User talk:Stemcat

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Welcome!

Hello, Stemcat, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

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[edit] License tagging for Image:CAFM.JPG

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[edit] New Pages

Glad to see you are doing some proactive work writing air force articles. I too am concentrating on RCAF/Canadian military stuff. Just a few suggestions that will help you out. Make sure you don't copy and paste from other websites (like 414 squadron). I am telling you this because this is considered a copyright violation and the article will probably be deleted - something, I am sure you don't want to happen. I would rewrite anything you have copy and pasted as soon as possible to avoid someone tagging your pages or deleting them. Also, the WP naming convention for RCAF squadron names is "No. 4 - - Squadron RCAF" in case you plan on writing more squadron articles. Many of the squadrons are done, but there is still lots of work to do. If you can help, that would be great. All the best. -- BC 19:43, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Reply: Canadian Forces Squadrons

Hi Brian, thanks for the help with my pages. The WP naming convention for RCAF squadron names "No. 4 - - Squadron RCAF is misleading. First, this is not how we refer to them in the Air Force, and second many of the squadrons were and are still in existence long after the RCAF was stood down in 1968. It also makes searching for them difficult. There are other squadrons in WP that do not follow this format. ie 441 Squadron and 408 Squadron. Who sets the standard for the format? user:Stemcat
Hi Stemcat. The convention/standard was in place long before I started editing. Having lived an "air force life" for many of my years, I realize the naming convention does not necessarily reflect how we referred to the squadrons. There were/are lots of ways of referring to them and that is the problem. The rationale for Wikipedia is that all Canadian (and other countries) squadrons need to be titled the same way for consistency. Attaching the RCAF to it distinguishes the squadron from other countries' squadrons and, although many of the squadrons are still in existence, they started out as RCAF squadrons and the history descriptions would elaborate on this. I don't know of any squadron that did not start out as an RCAF squadron. I suppose the squadrons could have just as easily been named "No. 4?? Squadron CAF, but some squadrons were never part of the modern CAF (e.g. No. 432 Squadron RCAF) and would need to be named "....Squadron RCAF" anyway. Also, some squadrons were absorbed by other squadrons and were also never part of the modern CAF. The other squadrons that are not named this way will likely be renamed in the future. As far as searching, any squadron listed should show up in a search. Another way of searching is to go to List of Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons. You'll notice that all the squadrons are listed using the naming convention. Many squadrons (hopefully all in the future) have redirects as well. So, for instance, if you typed in "414 Squadron" or "No. 414 Squadron", it will jump immediately to "No. 414 Squadron RCAF". Redirects are easy to make. By the way, RAF squadrons are similarly named. Another reason for the naming convention is that once you have a new squadron page finished and titled "properly", it will automatically show up as a blue link on those pages that link to it (e.g. the list page). I hope this explains things. I look forward to editing with you. Cheers.--BC 17:08, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Another question about CF Squadrons

What is the purpose of the table? None of the information shows in the article. Stemcat 17:28, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Are you referring the the "info box" that appears on a squadron page? The info box is a summary of the squadron history, etc. Even thought there is something written in them (go to the edit tab and check), often the information doesn't show up on my computer either (e.g. No. 432 Squadron RCAF). I wonder if this has something to do with the fact that I use a Mac, and/or maybe my browser isn't able to "read" the infobox information.--BC 17:48, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] No. 414 Squadron

Hi again. I noticed you've reworked 414 squadron. I thought it fair to mention that your writing should not be in point form. Wikipedia calls this a "laundry list" and you will get a warning on your page for it to be rewritten in prose form. There are some places where lists are okay, but generally not for the main article. Go to WP:LAUNDRY for information on this. I would hate to see a warning on a page you've worked hard on.--BC 18:12, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: 414 Squadron Reply

Ok, looks like I have a lot to learn. Thanks for keeping me in line. I have reworked 414 Squadron again. I can't get the CF Squadron Template to work so I am leaving it out. I checked it on a computer at work run Windows XP and the info doesn't show up there either. I have also moved the 407 Squadron page to No. 407 Squadron RCAF.Stemcat 23:19, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, lots of learning to do. I've been at this for well over a year and I'm still learning. Once you master the basics you'll have no problems. Most of the time if you don't follow rules or you make a mistake (and I've made plenty), someone else will just make the change. If something is major, editors will put a template or tag on the page recommending action of some sort. They may also leave you a message asking you or suggesting something. Some of the basics: no copying, write in a prose fashion in your own words, watch your spelling, grammar, etc., and make sure it is wikified (e.g. there should be internal or wikilinks, headings written properly, external links properly set out, references included, statements sourced, etc.). One thing I recommend is to just read articles similar to the ones you are creating and follow their lead. Go to my user page and then to my quick reference links. The links are there for anyone to use. I use them all the time. I would read over the first six for sure. If you want to see how typical editing sequences work, go to my user contribution page and see some of things I've worked on and observe the edits, etc. I wouldn't worry about the CF squadron template; just put the stuff in. If it doesn't work, so be it. There is a way to contact the powers that be about the problem but I don't know yet how to do it. --BC 01:27, 5 May 2007 (UTC)