User talk:Melsyfox84

Welcome!

Hello, Melsyfox84, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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:Where to ask a question, ask me on my talk page, or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions. Again, welcome! I know you came to ask questions for school, but I hope you will like it here and stay! KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:46, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Q and A[edit]

Questions copied from Village Pump:

What specifically happened to cause Wikipedia to block certain addresses?
At any time? or just in the Meehan situation? KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is not considered appropriate when it comes to Wikipedia's policy on "editing" a page?
There are 3 policies which address content: WP:NPOV, which is Neutral Point of View, WP:V, which is using verifiable sources, and WP:NOR, which means No original reasearch. KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
How do you define when "edit", is deleting info. or omitting certain info. considered unethical?
Removing, or deleting, large amounts of sourced content is considered vandalism. Removing extra words, or editing for style, is not. KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
With hundreds of thousands of articles, how did Wikipedia find the changes made to Meehan's page? The change was made in July '05 and Meehan's staff did not admit to the changes until January...
How are editors dealt with when they violate Wikipedia's policies?
Depends on the severity. They are usually warned, if it is vandalism they may be (after neing warned) blocked from editing for a bit, or there are a lot of other things that can be done concerning content disputes, unacceptable behavior, and so on. 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
What should people, perhaps students, reporters, researchers, etc. take into account in terms of credibility when using Wikipedia?
Verify, just as you would with any other source. And if you find something that is incorrect, fix it! We are a wiki. KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is there anyone I could contact who actively/ frequently edits on Wikipedia?
I edit a good bit. KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have answered all the questions I know the answers to off the top of my head. I have signed each answer, in case another editor wants to add answers, so you will know who to ask for clarification. KillerChihuahua^?!? 01:59, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

My answers[edit]

What specifically happened to cause Wikipedia to block certain addresses?

See Wikipedia:Requests for comment/United States Congress for our discussion page on the topic. Broken Segue

What is not considered appropriate when it comes to Wikipedia's policy on "editing" a page?

Don't vandalize, follow certain rules of etiquette and don't violate our guidelines. Broken Segue

How do you define "edit", is deleting info. or omitting certain info. considered unethical?

Any change is an edit in my book. Vandalism is unethical. Making an article POV is unethical. Removing or omiting information in general is sometimes correct and sometimes not. Broken Segue

With hundreds of thousands of articles, how did Wikipedia find the changes made to Meehan's page? The change was made in July '05 and Meehan's staff did not admit to the changes until January...

I don't understand this question. Broken Segue

How are editors dealt with when they violate Wikipedia's policies?

They are warned and, if they persist, they are blocked Broken Segue

What should people, perhaps students, reporters, researchers, etc. take into account in terms of credibility when using Wikipedia?

Never cite encyclopedias in an essay, it's bad form. Nothing is entirely correct in any publication and that's particularly true in Wikipedia. For casual (non-important) use I trust Wikipedia without question. You can usualy tell how accurate an article is by how many editors have worked on it (viewable through the history). Broken Segue

Is there anyone I could contact who actively/ frequently edits on Wikipedia?

Try contacting an administrator (the list) or an ArbCom member (the list, they are elected) or maybe even Jimbo himself (I doubt he would respond though). Broken Segue

Thank you, any help is greatly appreciated!!

You might want to look at Wikipedia:Questions for any general questions you have (or read Wikipedia). Broken Segue 02:15, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Questions[edit]

Others have done a good job of answering the basic questions. If you have any other specific questions, feel free to contact me on my talk page. I've been contributing to Wikipedia for three years, and have been an administrator for two, and I'd be happy to help you understand the "nooks and crannies" of this place. Good luck! — Catherine\^talk 05:04, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]