User talk:Pjacobi/Archive2

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Contents


[edit] Listen

I have no idea what you are talking about.Why is "Chaldeans" redirecting to "Assyrian_people"??Shouldnt "Chaldeans" redirect to "Chaldean"? Doesn't that make more sense?but you keep on ruining it.Shouldn't there be a {{Syriac Christianity}} box under Chaldeans?? And How come Syriac doesn't count?Shouldn't they have their own article too?I am only fixing this up and you keep reverting my changes... why? --—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Domthedude001 (talk • contribs) on 19:35, 18 April 2006.

Wait a moment, go slowly with your changes, and see and discuss at Talk:Assyrian_people#Redirect/rename_mess. --Pjacobi 19:41, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Edits

I'm curious why you removed the section on EEstor from the supercapacitor page.It was important enough for KPC&B to invest in and another company to buy the rights to the forthcoming technology.& they say they are having independent tests done this summer.Perhaps you can have another section "unverified claims -- future commercial"?

Why are you reverting my edits?you ruined it.Now we have no Syriac page,two Assyrian pages, and two Chaldean pages (one goes to Assyrians and the other goes to Chaldeans). --—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Domthedude001 (talk • contribs) on 18:40, 18 April 2006.

[edit] on semi-break

I'm taken a semi-break from Wikipedia. Answers may take somewhat longer than normal. And I'll try not to look atmy watchlist. --Pjacobi 09:45, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Re:RfA

See User_talk:Garzo, where I gave him a heads up. Nominations must be accepted on the subpage and all the questions must be answered before nominations can be placed on the WP:RfA page per the new policy. Once Garzo has accepted and answered the questions, he can place the subpage on WP:RfA and adjust the closing time/date. Thanks! Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk |WS 00:03, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

OK - it doesn't make much sense to argue any longer about this point, but out of curiousity, where is this new policy? As I've seen Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/nominate my first thought that someone fell in love with the technical possibility to "automate" the process. But it's surely a policy page. --Pjacobi
All of it is in the instructions - we modified it to reflect that in order to place a subpage on the RfA page, it had to be accepted and teh questions answered. Yes, this is relatively new policy - it gained wide support with no opposition on the RfA talk page, so it was implemented a week or two ago. Thanks! Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk |WS 00:15, 14 October 2005 (UTC)
Thanks for your explanation. --Pjacobi 00:20, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Small answer

Thanks for trying to inject some sanity into both sides here. It's greatly appreciated, and I'll keep your "but"s in mind. :-)--SarekOfVulcan 00:10, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Arbitration accepted

Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Lightbringer has been accepted. Please place any evidence at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Lightbringer/Evidence Fred Bauder 01:53, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Quantum indeterminacy

Please see and comment on Talk:Quantum indeterminacy#Dispute status of this article. Thanks --CSTAR 18:09, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Actor model, mathematical logic, and quantum physics

Do you think that Actor model, mathematical logic, and quantum physics is a candidate to be sent up for Wikipedia:Articles for deletion? DV8 2XL 16:51, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

Not exactly, but I didn't explored the issue in depth. It has many problems, starting with the lemma, but I'm not sure about deleteability. Hmm, taking this search:
the WP:NOR may kick in.
Pjacobi 17:02, 18 October 2005 (UTC)
Please consider voting. Thank-you. DV8 2XL 01:55, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Non compactness of Wikipedia

Since Wikipedia is not compact, I suppose we can have an infinite sequence of oddities converging to infinity. --CSTAR 22:37, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

Let us learn some language, which is not widely used by cranks, request a Wikipedia in that language, and start over there. Perhaps Laal. Or Polari, as it would be easier to learn, but wouldn't the cranks follow us into that Wikipedia? --Pjacobi 07:03, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 167.206.112.86

I had blocked 167.206.112.86 indefinitely myself in the past, but then unblocked it as per request of User:Kyla. Whereas all anonymous edits are trash, there seems to be at least one (sort of) legitimate user at this IP, which is supposedly the IP of Kyla's school. --Pjacobi 16:56, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Is this school Kyla's only source for an internet connection?Unfortunately, this IP address has a two year history of nothing but vandalism.Perhaps she or he could cooperate with us by providing the time stamps of past acts of vandalism to her system administrator or escalate this to the proper authorities at his/her school so we do not need to block this IP.Hall Monitor 17:02, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
I'll ask her in e-Mail. --Pjacobi 17:10, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] From a new admin

Hi Peter! Apparently, thank you messages have gone out of fashion. However, I do want to thank you for nominating me for RfA. I confess that it wasn't something that I was thinking about, but, when you suggested it to me, I liked it. I hope that you will be able to help me out if I get stuck with anything. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with. Thanks. --Gareth Hughes 10:08, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

I'm sure, Wikipedia now has a valuable admin more. --Pjacobi 10:13, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] New Welcome Message

Hello Pjacobi,

I came to you because you are most likely an online admin(you blocked the last IP) I was wondering if you could change the welcome template to this, note the inclusion of the sandbox.

This is the new text: *Wikipedia:Sandbox Don't forget to practice editing and creating articles in the sandbox before editing real articles.

and this is the whole message:

[edit] Welcome

Hello Pjacobi/Archive2, and welcome to Wikipedia! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Don't forget to practice editing and creating articles in the sandbox before editing real articles. I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically produce your name and the date. If you have any questions, check out Wikipedia:Where to ask a question or ask me on my talk page. Again, welcome!

END TEMPLATE


Thanks, Prodego talk 13:51, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

Gee, it's like getting married all over again.How romantic.--CSTAR 14:01, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
-)

Hi Prodego,

I'd think this should go the same way as all changes to protected pages: discuss is at Template talk:Welcome and if a consensus emerges, the template will be changed.

Pjacobi 14:08, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Digamma and Linear B

Hi Pjacobi, Sorry for the delay in replying. I've had a look through my books and can't corroborate the claim but I'm no expert in the field. Robin Osborne in Greece in the Making (Routledge, 1996) asserts that the spoken language link is the only connection that survived between Mycenean and Archaic Greece and that the written syllabary was entirely lost (p.30). He goes on to say (p107) that the entire alphabet came from Phoenicia in the ninth century and that despite local variations, they "manifestly take their forms from the Semitic scripts used by the Phoenicians". Maybe the editor meant that the letter was ascribed to an existing sound in Greek rather than being derived from an LB predecessor. Also, isn't "basileus" the Greek work for king? adamsan 20:38, 25 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

Thank you very much for your support on my Rfa. :) --a.n.o.n.y.mt 16:35, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wanniyala-Aetto

Hi, thanks for protecting Sinhala. Could you also protect Wanniyala-Aetto? Thanks. --Hottenot

So this is where you run to Hottentot? You should be banned for violating the 3 reverts rule many times over as a member.
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.101.225.160 (talk • contribs) Pjacobi 07:32, 2 November 2005 (UTC).
Both combattants blocked for 24h --Pjacobi 07:31, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Sinhala

Hi, what's up with this?On the face of it, looks like you protected an article you were involved in a dispute over.I don't see much wrong with either version, so why the edit warring and protection? --Tony SidawayTalk 10:34, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

I don't even know, whether "Sinhala" or "Sinhalese" is the correct version, so I can't edit-war about this issue. Anyway, the right (or better) version should be the lemma and all uses in the text should match the form in the lemma. I assume this is an undisputed policy.
But as the two combattants are blocked now, perhaps it's best to unprotect.
Pjacobi 10:38, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Hitler's P

You noticed the dearth of linksto do with the Reichskonkordaton myfamekeeperRfc page some time ago . I notice it gets worse with time , all thede-coupling of german stuff,and I wonder if you think thisa tolerablesituation ? EffK 03:04, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] NASA's results on Hydrino's

You deleted most of the abstract, that stated that the results were NOT verified by NASA, using BlackLightPower's own device.

NASA is the proof that is weilded about like a sword, as proof that results were verifed: But so much of scientific reproducibility was missing, the abstract needs to be reproduced in its whole. Its a matter of Accuracy:

Isnt Wikipedia for "presenting each point of view accurately."

"It means citing verifiable[NASA Abstracts], authoritative sources whenever possible[NASA], especially on controversial topics.[Hydrino Theory]"

The other verifications fall along similar lines: The company states that the results were verfied by a group in Germany, where Dr Mills gave a talk. No results were avaible for them.

Do unbalenced points of view beomce truth AFTER you reapeat them enough? I need practice at this stuff before I take on something really controversial.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Artoftransformation (talk • contribs) Pjacobi 11:16, 8 November 2005 (UTC).

It is most unclear what you are talking about.
Confirmation of results. ( or lack thereof )
An encyclopedia article isn't just a bunch of quotes stitched together but should try to give an accurate summary of topic.
That is why on the talk page I asked about qualifying 'sucessfull' results.
I've shortened the NASA result, because it seems most unimportant to me: nine years ago and nothing resulted of it.
Pjacobi 11:16, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
The only reason it has any importance whatsoever, is that: Its the ONLY independant study that has been pubslished/abstracted. All the rest is basically propiganda.
This is not in anyway an enecyclopedia. Any 'expert' would have had this article deleted years ago. Just keep whacking at it, until either someone cleans out all the rest of the garbage, or someone actually puts it up for delettion. --Artoftransformation 22:30, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
If by now I understand you correctly, there are some points to clarify:
  • I'm not a supporter of the Hydrino theory and I'm rather clueless why you may think I am.
  • The Hydrino article is by all practical means undeletable. The theory, without accessing its validity, is well beyond Wikipedia's notability trhreshoild
  • It's perfectly possible to have fine Wikipedia articles on strange theories. We even have a sort of template for it: Green Cheese Model of Lunar Composition. Or see Space opera in Scientology doctrine.
Pjacobi 22:44, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Reply

Thanks, Pjacobi, for your message. I have no hard feelings. I know I'm quite hypersensitive regarding some topics, after what has transpired between April and October. Thanks for your appreciation. Of course, there is nothing bad in respectfully disagreeing on things. Cheers, Str1977 22:39, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Unfortunate History , Reichskonkordat

dear Pjacobi , I regret to ask you to witness the rapidity with which I am considered a censorablecontributorto the history of the Reichskonkordat , or much of anything related to history .As you know there is nothing new in this, and I am currently bemused as to how other than a formal resolution of this may be possible. That is also not new . EffK 22:35, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey EffK, your sometimes rather disturbing behaviour doesn't help your cause of presenting a critical account of the Roman Catholic Church (where criticism is deserved). Starting with the use of multiple usernames.
In some selected cases, by ArbCom ruling or on a voluntary basis, "edit partnerships" were tried. An experienced Wikipedia editor which is uninvolved in topics you want to edit will team up with you, trying to argue for your changes. In exchange you would be required from reverting yourself etc. I don't know whether there are currently volunteers for this job.
Also you may want to look at WP:AMA for advice and help.
Pjacobi 22:46, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Like yeah.Actually my usernames only changed because I lose Cookies and frankly why should I trust an email to Jimbo when hedoesnt stand by me as honest anyway . I am in the awkward position of saying the things that no one else is prepared or able to enunciate. You may find this disturbing, as do others , but it doesnt make you right to criticise me, orjustify you not saying them , or Str whitewashing . The suggestion you make is reasoneable and I was nor aware of it- indeed I have needed the helpand never was it offered . I am losing patience with being abused , called paranoid/ crazy . But have a pop anytime , eh ? Consider whom you attack , I suggest . I have reason- you do not .

EffK 03:01, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Actually, if you memorize or write down your password, you can always re-login and use your old account again. If you set an e-mail address you even can recover from forgotten passwords. --Pjacobi 07:30, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Dear Pjacobi, despite EffK's accusations. I have looked at his edits with an open mind and even retained some (smaller edits). However, alomost everything was either off-topic, or inaccurate or POV. It was basically a piece of editorializing matching in quality to the article he linked to (about Ludwig Stiegler), whose author apparently has no clue whatsover about current German politics or the Weimar Republic- calling the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold a right-wing group resembles either User:68.57.33.91, who calls the DNVP left-wing or exposes his own political position as being so much to the left, that everyone else must be right-wing. Unfortunately, that's the kind of literature EffK feeds on. Str1977 23:45, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

My frustration at your apparentequanimity over Nuremburg deletion may have read more criticism into your reply than you intended. I am disappointed though . You very much weakened your initialposition as to contentimportance , did you not? Str1977 's apparent reasonablenessis belied by hisediting actions , and I would therefore ask you straight if these really seem acceptable or as he says . Youknow of this because I dragged you in afteryou commented so long ago . I feelthat I am constrained into hyper reaction by the editor'svery long and continuousmalign actions, and that you here give me no credit for my good faith , or attempts to contribute healthyarticles . So my hastydisquiet is replaced by this analysis of your inaction and equanimityat loss of content. EffK 04:19, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
@FK: Yes, I was more sympathetic to your agenda in the past, as a superficial comparison to the de: articles gave the impression, that criticism at Pope Pius XI were toned down here. But after having read around more, my impression did change, as the information mostly was only distributed into other articles. There may still be a minor NPOV problem within this area, but by now I'd prefer to work on it with contributors willing to accept the co-operative spirit of Wikipedia. In the moment you just aren't cold blooded enough to help your own cause.
@Str1977: I generally don't have problem with leftist editors (make your own conclusions about this), but their participation in Wikipedia generally depends on learning that Wikipedia isn't a leftist project (in the European sense, for some US-Americans it is communism anyway). Also http://www.wsws.org isn't a totally wacko source (minus the topic of AIDS, where it is a totally wacko source).Only thinking that it is a NPOV source is, sorry to say this, stupid.
Pjacobi 07:55, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
Dear Pjacobi, I don't have a problem either with leftist editors either. Leftist positions are not foreign to me and some of my opinions could be termed leftist, though currently I don't think left and right to be really meaningful anymore. This might change, if left and right takes up new defintions. (All this from a European and German perspective). The problem comes when user, regardless of their views, seem unable to cooperate and put themselves on a high horse of political or moral superiority (and start to call names, as EffK has done in the past). I also was shocked by the article EffK linked to (the page had "socialist" in the title), first it was the typical onesidedness in papers influenced very much my ideology, but the Reichsbanner thing really blew out my ceiling. Some (mainly conservative or libertarian) Americans argue that the Nazis were leftists. They are wrong of course, but at least they make a reasonable argument (collectivism = left, liberty = right). To just label an organisation right-wing without appearently knowing anything about it, probably only because of an allergical reaction to the morpheme "Reichs-", is just way out. Of course, that's not EffK's fault, as he didn't write the article. But he shouldn't be so credulous to onesided articles that play well to his pre-conceptions. We all have to be careful about that. Anyway, the article, just as IMHO his recent edit, did not add anything substantial to the article. Cheers, Str1977 10:14, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Reichskonkordat nonsense

Pjacobi-Are you really suggesting the validity of revert on material relevant to the Rkkdt from the Nuremburg Trials?You are most in error in taking this position , which you should certainly have , in doubt , separated from anything extra, and defended. this is not left and right, but open or closed . i reject your charges, howqsoever nicely put. I understand you do not wish to persist , and I therefore am forced to note your unreasonable position. EffK 11:33, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] New ?- The Great Scandal

In order to achieveRobert McClenon's aim for an article to catch all the surrounding off-topics, I wrote upThe Great Scandal because Hitler's Pope wascoralled intoone corner of the topic . I come to say this because straight-way , str1977 determines he should obliterate all thelinkage from this new article out to itsfacets . Neither you nor anyone would thereby see it . Up to you how you judge it, I see that I have zero influence with personnel . you commented , and the issueswhich brought you to comment, are un-resolved. I do not consider my personality an issue or of any relevant magnitude , but it could be a justification were there no other . EffK 16:33, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

The article is very bad idea. I nominated it for deletion. See rationale and discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/The Great Scandal. --Pjacobi 20:07, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
Do suggest a better idea , and implement it. EffK 19:18, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Please show restrain

I would appreciate if you show some restrain when deleting content from Prem Rawat that is properly sourced. If you keep listening to the atrocity stories made by a couple of obesessed apostates, you will be making value judgements that are misleading.

You did a search in Google and based on the results of the search, you decided that the material about the UN 60th Anniversary was not appropriate for inclusion. You should have asked before pulling the trigger. ≈ jossi fresco ≈ t • @ 04:02, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

Please desist from deleting content because you think it is a frabrication and without explaining your deletion. Either providesome references that support your point, or stop. Thanks. ≈ jossi fresco ≈ t • @ 15:18, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
Why are you discussing article content disputes on a user talk page? --Pjacobi 15:26, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
My complaint is not about content but about your intervention on that article. I have removed the content related bullet points. ≈ jossi fresco ≈ t • @ 17:23, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Elerner RfC

I have added a request for comment on Eric Lerner's editing, at Wikipedia:Requests_for_comment/Elerner. You may want to look at it if you have a spare moment. –Joke137 00:46, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Hercolubus

I can feel the pull already... --CSTAR 16:23, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Holy crap! I try to vfd afd it, but I fear, it wouldn't work. --Pjacobi 16:49, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
The version present when I checked recently seemed NPOV enough. If it really is a popular folk belief anywhere, where's the problem? --Christopher Thomas 17:36, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
Ok, checking the edit history, it looks like content has only been sane since 17:20 (rewrite by Wikipediatrix).--Christopher Thomas 17:39, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
It looks better now. I'm not sure , though, if it is really a popular folk belief anywhere. Rabolu was a Colombian crank with abolutely no scientific training.--CSTAR

[edit] Heck, if you want an example of the absurd...

Check out the disclaimer on the subcategory Category:People without hands. I mean, on a serious level, I can see why it's there, but... wow. Melchoir 23:08, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

OTOH that category has some logic, as those people are mostly known and notable as people without hands. But amputess is with some exception categorization of somthing irrelevant to their notability. --Pjacobi 08:32, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lightbringer Arbitration case

The Arbitration case against Lightbringer, Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Lightbringer, to which you contributed, has closed. The decision is that Lightbringer is hereby banned indefinitely from editing articles and talk-pages related to Freemasonry (the closeness of the relation is to be interpretted by any sysop as they see fit, regardless of the article's title), and is placed on personal attack parole for six months from now (to expire on the 24 of May 2006). If Lightbringer violates the Freemasonry ban, a sysop may ban them for up to a week, and after five such bans, for up to a year. If they violate the personal attack parole, a sysop may ban them for up to a week.

Yours,

James F. (talk) 00:03, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Template:Philosophy (navigation) RfC

We have a content dispute issue. Please comment on the talk page. This message is being sent out to everyone who didn't vote Delete in the last TfD of the template, ie: User:SimonP User:Jules.lt User:Pjacobi User:thames User:Michael User:Christopherparham User:FranksValli User:Silence User:Andymussell User:Moosh88 User:Rick Norwood User:Izehar

[edit] Thanks

Thanks for the quick speed of gravity edits, they were just what was needed.linas 05:07, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Arbitration accepted

Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Reddi 2 has been accepted. Please place evidence at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Reddi 2/Evidence. Proposals and comments may be placed at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Reddi 2/Workshop. Fred Bauder 22:15, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Würdest du mal

...hier vorbei schauen? Danke dir. --ST ○ 17:28, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

Hast Du gesehen was es hier alles an Bildern gibt? Der Bilderbereich der englischen Wikipedia ist eine einzige riesige Urheberrechtsverletzung, ein Unrechtsbewusstsein ist nicht vorhanden. Wegen Aussichtslosigkeit halte ich mich da raus. --Pjacobi 17:43, 2 December 2005 (UTC)
LOL - bis die erste Klage Erfolg hat, dann kommen sie gerannt. Danke dir jedenfalls. --ST ○ 17:45, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] New proposed portal page designed for Philosophy

Template:Philosophy portal

Hi.The philosophy navigation template has been merged into a new portal page, as you desired, and it is ready for comment.(It's about 90% complete, and there won't be any blank column space when we are through).Have a look!Go for it! 06:21, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks for common sense, fairness and down to earth attitude

Though I do not always agree with you, I consider all your contributions and comments that I have seen defensible, fair, based on common sense, and on a down to earth attitude. Thanks. Andries 12:50, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

Ahem. Thanks for the feedback. I fear some of this impression stems from my preference, to let things go if there is severe resistance, even if I think, that I am right and the state of an article is poor. But OTOH it may work out in the end, as I regularily re-vist the pages in long intervals. --Pjacobi 08:17, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] RE:

yes I am using the javascript thing. God light mode. thanks for picking it up on that edit. I am fixing up my own program that does not have the problem but for now is there a thing like it that does not have a problem. My program will not have the problem because it would be more work to add the problem!!! --Adam1213 Talk + 12:53, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Template:Philosophy navigation linkspam

You may want to weigh in here.—jiy (talk) 03:01, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] EffK is forced to Abandon a Corrupted Wikipedia

I refer you to my response of a few moments ago at 15 December [[4]],http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/EffK/Evidence#3_December_2005 EffK 01:36, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] help requested to solve unhealthy dynamics between believers and apostates

You may be interested to see that the article on Sathya Sai Baba now shows similar traits as the article on Prem Rawat. Rebuttal and surrebuttal by believers and apostates (mainly me) and there seems no way to stop the ever increasing controversy with counter-counter arguments. Every deletion is restored by the opposing factions, so the controversy section of the article grows and grows. Your help and comments are appreciated. See talk:Sathya Sai Baba. Andries 02:18, 18 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, please come and take a look. The latest exchange in the talk page is most revealing as it pertains to the reputability of sources used[5], and the numerous problems with the article. ≈ jossi≈ t • @ 04:31, 18 December 2005 (UTC)

I'll have a look on Monday, but I'm rather tight with time, sorry. --Pjacobi 21:30, 18 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Tachyons

Some anon keeps adding text about Aasis Vinayak's paper on tachyon mass, which as you pointed out has not been peer reviewed yet.Its been added twice since you reverted it.Since the edits are coming from different IP's each time, its a bit difficult to leave messages telling them to cease and desist.Any thoughts?

Whoops forgot to sign! Gershwinrb 17:52, 25 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Astigmatism

Image:Astigmatism 2 eyes illus.png
Aspherical cornea (top, exagerated) and normal eye below.

You deleted my graphic from Astigmatism on 12 Sept. Your "Wrong image removed" comment is vague. I'm happy to make changes based on logical arguments. See the review history of my POTD image for root canal.

Similar astigmatism images for reference:

I've readded the image and await your substantial justification.

jk 18:32, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

I've ansered at Talk:Astigmatism#Image

[edit] Question

Which section of Talk:Scalar field theory relates to this edit [6]? Fred Bauder 20:45, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

If everyone is busy, I can try to track this down. On a related note, I notice that Pjacobi is on semi-leave, so if help is needed on related issues, let me know. I am disheartened to be warring with another related pseudoscience editor who has gone from 0 to 60 on the offensiveness scale in no time at all, and so am interested in helping out the trustworthy editors as best I can. linas 01:38, 31 December 2005 (UTC)


Thanks to Linas for taking up this time-consuming and draining struggle.
@Fred: See
Reddi can't tell one Lagrangian from another if no one gives him a label, but he cut'n'pastes like hell everything that merely sounds connected.
Pjacobi 12:49, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Happy New Year

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"
Happy New Year! ≈ jossi≈ t • @ 20:24, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Two times

Dear Pjacobi, I agree with you that the article is not really good, but on the other hand, there could be an article about two times because it is an idea that often becomes a topic of debates. Best wishes, LM --Lumidek 19:15, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] P, could you take a look at

Wikipedia:Requests_for_comment/Rbj and possibly add a comment, if you feel so inclined? r b-j 00:39, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

Uh, where's the meat there? I can't even see the point of your accusers. Will write a comment tomorrow. --Pjacobi 00:58, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Lists in Wikipedia

Care to check this proposed guideline? Wikipedia:Lists in Wikipedia ≈ jossi≈ t • @ 03:06, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Oppose: Too many userboxes

Why have you opposed me, User:Locke Cole, and User:Idont havaname just for having "too many userboxes"? It's a very weak reason to oppose and you appear to be the sole voice of opposition Sceptre (Talk) 19:37, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

There is an extensive discussion at wikien-l.
Some points from there:
  • Userboxes attract the "wrong" contributors and vice versa
  • Userboxes ease factional struggles and block voting
  • This is a project to write an encyclopedia.
To prepare a next wave of userbox purging, admins were asked to check their own user pages, so that the action wouldn't look hypocritical. So what sense does it make to create new admins who are attached to userboxes?
Pjacobi 20:40, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
I'm hardly attached to them Sceptre (Talk) 20:54, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
I have no doubts (or regrets) that candidates which are in good standing otherwise, will become elected despite my single oppose. --Pjacobi 21:04, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for your feedback anyway. Sceptre (Talk) 21:09, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Finite QFT

Thanks for your question, Pjacobi, and Happy New Year. This article is a kind of article where it's hard to find obvious nonsenses, but where the point is completely unclear. For example, they explain how they can derive the coupling of ghosts. Well, the coupling of Faddeev-Popov ghosts are strictly determined by the commutation relations of the Lie algebra they are associated with. It's very hard to understand how can there be anything new about deriving ghost couplings, and there are similar points. Most of the formulae in that paper are more or less well-known formulae - but they try to claim that they rediscovered "proper" QED in some sense that I don't understand.

Theories with asymptotic freedom such as Quantum Chromodynamics much like finite theories such as N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory can be claimed to be finite and free of ultraviolet divergences. That's certainly not the case of Quantum Electrodynamics because the latter has a Landau pole, and if they claim that their QED without modifications to its defining equations is finite, then you can be sure that everyone else in particle physics would think that they lost their mind.

This enterprise is a part of axiomatic quantum field theory that has not led anywhere but it is of course often hard to say it directly to the eyes of those who spent lives doing such things - and they have difficulties to admit it to themselves, too.

At any rate, I think that there should be a policy that a scientific result should not be interpreted as a fact on Wikipedia unless it has at least 20 citations according to scholar.google.com, excluding self-citations. Best wishes, Lubos --Lumidek 20:23, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] My RfA

I have decided to withdraw my nomination, due to growing oppose votes due to my lack of experence (and because of userboxes?). I will now aim to continue, and broadern my scope from userboxes. I will accept a nomination, should one be made, in 1-2 months. Ian13ID:540053 18:23, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Aetherometry

Excuse me, please, this is Janusz Karpinski, writing just after midnight on January 13.I am curious why such person as you, obviously a scientist, spends time so without point, quarrelling about aetherometry.Why do you give permission to keep this article in Wikipedia which you can not verify and on a subject which is well known only to few people?An encyclopedia is a bad place for this and it is damaging to the dignity to spend time making such bad blood in such pettyness.Wikipedia has policy that says it should not allow such articles.Is it not that you think that this policy is wise and upholding to dignity?I am writing not only to you but also to other few scientists who are involved in aetherometry fighting now.Also excuse that I am new to writing in Wikipedia.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 4.154.226.185 (talk • contribs) Pjacobi 08:08, 13 January 2006 (UTC).

You are mistaken. There is no Wikipedia to not report on Pseudoscience. --Pjacobi 08:08, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

Hi.This is Janusz again, at 11:30 on January 13. I have now an account.I think I wrote not clearly enough. I did not mean that there is policy about pseudoscience.But there is policy about verifiability and fact-checking.I found this:

"Articles in Wikipedia should refer to facts, assertions, theories, ideas, claims, opinions, and arguments that have been published by a reputable or credible publisher. The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth. A good way to look at the distinction between verifiability and truth is with the following example. Suppose you are writing a Wikipedia entry on a famous physicist's Theory X. Theory X has been published in peer-reviewed journals and is therefore an appropriate subject for a Wikipedia article. However, in the course of writing the article, you meet the physicist, and over a beer, he tells you: "Actually, I think Theory X is a load of rubbish." Even though you have this from the author himself, you cannot include the fact that he said it in your Wikipedia entry. Why not? Because it is not verifiable in a way that would satisfy the Wikipedia readership or other editors. The readers don't know who you are. You can't include your telephone number so that every reader in the world can call you directly for confirmation. And even if they could, why should they believe you? For the information to be acceptable to Wikipedia, you would have to persuade a reputable news organization to publish your story first, which would then go through a process similar to peer review. It would be checked by a reporter, an editor, perhaps by a fact-checker, and if the story were problematic, it would be checked further by the lawyers and the editor-in-chief. These checks and balances exist to ensure that accurate and fair stories appear in the newspaper. It is this fact-checking process that Wikipedia is not in a position to provide, which is why the no original research and verifiability policies are so important."

Especially if you have a big theory referencing many experiments, it is big job verifying if the theory is scientific or if it is not scientific. Wikipedia cannot verify this by itself. So the policy says that then such theory should not be included in Wikipedia.

Also, I found another policy:"If a viewpoint is held by an extremely small (or vastly limited) minority, it doesn't belong in Wikipedia (except perhaps in some ancillary article) regardless of whether it's true or not; and regardless of whether you can prove it or not."This also applies to Aetherometry.These are the policies that I was talking about before.Best regards, Janusz.

Hi Janusz
The scientific vs non scientific part is easy, as we don't do any research or try to decide whether it is true or false. We only decide:
  1. Is it taught at universities?
  2. Is it published in peer reviewed journals, included in the relevant citation indexes?
So there can be no misunderstanding. Aetherometry is pseudoscience, not science.
The other policy is subject to more controversies how to apply it. As I read it, and I'm of the expression I'm near consensus her, it means:
  1. Fringe theories, if published (a thrshold problem lurks here) can get there own article. At the WikiProject Pseudoscience we tried to create a template for very strange subjects: Green Cheese Model of Lunar Composition, see also Nazi moon base.
  2. But, and this is other side of the policy, these theories aren't allowed to "invade" other articles. So we have an article Autodynamics, but its POV should stay out of the article Neutrino.
Pjacobi 23:37, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

I am sorry, you say in the first part there can be no misunderstandig, but I dont follow you there.The category pseudoscience says:"This category comprises articles pertaining to fields of endeavor or bodies of knowledge that are both claimed by their proponents to be supported by scientific principles and the scientific method, and alleged by their critics and the scientific community to be inconsistent with such principles and method.". And the scientific method article says: "The essential elements of a scientific method are iterations, recursions, interleavings and orderings of the following: -Characterizations (Quantifications, observations and measurements)- Hypotheses (theoretical, hypothetical explanations of observations and measurements)- Predictions (reasoning including logical deduction from hypotheses and theories)- Experiments (tests of all of the above)."Can you explain why you conclude that if it is not taught at universities and not published in peer-reviewed journals, it means that it has been alleged by the scientific community to violate the scientific method?Maybe they dont even know about it or dont bother with it. I am not understanding the reasoning. Sincerely, Janusz. Januszkarp 00:42, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

WP:NOR. As in all cases, we don't do our own investigations. Let the scientific community decide, whether something adheres to the scientific method. There was an extensive discussion on this on the mailing list wikien-l (the "SPOV vs NPOV2 thread). Despite a large range of opinions, there was a consensus, that the "pseudoscience" label shouldn't be the result of our own investigations and tries to proof or disproof.
If OTOH, they dont even know about it or dont bother with it we must take it as negative proof. Otherwise, lack of citable reference that cheeese is outruled as major constitutent of the monn, could be taken as argument in favour of the Green Cheese Model of Lunar Composition.
--Pjacobi 12:50, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

Hi, I am sorry, but I must disagree with you.There is, in my opinion, difference between Green Cheese Model and aetherometry.To say that moon is made of green cheese forms obvious contradiction with existing empirical evidence, because we have samples from moon that are not blue cheese.And we also have no empirical reason to think there is blue cheese in moon composition at all, especially since cheese is made by man.But aetherometry, from what I see, says it is based on empirical evidence that existing physics does not explain, and I dont see (by my little reading) obvious contradiction with existing empirical evidence, only with existing interpretations.These interpretations are accepted, but it is always possible that other interpretations will arise that are better because they cover more data and make more unified view or fix some errors. So I think your two examples are not very analogous.For green cheese moon you can immediately know for sure it is not scientific, but for aetherometry you may suspect, but you cannot make definitive claim until you examine carefully the experiments and the conclusions.It is also not impossible that it is wrong in some things and right in other things.Sincerely, Janusz.Januszkarp 17:54, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] M.H.F.

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Jacoby, gerade ist mir aufgefallen, daß ich mich vermutlich an einer total falschen Stelle eben gemeldet habe. Es ist mir aufrichtig peinlich. Ich weiß nicht, ob Sie mir das jemals verzeihen können. Es war keine Absicht, wirklich nicht. Und dann noch mit dieser Message da... und dann noch die plumpe Anrede, die ich benutzte... Ich bin in mehrere Fettnäpfchen getreten.. Ich bin unmöglich... bitte verzeihen Sie mir das. Ich werde hier nicht wieder auftauchen. Mit aufrichtiger voller Achtung vor Ihrer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit. M.H.F. 15:34, 14. Jan. 2006

Huch? Warum so verschreckt? Und einen Doktortitel habe ich auch nicht. Und fast alle MItarbeiter duzen sich hier. ..Pjacobi 14:38, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re disambiguation

Hi, I appreciate your pointing out of my mistake in those disambiguations. I have just started with this task and was finding my feet, so to speak. Mushintalk 17:12, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lists

Can you take a look at Talk:Charismatic_authority#Lists_of_people_in_article. Thanks. ≈ jossi≈ t • @ 04:27, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Syndromic survelliance

Please use a specific reason when suggesting speedy deletion using {{db|reason}}. The reasons you gave are not sufficient for speedy deletion and I will be listing it on {{prod}} instead. - Mgm|(talk) 13:51, 9 February 2006 (UTC) P.S. Valid reasons for speedy deletion, (which do not include: unsourced -- spam -- unformatted) can be found at WP:CSD. Apologies if you already knew. :) - Mgm|(talk) 13:53, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I was scratching my head, how to delete that one. On de: I wouldn't hesitate to simply delete without further procedure myself. Putting it on AfD looked like overkill for such non-article (unless you have some bookmarklet do this automatically, has anyone?). So I've inserted {{delete}} to share the judgement. I'm sorry, that neither product placement nor missing to give any source is valid CSD on [[:en:]], but the new procedure using {{prod}} (which I was unaware of) seems to be fine. --Pjacobi 15:03, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] wpspam invite

Hey there!I saw you reverting or removing linkspam.Thanks!If you're interested, come visit us in Wikipedia:WikiProject Spam so we can work together fighting those who spam Wikipedia. --Perfecto05:04, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ravi Shankar

Hi, I noticed a while back that you have concerns that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar should be renamed Ravi Shankar (guru) or something similar.Recently, Ravi Shankar (musician) was moved to Ravi Shankar.I wish I were able to revert the change, however, the redirect page has a history, and I am not an admin, so I filed a request for move.If you feel strongly that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is not the appropriate title name, you may wish to share your opinion on this request for move.One of the arguments raised against the title Ravi Shankar (musician) was that the musician's article title doesn't require a qualifier because the guru's article has a "different name".(My own concern is rather different.I'm concerned to keep the effort required to fix misdirected links from being overwhelming, but that is a story for another day perhaps...) --BostonMA 03:20, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

My feeling are mixed over this issue, as a number of contributors I trust argued for taking the self choosen names for gurus and the like. I'll nevertheless visit the discussion. --Pjacobi 07:49, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] User-pages / article.

Hello. And thanks advise. I'm a new user, so take some time to understand this wiki-world. This is not so easy thing. I learn this article-help first. br.Heikki. --Heikki 13:55, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Red links in Aichelburg-Sexl ultraboost

As you might know, I am planning to take a very long or permanent break from WP article space, but I might remain a member of WikiProject GTR. I am burnt out from the need to try to retard the introduction of crank POV-pushing (i.e. cranks trying to portray their ideas as representing mainstream science), but I still believe in the goal of providing a high quality free on-line universal encyclopedia, with a particular focus on the science and technology articles.This is just context for a brief remark: I am concerned that a list I created, Contributors to general relativity, not turn into one of those pointless lists of Everyone Who Ever Published an Eprint Even Tangentially Related to GTR.This is why I've been trying to avoid red-linking anyone I haven't added to the list; persons I have added myself I consider to be "major contributors", and that is the purpose of the list.User:Hve has added many names and fortunately I agree with almost all of his/her additions.But apparently someone I have never heard of has already added himself, which I don't like to see.OK, just a consideration to bear in mind, make of it what you will.BTW, I hope physics types will deal with Tom Van Flandern over at Speed of gravity.I figure I've already done my bit "arguing" with him.(Actually arguing with him is impossible because of his practice of constantly complaining "no, you rebutted crankclaim(n) but I was saying crankclaim(n+1)", so expect frustration if you decide to try.See the file just cited for examples of this behavior.)---CH 16:01, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Just two comments in hurry:
  1. Sexl would be relevant for biography in Wikipedia, agreed? (And isn't it Roman, not Rudolph)
  2. Don't despair. Let us work in shifts against the cranks. Take your sabbatical whenever needed, but please return.
Pjacobi 23:08, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rudolf Virchow

Hallo, kannst du vielleicht bei Rudolf Virchow vorbeischauen? Ein JASpencer (talk • contribs) versucht mit allen Mitteln Virchow zu einem Freimaurer zu machen. Ich hätte nichts dagegen, wenn er es beweisen könnte, aber er verwendet irgendwelche zweideutigen Texte und behauptet, diese würden es "beweisen". Keine Meiner Quellen zieht überhaupt nur in Erwägung, dass er Freimaurer gewesen sein könnte. Wenn man die Initiationsloge nicht nennen kann, wird es dünn...

Der Benutzer scheint es generell auf alle Freimaurerei-Artikel abgesehen zu haben und ist wohl ein religiöser Verschwörungstheoretiker. Auch scheint er von http://www.trosch.org/ angetan zu sein. Der Kulturkampf soll seiner Meinung nach von den Freimaurern initiiert worden sein, dazu führt er Virchow an, der ja seiner Meinung nach Freimaurer gewesen wäre. Nur dass der Kulturkampf eben von Bismark ausging und Virchow dessen Politik nicht leiden konnte... Weiter nimmt päpstliche Bullen und stellt Sätze in Zusammenhang, die auch hier wieder Zusammenhänge konstruieren sollen. Zusätzlich wird er von einer Sockenpuppenfarm unterstützt, die sich hier findet: Category:Wikipedia:Suspected_sockpuppets_of_Lightbringer Dieser User scheint aber aus Canada zu kommen, dort wird jetzt auch www.trosch.org gehostet, vorher im gleichen Bundesstaat Texas wie JASpencer. Ob das was bedeutet, weiß ich nicht.

Zusätzlich wird im Artikel Catholicism and Freemasonry beschönigt. So wird bei der Inquisition, die Freimaurer zu Tode gefoltert hatte, in den Kerker werfen ließ und ermordet hat, von "put to death" geredet.

Menschen töten wird irgendwie verharmlost und das angebliche Verbreiten von Ideen verteufelt. Ein weiterer Punkt: JASpencer zieht natürlich entsprechend den alten Enzyklika die Freimaurerei Richtung Satanismus und Religion. Vermutlich hält er auch den Taxil hoax noch für echt.

Vielleicht kannst du da irgendwie helfen?

--SGOvD webmaster (talk) 22:35, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hummel on Maharaji

Do you have Hummel's book "Indische Mission und neue Frömmigkeit im Westen" (1980) If so, could you please give the German original text and context of the English translation of Hummel's statement "Maharaj Ji could become the symbol of the desire for the messianic child due to his age." I believe this to be yet another astute observation by Hummel and I want to use it for the article.

By the way you may be interested to read a statement by a self-described moderate ex-premie contributor in Wikipedia that I think accurately and fairly describes the problem that some former followers (incl. me) of gurus have.

I have Hummel's 1994 book "Religöser Pluralismus oder Christliches Abendland?" at home, so if you need anything from that book, please let me know.
Andries 16:33, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Do not do any effort. I already order the book in Antiqariat. Andries 11:47, 16 April 2006 (UTC)
Hi Andries, thanks for all the pointers. But I'm only taking a short break from my wiki-break. Will be back later in the year for larger projects. --Pjacobi 16:18, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Pages needing attention/Physics

Hi Beland, I don't fully understand why the manually created list is replaced by bot generated listings. Is there any prior discussion on this? --Pjacobi 22:04, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

I was going to point you to Wikipedia talk:Pages needing attention, where notice was given about the discussion on Wikipedia:Cleanup_process/Cleanup_sorting_proposal.It looks like you have already found it, though, so I have replied on Wikipedia talk:Pages needing attention. -- Beland 22:40, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Assyrian people

Sure, I'll have a look. Cheers, —Khoikhoi 03:24, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Cat Scan

Hello,

Thank you for the tip on Cat Scan. I tried to use it but failed. I use Internet Exploror, but it appears my browser may be too old a version for Cat Scan to function properly.

Back to the drawing board.

Regards,

Michael David 16:17, 28 April 2006 (UTC)


THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
You were right. It wasn’t a problem with my browser. I was not entering the proper search criteria, beginning with the ‘en’. Did I mention I am still somewhat computer challenged.
You have made my week (subcategory: day; subsubcategory; Friday). Seriously, I have been wrestling with this issue since I began exploring Wikipedia in January.
We can still (and most likely will) debate over which Categories are appropriate for any given Article, but, for now, you have solved a major research tool problem for me.
I am very grateful.
Be healthy,
Michael David
  • Hello again,

I may have applauded a little too soon. There are some Articles that should be - but are not - appearing when a search is done.

Please take a minute and go to Cat Scan. Search 'for all pages' for the Category:'Cancer deaths'.Anthony Burgess should be in that list.

Please let me know how you do.

Thanks,

Michael David 19:37, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Albert Einstein Award

Sorry, I have already put down all the reliable information I have about this award under the title. I maintain it as much as I can, though occasionally someone comes and puts in information that has nothing to do with the real award. Unfortunately, I have not been able find out which institution gives/gave the award. I think the best thing to learn more is to contact one of the recipients themselves: Hawking, Lee and Yang are still in physics. Erkcan 00:25, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

Hi, I understand that you would like to keep wikipedia as clean as possible. I follow your point. However, I really do not understand why you would like to delete this article. Note that as a physicist myself, I really understand the value of these prizes and I do not see the logic of keeping articles for all sorts of little awards while deleting this one, just because we could not find the detailed information on it on the web. (You do not suggest that if something is not yet on the web, it is does not exist at all, right? :)) I must say that I have spent hours and hours in order to establish the current version of the article, little by little. And I have documented in the discussion page the actual references to the information (and note that I chose as reliable sources as I could find, all are universities or research institutions). As for you finding nothing on the web on Prof. Gursey's recieveing the award, there are plenty of Turkish-languages webpages that state he received the medal in 1979. I put one of those into the discussion page, from a website of Bosphorus University, as I did for the other recipients. Erkcan 19:51, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Oh, something that I forgot. I am aware of another Einsteinmedaille awarded by Einsteinhaus in Bern. Unfortunately, since Prof. Einstein was a very prominent scientist, almost like the face of physics in the world, there are multiple awards established after him. If you think that this makes it difficult to determine whether this prize is worth being in wikipedia, I think that might be a reasonable corcern. Having spent a lot of time on this article, I cannot be totally impartial in such a point; so if you really feel strongly about having it deleted, I will respect your opinion, but will try to defend it. :) Erkcan 20:14, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject WS

Just letting you know I have created a userbox for WikiProject Writing Systems at Template:User WikiProject WS. It looks like this:

This user is a member of the
Writing Systems Project.

Just add {{User WikiProject WS}} to your userpage. BTW, any questions or comments should be directed to the project's talkpage, as I will be spamming this message to all current members. Thanx!--The ikiroid (talk)(Help Me Improve) 22:31, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Template:Seeintro

Actually, creating introduction or trampoline forks for technical articles was not a concept thought of by me. Such articles have existed for long and attempts to get them deleted have always failed. All I've done is categorise and systemise them. Loom91 05:45, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

Can you point to any previous discussions? --Pjacobi 07:38, 2 May 2006 (UTC)
See the talk page of Introduction to quantum mechanics for a link to the AfD discussion. Loom91 06:53, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
On second look the link isn't there. See Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Quantum_Mechanics_-_simplified and Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Special_relativity_for_beginners and also Wikipedia_talk:Make technical articles accessible. Loom91 06:57, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for the pointers. The AfDs look somewhat inconclusive to me. To get more input, I brought the issue to Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Physics#...for_beginners. Don't get me wrong: On a quick scan, the Intrdduction to... articles look rather good. --Pjacobi 07:59, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Your offer

Would you be kind enough to make some statements about the appropriate use of talk pages at Talk:Prem Rawat?You have some background in the dispute and may be able to explain to newly involved editors how to go about it. As you have seen, I have been unable to contain the misuse of these page, despite my explanation. It is obvious to me now, that these people will not take any thing from me at face value. As you have witnessed, the signal to noise ratio is way off the mark, and the talk page is becoming just an other forum in which mostly the anti faction is repeating their criticism that they publish in their forums and websites (followed by rebuttals from supporters) or simply using the talk page to air their grievances against Prem Rawat or Elan Vital. Please note that the article has improved quite a lot over the last few months or so, thanks to comments and recommendations made by non-involved editors. We have now a good and balanced lead to the article, for example after the comments made by User:Bishonen. As for my intentions for this article: All I strive for is to have an article that is well written, NPOV and supported by reputable sources so that it cannot be challenged again and again by either side pro or con. We have amassed 140 sources, the majority of which are from books, encyclopedias and scholarly articles,a task that has taken an enormous effort to achieve, making this one of the best researched articles in WP.

I have many on-going projects that I would like to continue pursue in WP (Such as my contributions at Wikipedia:Version 1.0 Editorial Team), but unfortunately I am spending a lot of time in the never-ending disputes on that talk page.

Your assistance would be much appreciated. From what I have observed of your contributions to WP, and notwithstanding that our POVs may differ quite a bit, I still trust that your intervention and help to enforce some basic talk page discipline, if you accept to undertake it, will be neutral and impartial. ≈ jossi ≈ t • @ 15:19, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Le Sage gravity page

Pjacobi -

What I can tell you is that MRE is Edwards (the PG editor) and not Evans (although that may be almost as bad).For PG itself, I see it as being admissible but impeachable.As for the reference in question:I am not sure if it belongs in or out.What happenned was that I needed to go back a ways to undo some truly egregious edits by ELQ22, and the reinsertion came along for the ride.--EMS | Talk 21:24, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Talk:Bell's spaceship paradox

Well, it seems that User:RodBall is blowing off me as well (he now claims that I don't understand the nature of the Lorentz transformation!).I'd still like to rewrite Rindler coordinates and then Bell's spaceship paradox, but I'd like to avoid pointless arguing with him over the correctness of standard textbook analysis.---CH 23:17, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

I have completely rewritten Rindler coordinates (wrote new article and made new figures from scratch).---CH 04:36, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm prepared to discuss his example on his user talk page, in the hope, he will see the error in his assumptions. And to avoid cluttering the article talk page even more.
Many thanks for Rindler coordinates! Wow! I'll hope to do a translating excerpt for the german Wikipedia.
One nitpick regarding illustrations: As the MediaWiki software can scale bitmaps, it is a good idea to generate them in a significantly larger size (and also thicker than 1px lines), so that they will also look good when printed. As a side effect, the lines will get an antialiased (no "staircases") look on screen. If you can export vector garphics into SVG format, MediaWiki will also take this and generate good looking illustration for any resolution.
Pjacobi 05:51, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the kudo--- wow, a translation! :-)

I must confess that I have been too lazy to really master Maple's graphics routines.I used to use Mathematica but gradually switched to Maple about 2000 and generally prefer Maple, although Mathematica's graphics are clearly superior.Oh well, I'll try to bear this in mind for future. ---CH 06:09, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

Hi, Peter, I could use some more help in the talk page.User:Rod Ball continues to insist that the mainstream viewpoint, as expressed in the current version of the article (which I completely rewrote with completely new figures), in the sci.physics FAQ, and elsewhere is not only incorrect but not even the mainstream.

I have exposed his key error in the last section of the talk page, called User:Rod Ball's mistake?In the diagram earlier in the talk page (look for the diagram just below his sentence "The following diagram shows successive positions of the rod in x-t coordinates of the launchsite or "lab" frame" in the first section of the talk page), he is clearly either

  1. confusing hyperbolic arc length with hyperbolic angle, or else
  2. confusing Rindler coordinate time with elapsed proper time since the t = 0 in the Rindler chart, as measured by the Rindler observers themselves.

He also doesn't seem to understand four-acceleration as the covariant derivative of the unit tangent vector to a timelike curve, i.e. he doesn't understand path curvature.He insists that his personal notion of acceleration, which he improperly calls "proper acceleration" (of course, the standard notion is the only one which deserves this name, since it is the acceleration measured by the observer himself using his accelerometer), is preferable.This incorrect claim also appears to rest upon his confusion either about hyperbolic arc length versus hyperbolic angle or about the relation of Rindler coordinate time to elapsed proper time measured by the Rindler observers.Ball seems to ascribe his personal notion to either W. Rindler or to J. S. Bell, but this is surely another misunderstanding on his part.

Last but not least, I could use some help trying to tell him that the mainstream view is what we say it is (string will break), not what he claims it is (string won't break).We won't convince him, but we need to establish that by Wikipedia standards, the characterization of the mainstream view in the article as I rewrote it should stand.---CH 19:58, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

Just slow down on the talk page for while, I suggest. Is there an acute problem on the article page? IMHO there is limit, how much talk page space should be devoted to personal conversation and and discussion of the subject (instead of discussing the article).
In the mean time, I've started a discussion with him on his user talk page, were I intend to point out the errors in his presentation with the most basic means possible.
Pjacobi 20:09, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Talk page discipline

"And don't take controversies from other places to Wikipedia."Not that I disagree with this, but I don't think this is mentioned anywhere in the talk page guidelines - perhaps it should be .However, this certainly is in the guidelines:"In other words, try to consider the person on the other end of the discussion is a thinking, rational being who is trying to positively contribute to Wikipedia — unless, and only unless, you have firm, solid, and objective proof to the contrary."What, in your mind, constitutes such proof?Is evidence of bad faith gathered from outside of Wikipedia considered taking 'controversies from other places to Wikipedia'?Alfred Centauri 02:36, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] additions to archives

Hi I note that the discussion continues on Talk:Special relativity/Archive2. Shall we simply move those new comments to the Talk page, or what is the usual way to deal with that? On top of that, one of the additions is undeniably an insult, which perhaps should be deleted. Harald88 09:28, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

Just ignoring them should be fine. I'll give them a look. This sort of discussion page abuse (including continuing discussion on archived pages), I've only seen at Jehova's Witnesses (more exactly, at de:Zeugen Jehovas) until now. --Pjacobi 18:18, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sperre

Hallo, ist es nicht blödsinnig dass sie mich wegen einem Beitrag sperren, wo ich klarmachen wollte, dass die Perser Rassisten sind? Bitte schau dir den Link da an, der zum Beitrag führt? WAS IST DARAN SO SCHLIMM? Ich sagte, dass die Perser die anderen als Mischlinge und "Semiten" sehen, dabei sind die Perser doch selber Mischmasch und haben sich sogar mit mongoliden vermischt! WAS BITTE DARAN IST SO SCHLIMM DASS ICH IM DEUTSCHEN WIKIPEDIA FÜR 1 MONAT GESPERRT WURDE???

http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benutzer_Diskussion:Dersimli&redirect=no#Bitte

Es sind mehrere Fundstellen angegeben worden, wo Du Dich im Ton vergriffen hast. Es geht nicht um Recht oder Unrecht, sondern um schreiende, beleidigende Kommentare. Du hattest Deine Mitarbeit bei der Wikipedia in einem ähnlich unduldsamen Tonfall begonnen, dann bist Du konstruktiver und freundlicher gewordern. Ich (und andere) verstehen nicht, warum es zum Schluss wieder zu unangenehm werden musste. --Pjacobi 17:21, 7 May 2006 (UTC)


"dass die Perser Rassisten sind". "The Persians are racists." (emphasis mine) Frankly, that's such a racist commentary that in conjunction with the other stuff on the German Wikipedia an indefinite block would have been appropriate. Fossa 02:01, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps it was meant to be a nationalist remark, not a racist one? "Criticon" and "Nation Europa" often tried to argue about this fine distinction. --Pjacobi 08:34, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help for template

Hi, this is the ikiroid again, trying to scout out help for Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems. I'm looking for anyone who can help contribute to Template:Infobox WS. It's an esoteric sort of template, copied from Template:Infobox Language that now needs to be revised for writing system pages. All ideas and comments about it should be directed to Template talk:Infobox WS. Contact me with any questions or comments. Thanks!--The ikiroid (talk)(Help Me Improve) 21:54, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I'm sorry if I was curt recently...

... regarding the issue of my nomination for adminship.The truth is that Glen put me in rather an awkward position, nominating me for adminship and going so far as to start the RfA page, not knowing that after the last time someone asked me if I wanted to run I put up a notice on the board where users with high edit counts are listed that I didn't want to run for admin.When Glen said he had already started the nomination I knew he didn't mean it to be a problem for me, but I was still caught between feeling like I should take up the responsibility and knowing that I already skirt the edge health-wise with all the responsibilities I'm already handling.I'm afraid the added stress made me curter and more likely to snap at people.I apologize if I said inappropriate things regarding your handling of the situation. -- Antaeus Feldspar 16:11, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

No problem, I was a bit stressed, too. Since resigning from adminship on de:, I'm somewhat bitter.
Whereas we already had some collisions, I'd judge you a valueable and valued contributor to Wikipedia, you abstaining from adminship candidacy spared me to think about my vote.
Pjacobi 23:04, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Troubling patterns of edits and what to do about them

Hi, Peter, can you drop by my user talk page?User:ObsidianOrder and User:Omegatron are very upset over my recent activity correlating anon IPs with (apparently) a single individual and in some cases suggesting a real life identity in connection with conern over a possible conflict of interest.In one very recent example, one of the affected individuals, Ibison (talk • contribs) took my point and responded constructively to my expression of concern.In others, I pointed out in my talk page comments that it wasn't entirely clear that there was malicious intent.I raised concerns rather than making accusations, or at least this was my intent.Nonetheless Obsidian is threatening to ArbCom me and Omegatron appears to believe that I posted personal contact information which is absolutely not true.TIA ---CH 22:35, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, but can you follow up to clarify something?I never posted anyone's personal contact information.I would never even consider doing that.There is a proscription, but I wouldn't consider doing this even if there were no proscription.I said that User:Omegatron apparently thinks I posted personal contact information, but I don't know why he thinks that. Personal contact information means street address, phone number, email, stuff like that, not name and city of residence. ---CH 23:03, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Need for a "massacres" category?

Hi there. As someone who took part in this CfD, I'm notifying you of a discussion I've started at Category talk:School massacres. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks. Carcharoth 11:49, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] VfD

Why vfd Permanent magnet motor? Perpetual motion machine

What part of the article violates Wikipedia:Neutral point of view, Wikipedia:Verifiability, and Wikipedia:No original research, or the copyright policy?Perpetual motion machine 19:17, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Verifiablity. --Pjacobi 19:24, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Bullsh*t. The magazine Science & Mechanics (Spring 1980) covered it in the "Amazing Magnet-Powered Motor" article. Your bias blinds you. Perpetual motion machine 19:28, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ehrenfest paradox

Hi please comment on Ehrenfest paradox, since CH and I have a very different opinion about it but we both like your version of it - at least, he says so but he seems to refuse your clear description.

And do you have by any chance that original paper? If not, I can likely obtain it. Harald88 21:00, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Oh Harald, I'm trying to take a near-break from Wiki, please don't tempt me. But I'm reading the Grøn paper and the online book. So, yes, if you can email me the original paper from Ehrenfest, it would be nice. I'm rather seldom at Hamburg University these days. --Pjacobi 21:40, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
I have sent you the article, and it confirms what I thought. Regards, Harald88 01:46, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
I just dropped by to ask you to help me convince Harald that my description agrees with the one he quoted and also with the description in Grøn, and also, of course, with Ehrenfest's own statement.From a previous comment it seems that you agree with me, but Harald appears strongly disagree (I don't know why, since this seems perfectly obvious to me). ---CH 02:19, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
I'll procede very slowly in all this, as I sometimes find myself rather confused about rotating frames. I'll reading Grøn etc, but for now, for an important software integration test, I've to install and configure half a dozen Windows servers in different rôles and this will prohibit doing more fun stuff, unless all of them show there infamous (non-)progress indicators at the same time. --Pjacobi 07:58, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
Hi Peter, as you now probably have noticed yourself, Ehrenfest didn't discuss rotating frames but only used the "stationary" frame. Happily so, for that avoids confusion and makes the subject matter particularly simple and easy to understand: Only basic SRT, and only one frame of reference. Please comment on my proposed improved summary phrasing (based on yours) on the Ehrenfest Talk page.
Regards, Harald88 13:11, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
Can you comment specifically on one small point?To wit: Harald's claim that I misstated Ehrenfest's statement of the paradox vis a vis Einstein's statement.(See his comments on the talk page.) ---CH 16:43, 4 June 2006 (UTC)
Hi, Peter, I completely rewrote the first section using your figures (threw my stuff into length contraction).I thought that would satisfy Harald, but he is more upset than ever.As soon as you get a chance, can you take a look at the new version and then see if you can figure out why he is so upset?TIA ---CH 18:46, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
Hi Peter, obviously Chris still doesn't understand the false claims that he put in the article. Instead of starting an edit war it would be better if he finally understands that Ehrenfest wrote nothing erroneous about disc-riding observers in 1909 as it wasn't even discussed. Perhaps you are better in explaining it to him, in a more direct manner? If that doesn't help I will ask for either mediation or RfC. Harald88 21:15, 10 June 2006 (UTC)
Peter thanks a lot - as Chris is a mathematician, your last explanation to EMS is likely most effective for Chris! :)) Harald88 11:06, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
Incredibly but true, he still doesn't understand it... Thus it's no use to wait for him to improve it himself. :( Harald88 21:56, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] External link removed

Vince 23:41, 17 June 2006 (UTC) Hi, I have seen your comment... "Hi -- Thanks for pointing out (3). Google provides a way of filtering out ads from undersired web sites, so I've used that to get rid of ads from aethertheory.co.uk and anti-relativity.com." Discussion ref...Talk:Special relativity...I would like to point out that there are no adverts or commercial interest on the calculator site. I feel pretty gutted with having my link not only moved about, but now removed. I've put a more complete explanation on...Talk:Special relativity...page I hope you reply there, (i'm not very well and want to try and keep things simple. I am not sure what to do next, maybe i should just put in a new category and put it at the top. What do you think?).

[edit] L'affaire Bogdanoff

Thank you very much for being "on the ball" with reverting the Bogdanov Affair article.Anville 17:35, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Rama does of the work I guess. BTW: In the moment, I don't revert the sock's comments on the talk page, despite the ArbCom ruling would also allow reverting there, I assume. --Pjacobi 19:56, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
I don't care very much about the talk page, although Rama and NicholasTurnbull seem to prever reverting there as well.The sock is back as Kirhtz (talk · contribs · logs · block user · block log), by the way.Anville 20:19, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Already handled. Milestones of the English Wikipedia
  • 1,000,000 articles
  • 1,000 featured articles
  • 100 banned Wikipedia editors involved in the Bogdanov Affair
Pjacobi 20:45, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Sardonic LOL. . . .Anville 21:00, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How am I a vandal?

Can you explain what have I done that you call vandalism? It's easy to bully people when you have powers. VandalPatrol 07:25, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Review my contributions. I haven't call anything you*ve done vandalism, but I noted:
  • a misleading username
  • a misleading userpage
  • an unsigned, and perhaps bad faith, nomination at Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against vandalism
Pjacobi 07:27, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] shudra and holywarrior

why are you reverting that artcile when you don't have any understanding of indian history? please dont get offended. i just want to tell you that this user user:holywarrior is attempting to defame a certain upper caste of northern india by creating unnecessary articles and providing fale info. he is himself a shudra as he has admitted on khatri talk page. he is a chandal / chandala. please block him for ever or at least ask him to change his username as it is against the username policy." Names that promote or refer to violent or otherwise illegal real-world actions"

You might have a point, but your behaviour isn't helpful. Perhaps you can give a (preferably concise) statement of your concern at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents#Angry editor at Shudra, Bhurabal, etc. --Pjacobi 08:55, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Anon. need to see this [7] Holywarrior 10:06, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bhurabal and Shudra drama

Pjacobi you are aware of the drama on these pages.This user by many ips and new logins has tried to vandalise the article.It is sad that You have listed the article for deletion.See Talk:Bhumihar for more information on these vandals.I am afraid they would get encouraged with your nomination.Holywarrior 09:25, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Once through AfD (and assuming the verdict is keep), it is much easier for admins without domain knowledge to take action against vandals. --Pjacobi 09:35, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] KraMuc using stalker info [corrected title]

Hi Peter,

Apparently someone is stalking me on usenet, and KraMuc posted a related harassing message about me on the Modern_Galilean_relativity article page that violates my privacy rights inside a Wikipedia article. Someone dutyfully removed that, but Kramuc happily took that up in a misinfoming personal attack against me on the Talk page. Thus my request to you (as third person, see WP:No_personal_attacks) to remove that section, as it's one personal attack and off-topic.

Thanks in advance! Harald88 21:31, 20 June 2006 (UTC) and [slightly corrected] Harald88 00:20, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Please give me diffs and usernames/IPs, I'm don't have the time right now to research them in the inflated article history. Or use WP:AN/I / Wikipedia:Personal attack intervention noticeboard. --Pjacobi 21:42, 20 June 2006 (UTC)
I now straightened it out here above (it was slightly different from what it appeared to be): apparently all edits were by KraMuc, and I doubt that he has bad intentions. And thanks for the advice. :-)
Regards, Harald88 00:20, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
With a surprising twist, see also today's comment by someone who joined Wikipedia today, on my user page... Harald88 07:37, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
It looks like it is from a puppet of some form rather than a real editor. Making threats like that will just get the user banned anyway. --Philosophus T 07:56, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] KraMuc RfC

I'd support it if you think it's the way to go.He's always been right up against the line of editors who can be ignored (and dealt with by admins if they become obnoxious) without such formal measures... but perhaps never quite over it. -- SCZenz 12:34, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, after reading some of the above and looking around a bit more, I think he is over the line.I'm really torn whether to right an RfC or just seek a neutral admin on WP:AN/I to give him one more chance before starting to block him. -- SCZenz 12:41, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
Changed my mind again, since he's so insistent on making blatant personal attacks.I warned him on his talk page; if he keeps going over the line I'll block him myself and put my actions up on WP:AN/I for review. I think we have been too tolerant of his idiosyncracies because he seems not to understand what's going on, and at this point he is taking advantage of this. -- SCZenz 12:50, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
I just also mailed User:Theresa knott on this issue. --Pjacobi 12:54, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Technical issue with blocks

FYI, concurrent Wikipedia blocks all expire when the first one expires; thus your added block of KraMuc won't affect anything.I'll leave it to you to fix this if you so wish; the exact length of time matters little to me.KraMuc is a hair's breadth from getting banned in any case, and I am about to leave him a polite note to this effect. -- SCZenz 21:03, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] List of Groups Referred to as Cults

I would like to understand where you're coming from in your edits on the List of Groups REferred to as Cults and What you would like to see.The list is calcifying and I would welcome innovation.May I ask what kind of groups would you like removed (other than Sunni) and what you would like the list to say to the reader?I don't want to stress you out I'm all ears and would like to understand why.There may be a deeper reason that what you've already said.cairoi 20:09, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

I still honestly think that the list should be deleted. The next best option I just detailled on article talk. --Pjacobi 21:15, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
I am giving up on this, essentially there appears to be enough users to keep and block what is, by any reasonable standards, nonsense. 80.189.218.168 22:53, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
As far as I can tell, you're looking for a similar change in the list as me.Please don't give up.But I'd like to ask what you are finding non-sensical currently. You're pointing at Sunni.Do you have experience with Sunnism that makes you feel it doesn't belong on the list? Do you intuitively feel that the large groups shouldn't be there?Is your personal faith listed there?I just feel that the words cult and sect is such a weasle word that we can't allow people to sneak in the idea that it only applies to small evil groups.So, I would like to understand why that idea doesn't jive for you because maybe there's another way for this list.My real ideal would be the same as your: to ::list only small evil groups and to require proof that the reference was using the word as a small evil group.I just don't know how to do that so I can only see the current list as the next best thing.
Here's another question.From the following list found on http://www.creationists.org/cults.html which ones do you think don't belong?(I don't like this list by the way or trust the people who made it)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Catholicism
Christian Science
Communicating with Spirits
Islam (Muslims)
Jehovah's Witnesses
Reiki energy healing
Seventh-day Adventists
Unification church (Moonies)
Urantia
Raelian
cairoi 07:30, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
I came here to post on another subject, please allow my comment.
I'd say that the above says it all, "cult" is too often name-calling of groups one dislikes. More specifically, a typical dictionary definiton is
"A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader."
Thus, to stress the point, why not also start "People referred to as niggers"? Harald88 11:30, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
Thanks Harald88.Please understand that while I don't particularily like the name calling aspect of this list, the list seems undeleteable so something must be done to work with it.Have a look at the history for yourself.cairoi 11:48, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
Cult is a very unscientific label and for that reason not used by the majority of affected academic disciplines (sociology, psychology, and theology). Therefore the list will have to stay on the side of "often judged to be", as no consensus can be found.
Also, personally, I'm not totally clear of all connations of the word cult in all branches of the English language. Therefore I mostly proceed by assuming it to mean the same concept as the German Sekte, or respectively words used instead of Sekte by those who dislike the this term.
A major point in the definition is the conflict between Sekte and society. So, Sunni or Shia Islam in their respective home areas cannot by definition be subsumed under this concept (or perhaps Mormonism in Utah).
The aspect, that the Sekte-ness depends on the society it contrasts with, is BTW totally ignored in current article.
I don't know "Urantia" nor "Communicating with Spirits" (is this meant to be a specific group?). From the rest, only Raelian would clearly qualify as a cult.
Pjacobi 16:27, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

I agree that:

  1. Sect, secte, sekte and cult are imprecise words.
  2. It is unfair that groups be labelled sects just because they are minorities some places

My understanding is that British english use sect because of a prohibition given in the Christian Greek Scriptures against hairesis (sects).So really they are subtly calling sects heresies.This is of course a social prejudice.

By including all of these groups labelled as such in compliance with the rules the focus shifts from the labelled groups to the labellors.Encyclopedia should not simply wonder that there are so many Sects but that there are so many normal religions labelled as such.Really I'm just trying to make the best of a lousy article which can't be deleted.

I feel that there are many anticult pov's on the list which slant the article.Do you have any ideas on how to realistically make it better?I mean something that can actually get accepted.Maybe there should be a specific comment on the labellors in the disclaimer.

cairoi 17:02, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

I think the "cult" (and NRM) part of Wikipedia is totally out of control and will not reach encyclopedic standards in the near future, or without a fork. It's all apolegets vs apostats with nearly all (few!) academic contributors driven out. User:Fossa/de:User:Fossa may even be blocked on German Wikipedia.
Logically thinking there should be no serious problems:
  • There are different definitions of cult, having even for the sub-variant dangerous, manipulating cult different set of attributes
  • These labels are applied to different groups differently by different authors
Conclusion: Forget about the misleading "cult" label, look at the concrete attributes. E.g.: "Does this group uphold, that only members of it will be saved in an upcoming apocalypsis", ... and list these findings of fact (with references) in the articles. Heck, the better NRM/cult articles do it this way, already?
This is similiar to a statement about applying NPOV in articles on history, which answers the question "Should the article Adolf Hitler include the statement Hitler was a bad man (or something like that)?". The answer is -- quite obviously I hope -- "No". Present the concrete facts, let the reader to the summary judgement.
Pjacobi 17:20, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
Yes all of this is true.Very true.Even the details of the definitions cannot be agreed upon.I for instance wouldn't accept apocolipticism as a qualification for cultishness.Many mainstream faith groups have very simialar ideas.Think about Shia and Evengelical Christianity.You might like to look at the section on the talk page about and Organisational Proposal.Gimmetrow is skeptical but is asking for a proposal along the lines we've been discussing.My idea is to categorise groups by what they do.Into four basic categories.Devotional, Unusual, Controling, Violent.They should be fairly easily categorised.Any more granular and there would be too many disputes.Devotional would indicate religious systems.Unusual might be the wrong word but I'm meaning that groups would be criticised or thought of as unusual.Controling indicates some kind of control excercised over the members.Violent would require a description of violence.I think it could be simple and fair and highlights the multiple definitions of the terms.cairoi 17:55, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Hey what do you think of this method of categorising?I think it could be a step in the direction of fixing some of our objections.

IN CASE the following are directly applied to the group by a trusted source
Violence: Referred to as Violent
Demands: Referred to as Demanding
Opinion of unorthodoxy: Referred to as Unorthodox
None of the above: Referred to as Devotional

As you can see it's not categorising the faith groups but references. Perhaps groups could appear twice under different categories if the references conflict.

I see four advantages in using some sort of system like this.

  1. The references are visually qualified to the reader
  2. It highlights the content of the references and ignores actual judgement of the groups
  3. It informs the reader that not all references to cults mean the same thing
  4. It highlights differences in opinions between sources.

All of these features are currently ignored. And I don't think that is Original Research. It's just a categorisation system like the requirments in the header.

Can you think of any headers that could be added or taken away or modified to fix any other problems?cairoi 18:47, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bells' book

I just got Bell's book, IMO he was about as good as Feynman in explaining matters. If you don't have it I can send you a scan of the intro to his spaceship discussion in his chapter "How to teach special relativity".

BTW I fully agree with Bell when he wrote that those who know something of the reasoning of Larmor, Lorentz, Poincare and Einstein, have stronger and sounder instincts (he propably meant sounder instincts than mathematicians). Regards, Harald88 11:37, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hexenmeister and Bell's spaceship paradox

Hi, Peter, thanks for commenting in the RfC.I am rather sick of cruft patrol as you can see from my latest comment in Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Physics.

Rod Bell has returned and has written some comments which are factually erroneous in Talk:Bell's spaceship paradox.As I said, I am too sick of cruft patrol to gather the energy required to try once again to educate him, but I hope you will resist massive changes until I feel myself again :-/(maybe a few weeks?) ---CH 02:31, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] more personal attacks

I now removed a personal attack by EMS on Talk:Bell's spaceship paradox; however it was against me so I should in fact have asked a third person. Thus in retrorespect, please have a look and if you disagree, just reinsert it. Thanks in advance! Harald88 22:37, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Amazingly, he reinserted it! Eventhough by themselves minor, they are part of a long chain of such offensive remarks. If such comments are allowed, it will necessarily escalate as I won't ignore all his remarks: that would too much give the impression that such are correct and acceptable. Please advice. Harald88 16:05, 29 June 2006 (UTC)
Harald88, I have very few time to spent on Wikipedia these days. You would help me immensely, if you give diffs for the specific posts you mention. On a very first glance, the latest exchange between you you and EMS looks sort of constructive to me. Perhaps it's a case of "hart aber herzlich", as the Germans put it?
BTW, the whole the article discussion looks like become a total mess (two different interpretations of SR, which in a few cases, like the BP lead to different prediction???!!) , but that may be a specific allergic reaction by me.
--Pjacobi 21:10, 29 June 2006 (UTC)
The diff is one denigrating sentence in [8] ; but let's wait a moment, maybe it's going to dissolve on its own, as you also discerned.
On a sidenote, in Talk:Bell's spaceship paradox I can't find the passage you mention. Thus I don't know what you mean. I have the impression that after I did some hard pushing to steer it in the right direction, the discussion there is focussed on improving article clarity, with little risk of allowing cranky (WP:OR) views to get into the article. Harald88 23:10, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Category for deletion

You may be interested in this CfD: Wikipedia:Categories_for_deletion/Log/2006_June_26#Category:Cult_leaders ≈ jossi ≈ t • @ 21:24, 30 June 2006 (UTC)


for your comment at: [9] ≈ jossi ≈ t • @ 22:20, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

Thank you very much for delinking my Yahoo profile from my user page.I appreciate your timely action.Holywarrior 11:35, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sinhala (2)

Hey Pjacobi, sorry for bothering you, but could you take a look at the Sinhala article and the discussion as well when you have the time? Thanks a lot, Krankman 17:34, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

That was fast. We'll see what's going to happen. Thanks. Krankman 17:43, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
Not your primary area, but can you volunteer an opinion, whether to merge Altaic hypothesis? Into Ural-Altaic languages or into Altaic languages? --Pjacobi 17:47, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
Hmm. It looks as if there is an "Altaic hypothesis" as well as a "Ural-altaic hypothesis". The Uralic family is accepted, but the Altaic doesn't seem to be, and of course not the Ural-Altaic. Seems to be complicated. (If you know German, you should check out the German article on Altaic languages, looks interesting and much more extensive.) I suppose that the article in question should be merged into both articles because in Altaic hypothesis there is also mention of and information on the "Ural-altaic hypothesis", so it seems to somewhat apply to both. Sorry I can't say more. One thing is for sure: The concepts of Sprachbund and Language contact as opposed to genetic relatedness need to be more clearly stated. I'm now off till tomorrow. Krankman 18:09, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Hi. Again, could you please keep watching the Sinhala language article resp. discussion. I don't know who else to turn to. Some "Ruvi" is really going on my nerves. Do you think I am paying too much attention to him/her?

By the way, I think you know German, so what would you say if I scrap the English article here completely and replace it with a translation of the much better German article?

Thanks, Krankman 19:10, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

Arguing with original researches and X language is the oldest of the world and its first grammar was written 8000 BCE-users is pointless and time-wasting. Out of my hat I can name User:Dbachmann and User:Khoikhoi as some of those, you may ask to have a look into the thing, but neither are domain experts. From Category:User si I know (and can recommend) only User:Mayooresan.
Yes, I'm a native speaker of German. I don't do much de=>en translations as I prefer translations by native or equivalent speakers of the target language.
But if you want to pull in de:Singhalesische Sprache, just go ahead! You may also check whether you are interested to translate de:Zazaische Sprache, a translation request since some months.
Pjacobi 19:55, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. You may have realized I'm a German native speaker as well, but I also feel it's a good idea to keep it in English in the en-domain. Well, I'll put in my translation of the German article and see what happens. Problem here is that so many Sri Lankans know English and they almost always have a POV on all matters relating to Sri Lanka. Problem with Mayooreesan is that he is Tamil and thus won't be taken as an impartial person by the Sinhalese contributors to the article ... What a silly world! Krankman 20:05, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
If they revert his contributions and/or attack him because he is Tamil, we can block, RfC, RfAr and ban them by the dozen. --Pjacobi
Wow, thanks for your clear opinion on this! Gives me courage. But of course, it may not be that obvious that they don't care for his opinion because of his ethnic background. Anyway, let's see what happens - I have contacted him; after all, he supposedly is only on an "intermediate level" of Sinhalese according to his user page. Thanks again for your attention! Krankman 22:10, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Featured article work for WikiProject Writing Systems members

Hello WikiProject WS members, it's the ikiroid again, spamming for help.....this time, it's for working on an article. We're trying to bring the article about the International Phonetic Alphabet up to featured status, and it would be great if anyone from our project would be willing to lend a helping hand. You can make suggestions about what to improve in the article here, where we're keeping track of the article's renovation. Thanks for reading. Feel free to ask me any questions about the article's improvement.--The ikiroid (talk·desk·Advise me) 23:13, 3 July 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Your advice regarding Prem Rawat article appears to have been wrong according to Rawat supporters

Hi Peter, we briefly discussed the case for including a link to the ex-followers web-site within this article since the organisations that support Rawat refer to them ('ex-premies') on their websites. You wrote: "Provide secondary sources, which build upon the statements of ex-premie.org or the like, and it is fair game. Otherwise, the only proof of the the significance of that website, is -- ironically -- Elan Vital itself (by feeling obliged to response on their website). This will guarantee ex-premie.org its mentioning in the article, but I'd prefer a short one (somewhat longer if we decide to do the merge)." Personally I welcomed your advice and what you said made good sense to me. Whilst,'premie' editor 'Momento' seemed to accept this for a while, I see now he/she has removed all links to ex-premie.org etc. citing supposed Wiki policy left, right and centre, to support this action. Would you mind awfully popping in to the Prem Rawat talk page with some further thoughts on the matter? It just seems to me that this article is in danger of becoming a entirely partisan commentary, especially since all the ex-premie editors appear to have thrown in the towel in exasperation faced with Momento's persistence.PatW 09:51, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

I may look into this issue, but no promises. --Pjacobi 20:37, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

That would be much appreciated. Thanks. Even just a brief comment on this latest rationale would be really helpful: The "ex-premie" sites should not be linked because Wiki policy on links maintains that you should not link a site- that contains factually inaccurate material or unverified original research. (See Wikipedia:Reliable sources for further information on this guideline.). In addition, Wiki has developed a new policy regarding biographies of Living Persons which states "Unverified material that could be construed as critical, negative or harmful in articles about living persons should be removed immediately, and should not be moved to the talk page. (See Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons and Wikipedia:Libel)". This very necessary policy has been made because of the increasing use of Wiki by hate groups, vandals and opponents to defame people out of spite. MomentoPatW 08:42, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Your opinion please.

Please see Talk:A_Course_in_Miracles#Request_for_comment_suggestion in regard to your comments in Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Charles_Buell_Anderson. I hope that I correctly voiced your opinion. Thanks. Ste4k 21:58, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Request

Hey Pjacobi, there is a problem with user Special:Contributions/82.35.188.198 who keeps on putting up the link Genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, even though in the beginning I nicely explained why I thought the link was inappropriate.

  • The page linked to has very drastic, bloody fotos of massacres that are of no encyclopedic value and in the way they are presented are extremely PoV. (The Amnesty International reports on human rights violations in Sri Lanka should be enough, if you ask me.)
  • If at all, the link belongs with the article Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
  • If that's not enough, 82.35.188.198 keeps on putting the link on the very top of the "government" link list which proves that he has no interest whatsoever in providing information and going with WP procedures but is merely trying to disseminate propaganda.

Can we do something about this case, or this user respectively? Thank you in anticipation, Krankman 08:47, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

He has popped by again ... I have reverted it. Should I keep reverting or what are we going to do?
Oh, I just saw that the site he is linking to is down. But that doesn't change much. The bold title alone is irritating. Krankman 18:33, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Zazaki Wikipedia

Hi Pjacobi,

In april, you opposed our Zazaki Wikipedia project because you believed there are not enough quality contributors for Zazaki Wikipedia.

Oppose for pragmatic, not fundamental, reasons. Just start writing in ku: and it will become clear whether there are enough quality contributors for Zazaki. In the current state, and given the amount of vandalism, name calling and rude behaviour which affected the Zazaki articles on quite some Wikipedias, I very much doubt that there is a large and diverse enough editorship. That is not meant as an insult against serious contributors, but it's collateral damage of the actions we've also seen on this voting page. en:Pjacobi/de:Pjacobi

Here we created a nice test-wikipedia [10]. There are many good articles in it [11]. It is one of the best among the test wikipedias [12]. We are very serious and commited to this project, and we terrible need the Zazaki Wikipedia to protect and develop our language. You also pointed out vandalism, but we, I and my serious friend, should not be punished by what we do not have any control. I believe vandalizers should be punished individually.

Can you reconsider your vote?Thanks, --Daraheni 03:46, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Voting Page: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:Requests_for_new_languages/diq

I'll think about. My judgement will be superficial in any case, as I can't read Zazaki. As you may have read out of my post, may main motive for voting and for voting oppose was the persistence of some Zaza vandals acting out of German Internet cafes and being a continuing problem on several Wikipedias.
If you think you can assure that these "contributors" are in check, the reasoning behind my oppose is void.
Regarding the cultural and linguistic oppose voiced, I'm not knowledgable enough to judge.
Pjacobi 08:03, 17 July 2006 (UTC)


Most of our contributers are serious writers and highly educated. For example;
Faruk Iremet: He has his own printing company, [13] and recently appeared in an interview in a Swedish channel.[14] He wrote more than ten books in Zazaki.
Koyo Berz: This is another serious writer and editor of a Zazaki magazine [15]. He wrote a compherensive Zazaki dictionary and many books.
Asmen: He is a graduate student in Frankfurt University studying Indo-Germanic Languages. He is very respected among Zazaki writer.
I am also a graduate student, and writing and adavnce level of Zazaki. And there are other very good and highly educated guys.
I am sure that there are bad apples in every society. However, a whole society should not be judged by the actions of some irresponsible people. If you look our test-wikipedia,[16] you will realize that we put a lot of efford and time into it. I don't think vandalizers would do that. --Daraheni 15:19, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help (Tamil)

Hey Pjacobi,

once more I'd like to ask you to take a look at something. I'm pretty desperate right now. I know it's not your subject, but if you look at the discussion here (it's mainly about the difference between "inherited" and "borrowed" lexicon, applicable to any language), you might be able to form an opinion.

If you know some other qualified wikipedians, I'd be glad if you could point this page out to them. Thanks, Krankman 14:26, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Abhas Mitra

I know I created a stub, but there is little personal information available online about the scientist. Perhaps printed sources would detail more about his life. I guess the correct place to glean more information would be scientific journals. I agree about multiple sources. I had created the article to fill up a red link, and extracted the information from just a single, though credible source. Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 12:03, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re: A note on two articles

Peter - With respect to Rod Ball (talk • contribs), I see him as polite, intelligent, and at least as stubborn as a mule.For a "crank", we can do (and usually just plain do) a lot worse.I personally think that you may be taking him a bit too seriously, but if you want to look into something like mediation I can support that.Just be aware that Rod has the most unwonderful trait of not being willing to admit it when he is wrong.I can't recommend stronger action at this time as (IMO) Rod's politeness earns him the benefit of the doubt with respect to conflict resolution.

As for Abhas Mitra, I am not familiar with him, and am only vaugely familiar with the magnetic fields business.What I can tell you is that Martin Kruskal showed in the late 1950s that the black hole is a theorem of general relativity.So I treat arguments like Mitra's as saying that "general relativity is not general relativity".(I may refuse to accept the black hole, but I do accept that this means that I cannot wholely support GR as a consequence in spite of its successes.)BTW, this kind of argument appears once every year or two.

With regard to the Abhas Mitra article itself, my questions is: "Is it reasonable to expect that people will regularly come to Wikipedia looking for information on this person?".I think not, and therefore would support the deletion of this article. --EMS | Talk 02:42, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

One more thing:IIRC, black holes retain externally their mass, angular momentum, and electrical charge.The latter two combined are sufficient to produce a magnetic field.So the idea that a black hole cannot have an associated magnetic field is falacious anyway.Also, I have chosen to try to delete the Abhas Mitra article "on the cheap" by using the {{prod}} tag. --EMS | Talk 02:57, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for looking into the issues. I can agree with your assessment of Rod and try to relax about this issue. --Pjacobi 07:48, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/User:Hillman/Dig

Hi, Peter, you might be interested in this MfD. ---CH 00:01, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Le Sage's theory of gravitation (again)

Can you keep an eye on this again. There's a new editor who has violated 3RR and I have just warned them. I got the impression that you actually understand the article and might be able to help. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 08:27, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

I fear I have neither time nor nerves for this doing job over a longer period, but I may have a look. --Pjacobi 12:15, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. If you know of any editors with a background in science let me know. All I can do is warn the worst of them. I wish I'd never seen the page. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 12:26, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
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