User talk:Sophena Chisembele
Welcome[edit]
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I've forgotten how to ask a question on my user page !
I am writing a longish article for distribution to various institutions and I have been given permission to use some copyright material from the archives of a person. My question is would it be correct to place a page in from of the article of 'acknowledgements' or 'thank-yous@ I have inserted footnote refs of the material & pics in question in various parts of the article (which I will attach as scans on a cd) I'd appreciate advice. sophena --#Sophena 11:10, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
You'e welcome[edit]
Hello, you're welcome. I highly recommend reading some of the help pages like the tutorial and then editing some existing articles so that you get a feel for Wikipedia. There is also good advice at WP:FIRST. Please write back if you have any questions. LovesMacs (talk) 18:35, 7 October 2009 (UTC)
Reply[edit]
Hello, I wanted to make sure I understood your question: did you want to change your account name? If so, you can make a request at WP:RENAME. Hope this helps. LovesMacs (talk) 23:30, 11 October 2009 (UTC)
Your recent edits[edit]
Hello. In case you didn't know, when you add content to talk pages and Wikipedia pages that have open discussion, you should sign your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~ ) at the end of your comment. You may also click on the signature button 
located above the edit window. This will automatically insert a signature with your username or IP address and the time you posted the comment. This information is useful because other editors will be able to tell who said what, and when. Thank you. --SineBot (talk) 11:43, 12 October 2009 (UTC)
Sophena Chisembele 09:26, 12 April 2012 (UTC)== Burial Ground == I wanted to check for a picture of the Shah Jahan Mosque Military Cemetery and by chance came to the Wikipedia page on the Muslim Burial Ground. I then included a para on my father...but I am fairly new to Wikipedia and not yet familiar with the actual process. So....all this is to say I may have put the para in the wrong place because there is an ERROR message now on the page in bright RED. Would you please have a look at it and tell me what I have done wrong and how to correct it. — Sophena Chisembele (talk · contribs) via e-mail
- Please learn to use "show changes" before saving edits. If you had done so, you would have seen that these edits had removed the {{reflist}} tag and that is why you were getting a red message. Fortunately for you a bot came along and even as you were e-mailing me, it corrected your error. Incidentally, do not be surprised if the edit gets removed: a) it is somewhat peripheral to the subject of the article and b) and more importantly, it is unreferenced. Please add a reference asap - even if you have to create a page on your website to provide the reference. — RHaworth (talk · contribs) 12:50, 11 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you for your response. I didn't think my addition was out of place or peripheral to the article in that it added a 'human face' and the fact that it was my mother's contacts to the Commonwealth Military Graves Commission regarding the desecration of the graves for which they wrote and thanked her for bringing the matter to their attention that resulted in the removal and reburial of the graves in the Brookwood Military Cemetery. Sophena Chisembele 09:27, 12 April 2012 (UTC)
Sylvester Mwamba Chisembele[edit]
If you need help creating an article on Sylvester Mwamba Chisembele just ask. Birth dates, pictures, and references are very useful, and be sure to link things like [[Zambia]] in your prose. Wizzy…☎ 18:07, 14 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you very much for making such an offer. I will contact you again on this. Is there a charge involved ? Sophena Chisembele 18:13, 14 April 2012 (UTC)
- Of course not :) Just click on the redlink above, and get started. You already have a picture of him, I notice. Check another Zambian politician's page (click edit to see the raw wikitext, just don't change it) and use that as a template. Wizzy…☎ 18:17, 14 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you very much. At the moment I am writing a paper 'A Brief Political History' on Sylvester Chisembele which when finished will be distributed to various Universities and Institutions which have already accepted the first cd I distributed with some material (Cape Town Uni is one of them), once this is finished I will be free to put more attention to the excellent suggestion you have made re an article. I have already written some 50 pages and there are numerous footnotes (scans etc.) on the BPH so it will be too large to use as a Wiki article, but I will be able to extract excerpts from it. Sophena Chisembele 18:27, 14 April 2012 (UTC)
- Might as well keep all the discussion on one page (here). Let me see if I can make a start on the article for you. Wizzy…☎ 14:11, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
- OK - made a start, mostly from his obituaries. Check that the picture is freely licenced (it is probably not) and see if you can find others. Try not to cut and paste, don't write stuff about how great he is, find more articles about him and add them to the references. Wizzy…☎ 14:58, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
Oh thanks!. Firstly the picture is Ok it was taken by my sister-law. I have such a lot of material on him, but not much of it published material more in the form of documents and reports. Would it be possible for me to send you a synopsis or just a very brief outline of the important events ? The stuff I have been writing is personal but only in as far as politics is concerned. I wonder if you also had a chance to read the publication "Weekly Angel" heading 'VJ lets down politician's wife' dated 20th-26th March 2006? which covered the events in the hospital and which was the reason for the Obituary and events since ? Yes! I have probably written too much of 'how great he was' but everything I have written and claimed I have verified with documented footnotes. As far as articles about him, there was nothing on the web until I started the project via AfricaNews etc. I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this help from you--Sophena Chisembele 15:56, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
- Would it be possible for me to send you a synopsis - no - it is up to you now :) I will keep an eye on the article. Be Bold. Good luck. Wizzy…☎ 17:36, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
Dear Wizzy, thank you so much. I have seen the page and yes I will definitely be able to continue and adjust from there now that you have set it going for me. I can't thank you enough and please do keep an eye on it and tell me if I am going wrong! I so appreciate this really wonderful assistance. Sophena Chisembele 20:35, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
I have included a little under the heading Early Life and my question is can I place as a Reference the Diary I have of Michael Filalo Chisembele. It is written in Bemba but has also been translated into English. I have it, but it is not a published item. In other words can one use a document which exists but has not been published and name it under the References to confirm a statement? #Sophena 10:26, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
- Anything is better than nothing. But it is not really a good reference. <ref>diary of Michael Filalo Chisembele</ref> Wizzy…☎ 10:49, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you. If a document is part of a Collection held by a Uni Library who has stated it holds the collection (i.e. 'Centre of African Studies Library Newsletter' shown on Google search) can that be used as a better alternative? #Sophena 11:07, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
- Put the best references you can in there. If they are not easily verifiable by other people though they are of limited usefulness. Wizzy…☎ 11:50, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you. If I have understood it properly a reference has to have been published in book or article form for it to be acceptable and this applies even to a signed letter from a notable individual. For example I have a signed letter which is also part of the Collection with Cambridge Uni from Bishop R. Pailloux stating that the Catholic Church in Fort Rosebery was established by Michael Chisembele but again this letter has not been published in book form. #Sophena 12:03, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
- Don't let this prevent you from adding stuff you know to be true - but if someone objects you might have to give it up. Wizzy…☎ 13:10, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
Sorry, another query. A problem I am having is that when I insert a reference and go to show preview or show changes the main text appears in the window but not the references - so no way of knowing before saving if I have formatted the ref correctly...is there a way?
Thank you. I will. Sorry, I don’t wont to be bothering you too much. But it is rather disheartening if even though you can prove a statement and you know it to be true, it can still be removed because of an objection. My husband had enemies while he lived and there will be enemies after his death who would like history to be told in a way which suits them. So, even though I will continue, it might all be a useless exercise ! #Sophena 13:33, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
Teahouse question answered[edit]
Please note that all old questions are archived after 2-3 days of inactivity. Message added by WormTT · (talk) 08:50, 19 April 2012 (UTC). (You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{teahouse talkback}} template).
Your recent edits[edit]
Hello. In case you didn't know, when you add content to talk pages and Wikipedia pages that have open discussion, you should sign your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~ ) at the end of your comment. You could also click on the signature button 
or 
located above the edit window. This will automatically insert a signature with your username or IP address and the time you posted the comment. This information is useful because other editors will be able to tell who said what, and when they said it. Thank you. --SineBot (talk) 09:30, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you. I thought I understood this and that I had inserted a signature...but does it mean if you write one message but using paragraphs you must sign each individual paragraph ? #Sophena 09:41, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
- Hi Sophena. You're not likely to get much response from the above, it's a "bot", which just leaves messages automatically. However, I thought I might lend a hand. You don't need to sign each individual paragraph, no. However, you do need to sign each reply you make. So, if you were to reply to me here, you'll need to sign again, and then I'll sign my reply and so on. By the way, one requirement of the signature guidelines is that your signature links through to either your userpage or your usertalk page or both. This allows editors to contact you. If you need any help getting that to happen, let me know. WormTT · (talk) 09:46, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Re: Your Help[edit]
Aha, now you've got into the etiquette of Wikipedia conversations! There's a few factors that you should be aware of before you decide where you like to reply. Firstly the big old orange bar, which I suspect you've noticed. Every time someone leaves a message on your talk page, you get that bar. It lets you know that you've got new messages but not how many, nor how recent. Secondly, there's the "Watchlist". Now the watchlist is one of the most useful tools on Wikipedia, you can see Help:Watchlist for more. It basically allows you to see any recent changes to any pages which you add to the list.
So that leads to the question of where to leave messages. I generally like to keep conversations together, to help other editors who are reading them follow it. However, I also like to keep conversations with newer users on their page, so they don't have to worry about watching what's going on (I've got my watchlist constantly being viewed). So, you can reply here, and I will notice it. Or you can reply on my page and I'll notice it (thanks to the big old orange bar). Some editors like the conversation to take place where it starts, others hate the bar and like it to take place on other pages, others like jumping between the two. Most people will have a note at the top of their talk page if they have a preference. You may have noticed mine which says "This user replies where he likes, and is inconsistent in that respect."
Does that explain things? There's a lot more information at Help:Talk pages. Oh and if you've got any other questions, feel free to ask away. WormTT · (talk) 10:08, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Thanks again. I shall have to read this a couple of times to understand, but I am hopeful! #Sophena 10:41, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
- I'm sure you'll get the hang of it - and there's a few of us who can help out if you don't. Don't forget to sort out your signature, that's why the bot (above) is getting grumpy with you. WormTT · (talk) 10:51, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
I'm sorry but I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have been clicking on the 4 tildes below, but from now on I will click on the signature icon above.
I would also like to ask another question... I notice that many 'users' use ‘nicknames’ for their User page. Is this a sensible, recommended practice perhaps in order to retain a certain amount of privacy ? I am thinking of trying to make the change. --#Sophena 11:09, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
- Clicking either the four tildes below or the sig icon above will have the same effect - the problem actually stems from the signature you have set up in your preferences. Preferences → User profile → Signature is where you need to change it, and it needs to include a wikilink. If you try copying and pasting the following code into your signature box, that will sort it.
--[[User talk:Sophena Chisembele|#Sophena]]
- As for "nicknames", I assume you're referring to the pseudonym's many editors on wikipedia choose to use, like me "Worm That Turned". It does offer a little extra security, but at the same time it's only a small step in a much larger world if you want to be fully secure. On it's own, it's not worth too much. With a little work on Google, you can find out exactly who I am, where I live and even my mobile phone number. I user my pseudonym simply because it's more unique than my real name, which is very common. I've used the same username for about 15 years, so it's very much associated with me. It's wholly up to you in the end. WormTT · (talk) 11:23, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Yes! I did mean pseudonym. I am getting a bit disheartened here. I have pasted in the code to correct my signature, but when I checked it on preview it doesn't show (talk) in brackets as I see posts from others on my page do. Anyway fingers crossed! I did check out the talk/help but to no avail. I'm sure you are tired of me and my ignorance. --#Sophena 12:12, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
- We were all new once and there's an awful lot to learn, but there's no rush, don't get disheartened. You're signature is now perfect, the software is being clever and knows that it is a "cyclic link" so it shows it as bold instead. The same thing happens when I post on my userpage. I think you're good to go! WormTT · (talk) 12:16, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Thank you so much. I am definitely OK now with the pics too. I started thinking that perhaps I was a bit too old (76) for this ! but now my confidence is back. --#Sophena 14:43, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
- I don't think there's such a think as too old, just too set in your ways! I can think of at least one or two other grandparents (though they're not quite septuagenarians!), who've made major in roads into wikipedia, and I for one am glad to have you aboard. WormTT · (talk) 14:51, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Goodness you know how to make people feel better about themselves. I promise this is the last contact - at least for the time being! --#Sophena 15:35, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
Picture question[edit]
Hello Sophena, I hope you are doing well. I haven't done anything with pictures recently and I easily forget how to do things on Wikipedia when I take long breaks. If you want to put a picture in an article, you need to type in:
[[Filename]]
In this example, you replace "Filename" with "File:Example.png" or whatever picture you want to use. That is the most basic way to add a picture to an article. There are more complicated ways to do this, where you specify how big the picture is, where it should be on the page, etc.
Normally you want to put a descriptive caption with the picture. For example:
[[Filename|thumb|caption]]
So if you enter the following:
[[File:Bad Title Example.png|thumb|Example text]]
You get something like this:
I looked at your contributions (hope you don't mind) and I guess you already asked this question on the Teahouse help page. I hope that between the explanation there and the one I've given here, you are able to do what you wanted. You can also read the official help page for images. To be honest, I do a lot of trial and error to get pictures just the way I want them. LovesMacs (talk) 17:59, 23 April 2012 (UTC).
Thank you very much for responding to my earlier request and for taking the trouble to read through my initial contribution attempts. As you mention, I did go to Teahouse and I have been greatly assisted by 'Worm' and before that by 'Wizzi'. There is another question which has arisen since to which I would appreciate your advice and that is again on photos. A picture I have uploaded ref: Sylvester Mwamba Chisembele.jpg is too dark, and so I lightened the original copy on my pc and it looked fine but when I uploaded it to Wiki it appeared distorted. Is there a way to view an uploaded picture before actually saving it, I mean can you preview ? I probably have been supplied this information, but it has not registered with me yet! I did go to the help page and there is a formidable wealth of information, much of it above my head at this stage!. At least now I do understand how to insert a picture into an article.
I'd like to ask you another question and that is on copyright. I have a few pictures which were taken by Zambia Information Service in the 1970s which were issued by them to be used in newspapers and which they also sent to my husband. Can I use these pictures ? I don't remember ever hearing anything about copyright in Zambia. --#Sophena 11:03, 25 April 2012 (UTC)
- Hello, I'm afraid I don't know the answer to either of your questions. Presumably the Zambia Information Service would hold copyright on any of its pictures but I am not familiar with Zambian law. I found a page, WP:COPYREQ, about requesting permission to use copyrighted material for Wikipedia. I have never done that before so I wouldn't be able to help you. I suggest asking at the Help desk for further guidance. Hope you find the answers you need, LovesMacs (talk) 17:14, 30 April 2012 (UTC)
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Sorry, I was too late to take part in the survey, when I accessed the page it had already closed. However, I did appreciate the help Teahouse gave me! --#Sophena 08:38, 7 June 2012 (UTC)
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Apologies! too many typing errors in the question I've just tried to ask, so I am repeating it.. I've forgotten how to ask a question on my user page ! I am writing a longish article for distribution to various institutions and I have been given permission to use some copyright material from the archives of a person. My question is would it be correct to place a page in front of the article of 'acknowledgements' or 'thank-yous' I have inserted footnote refs of the material & pics in question in various parts of the article (which I will attach as scans on a cd) I'd appreciate advice. sophena (--#Sophena 11:18, 30 August 2013 (UTC))
- This doesn't seem to be related to Wikipedia at all. We don't offer general advice on how to write papers, and you shouldn't trust advice given by strangers on the internet. Huon (talk) 11:31, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
Thank you for responding. I did think I might be wrong to ask. Your advice is appreciated. sophena (--#Sophena 11:36, 30 August 2013 (UTC))