User talk:MartinRobinson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Welcome

Hello, MartinRobinson, and welcome to Wikipedia. Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. If you are stuck, and looking for help, please come to the Wikipedia Boot Camp, where experienced Wikipedians can answer any queries you have! Or, you can just type {{helpme}} on your user page, and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

• The Five Pillars of Wikipedia
• How to edit a page
• Editing tutorial
• Picture tutorial
• How to write a great article
• Naming conventions
• Manual of Style

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and vote pages using three tildes, like this: ~~~. Four tildes (~~~~) produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, see the help pages, add a question to the village pump or ask me on my talk page. Again, welcome! Kukini 01:29, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ad hominem references

Thank you for your message. I don't have specific issues with the article but I am concerned whenever an article is devoid of references. I've added some links for now and intend to add footnotes for specific statements in the future. Shawnc 03:20, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] razor

Sounds goodQ!I'm not doubting the info but I'm assuming you have a source(s) for what you put in?--DannyBoy7783 13:20, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Replied on user's talk page. MartinRobinson 19:55, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Ok! Sounds good. Thanks.--DannyBoy7783 23:48, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clandeboye Estate

Nice work Martin. :) --Mal 19:48, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Cheers mate! MartinRobinson 22:44, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] NI wikiproject

Hey Martin. Considering the number of edits you've done to Northern Irish-related articles, I wanted to point you to a new wikiproject I've created specifically because of the dire state of the articles. I thought that more direction and collaboration was needed than existed at the NI Wikipedians' notice board and the NI Portal. Here it is, if you'd like to put your name down as a participant: Wikipedia:WikiProject Northern Irish articles. Nothing is expected of you.. its just a helpful tool that I've made to help editors who have an interest or knowledge of NI subjects. You can help with the project organisation itself too if you like, of course. --Mal 00:02, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Main roads of Belfast

Why are the main roads of Belfast not relevant information about Belfast? Why are some districts listed and not the others?

It's not exactly that it isn't relevant, but filling up article with long lists isn't really such a hot idea in my opinion. A Main Roads of Belfast article has been created, though I'm not sure what purpose it serves. Wikipedia isn't a telephone directory! lol

Please remember to sign your comments by placing four tildes (~) after you comment. Martin 18:31, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

Why are some districts listed? What about Ormeau Cregagh Castlereagh?. 62.252.148.75 23:30, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

I really couldn't say; why don't you raise the issue on the article's talk page (click the "post a comment" link)?

[edit] Category:Aspergian Wikipedians

Category:Aspergian Wikipedians which you have included on your user page has been proposed for deletion you can comment at Wikipedia:Categories for deletion#Category:Wikipedians by mental condition. The is also a proposal to create an association to meet the needs of users with mental health conditions. --Salix alba (talk) 18:51, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks, i will weigh in on the lewis article.

Thanks, i will weigh in on the lewis article. ken 01:13, 28 May 2006 (UTC)kdbuffalo

[edit] Milesians/Gaels

With reference to the edit on Irish people today, re:"Milesians" > "Gaels" - the Milesians are mythological. Surely that "wave" were not Gaels when they arrived in Ireland. Many hundred years after their arrival, merging and/or assimilation forming a new Irish culture, they then got the name Gael apparently from the Welsh. So in fact the Gaels didn't come to Ireland, but they were of Ireland at a somewhat later stage. Wondering what is the consensus on this. Taramoon 02:05, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] NI Portal is Featured Portal candidate

Hi Martin. I was wondering if you'd like to give your opinion on this at: Wikipedia:Featured portal candidates/Portal:Northern Ireland/archive1. Cheers, --Mal 20:43, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dana - Wikipedia:Manual of Style (disambiguation pages)

Hi when you contribute to disambiguation pages, as you did recently to the Dana page, please don't use pipes or extra wikilinks - see Wikipedia:Manual of Style (disambiguation pages) - thanks--A Y Arktos\^talk 23:58, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Whoops! Thanks for reminding me! :) Martin 00:22, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Belfast WikiProject

As you have contributed to an article relating to Belfast, I hope you could take some time to read this page about our new project: Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Belfast.

Thanks. --Mal 01:54, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] C. S. Lewis

Hey Martin - as you've edited the Lewis article a few times, and seem to have some knowledge about him, maybe you'd like to give a go at rating the actual article and giving it an importance value on the article's talk page. The template is there, and the guide to the different ratings can be found on the WikiProject Belfast page.

Cheers. --Mal 02:30, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Speaking of Lewis, I just wanted to pop by and say nice job on reworking the sections on the C.S.Lewis page. The whole article reads better because of it. LloydSommerer 19:25, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

Thank you very much, I appreciate it. Martin 00:19, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

The minor change you made earlier today was also a nice fix. Mdotley 16:09, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Cheers! :) Martin 17:04, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

If you have read the previous discussion(maybe archived), you will understand it does not have any consensus. I have said a lot of times, but it seems like they just ignore what I have said. CS Lewis' personal reference is not important, what is important is the ethnic background and fact presented by authority. From the last discussion, what I have agreed is that he was freed from military duty by UK, and the reason is because he is irish. That is the best stand point, better than what he identify himself as. Like I have said, I can call myself any thing I want, but it will never change the fact. MythSearcher^talk 17:51, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Got your comments about the harvard format cites, and I must say I totally missed them. Cheers! Nja247 (talk • contribs) 18:58, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pastorwayne

I left a comment on User:Pastorwayne and his rapid category creation at WP:ANI. The comment asks for Pastorwayne to be regulated regarding category creation. Feel free to comment. Dr. Submillimeter 09:25, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] On CSL

My apologies for mistakingly removing the Barker reference. Though I for one am not sure if this Dan Barker guy deserves any space on CSL's page, after all there is already for some reason an entire article devoted to criticism of his Narnia books, a criticism which is really an all-around attack on CSL.... --longlivefolkmusic 01:15, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Flags of Ireland

Hi Martin This in reply to your message on my page:

The additional flags clutter the article; perhaps the reference to them should be deleted too. I'll look into it. As for the order of the flags, I would have thought it obvious. Firstly, the Irish State has been robbed of the use of its official name, IRELAND, by certain Wiki editors; then there are repeated attempts to have the Union Jack appear as the top/largest/first flag to appear in the article titled IRELAND. Enough is enough as they say. The last time I edited the flags I had SonyYouth remove my edits and refer to them as "vandalism". Though they were factually correct. So 'spam' is mild. (Sarah777 18:32, 11 February 2007 (UTC))

Martin - got your reply. Thanks. I don't assume bad faith but, being new(ish) to Wiki I was taken aback at being characterised and labeled just for having a specific POV on the naming issue. Sorry you were the victim of my annoyance, I will try to purge myself of impulsive reactions! Of course, I would quarrel about the Union Jack being the 'flag of Ireland' from 1800 - 1922. It was the flag of the occupiers, though some folk seem to find such a pointing to the naked Emperor shocking. Was the Swastika the 'flag of Poland' from 1940 -1945? Hardly. Anyway, I have resolved to retire from politicking and concentrate on very exciting (!) regional road series that is my current passion. Best Regards (Sarah777 21:50, 12 February 2007 (UTC))

[edit] C.S. Lewis

I'm wondering whether the term "disappointment" is better than "regret" in this sentence in the article:

He became a member of the Church of England—somewhat to the regret of the devout Catholic Tolkien, who had hoped he would convert to Roman Catholicism.

I didn't want to change it though because you cited it from this source as of 11:25, January 29, 2007

Carpenter, Humphrey (2006), The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends, HarperCollins, ISBN 0-0077-4869-8

If you could specify what page you got it from in your citation, then I can look it up for myself in a library and see if it's worth changing from "regret" to "disappointed". Or you could just add the page numbers to the reference and change the terms yourself if you agree with me :) --Davidkazuhiro 21:59, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Japanese

Hey Martin, I never had to study Japanese as a foreign language since I grew up there. My roommate is learning Japanese as well though, and he has found About.com to be particularly helpful.

The Where do I begin page has a few good intro lessons. You might be interested in the Hiragana and Katakana lessons on that page since that's where you're at right now.

If you've already been to that site then I can't suggest anything better than to google learn japanese. Of course, feel free to drop me a line anytime. Thanks for the prompt response regarding C.S. Lewis by the way.

--Davidkazuhiro 01:23, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Flag of Northern Ireland debate

You have been involved in the flag debate on the Northern Ireland talk page. If you remember there were four option listed about the way forward. If you wish you can go here and make your position clear. regards--Vintagekits 21:52, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Recent comment on flag debate

Martin, can you please consider removing your recent comment and putting it above, I have ask Mal to cut his comment down to a minimum also. It is just going to decend into a fully blown discussion otherwise. regards--Vintagekits 20:23, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] C. S. Lewis categories

Hi Martin

In accordance with guidelines, have reverted your restoration of Category:Irish people to C. S. Lewis, and also removed him from Category:Northern Irish people. For an explanation, see Talk:C. S. Lewis#Overcategorisation.

If you have concerns about this, please could we discuss it at Talk:C. S. Lewis#Overcategorisation?

Thanks! --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 07:52, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] David Tennant

I've removed the Irish-Scots category from this article again. As you'll no doubt be aware, all info here has to be supported by verifiable references. Please do not add the category again without providing such. Thanks. --Guinnog 19:14, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Hi, I've replied on your talk page. Martin 23:35, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] C. S. Lewis links

Hi Jerry. Thanks for you recent edits on the C.S. Lewis article. Can I suggest in future than you think twice before using gimmicks such as link suggestion tools? Many of the links added are not terribly relevant to the article, and some are totally inaccurate. For instance, James Lewis was not the father of C.S. Lewis, yet he is linked to him in the article. Context is the most important thing when deciding on links, and this is something only a person can do. Martin 21:17, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the feedback. The tool is not automated in any way. It just makes suggestions that the user then checks as "yes" "no" or "not sure". I usually actually look at the linked page, unless it seems really straight-forward from it's title. I do not consider my editing using the online linking tool to be "a gimmick". MoS:L does not provide extremely specific guidance on what to link and what not to link, so I guess it is really a matter of preference (read: opinion)as to whether certain links meet the criteria of "relevant to the article" and "that a reader would want to follow". I certainly believe that after my edits the article was better off, and that it had less than 10% of its words linked. I understand you disagree with some of the added links. Feel free to revert them. As to the specific link for James Lewis, you are correct about that one being inappropriate. Perhaps a review of my contributions will show you that I do more good than harm, and the few errors which do occur are easily corrected when pointed-out. Thanks, Jerry 22:33, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

No offense taken. Thanks for your continued involvement and interest in wikipedia. Jerry 23:15, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Terry Wogan trivia section

Many thanks for the kind comments on my talk page - hoping to get the article up to around a B-class based on its current state :) --Fritzpoll 11:51, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ireland and the British Isles

Your comments on the Ireland talk page were spot on! Well said! 81.158.157.116 23:14, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! The British Isles thing is very contentious, so I probably should have added that it's really not worth the bother. :-) Martin 23:06, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

From your post on Ireland. Some points of fact. Great Britain is not called "Great" because it is the largest of the British Isles. At the time of the ancient cognate to "British Isles" (which also included Iceland, Norway and sometimes Denmark - and so not very comparable to the modern term), the name for Great Britain was Albion. It was after the Roman conquest of the southern portion of Albion that the names switched, first contracting to only refer to the lower conquered part of the island and then later expanding to refer to whole island. When this happened, Albion contracted to refer only to modern-day Scotland. It is from the late ancient period to the early middle ages that we get an island called Britian. The "Great" in "Great Britain" comes from the need to make a distinction between the two Britains during the middle ages: what we would today call Britanny (then Lesser Britain) and Great Britain (see here).

There were of course people from Great Britain living on Ireland, just as there were people from Ireland living on Great Britian at the time. The Romans named all of these people, along with those from the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, and Norway as "British" (or similar, hence British Islands, or equivalent words, but not meaning). The reason why exactly is unknown, it appears to be based on the name given to the people of the lower half of Great Britain. Certainly, by the time that people from these islands started to keep records of themselves, it is only the people of the southern half of Britain that called themselves such. (Similarly, after the Roman conquest - maybe when the knew more about the area and the people - the Romans abruptly stop calling everyone British.) With the Anglo-Saxon invasions that followed the fall of Rome, the territory occupied by "Britons" declined substantially, eventually settling about Wales until the Tudor revival of the phrase.

"The term 'British Isles' does not denote ownership by Britain anymore than 'Irish Sea' denotes ownership by Ireland." The opposite view is supported by literature. Remember that the term was coined in 1621 (consult the OED). The Roman term had been obsolete for a millennium and a half by then. "British" was a purely historical term. What changed was the Tudor dynasty who revived the concept. For example:

• Simon Partridge: "It also challenges a burgeoning Anglo-Saxon-Cornish-Welsh British (British being derived from the Brythonic Prydein under Tudor influence) hegemony of the 16th century which felt free to name these isles 'British'."
• Nicholas Canny: "When I refer to the composite monachy ruled over by James VI and I and by King Charles I, it is always described as Britain and Ireland, and I deliberately avoid the politically loaded phrase 'the British Isles' not least because this was not a normal usage in the political discourse of the time."
• Bronwen Walter: "A refusal to sever ties incorporating the whole island of Ireland into the British state is unthinkingly demonstrated in naming and mapping behaviour. This is most obvious in continued reference to 'the British Isles'."

(Just so you know, these three are in order: a pro-"British" political analyst, an Irish history prof, and a British social science prof. There are of course more, but that just sample.) --sony-youth^pléigh 00:34, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Notability of Tristan Fry

A tag has been placed on Tristan Fry requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done because the article appears to be about a person, group of people, band, club, company, or web content, but it does not indicate how or why the subject is notable: that is, why an article about that subject should be included in an encyclopedia. Under the criteria for speedy deletion, articles that do not assert the subject's importance or significance may be deleted at any time. Please see the guidelines for what is generally accepted as notable.

If you think that you can assert the notability of the subject, you may contest the deletion by adding {{hangon}} to the top of the page (just below the existing speedy deletion or "db" tag), coupled with adding a note on the article's talk page explaining your position, but be aware that once tagged for speedy deletion, if the article meets the criterion it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the article that would confirm the subject's notability under Wikipedia guidelines.

For guidelines on specific types of articles, you may want to check out our criteria for biographies, for web sites, for bands, or for companies. Feel free to leave a note on my talk page if you have any questions about this. Neil916 (Talk) 00:55, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Society of the United Irishmen

The image you added to the United Irishmen was vandalised. I removed the image, but can not locate the origional. --Domer48 (talk) 21:18, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Image:ShaneMacGowan_o.jpg

[edit] Wikipedia:WikiProject Northern Ireland

Hi,

I'd like to take the opportunity to advise you on two matters which, being a member or former member of the Northern Ireland WikiProject or it's sister project on Belfast, you might be interested in the following submission about a recent terrorist attack Wikipedia:Northern Irish Wikipedians' notice board#News.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to ask for your help in reviving the Northern Ireland WikiProject. Given that there are only a small number of Wikipedians from Northern Ireland or interested specifically in the region, the project needs all the help it can get.

Cheers, --Setanta747 (talk) 13:03, 13 May 2008 (UTC)