Wikipedia talk:Unreferenced articles

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[edit] Asking for help

As the quantity of articles in the June 2006 category decreases the challenge in finding references for those remaining increases.

I have attempted to gain assistance in referencing the 8 articles below by using this message on the talk page of some editors who have contributed (meaningfully) to the article and who appear to still be active Wikipedians. Jeepday (talk) 14:30, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

==ARTICLE NAME==

I see you have a history of working on the article [[ARTICLE NAME]]. I am looking at it from the project [[Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles]] where it is one of the longest {{tl|unreferenced}} tagged articles that does not meet at least the barest minimum of [[WP:V|verifiability]]. It has been tagged and completely without references since June 2006. It would be extremely helpful if you had some references you could add to the article to help support its [[WP:V|verifiability]] and [[WP:N|notability]]. Thanks for any help you can give. ~~~~

[edit] overuse

In the last week or two, several dozen afds have been opened, giving the reason "unreferenced for so and so many months." They are generally being closed as rapid keeps, on the grounds that this is not a sufficient reason for deletion. As indeed it isn't -- articles can be deleted because the information can not be verified--certainly -- but not because their present status is that they not yet been verified, no matter how long they have been sitting there. There's no point in going through the work of look at the articles here unless its going to be done right--before nominating for deletion, please remember to make a try at verifying--an adequate try. This as a minimum includes G/GS/GBooks for recent things that are likely to be in google. Fo things not likely to be in google, even if highly notable & verifiable, then its a more formidable undertaking--and t he suggestion above--to ask for specialized help--is a very good one. DGG (talk) 03:37, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Invite to Reference

I just posted this invite to all the volunteers listed. Come one come all lets get this one done :) Jeepday (talk) 02:29, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 399 to go

We are almost done, Category:Articles lacking sources from June 2006 is down to less the 400 articles to find references for. I would like to thank you for listing yourself as a volunteer at Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit the project again and work on getting the last few articles referenced. We started with 5,572 and we are in the home stretch, please come and try to do a couple a day and we can finish it up in no time. Jeepday (talk) 02:29, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Problem articles

Starting a section for articles people are having trouble sourcing, but aren't quite ready to give up and nominate for deletion yet. If you think this is a bad idea, feel free to strike it. FCSundae ∨☃ (talk) 10:30, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

It is always good to ask for more input when you are not sure. Jeepday (talk) 11:14, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • The Defiants Apparently released one single, which is supposedly notable. Survived a no-consensus AfD two years ago in which the two keep voters asserted the the song was well known and on various compilations. One of these voters seems to have since left the project, and the other is an ArbCom member and is likely busy. The only reference I can find for the band or the single is this LP that it was on. I hate to delete something from the pre-Web era for not having a Web presence; does anyone have, you know, books? FCSundae ∨☃ (talk) 10:30, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • There are number of things to consider here -
  1. Nobody owns (WP:OWN) an article so the status of past contributers does not really impact anything other then they may be more likely to have hard copy references to offer and leaving a note on their talk page requesting reference is appropriate and often successful.
  2. There is no requirement that references be available on line, hardcopy references from published works in the local library are actually preferred. That being said Per Wikipedia:Verifiability the burden to provide reference lies with the editor who adds or restores material.
  3. A prior inconclusive AfD is not a reason to keep - example Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Seyhan Kurt (2nd nomination), if an article is does not meet the expectations of Wikipedia it can be brought forward again. Because of the prior AfD it can't be proded and the rationale for a second AfD should be solidly based on Wikipolicy.
  4. While there is no specific policy requiring it, it is considered appropriate behavior in Wikipedia and in Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles to make a reasonable good faith attempt to reference the article when an article is unreferenced. That reasonable good faith attempt extends as far as an editor chooses to pursue it. Some editors like User:DGG will go as far an interlibrary loan to obtain references for an article they feel strongly about.
A You are correct that the lack of online reference does not speak to the notability of this subject because of the span of activity in the 1960's
B Per the criteria of Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles you could simply list the single (very poor) online reference you found, place {{OR}} and {{refimprove}} and move on; The goal of this project is to ensure that articles meet at least the barest minimum of verifiability, by including at least one reliable published (online or offline) reference. and your reference show the band did publish at least on song as listed in the article (which does not make it notable).
C If you read Wikipedia:MUSIC#Criteria for musicians and ensembles and the article it appears (to me) that there are no claims of notability in the article that meets the notability expectation, additionally a search for references did not lead to anything that would suggest notablity.

Summary I personally would probably add the single reference I found, the {{OR}} and {{refimprove}}; if there was any suggestion of possible notability I would ask for reference from the primary supporters of the article in the AFD or had contributed significantly to the article previously. Failing that I would take it to WP:AFD for failing WP:N. I would also post the notice of AFD on anyones talk page that was still active in Wikipedia and had contributed significantly to the article or the first AFD. Jeepday (talk) 12:12, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Wow, thank you for that extremely complete and helpful response. I was motivated to look around some more and finally managed to find a single book reference that at least verifies that they exist and they once recorded a Dylan cover (but nothing else). One more article down! FCSundae ∨☃ (talk) 13:17, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] New Focus at Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles

The huge set of unreferenced articles from June of 2006 is finally completed. Thank you all for your contributions. The new focus at Wikipedia:Unreferenced articles is Category:Articles lacking sources from July 2006 which as of May 28 is only 1,322 articles and should go much quicker. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and listed themselves as a volunteer. Jeepday (talk) 11:53, 28 May 2008 (UTC)