The best road to progress is freedom's road. - JFK
Texas
A Note on threading:
Interpersonal communication does not work when messages are left on individual users' talk pages rather than threaded, especially when a third party wishes to read or reply.
Being a "bear of very little brain", I get easily confused when trying to follow conversations that bounce back and forth, so I've decided to try the convention that many others seem to use, aggregation of messages on either your talk page or my talk page. If the conversation is about an article I will try to aggregate on the article's talk page.
If the conversation is on your talk page or an article talk page, I will watch it.
If the conversation is on my talk page or an article talk page and I think that you may not be watching it, I will link to it in a note on your talk page, or in the edit summary of an empty edit. But if you start a thread here, please watch it.
I may mess up, don't worry, I'll find it eventually. Ping me if you really need to.
please note this is a personal preference rather than a matter of site policy
Good afternoon John. I have had a look at your last edits to school articles and I do not agree with the your "nn's" (not needed I assume). Why remove the "Boat Club" bit in the infobox? My best guess is that it is there for a reason!
Furthermore, what explanations do you have for removing referenced and, most importantly relevant sections such as "The Worthian Society". Also, why changing the order of thumbnail images that belong to a section like "Sport" to an irrelevant one like "Music"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by CreiterAdam45z (talk • contribs) 14:07, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Would the Boat Club bit in the infobox work if I added source to it? Concerning the removal of a section that's referenced by a primary source (the Worthian Society website), I still don't agree. There is no reason why it should be "conflict of interest" in any way, as it is quite direct, neutral and objective information, not serving any advertising or subjective purpose. --CreiterAdam45z (talk) 14:28, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Mmmm. User:CreiterAdam45z, are you affiliated with any of these schools for which you are advocating? --John (talk) 17:37, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
John I have met a few people who have attended these schools, but no affiliation other than that! I am simply interested in UK independent schools and improving their wiki articles. If you take a look at many other UK private school's articles you will notice several of them also contain information related to societies and so on. Is this supposed to be advertisement, or simple factual information? --CreiterAdam45z (talk) 20:28, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
We can only use stuff like clubs if there is good third-party sourcing. Otherwise it looks promotional. --John (talk) 20:31, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Kieronoldham, thanks and same to you. It's coming on. A fascinating and repulsive tale. I was in Edinburgh when the first disappearances occurred and remember the searches well. --John (talk) 19:26, 2 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your working on the references. Even though I disagree with a very occasional adjustment or redaction you make, largely, what you do on this article is for the better. Personally, I just like populating and referencing the text. I'd love to see this article nominated as GA. Regards,--Kieronoldham (talk) 01:22, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
John, Could I also add my thanks for your work on this article. Best, David, David J Johnson (talk) 12:41, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks again. P.S. If you ever have time, I'd like to work with you trimming this article as, to my mind, it is one of the most overpopulated articles I've ever seen on Wikipedia (and that is against stiff competition). Regards.--Kieronoldham (talk) 19:05, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I see I've edited that 18 times over 10 years. There are several kinds of trim. One problem on well-edited articles with many sources can be a need for completeness, with all points of view explained in full. This makes for a very turgid article. The other problem, as with the Black article, is one where the coverage is about right but where the prose is long-winded. This is a lot easier to fix. I will certainly take another look. --John (talk) 19:36, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
(talk page stalker)...Kieronoldham, you have done a fantastic job with Black. John's talk page kept flashing up on my watchlist so I thought I'd take the trouble to see what all the fuss was about. Well, it was no trouble and it was certainly no fuss. As revolting as the subject matter is, I found this account to be very well told and a pleasure to read. CassiantoTalk 20:04, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I'd echo that, User:Cassianto. Kieronoldham has been a pleasure to work with, and should be congratulated on his hard work. --John (talk) 20:10, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
You weren't bad either John ;). Sorry, where's my manners. In relation to "thanks", I just have, on his talk page. CassiantoTalk 20:15, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
A barnstar for you!
The Teamwork Barnstar
For guiding Kieronoldham through, what must've been, a horrible subject to write. Your tutorship during the construction has been fantastic and the project has benefitted hugely from your guidence and collaboration. CassiantoTalk 20:23, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you, that's extremely kind of you. --John (talk) 20:25, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I've never awarded a barnstar before in eight years (even though I've encountered no shortage of assistance and civility from others), but I just wanted to offer this as my thanks for your tireless efforts improving my previous exhaustive populating on the Robert Black article. I can, maybe, to a degree, hold cards close to my chest as far as contributed text is concerned, as precious few people can delve their mind into subjects like this to the degree I do without becoming psychologically scarred, whereas I can successfully compartmentalise any emotions. Basically, what I mean is, you have shown me to be a little more open as to greater avenues. Thanks, John, and genuine kudos.--Kieronoldham (talk) 02:15, 6 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you, that is very generous of you. --John (talk) 10:11, 6 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
You kindly protected the article but the IP is back reinstating trivia. I have removed it several times since the protection expired. As I've been accused of edit warring at Red House Museum while trying to keep the content encyclopedic, I am loathe to keep doing it so please can you help yet again? J3Mrs (talk) 08:54, 15 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I've protected again. --John (talk) 09:28, 15 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your prompt response. I hope I don't have to return again. J3Mrs (talk) 10:50, 15 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
My pleasure. --John (talk) 09:21, 18 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Contests
User:Dr. Blofeld has created Wikipedia:WikiProject Africa/Contests. The idea is to run a series of contests/editathons focusing on each region of Africa. He has spoken to Wikimedia about it and $1000-1500 is possible for prize money. As someone who has previously expressed interest in African topics, would you be interested in contributing to one or assisting draw up core article/missing article lists? He says he's thinking of North Africa for an inaugural one in October. If interested please sign up in the participants section of the Contest page, thanks.♦ --Ser Amantio di NicolaoChe dicono a Signa?Lo dicono a Signa. 01:27, 21 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I don't agree with the deflagging of international school templates because flags are a very quick and easy way to tell which "country" a school belongs to. People want to quickly navigate the templates and don't take too much time reading them.
That's why "victim lists" have flags, because it's quick and easy navigation.
WhisperToMe (talk) 04:49, 25 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I am aware there's been multiple debates on when/where flag icons should be used. It would make sense that someone would write WP:ICONDECORATION to try to iron everything out. Thank you for linking it.
Anyway as per WP:ICONDECORATION one of the reasons why I use the flags is to "improve navigation", and in the cases of these infoboxes these schools do represent their country.
Your recent editing history at Gotthard Base Tunnel shows that you are currently engaged in an edit war. To resolve the content dispute, please do not revert or change the edits of others when you are reverted. Instead of reverting, please use the article's talk page to work toward making a version that represents consensus among editors. The best practice at this stage is to discuss, not edit-war. See BRD for how this is done. If discussions reach an impasse, you can then post a request for help at a relevant noticeboard or seek dispute resolution. In some cases, you may wish to request temporary page protection.
Being involved in an edit war can result in your being blocked from editing—especially if you violate the three-revert rule, which states that an editor must not perform more than three reverts on a single page within a 24-hour period. Undoing another editor's work—whether in whole or in part, whether involving the same or different material each time—counts as a revert. Also keep in mind that while violating the three-revert rule often leads to a block, you can still be blocked for edit warring—even if you don't violate the three-revert rule—should your behavior indicate that you intend to continue reverting repeatedly. Missing the slightest reasoning.ZH8000 (talk) 11:03, 27 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]