Wikipedia talk:Contact us/Archive 1

message: Sometimes it becomes necessary to block the IP address of a troublesome user. Rarely, however, that user may share the same IP address with another person trying to edit Wikipedia. 
If you are such a person, you should follow the directions on the 'Blocked user' message that is displayed when you try to edit. You can also directly contact a Wikipedia Administrator by visiting Wikipedia:Administrators#List of administrators (look for Administrators who have "email" links by their user names, then use those links).
: I removed this, because it duplicates MediaWiki:Blockedtext. Martin 15:00, 27 Mar 2004 (UTC)
thread_title: Being blocked from editing

message: After looking into a little of this page's history, I'm wondering if a header like the  or the  which would offer links to the Help desk and Reference desk might be suitable here.  I don't mean the extensive instructions on those headers as much as the large red notices at the top.  I know that any patient user would be able to actually read through the page to find those, but I realize that some users aren't getting the picture.  Any ideas? -JJLeahy 00:41, 29 July 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Well, I made what I was proposing - feedback welcome. -JJLeahy 05:15, 8 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  A header to [[Wikipedia:Help desk|Help Desk]] and [[Wikipedia:Reference desk|Reference desk]]? 

message: Please simplify or at least include easy-to-follow suggestions for the brain-weary!  I am not sure I understand how any of this works.
:I did what I could.  Please let us know what else could done to clarify this page. -JJLeahy 01:26, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Stylistic Revision and Inclusion Suggestions 

message: hi my name is Sofia
Im new to Wikipedia
and, from what I can see,
It looks great!!. 
I want to suggest this page to
my friends who can I Do it? Could you add a link to suggest this site.
Sofia
:Sofia, I'm not exactly sure what you mean - if you want to give your friends a link to Wikipedia, you can give them http://en.wikipedia.org or http://www.wikipedia.org - or copy and paste the address of an article you like.  If you want a good introduction to Wikipedia, you can go to Wikipedia:Introduction (or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Introduction).  If you want to suggest a new article to us, you can go to Wikipedia:Requested articles.  Once you get there, you'll see a bunch of big catagories - Applied arts and sciences, culture and fine art, etc.  Click on the catagory that you think is best, and add your title to the list.
:If you have questions, feel free to add it here or on my talk page, User talk:JJLeahy.  Thanks! -JJLeahy 20:09, 18 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  suggestion 

message: The page was changed from a bunch of paragraphs to a series of lines to make it easier for users.
Some guidelines on what to add or not to add: The page must remain relatively short, or people won't take the time to find out the proper link to use. That means stuff already on the Help Contents or on one of the links already on the page should not be added. If you think a useful link should go there then go ahead and add it to the proper section. Elfguy 16:46, 20 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Restructuring

message: Is there any reason all the email addresses have been removed? The page used to include the email addresses of Jimbo, the Board, info-en, and the wiki-en mailing list. Now most of those are gone and the Board's address seems to only be hidden in the "Wikipedia users" section with no mention in the Foundation section. Angela. 15:43, August 22, 2005 (UTC)
* Modified accordingly. Elfguy 18:11, 22 August 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: * I also refer you to the above comment from Uncle Ed, although the email I sent isn't in the archives for some reason. --JJLeahy 18:22, 22 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Removal of all addresses

message: Where does one go to:
1) See the rules on offensive users
2) Complain about offensive users
??? 71.33.53.65 21:47, 19 September 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Offensive Users 

message: Hi,
Do you have information about living scientits Hans Bhete.
	
putt_jattande2005@yahoo.com unsigned by 169.199.16.27 El_C 20:36, 27 September 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Please see: Hans Bethe. Regards, El_C 20:36, 27 September 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Moved from project page

message: There was a complaint on the helpdesk mailing list about the confusing mass of links on this page with no clear way to email anyone (even though they did manage to mail the list) - so I've taken the liberty to move the questions section to the top of the page, as I feel these will be the main issues/wants a total newbie will have. Still, the section could be even clearer, I think. Cormaggio @ 22:58, 14 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Questions section 

message: I was wondering if we should remove the mention of the IRC channel from the contact us link since the majority of users are not active on IRC and in general consensus lately has been to seperate the IRC channel from wikimedia at least at the official level including the recent removal of mentioning the IRC channel on the error notices. Jtkiefer T | @ | C  ----- 20:54, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  irc link 

message: A recent news story  mentions that "Wikipedia did not respond to the M&G Online's queries".  I asked the reporter how she contacted us, and she responded that she used this page, looked under Press Inquiries, and emailed Jimbo as directed.
Now I don't know why she didn't get a response, but I'd imagine Jimbo is rather busy.  Could we put some other options under Press Inquiries?  Jimbo and others designated by the Foundation should be making the official press comments, but with active Wikipedians online 24/7, there ought to be a method for getting comments from ordinary users (at least, the active ones.)  Maybe a short listing of active Wikipedians who are willing to give interviews/comments?  With the number of people in this project, there should never be an article on us going to press with no comment from the Wikipedia community at all. Isomorphic 02:27, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: It's a difficult issue because most journalists are not able to grasp the difference between what's an official statement of Wikimedia and what's just personal opinion. I'm currently compiling a list of active wikipedians as interview partners for journalists - suggestions welcome. There's also a press address on meta:OTRS (press@wikimedia.org) but it isn't very much in use yet. It would be nice to have a team of volunteers from the english wikipedia for this like in the other languages (french and german wikipedia handle their press contacts in the OTRS). If you'd like to help, please contact me. --Elian Talk 04:17, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: "Unofficial" press contacts

message: I think this entire page could do with a bit of a reword, to format it into a table or something easier to navigate than at the top. In particular, people going to a contact us page are looking for an email address, and when they see it will click it and write an email. So here, people don't read the bullet points, they only read the email address and so send many unneeded requests to the HelpDesk. Also, while there is a big header on WP:HD explaining what should and shouldn't be asked, there is none here when linking to the HelpDesk.
But what is most important is that people know that anything you write to the HelpDesk and all related correspondence will be published online under the GFDL. Archives are found here or something of the kind.
jnothman talk 11:10, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  More on contacting the helpdesk 

message: The contact us page is awful in just about every single way it can be.
It's too long. It's got too many options. Too much text. Too many links. It's confusing. It doesn't what it wants to be - a list of contacts or a list of useful links. It doesn't help new users much.
To be honest, I could probably write a 5 page essay on what's wrong with it.
So I present to you, the lovely and wonderful radical rethink of "contact us". It's very much work in progress, and I've only really started thinking about this in the last few hours :) 
Very interested in comments though. Thanks, Tom- 02:17, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree. This much text is too much for a "contact us" page, and will likely look confusing to the reader. And I like your way of splitting it up into seperate pages concerning the various different kinds of requests a user might want to make. So I say: Go for it! Shanes 02:31, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

text: As noted above in a mess of a post, I definitely agree. I'm making some minor changes to your mock-up if you don't mind. Also, I think we need something more than "a specific fact" to direct people to the reference desk, as reference questions often come through to the HelpDesk that aren't specific facts, but certainly aren't on using Wikipedia as the HelpDesk seems to be intended for. I also think donate should be directly available. jnothman talk 06:57, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

text: I certainly agree, though the content and wording of the proposal could use some work. — Dan | Talk 18:55, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I think Tom is mostly looking for simplicity and usability, which will hopefully also reduce nonsense requests to the HelpDesk. But I guess you should just edit it yourself if you think it needs changes. jnothman talk 00:43, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

text: I like the overall concept (navigate to get to a specific question), and it can be filled out over time in wiki-fashion.  Is there any reason not to just do this? -- Rick Block (talk) 00:58, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text:  There's no reason it can't be made live now, but I wanted to give it a little while to let the linked content mature. Maybe give it a week or so first. Tom- 01:05, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text:  Having thought about it I doubt the linked pages will really mature unless it's live... so I've been bold and made it so. Comments still very much appreciated! Tom- 00:26, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

text:  Your analysis is not perfectly informed. This change will not impact the servers in any way, as this is by no means a "major" page. It is also not analogous to splitting up a (small) article. By making it "look better", it is made more usable, and more inviting - so yes, these changes are to make it look better, and good on them for doing so. As for "saying nothing at all", you seem unfamiliar with the fact that users are highly discouraged by being given too many things to choose from/consider when they intend to make a simple choice. Your preferred version  is overcrowded. A user will open it, and attempt to scan it for relevant words. Failing that, they'll either become frustrated and leave, or they will become frustrated and attempt to use the page. Both cases are not desireable. In my opinion, the new version is drastically better. –MT 07:35, 12 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Radical rethink 

message: Usually, protection of pages like this is not done without consensus. However, there seems to be no consensus in protection this page. I would like to hear some thoughts on whether this page should be protected. I personally think that it shouldn't be. --Ixfd64 18:16, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  should this page remain protected? 

message: Depends on what you mean by private: Anyone can still subscribe to the list and read all emails, but the archives are no longer being put on the web. Yes in terms of why we were warning, maybe the message should be removed.
As for info-en: why do we need it if HelpDesk-l is the same but has a larger set of respondents?
jnothman talk 22:21, 4 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  HelpDesk-l made private? 

message: We need still more links to the reference desk: I would put under top questions "Who led Nairobi in the 1960s? and other factual questions..."
Also, since Rdsmith4's revision adding "about using Wikipedia" to the HelpDesk-l description:
# Make using wikipedia emphasised
# Put the email address on a new-line, for the sake of look at most common screen resolutions.
jnothman talk 21:44, 15 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Suggestions 

message: We reject insulting the Muslem's Prophet because press freedom don't mean to insult the others religion
: Actually, freedom of the press absolutely does extend to criticizing, satirizing, or insulting others' beliefs. Regardless, Wikipedia seeks to insult no one, but we do present information that is unpopular with adherents of various belief systems. Wikipedia is not censored. Babajobu 20:31, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Insulting the Muslem's Prophet 

message: If you have any difficulties to find something: contact me and let me know.  
(Bee Gees, Beatles, Bill haley, surf music and so on  :-)  Stephan KŒNIG 19:17, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Login is okay ! 

message: WARNING: a very naughty virus is announced to be launched on the Net next Feb. 3 , 2006.
You might have to update your antivirus and firewall!!! 
All the best from Liège (Belgium, western Europe).  Stephan KŒNIG 19:23, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Just saw a TV journal in Belgium 1 hour ago... 

message: If there aren't any problems with having interwiki links on this page, could someone please add an interwiki link to the Vietnamese version of this page?
 vi:Wikipedia:Liên lạc
I haven't translated everything that the page links to yet, but I'm working on it. Thanks.
 – Minh Nguyễn (talk, contribs) 00:38, 30 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Done. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 22:23, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Interwiki link to vi: 

message: Sorry, I did not find a link written in English...   Stephan KŒNIG 11:26, 31 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nyxem.E - blackmal - blackmail... 

message: I propose redirecting the 'Wikipedia:Contact us/Specific fact' subpage to Wikipedia:Questions, which serves the same purpose. Naturally, the link in this article would be changed to match. -- Ec5618 17:38, 31 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Done (the redirect was made by Ec5618 yesterday with no objections).  --RobertG ♬ talk 10:34, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Redirect 'specific fact'

message: I, in fact, wrote a naughty virus called Blackmail is installing itself all over the Net and in all the computers connected and then will attack next Feb. 3, 2006: it will copy all your files, then will destroy them and your comp too. Pay attention with suspect e-mails (file(s) to be downloaded: don't open! Was it you wanted me to reply?   Stephan KŒNIG 23:49, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Are you talking about Blackmal? 

message: A lot of people email info-en asking for:
* Information about products of companies on which we have articles.
* Information about registering in universities.
* Permission to reproduce our text or images.
* General questions on science, history etc.
All these people receive "boilerplate" answers which redirect them away. In order to relieve the load on info-en, all such requests should be discouraged. David.Monniaux 13:19, 16 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm not sure I agree. Boilerplate answers are exceedingly easy to send, and I doubt many people will bother to read the now-lengthy instructions. I prefer to keep it short and sweet. — Dan | talk 15:59, 16 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree with this, with one exception: We need to discourage questions about text permissions. Linuxerist  E/L/T 17:44, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Avoid overloading info-en