Talk:Puerto Rican Pottery

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[edit] Contents of Article

Artpot, please read WP:OWN before telling editors what they cannot do. The reason why I removed the text on Hal Lasky is because a) articles must only have one topic and b) the text is not written from a neutral point of view. --NeilN talk ♦ contribs 19:33, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

To- NealN. Neutral point of view? What are you talking about? It is about pottery not politics. Hal Lasky was the owner operator of this pottery. Can one write about Fulper/Stangl Pottery without writing about Johann Martin Stangl or Glidden Pottery without writing about Glidden Parker or Bennington Pottery without writing about David Gill or Moorcroft Pottery without writing about William and Walter Moorcroft? The answer is most decidedly no. Please do not vandalize this, it has nothing to do with Susan Sarandon or Palestine. Thank You. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Artpot (talk • contribs) 19:57, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Please do not mischaracterize my edits as vandalism. I am simply trying to make sure the article follows Wikipedia policies and guidelines. A suggestion: If Hal Lasky meets Wikipedia:Notability (people) why not create a neutral article about him? --NeilN talk ♦ contribs 20:05, 11 December 2007 (UTC)
The article is about a pottery company not the people who make it, or are inspired by it. The content as it is, fails our NPOV policy substantially. It suffers from weasel words, and it has nothing to do at all the article topic. Branching off like that is unencyclopedic, and characterizing Neils removal of the content as vandalism is wrong. KnowledgeOfSelf | talk 21:17, 11 December 2007 (UTC)


Knowledgeofself, just about every potter or ceramicist would disagree with you. Vandalizing the article because of a dispute on a totally unrelated issue is not only unencylopedic it is small and petty. As to "weasle words" if by that you mean dishonest, there too you are wrong.

This article has been up since early February 2006. There have been several constructive edits to it, which have added to it. NealN and friends are not about that, they are into something quite else. Chopping off 60% of an article is not adding to it. It is a shame, because the material suffers and Wikipedia suffers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Artpot (talk • contribs) 23:17, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

When I come across an editor whose contributions go against policy (in my opinion) I usually check their other edits. This is what I've done here. I'm sorry you feel I'm into "quite something else" but I did suggest to create a new article about Hal Lasky if you can find sources supporting notability. With reference to "weasel words", if you click on the link KnowledgeOfSelf provided, you'll find a guideline explaining how Wikipedia uses the term - it has nothing to do with dishonesty. --NeilN talk ♦ contribs 23:34, 11 December 2007 (UTC)
"just about every potter or ceramicist would disagree with you" That matters not. What matters is that the article adheres to Wikipeida policies. This isn't a personal vendetta against you, or your contributions. We are simply trying to help the article improve and adhere to Wikipedia policy. And no, on Wikipedia, weasel words do not simply mean "dis-honest". Read Wikipedia:Avoid weasel words for a full explanation. KnowledgeOfSelf | talk 00:34, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

If in your opinion there are some "weasel words" then by all means edit them individually. However, you removed whole paragraphs involving statements of fact concerning Hal Lasky (who was an integral part of the pottery), the artists who crafted the pottery, the processes involved with its manufacture, etc. If you take issue with its importance in the whole Mid-Century Pottery/Ceramic Movement fine; however, please do not tamper with accounts, the article suffers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Artpot (talk • contribs) 05:09, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] PR Pottery & Susan Sarandon

The article on Puerto Rican is based on taped oral account, written notes, school records, written account by Hal Lasky (some of which may be found on www.vasefinder.com), newspaper stories from the New York Times and others papers, as well other info found on the web that have been able to linked to the articles. They are reliable and certianly not POV or political.

As to Susan Sarandon. There is no POV on my part. I am merely recording historicals events which are applicable to her political activism. I have cited two sources (though there are others) NYC Indymedia and the NY Post. If there is any POV it is on the part of those who are attempting to expunge what they perceive may be "inconvenient" historical events concerning her.

I am a historian (I have a BA and MA in history) so I very much aware that history is based on personal perspective and there is no such thing as truly "objective" accounts. However the events did happen and there is a distinct possibility that future actions/events around them will take place. Wikipedia would be well served to keep the entry.

I will make no further attempt to edit the Sarandon article; however I will bring this matter to the attention of higher ups at Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Artpot (talk • contribs) 13:35, 30 December 2007 (UTC)


Hal Lasky's Role and Importance in Puerto Rican Pottery


Although the article is not about Hal Lasky per se, creatively and artistically he was an integral part of Puerto Rican Pottery from the time it opened as a private concern to the time it closed. He was the master designer and glazer of all the ceramics produced by it. It is extremely helpful for those wanting to know about the mid century modern design/artistic influence aspects of it, to know something of his ceramic training and background. It is one paragraph and does not focus on any other apect of his life.

(Artpot (talk) 05:19, 6 March 2008 (UTC))