User talk:Andreas

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Contents 1 Splitting, Lumping, and Period Pages 2 Do you want to be a sysop? 3 Move Palaeos 4 Protecting pages 5 Latin 6 Vandal 7 Glad to see you back 8 Spambots 9 Thanks 10 Dealing with spam

Splitting, Lumping, and Period Pages

As you may have noticed, I've taken it upon myself to wikify the pages on the geological periods. Now, we have an inconsistency of format here, which I did not create but which I have exacerbated and would like to resolve; most of the pages have, Palaeos.com-style, a bit of everything in them (eg., Jurassic), whereas the Cambrian page has only a brief introduction with the rest of the material spun off into separate pages on Cambrian stratigraphy, Cambrian life, etc. Apparently, the Cambrian splittism reflects a format change that was quickly abandoned.

Now, ought I restart the splitting, or should I relump the Cambrian (leaving the separate pages for more indepth treatments if and when someone feels like writing them - the pieces on Cambrian and Triassic stratigraphy I imported to separate pages probably belong off the main Cambrian and Triassic pages, which do well enough with a simple table)? I personally prefer the later, but I'd like to know what, if anything, the rest of the crew thinks. Andreas 22:29, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Since no-one offered an opinion, I went ahead and did it my way. Should a consensus materialize it oughta been done the other way that's what the revert function is for. Andreas 19:44, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

You understand geology better than I do so you sort things the way you think best and discuss changes with the others if/when they return. Thanks for drawing attention to vandalism, I won't feed the troll by commenting on the vandal's talk page. Proxima Centauri 07:22, 17 November 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for heling with spam. Proxima Centauri 19:30, 23 November 2009 (UTC)

hi Andreas. I originally had the idea of lost of subpages, but its too confusing and too much work. My feeling now is to have everything on one page - e.g. Paleozoic. But with stuff like the Triassic stratigraphy page, it pretty technical so it is fine to have it as a separate page. What I'll do - since there are no other Triassic subpages - is have a link from the stratigraphy section of the main Triassic page. Anyway, just do whatever you feel like doing! M alan kazlev 06:23, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for the replies. Linking to subpages inside the articles and only when the subs actually exist is a good idea; I'll be editing the templates and pages accordingly as I've got time. Andreas 14:58, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Done, more or less. Tell me if any obvious inconsistencies remain. Andreas 18:46, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

looks good to me  :-) M alan kazlev 03:36, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

While geologic epochs and stages should certainly have pages of their own (some perhaps combined) such pages can be written prior to wikifying and thus do away with the glaring, go-to-nowhere, unattractive red letter text links. John M 12 Aug 2010

They're unattractive, but less annoying, I think, than clicking at a blue link and ending up at a placeholder page. Andreas 18:46, 12 August 2010 (UTC)

Addendum Or are you suggesting I shouldnt' insert links to such pages before they exist (as I did on the ammonite page)? I've been doing it on the logic that if I don't do it when it occurs to me it likely won't be done the day the pages on the ages do exist either. Andreas 18:49, 12 August 2010 (UTC)

Do you want to be a sysop?

If you would like to be an administrator I'll recommend you to Paul who manages user rights here. Paul doesn't seem to be here very much so don't be disappointed if nothing happens. Proxima Centauri 19:39, 23 November 2009 (UTC)

Having admin rights would be quite nice. Andreas 11:12, 24 November 2009 (UTC)

My apologies, I must have missed the recommendation, but you're an admin now. I've no doubt of your abilities and intentions, but I'm obliged to remind you that with great power comes great responsibility! Paul 18:14, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

Thank you. I shall endeavour to use my newfound power wisely. (MUAHAHAH! er, ahem ...) Andreas 21:32, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

Move Palaeos

We need to consider moving Palaeos to save the Wiki, see User talk:Proxima Centauri#Spam. It won't be up to me but it looks likely that you will be a sysop after any move. Proxima Centauri 11:54, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm all for a move if it cuts down on spam - it's been horrendous lately. Andreas 13:07, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

We need a consensus. Proxima Centauri 15:54, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

How much longer do we endure spam before we move to Wikia or some other new website? Proxima Centauri 09:37, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

I'm going for a short time but I'll back to fight the spammers. Proxima Centauri 09:38, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for helping. Proxima Centauri 10:23, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

As far as I'm concerned, we can move yesterday. Meanwhile, I'm be quashing spam as I see it. Andreas 10:44, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Protecting pages

I started protecting pages over a year ago when page move vandalism was a big problem for wikis. I think Christopher will protect pages himself if we ask him but I like things the way they are, when you and I protect pages that shows users that there are two sysops patrolling regularly. What do you think? Proxima Centauri 11:01, 27 July 2010 (UTC)

I've been wondering if protecting pages still fulfills any useful purpose, but it's so quick work that I don't mind continuing. Andreas 09:06, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Other wikis have up to date software that stops page move vandalism but I don't know if this one has. I feel protecting pages takes little time, can help and certainly doesn't cause harm. Proxima Centauri 10:25, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Latin

What do we do with this Latin scholar, User:EmmaWatson87? Proxima Centauri 17:57, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

In case you don't realize: that's not real Latin, but a variant of the "lorem ipsum" text, a nonsense text traditionally used in typography to see what a page of text might look like before you've got a real text to put there.

Anyway, I don't think we need do anything just yet. If she starts inserting nonsense anywhere but at her user page, then we'll just have to ban her (if it's a her, or even a person at all - I half suspect some sort of experimental bot). Andreas 19:28, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

Yet another page turned up and I've told the lady unless she does any palaeontology I'll delete the pages. I feel I've been patient long enough. Do you have alternative suggestions?

If its just an experimental bot deleting pages won't affect a real person and the site owner is paying for someone else's experiments. Proxima Centauri 13:39, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

Do the interchangeable Emmas post from the same IP address? If so an IP ban would seem in order - I can't see what she/they/it is doing is materially different from spamming. Andreas 22:33, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm deleting the pages the next time another of these edits turns up I will ban the user. Proxima Centauri 06:07, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Vandal

I see you've been very busy yesterday, sorry I didn't notice and didn't help. Proxima Centauri 18:15, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

No worries. You've dealt with far more spam than I have anyway. Andreas 18:29, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree you were right to delete that stuff about solar power as it isn't right for this wiki. Still that may have been a good faith edit from someone whose inexperienced with wikis. There was no advertising for any particular product or company. I don't want to unblock the user as you may know that user from elsewhere but I suggest unblocking and asking the user politely not to make that type of edit again. Proxima Centauri 10:41, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

No, I don't know this person from elsewhere, and I think I overreacted in banning him/her outright. I've revoked the block. Andreas 11:00, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

OK. You've been a great help to me, I've got far less work overall on this site, thanks. Proxima Centauri 12:19, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

Glad to see you back

I'm looking forward to doing more work here as Wikia have messed out the page layout, I think they have so many pages they are more interested in displaying advertisments on existing pages than in encouraging users to edit there. Proxima Centauri 07:47, 21 October 2010 (UTC)

I wasn't really gone, just ... low-profile. The technical side of the Wiki is not something I'm at all knowledgeable about I'm afraid, so I can't do much more there than wish you luck. Andreas 15:22, 21 October 2010 (UTC)

Good to see you back again. Proxima Centauri 16:01, 20 February 2011 (UTC)

Thanks you. Got a new job in Jan and have accordingly been quite busy since. I'll be checking in on and off as I find time. Andreas 05:57, 21 February 2011 (UTC)

Spambots

The battle of the spambots just continues. Proxima Centauri 09:20, 19 March 2011 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for helping with vandalism while I was away I know this wiki and all that must have been very hard work alone.

I’ve had big problems in my life offline but that’s now sorted and I hope to sort out the websites where I’m an administrator. I know that will take a lot of work and I’ll do a bit every day till things are up to standard. At least this wiki is in good order. Proxima Centauri 18:42, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

Hi. I've been pretty busy lately too (altho mostly for pleasant enough reasons), but I'm keeping at smacking spam here when I find the time. Andreas 13:59, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Dealing with spam

Thanks for your contributions and help over spam, we're considering working on a new site with better spam protection and we're also considering restricting editing to combat spam. See I come bearing gifts and lower down on my talk page. Do you feel like adding your opinions? Proxima Centauri 19:19, 11 June 2011 (UTC)