User talk:Curtaintoad/Archive 6

This is an archive of past discussions with User:Curtaintoad. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page.

Hi. I noticed you reverted my removal of the adjective string "Japanese video game designer", describing Shigeru Miyamoto, in the article Toad (Mario). I only removed the string because it seemed redundant, since Toad's Japanese name is stated earlier in the paragraph (inferring he originated from Japan) and since he is a video game character, his creator must be... a video game designer. It works either way though. I wasn't removing the string just to be a troll; I just thought it made more sense that way. Chevsapher (talk) 18:23, 2 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for telling me CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 23:05, 2 January 2013 (UTC)

Actually, I think it looks good how it is now. ;) CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 01:57, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

The WikiProject Good articles Newsletter Volume IV, No. 1 – January 2013 For past newsletters click here

In This Issue Featured editorial: Skyfall by Hahc21. Project News: A record, and issue and a future. Good Articles of the Month: See which articles were picked this year of records: 190 articles passed in December! GA Task Forces: Results from the drive Member News: Two crucial users leave the project Read this newsletter Single-page Unsubscribe Newsletter delivered by EdwardsBot · 3 January 2012

This newsletter was delivered by EdwardsBot (talk) 14:40, 3 January 2013 (UTC)

	Here's a toast to the host Of those who edit wiki near and far, To a friend we send a message, "keep the data up to par". We drink to those who wrote a lot of prose, And then they whacked a vandal several dozen blows. A toast to the host of those who boast, the Wikipedians! - From {{subst:TheGeneralUser}}

~TheGeneralUser (talk) has bought you a whisky! Sharing a whisky is a great way to bond with other editors after a day of hard work. Spread the WikiLove by buying someone else a whisky, whether it be someone with whom you have collaborated or had disagreements. Enjoy!

Spread the good cheer and camaraderie by adding {{WikiScotch}} to their talk page with a friendly message. Message received at ~~~~~

~TheGeneralUser (talk) — is wishing you a Happy New Year! This greeting (and season) promotes WikiLove and hopefully this note has made your day a little better. Spread the WikiLove by wishing another user a Happy New Year, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past, a good friend, or just some random person. Happy New Year!

Spread the New Year cheer by adding {{subst:New Year 1}} to their talk page with a friendly message.

A Very Happy (belated) New Year to you Curtaintoad! Enjoy the Whisky ~TheGeneralUser (talk) 23:27, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 04:02, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Hello Curtaintoad, I am wondering if you could only use the wiki break template when you are in fact on a wiki break. A wiki break is defined as a few days off, a template you have on this page already explains the fact you will be on and off Wikipedia. Thanks John F. Lewis (talk) 05:59, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 06:01, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Also when are you going to start the adoption? Seriously it has been nearly three weeks now. Sunday is the final notice, Monday is the ending and deletion of adoption. If you really do ever want to become an admin, passing adoption after your previous cases would possibly cancel out hat collection. John F. Lewis (talk) 06:05, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for letting me know again; I'll get busy now. Thanks, CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 06:08, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Most of the tasks are on wiki tasks so in the past three weeks (start of adoption) you may) have done some of the tasks. As long as it was after I created your adoption page I will accept them, hopefully that will speed things along. When you go to link me to the diffs just do it in one section on my talk page and I'll get back to you within the next 12 hours. John F. Lewis (talk) 06:12, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Oh no! I think I really need more time on this please. I thought today was Friday, but today is Saturday. Please help me with this. Thanks! - CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:58, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

I meant I'll get to your answers for what tasks you have done. I see you partially completed vandalism, remember to read the articles listed in the table at the top of your adoption page. John F. Lewis (talk) 16:17, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Hey, I took a look at your Adoption lesson, and I'm a little bit concerned.. Did you copy the answers directly from another page? If so, I doubt that's what John wants you to do. He's looking for thoughtful answers that you come up with yourself. Particularly, your answers to #2 under Vandalism are really not related to the question, one related to edit summaries, not vandalism. I tried to help you, but you didn't even start my program past the first little questions, and you have stalled on John's adoption. I'll help you if you need it, but this is not the way to show us you really want to become a good editor here. Please don't take this the wrong way. gwickwire^talk_edits 22:39, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

It made me LOL to see that in itty-bitty font. That was pretty cute. Sad to say, Awesome Wikipedian is inactive now...I don't really have the time to run it. But I wholeheartedly encourage you to spread the Wikilove and give that person a barnstar and a warm, personal message! It'll make the Wiki a better place. :) bibliomaniac15 05:10, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 05:22, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

I've replied to you on my talk page. --Rschen7754 09:14, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for letting me know. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:15, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Hi, Curtaintoad. I see you have expressed some interest in being an administrator. <redacted> (What did you write here? CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 06:16, 8 January 2013 (UTC)). I doubt that you will be able to get the mop until you are 14 or 15 at the minimum, although who knows what changes the adminship promotion process could be seeing in the coming months. Don't be discouraged by this, look on the bright side: By the time you are old enough to be an administrator, you will hopefully have had a few years of experience, making your case stronger. As an aside, perhaps you might find it beneficial to participate in an adopt-a-user program. There are plenty of quality editors out there who would be good mentors for you and (if you would like), you could even be the first person to go through my adoption course (after I finish it). AutomaticStrikeout (T • C) 18:11, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 19:37, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Hi, Curtaintoad! You probably won't be pleased, but I suppressed your edits to User:Curtaintoad/Userboxes as they revealed too much personal information about yourself. On Wikpedia, we have a policy about the privacy of self-declared minors and we care about your safety on-line. I'm really sorry and I know you'll find this annoying, but removing what you've posted on Wikipedia is for the best so please don't re-add it or post any more personal information. If you want to create a userpage about you and your interests, please do so, but see this page for information on what is safe to include. For some useful information on privacy and safety, please take a look at this page. Thanks, and sorry for messing about with your pages! NW (Talk) 18:25, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

There were three userboxes that were removed; please do not readd them again. This is only to protect you; there are some very bad people out there, even on this site. I'm an adult now and over the age of 18, so it's okay for me to give out my age, but even I never post my real name on Wikipedia (even though I'm sure there are plenty of people with my name in California). If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me an email. --Rschen7754 18:43, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Oh, sorry about that; thanks for letting me know though. However, if it is OK, how old do I have to be to have those userboxes? CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 19:20, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

That number varies according to who you talk to, but the age at which you can be sure no-one is going to object, is 18. --Demiurge1000 (talk) 19:24, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 19:42, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

I remember two userboxes; the age and the name; what was the last one (I could not remember)? CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 19:54, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

I know now, thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 20:01, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

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This newsletter was delivered by EdwardsBot (talk) 03:10, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Curtaintoad, first off, I wanted to tell you that I admire your ambition. Wikipedia needs those with similar ambition, otherwise, we'll never solve our problems. That said, you really should focus on getting some experience in article space and completing an adoption program prior to creating an adoption program, advertising yourself as an admin hopeful, etc. Voters at RfA will never support someone who is over-eager for the tools, and right now that's how you appear to the naked eye. I would strongly suggest that if you want to help new users, perhaps you could volunteer at the help desk or at the Teahouse rather than starting your own full-fledged adoption program. At this point, you really should complete your adoption program as an adoptee before trying to adopt other users. Again, please don't take this as trying to squash your goals, but I would strongly urge you to slow down and focus on improving some articles and completing an adoption program. I can relate a lot to what you're going through here. If you look into my talk page archives from September-ish, I did some of the same things you're doing by trying to come off as an experienced editor who is ready to be an administrator. I made a smart decision and went through an adoption program and it proved invaluable to my overall knowledge of Wikipedia. I would strongly urge you to do the same. I know you've had offers from AutomaticStrikeout and John F. Lewis thus far, and both are good users, so I would advise you to take them up on their offers. If you'd rather, I could probably squeeze you in to my adoption school right now as well, but whatever works for you. To summarize, you have remarkable ambition, I just would advise you to focus it on building an encyclopedia rather than making yourself look like an attractive adminship candidate. Thanks and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Respectfully, Go Phightins! 03:11, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. But I really want to be an adoptee, though. Cheers, CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 03:53, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

You're already an adoptee. An adoptee is someone who has been adopted. You aren't even taking your current adoption seriously. If you can tell us what you're going to do to test those you adopt, maybe me and Phightins will change our minds. But as it stands now, we aren't comfortable with you being an adopter. Think of what we're saying this way. Do you get to be a Senator just overnight? Do most people who are Senators start out by going and just being in the Senate? No. They start out lower, and work their way up. You should start by editing Wikipedia in an encyclopedic manner, add some articles if you find some are missing, add sources, improve articles, etc. While doing that, complete your adoption by John F. Lewis, with good thought out answers. Then you may wish to check out the counter-vandalism unit's academy. Basically, adminship is not going to come to you if you act as you are now. gwickwire^talk_edits 03:57, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 03:58, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I was looking for a little more than thanks. Do you understand what we are saying to you? Do you understand that you will not become an administrator, ever acting the way you do now? Why haven't you done anything other than copy 2 answers on your adoption? Answering "Thanks." on over half of the comments on your talkpage is also a big no-no for potential administrators. You need to have thought out, full answers that are clear and concise (short as possible). That way, editors at an eventual RfA can see you are able to communicate with others, which is not shown through "thanks" in reply to good advice. gwickwire^talk_edits 04:02, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

In two words: Slow down. --Rschen7754 04:07, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

I would agree will all the above. It will probably be a few years before you should consider running for adminship. I doubt if that is what you want to hear right now but keep in mind that being an administrator is not a whole lot of fun anyway. However, if you really want to be an admin, look at it this way: you shouldn't run for several years but during that time, you can build up the experience and reputation that could make you a strong candidate at the proper time. Right now, doing a good job as an adoptee is a clear step in the right direction. Regards, AutomaticStrikeout (T • C) 04:19, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Also, I hear a lot of admins complaining how they no longer have the time to write articles. --Rschen7754 04:22, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Well, they probably could, if they did less admin-related work. AutomaticStrikeout (T • C) 04:25, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

 Done test CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:21, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Actually, I think I really will become an administrator in a few years! I think I really will!!! Thanks! CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 11:59, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Curtaintoad, I just skimmed through your answers and I am optionally deciding not to mark them. At the top there is a table, that table contains wiki links to pages you need to read. Reading those pages will give you the answers for the test or tasks to do. If you really think you have done, I will mark them but it won't be a very positive response. Two things I pointed out: You said only bureaucrats can give user rights which shows a lack of understanding of administrators and will almost certainly result in a closure for an Adminship request. Plus you said you need to be an administrator to have the oversight flag, again far off. You will need to complete all tasks, read all pages and then answer the tests in great detail if your want to pass adoption. John F. Lewis (talk) 15:54, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

I have removed all answers which are wrong. Remaining answers will get some possible mark though if you could improve them, that would be great. John F. Lewis (talk) 16:45, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

In all fairness, while being an admin is not an official prerequisite for being an oversighter, in the last appointment process it was discovered that the oversight tool did not function properly if the user was not an admin. This resulted in ArbCom declining to appoint the one non-admin candidate. --Rschen7754 07:42, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

That was a very bad idea. You sound very desperate to get any sort of userrights, and that's the best way to get denied many times. You're shooting yourself in the foot here. If you ever want to get any sort of advanced rights on this project, you will need to stop begging everyone you see for them immediately. The English Wikipedia is the hardest Wikimedia Foundation site to get userrights on, and we are very suspicious of people who try to get rights because they want more power. If you ran for RFA within the next year, it would be closed under WP:SNOW, meaning it would be closed within 3-4 hours instead of the full 7 days, like the "mercy" rule in sports, so you didn't wind up with 2 supports and 80 opposes at the end of the week.

I've been here for 7 years, and there's even positions that I know not to apply for myself, because I know that I am not qualified and that I will fail miserably if I apply for them. I will be honest - the last six months I have applied for quite a few advanced permissions (m:OTRS, Wikidata admin, and WP:SPI/C) - and I got all of them! But that is because I didn't go around begging for those privileges, and I waited until I was well qualified. Furthermore, I didn't just apply to have the shiny flag or userbox on my page - I saw a need for more people with these permissions, thought about it for a few weeks, and then applied and easily passed. And I use all of these tools regularly and am helping out the project this way.

You haven't done any permanent damage to your reputation yet, but you risk never being able to become an admin if you continue begging for more userrights. If you really keep going down this path, and do the wrong things, you could also be blocked. Do you get what I am saying? Can you respond with something else besides "Thanks", which tells me that you don't really care about what I am saying? I apologize that this is a bit harsh, but people have tried talking to you and you just won't listen. We're willing to help you, but you won't take our advice. Or you can just ignore us and run once you hit the "magic" 6,000 edits, but don't blame us when the RFA fails.

Thank you. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:44, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

By the way, you must be 18 to become an account creator, and I honestly doubt that you know what it does. --Rschen7754 09:29, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:47, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

Also, slightly unrelated, can you please stop spamming mine and other users talk pages with messages about adding more user boxes please - Useerboxas are optional, and people get annoyed by constant spamming about them. Thanks, Mdann52 (talk) 11:12, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 09:44, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

No, thank you. Basket _Feudalist 12:12, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Hey Curtaintoad! Thank you very much for that barnstar! For the record, that barnstar you bestowed onto me is the first Original Barnstar I've received! Thanks a lot! ;) Mediran (t • c) 09:30, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you! CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 11:32, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

this is to say well done for being a wikipedia contributor for 6 months. WendyS1971 Talk 07:25, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you! Maybe next time instead of a cupcake, you could give me something else. Again, thank you! ;) CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 07:31, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Hello,

I´m just wondering why you declined the article "Lohmann" on 24 December 2012. The reason was, that the subject of this article already exists in Wikipedia.I do not find anything like it... Can you send me the link to the already existing subject or give me some advice to improve my subject?

Thank you very much! Buchfried — Preceding unsigned comment added by Buchfried (talk • contribs) 12:31, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Lohmann (link) already exists in Wikipedia. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 21:47, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Curtaintoad that link exists but the article does not. If the article was good to standards it should have been moved to the namespace under a correct name. The page you listed is a disambig for Lohmann related names,and the article is indeed Lohmann related. John F. Lewis (talk) 21:50, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Oh, thanks. ;) CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 22:06, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Thought you were on vacation, bruv!!!

Curtaintoad is taking a short wikibreak and will be back on Wikipedia 18 January 2013.

But I didn't! I thought we had some personal issues with the internet; but we didn't! =p CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 04:23, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Ah well nothing wrong with a holiday every now and again eh Basket _Feudalist 14:48, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

I've had a quick look over your comment on WT:WER and then here, and I share some of the concerns other editors have mentioned on it. If I were you, I would forget about everything on Wikipedia that is not an article. Put projects to one side, and work on content. What do you like writing about, and what sources have you got available that will help? For instance, I focus a lot on musician and band biographies, because I have several shelves of books containing information that isn't widely available on the web. We're here to write the encyclopaedia first and foremost, and everything else is a sideshow. Just forget all about asking for any rights - I think it's generally fair game to expect admins to take hard and unpopular decisions and be insulted and called names on a semi-regular basis. Is that something you really want to do? Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 08:43, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes. Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 08:45, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

I would like to be a good contributor here. :) CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 08:49, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Sorry, you didn't answer my question. Let me clarify - what sort of articles do you like writing about, and what sources of information do you have to write them from? Do you have any favourite factual books? Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 08:53, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

• I like to edit video-game, film, album, and many more related-or-not-related articles. :) CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 08:56, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Okay, with regarding video games, there is something you can help me with. I've recently created a proposal for a sub-project or task force to improve articles on games I remember from my youth. I don't want to give you the direct link as I've got a feeling you'll go straight to the project page and shout "Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!."

Go to World of Spectrum and grab yourself a ZX Spectrum emulator (I like Fuse, which runs on most major operating systems). Then get some free games like Skool Daze and Wheelie and play them. They're about 30 years old, so don't expect stellar graphics and sound, but you can download and play them legally for free.

I've done some work on improving Skool Daze and I created Microsphere (software company) recently, but there is currently no article for Wheelie (game). I think the act of creating an article from scratch will do you some good in understanding Wikipedia policies and processes. If you look at the link I gave you above, you'll find full scans of contemporary magazines (which I would consider to be reliable sources), which give coverage of the game. You should also find from reading the sources that it was well received and sold well over a relatively long period. I think most Wikipedians won't be aware of this game's existence or popularity 30 years ago, so you must make sure the article is well written and cited to sources properly, otherwise it will get tagged and possibly speedy deleted. You can always use the Article Wizard to create it, but again, you'll need to make sure you cite references correctly, otherwise it will be declined.

I could probably create the article to an acceptable standard in about half an hour if I put my mind to it, but I know the game well, have played it lots, and know exactly what sources to mine. I suspect it will take you substantially longer.

On a side note, can I also recommend you change the font on your talk page back to the standard one, as I find it difficult to read. Cheers. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 10:03, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks! CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 21:46, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Long live Jet Set Willy!!! WELL DONE Basket _Feudalist 12:24, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks! CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 21:46, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Volume 6, Issue 1 • Winter 2013 • About the Newsletter
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—EdwardsBot (talk) 19:55, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

I wanted to let you know that I have replied in more detail about how you can help out at Wikipedia:WikiProject Editor Retention.--Amadscientist (talk) 03:41, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks. CURTAINTOAD! ^TALK! 03:43, 18 January 2013 (UTC)