I've moved earlier discussions to archive pages (as listed below). A few of the items I've simply got rid of - if I have, it's simply that it was trivial and/or stuff which has been dealt with, and is therefore no longer relevant. The deletion is not a reflection of my opinion of the writers!
Latest comment: 7 January 20247 comments2 people in discussion
Hello, I have chose to revert your edits because of how you reworded some sentences. They felt too simple and you didn't put sentences in the right order. But however, I did re-add some things that I reverted from your edit because I found them to be useful. Thanks for the new features though. I'm happy for you to edit more, but please don't simplify sentences too much. Wetbeans (talk) 18:24, 6 January 2024 (UTC)Reply
Well, it's surprising that they "felt too simple" and weren't "in the right order". I suppose my 25 years' experience as a professional editor hasn't stood me in good stead - as indeed my 18 years as an editor on Wikipedia. But that's OK. I'll have a look at the article again and see if there are any mistakes that need fixing. PS - I'm glad that you are happy for me to edit more, because that's how Wikipedia works. Once a person has written an article, anyone can edit it to improve it. Please check WP:OWN. Grutness...wha?03:40, 7 January 2024 (UTC)Reply
Sorry, I probably should've checked it again. I genuinely have no idea why I said it was too simple. I like what you added, and I built off it because it was good. Just re-reverted a couple of things. They weren't major. Wetbeans (talk) 04:32, 7 January 2024 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 28 January 20242 comments2 people in discussion
Hi - I haven't done this before but have noticed an error in the Valpy-Fulton-Jeffreys family tree - James Fulton and Catherine Valpy Fulton had 7 children (not 6), and the son you called Henry is actually Herbert Valpy Fulton. He was the father of Julius Herbert Fulton (1901-1973) founder (with Bob Hogan) of Fulton Hogan . 103.250.118.72 (talk) 09:16, 28 January 2024 (UTC)Reply
OK - thanks for that. I'll see whether I can change the tree, though it may need redoing in an interactive form (which is beyond me). Grutness...wha?11:08, 28 January 2024 (UTC)Reply
Woollaston
Latest comment: 7 February 20242 comments2 people in discussion
Hi there,
Just to say I have added quite a bit to your Woollaston page.If you have a chance to have a quick look it would be great. Hope it is all ok and thanks for your initial page, there's still a lot of NZ art people without one. Cheers, Manymanydogs (talk) 03:21, 7 February 2024 (UTC)Reply
Haven't checked it thoroughly, but it looks good! I'd do more NZ art articles myself, but I write about NZ art for a living, so it feels too much like work :) Grutness...wha?06:22, 7 February 2024 (UTC)Reply
Happy Adminship Anniversary!
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Thanks
Latest comment: 8 March 20242 comments2 people in discussion
Latest comment: 18 June 202416 comments2 people in discussion
Hello, Can you please stop with the mass edits until the discussion about proposed deletion will be over? The use of these categories is unsystematic and they are just a historical relic. Thank you. FromCzech (talk) 04:50, 19 May 2024 (UTC)Reply
Template:Ping There is clear evidence that the templates and categories were originally acknowledged for use at WP:WPSS (they are listed here). There is also clear evidence that they would be useful - the Central Bohemia category is over the limit at which it should be split at WPSS (600 stubs). It seems that simply no-one got round to populating them. All I am doing is using the stub templates as they were intended. If the categories do not measure up to the 60+ stubs needed for each, then they can be upmerged with no prejudice against them being re-created if and when they meet the required 60 stub standard. In any case, the original proposal, of deleting the templates, is flawed. If the templates were malformed or not in accordance to stub sorting practice, they would be deleted, but these would simply be upmerged to the main category anyway. The only real way to tell whether they reach that standard already is to stub them appropriately. As such, I am simply following standard practice for WPSS - and also for CFD, in which there is long-standing tradition that if it can be shown that a category is useful (which in stub-sorting means reaching the 60-stub threshold) it will likely be kept. I will, how3ever, complete the district I am currently working on, and then pause. PS: If they are a historical relic, then they should not be categorised within the permcats for the various districts (e.g., Template:Cl) and the whole of the Central Bohemia catalogue tree needs to be changed. Grutness...wha?05:00, 19 May 2024 (UTC)Reply
Thanks for the pause. Only three districts would exceed 65 stubs (Benešov and Kolín being two of them), and the rest are below 60 or have 61–65 stubs and will soon fall below your threshold. From the logic of the matter, it does not make sense that only three districts should be singled out from the whole country so that Central Bohemia could fall below 600. The current number does not make it over-sized. 60 is the bare minimum, but that doesn't mean it has to be blindly followed when it clearly doesn't make sense. FromCzech (talk) 05:23, 19 May 2024 (UTC)Reply
It makes perfect sense for three to be singled out if they all fall above threshold. That's the way stub sorting works. You can see upmerged templates in many similar stub categories, just waiting to reach the point where they reach the threshold. If they fall well below the threshold, then they become upmerged; if they later reach the threshold, they get their own categories. Have a look, for instance, at Template:Cl, which has some regions split out because they reached threshold, and more umperged because they haven't. The same is true with Template:Cl, Template:Cl, Template:Cl, and Template:Cl. And that's just looking at top level categories, and only at Europe. You're also likely to find that the number of articles - and therefore the number of stubs - grows. At the moment, there's only towns and villages with articles, but sooner or later, it's almost certain that rivers, mountains, lakes, forests, caves, and the like will all get articles. Grutness...wha?05:49, 19 May 2024 (UTC)Reply
The result of the debate - and I quote - was keep and populate the templates. As such, I am doing exactly what the CFD discussion decided. And all of the templates currently point to the subcategories. If any of the subcategories fail to reach the required viable number of stubs, then they can be proposed for upmerging, but no categories were proposed for deletion in the previous discussion, so as they are there and the templates are pointing to them, that is where the stubs will go unless they are proposed. What I don't understand is why you reverted all the district template use - for instance here, without mentioning in your edit summaries what you were doing. This was completely contrary to stub-sorting practice and in direct opposition to the decision reached at CFD. Grutness...wha?16:40, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
To be honest, I didn't notice it was so explicitly stated in the header. But I don't know on what basis, because no one else followed my last post and you were the only one to speak up for their populating. I emptied the category that was full, because I thought that was the agreement. But although the result is there as it is, in my opinion the categories where the number does not reach 60 should not be filled. FromCzech (talk) 17:43, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
In any case, the easiest way to tell from here is to populate the templates, as was stated, and then it'll be easy to tell which categories don't meet the target. From there it would be a simple job to propose the categories for deletion and to upmerge the templates for any that are deleted back into the main CBR category. That would not mean changing the template on any of the articles - it would simply mean repointing the template to the parent category. Grutness...wha?17:47, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
As to why that was the decision, of the discussion, it was almost certainly because my argument was based on long-standing practice. Yours wasn't. Grutness...wha?17:48, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
It's hard to believe what is "long-standing practice" and what isn't when no one else has gotten too involved in the discussion. E.g. you called the 600 stubs limit as common practice, but that's the limit you stick to, not Wiki policy, which says 800. FromCzech (talk) 17:58, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Well, it's been standard practice all the time I've been in the stub-sorting project - which is almost 17 years now. By Wikipedia standards, that's definitely long-standing, and the closing admin clearly understood that, as do most people who've had anything to do with stub sorting. Grutness...wha?18:05, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
I resign, fill the categories out as you plan. But I'm continuously de-stubing articles, so please respect, if the category is under 60 and should be upmerged or whatever you call it. FromCzech (talk) 18:25, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
I will nominate any category that is too small for deletion. BTW - I looked at quite a few of the articles on Czech villages that weren't marked as stubs, and about half of them should have been. Many of them only had about three or four sentences of text. Grutness...wha?18:33, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 17 June 20245 comments2 people in discussion
Hello there! I agree with you fully about the populated place category. Since you have added a new one, I've withdrawn my nomination but I would love for some help to recreate the deleted categories for players from major cities like Monterrey and so on. I tried to in deletion review but nobody agree nor disagreed on recreation. You think its okay to recreate? Especially since the reasons for deletion were incorrect, IMO. Omnis Scientia (talk) 09:56, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Template:Ping I got into a bit of flak for creating categories in the first place. Personally, I think they make sense, though. I'll re-make the Monterrey one but I'll probably stop after that, in case it gets someone's ire up again. Grutness...wha?11:28, 17 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 22 June 20247 comments3 people in discussion
Hi Grutness, I did a draft on Dignan. Not sure if I may contact you like this... but wondering if you can support with some recent references as the draft is declined. Thanks and regards! Davidindia (talk) 05:35, 22 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Oh! Erm... well, I'm flattered. I'm not sure how much I'd be allowed to add. Someone has tried writing an article about me on Wikipedia before which was also turned down... I'm not really sure that I'm notable enough (though I'm working on it :) hereare a couple more possible references though. Grutness...wha?05:51, 22 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
Haha, that's awesome. You aren't allowed to add anything, of course, but can provide references (and photos) for others to do something with, James. I hope you get this over the line, Template:U. Given that I've never met you, James, I don't think that there's anything wrong with me editing the draft; that's what I've just done (although nothing of any substance). Say if you want me to keep away from it, though. Schwede6607:00, 22 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
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Latest comment: 23 October 20241 comment1 person in discussion
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Latest comment: 25 October 20243 comments2 people in discussion
Nice to meet you. I'm a big fan of your work on The Catlins and I might ask here from a person with some local knowledge of the Otago area. I've begun work on the Clutha River article. It's difficult to find content about the course, Māori, and European history in the area, and this is my first attempt at a river article. Prehaps any local history books or newspaper articles might be good sources to use?
I noticed someone was doing a lot of editing of that article. It's looking good. I can certainly help with copyediting to fix any prose problems. Not sure what books might be useful, but I'll have a look. Grutness...wha?11:11, 25 October 2024 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 4 November 20243 comments3 people in discussion
Hello - I'm the person who made the edits to Erskine College that you improved - thank you. I'm still quite a newbie here (inching my way towards my first 500 edits), and I wondered if I could ask an old hand a question about photos? I wrote the page Mavis Wheeler and would like to include a photo. I have identified this one (https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/use-this-image/?mkey=mw52747) and have been told I can only use it if it's on Wikimedia Commons. With help from another editor with wording, I emailed the National Portrait Gallery, but have had no response. I wonder if I can use it under Fair Use (as the third column on the website seems to indicate)? (I also asked about this at one of the help desks, but it seemed very complicated, and I don't know how to find the answer again). Thanks - I hope this is OK to ask. Blackballnz (talk) 08:16, 4 November 2024 (UTC)Reply
Hi Template:Ping It's fine to ask, but to be honest it's not an area I know much about - almost all of the photos I've uploaded are one I've taken myself. It looks like it's available under a creative commons licence, which I think would make it OK, but it's best to ask at the photo copyright help page (Wikipedia:Media copyright questions) to make sure. Hope that helps. Grutness...wha?11:40, 4 November 2024 (UTC)Reply
If I may chip in: the Creative Commons license that they offer is unsuitable as it’s got "NC" (non-commercial) in it. As the subject is dead, "fair use" can be applied. For that, an image will be uploaded to Wikipedia (not to Commons), You can read up on this at Wikipedia:Non-free content. Schwede6614:45, 4 November 2024 (UTC)Reply
Map of Bay of Islands, Northland, NZ
Latest comment: 12 November 20243 comments2 people in discussion
I am working on a project to improve the Bay of Islands wiki, adding all islands etc. I would like to create a map of the bay of islands so I can show the island locations within the bay of islands.
I believe you may have created the original NZ-Northland plain map. I wondered if you would consider making one for the bay of islands (or could point me in the direction of someone who could).
I have attempted to research how to make them myself, but its a bit above my paygrade!
hope you can help - thanks
Yes, I could probably come up with something. May be a few days though. If you haven't seen anything by early next week, remind me! Grutness...wha?13:19, 7 November 2024 (UTC)Reply
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Latest comment: 27 January 20251 comment1 person in discussion
Whitwell, Isle of Wight has been nominated for a good article reassessment. If you are interested in the discussion, please participate by adding your comments to the reassessment page. If concerns are not addressed during the review period, the good article status may be removed from the article. Z1720 (talk) 16:08, 27 January 2025 (UTC)Reply
Hello, Grutness. Thank you for your contributions, including recent edits at List of metonyms. Unfortunately a piece you added as a reference uses the phrase "the Bombay Hills" but does not define it. References need to discuss the metonym as a metonym. See Use–mention distinction for discussion of the difference. Happy editing, Cnilep (talk) 02:47, 12 February 2025 (UTC)Reply
Happy admin anniversary!!!
Latest comment: 16 February 20252 comments2 people in discussion
The article will be discussed at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Taipa-Mangonui until a consensus is reached, and anyone, including you, is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on high-quality evidence and our policies and guidelines.
Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion notice from the top of the article until the discussion has finished.
Latest comment: 22 May 20259 comments2 people in discussion
Hello, Grutness,
In late 2024, I expanded someone else’s Start-class article called Bombardment of Greytown, which, after some changes by Donner60 and others, was declared a B Level article by Hawkeye7. In the course of the run-up to that B level bestowment, I had received, thanks to my watchlist, no less than 13 email notifications alerting me to changes made, ending on 7 December 2024.
Having received the B Level imprimatur and having ceased to receive any more email alerts as to further activity, I assumed no more changes were being made. But, recently, I glanced at the article, and I noticed substantial additions have been made to it in 2025 by History1138 and a warning template added to the top by you that said, “This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. etc.” Again, my watchlist never alerted me that any of this was happening. Hence, my delay in reaching out to you. (I will also be contacting History1138 soon.)
I looked at the description of what can cause tone problems in an article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles#Tone) and did not see how I might have violated this cautionary. Perhaps you could point out some examples in the piece of such failings. I would also like to know if you can shed any light on how that template was added and those additions made to the article without my watchlist having alerted me by email. I’m guessing it was just some sort of pilot-error on the part of a first-timer. Will-DubDub (talk) 17:06, 12 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Template:Ping The main problem is parts like "An obscure and seemingly minor incident in which no one was killed or even injured, this event has had a secret history, hidden — until now — for over a hundred years. And it has had a major impact on American foreign policy for almost as long." It reads like the sort of thing you'd find in clickbait. It may be accurate, but it's not a very encyclopaedic way of putting it - better something more neutral like "Although this incident was minor, it had a major impact on American foreign policy." Reading theough it again, most of it is a good article, but that bit in particular stood out as a red light.
Upon reflection, I think you’re absolutely right about that line, and I just changed it to your suggested alternative.
You have inspired me to seek higher rating levels, including Feature status!
I will check with Village Pump about why my watchlist didn’t inform me of the changes.
Speaking of changes, I’m going to ask Historyguy1138 to remove most of his additions. I think they slow down unnecessarily the run up to the titular incident and make an already long and complicated piece even more so. Also, one line, “Solon Borland . . . was forced to resign,” is incorrect. Borland was severely reprimanded by Secretary of State Marcy and, in a fit of pique, then resigned. “Whether or not Marcy’s note was actually intended to induce Borland’s resignation,” James Woods has written, “it had that effect.” (See Borland’s letter of resignation here: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=txu.059172149398109&seq=439. He was so angry with Marcy that he sent it over his head, directly to President Pierce.) Will-DubDub (talk) 16:06, 13 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Thanks! Hope to start improving on it right away and finding out what’s going on with those notifications! I’ve also been in contact with Historyguy1138, to thrash out some sort of agreement with him about his changes to the article. That said, where does that leave you and I with the tone template warning at the top of the article? Has the change I made to that red light passage satisfied your concerns, so that you’d be willing to take the template down once I come to an agreement with Historyguy1138? Will-DubDub (talk) 22:00, 14 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Done :) Once the problem was fixed you could have removed that yourself, though you were right that it was better to have either the person who put it there or an uninvolved editor do that. Good luck with Historyguy1138 :) Grutness...wha?23:58, 14 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Historyguy1138 and I have come to a meeting of the minds over his changes to my B-level expansion of the Bombardment of Greytown.
The bulk of the changes involve my replacing the five initial paragraphs of the Prelude section with five new paragraphs. Then I added four graphs to the end of the article in two new sections: Post Bombardment Central America and Greytown’s Ultimate Fate. (The other changes are much smaller and described in the edit summaries for them.)
Thanks for all your previous help, and I hope you like the changes. I have sent similar notifications to Hawkeye7 and Donner60. Once I’ve heard back from all three of you and resolved any problems you’ve noticed, I am going to embark on an effort to increase the number of images in the article. I will inform you and the others when those additions are complete. Will-DubDub (talk) 19:21, 5 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
I have now added the new images to this article — 22 of them. Thank you for the help with the headings. I have also alerted Hawkeye7, Historyguy1138, and Donner60. Will-DubDub (talk) 21:50, 22 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
FYI Men can be feminists
Latest comment: 18 March 20255 comments2 people in discussion
::What are you talking about? None of the other categories are parented by women activists. They're connected to women's rights activists. SMasonGarrison01:57, 18 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
I think you must be replying to a deleted message. I double checked and found you were right, hence the change of my message. Grutness...wha?01:58, 18 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Hi Template:Ping Heh. I've added some categories - I'll see what else I can find. I've met Pip Laufiso, who I think is Marie's sister (and would borderline be worth an article herself) - it should be possible to get some info to add to the article. Grutness...wha?15:51, 19 March 2025 (UTC)Reply
Unreferenced and unimproved for over 15 years. Small island. Unlikely to find sources due to many islands with similar names. No other language's article has any citations either.
I would guarantee it took less time to find references than it did to add a prod to this article and notify me. Perhaps you should try something like that next time, especially since verifiable places are never normally deleted. Grutness...wha?10:53, 12 April 2025 (UTC)Reply