User talk:ObserveOwl

Question from NanoNerd (17:43, 15 December 2025)

Hi mentor, My first draft of a created article was rejected and I spent a lot of time making suggested edits. As I don't want it rejected again, is the wiki IRC channel the best way to ask someone to take a look at it before I submit? Thanks. --NanoNerd (talk) 17:43, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

@NanoNerd: Hello! I think your changes after the draft decline look decent, but I'd remove the "Outlook" section, as it seems more for an argumentative essay than an encyclopedia article. You can ask IRC Wikipedia channels for more advice. Wikipedia:WikiProject Articles for creation/Help desk may be helpful too. ObserveOwl (talk) 20:14, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

I had similar thoughts about the Outlook section. Thank you for confirming my suspicions. NanoNerd (talk) 20:15, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Question from Ferdinand Zandvoort (14:45, 17 December 2025)

Hi there dear ObserveOwl,

I tried to contribute an artist page and I was wondering where my contribution was or what the current status is, as I am not able to find it anywhere.... --Ferdinand Zandvoort (talk) 14:45, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

@Ferdinand Zandvoort: Welcome to Wikipedia! From your contributions to the English Wikipedia, I cannot see any artist page created/edited by you, only an edit to your user page. What were you trying to contribute? Are you looking for the user draft page you created on the Dutch Wikipedia, Gebruiker:Ferdinand Zandvoort/Kladblok? ObserveOwl (talk) 14:53, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

thank you so much, for welcoming me. Appreciated, I contributed in dutch about the artist Arash Fakhim, but can't seem to find it.... anymore. Ferdinand Zandvoort (talk) 14:57, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

@Ferdinand Zandvoort: Apologies, what exactly are you having issues finding? I linked to the Dutch user page. Are you trying to make the draft page a live article, so it appears on Google results? ObserveOwl (talk) 15:02, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

Yes exactly as I send it for review after creating it in sandbox and was wondering if I did anything wrong on my half. Since I can't seem to find it any where... Ferdinand Zandvoort (talk) 15:04, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

@Ferdinand Zandvoort: I am not sure the Dutch Wikipedia has a draft review sistem like the English Wikipedia has. However, you could ask for feedback on the draft at nl:Help:Feedback. There, you can also ask for the next steps to publish the page. The English and Dutch Wikipedias operate differently, so I cannot be sure of their policies and procedures. ObserveOwl (talk) 15:28, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much you were absolutely right everything was still in the dutch wikipedia version in my draft sketch, its awaiting its review now. Thanks @ObserveOwl. Last question on my end will it automatically appear in English as wel once peer reviewed and uploaded? All the best, Ferd Ferdinand Zandvoort (talk) 16:33, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

@Ferdinand Zandvoort: Glad to help! No, the article will not appear automatically on other Wikipedia language editions. It can only be translated manually (or alternatively written with different content). ObserveOwl (talk) 16:38, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

Merry!

Hello ObserveOwl: Enjoy the holiday season and winter solstice if it's occurring in your area of the world, and thanks for your work to maintain, improve and expand Wikipedia. Cheers, Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 12:46, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Spread the WikiLove; use {{subst:Season's Greetings}} to send this message

Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 12:46, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång: Thanks, happy holidays! ObserveOwl (talk) 15:56, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Invitation

You are invited to participate in WikiProject Podcasting, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Podcasts. Feel free to add your name to the list of WikiProject participants and use the WikiProject's userbox by placing {{User WP Podcasting}} on your userpage.

I saw you did some work on Pocket Casts and thought you might be interested. The other articles in Category:Podcasting software could use some attention. TipsyElephant (talk) 14:02, 29 December 2025 (UTC)

Question from Minecraft boy236 (14:30, 1 January 2026)

hi!! on my user wiki page, i wanna add one of those things that look like:

1.Main info 2.FAQ 3.Links or whatever, and it brings you to those parts in the wiki article, how do i add that? --Minecraft boy236 (talk) 14:30, 1 January 2026 (UTC)

@Minecraft boy236: Hello and welcome! To add a link to a Wikipedia article, you can select the word or phrase on the page, click on the small link icon and search for the article you intend to link to on the box that appears. ObserveOwl (talk) 14:42, 1 January 2026 (UTC)

thats not what i meant, it brings you to diffrent parts in that one page, so if you click on something in that thing, it would scroll you to that point Minecraft boy236 (talk) 06:08, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

@Minecraft boy236: After pressing on the link icon, search the article title on the small box, then type "#" followed by the section name, as in Earth#Natural history. ObserveOwl (talk) 06:12, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

If it's on the same page, just do something like User:Minecraft boy236#Account links:. ObserveOwl (talk) 06:14, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from BOBBYCHANHKDJFS (02:33, 9 January 2026)

Hello! Thanks so much! How can I add a link to another Wiki page? --BOBBYCHANHKDJFS (talk) 02:33, 9 January 2026 (UTC)

@BOBBYCHANHKDJFS: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia!

If you use the VisualEditor, you can select the text on the page you want to convert to a link, press the icon at the top bar and search for the page you want to link to.

If you are editing the source code, you can insert the link by placing the text inside double square brackets ([[Earth]] -> Earth) or "pipe" the link if the link text is different to the page name ([[Earth|This planet]] -> This planet). Hope this helps! ObserveOwl (talk) 09:34, 9 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (06:37, 17 January 2026)

Hey @ObserveOwl, what's an LLM? --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 06:37, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: LLMs are large language models that can process and generate text in natural language, like ChatGPT. ObserveOwl (talk) 06:53, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

Why are LLMs banned on Wikipedia, @ObserveOwl? Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 06:58, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: From what I know, there is no policy or guideline outright banning all LLM use. The closest we have is Wikipedia:Writing articles with large language models, which does not permit creating articles with raw LLM output. However, in practice, some experienced editors have been working to detect and clean up LLM use in articles because models can fabricate information ("hallucinate") and violate policies by maintaining a non-neutral tone or containing unverifiable original research. The essay Wikipedia:Large language models advises to thoroughly check LLM text against Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. ObserveOwl (talk) 07:32, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

OK @ObserveOwl, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for informing me! Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 08:47, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from Iprice2987 on Generative artificial intelligence (05:03, 25 January 2026)

Hello, how do I create a citation? --Iprice2987 (talk) 05:03, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

@Iprice2987: Hello and welcome!

If you are using the VisualEditor, click the button at the top of the edit window to add a citation. You can insert the URL of the citation on the "Automatic" tab or manually format the source on the "Manual" tab (to insert information like the source title, authors, etc.). Help:Introduction to referencing with VisualEditor/2 may help.

If you are editing the source code, click on  Cite at the top of the edit window, then on  Templates. Select the source type (webpage, book...) and fill in information about the source. Help:Referencing for beginners explains this better. ObserveOwl (talk) 05:14, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

Conflict of interest disclosure

Hi ObserveOwl, Hope you're well. I recently created a draft at Draft:Compare100.com (about my own site, https://compare100.com/, a UK price comparison website I've run independently since 2012). I disclosed my conflict of interest right away on the talk page using the standard COI template, and I prepared the draft in neutral, encyclopedic style with citations only to verifiable parts of my own site (homepage, sitemaps, category pages). Unfortunately, it was tagged G11 for unambiguous advertising at 23:26 on 22 Jan 2026 by ExcitedA, and deleted at 05:03 on 23 Jan 2026 by Rsjaffe. I understand G11 is strict for company articles with only primary/self sources, and the lack of independent reliable coverage was the main issue. I didn't contest the deletion because I could see the sourcing threshold wasn't met yet, but I'm disappointed it happened so quickly after creation. I'm keen to learn from this: What would have been the best way to handle or prevent the G11 tag in this case (beyond the COI disclosure)? Would it be worth recreating a much shorter/stubbier version later once I have 1–2 independent mentions (e.g. from business directories or a blog post)? Any specific guidance on WP:NCORP / WP:ORGCRIT that I might have missed? I'd really appreciate any pointers or next steps you recommend for someone in my position (COI owner trying to get a legitimate but low-profile business documented neutrally). Thanks so much for your time and mentorship – I value your perspective. Best regards, Afkllp (Owner of Compare100.com) Afkllp (talk) 08:45, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

@Afkllp: Hello and welcome!

As I am not an administrator, I cannot check what was promotional about the deleted draft. I advise asking the deleting administrator at User talk:Rsjaffe about the draft issues. G11 depends on the state of the page, particularly whether the promotional wording was so prominent that a complete rewrite would have been needed if it was not deleted.

However, even if a new draft recreation was not deleted under G11, it would not guarantee the notability of the topic. I would recommend reading the criteria for NCORP-good sources if you want to determine the website's notability (and therefore the likelihood of it being published as an article). Mere "mentions" in reliable sources would not be enough, they would have to be in-depth about the website.

I hope this helps. ObserveOwl (talk) 09:10, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

Yes , that helps . Thank You Afkllp (talk) 09:12, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from Tafridi islam nayem on Vivo (technology company) (23:43, 27 January 2026)

--Tafridi islam nayem (talk) 23:43, 27 January 2026 (UTC)

@Tafridi islam nayem: Welcome! Do you have any questions about Wikipedia? ObserveOwl (talk) 23:46, 27 January 2026 (UTC)

@ObserveOwl Tafridi islam nayem (talk) 20:12, 28 January 2026 (UTC)

@ObserveOwl@ Tafridi islam nayem (talk) 20:40, 28 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from Ngobeni26 on Wikipedia:Protection policy (18:37, 31 January 2026)

false --Ngobeni26 (talk) 18:37, 31 January 2026 (UTC)

Welcome @Ngobeni26! Do you have any questions about Wikipedia? ObserveOwl (talk) 18:40, 31 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from Ngobeni26 on User talk:ObserveOwl (18:41, 31 January 2026)

false --Ngobeni26 (talk) 18:41, 31 January 2026 (UTC)

Question from DonDon12345 (14:51, 3 February 2026)

How to change languages --DonDon12345 (talk) 14:51, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

@DonDon12345: Hello and welcome! In order to access another language edition of Wikipedia, visit the home page at wikipedia.org and select the language. ObserveOwl (talk) 14:53, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

about changing a book cover image

Hello, as a newcomer with English as my second, self-taught language, I would like to know if it would be appropriate to change a book cover image for the page Samuel Beckett's book's Turkish edition. Because, as you will see below, the image in the article is a representation of the original English edition. I think the Turkish image would be better here: https://w.wiki/Hmxg I am considering replacing it with the book cover image used on the Turkish publisher's website: https://www.selyayincilik.com/kapaklar/opt/SiradanKadinlar_KKK2.jpg Thank you in advance! Xcix0 (talk) 12:31, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

@Xcix0: Hello and welcome! Unfortunately, I cannot help you with that. Since that cover is most likely protected under copyright, it would have to be uploaded locally to the Turkish Wikipedia, which requires the user to be 'autoconfirmed' (to have performed 10 edits on the Turkish Wikipedia with an account created four or more days ago). If you ask at tr:Vikipedi:Danışma masası, editors there might help. ObserveOwl (talk) 12:49, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

Hello and thanks a lot for this quick reply. I appreciated.

Have a great week ahead! Xcix0 (talk) 16:09, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

Whether it is appropriate I am not sure. Probably the cover most used by reliable sources to depict the book (i.e. the most recognizable cover)? ObserveOwl (talk) 13:03, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from ShepardH (01:08, 14 February 2026)

Hi there, thanks for being willing to mentor me! -Shepard --ShepardH (talk) 01:08, 14 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (10:51, 18 February 2026)

Sorry to bother you @ObserveOwl, but are you allowed to make redirects from other Wikis? (e.g. [wiktionary.org|Wikitionary] and [simple.wikipedia.org|Simple English Wikipedia]) --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 10:51, 18 February 2026 (UTC)

Hello @Giorgio Bicchiere! You can create redirects between pages in the same wiki just like on the English Wikipedia. If you want to redirect a page from a wiki to another, an indirect "soft redirect" can be created; there are some specialized templates for it, such as {{Wiktionary redirect}}. ObserveOwl (talk) 12:45, 18 February 2026 (UTC)

Thanks @ObserveOwl! Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 21:19, 18 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from Lauriebird55 (21:23, 23 February 2026)

I've gotten alerts about a Sistermarysupercharger user, and I don't know what that is all about. Ive been hired to work for someone to document a wiki page and i may be making mistakes

I am Laurie Bird Lauriebird55 there should be nobody else with access to this . --Lauriebird55 (talk) 21:23, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

@Lauriebird55: Hello and welcome. Thank you for disclosing your conflict of interest on your userpage. You may benefit from reading Wikipedia's policies and guidelines, namely neutral point of view.

Do you have any connection to the user Sistermarysupercharger? Why did you think they were not a registered user? They have made edits before. ObserveOwl (talk) 21:55, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

the sistermarysupercharger username and password was saved in a device and it was from an assistant that was entering information that was not being passed through my approval

..basically a rouge assistant.

I secured the user name and password from the assistant and watched as they requested the account be cleared with no longer the ability to sign in. They have been released.

I am a.paid assistant to Jim Cara and I.may have overstated my qualification to create his documentation.

I thank you for mentoring me and for advising me that I had somehow been entering data blindly into an account that should have been blocked a while ago.

thank you.

I in no way want to break any rules.

Mr Cara is now the topic of a PBS documentary and a Biography on guitarist Ace Frehley and the special effects that changed the guitar world. , after being a ghost in the machine for many years

we are preparing for this Lauriebird55 (talk) 00:14, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

@Lauriebird55: Thank you for the information. You mentioned requesting "deactivation" of the account here, but how was that done? It is currently not possible to delete an account. Changing the password is usually sufficient to prevent another person to log in; the account can stay for edit copyright attribution purposes. ObserveOwl (talk) 01:02, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

I have emailed the stewards for help; maybe they can globally lock the account (to prevent log-ins), although I am not too familiar with their policies. ObserveOwl (talk) 01:12, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

I followed instructions on how to lock the account. thank you and I don't know how you find the time to answer everyone.

please advise the other monitor that we have found the problem Lauriebird55 (talk) 01:51, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from Shebi awan (06:43, 25 February 2026)

What is difference between scientific and islamic point of start of life --Shebi awan (talk) 06:43, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from Natasia Brown (18:43, 26 February 2026)

Hello, I am trying to cite https://www.justice.gov/archives/olp/file/861931/dl. I know that it is a pdf, but it is straight from the Department of Justice website, and I cannot find something that is not a pdf to cite this source. Can you help me cite this source, please? --Natasia Brown (talk) 18:43, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

@Natasia Brown: Hello! You can cite the PDF using the {{cite report}} template. Here is how it could be done in wikicode; feel free to copy and paste it:

<ref>{{Cite report |title=Supporting Documentation for Department of Justice Proposed Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports for the Forensic Footwear and Tire Impression Discipline |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/olp/file/861931/dl |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |access-date=February 26, 2026 |department=Office of Legal Policy}}</ref>

If you want to cite a specific page or page range, press on the reference, then "Edit", then the full citation text inside, "Edit", and search for the field "Page" or "Pages" on the left. Other fields can also be added, such as "Source date" (which I could not retrieve). ObserveOwl (talk) 23:06, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

NARAYANA ENGINEERING COLLEGE NELLORE

i want to publish an article about an engineering college, but it is being removed after 1 day. kindly help me with the solution to publish. Hemuspikes (talk) 04:48, 27 February 2026 (UTC)

@Hemuspikes: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! It seems that you attempted to create a draft on your userpage before it was deleted. I don't know its contents, but it was deleted for containing promotional material as well as copyrighted text from the official website. In general, please do not copy material from other websites, as most of it is protected by copyright. As for the promotional material, avoid using terms listed at Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Words to watch and cite sources, like books and newspapers, that are independent of the college (that is, avoid relying exclusively on the official college website).

Feel free to expand your draft at User:Hemuspikes/sandbox and submit it when you are finished. ObserveOwl (talk) 09:28, 27 February 2026 (UTC)

could you please explain step by step process to create an article as well as to publish it. explain me briefly please. ~2026-13014-29 (talk) 11:41, 27 February 2026 (UTC)

@~2026-13014-29: The process for writing an article may vary between editors, but generally you should begin by searching for reliable sources that establish notability of the topic - books, newspapers, magazines, etc. They should describe the college in detail. If you cannot find them, the college may not be notable for English Wikipedia standards.

After that, as you read through the sources, write the facts that you can extract from them and provide inline citations. You can organize your article in multiple sections, such as "History", "Campus", "Organization", "Student life" or "Notable alumni". The starting paragraphs should summarize the rest of the article. You can take other similar articles as examples. You can also add an infobox and categories. When you are finished, press the "Resubmit" button on your sandbox and a volunteer editor will review it.

There is more advice at Help:Your first article. I should inform that creating an article is not an easy task on Wikipedia; you may benefit from adding more content on extant pages first to get some experience.​ ObserveOwl (talk) 00:26, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

NARAYANA ENGINEERING COLLEGE NELLORE

This is my college Hemuspikes (talk) 06:16, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (11:00, 28 February 2026)

Hey ObserveOwl, sorry to bother you, but I am having trouble making footnotes with the "Efn" template. I tried to generate a footnote, but for some reason this error came up

"Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a

template or

template (see the help page)"

What does it mean? And how can I circumvent it? --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 11:00, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Hi! You should add a "Notes" section before the "References" section and place the {{notelist}} template inside it. ObserveOwl (talk) 12:09, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

How do I add a notes section? Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 22:22, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: On the visual editor, insert the text "Notes", select it, and, on the "Paragraph" pull-down menu at the top, change the text type to "Heading". Under "Notes", insert the template. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:26, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

OK! Thank you @ObserveOwl Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 00:28, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (07:05, 1 March 2026)

Hey, sorry to bother you, but how do I add an annotation to my article (not exactly what it is called). --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 07:05, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Do you mean an annotation like this, or image captions/text over images? ObserveOwl (talk) 12:12, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

The little sentence that pops up when you look up an article

For example, if type up the word "Diplo" in the search bar, you get the article on the musicla artist Diplo, and underneath the article name it says "American DJ and music producer (born 1978)". Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 22:02, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Ah, those are short descriptions. There are some rules on how to write them, and some articles with a descriptive title do not need short descriptions (e.g. List of presidents of the United States). An easy way to add or edit a short description is by turning on the "Shortdesc helper" tool on your preferences and pressing on the "(Add)" or "(Edit)" link below the article title. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:14, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

Thanks @ObserveOwl Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 23:35, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from OzzySungurlu (06:20, 2 March 2026)

Hi there , My first draft of a created article was rejected and I spent time to amend and resubmit ; it was on 7th of February . I havent heard anything back since , and wondering if this is normal or whether I've done another mistake when uploading the amended draft ; coyld you be a help on having a second look and give me any tips please? All the best , Ozzy --OzzySungurlu (talk) 06:20, 2 March 2026 (UTC)

@OzzySungurlu: Hello. Usually, the Articles for Creation backlog is large - there are 2747 drafts pending a review as of writing this. This means that it can take a while for your draft to be reviewed. The template at the top of your draft estimates it "may take 7 weeks or more". I assure it is normal and recommend just being patient. ObserveOwl (talk) 07:16, 2 March 2026 (UTC)

Thank you , fingers x . OzzySungurlu (talk) 18:03, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Thurstonmedia (18:13, 4 March 2026)

I made an edit and then created an account. How do I get the edit made with the temporary account to show as an edit for my account in order to receive updates about it? --Thurstonmedia (talk) 18:13, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

@Thurstonmedia: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! Right now, I do not think it is possible to change the username assigned to an edit, but if you want to monitor other changes to the article, you can watchlist it. Press the star icon at the top right of the page and go to Special:Watchlist to see the edits to the articles you have starred. ObserveOwl (talk) 18:24, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from GotMilkNoCookie (22:19, 4 March 2026)

Hi. I was reading about Charles J. Guiteau. It said 55 lives and not 55 souls on board. On planes and boats bodies are counted as souls and not lives or people. Would I need to link an explanation to souls on board or can I just directly make the correction? --GotMilkNoCookie (talk) 22:19, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

@GotMilkNoCookie: Hello and welcome! I feel like "lives" is less of an euphemistic term than "souls", which Wikipedia tends to avoid using in its own words. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:50, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Hemuspikes (04:47, 5 March 2026)

i want to publish a page about an ENGINEERING COLLEGE. now guide me how to publish it. --Hemuspikes (talk) 04:47, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

@Hemuspikes: I had already provided you some guidance above. ObserveOwl (talk) 08:20, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from MariaJansen42 (21:50, 5 March 2026)

Hey :) are you a real person or not? just wondering and curious --MariaJansen42 (talk) 21:50, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

@MariaJansen42: Hi! Yes, I am! Here are my Wikipedia edits. ObserveOwl (talk) 21:52, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

Question

Hi Mentor, I am looking to add to a fairly small article. Many of the additions that I am wanting to make are the additions of images to accompany things mentioned in the article. However, I felt that given the size of the article and the number of images that I am looking to add, it might appear somewhat excessive. I'd appreciate your feedback on how to proceed. GRBGY (talk) 19:47, 10 March 2026 (UTC)

@GRBGY: Hello and welcome! The decision to include images is mostly based on editor discretion. Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images lists some of the usual standards, such as pertinence and quality. You can replace an image if you find another one more appropriate. Note that Wikipedia is not an image repostory; it should use images that supplement the text. ObserveOwl (talk) 09:29, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

thank you very much for your advice GRBGY (talk) 10:07, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

@GRBGY: Hovever, you can insert a "Gallery" section if you find more images that could help the reader. ObserveOwl (talk) 09:32, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (10:42, 11 March 2026)

Since you are my mentor, am I allowed to show you articles I have made? --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 10:42, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Feel free to. Do you want feedback on them? ObserveOwl (talk) 11:03, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Sure, that would be helpful @ObserveOwl. Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 11:04, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Here are the articles @ObserveOwl:

• Restricted (DJ) - Article type: Musical artist
• Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu - Article type: Cryptid
• DJ Mad Dog - Article type: Musical artist

Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 11:07, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Sorry for the lack of reply, I have been feeling unwell recently. The articles don't have any major issues at first glance, but I will be more detailed when I can. ObserveOwl (talk) 16:17, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

OK, thank you! Hope you feel better soon @ObserveOwl Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 21:09, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from JohnCHFD (16:08, 11 March 2026)

Hello, I think I am doing very well making my first wikipedia page. Do I have to complete a certain number of approved edits before I can submit my page for official publication? --JohnCHFD (talk) 16:08, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

@JohnCHFD: Hello and welcome! You can submit your draft for an experienced editor to review by pressing the blue "Submit the draft for review!" button on the draft page. ObserveOwl (talk) 16:20, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Isaiasmarin (22:29, 15 March 2026)

Hi! How can I start an article? I want to create a page for my band The Arkangels who performed at UCSD’s Sun God Festival in 2025. We are mentioned in the Sun God Festival Wiki page. --Isaiasmarin (talk) 22:29, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

@Isaiasmarin: Hello and welcome! There is some guidance at Help:Your first article. Search for reliable sources that confer notability for your band first, such as newspapers and books. Be mindful of Wikipedia:Conflict of interest - make sure you disclose your affiliation to the band on your draft. ObserveOwl (talk) 23:02, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from SloppyPasta7 (02:03, 18 March 2026)

Yo, are you a real person? Just curios. --SloppyPasta7 (talk) 02:03, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

No, I'm actually a white cockatoo :p ObserveOwl (talk) 03:00, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

Hello new mentor, and a question

Good morning! I'm wondering whatever happened to the Wikipedia page for Leon Feingold and his non-profit House of Good Deeds. ~2026-17655-83 (talk) 13:24, 21 March 2026 (UTC)

@~2026-17655-83: Hello and welcome! According to the logs, the page was proposed for deletion in 2022 for not including sources that could help it pass article inclusion standards and alleged conflict of interest editing by the page subject. No one opposed the proposal, so it was deleted after 7 days. In 2024, after an user requested undeletion for the page, it was restored as a draft at Draft:Leon Feingold to provide space for further improvements. The draft was eventually left unedited for six months (between August 2025 and February 2026), so it was deleted as abandoned. You can request restoration of the draft at Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion/Abandoned pages. I could not find any public logs surrounding any page titled "House of Good Deeds". ObserveOwl (talk) 13:48, 21 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from Happy tong on Missouri Constitutional Convention of 1861–1863 (21:56, 23 March 2026)

hello how do u save ur edit --Happy tong (talk) 21:56, 23 March 2026 (UTC)

@Happy tong: Hello and welcome! In the editing interface, there should be a blue "Publish changes" button at the top right (or bottom left). ObserveOwl (talk) 22:15, 23 March 2026 (UTC)

Question from 죄송합니다팔 (16:34, 6 April 2026)

Hello, what is considered public domain? I read on Wikipedia's licensing policy for uploading to Wikimedia, and I understand what it says. I uploaded photos from a government website, that the government posted publicly as public domain and an administrator says they're copyright, and now I am confused as to what constitutes public domain. --죄송합니다팔 (talk) 16:34, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

@죄송합니다팔: Hello and welcome! It seems that your uploaded files originate from Georgia, but the Wikipedia article on the copyright status of works by subnational governments of the United States doesn't mention Georgia, so I cannot know for sure. You may contact the person who nominated those files for deletion at c:User talk:Ser! on Wikimedia Commons. ObserveOwl (talk) 17:17, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

Ok, thank you so much. 죄송합니다팔 (talk) 14:04, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Mat-17-17 wiki acc (21:58, 6 April 2026)

hi --Mat-17-17 wiki acc (talk) 21:58, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

@Mat-17-17 wiki acc: Welcome, do you have any questions about Wikipedia? ObserveOwl (talk) 22:27, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from MD SUMON SHEIKH on (17:50, 8 April 2026)

Please return this ID. I have tried many ways but I am not able to do it. Please tell me the easy way to submit. I am working on it. My account is very important. --MD SUMON SHEIKH (talk) 17:50, 8 April 2026 (UTC)

@MD SUMON SHEIKH: Welcome! Sorry, I do not understand what you are trying to ask. What does "return this ID" mean? Are you having any issues with your Wikipedia account? ObserveOwl (talk) 21:25, 8 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from NotYourAvgWhiteSucker (20:19, 13 April 2026)

How do I create a taxonomy box for my page? --NotYourAvgWhiteSucker (talk) 20:19, 13 April 2026 (UTC)

@NotYourAvgWhiteSucker: Hello! Wikipedia templates like "Speciesbox" require parameters; in the case of your draft, a simple taxonomy box can be formatted the following way:

{{Speciesbox
| authority = 
| genus = Etheostoma
| species = cyanoprosopum
}}

This code automatically retrieves the complete hierarchy up to the kingdom via an automated taxobox system. You can include more parameters like | image = and | status = as exemplified here. I hope this helps! ObserveOwl (talk) 20:51, 13 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Francissabal on User:Francissabal (04:09, 15 April 2026)

[1 --Francissabal (talk) 04:09, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Francissabal on User:Francissabal (04:10, 15 April 2026)

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?redlink=1&title=User%3AFrancissabal&mfnoscript=1#/editor/all --Francissabal (talk) 04:10, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

@Francissabal: Hello and welcome! Do you have any questions about editing Wikipedia? ObserveOwl (talk) 09:32, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from MikeyWipes (04:34, 15 April 2026)

Hello I am MikeyWipes I am wonder how do I add links and photos to an article? I justed joined and I don’t know how to. --MikeyWipes (talk) 04:34, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

@MikeyWipes: Hello and welcome!

It seems you use the visual editor. In order to add a link, select the text you want to turn to a link, then press the link icon on the top bar. There, search for the Wikipedia article you want to link to. In order to add a new image, press on "Insert" on the top bar and then "Images and media". The page Help:VisualEditor can guide you through the other visual editor features.

As an aside, I noticed on your userpage that you are a bit reluctant to edit. On this website, we have the principle to be bold in editing articles - don't be afraid to correct or add anything you find suitable! In general, you don't need authorization to edit pages. Of course, there are policies and guidelines that editors should generally follow, but new editors are not expected to read all of them. If you make a mistake, no one will dislike you; the worst that can happen is you getting reverted and receiving a notification explaining the guideline you may have violated. You can discuss further with that editor about what was wrong with the edit, if that happens. There is a simplified ruleset page if you want to get a general idea of Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If you get lost, you can always ask me or leave a question at Wikipedia:Teahouse. Happy editing! ObserveOwl (talk) 09:56, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (00:21, 18 April 2026)

Hey ObserveOwl, Is it possible to change the title of a Wikipedia article? --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 00:21, 18 April 2026 (UTC)

Hi @Giorgio Bicchiere: you can change the title by clicking on "Tools" at the top left of the article and selecting the "Move" option. Enter the new name of the page in the first text box, then add a reason for the move and press on the "Move page" button. The article titles policy generally requires titles to be recognizable, concise, natural, precise and consistent, which is usually the most commonly used name in reliable sources. ObserveOwl (talk) 01:06, 18 April 2026 (UTC)

OK! Thank you @ObserveOwl! Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 03:14, 18 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Yep you're right (19:56, 19 April 2026)

Hello, I'm a new contributor, and got matched with you as a mentor. I'll be grateful for your guidance. In advance, thank you for your support! I will be in interested in working on articles related to AI and Machine Learning. I made my first post, and took care to state only facts in a neutral manner, but it was taken down by user CountryANDWestern. I had read the guidelines before posting, and I believed that my description of "Watson Sage" was completely in-line with any other article describing a company. Could you please help. Unfortunately, I don't have the article text to refer to. As, I expected that the copy posted to Wikipedia would persist. It's not a long article. Only a few paragraph's of facts. Are you be able to access the flagged post? If so, I'd be grateful if you'd help me revise it, so it's an example of a compliance with Wikipedia's guidelines and quality standards. I'm happy to help work-on other company pages, for businesses in the Technology, AI, or Machine-Learning markets. But not until I know that my efforts wont get nuked arbitrarily. Please advise. And, please help me post a proper description of a real company. Thank you! --Yep you're right (talk) 19:56, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

@Yep you're right: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! I am sorry, but I am not sure what first post you are referring to, since the only edit performed by your account as of now is your question to me. I am not sure what "Watson Sage" is referring to; the article on Sage Watson appears to be unrelated to your description. Did you create a draft or edit an existing article under an unregistered or another registered account? ObserveOwl (talk) 20:10, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

Hello Observe Owl! Thank you for the reply. You are correct, Sage Watson comes-up on Google when you search for "Watson Sage". The keywords must be transposed if that can be clarified here to help Google straighten that out that would be the right thing to do. Either-way, I spent time creating a page for "Watson Sage" yesterday, and then published it, and verified it was up using Google Chrome. But, this morning I received a message from user CountryANDWestern, saying "Please do not add promotional material to articles or the other pages..." And now when I follow the link that comes up on Google, there is no page there. So it's clear that CAW blocked the page. I hope there is some sort of way to retrieve a post that has been pulled, so we can discuss it an edit as I requested. It was created and published, for sure. As I said it comes up in Google if you use "watsonsage" as the keyword. I hope you can find it. I believe it was totally compliant with the policy and spirit of Wikipedia. Please help! Thank you!! Yep you're right (talk) 20:37, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

@Yep you're right: Ah, the article you posted was on the Simple English Wikipedia (simple.wikipedia.org), not the usual English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org). I was searching on the wrong place. The quick deletion criteria CountryANDWestern cited was G11 ("Pages that were created only to say good things about a person, company, item, group or service and which would need to be written again so that they can be encyclopedic").

I am not a Simple English Wikipedia administrator, so I cannot access it. However - this is me speculating -, one main reason the article seemed promotional might have been that it did not cite enough reliable third-party sources describing the company in detail, such as books and analytical news sources, which would have confered notability for the company. The official website, press releases and other non-independent sources do not count for notability. From a Google search, I couldn't find any potential sources for the article other than the official website and company database listings, so the company might not pass notability standards for now. ObserveOwl (talk) 21:52, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

Okay thanks so much for your time on this!! Two things: I want to create articles for the normal EN Wikipedia, not the Simple English version. I would appreciate guidance on that so i don't make the same mistake again... Also, can I retrieve the text from my posting so you can review that? And so I can reuse it else-where if it's rejected here? It did take some effort to write, so would be great to at least retrieve the info. Finally, you are correct, didn't cite any sources, because there is a notification that comes up where an author can check no to citing, indicating that it's legitimately public knowledge (I guess I wrongfully assumed that: information found on the internet, plus business listings on LinkedIn, GitHub, Clutch provided a reasonable source of truth). I think I only cited the company url. That's why I hoped you could pull it up and help me ensure that it's a proper addition to the Wikipedia corpus. In advnace, thank you for your valuable help with this! Yep you're right (talk) 22:24, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

@Yep you're right: If you need a copy of the deleted article sent to you, you can ask at simple:User talk:CountryANDWestern. There is some advice at Help:Your first article if you want to create an article on the English Wikipedia. But again, I don't think it should be published unless you can show it passes notability standards (Wikipedia:Notability (organizations and companies)). LinkedIn and GitHub are usually either unreliable user-generated sources or not third-party. Clutch doesn't provide enough detailed significant coverage about the company. Are there reliable third-party sources describing Watson Sage in detail? ObserveOwl (talk) 07:40, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for your guidance. I have yet to hear from CountryANDWestern, so I sent a final message to them asking for a professional courtesy: Hello CountryANDWestern,

I've made repeated attempts to contact you on your Talk Page. Hopefully email is a more effective channel to actually get your attention.

I would appreciate it if you would provide me with the full text of my article about ** Watson Sage **

I'm not going to dispute your decision to pull it. But, it took time to write, and it's valuable to me.

It took one second for you to delete it, now I hope you will take another second to return my work. My mentor indicated that you could do that.

There's a reasonable level of professional courtesy that should go hand-in-hand with the power to pass judgement. Kindly, email the article to me and let's close this out properly. Thank you!

--

This email was sent by Yep you're right to CountryANDWestern by the "Email this user" function at Wikipedia. If you reply to this email, your email will be sent directly to the original sender, revealing your email address to them. Yep you're right (talk) 21:51, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

You've got mail!

Hello. Please check your email; you've got mail! Thanks for your attention! Yep you're right (talk) 21:58, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (00:18, 27 April 2026)

Hey ObserveOwl, I know this sounds like an oddly specific question, but is there a way to ask someone why they undid an edit without causing an argument? --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 00:18, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Hey! You can go to the article's talk page and add a topic, {{ping}}ing the other editor to ask for the reason for the revert. You can go to their user talk page too, but article talk pages are preferred if you'd like a third opinion or form consensus. Usually, experienced editors will explain their revert in a civil manner, but in the odd case they make personal attacks after you repeatedly tell them not to do it, you can file an WP:ANI report. ObserveOwl (talk) 08:20, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

OK! Thanks @ObserveOwl! Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 08:44, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Vincentvarc (19:43, 28 April 2026)

How do you handle multiple reliable sources supporting the same point without cluttering the article? Thank you for your time! --Vincentvarc (talk) 19:43, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

@Vincentvarc: Hello! Usually you don't need to use much more than three citations for a single fact. If you feel that the claim on the article is particularly exceptional, however, you can insert those references inside a footnote ({{refn|Attributed to multiple sources: <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />...}}). ObserveOwl (talk) 21:09, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your input. May I show you an article I am working on, that I have been told the sources come across as “citebombing”? Vincentvarc (talk) 10:00, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Sure, but I will personally not get myself involved in disputes. ObserveOwl (talk) 13:05, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Understood, I respect that. Here is the article I am working on. Vincentvarc (talk) 15:57, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Yes, it sufferes a bit from citation bombing. The fact that one of his concerts occured "on 19 and 26 October 2018 and on 7 and 8 January 2019" is already supported by citation 12, it doesn't need more citations. Likewise, some listings on "Music/sound design" have 2 to 4 citations when a reliable one is sufficient to verify. The prose also includes some external links in the prose ("His solo concert Live Ambient"/"Ippokratous") which should be removed.

Excessive citations make it hard to see which sources are of sufficient quality for the article subject to pass notability standards. I would say that you should focus on selecting which sources on the article are 1) reliable with a reputation for fact-checking like non-self-published books and trusted newspapers (examples include those at WP:RSP); 2) third-party (not affiliated with the article subject); and 3) in-depth about Andreou's life, career and/or style (beyond coverage of a single concert). Show the tree sources that best fit these criteria and present them on the deletion discussion. ObserveOwl (talk) 17:30, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful. I really appreciate your guidance. As someone with your editorial experience, how do you typically decide which articles or sources are worth keeping? Do you search to see which media is more well-known? As a music listener, I’m not always sure how to make that distinction. Not a lot of music media left in 2026, because of social media and all that... Vincentvarc (talk) 22:01, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

I would keep the source which has the best likelihood of being reliable (after checking the website's editorial policies, whether other reliable sources cite it, etc.) and, if possible, independent of the artist. The article text should usually rely mostly on independent reliable sources, but media lists like discographies can usually cite the official website or Apple Music listings, for example. I don't think there is a need to select which media is more important, but the article prose (outside the lists) should give some emphasis on particular works if they have more coverage in independent sources. ObserveOwl (talk) 23:09, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Taiye (16:27, 30 April 2026)

Hi sir Good evening sir Please what is the essence of this site? --Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Taiye (talk) 16:27, 30 April 2026 (UTC)

@Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Taiye: Hello and welcome! Wikipedia is a general-purpose encyclopedia in which the public can freely edit its pages. Wikipedia:About has a general description of the site, and Help:Introduction can guide you on the editing process. ObserveOwl (talk) 17:16, 30 April 2026 (UTC)

Question from GrayCartoonSlime (18:18, 2 May 2026)

I know it's off-topic, but now do I change/edit my username? --GrayCartoonSlime (talk) 18:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

@GrayCartoonSlime: Hello and welcome! Visit Wikipedia:Changing username/Simple for instructions on how to request a rename. ObserveOwl (talk) 18:23, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from Ian Conger (03:09, 3 May 2026)

Hi, are you real? Or is this AI? --Ian Conger (talk) 03:09, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

@Ian Conger: Hi! Yes, I am real, I have done some Wikipedia contributions. ObserveOwl (talk) 09:05, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

Ok, nice. Thanx for your reply. I made a post regarding the largest volcanic eruptions in history, as I'd found a Caldera on Google Maps in Southern Oregon that the USGS isn't even aware of! When I found it, I called them, as there is no name associated with it, and when I asked them about the Caldera 20 miles NorthEast of Crater Lake, they said, "What Caldera?". So I guided them to it on Google Maps over the phone and although they guy I spoke with was... aghast, as far as I know, it still has no name nor any study of it's Eruptions.

You see, I drove out there and looked at the area in 2016, and stopped near it along the highway and took a picture of a "roadcut" that exposed an ash layer that is atleast 100 ft thick! I still have it if you'd like to see it. My point is, I'm wondering if that Eruption was bigger than the Toba Event, which is currently listed as the Largest Eruption in World History. Please let me know... Oh... ahd also look at that Caldera in Oregon.... But it's quite Large, it makes Crater Lake look like a Zit on the map, as it is 24 miles across, so zoom out to see it. :^)

Ian Ian Conger (talk) 20:04, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

@Ian Conger: Sorry, the mentorship program is mostly intended for help about editing Wikipedia. I am not familiar with that topic. However, you can post a question at Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science. ObserveOwl (talk) 20:18, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

Will do. Thanx. By the way, I'm trying to use 3 pictures, all of which I took, (none of people), just landscapes, but it said I din't have permission to do that yet. How can I get it? Ian Conger (talk) 22:00, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

Ok, so I uploaded the 3 pictures that I took and gave them very unique names, and it said they are BLACKLISTED! Can you take a look at them and let me know what is wrong with those names please? Ian Conger (talk) 23:18, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

@Ian Conger: It seems that your files are already uploaded (1 2 3). Maybe the problem might be an edit to a page you are trying to perform. What does the blacklist warning say, exactly? It could be an issue with an external link you are adding.

Also, is File:Southern Oregon un-named Caldera.jpg a Google Maps screenshot? Those are most likely copyrighted, a replacement OpenStreetMap screenshot would be acceptable for the licensing requirements Wikimedia Commons has. ObserveOwl (talk) 23:41, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from Hashirff7860 on User:~2026-28705-94 (14:21, 12 May 2026)

Hello --Hashirff7860 (talk) 14:21, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

@Hashirff7860: Welcome! Do you have any questions about Wikipedia? ObserveOwl (talk) 14:24, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

How to Add Citation if source no longer exists

Citation is from an Instagram Story WriterFromTheBay (talk) 17:36, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

@WriterFromTheBay: Hello and welcome! You can check whether the Instagram story was archived somewhere, like on the Wayback Machine, and cite it. If the source cannot be accessed in any way, it cannot be cited. ObserveOwl (talk) 17:41, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

Got it. Thank you! WriterFromTheBay (talk) 18:23, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from Shivam kr singh 1 (01:30, 14 May 2026)

Hello ObserveOwl, I am trying to update the Vijay Kumar Sinha article. My previous edit was removed for neutrality concerns. I have now revised the draft to remove promotional wording and keep only factual information with reliable sources. Could you please review whether it is suitable to add through the article talk page or as a small direct edit? --Shivam kr singh 1 (talk) 01:30, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

@Shivam kr singh 1: Hello and welcome! As long as you cite the sources and keep a neutral tone, you can add the content to the article directly. Also, please do not use LLMs such as ChatGPT or Gemini to write content. ObserveOwl (talk) 08:32, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from MusicMedia2020s (19:35, 16 May 2026)

Hello! I want to create an article about a particular interesting female artist that is up on the rise and doesn’t have one out yet. I have done alot of research to make sure my facts check out. How do I begin? --MusicMedia2020s (talk) 19:35, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

@MusicMedia2020s: Hello and welcome! There is some guidance at Help:Your first article. Make sure there are enough detailed third-party reliable sources to confer notability for the artist first, such as publications listed in WP:A/S. ObserveOwl (talk) 20:03, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from OurSinOfficial on User:OurSinOfficial (06:25, 18 May 2026)

Hello, how do I create my own Wikipedia page for my band --OurSinOfficial (talk) 06:25, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

@OurSinOfficial: Hello and welcome! There is some guidance at Help:Your first article. Search for reliable sources that confer notability for your band first, such as newspapers and books. Be mindful of Wikipedia:Conflict of interest - make sure you disclose your affiliation to the band on your draft. If your band name is in your username ("Our Sin"), I would suggest changing your username so as not to imply that this is a shared account. ObserveOwl (talk) 06:37, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

"Freakbob" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Freakbob has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Anyone, including you, is welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2026 May 20 § Freakbob until a consensus is reached. 8BitBros (talk • edits) 22:48, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from RobertJFleisher on Robert Fleisher (16:09, 21 May 2026)

Hello ObserveOwl: A recent Fanfare review of Max Lifchitz's 2025 CD, Piano Crosscurrents (already listed under Discography) devotes a full paragraph to my Minims for Max, which seems fitting to cite under References. It's been a while, however, since I made such updates and I'm not too clear about where and how to add this info. Your assistance would be most appreciated. Thanks, RF --RobertJFleisher (talk) 16:09, 21 May 2026 (UTC)

@RobertJFleisher: Hello and welcome! Where to place information is up to editor discretion. For musical artists, third-party descriptions of the person's style in their works are usually in an "Artistry" section, but it seems to be OK to place it on the "Reception" section. ObserveOwl (talk) 19:24, 21 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 on Help:List of tutorials and introductions (11:23, 24 May 2026)

Asking about the documentary on my dad Leutenent Verle Lee Hartley; whom served in Navy. --STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 (talk) 11:23, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 (11:27, 24 May 2026)

I do not want a mentor. --STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 (talk) 11:27, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 (11:28, 24 May 2026)

Do not take it upon yourself or yourselves to publish anything sbout my dad. --STEPHANIEBELLEISLE445 (talk) 11:28, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from Takulla on User:Takulla (06:28, 31 May 2026)

How to use Wikipedia and get my biography uploaded on it --Takulla (talk) 06:28, 31 May 2026 (UTC)

@Takulla: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! There is guidance for publishing an article at Help:Your first article. You should check whether the person has received enough coverage to pass notability standards. If the biography is about yourself, be mindful of your conflict of interest. ObserveOwl (talk) 12:40, 31 May 2026 (UTC)

Question from Shedrack shedof (17:39, 1 June 2026)

Hello, how can i start editing --Shedrack shedof (talk) 17:39, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

Hello! I will leave a welcome message on your talk page with introductory links. ObserveOwl (talk) 17:55, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from SootBlues37 (20:06, 2 June 2026)

Hi, I might need assistance in future with putting references in with links etc in the right place.

On another matter, many months ago I tried to start a Wikipedia page on the Carey-Bunton Medal but I don't see anything up on Wiki yet.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1786699/heeney-leads-carey-bunton-medal --SootBlues37 (talk) 20:06, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

@SootBlues37: Hello! Your article draft is at Draft:Carey-Bunton Medal and it is awaiting editor review. It may take up to ~3 months. What help do you need for the references? ObserveOwl (talk) 21:30, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Thisisvincent (07:50, 7 June 2026)

Can I create my own wiki for public? --Thisisvincent (talk) 07:50, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

@Thisisvincent: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! WikiHow has steps on how to create a wiki. ObserveOwl (talk) 10:13, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Godmighty ezehjusticeamaechiezeh on User talk:Godmighty ezehjusticeamaechiezeh (15:59, 13 June 2026)

Yes and approved --Godmighty ezehjusticeamaechiezeh (talk) 15:59, 13 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Logancheetah (01:24, 16 June 2026)

Hello. How can I add sources on mobile? Also, how are you? --Logancheetah (talk) 01:24, 16 June 2026 (UTC)

@Logancheetah: Hello! I'm doing great, thank you! On the mobile visual editor, press on the double quotation mark symbol at the top to create an inline citation. You can select between three tabs at the top: in "Automatic", paste the source URL, ISBN or DOI code to form a citation automatically (prone to errors); in "Manual", insert information about the source (title, URL, author, etc.); in "Re-use", select a source already elsewhere in the article. ObserveOwl (talk) 03:19, 16 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Giorgio Bicchiere (08:31, 17 June 2026)

Hey, I have a question about a category that I made that got removed. --Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 08:31, 17 June 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: Hi! Feel free to ask. ObserveOwl (talk) 21:24, 17 June 2026 (UTC)

I made a category called "Category:Swedish musicians of Greek descent" as a subcategory for "Category:Swedish people of Greek descent", and for some reason it got merged back with "Category:Swedish people of Greek descent". I tried making it again but then it got deleted.

I tried telling people that I shouldn't have been deleted since there are categories like Category:American musicians of Korean descent and Category:Canadian musicians of Filipino descent, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears... Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 22:43, 17 June 2026 (UTC)

@Giorgio Bicchiere: The guideline mentioned on the merger discussion is Wikipedia:Categorizing articles about people#Specific intersections, which indicates that categories should not intersect certain aspects - like between occupation and ethnicity - unless the ethnicity "has significant bearing on their career". "Category:American musicians of Korean descent" was nominated three times in CfD; the last discussion was closed as "no consensus" because editors did not agree whether the intersection between sub-groups of Asian Americans and certain occupations was defining enough, especially given Wikipedia's extensive coverage of Asian Americans in arts and entertainment. In contrast, the articles on the category "Category:Swedish musicians of Greek descent" didn't indicate how their Greek descent affected their music career (according to the nominator). This is to say, since the article Asian Americans in music exists with several notability-establishing sources but not Swedish Greeks in music, it can be argued that the first category has more merit than the second.

The category for Canadian musicians of Filipino descent wasn't nominated, so you could nominate it for merging. Note that the related category for sportspeople was nominated once, but also didn't achieve consensus because some coverage on the role of Canada's ethnic groups in sports was found. ObserveOwl (talk) 01:18, 18 June 2026 (UTC)

Oh, OK, I sort of understand!

Thanks for the explanation, @ObserveOwl! Giorgio Bicchiere (talk) 03:13, 18 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Lopeared (02:44, 21 June 2026)

Note: Lopeared's mentor Cyberdog958 is away.

Hello ObserveOwl, I noticed that some citations on the Henri La Fontaine page were NYT articles that did not have a link attached to them, specifically citation number 2-4. I wanted to embed the web version of these articles (provided by the NYT) to the aforementioned citations, however they are locked behind a paywall as most NYT published works are. Would it be ok to attach them, even if they are not entirely accessible to the reader? Thank you. --Lopeared (talk) 02:44, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

@Lopeared: Hello and welcome! Yes, you can insert the link. Verifiable sources are allowed to have cost restrictions. ObserveOwl (talk) 02:58, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Ryansprojectfun (21:41, 21 June 2026)

Hello other person, is there a way for me to make a custom wiki page on here? --Ryansprojectfun (talk) 21:41, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

@Ryansprojectfun: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! You can create a draft by following Help:Your First article. I would recommend improving existent pages first to get more experience with article writing, however. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:06, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Alright, got it. Thank you, ObserveOwl! Ryansprojectfun (talk) 22:09, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from دهانات وديكورات وترميم مباني (12:08, 30 June 2026)

هل هاذا موقع للعمل الوماقع الأعمال في قوقل --دهانات وديكورات وترميم مباني (talk) 12:08, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

@دهانات وديكورات وترميم مباني: Hello! Sorry, I cannot answer your question since we are on the English-language Wikipedia edition. The page at ar:ويكيبيديا:بوابة المشاركة may be of help. ObserveOwl (talk) 13:30, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

Question from Logancheetah (04:21, 1 July 2026)

If someone thanks you using the thanks feature does it tell them who sent it or is it anonymous? --Logancheetah (talk) 04:21, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

@Logancheetah: Hi! When an editor thanks someone for an edit, the user name of the person thanking is shown on their notifications, and both the user thanking and the user making the edit are publicly logged on Special:Log/thanks. Only the recipient sees which edit you thanked for, however. ObserveOwl (talk) 04:38, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

Just tested the feature on your edit on this page; you should see the notification with my username. ObserveOwl (talk) 04:41, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Jam sufyan (10:16, 3 July 2026)

My life style 😎 ✨ --Jam sufyan (talk) 10:16, 3 July 2026 (UTC)

Feedback request on a draft (disclosed paid editor)

Hi ObserveOwl, thanks for being my mentor.

I want to be upfront: I'm a disclosed paid editor (disclosure on my user page), and I've prepared a draft about a UK company: Draft:Yopa Property.

I'm aware the title has a difficult history — an earlier version was deleted, and I want to do this properly: neutral tone, independent sources, full disclosure, single account.

Before I submit it through Articles for Creation, would you be willing to look at it and tell me whether the sourcing is strong enough for WP:NCORP, and whether the tone reads as neutral? I'd rather fix any problems now than submit something that isn't ready. Any honest feedback is welcome. Thank you. Gabtedwiki (talk) 16:58, 6 July 2026 (UTC)

@Gabtedwiki: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia. Thank you for the disclosure. The draft has a decently neutral tone; I did not find anything that sounded promotional. I have not evaluated many articles about companies, but the sources cited are reliable and some go somewhat in-depth about the company, which seems on par with NCORP standards. Feel free to submit it. ObserveOwl (talk) 00:42, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for reviewing it, I appreciate it Gabtedwiki (talk) 08:03, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Logancheetah (05:20, 17 July 2026)

Good morning, ObserveOwl.

Can you please explain the process of adding a photo to someone's infobox who currently does not have a photo such as Kirby Howell-Baptiste or Erik Per Sullivan. Is there a specific reason why these people do not have a picture?

Thank you, - Logancheetah --Logancheetah (talk) 05:21, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

@Logancheetah: Hello! Those articles do not have an image likely because no one has published pictures of those people with a copyright free license. There are some options: you can take a photo of the person and upload it to Wikimedia Commons applying a free license like CC BY-SA 4.0, search online for a freely licensed photo like on Flickr with a "Commercial use & mods allowed" search filter, or request a freely licensed selfie from the person. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:19, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from MrJohnJoy (13:47, 24 July 2026)

Hello ObserveOwl,

I am new to Wikipedia editing and I would like some guidance. I want to learn how to create and improve articles properly, understand Wikipedia rules, and know what sources are needed for an article to be accepted.

Could you please give me advice on how to get started as an editor?

Thank you! — MrJohnJoy --MrJohnJoy (talk) 13:47, 24 July 2026 (UTC)

Hello and welcome to Wikipedia MrJohnJoy! I have sent you a welcome message with useful introductory links. ObserveOwl (talk) 20:35, 24 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Ramore2001 (10:48, 25 July 2026)

Hello,

I'm new to Wikipedia and, in the interests of transparency, I would like to create an article about a relative, John McCoy.

I appreciate that I have a conflict of interest because of the connection. I would welcome guidance on the correct process. My intention is to prepare the article as a draft through Articles for Creation so that it can be independently reviewed by experienced editors.

There are numerous independent & reliable sources that document his activities during the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War, with official records held by the Military Archives. Although mentioned in existing articles, there is no standalone article bringing together his independently documented role.

To assist I have summarised details which I believe can be independently verified through published sources:

Senior member of the Irish Republican Army during both the Irish War of Independence & the Irish Civil War - vice OC & OC 4th Northern Div. Participated in numerous operations against Crown forces in Armagh & Louth. Shot in the head during the conflict & later interviewed by General Sir Carter-Campbell, Commander-in-Chief of British forces in Northern Ireland on the day of his release post conflict. Served as Liaison Officer in County Armagh coordinating communications with the British authorities. Became Officer Commanding of the 4th Northern Division. Planned and led the armed escape from Dundalk Gaol, regarded by a number of historians as one of the largest armed prison escapes of the revolutionary period - 107 escape including Frank Aiken - OC and later Govt. Minister and vice Irish PM. Captured while acting as the rear guard during that operation. Escaped from Curragh Camp via a prisoner-built tunnel. Recaptured, sentenced to death by Irish Free State. Endured 36 day hunger strike. Post conflict worked within the Irish Military Service Pensions administration & Militarty History Bureau.

I would be very grateful for your thoughts. --Ramore2001 (talk) 10:48, 25 July 2026 (UTC)

@Ramore2001: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! I see you have started your draft at User:Ramore2001/sandbox, but it does not include inline citations verifying the content. I suggest reading Help:Referencing for beginners to understand how citations are placed. Help:Section explains how to format headings such as "Early life" and "Later life". Additionally, before pressing "Submit your draft for review!", you should ideally disclose your conflict of interest by inserting {{AFC comment|1=In accordance with Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|Conflict of interest guideline]], I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. ~~~~}} at the top of your article. I hope this helps. ObserveOwl (talk) 14:55, 25 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Juliecfamfan (13:59, 26 July 2026)

How do I make my own article --Juliecfamfan (talk) 13:59, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

@Juliecfamfan: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! There is some guidance at Help:Your first article. Search for reliable sources that confer notability for the topic first, such as newspapers and books. Writing a new article can be a daunting task; I would recommend getting some experience by improving existing articles first. Happy editing! ObserveOwl (talk) 14:21, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Kalp7creates (11:05, 30 July 2026)

can i create a page? --Kalp7creates (talk) 11:05, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

@Kalp7creates: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! You cannot directly create articles since your account is new, but you can create drafts and submit them for review. There is some guidance at Help:Your first article. Before writing, search for reliable sources that confer notability for the topic first, such as newspapers and books. Writing a new article can be a daunting task; I would recommend getting some experience by improving existing articles first. Happy editing! ObserveOwl (talk) 11:14, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

Thank you so much Kalp7creates (talk) 11:20, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

Question from Sasha2026 (22:46, 31 July 2026)

Hi Observe Owl, I'm a music fan and new to wiki (been a month since joining), I've been editing pages for musicians and music labels that lack correct or updated info such as Pritam and Tarkan etc from Asia, I tried creating a page recently and wish to create pages for many such record labels and musicians. I keep getting feedback on the page and so would like to ask for mentorship in creating my first article and guidance so that i can create pages for musicians that are well known but for some reason not yet on the platform. This was advised to me by 'gurkubondinn' to seek someone to help create the page with me. Thank you :) Sasha --Sasha2026 (talk) 22:46, 31 July 2026 (UTC)

@Sasha2026: Hello! It seems like your question has already been asked on the Teahouse; there is already some helpful advice there. As told by gurkubondinn, please do not use AI tools to generate text other than spell checkers. If you need any help, feel free to ask! ObserveOwl (talk) 22:06, 1 August 2026 (UTC)

Yes, the teahouse sent me to the wiki projects music which sent me back to asking my mentor. Yes, I have improved quite a few pages and reworking my first page and doing it fully manually, even beforehand i was writing it but taking code from AI, I have now learned this was incorrect. Can you help me co write it so that I can learn? I have plans to create pages for 20 musicians and labels and this would serve as a guiding block, I'll share my new draft with you and please feel free to improve it and edit and I'll be tracking how you make changes to learn. Thank you! :) Sasha xx Sasha2026 (talk) 22:10, 1 August 2026 (UTC)

@Sasha2026: I can give some feedback on the draft after you write it. ObserveOwl (talk) 22:50, 1 August 2026 (UTC)

Thank you! this was the page I was intially creating about a record label : Draft:Virtuoso Music. I also wanted to create a page for a flamenco guitarist next that is well known in spain but doesn't have a page yet. Please let me know all your guidance as it will help me for next pages. Lots of love! Sasha xx Sasha2026 (talk) 23:00, 1 August 2026 (UTC)

Question from Reynams (23:34, 9 August 2026)

Thank you so much for being my mentor! I worked on a Draft for an article. My initial draft was rejected, the reviewer gave me good feedback and I have been working on the draft. I was hoping to get any advice or feedback on the draft, before I submit it for another review. Thank you again! --Reynams (talk) 23:34, 9 August 2026 (UTC)

@Reynams: Hello! For the most part, your draft has a pretty straightforward "just the facts" style, which is ideal. I would perhaps reduce the awards and honors to the entries in which the awarding institute has a Wikipedia article and move the list of three books into a "Bibliography" section. ObserveOwl (talk) 16:50, 10 August 2026 (UTC)

Question from Jelliy912 (01:15, 14 August 2026)

How to do an edit? --Jelliy912 (talk) 01:15, 14 August 2026 (UTC)

@Jelliy912: Hello and welcome to Wikipedia! On the mobile web interface, there should be a set of five symbols right below the article title; press the pencil symbol to edit. Help:Cheatsheet has a simple guide on the code formatting (bold, italics, links, etc.). ObserveOwl (talk) 04:27, 14 August 2026 (UTC)

Question from 7341656ga (18:46, 15 August 2026)

محافظة البيضاء مديرية الطفة اسماع --7341656ga (talk) 18:46, 15 August 2026 (UTC)