User talk:Sam Spade/ - archive/März 2005 3

Welcoming vandals

It's not a huge deal, but must you welcome vandals? I imagine you check the recent changes for red user talk links. If someone's first two edits are uploading a photoshopped picture of Grunt and vandalizing my user page, it doesn't make much sense to give them a warm welcome. Rhobite 20:26, Mar 11, 2005 (UTC)

I've had such objections before in even more egregious cases. If I notice (and I almost never do) that a new users edits are "unfortunate", I usually give some words of advice along w my welcome note. I will admit that almost never happens tho (maybe 5 times now). When I am reviewing my watchlist, or RC, I quite quickly click on red user pages and paste my welcome note. If I spent the time to review their edits, I'd probably spend alot more time on ViP and VfD than I want to, and would end up making fewer edits (and incidentally posting less welcome notes). In the end, the risk/gain ratio of inspecting new users edits in detail doesn't pay off, esp. w me not having the admin power to speedy delete or block vandals. I do appreciate that it can be annoying to see a welcome note on the page of a vandal sockpuppet, but I think you'll agree the harm done is far less than the benefit of welcoming a sincere nube. Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 21:26, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Sam due to his kind words noticing my first uncertain edits here at Wikipedia. Spread civility! Anon 4.250.132.151 14:28, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC)

A perfect example of why I do what I do the way I do. Glad to have you, anon! (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:16, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Adminship

Can I nominate you? It would be my honor. You work tirelessly in the fight for NPOV and against majoritocracy. Titroll 00:55, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Who is this? You can send me an email if your scared to announce it publically. And no, please don't nominate me for adminship. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 00:58, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I am puzzled. Why dont you want to be nominated?Titroll 01:02, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I'm puzzled about who you are. Maybe we can trade info? (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 01:05, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Does it have to be done covertly?Titroll 01:09, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Not at all, feel free to tell me here and now, and I'll reply in kind. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 01:12, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Thanks...

...for the welcome. :) Coma28 03:11, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Israeli Art Student topic

Good evening Mr. Spade,

I am the originator of "The Israeli Art Student" article. I feel the article has been essentially frozen to where I, and no one else, can contribute to it. I feel some individuals are being obstructionists and are deliberately attempting to "whitewash" an article. Please take a look and see what you think.Rob216 06:55, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Will do. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:32, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Thanks

Thank you, Sam, that's kind of you; I appreciate your comments. You also remain civil during disputes, and I definitely agree with your preference for humour. It's hard to convey tone accurately with us all hidden behind our computer screens. Humour certainly humanizes the exchanges. Best, SlimVirgin 07:12, Mar 14, 2005 (UTC)

Advocacy Requested

Sam, would you be willing to advocate for a beleaguered article that Wikipedia needs? Despite our past disagreements, I've always respected your skills as an advocate and your dedication to championing difficult causes. For example, I felt very strongly that Vogel needed to go, but I admired your willingness to stand up for him amid fierce opposition. I have no personal involvement with the article in question, and I am entirely NPOV in my approach to it, but I feel that a certain number of Wikipedia editors have become biased against the article, and I think it is time to call in a "big gun" of advocacy. Your name was the first to come to mind.

If you are interested in learning more, please read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Votes_for_undeletion#Universist_Movement

After you give it a thorough read, I think that this may be something that appeals to your style of advocacy. --Nat 05:38, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Human

Sam, do you have any interest in commenting on my suggestion for a compromise Human introduction? See here. SlimVirgin 21:47, Mar 15, 2005 (UTC)

Copyright for your image

Hi Sam. I just wanted to point out that by uploading your picture to Wikipedia, you agreed to license it according to the GFDL. In order to upload it, you had to check the box that said "I affirm that the copyright holder of this file agrees to license it under the terms of the Wikipedia copyright." The words "Wikipedia copyright" linked to a page which declares prominantly that "All contributions to Wikipedia are released under the GNU Free Documentation License." This notice has always existed on the bottom of Wikipedia pages as well. Regards, – Quadell ^{(talk) (sleuth)} 21:47, Mar 15, 2005 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Image copyright tags would suggest there are many shades of grey, rather than only GNU Free Documentation License. I confess images generally, and image copyrights specifically are not my area of expertise, however. Any advise would be appreciated. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 22:52, 15 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Wikitennis

And Kim serves a blinding fast shot at Wolverines (Germany, 1945), can Sam Spade return it, or will Kim score the first point of the match unopposed? ;-) Kim Bruning 00:47, 16 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Excellent return, however, now we are going to have to actually find evidence! :-) Kim Bruning 13:36, 16 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Welcome message

Thank you for your welcome message.

You may wish to reword it when sending it to long time users of Wikipedia, as the many links could be misinterpreted as a veiled reproof, rather than the helpful guesture you intended. User:India (sig added by (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:08, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC))

I have heard such concerns infrequently, and would be enlightened by specific advice, perhaps? I had no idea at the time of leaving my note how long you had been editing, outside of your talk page being unused. I see now that you have made a choice few edits since August of last year, numbering less than 50. I myself (to my pride or shame, I am not altogether certain ;) have made near to 20,000 edits since November of 2003, 619 of which this month. That being the case, I am confident that my "spam" might be of some modest insight, perhaps? It is not ment to be in any way impersonal, indeed I invited you to contact me with concerns (as you have done). Nor is it ment to be presumptuous about your edits specifically, it is no warning based on improper edits (of which I would be completely unaware) to be sure. Rather I intend it only as an offer of fellowship and mutual assistance in this great endeavor. If you can be persuaded to articulate your concerns in a manner more precise, I would be most attentive. Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:08, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I would suggest a somewhat shorter list focusing on the positive nature of contributing to the Wikipedia project, with perhaps 2 or 3 links to help (maximum 5 in any event), prefaced with a few self deprecating remarks. Something like: "I'm sorry to bother you, but if you are new you might find these things helpful - I did when I started" would bring a much more human tone. India 14:59, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

That is very much like the welcome lists of others, see Template:Welcome. I chose to create my own (vastly more helpful IMO) list of policy pages. The value of self-depreciation in this circumstance escapes me, and I will admit to possessing some slight ability on the subject. My work has been primarily based on contacting unsuspecting citizens and businessmen, requesting from them finances or informations, and/or offering them service. In the context of such business I have created and sold advertising of various types.

In addition to this practical work experience, I am a psychology student. Underemphasizing the import of my welcome note is in no way my goal. Rather I intend to save a new user the many hours I have spent acquiring of such a list of pertinent links. I am absolutely confident that at least one of those links will be of potential value to every user whose page I left it upon. I am aware that a certain % of users take issue with them, but in all the time I have been giving them out (leaving thousands of them for new users to review), I have received a handful of complaints, numbering perhaps as many as 5. The compliments are impossible to count, but you may feel free to try, my archives are extensive and easy to locate. Honestly, while I appreciate your concern, and am interested in any specific turns of phrase you might prefer, I do not think shortening the list would be advantageous. As in all matters, we must consider the risk / gain ratio. In this case I see it balanced on the side of entropy ;) Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 15:20, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Sam, you are terribly proud and vain. I have decided I like you after all. India 16:20, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Hoorah! I like you too, and plan to visit someday. I have so many good things to say about India that I havn't the time at the moment, but if your interested once I have the time I'd gladly discuss the many virtues of your eponymous state, which happens to be one of my most favored nations :) Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:07, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC)

A while ago, I too left a note here, thanking you for your welcome, but also suggesting a change, which I see you have now made (indicating briefly what made you contact a newbie that way). Here's a further sugestion: "Shortlist" a handfull of links of an encouraging nature, and add a link to a page "User:Sam_Spade/Helpful_links" with the rest of them.--Niels Ø 10:00, Mar 22, 2005 (UTC)

Thats pretty good, I think I'll do that. In time of course, I'm still pretty busy moving. Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 12:30, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Hey Sam I need your help.

I am having problems with vandalism to an entry. There a bunch of people messing with it and I can prove my facts but they keep deleting it. Please visit my talk page.Britney Spears 23:05, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

In addition to the other problem I was having I had a guy leave a post on my user talk page stating that I was breaking rules which I don't believe I was breaking and he was being very disrespectful of my religious beliefs. It was totally uncalled for. Britney Spears(sig added by (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:16, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC))

I will gladly look into that, but very, very slowly I am afraid. I am moving and without home interenet for a week or so. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:16, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC)

that advertising article

Hi Sam, Please see what you can do about getting the title of "Sex in advertising" changed back from its new incarnation. See the discussion here. Thanks, Haiduc 12:51, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I'll look into it, but it'll be very slow, I am moving and without internet for a week or so. I'm at the library at the moment, and won't be doing much of any editing until I have service at my new house. (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:16, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC)

RFC

Sam

Please visit my TalkPage or the Sollog page. You can see there is an RFC raised.

On:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Sam_Spade&diff=10377401&oldid=10374636

I left a polite message for your help. Please would you note such a message and put this in the Outside View to the RFC as clear evidence that despite what others say, I was clearly trying to make progress having been told by an Administrator when I asked for help: "I am not your fucking monkey!".

Thank youThe Number 10:53, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Feel free to link to here (like this "User talk:Sam Spade#RFC"), but I won't be able to become involved for aprox 1 week, I am currently moving. Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:53, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

PTU Online students

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Requesting your vote

Hello and greetings from fellow wikipedist =)

I am a student from National University of San Marcos(Saint Mark) , there is already a vote in the Village Pump about consensus between the anglizice way or the spanish name, however i think Saint Mark is good way how it the name should be used on english wikipedia, it seems people believe San Marcos is better, As a matter of compromise, equality, impartiality and neutrality, both names should be used. I would appreciate very much if you can give your vote in the following link. Wikipedia:Village pump (policy)#Voting Thank you to read my message. Good luck and goodwill HappyApple 22:23, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Done, see my vote @ Wikipedia:Village pump (policy)#Voting. Cheers, (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 09:13, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)