Are there wikipedia elves?
September 10, 2015 9:21 AM Subscribe
I have wasted my time this morning doing Trump family research instead of my housework. Now I want to correct some errors Fred Trump's Wikipedia page. Figuring out how to edit Wikipedia seems awfully daunting to figure out (and my duties as stay-at-home mom will surely suffer). Is there a place that you submit errors and sources for correction?
(It all has to do with this fake persona he built saying his mother was a seamstress and worked a construction job, etc He was so successful so he sent his brothers to school. Censuses, articles, real estate transaction and Probate info show how much a lie this was.
If someone here is interested, too that would be great. (Is that breaking some kind of metafilter rule?)
(It all has to do with this fake persona he built saying his mother was a seamstress and worked a construction job, etc He was so successful so he sent his brothers to school. Censuses, articles, real estate transaction and Probate info show how much a lie this was.
If someone here is interested, too that would be great. (Is that breaking some kind of metafilter rule?)
You can discuss issues on the article's talk page. Here you could explain what you think is wrong and why. If you provide references, someone will probably fix it. Eventually.
posted by ubiquity at 9:29 AM on September 10, 2015
posted by ubiquity at 9:29 AM on September 10, 2015
Response by poster: I feel like a dunce but i can't figure out how to even start a new topic on the talk page.
posted by ReluctantViking at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2015
posted by ReluctantViking at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2015
There is a New Section tab on the Talk page.
The View History tab (right side of the top banner, near the search box) is another place to check. That shows you the Revision history which is very useful for reverting spam.
posted by soelo at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2015
The View History tab (right side of the top banner, near the search box) is another place to check. That shows you the Revision history which is very useful for reverting spam.
posted by soelo at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2015
Unless Wikipedia has changed significantly in the past 5 years or so since I was an active editor, I don't think it would be appropriate to link to primary source documents like Censuses, real estate transactions, and probate info to build a case about someone's biography (vs. citing them as direct facts). That would be considered "original research."
However, if a journalist has written an article doing that research, it could be linked to as a source.
posted by muddgirl at 9:32 AM on September 10, 2015
However, if a journalist has written an article doing that research, it could be linked to as a source.
posted by muddgirl at 9:32 AM on September 10, 2015
Note that there are two History tabs, one you get to from the main page and the other from the Talk page.
posted by soelo at 9:33 AM on September 10, 2015
posted by soelo at 9:33 AM on September 10, 2015
I've successfully edited Wikipedia pages for inaccuracies and it took me about an hour to learn how to do this. It's really not as big a deal as you think, and almost certainly less time-consuming than communicating what you want to change and why to a 3rd party. Start by registering for an account, after which you will start seeing editing options.
posted by rada at 9:33 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rada at 9:33 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: muddgirl -
Interesting - I am trying to figure out exactly what original research is. Fred invented so many stories about his life (that were published as fact in many, many periodicals) that I feel like a primary source that shows that it is untrue is of value.
Especially because of his history of lying, I think this page should be better cited and perhaps even his history of deception about his past mentioned.
Thanks for you help everybody. I figured out the "talk" thing!
posted by ReluctantViking at 9:51 AM on September 10, 2015
Interesting - I am trying to figure out exactly what original research is. Fred invented so many stories about his life (that were published as fact in many, many periodicals) that I feel like a primary source that shows that it is untrue is of value.
Especially because of his history of lying, I think this page should be better cited and perhaps even his history of deception about his past mentioned.
Thanks for you help everybody. I figured out the "talk" thing!
posted by ReluctantViking at 9:51 AM on September 10, 2015
No, there is no easy way to make suggestions. Anyone who tells you that it's easy to do, and to just go here and select this tab or whatever is totally unfamiliar with just how daunting Wikipedia can be to the average, normal person.
Just making a reference, for example, requires you to master some basic Wiki markup. I have not seen the visual editor lately, and the edit interface is a mess.
And then there is always the risk that there will be a pedantic discussion about notability or accuracy, and in order to participate in the discussion you have to understand the culture of Wikipedia (much like one has to understand the culture of MetaFilter to post here).
In a way, the barriers to participation are good, because it prevents drive-by changes. It's also bad because it means Wikipedia is managed and essentially owned to people who have invested time in the process of Wikipedia, rather than in the knowledge of Wikipedia.
So no, there is no "easy" way. On the other hand, you can invest a little time and do some trial-and-error and figure out how the community works. Should take about 4 hours of time total.
posted by Nevin at 10:52 AM on September 10, 2015
Just making a reference, for example, requires you to master some basic Wiki markup. I have not seen the visual editor lately, and the edit interface is a mess.
And then there is always the risk that there will be a pedantic discussion about notability or accuracy, and in order to participate in the discussion you have to understand the culture of Wikipedia (much like one has to understand the culture of MetaFilter to post here).
In a way, the barriers to participation are good, because it prevents drive-by changes. It's also bad because it means Wikipedia is managed and essentially owned to people who have invested time in the process of Wikipedia, rather than in the knowledge of Wikipedia.
So no, there is no "easy" way. On the other hand, you can invest a little time and do some trial-and-error and figure out how the community works. Should take about 4 hours of time total.
posted by Nevin at 10:52 AM on September 10, 2015
Fred Trump's fabrications about his origins aren't part of the entry now, and it doesn't seem that there are links to any published pieces that repeated his versions. Neutral point of view is part of the Wikipedia mission. Your addition to the Talk page doesn't really make a case as to why the entry needs to be edited.
posted by Ideefixe at 11:51 AM on September 10, 2015
posted by Ideefixe at 11:51 AM on September 10, 2015
Response by poster: Ideefixe - I understand neutral point of view but seeing family lore in Wikipedia doesn't seem right.
There no evidence that he went into business at 15 (and some to the contrary). There is no evidence that because of Fred's real estate success his brother was able to go to college. (His mother was a wealthy woman at all points in their lives)
posted by ReluctantViking at 1:05 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
There no evidence that he went into business at 15 (and some to the contrary). There is no evidence that because of Fred's real estate success his brother was able to go to college. (His mother was a wealthy woman at all points in their lives)
posted by ReluctantViking at 1:05 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wikipedia is for collecting facts from reliable second sources. Find a biography of Fred Trump that says these things, or mainstream newspaper or magazine articles. Information from censuses, real estate transactions, probate, etc is out of place and will be deleted.
posted by ryanrs at 1:48 AM on September 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ryanrs at 1:48 AM on September 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by languagehat at 9:28 AM on September 10, 2015