User talk:Wikeye
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents |
Welcome!
Welcome to Wikipedia, Wikeye! I am Chetblong, and have been editing Wikipedia for quite some time. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to Wikipedia! If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a message on my talk page or by typing {{helpme}} at the bottom of this page. I love to help new users, so don't be afraid to leave a message! I hope you like the place and decide to stay.
|
Here are some pages that will help you edit Wikipedia:
|
Here are some ways you can help improve Wikipedia: |
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 need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and ask your question there. Again, welcome! ChetblongTalkSign 19:52, 17 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] The Making of Dr. Phil by Sophia Dembling
I started a discussion here that you might be interested in. Ward3001 (talk) 16:44, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Inflammatory information on Phil McGraw
You added a statement: "ethical violation involving a teenage girl". It is extremely important in biographies of living people to avoid statements that even suggest controversial behavior even if it is not stated overtly. "Teenage girl" suggests behavior involving a minor and is inflammatory. Althouh it is technically accurate, it gives an inaccurate impression by omission of important information: the person in question was an adult, not in the age range 13-17 years old. I will not go so far as to say that you were intentionally deceptive, but it certainly gives that appearance. Please read WP:BLP carefully, and be cautious with your wording in biographies. Editors are held to a higher standard in such articles. Thank you. Ward3001 (talk) 19:51, 13 January 2008 (UTC)
- If I had said "ethical violation involving a minor girl" (or juvenile girl or young girl), I would agree with you. However, that is not what I said, so none of this applies to me, especially the part about being intentionally deceptive. Teenager means "a person from the age of 13 through 19"--nothing more or less. There is no controversy about that. However, Phil McGraw's behavior was controversial enough to result in a rare sanction from the Texas Board (only the 7th person ever sanctioned for "dual relationship", and he was one of the few Texas-licensed psychologists ever required to undergo a psychological exam as part of a sanction). The teenager in question was technically an adult, but had a mental problem that McGraw was supposed to be treating--not taking advantage of. So, it's mostly Dr. Phil's fault that describing this sordid chapter in his life is so shocking and revolting. I think you mistake your own natural disgust at reading the details of this event with "inflammatory" comments. Wikeye (talk) 23:00, 13 January 2008 (UTC)
-
- I did not say you were intentionally deceptive. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. And I am not defending McGraw. His behavior was wrong, and indeed he did take advantage of her. Nonetheless, "teenage girl" in a context of misbehavior implies an underage girl to just about anyone. Elizabeth Smart was a teenage girl who was abused. To describe her as a "teenage girl" rightfully conjures all kinds of horrible images of a pedophile doing despicable things. To describe an adult as a "teenage girl" can produce the same images if it is not clear that the person in question is an adult. For example, Monica Lewinsky was about 22, only two or three years older than the young lady in the McGraw case, when Clinton became involved with her. Even if Lewinsky had been 19, people would not have had the same reaction as they would if she had been 14. It simply isn't the same. Again, that's not to justify anything Clinton or McGraw did, but there's a world of difference between doing those things with a 19 year old and a 14 year old even though it's wrong in both cases. To just say "teenage girl" makes that distinction very unclear. And I am not mistaking my natural disgust with "inflammatory". I hear about disgusting things all the time in my line of work, but I see a clear distinction between a pedophile and someone who takes advantage of an adult. And I think almost any naive reader who read that McGraw did unethical things with a "teenage girl" would have instantly had an image of a pedophile. If the lady had been 20 (and she may have been close to 20), his behavior would have been just as wrong, but it could not have been misinterpreted as pedophilia by the term "teenage girl".
-
- By the way, the single largest category of psychology licensing boards sanctions are for "dual relationships". Yes, seven is rare, but that reflects the rarity of sanctions for any offense and not the rarity of "dual relationships" compared to other ethical violations.
[edit] Addresses in articles
I know you made the edit in good faith, but WP:BLP states that "articles should not include addresses, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, or other contact information." I personally don't see a problem with including square footage, number of bedrooms, etc., although Gamaliel removed that also. Ward3001 (talk) 21:06, 4 February 2008 (UTC)
