Scratch Wiki talk:Community Portal/Archive 8

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Community Portal Archives

Redirects for Misspellings

I was thinking, do you think we should make redirects for people misspelling things they are searching for? For example, if someone searched for "sencing" rather than "sensing" it would redirect them to the correct spelling? We could make redirects for all those kind of things? Or am I just having one of my rubbish ideas again? Either way, I don't mind...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 18:29, 12 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't think it's a bad idea. :D We should also make allowances for different spellings; I do that when I can for "color" and "colour", for example.
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 07:42, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

All righty then! But we'll have to wait for Lucario to say if we can do the misspellings one though...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 08:45, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Lucario is just a normal person like us, you know - there's no boss here. :P

I agree! :D
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 09:15, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Fine, so in that case, shall we just start doing it?
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 21:59, August 13, 2010

Nah, I want to wait and see what other people (like him) say. :P But then again, there aren't many other people that contribute to the wiki...
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 10:04, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, well he should come on later in the day, I'll ask him to look at this on Skype...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 12:22, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree! This is a good idea. :D Jwosty 15:34, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

• waits impatiently* :P
  Chrischb (talk | contribs) 00:08, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

I think there are enough opinions - we all agree - go ahead WeirdF! :D
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:14, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Yay! Okay, I'll go and make some now! :D
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 06:53, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Nobody else is doing it except me! :( I've created 54!
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 08:02, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Redirects for mispellings? Sounds fine to me! :P Definitely will be helpful...
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 14:25, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Changing the Scratch Wiki page to Main Page

This way, we get to create an article on the Scratch Wiki! And I'm sure some people would want to look at that article... yeah, Wikipedia uses Main Page instead of Wikipedia - they even have an article on Wikipedia!

What do you think?
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:33, 15 August 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, that's a good idea! I support!
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 06:54, 15 August 2010 (UTC)

Fully support!
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 12:09, 15 August 2010 (UTC)

*cough* Scratch Wiki:About *uncough*
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 17:50, 15 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 18:07, 15 August 2010 (UTC)

*cough*but that's not an actual article; it's more of a brief description*uncough*
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:47, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

It's more of a briefing... and it's not very visible - it's just a little asterisk, and it's oftentimes hard to see. :/ And the asterisk looks like it'll lead to a page specifically about the date...

Sometimes I wonder if we're all getting biased against Lucario. xD
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 05:49, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Ignore the asterisk, it's linked on the front page form the link "Scratch Wiki" at the very top, between the scratch cat and gobo! :P I guess you didn't notice :P But if you consider the article too brief, then do please add information to it! :)
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 14:16, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

AGHHHHH WE GOT VETOED :P
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 06:57, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

*ahem* What about changing Scratch Wiki to Main Page?
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:59, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Eh... nah. I think it's perfectly fine. We don't have to do everything the same as Wikipedia ;)
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 15:06, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

My reason is not so we can be like Wikipedia...

Why is it that whenever many people agree on something and you're the only one that doesn't, we end up going with your way? That's rather irritating...
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:47, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

'Cause we got vetoed. I wouldn't mind if it were Andrés though. xP
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 07:02, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Well on this particular idea it doesn't really matter, on something like not allowing us to be bureaucrats there are extremely good reasons why we should be. This is just changing the name of the front page of the Wiki, it doesn't seem that important. I do agree with it, but I don't think we should have a go at Lucario. Besides, if you don't like always going with what Lucario says then why do you always go with what he says? Just change it...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:06, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

You've made me feel bad... :( I'm sorry, Lucario. Please don't kill us. :|
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 07:34, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

I was just pointing it out... ^_^ And there's a link to the Main Page in Navigation - I can't change that link.

Um... LUCARIO PLEASE SPARE ME!!! MERCY!!! I'M SO SORREH
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 07:57, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

The pain page? Lol!

And don't feel bad guys, you're perfectly entitled to have an opinion...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 08:08, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Whoops, fixed my mistakes... I was a bit sleepy. ^_^

(Thankies ^_^)
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 08:15, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

<mad with power> @WeirdF: NAH THEY HAVE NO OPINION WHATSOEVER MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA </mad with power> lol. But one thing, is that you have to keep in mind the idea behind the Community Portal. It's where the community can make decisions, and make sure everybody has an opinion on it - so changing it without a confirmed decision is not something to do. I am leaning towards to going with the idea, but I just want to ask another couple friends of mine for their opinions. So until I tell you guys to change the page, don't do it!
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 14:01, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh, and BTW: I did ask Andres about making you bureaucrats. I did state both sides, trying to pursuade him to allow me to make you guys bureaucrats. But he did say, and I do exactly quote this:

[8/15/2010 7:55:40 PM] andrés: so they think at some point it might be useful for them to block people

[8/15/2010 7:55:50 PM] andrés: but they haven't had the need to do it so far

[8/15/2010 7:59:31 PM] andrés: i don't see why giving the ability to block accounts to anyone else if it has not even happened

[8/15/2010 7:59:45 PM] andrés: and even if it happens, it has not happened many times

So yeah - he speaks the truth.
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 14:07, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't think Andres has got the point, it's not about whether we have had to so far, it's about the possibility of it happening...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 14:12, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't really feel like being a bureaucrat - rather, I'd like the blocking power to be for administrators, not bureaucrats.

WeirdF - awesomely said. Of course, we manually create all accounts, so who knows... but look: Why does it hurt to give us the blocking powers?

I don't feel really comfortable knowing that the bureaucrats aren't really active:

• Andresmh: Isn't really active on the wiki
• JSO: Isn't active on the wiki
• JSOadmin: Not needed, JSO uses the other account
• Lucario621: At least you're active!
• Scratchteam: Unused, probably never will be

I don't feel comfortable knowing that there's only one active bureaucrat - and I felt even worse when you were on vacation. What would we do if something happened? Let the vandal wreck the wiki for a week?

I repeat - what's the harm in giving us block powers? You know we're not going to do anything stupid...

Oh: I really don't think we need to be bureaucrats - just moving the block powers to administrators should do.
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:44, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm going to calm down - I'm worried I went too far, Lucario didn't even reply to my beg on his talk page. xD

All right, I'll say something...

@WeirdF: BINGO YOU HIT TEH TARGET That's exactly it - I don't expect it to happen, I just want to be prepared. Early this year the TBG had no trolls at all (when I become moddeh the ban list was empty. XD), but there've been four or five by now. :/

Well - if Lucario goes on vacation, we can always comment on JSO's stuff - he'll get the vandal. :D
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 05:47, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

Lucario and Andres really don't want us to be, I was arguing with them both yesterday on Skype, and this is what happened:

My argument: I don't think Andres has got the point, it's not about whether we have had to so far, it's about the possibility of it happening...

Their argument: there are many possible thing that could happen, we don't have to react before they happen

My argument: Yeah but... Let's say it was midnight in America, where the ONLY beuracrats are, and someone went around the Wiki editing everything and putting distrubing images everywhere and swearing everywhere, nobody would be able to ban him. Sure, we could carry on undoing his/her edits, but one can't do that forever...

Their argument: preemptive strikes is what got the US in a war with Iraq

My argument: Lol... That's completely different, and George Bush was a complete and utter idiot, whereas Andres is the complete opposite of a complete and utter idiot...

Their argument: lol, Honestly though, any troll would never do that much vandalism

Me: Fine, I give up, I'm only planning ahead...

Them: what you're asking for is as silly as having "meteor insurance" xD

Me: Lol. Well... I mean I don't see the harm to be honest, but I don't like arguing with the Lord High Commander of Scratch (Andres)... I don't mean that in a sarcastic way either, Andres is brilliant and I respect his opinion even if I also disagree...

Them: The problem is that you don't actually know the odds of stuff like this happening. I have a bit of experience with trolls and administration and banning, and andres even has a lot more, so we have a good idea of what can happen and not happen. However, you really don't. The only thing that means, is that we have a better idea of what should happen in this specific situation more than you, so you should trust us.

I mean they do have a point I suppose, but I still stand by what I said before...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:07, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR We shouldn't post so much, or Lucario won't be able to read it all. xD

I repeat for when Lucario comes: What is so bad about giving us the power to block users?
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 07:21, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

No answer? :( Let's bring it up later...
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:42, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

I asked Luc to read through all of it and he did, but he didn't reply...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:20, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Look, we've gone over this a million times, and done is done. There has never been any vandalism, so until then, there's no reason to believe there will be vandalism very often, and that there will be any vandalism in any large portion. And at this time, for this situation, giving you administrators banning privileges is not a precaution we need to take at this time.

Don't take this personally or something. It's not like I think you guys could be up to something xD. I've known you guys for about a year, and you guys are some of the nicest people in the Scratch community, but it's just safety stuff. I'm sure about this just as much as the Scratch Team is sure about not moving/deleting the miscellaneous forum, so if you ask me about this any more, I simply won't respond really.
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 15:25, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Second Person

Should we be using second person in articles? I've seen an increase of it... I don't want to edit it if it has been deemed OK. scmb1(talk) 01:44, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

I think we're supposed to use third person - I think it's just that people aren't doing that. :/
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:48, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

For most articles, you definitely should use third person. For tutorials though, it wouldn't make sense though, so you should use second person.
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 14:10, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Featured articles and images

How often do we change the featured things? Or is there no set time?
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 16:25, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Usually about once a week, or less, or more. Generally Chrischb and Jonathanpb are doing a good job with it :)
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 18:01, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

All right, I'll leave it to them then! :)
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 18:55, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

"doing a good job with it" - O RLY? ^_^
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:52, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Getting rid of the featured articles and images

What do you think? Personally, I think they're silly... ^_^
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:52, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Why? I mean they don't do any harm really...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 06:56, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Problem, I think.

The featured image, the Experimental Viewer, does not link to the image but the Experimental Vieweer article. Wow, leave it to me to point out things lik ethis. :P
Aidan (talk | contribs) 13:46, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

If you click on the image, it takes you to the image, if you click on the link below the image, it takes you to the article. Maybe you accidentally clicked on the link or something?
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 13:55, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Contacting New Users

If you're not an administrator or bureaucrat then don't bother reading this.

When I create accounts, I always contact the user in question on one of their projects. I think whenever someone creates an account they should do this. Some people don't know about where to go to find their password, or have trouble logging in or something, and obviously we can't talk to them about it on their talk page, since they can't log in. So I think all administrators should do this, I usually leave this message:

Hi, I'm an administrator on the Scratch Wiki, I'm just letting you know that your account has been approved and you can edit the Wiki! Please look at this page for help with getting started: http://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Scratch_Wiki:Welcome
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:19, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

It's nice that you do that! :) Most admins definitely should do that. But the flaw with that message is; what about the password? Where do you tell them where to find that out? You should definitely include that too :) (probably a link to where you can find it, not the actual password itself) (also you forgot your sig)
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 21:26, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, I'll do that... but I think I'll sound big headed saying "I'm an administrator on the Scratch Wiki" - maybe I'll just drop out that bit. ^_^
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:43, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

@Luc: Yeah, I'll do that...

@Jon: The only reason that I say I'm an administrator is that so people don't think I'm some random guy contacting them. People are much more likely to listen to and trust authority.
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:19, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh... 40 minutes ago I created an account and left a comment. Is it okay? project
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 07:23, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Yeah it's great! :)
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:26, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

I've just encountered a problem with this... I'm attempting to contact Daffy22 but every single variation of the message I try I always get the "Sorry, you have posted a very similar message recently." thing.
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 09:17, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Try adding something to it - you know, "Have fun! :D :D :D :D :D"? Or should I just do it for you? It might feel unfair for you... :P

No I tried everything! Even things like that, I think it's because I am repeatedly posting those two links so the filter think I'm a commercial spammer. You can do it if you want... I can't...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 09:59, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay! ^_^ (I forgot my signature last time NOOOOOOOOO)
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 10:08, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Done...
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 10:10, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

About uncapitalizing some words in article names

WeirdF says that prepositions that are less than five characters long shouldn't be uncapitalized... is that what we're doing? Judging from all the other articles, we haven't been doing that.

What should we do?
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:46, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

No, that's not the rule. A preposition less than five letters long SHOULD be uncapitalized. However a five letter preposition such as "about" should be capitalized in a title.
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:29, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, I agree with WeirdF. Feel free to give some examples so I can tell you guys which ones to make capitalized and which ones to make uncapitalized.
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 15:10, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

That's how it should be, anyay. :P Also, the person above me forgot their signature... Jwosty 15:02, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay... let's start changing article names. >_< :P
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 23:40, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Jonathanpb, can you give me some examples of articles you have to change?
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 00:41, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

Wait - according to what WeirdF said above, I got the rule wrong... I'M SO STUPID I'M SO SORRY FOR THE MESSUP ^_^ ^_^ ^_^
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 06:16, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

@Lucario: I don't think there's anymore, I just changed the All About Scratch article, I don't think there's anymore five or more letter propositions in any titles...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 07:14, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

Squeak Smalltalk

Hmm... I was wondering; should there be topics about Squeak/Smalltalk or should we avoid creating new articles about? Because it isn't directly related to Scratch... :/ Jwosty 21:02, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Now I'm not fully sure what Squeak/Smalltalk is, I'm slightly unsure, but isn't it like, the programming language that Scratch is made on? If I'm correct, then yes there could be an article on it I suppose. But only one, because after all this is the Scratch Wiki ;).
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 22:41, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Ok. Jwosty 14:40, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

Account creation problem

coolperson requested an account a while a back, but he/she doesn't have any projects so I put the account request on hold, however JSO has just put it back to pending. We're not supposed to create accounts for people who don't have projects right?
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 10:54, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

Hmm... Coolperson seems to have projects. Maybe you got the username wrong? :/ Jwosty 13:06, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

coolperson is definitely experienced - I've seen him/her on the forums - I think he/she's alright.
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 05:28, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Are you sure? This is what I get when I go to his/her my stuff page: http://a.imageshack.us/img841/5294/coolperson.png
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 08:32, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

BTW, that was Jwosty that did the first line after WeirdF. ;)

Anyway: I'm having the same problem...
Chrischb (talk | contribs) 08:38, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I see it like WeirdF does...
Jonathanpb (talk | contribs) 10:44, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh. Wait a second... I've never realized that all of their projects I've seen are actually favorites! :O

I see. JSO and I have decided that although coolperson has no projects, he has contributed well do the community, so you can consider him an exception :) - so do approve him. As well as DistantVisit.
Lucario621 (talk | contribs) 16:46, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, I've done it...
WeirdF (talk | contribs) 20:04, 27 August 2010 (UTC)