Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard

This is a message board for talking about tasks on Wikipedia that only administrators can do. Please put new messages at the bottom of the talk page or click here to start a new discussion.

Please note that the messages on this page are archived periodically. A message may therefore have been archived. Note however, that the archives must not be modified, so if something needs discussing, please start a new discussion on this page.

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• This is the Simple English Wikipedia. Click here for the Administrators' Noticeboard on the regular English Wikipedia.
• Use Vandalism in progress to report serious and urgent vandalism from other users to administrators.
• Use Requests for permissions to request administrators to give you tools that can help you do things faster on Wikipedia, such as rollback.
• Use Simple talk to ask general questions about Wikipedia and how to use it.
• See meta:Steward requests/Username changes to change your user name or take another user name.
• See WP:RFCU for CheckUser requests.
• See WP:OS for oversight.

Machine creations

We are getting a new series of speed creations of places (apparently by machine). We need to decide whether to block the userpage and maybe do a mass delete. Macdonald-ross (talk) 10:49, 14 May 2023 (UTC)

It continues. Our experience of this sort of thing is that the content is sub-standard, and the bot runs over any page and replaces human content with its own poor content. This means that editors tend to avoid topics where the bot is running. I have mentioned before that the bot puts its poor stuff on pages with better human content. Apparently there is no way to stop this happening. Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:46, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

Support I agree that we should not have AI-generated content and I would support any policy that prevents such poor-quality content. We want to keep this wiki to as high a standard as possible, at least until AI can get to a standard where its content is on par with humans. But perhaps we should treat this on a case-by-case basis? Ack, I've contradicted myself mid-sentence! Anyway, I get your point. Blissyu2 (talk) 10:13, 9 June 2023 (UTC)

School users (registered to South West Grid for Learning Ltd.) vandalizing

Mass-scale vandalism from these school users. I don't know what to do in this situation and this seems like admin intervention is possible, so post to AN! :P – Angerxiety^! 13:41, 18 May 2023 (UTC)

Can you give some specific examples? Which IP address is it? Blissyu2 (talk) 10:13, 9 June 2023 (UTC)

Sandbox

Hello admins here, I have been editing my sandbox everyday at User:Neel.arunabh/sandbox and I found out today morning my sandbox is deleted. I cannot understand who deleted my sandbox and why? Neel.arunabh (talk) 15:21, 18 May 2023 (UTC)

There's no history of a previous sandbox. Are you sure it was on this wiki? Macdonald-ross (talk) 07:53, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

They do have a sandbox but it was created in a subdirectory of their talk page back in December 9 2022. That said, what's in the sandbox appears unusual to be sure. Wekeepwhatwekill  ^Spe_ak! 12:09, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

@Wekeepwhatwekill: Mac said previous sandbox. I think the meant that there's no history of a sandbox being deleted here. -- Auntof6 (talk) 18:35, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

To Djsasso: You have again deleted my sandbox. I am using my sandbox for test edits, not for vandalism. Neel.arunabh (talk) 21:45, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

I requested oversight on it, it contained phone numbers and Discord usernames at the time. Dylan | ✉ | ✓  00:52, 20 May 2023 (UTC)

Possibly promotional edits

Someone should look at the additions by Special:Contribs/2A03:80C0:1:1E3:0:0:0:0/64. They are adding lists of people to various cities but it's not clear to me that these people are notable. Lights and freedom (talk) 16:36, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

List of programs broadcast by PBS Kids

I think this is vandalism, but I think someone else should decide whether to warn the user, because I don't want to get in an edit war. Lights and freedom (talk) 17:31, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

It's definitely something that has no sources at all. It looks like WP:CRYSTAL to me. Yes, they keep putting it up too, so, they're edit warring as well with different I.P addresses. I'm seeing User:2601:c2:1900:8b40:e03f:2a2f:b65e:2ad2, User:2601:c2:1900:8b40:18a2:e345:7bf4:2af4, User:2601:c2:1900:8b40:adc4:e184:42f4:8630 and User:75.3.208.104 Wekeepwhatwekill  ^Spe_ak!

Dushyant Karani

No claims of notability at here but an IP user continues to remove QD tag. I request admin response for this page. MathXplore (talk) 10:06, 20 May 2023 (UTC)

Multiple Sockpuppet Accounts

There have been multiple accounts made only for the intention to vote on this RfD

Sockpuppets, please see their contributions:

Thanks, Dylan | ✉ | ✓  17:19, 20 May 2023 (UTC)

They could be, but they do have a lot of edits on the Japanese Wikipedia and the accounts were created in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Lights and freedom (talk) 17:37, 20 May 2023 (UTC)

Looking now, thanks for the report. FatalFit, for the future the best place to report socks (needing CU) is generally WP:RFCU. Best, Vermont 🐿️ (talk) 00:40, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

All  Confirmed. That took a while. Vermont 🐿️ (talk) 01:52, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

Alright, thanks! Dylan | ✉ | ✓  02:02, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

Chetan Rana (Businessman)

Possible advertisement but an IP user continues to remove QD, creation has been repeated with different disambiguators so I request admin review. MathXplore (talk) 13:37, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

Second IP Special:Contributions/157.39.244.144 has also removed the template. Bobherry Talk My Changes 14:00, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

I have opened an RfD. If there are disputes, quickdeletion is no good... Eptalon (talk) 14:02, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

Two Bunnies Rescue The Princess

Article only including a character and trivia list, no description of notability but an IP is repeating QD tag removal. MathXplore (talk) 08:13, 26 May 2023 (UTC)

Deleted. -- Auntof6 (talk) 20:08, 26 May 2023 (UTC)

Protection request for Winter War

Static IP making repeated disruptive changes and personal attacks; would be best to semi-protect for some time to WP:Deny them. InfernoGaming46 (IG46) (talk / changes) 14:21, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

@Fehufanga: Also multiple IPs on that page appear to be committing block evasion for IPs you have blocked. Bobherry Talk My Changes 14:22, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

George Reeves Also has edits like it and appears to have block evasion. Possible w:WP:LTA/GRP. Bobherry Talk My Changes 14:29, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected the page for two weeks... Eptalon (talk) 16:21, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Thanks. InfernoGaming46 (IG46) (talk / changes) 17:03, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Sockpuppet accounts/CU Request

User:Peropaso User:Opularis User:Terminitatis User:Heaventoherl. All seem to be editing the same way on a spam article. I RFDed the article and they all keep removing it and hopping accounts to do so. Bobherry Talk My Changes 15:07, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Normally, such requests go to Wikipedia:RFCU I ran a check, and blocked them... Eptalon (talk) 16:33, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Okay thanks. Bobherry Talk My Changes 16:35, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

Usernames prefixed with "bot"

I already know that usernames suffixed with "bot" like -bot is not allowed at this project, but do we allow usernames prefixed with "bot"? I'm asking this because I found this at English Wikipedia. Per WP:FOLLOW, we may need some action. MathXplore (talk) 13:52, 28 May 2023 (UTC)

The policy simply states: Names that have the word "bot" will confuse you with Wikipedia bots. It is not offending, but it is confusing to the community and is not allowed.. So, no. — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 13:54, 28 May 2023 (UTC)

Protection Request

Please protect White people the page has experienced a lot of vandalism lately. See also filter log. Thank you. Bobherry Talk My Changes 13:53, 28 May 2023 (UTC)

 Done — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 13:57, 28 May 2023 (UTC)

Kind of an odd one

So, in page patrols, I came across KyurPju. In the space of one day this user [|has created 3 articles]. They all follow the same pattern with refs, there are no mistakes or re-types. They seems to be only on this Wikipedia and Wikidata. I did leave them a note on their userpage about their article Belkins.io and they didn't respond and proceeded to create yet another article. I'm fairly sure this isn't a new user, in fact, as all three of their articles look too perfect, I'm wondering if this isn't some kind of a chatbot (also based on some of the references used which didn't even mention the subject of the article). Just giving a heads up. Also, I did notify KyurPji about this post too. Anyway to tell if this is a former I.P or a chatbot? Wekeepwhatwekill  ^Spe_ak! 17:59, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Data templates that need to be regularly imported

I've been finding some templates that include data, which is used by articles and needs to be regularly updated. For example, some keep track of current COVID-19 statistics, and others, such as {{Representative}}, keep track of current politicians. Is there a category for these templates? If not, should we create one so they don't get forgotten about? Lights and freedom (talk) 20:33, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

I think the list of templates with data that could/would require updating would be extremely large and probably not solve the root issue (out of date templates). There are too many items needing updating and not enough people to update them, but if you'd like to send me a list of templates, I can work on them. Griff (talk) 23:52, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

{{Representative}} needs to updated, among others. I added it to that category. Lights and freedom (talk) 15:41, 31 May 2023 (UTC)

@Lights and freedom I personally have been keeping track of the German population templates and the COVID-19 data template. Some are categorized in Category:Data templates, others are scattered around and not yet categorized. Here is an attempt at querying data templates. — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 00:16, 31 May 2023 (UTC)

Category:Data templates is a good place to start, although there might be things there that need updating only infrequently or not at all.

There are also modules that contain data. An example is the modules that are used to look up abbreviations, colors, and short names for political parties. These modules have names in the form "Module:Political party/x", where "x" is either the digit "1" or a letter of the alphabet. You can see them listed at Module:Political party/doc#Data pages. Earlier this year I noticed that we had only one or two of them, so I imported the rest and changed our processes to use them. Just in the relatively short time I was doing that, they changed several times on enwiki. -- Auntof6 (talk) 02:28, 31 May 2023 (UTC)

There should be some way to keep track of those modules, then. (Maybe there already is.) Also, things like Template:COVID-19 data/data need to be updated regularly. That template is not in a category. Lights and freedom (talk) 15:43, 31 May 2023 (UTC)

Talk with rrabbit42.

Could I have a chat with a user called rrabbit42 on here? It's urgently important. You know who1237 (talk) 17:35, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

Bulk deletion request

Could an admin delete all the templates in Category:Taxonomy templates for species? None of them are used, and furthermore, none of their subjects have articles here. Even if the articles were created, these templates wouldn't be needed, because species are supposed to use a taxonomy template from a higher level (such as a genus), not their own template. Lights and freedom (talk) 17:37, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

@Lights and freedom: Will do; stand by. -- Auntof6 (talk) 21:59, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

@Lights and freedom: Templates and category deleted. Thanks for finding this. -- Auntof6 (talk) 22:06, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

Change title

I would like the article Infant formula changed to Baby formula. This will simplify the title. I forgot how to do it. Thank you Barbara (talk) 22:12, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

I can do this for you. Done. Baby formula Bobherry Talk My Changes 22:55, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

If you are on the monobook appearance you should have a tab near the top of your page labeled "move". Bobherry Talk My Changes 22:57, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

Thank you for your help. Barbara (talk) 00:26, 2 June 2023 (UTC)

Category:Anti-Communists

I do not see any reason to capitalize "communists", a normal noun. I suggest de-capitalization of this part as well as enwiki, and request an admin to clear the re-categorization with flood flag and Cat-a-lot. MathXplore (talk) 08:42, 2 June 2023 (UTC)

Yes, unlike Nazism, which came from the name of the Nazi Party, communism is not a proper noun. I've moved the categories and moved their contents. — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 08:50, 2 June 2023 (UTC)

Requestion semi-protection

Please see the revision history of Minions & More, there have been multiple IP’s vandalizing it almost every day. Dylan | ✉ | ✓  15:32, 2 June 2023 (UTC)

 Done Griff (talk) 00:09, 3 June 2023 (UTC)

Request for semi protection (Hoax edits)

List of Pixar movies List of Walt Disney Animation Studios movies Several IPs have been adding and removing hoax fake movies to both of these pages the last few days. Thank you. Bobherry Talk My Changes 20:25, 2 June 2023 (UTC)

 Done - Although I'm sure the issue will come back. Have you looked into whether the current version is "clean"? Thanks, Griff (talk) 00:28, 3 June 2023 (UTC)

One article looks good and the other I have removed the dates on two upcoming movies after searching and seeing the dates have not been released yet. Bobherry Talk My Changes 00:37, 3 June 2023 (UTC)

Dushyant B. H. Karani

The page has no sentences (only infobox or tables) so I think it's currently subject to QD A1, but one user is repeating QD tag removal. I request an admin to take a look at this page. MathXplore (talk) 11:11, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

Definitely socking. Blocked and G5d. — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 14:29, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

Template:Blocked text

This template should be protected indefinitely, an IP user is repeating unexplained edits at here. MathXplore (talk) 13:18, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

While that IP is making disruptive edits, the template is not used anywhere else. I wonder if the template is even necessary in the first place. — *Fehufangą ♮ ✉ Talk page 14:29, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

User:Xeverything11

This user has been creating many stub articles about GPUs most of which have been unsourced along with other issues Me @Gotanda: and others have warned and asked them to stop and offered advice with proper articles they could make however I have just noticed they have been reverting back to their old ways and removing the redirects on the articles we redirected to the main articles to build them up. They have also recreated deleted pages. We have asked them to stop nicely but they keep at it and seem to be ignoring our messages on their talkpage. I do not mean to be attacking this editor in any way. Thank you. Bobherry Talk My Changes 21:38, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

For now I would just like for a sysop to get involved and for them to respond. I am aware this may, unfortunately, come to a topic ban or worse. Bobherry Talk My Changes 21:48, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

The editor does not acknowledge communication on their talk page about this issue. They have been given constructive advice which they consistently ignore. They seem unable or unwilling to follow some of the basic guidelines of this wiki. --Gotanda (talk) 21:46, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

Lack of communication is quite concerning; we've had a handful of cases where good faith editors necessitated blocks, because they never responded to concerns on their talk page. It's sad that this may be another. Vermont 🐿️ (talk) 00:40, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

They are still doing it. Creating new pointless redirects and a confusing array of stubs for what should be single articles about card families. They are not communicating on the Talk page. Ready for a time out? --Gotanda (talk) 04:38, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

Their work is in-scope, good faith, but...I don't know what's causing this lack of communication. They haven't edited since the RfD message, which I replied to with a ping. I also just replied to their deletion review request. Hopefully one of those receives a response. Vermont 🐿️ (talk) 01:10, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Them removing the redirects and redoing them as articles is borderline edit warring. Bobherry Talk My Changes 01:15, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Right. The endless isolated very short stubs one for every minor change to a graphics card is not useful and not good encyclopedic practice. All that information should just be presented in table form on the more general card articles. We see this pattern where some editors pick an area and just run up massive numbers of article creations with very little useful information. I'm thinking nameless user and endless unmaintained pointless Japanese footballer stubs. We should follow the example on EnWP for how to organize this. The editor has been given advice about that. I can't redo the redirects without really being an edit war but they need to be done. Gotanda (talk) 02:47, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

 Comment: I followed this link from an RFD, and I wonder if it is possible to ban this user from creating new articles, as they do appear to generally be good-faith edits, and I'd hate to see them banned when they are trying their best. They may not understand how the talk page system works maybe? Is there a way to ban a user from creating new articles? If there is, I suggest that as a remedy in preference to a block. If it is not possible, then I support a short-term block, perhaps of a few days to a week. Blissyu2 (talk) 10:08, 9 June 2023 (UTC)

Requesting page move

Hi, on Sami people: it's either Sámi or Saami, not "Sami". The English Wikipedia moved the page back in 2018 for the same reason. I request an administrator move the page and change the links with a flood flag. Thanks, Dylan | ✉ | ✓  21:05, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

@FatalFit: I'll do this one. Stand by. -- Auntof6 (talk) 22:39, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

@FatalFit: I think I got all the links. (I wouldn't really have needed the flood flag, though. because there weren't that many.) There are some articles that use the term without the diacritic, and also the term Saami. Those should probably be changed, too (except, of course, where the terms are used in quotations) -- let me know if you'd like help doing any of that. -- Auntof6 (talk) 23:39, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

Ok, thank you so much for the speedy fix! Dylan | ✉ | ✓  00:23, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

Request for semi-protection

Andhra Pradesh – Repeatedly vandalized with incorrect data (replacing capital of Amaravati with Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam). InfernoGaming46 (IG46) (talk / changes) 03:59, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

@InfernoGaming46: There isn't enough vandalism for protection at this point. Today there have been only 3 edits to the page, and the most recent edits before that were on 1 June. Protection is usually done when there is so much vandalism on a page that it's hard to keep up with. I don't think this fits that description. -- Auntof6 (talk) 05:03, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

Oh, alright. Thought there had been more recent edits. InfernoGaming46 (IG46) (talk / changes) 05:04, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

Changes to RFD archives

I know this is not allowed, but did any admin grant permission for these? (special:diff/8868355, special:diff/8868354, special:diff/8868352) Or should I count these as an acceptable case? MathXplore (talk) 13:39, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Import Article

Hello, could an administrator please import the article from the English Wikipedia by the name of Savannah, Georgia? I want to make it into a very good article! Philocalyst (talk) 16:50, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

@Philocalyst: Sorry, but importing from English Wikipedia wouldn't create a good article here. Articles there are usually too complex for Simple English Wikipedia. The article here could definitely use expanding, but importing is not the way to do it. You might want to add a section at a time, making sure that it's in simple language before adding more. -- Auntof6 (talk) 17:14, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

I totally understand that, I was going to work the other way - changing the language to simple language, that way I can keep all of the other relevant information without much hassle. I'm a new editor so this just felt the easiest to me, although it might not be the most efficient. Could that work? Philocalyst (talk) 20:03, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

@Philocalyst: How about working on it in a "sandbox" in your user space? I could import it there for you. -- Auntof6 (talk) 20:58, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Hi. I would encourage you to work on the article from the English Wikipedia on one side and the Simple English Wikipedia on the same. I find that is the best way to write Simple English Wikipedia articles. Sadly, I don't think that I am capable of writing an article on that topic as I have no interest in it, but if you think you could make it into a good article then I imagine you could make it into a good starting article too. Blissyu2 (talk) 10:10, 9 June 2023 (UTC)