current revision ^[4] does include, noting that even for such minor edit as "immediately suspected Jews <= Jewish settlers", some editors insist ( "They didn't suspect Jews, as a whole, but Jewish settlers, of course"; "sources say settlers") on settlers' blaming, despite a fact that already existed RS prove the opposite:

• J. arsonits/extremists + "settler terrorism" @Arikat [11] NYT
• attack/radicals/settlers/assailants [19] (Daraghmeh+)
• terror/violence/extremists/militants [20] ("They tend to reject authority, including the mainstream settler movement leadership")
• extremists/terrorists[21] (Dubai)
• extremists/terrorists[22] (Harkov)

and so on:

• the flagship of the ideological settler movement (regarding to another incident: "That same Monday night, July 27, rioting broke out at the settlement of Beit El, considered the flagship of the ideological settler movement") [20][24]
• at least 120 settler attacks have been documented [38] (AJ based on Yesh Din's data)
• to extend to Palestinian victims of Jewish terrorism [36]; Jewish terror[29]

Here's a POV, what is mainly represented in the current version of article.
Unfortunately, for some editors, such words as 'settler', an entire spectrum of the Israeli right-wing media and NGOs sound like curses. And this concerns not only settlers. It comes to a ridiculous: for some editor, a journalist, writing for many RS, isn't RS because she works in [Sderot], as well as PhD (International Politics) - because he doesn't work for "proper" media, and the 3rd - because he is "The National board chairman of the ZOA (so ?) and "a clinical professor...",
but "his" some anonymous & Rotem - an "Israeli activist, high-tech executive and author of the blog" - is RS. His

• "we use sources that give facts, with linkable and verifiable sources which Rotem / Brown provide"

what isn't correct : their "facts" based mainly on +972 links itself & on a sister's Mekomit, and rarely - on B'tselem+ data.

It'd OK, if it remains as their POV only, but they work hard to prevent access to Wikipedia of any info with which they disagree. Actually, they just hurt Wiki, making it not RS when remain in it what doesn't represent a real information about what happens in Israel and in the region as a whole.

That's why I consider it's necessary to return to the article not only Makor Rishon's information ^[1], but the folowing one from Arutz Sheva confirmed by Hebrew sources:

• "Yaalon ... noted that the suspects are not at all connected to Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria - or even to the so-called "Price Tag" movement."

P.S. It's interesting what will say same editors when I add to the article the following Ben-Dror Yemini's opinion: ) :)

117 events didn’t turn Netherlands into a racist country. With us, a much smaller number of events leads to countless articles about a violent and racist society.
The nationalist-religious tribe has absorbed the majority of criticism regarding the rise of nationalistic extremism. But the attempt to connect the “price tag” (the name given to certain acts of vandalism aimed at Palestinians by Jewish nationalists) hooligans, or the ones responsible for the two aforementioned murders, to the wider religious public is tenuous.

P.P.S Nableezy's "Every single other person to comment on this ... has agreed that Yaalon's statement on extremist right wing Jews is not is relevant" - isn't correct. See my: "In fact, all sources say the same things, the only difference is what they do present, depending ... on its orientation" (23:30, 11 September 2015) Sorry, more than 2k. :( -- Igorp_lj ( talk) 09:08, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

Duma arson attack#Ya'alon on Jewish extremists discussion

• Volunteer note - There has been considerable discussion on the article talk page for more than a week. It appears that the primary issue is whether a statement by the Israeli Defense Minister should be included in the article. In view of the length of the discussion and the number of parties, concise summaries of the dispute by the parties would be very helpful. Please comment on content, not contributors. (Remember that disruptive editing is subject to discretionary sanctions under WP:ARBPIA.) I am neither accepting nor declining this case. We are waiting for concise summaries of the dispute from the other editors. Robert McClenon ( talk) 14:18, 22 September 2015 (UTC)

  Accepted as primarily focus for DRN case for now. -- JustBerry ( talk) 22:48, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Note to participants: Also, please make your summaries specific to what the core issue is and the precise locations of the dispute. -- JustBerry ( talk) 02:10, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Question: @ Settleman: What exactly do you mean by "generic" or "generic information" in your case summary? Also, please clarify "It is generic since they don't know the identity of the attackers." Thirdly, to clarify, are you objecting to the material included or only to the exclusion of the statement you provided in your case summary? -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:21, 24 September 2015 (UTC)

Please do not personalize the discussion. Stick to the content dispute at hand. -- JustBerry ( talk) 20:41, 25 September 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
This question should be directed to Nableezy. He uses it as a reason to leave Ya'alon out. I just pointed out that if Ya'alon is out on 'generic' claims, so should be the other two sentences I've listed above. Settleman ( talk) 12:37, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

Volunteer - Please answer the request for clarification, don't shift and deflect it. Nableezy has only argued on the grounds of "general statement" not "generic" which are your own words for we-don't-know-what, hence JustBerry's request for you to clarify. Drcrazy102 ( talk) 17:19, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

I have changed all 'generic' to 'general'. I can't see how a general statement said by the highest authority for the investigation does not belong. What policy is it based on? Even worse, other general information mentioned by biased sources gets in. So I would like other party to answer directly (1) what policy is the base of Ya'alon removal? (2) If 'general' (which isn't a policy) is enough to remove Ya'alon, why are the other two statement included? Settleman ( talk) 11:07, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Question: @ Nableezy: You mention "using this incident as an example of a wider pattern." Can you elaborate on what exactly you mean? -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:21, 24 September 2015 (UTC)
•  To DRN volunteers: Discussion is open, but further clarification is being requested to demystify the content issue. Any other volunteers should feel free to ask clarification questions or make comments on case observations as they see fit. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:21, 24 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Question: -  To DRN volunteers: - Following the revelation of several Admin-related cases being open around Settleman et al., should this discussion be kept open or have the related cases been resolved? Currently working from my phone or I would check further myself. Thanks Drcrazy102 ( talk) 08:56, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

• Withdrawing question: Admin-related cases are either not related or have been informally resolved. The Workshop Proposals by Settleman are not directly related, only tangentially, and do not impgune on either content or behaviour as otherwise suggested; the section Incidents#Proposed_WP:BOOMERANG_for_User:Settleman has been informally resolved (ATM) here (on AN/I) and here (on Settleman's Talk Page). Apologies for hassle, phone hates me ATM. Thanks go to JustBerry for helping me here. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 01:40, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Resolved No worries. -- JustBerry ( talk) 01:46, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

•  To DRN volunteers: @ Drcrazy102: Since the dispute is truly content-based, it is not a bad idea to continue the DRN discussion further. -- JustBerry ( talk) 16:23, 25 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Checking... @ Drcrazy102: Considering the additional case summaries that have come in, I will check to see if this particular dispute has already been addressed elsewhere conclusively. -- JustBerry ( talk) 16:27, 25 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Likely to continue discussion. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:19, 25 September 2015 (UTC)

Agreed - have finely gotten laptop back up and running, checked the pages and they have been mostly resolved or are not related. See above for further comments. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 01:40, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Nishidani: Ya'alon isn't just 'a politician', he is Minister of Defense which makes him involved in the investigation. It was said during briefing to reporters specifically about the investigation. Settleman ( talk) 11:35, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Pluto2012, Nableezy, Nishidani, Huldra, and Igorp lj: Pinging for discussion. Right now, seems  Inconclusive. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:43, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

 Inconclusive ?

I may only remind that Yaalon's words about settlers do have been said just during his statement about the arson's investigation:

"In a briefing to reporters at the HaKirya minister of defense said the arson attack hurt the state of Israel and the settlement community in particular. He noted that "there was a actual condemnation from settlers leaders to the attack, but we need to know most of those extreme right wingers are not residents of Judea and Samaria, and certainly do not represent the settlement communities over there." I hope this clarify the fact he said it directly about the attack and not in a political convention. Settleman (talk) 18:58, 15 September 2015 ^[1]

So such Nableezy & Huldra's claim as "The material by the Israeli defense minister however isnt about this attack" simply isn't correct. -- Igorp_lj ( talk) 14:51, 2 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: Pinging for additional weigh-in for case, esp. new evidence. -- JustBerry ( talk) 17:36, 2 October 2015 (UTC)

Let me look but, off hand, it appears that only one of the participants is for inclusion and the rest are against it. The source looks like a blog run by a single person but not clear.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 18:44, 2 October 2015 (UTC)

• "only one of the participants" (@ Mark Miller:) as min two: me & @ Settleman:.
• "a blog run by a single person" - pls, check Makor Rishon and our arguments. -- Igorp_lj ( talk) 19:18, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

The info appeared on several papers in Hebrew as I mentioned on the talk page. ALL involved editors in this conversation have strong bias on way or another so the numbers are important but rather the POV of an objective reader/editor. Settleman ( talk) 19:23, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

I have reviewed the above sources presented here and none of them cover the claims or the quote.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 17:20, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Thanks Igorp lj. I was not clear on what side you fell. I need you to link to the actual article at the online newspaper below my reply. Then I need you to direct me to where it shows the writing staff, the editorial board etc. At last I saw, this was in bankruptcy. Who own the publication now and who is running the online site? Remember that to demonstrate that the source is reliable you must show how the summary is supported by the source, that the publisher is reliable, with editorial oversight and that the author has expertise in the area. next, the context of the information is important as well. Each one of these criteria effect the reliability of the source.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 20:58, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

The paper does not have an online version though some of it's articles are published on Nrg Maariv. It seems to be owned by Israel Hayom, Israel's most circulated paper, now. For current news it is as reliable as other daily papers.

The text I wish to include is a short quote of Ya'alon from the article so there is nothing to confirm but the translation. Settleman ( talk) 21:44, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

All references must be available to access. If this was only published online and that article is no longer there and verifiable, it may not be used as a source.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 23:07, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

The construal of what 'those' in 'those extreme right wingers are not residents of Judea and Samaria' was made by Nableezy on the talk page. English is his native language and I refer mediators to that discussion. Any number of sources will inform the interested that a large number of extremist settlers are known to live in specific West Bank settlements ( Noam Federman, Baruch Marzel at Tel Rumeida, the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva at Yitzhar, Bat Ayin, Yitzchak Ginsburgh etc etc etc. Many scholars would argue as had Amos N. Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah, in his Freedom from Religion: Rights and National Security, (Oxford University Press, 2013 p.96) that 'those extremists are becoming the contemporary face, voice and leadership of the settler movement'. In that context Ya'alon can be read as flying in the face of certain realities, analysed in numerous books, from Ian Lustick's For the Land and the Lord: Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel, (Foreign Relations Council 1998)onwards and might be thought to be saying 'the extremists who killed the Palestinian family' (he knows who they are but can't arrest them probably because one of the group is an infiltrated government agent present at the scene, according to leaks) are not in the West Bank, implying however that other extremists are, but, they did not perpetrate this particular killing. Settleman is taking this as a necessary exculpation of the settler movement in general as non-violent. That's one of the major driving points of his presence on Wikipedia, to give the settler perspective. The last implication is not necessarily what Ya'alon is saying, in any case. With a statement so oblique and obscure, and evidently spoken to placate anxieties among Ya'alon's political constituency in the West Bank, such ambiguous and primarily ritual waffle is wholly pointless and obscurantist for an encyclopedic article that should focus on the facts, not on political blague. Nishidani ( talk) 22:26, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

In an article having statistics on 'settler violence' before the facts are known, a quote saying "wait a minute, these people don't represent a community of over half million people" is simple WP:BALANCE. I have added a short quote not a statement and it isn't the job of any one editor to decides/he doesn't like it. Me giving 'the settler perspective' is neccessary when other editors are focus on anti-settler, anti-Israel and anti-******** prospectives. How will WP ever reach neutrality if only one is present? Settleman ( talk) 07:49, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

'Me giving 'the settler perspective' is neccessary when other editors are focus on anti-settler, anti-Israel and anti-******** prospectives. '

The asterisks imply 'anti-Semitism' and the whole line, read in the context of this edit attributing to me the desire 'to smear Israel' (retracted at my request only to be repeated here as a generalization regarding all editors he disagrees with, is one reason why this dispute resolution process is futile. Any editor who comes to Wikipedia and begins dismissing experienced editors who disagree on specifics as 'anti-Israel' and 'anti-********(Semitic) has a battleground POV so deep that arguing with it is pointless. Nishidani ( talk) 12:17, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Is the source "questionable"?

According to WP:BURDEN:

"All content must be verifiable. The burden to demonstrate verifiability lies with the editor who adds or restores material, and is satisfied by providing a citation to a reliable source that directly supports the contribution. ^[1]"

References

1. ^ Once an editor has provided any source that he or she believes, in good faith, to be sufficient, then any editor who later removes the material has an obligation to articulate specific problems that would justify its exclusion from Wikipedia (e.g., undue emphasis on a minor point, unencyclopedic content, etc.). All editors are then expected to help achieve consensus, and any problems with the text or sourcing should be fixed before the material is added back.

and per WP:NOTRS:

Questionable sources are those that have a poor reputation for checking the facts, lack meaningful editorial oversight, or have an apparent conflict of interest. ^[1]

Such sources include websites and publications expressing views that are widely considered by other sources to be extremist or promotional, or that rely heavily on unsubstantiated gossip, rumor or personal opinion. Questionable sources should only be used as sources of material on themselves, especially in articles about themselves; see below. They are not suitable sources for contentious claims about others.

References

1. ^ Sources that may have interests other than professional considerations in the matter being reported are considered to be conflicted sources. Further examples of sources with conflicts of interest include but are not limited to articles by any media group that promote the holding company of the media group or discredit its competitors; news reports by journalists having financial interests in the companies being reported or in their competitors; material (including but not limited to news reports, books, articles and other publications) involved in or struck down by litigation in any country, or released by parties involved in litigation against other involved parties, during, before or after the litigation; and promotional material released through media in the form of paid news reports. For definitions of sources with conflict of interest:
   • The Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning, Columbia University mentions: "A conflict of interest involves the abuse – actual, apparent, or potential – of the trust that people have in professionals. The simplest working definition states: A conflict of interest is a situation in which financial or other personal considerations have the potential to compromise or bias professional judgment and objectivity. An apparent conflict of interest is one in which a reasonable person would think that the professional's judgment is likely to be compromised. A potential conflict of interest involves a situation that may develop into an actual conflict of interest. It is important to note that a conflict of interest exists whether or not decisions are affected by a personal interest; a conflict of interest implies only the potential for bias, not a likelihood. It is also important to note that a conflict of interest is not considered misconduct in research, since the definition for misconduct is currently limited to fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism."
   • The New York Times Company forwards this understanding: "Conflicts of interest, real or apparent, may come up in many areas. They may involve the relationships of staff members with readers, news sources, advocacy groups, advertisers, or competitors; with one another, or with the newspaper or its parent company. And at a time when two-career families are the norm, the civic and professional activities of spouses, family and companions can create conflicts or the appearance of conflicts."

It appears to me that the reference has no author information, the online article is no longer online with no known offline printed publication, the source when printed seems to fit that of a tabloid and does appear to fulfill some of the criteria for being questionable even if the article itself is found.

I'd like to hear from both editors as to why they think this passes criteria for use please.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 23:22, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Look, not every dispute needs much discussion if one cannot demonstrate within Wikipedia policy and guidelines exactly how they have proven their burden. It is the opinion of this volunteer that this dispute is not validated as the burden of evidence has not been met. I request the input of other volunteers. It is my opinion that there is no reliable source to verify this content and that it must be excluded on that basis. It is the opinion of the volunteer that the arguments against inclusion are the rough consensus of editors. If no other opinions by a volunteer disagree, I am ready to close this dispute as resolved as the burden of evidence has not been met.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 01:19, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

How are you closing this on RS ground when the sides didn't even bring it up as an issue??? I can't see how it fails WP:NEWSORG. Makor Rishon is an OFFLINE newspaper held by the same publisher of Israel Hayom. The article in question was PRINTED in it and cannot be found online. For an article about a current event, an 18 years old newspaper should be more than acceptable. Settleman ( talk) 07:39, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Actually, I am closing because a rough consensus already exists to exclude the content. That alone is enough to close a DRN request; when a consensus exists. The truth is, there was already a consensus on the talk. The same editors agreeing to exclude for various reasons and two editors supporting inclusion. You admit the online source is no longer online and are not sure if it is archived or not. That really does come down to not being able to fulfill the burden criteria. Wikipedia does not require that sources be online. They may be offline, book and journal sources, but we do require that online sources be accessible. It must be able to be accessed to be verified, even if it requires a paywall or purchase of a book etc. It isn't about the content. It is about the ability to cite a reference to make the claim. That's just WP:V. It may be something else others may not have mentioned but: " All quotations, and any material whose verifiability has been challenged or is likely to be challenged, must include an inline citation that directly supports the material. Any material that needs a source but does not have one may be removed. Please remove contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced immediately." The two supporting editors have not been able to convince the others based on the merits of the content but, just because no mention of policy has been used, does not mean there are no real violations that must be addressed. Violation of the WP:V and WP:BLP. The source does not meet referencing standards to verify it. That is one issue, but it also lacks authorship, which alone weakens the source. I could go on, but the point is, a rough consensus already existed and burden has truly not been met. Besides all that, it is an exceptional claim and a BLP issue which requires multiple strong sources. This falls very short of that.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 17:05, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Evangelos Zappas#Aromanian origin ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)
• Konstantinos Zappas ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs) (This article was added by DRN volunteer, Mark Miller, as pertaining to the same dispute)

Users involved

• Rolandi+ ( talk · contribs)
• Umpire Empire ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

There are two theories about the origin of Evangelos Zappas.One theory says he was of Greek origin why another theory says he was of Aromanian origin.These two theories are supported by many reliable references.Umpire Empire continue deleting the Aromanian theory.Firstly he said that Aromanians (Vlachs) are in fact Romanian-speaking Greeks (a "theory" created by Umpire Empire and not supported by any reliable scholar).After that he claimed that the Aromanian origin is a Fringe theory.The problem is that this user doesn't have any source supporting his claim.This user continues deleting the Aromanian theory and this doesn't help Wikipedia to be a neutral place.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I have used the talk page.

How do you think we can help?

By adding all well-sourced theories in the article.

Summary of dispute by Umpire Empire

At the Evangelos Zappas entry, Rolandi+ submitted three sources that, in passing, mention Zappas as a "Vlach" (very broad term applied to different groups) or an "Aromanian" with no biographical evidence to support the labels. In fact, all three sources fail to meet the rigorous standards of WP:RS. In the article, the mainstream/specialist sources that specifically focus on Zappas and the modern Olympics all classify Zappas as a Greek (there is no "Aromanian theory" espoused by mainstream/specialist scholars because there are no hard facts to support one). Umpire Empire ( talk) 18:51, 23 September 2015 (UTC)

Please do not personalize the discussion through direct reference to the editor's behavior. Keep comments focused on the issue at hand. -- JustBerry ( talk) 20:59, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Sadly, Rolandi+ is not here to build an encyclopedia, which he consistently demonstrates by promoting unreliable sources, making idle threats when things don't go his way, and just generally engaging in disruptive behavior including calling users "ignorant". At this point, this dispute can only be resolved with Rolandi+ not editing Balkan-related topics.

Talk:Evangelos Zappas#Aromanian_origin discussion

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•  Note to participants: @ Rolandi+: Please note that it is not the duty of DRN volunteers to add content to articles, rather to resolve the dispute at hand and arrive at a conclusion or resolution of some form. -- JustBerry ( talk) 15:28, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Question: @ Rolandi+: It appears that the evaluation of reliable sources seems to be part of the problem here. Besides the three sources you have provided on the article talk page for substantiating your claim, can you provide reliable biographical evidence proving his Aromanian origin? To clarify, the sources should not merely make references to his Aromanian origin. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:25, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
•  To DRN volunteers: Although the discussion is open for contribution by DRN volunteers, the question above is seeking further clarification from an involved party prior to making a fuller evaluation of the situation at hand. However, in the meantime, feel free to note any observations. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:34, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
•  Note to participants: If both are theories and both have credible sources would it not be appropriate to simply include information about both theories in the article and let the reader decide which one(s) to research? Wiki-Impartial ( talk) 13:39, 25 September 2015 (UTC)
•  To DRN volunteers: @ Wiki-Impartial: It could. Perhaps the situation can marked as resolved with the conclusion of including information about both theories after Rolandi+'s clarification to the question above. Discussing the rationale may be important to evaluate the credibility of the theory in question. -- JustBerry ( talk) 16:21, 25 September 2015 (UTC)
• @ JustBerry: Firstly my sources are mainstream scholars and you can easily verify it.Secondly vlachs in Albania and Greece are called "Aromanians".Umpire Emipre says that he uses only "mainstream" scholars as reference for his claims,but there is no mainstream scholar in this world who says that vlachs are greeks!

As all sources referring to his origin (greek or aromanian) don't give an detailed biography the best thing to do is to include all theories in the article.In fact Labove e Madhe (the village where he was born) is inhabitated only by Albanians and Vlachs and the Romanian government finances an Aromanian educative center in the village.There is no greek school or anything else in this village.As Wikipedia needs to be neutral,including both theories in the article is the best choice. Rolandi+ ( talk) 10:23, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Note to participants: @ Rolandi+: Can you explain how an Aromanian educative center makes a person Aromanian necessarily? Do you have sources that point to him identifying himself as Aromanian or that part of his family identified themselves as/were Aromanian? Although it is important to include multiple perspectives, it is also important to give due weight to a particular perspective. A probable compromise might be including information on his attendance to an Aromanian educative center, as you pointed out in your last comment, instead of making the claim that he himself is Aromanian. -- JustBerry ( talk) 22:44, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

Aloha. I'm Mark Miller (formerly Amadscientist) a volunteer here at the DRN. While it appears many of the requirements for accepting disputes have been met, the one issue I feel strongly about is the lack of extensive discussion. A cursory glance at the dispute seems to center around what the original text in a biographical article that involves the modern Olympics as well as the ethnic identity of the subject, Evangelos Zappas. The text involved is: "Evangelis Zappas was born of Greek or Aromanian ancestry". Aromanians have a specific origin. What the sources seem to be saying, and what appears to be the basis for the claim of Aromanian ancestry is a term used in the sources; " Vlachs". Here is the issue, the term is widespread; this term is sometimes used outside Greece to encompass all Latin-descended peoples of the Balkans, including the modern-day Romanians. Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinized population of the Balkans So, it appears that this is saying he either was or was not Greek by a broad concept term repeated but not clearly defined as Aromanian, an ethnic group that should be clearly defined by a strict criteria dependent on genealogy and/or ancestry.

I have some concerns about the way the discussion got off and I can see why editors may be unwilling to interact, but I encourage editors to restart the discussion back at the talk page of the article. I think there needs to be far more calm, collaborative discussion here.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 05:51, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

• @ JustBerry: Vlachs in the northern Greece and in the southern Albania are called and self-identified as "Aromanians".(However if the other editors think that using the word "Vlach" is more correct I am ready to use the word "Vlach") Vlachs are an ethnic group different from the greeks so including the Aromanian theory is needed to keep the neutrality.Aromanians are an ethnic group,not just an cultural community.This way we need to include his ethnic origin in the article (Greek and Aromanian theories),not informations on his attendance to an particular educative center. Rolandi+ ( talk) 15:38, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

First, we must be sure how the sources are using the term and why. Then we must determine if the subject falls within that ethnic background. Just because a source calls a person a "Vlach" does not mean they are not Greek. However...and this is important, we must be confident that the "theory" (sorry for the scare quotes. I use them to emphasize this is not my term) is a part of the current, main stream, academic consensus. Then, if it is, how much weight to give is determined by how much weight is given to the claim by academia in general. If this is determined to be fringe theory it would get no coverage in the article. If it is simply not widespread within academic circles, then it must be handled with due weight in our text on Wikipedia (that can differ depending on the strength of the multiple sources). Let us also be clear. Claiming that the founder of the modern Olympic Games is not Greek, is an exceptional claim and requires, not just multiple sources...but multiple strong sources. In my opinion the term used to add the claim to the article from the sources are not enough to make a claim such as this, due to the inconsistent definition of the term "Vlach". Sources would have to specifically call the subject "Aromanian" for the text to claim such and if the claim of just the term is not agreed upon by experts, then we have to decide what due weight, if any, to give the information.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 19:37, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

Oh and one other thing all editors must be aware of is our BLP policy regarding groups of people ( WP:BLPGROUP). In this case we are challenging the ancestry of an entire line that may well have living members today. We must remember to use sensitivity.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 20:05, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Question: @ Umpire Empire: Would you like to comment on the case? -- JustBerry ( talk) 20:52, 28 September 2015 (UTC)
•  To DRN volunteers: It should be noted that this user has not contributed to Wikipedia for approximately five days now. Looking at their previous editing history, it may take some time to get a response from the user. -- JustBerry ( talk) 20:52, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

@ JustBerry: Thank you for asking me to comment. So far, you and Mark Miller are managing things well and I commend you both on your efforts towards resolving this dispute. But to keep things brief, I agree with Mark Miller that the claim of Evangelos Zappas being a Vlach and/or Aromanian is an extraordinary claim and that Rolandi+ must submit multiple strong sources to support the claim. I'll say it again, the "sources" (i.e., Kaphetzopoulos, Smerlas, Thomopoulos) submitted by Rolandi+ are unreliable because they provide zero biographical/historical facts to support classifying Zappas as a Vlach and/or an Aromanian. For an Aromanian and/or Vlach origin to be included in the entry, the burden of proof lies with Rolandi+ where the user must submit sources that meet WP:RS (among other Wikipedia policies) or at least meet the following basic criteria: 1) sources must be reliable and impartial (i.e., statements supported by historical facts and hard evidence), 2) sources must be from scholarly experts who focus and specifically study Evangelos Zappas and the modern Olympics, 3) sources cannot contain self-contradictory information where source X, for example, claims that Zappas is ethnically Greek on one page and then claims that he is ethnically Romanian on a separate page. I hope this helps. Umpire Empire ( talk) 22:34, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

Umpire Empire, lets be fair though, the information was sourced and the sources seem to be from reliable authors and publishers. If editors were to agree on the text, those sources would be sufficient to make the claim that the subject was of a "Vlach" (especially if there are multiple sources for just that claim) background, but could not be used to state anything further unless the source is specific. Other sources that claim otherwise or counter that claim can then be used as balance to the claim if existing. I don't believe this is an option here however because it is contentious and controversial to leave that claim by itself. Also, the criteria here for sources are mainstream academic historians/experts and biographers for late historic Greek figures and subjects. It is too narrow to state they must be experts on the subject itself or the modern Olympics. Also, impartial sources are not a requirement. Some biased sources can be the best for factual information and Wikipedia guidelines and policy do not exclude based on impartiality of the source. I do think if a source contradicts itself, it may not be getting proper editorial oversight, so that may be a real issue.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 22:57, 28 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: I respect your impartiality, but your statement that the aforementioned sources are from mainstream/reliable publishers is actually incorrect: 1) ABC-CLIO/Greenwood is hit or miss as far as tertiary sources go and definitely miss when compared to the reputable secondary sources already in the entry, 2) the Greek Ministry of Press and Mass Media is a government agency and not an organization qualified in researching and composing a sober history of Zappas and the modern Olympics, 3) the Hellenic Army History Directorate is great for Northern Epirus and even military history, but not for the specific history of the modern Olympics and its founder. So however you interpret Rolandi+'s sources, there is one fact that remains indisputable: Zappas being of Vlach and/or Aromanian origin has no echo in mainstream/specialist scholarship and reputable publications, because the long-established consensus among serious scholars, based on actual history, is that Zappas was a Greek. So to be truly fair, none of these publishers are reliable when compared to the reputable and impartial mainstream publishing houses already in the entry such as University of Nebraska Press, University of Utah Press, Manchester University Press, Presses Université Laval, etc. (on the totem pole of reliable sources, the ones in the article are top-notch whereas the ones submitted by Rolandi+ sadly contain misleading/incorrect information). Ultimately, the stringent criteria I mentioned earlier are necessary so as to avoid inserting inaccurate statements in the entry and to avoid frustrating back-and-forth arguments in the future regarding Zappas's origins. Umpire Empire ( talk) 14:54, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

I agree with Mark Miller's assessment above. The dispute seems to be over whether or not Zappas is of Aromanian heritage, not whether he is of Vlach heritage which seems to be supported by the sources provided. If Umpire Empire and Rolandi+ are happy to compromise by putting that Evangelos & Konstantinos Zappas are of Vlach (not specifically of Aromanian) heritage, then reference with the sources (take that aspect to WP:RS/N if it is still not accepted that they are reliable, though I'm sure volunteers here would be happy to help if desired) and everybody gets to walk away with their goals: Umpire succeeds in not having the information of Aromanian heritage put up, and Rolandi gets to put in their alternative information of "not Greek" with proper referencing. Is this agreeable? Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 03:42, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Drcrazy102: I don't mind compromising, but not at the expense of the article's factual accuracy. If Zappas is described as X in a reputable and impartial source containing historically accurate facts, then I'll be the first to insert X into the entry. Umpire Empire ( talk) 14:54, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

The only issue I see is that the sourced addition of Vlach background still does not appear to exclude being Greek. That is what requires exceptional sourcing. So, presenting this as "Either Greek" or "Or not Greek" may be even more at the heart of this dispute, but I could be wrong.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 04:51, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: You're not wrong Mark in the sense that there's more to this dispute than meets the eye. If you consult the entry's talkpage, you'll sadly see efforts made by questionable users to rewrite history and make Zappas into an ethnic Albanian (see [1], [2]). And now, history must be rewritten again because the flavor of the month is to make Zappas an ethnic Aromanian (whatever that means). The only way for this ludicrous cycle to stop is to enforce strict, or stricter, quality controls (as per WP:RS, WP:V, WP:FRINGE, WP:DUE) when it comes to inserting sources and any information into Balkan-related entries. Umpire Empire ( talk) 14:54, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

@ Umpire Empire, Mark Miller, JustBerry, and Rolandi+: Thinking over this further, perhaps a better wording of the contested section would be:

Current: Evangelis Zappas was born of Greek ancestry in 1800 in the village of Labovo, near Tepelenë, (modern Gjirokastër County, Albania), when the region was still under Ottoman rule.

Proposed change: Evangelis Zappas was born in 1800 in the village of Labovo, near Tepelenë, (modern Gjirokastër County, Albania), when the region was still under Ottoman rule.[Sources already there] It is widely accepted that Zappas has Grecian ancestry, though a small minority consider him to have Vlach heritage [See Sources below].

Let me know your thoughts on this. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 00:37, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Drcrazy102: I appreciate your effort, but I disagree with the proposed change since the wording implies that: 1) a small group of mainstream/specialist scholars having studied Zappas and the modern Olympics determined with certainty that Zappas himself was a Vlach/Aromanian and that is simply not the case in reality, 2) there is biographical/historical evidence to support Zappas being of Vlach/Aromanian origin, which is false since all facts and evidence point to Zappas being a Greek. So the insertion of the proposed change would mislead readers and present an historically inaccurate description of the life and career of Zappas. Umpire Empire ( talk) 14:00, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

•  To DRN volunteers: _{See below.} and
•  Note to participants: It appears that Rolandi+ also altered the origin of Konstantinos Zappas, a cousin of Evangelos in the same manner. I believe it is in the best interest of the dispute to add that article to this DRN moving forward, as the two subjects are closely related both in genealogy and in modern Greek history.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 23:42, 28 September 2015 (UTC)
• @ Mark Miller: Vlachs are not Greeks.In fact a Vlach can not be a greek as Vlachs don't have the same language and the same culture with Greeks.If you see the Vlachs article they don't have any relation to Greeks,Albanians or other Balkan people.Someone who is Vlach is Vlach and can't be called or identified as "Greek".

I agree that using the term "Vlach" instead of "Aromanian" would be perfect.(In fact the Vlachs of Greece and Albania are called and identified as "Aromanians").So the best option would be:"Zappas was of Greek or Vlach origin". Rolandi+ ( talk) 12:51, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

Is that what the sources claim or are we stitching together two facts to create a new fact...that he was "either-or"? Also, we still need to actually demonstrate that calling the subject Vlach is main stream enough in academia and modern history to be stated as fact, to mention at all or to ad as opinion. The ethnicity of Evangelos Zappas as anything other than Greek has not been demonstrated. There is an editor that has objected to the addition of the content and their argument is consistent to the definitions and content of the articles we have on Wikipedia and the overall definition of the added terms. At the moment, the main concern is that the content may not be factual and could be outside the mainstream. Just exactly how, has also not yet been demonstrated but it is my opinion that calling the subject and his cousin Vlach and Aromanian may not be something that can be demonstrated in sources as fact. A quick Google book search shows no mention of Vlach in the main sources I viewed off hand and the only one source: "About Greece" mentions Vlach from a search adding the term. There may be more somewhere but It is clear this is not mainstream at least. This leads me to believe the claim that this is fringe could well be accurate. Thoughts?-- Mark Miller ( talk) 20:02, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

This leads me to believe the claim that this is fringe could well be accurate. Mark, your impartial conclusion based on the facts is correct and I hope other reasonable users come to the same conclusion. Umpire Empire ( talk) 21:28, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

•  Note to participants: and  To DRN volunteers:

I have requested RSN input about the sources, and directed them to post their findings in the below section to help resolve the contention and concerns surrounding the sources' reliability. Please do not edit unless acting in a RSN volunteer role. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk)

RSN Volunteer Findings concerning sources listed by Rolandi+

• Notice to be found on the RS Noticeboard here, with a request for discussion of sources to occur on the DRN page, not the RSN page. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 00:13, 30 September 2015 (UTC); updated 00:37, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

Context - (How the sources are used; the claim in the article itself) = "Evangelis Zappas was born of Greek[multiple sources used] or Aromanian[Source 1][source 2][source 3] ancestry..."

• Source (1) = The Greenwoods' Histories of The Modern Nations: The History of Greece - ISBN  978-0-313-37511-8 / EISBN 978-0-313-37512 -5
  • Publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group
  • Author = Elaine Thomopoulos [3] - [4]
  • Claim from the source = "Finally, Evangelis Zappas, a Vlach by descent, took the idea and ran with it, paving the way for the modern Olympics."

• Source (2) = About Greece
  • Publisher = Greek Ministry of Press and Mass Media, Secretariat General of Information, 1999
  • Authors = Pericles Smerlas, George Douskas
  • Claim from the source = "Some of the biggest national benefactors and personalities of the Greek history belong to Vlach families, like Pavlos Melas, Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas, Stefanos and Ion."

• Source (3) = The struggle for Northern Epirus - ISBN 9607897404 / ISBN 9789607897404
  • Publisher = Hellenic Army General Staff, Army History Directorate, 2000
  • Authors = Ioannis Kaphetzopoulos, Charalambos Flokas, Angeliki Dima-Dimitriou, Hellenic Army General Staff (Greece), Army History Directorate (Greece)
  • Claim from the source = "The Prime Ministers ... were Vlachs. So were the great national benefactors ... Euangelos [ sic] and Konstantinos Zappas ..."

Discussion on sources and subject

First of all, I have some concern that the term "Vlach" is misleading and have been uncomfortable with its use. According to "Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia", edited by Jeffrey E. Cole the term Vlachs is a pejorative term meaning an "outsider" or "shepherd". This source also states that Aromanians are not recorded as a separate ethnic group. In fact it is not clear if Aromanians are a separate ethnic group.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 21:47, 30 September 2015 (UTC) The three sources seem too weak to state as a fact that the subject is Vlach or Aromanian. The first one is the strongest as it is from a reputable publisher with editorial oversight, however the author does not appear to be an expert in the field but a freelance author with limited work. I cannot establish the author as an expert historian.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 21:51, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

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 In progress... Discussion at WP:RSN here for source reliability. Umpire Empire's thought of including historical or biographical details supporting Aromanian origin appears to be the most verifiable way to proceed if RSN deems the sources inconclusive. -- JustBerry ( talk) 21:50, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

The centralized discussion must remain on the DRN. If that is an actual discussion begun there and not just a notification of the issues here....we can't continue at DRN. One venue at a time please.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 21:54, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

Don't worry Mark Miller, if editors post their comments on the RSN, I will copy them onto this page under the discussion section and ask for them to comment on this page instead of the RSN post. I have no intention of letting the discussion become decentralised and running on several venues.

JustBerry, what do you mean " Umpire Empire's thought of including historical or biographical details supporting Aromanian origin appears to be the most verifiable way to proceed if RSN deems the sources inconclusive"? I was under the impression that Umpire had said that they opposed any changes unless sourced from "reputable and impartial source[s] containing historically accurate facts"? So I am a bit confused about your comment, sorry. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 00:09, 1 October 2015 (UTC); updated 00:37, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Drcrazy102: I'm sorry for any confusion I may have caused when I wrote about my willingness to compromise in accordance with any "reputable and impartial source containing historically accurate facts". What I meant by that statement is that if a source composed by an expert on Zappas and the modern Olympics states that Zappas was X based on historical and biographical details/facts/evidence proving that Zappas was X, then X can be inserted into the entry. I hope this clears things up. Umpire Empire ( talk) 14:00, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: If necessary, the section of the RSN page can be templated into the DRN case and make a note that discussion should be centered around that discussion until the RSN discussion is completed. -- JustBerry ( talk) 00:52, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: It appears that may unnecessarily further complicate matters in trying to template a sub-topic of a noticeboard. To be honest, I would say that the best course of action would be providing historical facts clearly linking the subject to Aromanian identification. Please see my note below to avoid WP:BLP issues. Pinging Drcrazy102. -- JustBerry ( talk) 00:58, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Drcrazy102: Essentially, rather than simply having a scholar state that the subject may be Aromanian and going back and forth about the scholar's credibility or bias, the statement would be more verifiable if there is a clear ancestral Aromanian lineage of some sort, the subject explicitly claims that they are Aromanian, or their upbringing, actions, etc. clearly highlight that they are in fact Aromanian to avoid WP:BLP issues. -- JustBerry ( talk) 00:52, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

Yes, that is what I understood you to be saying however, I am not convinced that the subject of Aromanian descent is properly affixed to this subject and believe that the two of the three sources do not have proper editorial oversight and do not appear to be simply recording or documenting anything formal, but do appear to me government and military biographies that may or may not have proper context themselves. I am convinced that the mention of Vlach or Aromanian descent is not meant to improve the article but to add biased and somewhat racist content not formally associated to the subject. I do not believe the editor involved was not completely aware of this when adding the content but I do not see the burden to demonstrate verifiability being fulfilled by these sources, as their reliability to directly support the contribution is weak and does not meet the threshold of being multiple reliable and strong sources.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 01:20, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

@ Mark Miller: Quite frankly, the lack of clear, logical deductive reasoning from factual, ancestral, or historical information behind the argument and persistence to include the seemingly unwarranted terminology leads me to believe that the editor may have a WP:COI interest with the issue. I suppose if the opinions of more editors reject the addition of the term, that will most probably be the resolution of the case. -- JustBerry ( talk) 02:28, 1 October 2015 (UTC)

• Pinging @ Zoupan: and @ Alexikoua: for their further comment. Zoupan made the original revert of the content as biased and requested a discussion. Rolandi+ did begin with a discussion but it was less than civil. Alexikoua seemed to be supportive but only because there was one secondary source and Umpire Empire did object to that. At the moment there is no consensus. We know Zoupan and Umpire Empire object to the content with the limited sources. There has been little discussion. I hope the two other editors can weigh in. I decided not to add these names to this request only because the revert war was between the two editors, but with others involved at the talk page, perhaps they can add something to this DRN. Thanks.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 01:43, 2 October 2015 (UTC)

The references that mention Zappas in lists of Aromanian people are of tertiary nature and do not deal with the subject in detail, they just mention his name and that he was part of this community. On the other hand sources that offer in depth descriptions about his life and work mysteriously avoid to mention this fact. Thus, the Aromanian claim is in fact too weak and I would suggest that additional material on the subject is needed here to shed some light. Alexikoua ( talk) 19:20, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Thank you Alexikoua. I appreciate your input here. Zoupan has been off since September 7 and it is unlikely they are aware of the DR/N. They do have email so I will drop them a guick note.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 23:25, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Since Zoupan seems unable to comment further at the moment we can assume their last opinion holds. Since they initiated the first revert we know what that opinion is. Therefore I will be closing this as resolved shortly.-- Mark Miller ( talk) 18:03, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Agree with Mark Miller. -- JustBerry ( talk) 02:08, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Programmatic media ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Jugdev ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

The programmatic media article has been disputed by multiple editors who suggest that the highly content does not make sense. I have tried to keep aligned with the approach where we balance the article so that it appeals to both technical and general readers. The article has been completely changed in the sense that it now contains elements that are not factually accurate. I have tried to revert, but keep falling into the edit warring cycle as the other editors are persistently removing any content that I add. I agreed to rewrite the parts of the article that were unclear to the editors, which has also been revered.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

- Multiple conversations on the talk page - Agreement to rewrite the article with a wikipedia administrator

How do you think we can help?

- Particular editors with a limited knowledge of the subject area are not allowing any changes to be made despite the changes being agreed with an administrator - It would be good to gain a third unrelated perspective so that we can move away from entering edit war territory

Summary of dispute by

Programmatic Media discussion

• Volunteer note - There has been considerable discussion at the talk page. The filing party has not listed the other editors of the article and has not notified them of this filing. It is the responsibility of the filing party to identify and notify the other editors. Waiting for filing party to list and notify other editors. Robert McClenon ( talk) 16:17, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Siachen conflict/Archive 1#Disputed.3F.3F ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• FreeatlastChitchat ( talk · contribs)
• Human3015 ( talk · contribs)
• Faizan ( talk · contribs)
• Kautilya3 ( talk · contribs)
• Code16 ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

The article in question uses the Parameter "Result" in the infobox. According to Reliable, third party sources (Eight 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 have been listed so far, there are dozens more ) the conflict in question is still "ongoing", therefore I changed the infobox entry and removed the text "Indian victory" from it. Some editors seem to mind that. The second portion of the dispute is about territorial changes. A recent RFC at the Siachen Glacier article established that the glacier should be marked as "disputed" therefore as per common sense I added that consensus in this article as well. Some editors seem to mind that as well. I have presented Eight RS on the TP who all agree that the conflict is not over and it is ongoing, the opposing parties have yet to provide a single RS which says that the conflict is over.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

TP discussion. An RFC already established one of the points I want to put in, so I'm not sure what the beef with that is, perhaps it will come to light during DRN.

How do you think we can help?

Mediated dispute resolution takes away the assumption of bad faith so both parties will view the input of any volunteer in a better light than each others' comments.

Summary of dispute by Human3015

I think dispute has been resolved on talk page. -- Human3015 ^TALK  15:46, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Faizan

Just saw another mountain being made out of a molehill. I too agree to the Revised proposal made at the article's talk. Noting that the article's current version resembles closely to the revised proposal. Faizan ( talk) 15:24, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Kautilya3

I am not yet sure there is a dispute to be resolved. FreeatlastChitchat made a suggestion at 03:18 [5] and opened a DRN at 05:14 before the participants have even looked at his suggestion. I think we should take the 3 days given by NeilN for talk discussion and come back here if we can't reach a consensus by then. - Kautilya3 ( talk) 10:54, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by D4iNa4

• Basically 3 editors have agreed with the proposal of @ Kautilya3:, [6] me, code16 [7] and Kautilya3 himself. I just asked Kautilya3 to copyedit the line or suggest something similar. There is no need of DRN. D4iNa4 ( talk) 11:04, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Code16

4 editors have agreed with the revised proposal at the time of this writing (with no dispute recorded yet on it.) I think the issue's resolved, no need for DRN at this point I think. cӨde1+6 ^LogicBomb! 13:12, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

I think five users are Agree including Kautilya3 . HIAS ( talk) 14:19, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:Siachen conflict/Archive 1#Disputed.3F.3F discussion

•  Volunteer note: Welcome to DRN. There appears to have been a healthy amount of discussion and I take it as, ready for DRN. I'm neither accepting nor declining the case at this time. I'm waiting for the dispute summaries of the remaining participants. Anyone willing to join this discussion, please feel free to add your names and make your summaries. And, please comment on the content and not on the contributor. Good luck and regards— ☮ JAaron95 ^Talk 06:34, 3 October 2015 (UTC)
•  Volunteer note: As I can see in the article's talk page, all the participants except Faizan have agreed to the proposal of Kautilya3. Since there is a consensus, I'll be closing this thread (general close) in 48 hours, if objections are unheard. Regards— ☮ JAaron95 ^Talk 08:13, 4 October 2015 (UTC)
•  Volunteer note: Have closed the discussion per lack of objection to JAaron95's proposed closing of discussion. See closing comment for more details. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 23:19, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Jugdev ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Jugdev ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

I have been working on the programmatic media page and a number of editors have recently started making edits to their pages. A number of items were initially raised and I worked with an administrator (Jbhunley) to rectify the concerns. All of my edits are being continuously reverted despite me providing a aspects of the wiki guidelines that would deem my edits in line with expectations. It appears that particular editors are working towards the same changes to facts within the article. Editors in question are: RichardOSmith; JohnInDC; Macrakis. All I can do is provide justification for the changes that I make. The article is being continually reverted regardless of what I do. I would understand if the facts being reverted were redundant, not relevant, or completely unrelated but this is not the case. Programmatic media is quite a niche industry and the article should balance between technical and general readers. the edits being made appear to be more relevant to the general reader.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

- Continually interacted with the other editors - Recently placed warnings on pages. One editor has ignored the warning and persisted

How do you think we can help?

- a third party opinion on the facts that are continually being deleted despite the numerous conversations on Talk regarding these particular changes

Summary of dispute by

Programmatic media 2 discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• User talk:Indepentten ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Indepentten ( talk · contribs)
• KateWishing ( talk · contribs)
• Alexbrn ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

When I tried to edit this article based on reliable sources and followed the Wiki editing rules, some other editors kept deleting the contents while I was editing, and refused to discuss on the Talk page. One of the editors even deleted and redirect the article to another article without any discussion.

Article sit: /info/en/?search=Face_lift_dentistry

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I tried to open a discussion, but other editors took action without discussing.

How do you think we can help?

Conduct a discussion between the three main editors. And decide the future of this article.

Summary of dispute by KateWishing

Summary of dispute by Alexbrn

• Note this was discussed at WT:MED#Face lift dentistry, and the editors who contributed there should be added here if this proceeds. However I see no need for DRN as consensus seems clear-cut. Alexbrn ( talk) 15:36, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

Face lift dentistry discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Gun politics in Ireland ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• MarkDennehy ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

(Yes - I know: TWO disputes on one page!!) I made an attempt to disambiguate a potentially confusing article with reference to the name of a country. Unfortunately, the name of the particular country in question is identical to the name of the island on which the country has jurisdiction. I was 'bold' and made the change to the lede only (along with a grammatical change, which is the subject of another dispute!). After discussing on the article talk page, and upon seeing an objection to my attempt at disambiguation, I reverted my edit in effort to have reasonable discussion about it, before proceeding. Unfortunately, my conciliatory effort was met with a condescending response and also with a personal insult which spilled over into the other dispute. I now fear that attempting to move forward with any kind of compromise will be difficult. The user became quite patronising and failed to assume good faith and then, ultimately, insulting.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Attempted discussion. Self-reverted the relevant edited portion. [8] Offered potential alternative solution and compromise. Offered an open and transparent case for consideration.

How do you think we can help?

Firstly, a gentle reminder of etiquette for Mark? I do consider the editor to be 'stuck-in-the-mud' with regard to this issue. I made it clear that I was not particularly interested in flouting the guideline of the manual of style, but that I did think it was necessary to bring clarity to the article, with regards to which specific jurisdiction was being referred to. Not being familiar with this process (and now having to lodge two dispute notifications!), I basically need help in proceeding.

Summary of dispute by MarkDennehy

The country I live in is called Ireland. The country to our north is called Northern Ireland. While we understand what you mean when you say "Republic of Ireland", that is just not the name of our country, as was pointed out quite some time ago on the talk page over a different issue. Wikipedia agrees: /info/en/?search=Republic_of_Ireland#Name

This edit changed the UK/US spelling of licence (about which not many people care, and I don't much care either because we don't have firearms licences anyway, we have firearms certificates) but the edit also changed the name of the state the page refers to (and this wasn't pointed out in the edit summary).

When this was pointed out in a neutral one-line objection, the editor wrote several paragraphs on topics such as "On a personal note, I wonder if you ever considered how deeply arrogant and offensive it is to some that the state itself chooses to use the name of the island to describe itself?" and "The name of the state is Ireland or, where necessary to differentiate, the Republic of Ireland. That isn't verbatim from the Republic of Ireland legislation, but it's certainly the intent and spirit." (not only is that not verbatim from Irish law, it appears nowhere in Irish law. The name of the state is Ireland, it's a very simple and straightforward line in the constitution, well understood by everyone).

The name of the country I live in is indeed something I'm stuck in the mud about. Because it's its name. It's in our constitution. It's what we're taught in school. It's what's used on a daily basis. It's what everyone understands. And it's what we expect reference works to use. MarkDennehy ( talk) 08:09, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:Gun politics in Ireland discussion

This DRN for the same article as above is also a waste of time and effort because the naming issue is clear in the Irish Manual of Style (see WP:IRE-IRL). Besides which, any Ireland naming disputes are covered by the WikiProject Ireland Collaboration, where even 1RR per day may get you blocked (yeah I reverted twice but was just reinstating the status quo), and it requires such Ireland naming disputes to be brought there per {{ IECOLL-talk}} and, for clarity, I've tagged the article with this template. ww2censor ( talk) 09:22, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Gun politics in Ireland ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Ww2censor ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

Attempted to edit the article for grammatical improvement (re: the word licence - the verb is spelled differently from the noun in English in the British Isles). Another editor reverted my edits. I attempted to explain, was WP:BOLD, and re-added my original edit. Editor then reverted me again, after posting on my talk page the accusation that I was being "US-centric" (which is funny because I'm not a US citizen). I explained again and offered a source of proof and reverted again, thinking my rationale and proof was enough to move on. Then I got a 3RR warning from the editor. I don't know what do, to be honest. I've tried going by the book.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Illustrated a source on the article talk page, explaining how grammar works in this specific case in British English. Tried to assuage Ww2censor's fear that I was being "US-centric".

How do you think we can help?

Seek an expert on English language in that language's motherland, to confirm (or correct) my edit. Persuade Ww2censor to be less dismissive of my efforts to improve the article and Wikipedia. What ever else you can offer that will avoid either Ww2censor or myself receiving any kind of punishment.

Summary of dispute by Ww2censor

This DRN is a waste of time and effort for everyone because it revolves around a simple content dispute that should be, and is being, dealt with at the talk page where I have provided alternate sources to support the British English spelling as opposed to the US English spelling the anonIP prefers. I simply reverted to the status quo and the anonIP had, at that time, not taken the discussion to the talk page. We even have a specifc template for such issues {{ uw-lang}}. It is now being discussed there where the US-centric spelling is still being promoted. It has nothing to do with citizenship simply language preference. If it counts for anything perhaps the non-registered anonIP editor with just 90 edits in 2+ months is unaware of content dispute procedure, or just too hot headed to handle this in the normal way, as opposed to my 9+ years and 85,000+ edits which counts, not as being better than him/her, but as some experience in wiki procedure. ww2censor ( talk) 09:20, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Gun politics_in_Ireland discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Earth system science ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Terradactyl ( talk · contribs)
• Isambard Kingdom ( talk · contribs)
• prokaryotes ( talk · contribs)
• Plumbago ( talk · contribs)
• Arthur Rubin ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

Last November, longstanding material in the entry on Earth system science dealing with Gaia theory - first added not long after the article was initiated in 2011 - was removed by author Toby Tyrrell, perhaps the most prominent critic of Gaia theory at this time. I started a lengthy conversation at the Talk Page complaining about this, saying that the relationship of Earth system science to Gaia theory should in fact be clarified in the article, giving the full range of views, not expunged and hidden. As I mentioned there, famous commentators have equated the two and consider them synonymous, and even academic textbooks on Earth system science used in university curricula treat them as being fundamentally related or nearly identical. I reworked the material that had been removed, adding well-sourced and high-quality citations substantiating all of this, and yet it has been continuously reverted by a few aggressive editors.

Most important is the fact that there is little logical argument for the removal. Even Tyrrell, who first removed the material, noted: "If Gaia is accepted as being right (which it isn't) then of course it would be fundamentally important for ESS and should be featured strongly here." This reveals a lack of neutrality, furthered by the other editors re-removing the material in my newer versions, but far more importantly, as noted at the Talk page, since such major commentators - I have quotes from some of the world's leading climatologists, Nobel laureates, the head of NASA's Planetary Sciences Division, etc. - have already seen the two as identical, clearly they must be, by definition, equally "right" and "wrong" for all those, and, since they are so prominent, this meets Tyrrell's criteria for inclusion, regardless of his personal research. Further, I have not been asking for a lengthy Gaia section, just something with the full range of viewpoints on the relationship of Earth system science to Gaia theory, given such widely held opinions.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I have frequently asked the editors who found the article to be made "imbalanced" because of my edits to ADD material expressing any other viewpoints they could cite appropriately, rather than removing my edits.

Eventually, I asked for the article to be protected. It was for a few days. I just tried posting yet another new version of the same material - it was removed in about 10 minutes by Isambard Kingdom. 

How do you think we can help?

If they'll agree to having a Relationship to Gaia theory section, then the content can perhaps be negotiated: after all, I almost never remove other editors' work. I quoted the below at the Talk page. Can you verify this is correct?

"It is inappropriate to remove blocks of well-referenced information which is germane to the subject from articles on the grounds that the information advances a point of view. Wikipedia's NPOV policy contemplates inclusion of all significant points of view."

Summary of dispute by Isambard Kingdom

ESS is not Gaia. ESS considers the many systems of the Earth (in the broadest sense of the word "Earth"), incorporating ideas that are central to dynamical systems. Many of the ideas of ESS have origin in what we also call geography and ecology. This is clear from the several authoritative books cited in the lead, some of which do mention Gaia, but others of which don't. Gaia is an interesting (but specific) hypothesis about life and its development in the setting of the Earth system. In this sense, Gaia is a small subset of ESS, and, as such, it should be mentioned and briefly discussed in the ESS article. But the lengthy material that Terradactyl wants to be included does not result in a balanced article (it results in one that is biased towards Gaia). And some of the material that Terradactyl wants to be included is, by his/her own admission, motivated by a history of pervious edits by Toby Tyrrell, example: [9], and I would assert that that history is not relevant to the article we need to have now. Terradactyl's writing style is verbose, his/her entries on the talk page are verbose, and he/she often uses unhelpful accusing language, such as saying that other editors are "vandalizing" the article, example: [10]. Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 14:02, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by prokaryotes

The involved editors really tried hard to explain to OP why repeated efforts to keep certain versions in the article are not gonna happen. The dispute is currently evolving around this content addition. What OP fails to understand is that the article ESS is not the place to discuss the history of the relationship of ESS and GT(Gaia theory). All editors agree that there is a connection, and therefore GT has a place at the ESS article. However not with the weight and specific detail on just the relationship and certain opinions. OP also often adds his own unneeded synopsis, i.e. The Amsterdam Declaration on Global Change (2001), signed by more than 1,000 scientists under the aegis of the United Nations and thus representing the highest level of scientific consensus, is a significant document for Earth system science, as well as Gaia theory. OP should provide reworked article changes on the article talk page, instead of pushing disputed content. prokaryotes ( talk) 07:05, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Plumbago

In summary, the dispute is between Terradactyl and everyone else. Terradactyl is insistent in casting the subject of the article as synonymous with the Gaia hypothesis, which greatly oversimplifies reality. Terradactyl, to be fair, finds sources for this, but is cherry-picking the literature and favouring certain authorities rather than considering the full range of the subject (e.g. what scientists are publishing papers on). All of this has been explained many times to Terradactyl on the talk page, but the advice is consistently ignored. The only sign that Terradactyl is acknowledging any other opinions is that they have reined in their wilder accusations of ignorance / bad faith / COI from the talk page ... and from the article page. This is all unfortunate because Terradactyl is an enthusiastic and prolific (at least on the talk page) editor. However, I fear that this is a topic close to their heart, and they do not appear willing to concede any ground on it. For full disclosure, I am a (clearly biased) Earth system scientist (marine biogeochemistry), someone who retains a suspicion that there may be something in this Gaia-thing, and a colleague of Toby Tyrrell (who Terradactyl seems to think knows nothing about Gaia despite convincing a major scientific publisher to publish a book on the subject). -- PLUMBAGO 06:48, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Arthur Rubin

I don't have much to add to Plumbago's comment, except to note that the (approximately 7500 characters) addition of the Gaia material was not significantly different in the multiple versions, and the changes did not reflect apparent consensus in the discussion. Perhaps a volunteer's recognition of consensus could be helpful. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 09:12, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:Earth system_science discussion

•  Volunteer note: There appears to have been extensive discussion on the talk page of the article and I think this dispute is ready for DRN. I'm neither accepting or declining this case at this time, but just mentioning that it is the duty of the filer to notify all the involved parties about this DRN case. You may use {{ subst:drn-notice}} for this purpose. And it appears that PLUMBAGO is a non-existing username. Please correct the name. Regards— ☮ JAaron95 ^Talk 04:05, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Hi, Thank you - I have now notified the editors at their talk pages. The URL for Plumbago's talk page is this: /info/en/?search=User_talk:Plumbago

The capitalization I used, if that made any difference, was taken from his signing of his comments at the Earth system science talk page Terradactyl ( talk) 04:53, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

First statement by volunteer moderator

I am a volunteer editor at this noticeboard and am opening this dispute for moderated discussion. The issue appears to be whether to add a long section on the Gaia hypothesis that views the Earth as a superorganism. It appears that one editor wants to add this section and that other editors disagree. A compromise might be to add a shorter section. However, if there are other issues, the editors can identify them. I would like each editor to provide a short statement of the issues, not more than two paragraphs; if you have already stated your case above on this page, you may just say that. Please comment on content, not on contributors. I intend to check the status of this thread at least every 24 hours. I expect every participant to check this thread at least every 48 hours. Please address your comments below to me (the moderator), not to each other. Please be civil and concise. (So far, the discussion on the talk page and on this page has been civil.) Robert McClenon ( talk) 16:48, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

First statements by editors

Robert, in response to your request for additional input and your suggestion that a compromise might be to add a shorter section, by which I suppose you mean a condensation of the Gaia theory material that Terradactyl has been offering, let me emphasize that the ESS article already has a certain amount of Gaia content in it. Three (3) paragraphs on Gaia are in the "origins" section of the ESS article. In that respect, generous accommodation for Gaia theory has already been made, especially given that Gaia is just a part of what ESS is. Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 19:26, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Response to statements: One thing consistently being mischaracterized thus far: I did not "add" the disputed content. I restored and updated it. For most of the life of this entry - from early 2011 until late 2014 - it had a section, ~754 words in length (varying slightly by word count now and then), titled "Inspiration in the Gaia theory" (here is a link to the very first appearance of it [11]).

Its remaining in the article for so long - an extended period during which many more editors worked on the article than are involved in the current dispute - suggests general approval of those many editors that the material was indeed appropriate and germane to the article, and that its length was not out of proportion with its significance. Indeed, it is ironic that one of the editors [redacted] involved in this dispute even edited the article at least 10 times during the period that this material was in the article, without suggesting removal. The section consisted primarily of two things: 1. discussion of some aspects of the relationship between Gaia theory and ESS, and 2. some discussion of the Amsterdam Declaration.

I simply restored this same material in a version that I feel is an improvement over the original one: it is now 758 words, just 4 words longer than the very first version in 2011; it is, I believe, far more probing into a wide range of views as to the relationship between them; includes many more highly authoritative citations; and does not simply quote the Amsterdam Declaration at length, but now provides a synopsis of its central points, as per Wiki practice. The Amsterdam Declaration, btw, never even mentions Gaia or Gaia theory, so please note that none of these editors has even tried yet to provide any justification at all for the removal of that material. Given that it was signed by more than 1,000 scientists, is an expression of broad scientific consensus, and is of clear historic importance to the subject, this part of the removal seems downright bizarre.

Lastly, please note that only one of these editors [redacted] is attempting to argue the science itself, and his position seems to be based on entirely original research: he writes, "Gaia is an interesting (but specific) hypothesis about life and its development in the setting of the Earth system. In this sense, Gaia is a small subset of ESS." He has not yet substantiated his notion of viewing Gaia as a "subset of ESS" with any references, but, if he does have appropriate references, my request has simply been that he include this highly interesting and germane position within the article. Terradactyl ( talk) 22:20, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Comment on content, not contributors. Names have been removed. Continue the discussion, but no naming of names. Robert McClenon ( talk) 22:34, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Very sorry, since there was no negative connotation intended in what I just wrote, I thought that wasn't a problem. I had misunderstood this, and won't name anyone specifically at all again! Terradactyl ( talk) 01:01, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Different moderators have different styles, and part of my style is that I am strict about comments on contributors. Okay. Robert McClenon ( talk) 00:10, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

Regarding the science of Gaia, it seems significant that the IPCC Assessment Report 5, surely a key source of information about Earth science, contains only 7 mentions of Gaia - none of which are direct references to the Gaia hypothesis (most are actually references to GAIA, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives). No-one here has questioned whether or not there is support for the Gaia hypothesis out there, what we have a problem with is the balance of the text that has been added. This has been glaringly counter to the scientific literature. -- PLUMBAGO 16:02, 4 October 2015 (UTC)

Second statement by moderator

I will try to recapitulate. It appears that one editor wants to add a lengthy section concerning the Gaia hypothesis. The other four editors disagree, thinking that section either provides undue weight or is original research. (Two of the editors stated that in the discussion, and all four in their opening statements.) I proposed a compromise of a shorter section, and it has been pointed out that the Gaia hypothesis is already mentioned. This appears to be a rough local consensus against the additions. I see four theoretical ways forward. The first is for the other editors to accept the additions. That is theoretical, and I will not ask them whether they have changed their minds. The second is for the filing party to agree that consensus is against the addition, and to accept the consensus. I will ask the filing party whether they are willing to accept the local consensus. The third is for the editors to agree to a Request for Comments, to obtain a larger consensus on whether to add the language. I will ask the editors whether they will go with an RFC. If the filing party and at least two of the other editors agree to an RFC, I will ask the filing party to prepare draft language for the proposed addition, and will prepare a neutrally worded RFC, with agreement that the result of the RFC is binding (as RFCs are). The fourth is to fail the discussion; I don't want to do that, because I would prefer either the second approach (filing party withdraw addition) or the third approach (RFC). If there is a fifth proposed way forward, will one of the editors please explain it? Otherwise, will the editors please state whether they will participate in an RFC? Robert McClenon ( talk) 15:15, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

Second set of statements by editors

Robert, the disputed material does not belong in the ESS article. I do not support an RFC. Thank you, Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 03:56, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

I consider an RfC unnecessary, but would support it if the filing party agrees. It would put an end to this discussion, which (I believe) should have ended long ago. It might be helpful if Robert (the DRN moderator? I'm on my phone, and can't copy readily) would take charge of advertising the RfC. I recall a recent RfC which was "damaged" because of disputes as to improper canvassing. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 04:39, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

Hi, Robert - Thanks. In terms of the RFC question, I guess that is something like a trial by jury: it depends who is on the jury, and what evidence they will be shown. Will they be allowed to know, for example, that a similar section of the same length was already in the article for years? To me it would be vital to know that before deciding how to proceed. Also, how do you choose from whom to request comments? Also, what exactly does 'binding' mean, with ever-morphing articles like at Wiki? If that meant that the decision of the current 'jury' would dictate anything about the permanent future content of the article, of course I would not allow it.

Further, I'm sorry, I simply cannot accept this "local consensus." You say that there are four 'theoretical' ways forward, but that the first one, being 'theoretical', you will not ask of the other editors, which I am not sure that I understand. Also, in your recapitulation, you say that there is a charge of OR: if so, that should be regarded as frivolous, given the citations for everything in the section. Nor do I even see that charge as being more than tangentially implied here. What I see is, primarily, a charge of undue weight and that it is against consensus. Of course, it seems "against consensus" because these editors are against it! In your recapitulation you repeat that I have added a lengthy section, but, let me repeat, it is simply reinstating removed material in a new version, of exactly the same length as before, which had persisted in the article for much of its life, so demonstrating broad consensus about weight, appropriateness, etc. Further, one of these editors has just created a section "relationship to Gaia theory" at the article, which is a good thing - and, bizarrely, pasted in a sentence that has nothing to do with Gaia theory, and which makes no sense in its current context (I wrote the sentence). Further, I have observed at length some of the current editors at the Gaia theory article's Talk page, where I have noted that at least two of them seem to lack a strong grasp of the material. There are also logical inconsistencies throughout these objections. One of them writes now: "What OP fails to understand is that the article ESS is not the place to discuss the history of the relationship of ESS and GT(Gaia theory). All editors agree that there is a connection, and therefore GT has a place at the ESS article." Funnily, at the talk page two of these editors emphasized the very opposite: that the historical relationship of Gaia and ESS was acceptable, but not the current connections, etc. Terradactyl ( talk) 05:16, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

I agree with Arthur Rubin that an RfC is unnecessary. I would, however, disagree that is a productive way forwards here. As the comment immediately above illustrates, I don't believe that the filing party would abide by it if it reported a view counter to their own. They are right, the rest of us are dead wrong. Where that leaves us, however, I am unsure. -- PLUMBAGO 07:02, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

Third statement by moderator

First, as to the addition being "against consensus", the fact that four editors are against it is exactly what a local consensus is. Second, as to how a Request for Comments works, I suggest that the editors reread the RFC policy, but a summary is that the jury consists of all of the editors who participate in the RFC, and the RFC will be publicized to the appropriate WikiProjects, and also publicized by a bot that polls editors randomly. Unfortunately, at this point I don't seem to have the necessary support to go forward with the RFC, because one of the answers to the RFC is no, and some of the other answers are not clear and concise. Please either respond yes or no to whether we use an RFC. The alternative to an RFC is that I can fail the discussion, in which case the editors can go back to edit-warring. If edit-warring resumes, one or both of two things will happen. One or more of the edit-warriors may be blocked temporarily. The article may be page-protected (locked). So I will restate that it is in the interests of the editors and Wikipedia to have an RFC. Are the editors willing to support an RFC, or do I have to fail the discussion, which will result in edit-warring and admin intervention? Robert McClenon ( talk) 17:21, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

To answer User:Arthur Rubin, yes, this is mediation. As the mediation policy states, most but not all discussions at this noticeboard take the form of mediation. In particular, when I take a dispute as 'volunteer moderator', I am acting as a mediator. I don't have the proven experience in mediation that the mediators at formal mediation do, but I am trying to follow the mediation policy. This means that I will not make a decision based on local consensus, but I do expect the editors to let me try to facilitate resolving the dispute. Once again: I identified four ways forward. Two of them, the opposing editors agreeing with the filing editor, and the filing editor agreeing, don't seem to be about to happen. If anyone wants me to resolve this dispute myself, I will point out that I am a mediator, not a judge. Will the editors agree to an RFC, or should I fail the thread? If I fail the thread, the editors will probably go back to edit-warring, and administrative action will have to be taken. It is in the interests of editors who wish to improve the article, rather than imposing a point of view on the article, to agree to an RFC, but I cannot force the RFC through without agreement. If anyone wishes to object to my moderation/mediation, they may go to the talk page for this noticeboard. Otherwise, I am the mediator and moderator until the case is resolved or I throw it away. Please try to help me resolve this dispute without it going to WP:ANI or anywhere else. Thank you. Robert McClenon ( talk) 02:55, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Again: Please. Is everyone willing to have a Request for Comments, or do we have to have administrative action, which no one should want? Robert McClenon ( talk) 02:55, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Third statements by editors

Robert, can't a simple decision be made on the basis of existing local consensus? Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 19:09, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

•  Volunteer note: - Isambard Kingdom, you are confusing mediation with a ruling. Mediation is about reaching an agreement OR a compromise NOT to make a ruling such as what AN/I and ArbCom are allowed to make. This is mainly because any editor can volunteer here but only Admins can settle AN/I and ArbCom disputes. So think of DR/N as an "out of court" agreement, where it is not binding but will have a negative impact if disregarded on any follow-up "binding" case at either AN/I or ArbCom. Hope this clarifies, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 05:15, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Drcrazy102, thank you for explaining this to me, and I apologize if I've been negligent in reading up on Wiki procedure. Honestly, this whole subject has become tiresome, and I suspect than an RfC involves a certain level of effort that is disproportionate for the subject at hand. While I am quite busy (with my real life) over the next couple of weeks, I would participate in an RfC. I will not, however, lead the effort to draw up pro-con type statements, and initiate the process etc. Generally speaking, I've tried to concentrate my involvement in Wiki on editing articles. I don't like to get bogged down in other things. The preferred solution, in my opinion, is for consensus to be accepted. Many editors work on more than one article, and many editors work on articles with different themes. So there can be an understanding that if one doesn't get one's own way with one article, one can still work on other articles. But, again, yes, I would participate in the RfC. I also support an RfC over letting the whole mediation effort fail simply because consensus has not been accepted. Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 13:46, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Isambard Kingdom, an RfC is typically easier (as far as proportional effort) as editors are usually restricted to only a few comments to avoid bludgeoning the votes and discussion. If the RfC does become "lively" and counter-proposals, discussion, etc. of points raised is needed, then a sub-section is opened for a specific discussion of a subject. I would suggest reading through the RfC policy page and checking some examples (here are some on pages I've been involved in: ^{[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f]} In each of these RfCs, the result was 'binding' to the subsequent actions of editors. I have yet to see a second RfC that is aimed at countering the ideas presented in earlier RfCs, though an older Wiki-Editor might be able to shed some light.) Hope these help with what an RfC is like and can achieve when worded properly and discussed properly. I would also suggest to Arthur Rubin that they take a quick look over these if they are not aware of how RfCs work, though I don't think it is needed. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 00:45, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

I don't think I was unclear. I consider an RfC unnecessary, as there is a clear local consensus with only one objector, but, if that objector would agree to abide by the results of that RfC, I see little harm in it.
I don't think this is WP:MEDIATION, though. The moderator may make a decision without getting unanimous agreement....or am I wrong? — Arthur Rubin (talk) 02:36, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

•  Volunteer note: - Arthur Rubin, Robert is asking for a "yes/no" response now instead of a "maybe/if this" response, so it is less "you being unclear" and more "you're not answering the question properly" (small but important distinction) and so I would ask that you please clarify to a "yes/no/agree/disagree" response please. Also, as I've just said above to IK, mediators cannot make rulings as we are volunteers not Admins. Mediators can however attempt to resolve disputes through compromise and consensus, which can involve all editors walking away a bit disgruntled about the result but ultimately in a better position to continue editing. Hope this clarifies, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 05:15, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

Robert, how would an RFC be any different than the protracted discussion we've already had here and at the talk page of ESS? Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 03:06, 8 October 2015 (UTC); moved per section headings, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 05:29, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

•  Volunteer note: - RFC is able to issue a 'binding' consensus as it uses interested and involved editors to show their points of contention and arguments, while being 'voted' on by 'voting' is done by involved and uninvolved (*typically) bot-summoned editors as to which arguments have more merit, as well as often offering their own points of argument as well. When the Rfc is considered to have reached a "majority consensus" (per WP:SNOWBALL), or to have run its course of interested commentators, then the RfC is considered closed and 'binding' (not permanent, but binding the actions henceforth from the closure). Please not that I am paraphrasing and using some 'loose meanings' of words, but the general idea is present, mainly because I am currently editing from my phone or I'd be quoting whole passages from the relevant policies and guidelines. Hope this helps, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 05:29, 8 October 2015 (UTC); clarified 00:45, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

•  Note to participants: - Please carefully read the WP:RfC policy page, it's not that long nor hard to do so unlike other Policy pages. RfC's are fundamentally different to discussions, though they are somewhat similar in how they can be conducted. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 00:45, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Editors' positions on RfC usage to resolve dispute

•  Note to participants: - @ Terradactyl, Isambard Kingdom, Prokaryotes, Plumbago, and Arthur Rubin: do you as an individual editor agree or disagree with using an RfC to resolve this dispute through the consensus of the community? Responses are to be limited to "Yes / Agree" or "No / Disagree", and your signatures (~~~~) with no additional comments. Additional comments can be made and addressed in the above section "Third statements by editors". This is to clarify beyond doubt whether to proceed on this thread or to start preparing an RfC statement. Cheers, Drcrazy102 ( talk) 12:35, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Yes. Isambard Kingdom ( talk) 13:24, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Yes — Arthur Rubin (talk) 17:37, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Fourth statement by moderator

I see that two editors have agreed to an RFC. I am asking the proposing editor of the change, User:Terradactyl, to prepare a draft section in user space, to which the RFC can link, and the RFC will ask whether the section should be added to the article. It can be the same as any of the previously reverted additions. The RFC will run for thirty days, as is the usual rule. I will pose the RFC as a straightforward question of yes or no to the addition of the contested language, so the contested language should be written by the proponent. If at least two more editors including the proponent agree to the RFC, we will go forward with the RFC and the case can then be closed. If we do not get enough agreement to the RFC, I will then fail this case. I don't want to do that, and nobody should want that, because that will leave the article to be subject to edit-warring, which will in turn result in administrative actions, either blocks or locks or both. Robert McClenon ( talk) 20:18, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

If there are any remaining questions about the RFC process, or any other issues about the article, please list them in the next section.

Follow-Up: I will try to reply to the lengthy commentary (hidden) by User:Terradactyl. I have hidden it because, in my view, it is neither constructive nor in their own interests. If they want to include his draft section, they have everything to gain from an RFC and nothing to lose. The alternative to an RFC will be that I will fail this thread, and then there will be a local consensus against the addition. Terradactyl says that I did not answer a polite question. If that means who decides who is on the "jury", that question has been answered by referring to the RFC policy. I will point out that Terradactyl seems to have misread my explanation of how the RFC will be framed. Rather than asking, in general, whether to include lengthy language about the Gaia hypothesis, I asked that Terradactyl put the draft language in user space, so that RFC participants can see exactly what they are !voting on. Once again, my question to the proponent, as well as to the opponents, is simply yes or no, whether they will agree to an RFC. I will point out again that if I fail this thread due to failure by the proponent to offer the draft for the RFC, there will be local consensus against the addition. So, please provide a yes or no answer. Will you participate in the RFC, knowing that you will write the language of the proposed draft? I am giving Terradactyl one more chance to agree to the only way to get their addition in. Robert McClenon ( talk) 00:39, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

By the way, if Terradactyl has objections to my conduct as moderator, please go to this noticeboard's talk page, and state the concerns, and request an alternate moderator. Robert McClenon ( talk) 00:39, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Fourth statements by editors

Commentary omitted for reasons described above. Robert McClenon ( talk) 00:30, 10 October 2015 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Fourth statement of filing party I’d be happy if there could be an impartial process in which solicited comments from other editors could help resolve this dispute. So, in principle, yes. But there is simply no way I am just answering yes/no right now. I asked a simple, polite question several days ago now, which the moderator still has not addressed. And his “recapitulation” was not an objective recapitulation of the dispute, IMHO. I had specifically underscored in my prior comments here that a considerable portion of the removed material actually concerned the Amsterdam Declaration, and did not even involve Gaia theory, although no one had even bothered to try to justify why they wanted that part removed – yet no mention of the Amsterdam Declaration in his “recapitulation”. I mentioned that the dispute wasn’t simply “adding a lengthy section” concerning “the Gaia hypothesis”, but reinstating a long-standing section, of exactly the same number of words as before, in a new version, concerning the relationship between “Earth system science” and “Gaia”, which would seem essential (given that many important figures have said that they are synonymous), for a useful and intelligent entry on Earth system science. Yet no mention of the prior history of the entry, etc, is in his “recapitulation.” Further, the mediator mentioned my unwittingly going against Wiki rules in naming the other editors, but made no mention at all of some pretty outrageous edits being made to the entry right during the period of this dispute resolution, from one of these other editors (and what edits – i.e., citing Tyler Volk’s work as an example of Gaia theory having come under criticism in recent years – just go ask Tyler about this!). About being “against consensus” the mediator simply said, “the fact that four editors are against it is exactly what a local consensus is,” and also referred to “imposing a point a view” on the article, when the real risk here is one of impeding a variety of viewpoints being expressed, which of course is precisely what increases neutrality in an article. So forgive me, but I seem to be getting a whiff of some kangaroo..... I filed this on the assumption that there must be some checks and balances in Wiki’s arcane “legal system” such that, in the hypothetical case that a group of editors could actually be misinformed and/or happy to break Wiki protocol, damage could still be prevented. I would have assumed that "consensus" was only meaningful and dominant if the consensus is actually grounded in a decision rooted properly upon that protocol. I don't believe that is the case here, and that's why I filed this. But it would appear from his 'recap' that the mediator probably intends to have this RfC read something like: “Do you agree the an editor should add a lengthy section to the Earth system science entry about the Gaia hypothesis against local consensus?” And, lo and behold, every single editor polled would likely say – surprise, surprise! – no! So would I – if I were asked and knew nothing more about it. But an adequate RfC would read something like this: “Do you think that in the Earth system science (ESS) article a longstanding section concerning the relationship of ESS to Gaia theory, as well as longstanding material about the Amsterdam Declaration on Global Change, should be reinstated in a new version (of the same length as prior) citing sources discussing the viewpoint that ESS and Gaia theory are synonymous, alongside other viewpoints?” Thus far the moderator has only responded to my question on “what the jury will get to know,” and the content of his RfC saying, basically, “Go read the RfC page.” I looked at it. It looks as though I could even request an RfC myself. Nor did I see the material about the binding nature of the decision, and exactly what that all means. Somehow this is all getting a little too Kafkaesque for me......I want some change of tone or might simply wash my hands of this. Terradactyl ( talk) 22:40, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

My question, of course, was about what the framing of the question in the initial RfC is, not about who is on the "jury." I think I made that pretty clear.

You write: "I will point out that Terradactyl seems to have misread my explanation of how the RFC will be framed. Rather than asking, in general, whether to include lengthy language about the Gaia hypothesis, I asked that Terradactyl put the draft language in user space, so that RFC participants can see exactly what they are voting on."

That still sounds to me as though you mean, by "draft language", the language of the contested section's text itself, NOT the draft language of the initial question posed in the RfC. All the RfCs linked to by the volunteer involved a single question. That question is important. So which do you mean? Are you saying that I will draft the posing of the RfC question? If so, then I did indeed misunderstand you.

I also might say that I do not enjoy the somewhat pressuring quality of calling this "the only way to get their addition in," and of still not responding to my multiple questions about what you mean by a 'binding' decision. Obviously, if a few editors interested in the history of ESS and Gaia start paying attention to the article next month, then the current consensus is gone, so I clearly don't want to be involved in anything locking in some inferior version of the article. Thus you need to explain that much better as well. Thank you. Terradactyl ( talk) 02:01, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Here's a grand idea: give us both your draft RfC statement/proposal and the draft of the contested change. That should solve all the problems and tick all the boxes, yes? I've also left a message for you on your talk page. Drcrazy102 ( talk) 02:16, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Personal Life and Campaigning Talk Section ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• FordFrazey ( talk · contribs)
• McGeddon ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

The subject of this item is self-editing. The anonymous talk entries appear to be conducted by the subject. A direct conflict of interests. I made an small, proveable entry about this subject which was almost immediately deleted by the editor (McGeddon) who also seems a little too close to the subject themselves. Employee? McGeddon (without debate) appears to wish to quash any entries that will balance or offer a different opinion on the subject - despite the fact that they have supporting referenced police evidence. I suggest McGeddon could also be the subject, or someone working for them.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Other than communicating politely, I have not furthered this as I can see that all entries will be deleted by "McGeddon".

How do you think we can help?

I would like some adjudication please and evidence that McGeddon is not the subject or someone in their employ.

Summary of dispute by McGeddon

Personal Life and Campaigning Talk Section discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Duke of Manchester ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Engleham ( talk · contribs)
• Andy Dingley ( talk · contribs)
• Fabulas fictas servi narrant ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

This is a fun one. Sections of the general article page on the Dukes of Manchester referring to the previous Dukes of the 20th century, and also their now sold estates, are being blanked.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

None apart from reverting.

How do you think we can help?

Compromise with the other party/s?

Summary of dispute by Andy Dingley

Summary of dispute by Fabulas fictas servi narrant

Talk:Duke of_Manchester discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Clayton Kershaw ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• EricEnfermero ( talk · contribs)
• Muboshgu ( talk · contribs)
• Spanneraol ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

I am attempting to include which day of the week the person was born on. Despite trying to explain on the subject's talk page, the editors persistently keep reverting my edit and I would like these editors to understand without wheel warring.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I suggested they discuss this on the talk page, but they stubbornly keep wheel warring

How do you think we can help?

I think they should leave the page with the extra detail and discuss this on the talk page until we can come up with something we can agree on.

Summary of dispute by EricEnfermero

User:108.27.63.106 was pointed to both MOS:INFOBOX (the part about highlighting the most important information) and to Template:Infobox baseball biography (the birth_date field instructions that specify using the date). Discussion was started on both the editor's user talk page (by me) and the article talk page (by User:108.27.63.106). My two comments on the editor's talk page did not result in a response, and the editor's comment on the article talk page produced several replies - all in disagreement with this editor's version. Instead of carrying the discussion further, the editor restored his preferred version. Not only was there not talk page consensus for that change, but no one has even agreed with him yet. EricEnfermero ( Talk) 05:18, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Muboshgu

The IP is edit warring, has violated 3RR and could be blocked for it, and is elevating the issue unnecessarily while flying solo against a clear consensus. –  Muboshgu ( talk) 05:57, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

As an added note, the IP made the same edit to Jacob deGrom for some reason. –  Muboshgu ( talk) 15:46, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Spanneraol

IP keeps adding content that violates the manual of style despite being reverted by three different established content editors. Has violated the 3RR and continues to add the content. Suggest page protection and a block for the IP until he/she learns how to edit properly. Spanneraol ( talk) 05:03, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

talk:Clayton Kershaw discussion

What's wrong with stating which day of the week the subject's birthdate falls on? Anonymous 06:46, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps the date format can be ajusted to include the day of the week. Anonymous 06:48, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

The day of the week an individual was born on is not relevant and should not be included. The IP editor's enthusiasm for adding information to Wikipedia is welcome, but I suggest very strongly that he or she channel it into a much more productive direction if he and she wishes to continue editing. Newyorkbrad ( talk) 06:52, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

Agreed. This just made me realize that I don't know what day of the week I was born on. I could look it up in two second, but I just don't care. It's not in MOS to include day of the week for anything, and I often trim it from prose when I see it added to a date. –  Muboshgu ( talk) 15:45, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

• Volunteer note - Please keep discussion to a minimum in a case that has not been opened by a volunteer. I am neither accepting nor declining this case, but am recommending that it be declined. There has only been one statement on the talk page by each editor, so that this case appears to be premature. I would also advise the filing party to read the edit-warring policy and the wheel-warring policy before claiming that other editors have been wheel-warring. There has been no wheel-warring, which refers to contentious use of administrative tools by administrators (and it does not appear that any of the editors are administrators). I am recommending that this case be declined as premature. Robert McClenon ( talk) 16:50, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Sitush talk ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• null ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

Kushwaha, community page is created by Mr Sitush who claimed them from Sudra Verna whereas the origin of this clan is Khastriya. He at his own classified them as Shudra in Hindus and trying to become God. First of all This editor is prejudiced against this community. Kushwaha are Kachwaha vansh of Sawai Man Singh. I requested him a lot for change of the word but instead he is asking me for proof and enforcing some novel as proof. Our authenticate literature are only the source of Hindu Varna based system like Ramayan, Geeta etc. I am sure this writer is from Bihar and rival caste of kushwaha.

I want to send a legal notice to Mr Sitush who is losing the credibility of esteem WIKIPEDIA.

Regards

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I Suggested amendment to him and he blocked it and asking me proof wheras his proof are baseless. I am Kushwaha and know my history.

How do you think we can help?

By removing the word shudra and if may include:

Kushwaha is Kshatriya community of Indian society. The Kachhawas or kushwaha belong to the Suryavanshi lineage, which claims descent from the Surya and Sun Dynasty of the ancient Kshatriyas. Specifically, they are descent from Kusha[1] younger of the twin sons of Rama, hero of the Ramayana, to whom patrilineal descent from Surya is in turn ascribed. Indeed, the name Kachawaha is held by many[2] to be a patronymic derived from the name “Kusha”.

Summary of dispute by null

Summary of dispute by

Rajput The Royal July 19, 2012 ·

Sub Caste Of Rajputs

Bais

Banafar

Bhadoria

Bhati

Bihola

Bisen

Birwar

Bondili

Chauhan

Champavat

Chandel

Chavda

Chudasama

Dadwal

Dodia

Gaur

Gohil

Jadeja

Jetwa

Kushwaha

Padhiyar

Parihar

Parmar

Panwar

Pundhir

Pratihar

Raghuvanshi

Rana

Rathore

Shekahawat

Sisodia

Solanki

Vaghela — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pankaj.kushwaha1983 ( talk • contribs) 02:08, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Sitush talk discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Ranveer Brar ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Coolkrc ( talk · contribs)
• Sanskari ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

Issues raised re the person's notability under WP:BLP and also conflict of interest. Re, conflict of interest raised at /info/en/?search=Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest/Noticeboard#Ranveer_Brar - I have explained that I have absolutely no vested interest in the person and I am only trying to defend my only article.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

I have already, with the help of other admins, edited the article with relevant references, removed invalid references, plus a WIKI admin has also helped establish notability by pointing the editor to Google search results that more than validate the person's importance enough to have a WIKI article.

How do you think we can help?

The AFD discussion mentioned above has been relisted for lack of consensus. I request other admins to take a look at the article and help me understand where I can improve it further and also to please consider the Google Search results as helpfully pointed by the other admin on the AFD page, in order to establish the chef's notability. I am more than happy to make necessary edits where needed if only I can be given specific pointers instead of broad "Notability" and "Conflict of Interest".

Summary of dispute by Sanskari

Wikipedia:Articles for_deletion/Ranveer_Brar discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Burning of Parliament ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• SchroCat ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

Front-page article has superlative, unsubstantiated claim made about Burning of British Parliament ("biggest conflagration"). I changed to "one of the biggest". SchroCat twice reverted--claims citations provide evidence but refuses to cite to specific reference. If he comes up with a citation, I will apologize, but he has so far balked at doing so.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Argued with him. And my apologies for getting heated, but SchroCat is exactly the kind of hostile, possessive, passive-aggressive editor that made me leave wikipedia several years ago.

How do you think we can help?

Encourage accuracy in wikipedia.

Summary of dispute by SchroCat

Lazy IP who can't be bothered to read the article. It's cited there if he'd bothered to read it, but he's only read the lede. To make it blindingly obvious, the IP should visit this page and do a basic text search of the word "blitz". If he'd have bothered to read the article, rather than ignore BRD and edit war, he'd have saved everyone a lot of trouble. Time for everyone to move on and do something more useful, methinks. – SchroCat ( talk) 22:32, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

No, lazy dishonest SchroCat, who kept yammering on that this reference was in Shenton, which is simply not true. This is the first time he's bothered to reference this page during this entire dispute. It's hardly a scholarly treatment of the subject, but it is an online reference, so I yield. Too bad he's wasted my and everyone else's time by failing to provide a citation when requested. BTW, it is also a lie that I edit warred, since I reverted only once, which is half as many times as ShroCat. Again, editors like SchroCat are why wikipedia has trouble getting and keeping good editors--who wants to have to put up with this kind of superior, passive-aggressive behavior every time one edits an article. 199.108.124.254 ( talk) 22:44, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Shenton says the same thing too, but you were too.lazy to find it, read the article, or look at any of the references. On top of that you've been insulting, rude and tiresome. Thank goodness you don't edit Wiki often – you are the sort of sub-standard and abrasive individual who isn't needed. – SchroCat ( talk) 22:52, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Yet again you fail to provide a specific reference. Why is that? Because it's not there. (You do realize that Shenton is searchable, don't you? She says "most significant"--you do realize that's not at all the same thing as "biggest" or "largest", don't you?) You are the one who has been rude, condescending, and most damningly, dishonest. wikipedia lost a good editor when it lost me. Too bad there are so many more of your ilk . . . Oh, and your ilk is also the kind that can't stand not to have the last word . . . Just a prediction. 199.108.124.254 ( talk) 23:04, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Shenton has written more than just the book, but don't worry about that, just so long as you try and prove yourself right. Either way, you're fighting a lost battle: the question is settled and all you are doing is trolling now. Time for you go go and bother someone else. – SchroCat ( talk) 23:10, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

As I said: your ilk are unable not to have the last word. And you STILL haven't provided a citation to Shenton, in any book. Why is that? I'm not being a troll, I'm pointing out your dishonesty. Of course, to someone like you I'm sure that seems like trolling. Your grasp of the language has already been shown to be . . . questionable. Remember, folks, he is incapable of not responding to this--you heard it here first. 199.108.124.254 ( talk) 23:18, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:Burning of_Parliament discussion

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:List of wars involving Cyprus ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Mikrobølgeovn ( talk · contribs)
• Courtier1978 ( talk · contribs)
• GGT ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

With a few months' break, users keep adding unsourced, contradictory claims to this article, not acknowledging that it is merely a navigation tool and should only reflect what the main articles say. So far, all approaches have failed, and I believe we'll need outside help if this is going to be solved without further edit warring.

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Approach the editor directly, discuss on the talk page

How do you think we can help?

As both sides accuse each other of being biased, I think a neutral third party might be what is needed to reach a solution both sides can be at least not unsatisfied with.

Summary of dispute by Courtier1978

First of all it is fair to say that my editing is done on an NPOV base. That is adding the victories of both sides in an NPOV manner. The same applies to the rest of my articles. Anyone can see this from my history. I have also added in the past, what the people of the island have in common, as well as leaving versions of other articles edited after me, from one of the two totally pro-Turkish editors here, as they were edited by him. This also can be seen from my history.

On the contrary the other two users are keep deleting ALL the victories of the Greek side for a whole year now and edit warring the article since then. They are pushing POV and are engaging in edit warring, since continuously deleting ALL the victories of the one side for a whole year now, it is edit warring and POV. Anyone adding them, is keep being reported on false charges, by them. This also can be seen from the history of the article. Any attempts from anyone to add any victory to the articles mentioned for the other side, was deleted by them.

Anyone adding anything in relation with it, were pushed by them, in edit warring, got reported by them, and got blocked for it, so now the articles are mainly edited by pro-Turkish editors. The pro-Turkish editors were cooperating in doing so. The same applies to what the articles are saying. The pro-Turkish editors don't let them to be even close to NPOV, so now are full of POV, as I will explain in the following, after explaining the article.

Not only the POV pushing by the pro-Turksih editors is, as it is clearly seen, in those cases, the biggest possible, but at the same time they were and are reporting and cooperating in edit warring against anyone adding any type of NPOV in the articles. That it goes for more than a year now, making the articles full of POV, and excluding any NPOV versions of the story, by anyone. The above can be seen by both the articles and the history of the articles themselves.

Even with my version that didn't even add the first invasion, which was as it seems a Greek Cypriot victory, for the reasons stated in the above, I am called a Greek Nationalist by them, and I am accused by them with all type of false charges, with the lightest to be as not discussing, while the talk page, is full of my discussions, and the one that was accusing me as not discussing had not even had a single comment in the talk page, when he was making his accusation. In addition he accused me with all type of false accusations as it shows from my history, in the administrators, that in reality they are portraying himself, as it shows from his history, while he was keep deleting my edits in cooperation with the other pro-Turkish user, reporting me and complaining about me in the administrators, with all type of false charges, as he did previously with anyone else, adding any NPOV version of the story. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Courtier1978 ( talk • contribs) 18:18, 13 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by GGT

Firstly, thank you, Mikrobølgeovn, for reporting this and trying to resolve the recurrent problem in the article: I had been too much tired by the persistence of the situation and just given up. There really is no question of editor bias in this case. Courtier has removed reliable academic sources repeatedly (especially the Oxford University Press one in this edition) and repeatedly tried to assert his/her original research characterizing this edition. When asked to provide evidence, he/she resorted to personal attacks e.g. "I am also wondering who are you trying to fool here with your tactics", disruptively reported me for edit warring to AN/3RR, and when reverted by other users, resorted to threat and implication of sock/meat puppetry: "Team work is not permitted under Wikipedia rules. One more time and you will get reported for this" "You may want to tell this to the account that has reverted the article, for you" when reverted by Alakzi and recently "Team work is not permitted under Wikipedia rules" when reverted by Mikrobølgeovn. He/She later provided an unreliable source and further manipulated it (the webpage talks about a Greek Cypriot victory in the clashes of 1967) to claim that it meant a Greek Cypriot victory for 1958-63 and 1967. He/She insisted on the idea of a Turkish Cypriot withdrawal from the government despite this being explicitly contradicted by the aforementioned Oxford UP book. He/she further refused any attempts to find a middle ground as may be seen in the page history. His/her confrontational and unconstructive attitude is best characterized by the following quotes: "Victory is a victory as the result shows victory" and "Deleting the victories of the one site, is POV. You have being doing this for months now. Don't you think it is time to stop.? What is your affiliation with the island anyway and If none, what on earth are you doing here pushing POV with such mania?" He/she also repeatedly resorted to baseless POV claims when material in the article was clearly supported by neutral sources and was in a neutral tone. Thus, the question is, essentially, one of violation of core content policies (OR and verifiability) and unconstructive attitude, not bias. Thank you and apologies for taking everyone's time. -- GGT ( talk) 18:37, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:List of_wars_involving_Cyprus discussion

• Volunteer note - While there has been limited recent discussion on the article talk page, it has hardly been extensive. I would suggest that discussion be continued on the talk page for at least one more day and one more round of comments. I am neither accepting nor declining this case, but it may be declined as premature. Robert McClenon ( talk) 20:46, 13 October 2015 (UTC)

It's really not premature. This issue has existed for a long time, only with different users brawling. -- Mikrobølgeovn ( talk) 20:54, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:2015 Atlantic hurricane season ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Red Jay ( talk · contribs)
• Cyclonebiskit ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

New editors have been updating page on the next storm of the season and correcting a (deliberate) spelling mistake, but the page's frequent editors have reverted any new content treating it as hoax or vandalism. One new edited received a threat on his talk page for making the correction, even though he/she explained his/her actions on he article's talk page

4740

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

Attempted to use talk page to discuss but editors above have been stubbornly reverting new content and treat such as vandalism, even threatening new editors who post new content to the page

How do you think we can help?

Come up with a solutions everyone can agree on

Summary of dispute by Red Jay

No dispute. Just somebody trying to make a point. Complains about new users being treated badly, but it looks like he is not a true new user. Red Jay ( talk) 16:50, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

Summary of dispute by Cyclonebiskit

There's no dispute here, the editor bringing this up is flat out wrong. The issue is over a formal designation that they claim is incorrect. The name of the storm is "Henri", which was provided by the NHC. The name it's being changed to by their edits is "Henry", a different name with its own origins and roots and not used by the NHC. I don't see any reason to continue this discussion further and I have, and will continue to, assume all further edits changing the name "Henri" to "Henry" as vandalism. I've blocked the user accordingly as they continue to ignore sources and reasoning. ~ Cyclonebiskit ( chat) 14:57, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

To clarify the "threat", it was a stern warning that continued actions of adding incorrect information would lead to a ban. ~ Cyclonebiskit ( chat) 15:08, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

Talk:2015 Atlantic hurricane season discussion

As the main editor for the naming articles - i will state that there can be no dispute here, as the next name to be used in the North Atlantic Ocean is Henri - unless off course all off these sources are suddenly wrong. Jason Rees ( talk) 15:35, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

the next name actually starts with a K as the last Atlantic storm was Joaquin — Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.47.71.142 ( talk • contribs) 15:42, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

Previous edit was not by 'Clay' Red Jay ( talk) 16:53, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

Fixed the fake name and replaced it with the proper IP handle. ~ Cyclonebiskit ( chat) 16:57, 19 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Have you discussed this on a talk page?

Yes, I have discussed this issue on a talk page already.

Location of dispute

• Talk:Programmatic media ( | subject | history | links | watch | logs)

Users involved

• Jugdev ( talk · contribs)
• Macrakis ( talk · contribs)
• JohnInDC ( talk · contribs)
• Jbhunley ( talk · contribs)

Dispute overview

The following contribution to the programmatic media page has been repeatedly reverted by Macrakis and JohnInDC.

"It has been suggested that the interactive media division of WPP Group's Ogilvy and Mather (now known as Neo@Ogilvy), has the deepest roots in terms of exploring mechanised media. Their 1981 venture, known as Teletext, entailed the broadcast of print material on television sets equipped with a special decoder that utilised binary code. ^[1] Programmatic media has built on this digital framework with an algorithmic method of transacting cross-media."

The last revert came with the following warnings on my talk page unsourced verifiability. It was suggested that the fact about "Teletext and Oglivy & Mather" was "nonsense" and the "1981" date is inaccurate.

After lengthy conversations, the following link was shared by User:JohnInDC https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19790516&id=DwEMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6334,14832&hl=en here

It was suggested that I "Forget Joseph & Turow and Yale" (my Joseph Turow citation), which I believe is the integral part of the paragraph.

Following another lengthy conversation, the following link was shared https://books.google.com/books?id=rK7JSFudXA8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22the+daily+you%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAGoVChMI-fXXp8DRyAIVDJWACh345w5n#v=onepage&q=teletext&f=false this link This links to the page referred to in my Joseph Turow citation (which was apparently non existent and also the reason that a warning has been placed on my talk page).

Have you tried to resolve this previously?

An extensive conversation on the talk pages.

How do you think we can help?

I would be grateful if someone could confirm whether the reverted item contained citations or not. If so it would also be useful to gain an opinion on whether citation about O&M being involved with a teletext venture in 1981 is in line with the book. If The above can be confirmed, it could be suggested that the other editors removed a perfectly relevant paragraph without a reasonable justification and also added unnecessary warnings on my talk page (on numerous occasions).

Summary of dispute by Macrakis

Summary of dispute by JohnInDC

Summary of dispute by Jbh

Talk:Programmatic media discussion

Volunteer's Note: Welcome to the Dispute Resolution Noticeboard. I'm neither taking this case nor opening it for discussion at this time, but just reminding the filing editor that it is his obligation to notify the other participants of this filing by leaving a note on their user talk pages. The template mentioned at the top of this page can be used for that purpose or a custom-written note. If those notices are not given in the next two or three days — and placing a notice on the article talk page will not suffice — this listing will be closed as abandoned. Once that has been done, there has been a suggestion at the article talk page that consensus has already been reached on this issue. That will need to be explored before proceeding here since if there is a clear consensus there is no dispute to be mediated here (since things are decided by consensus here at Wikipedia and if there is a clear consensus, then there's nothing left to be decided). Regards, TransporterMan ( TALK) 21:26, 22 October 2015 (UTC)

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The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the dispute resolution noticeboard's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.