Wikipedia talk:Teahouse

Assistance for new editors

The Teahouse is currently semi-protected, meaning the Teahouse pages cannot be edited by unregistered users (IP addresses), as well as accounts that are not confirmed or autoconfirmed (accounts that are at least 4 days old with at least 10 edits on English Wikipedia).

However, you can still get direct assistance on your talk page. ; a volunteer will visit you there shortly!

There is currently 0 user(s) transcluding the {{Help me}} template looking for assistance from Teahouse volunteers.

NOTICE: AN APOLOGY TO VERY NEW EDITORS

Just a quick observation to those editing the introductory template: Might it not be worth mentioning the ability to directly contact a Mentor with their question? Nick Moyes (talk) 23:14, 18 February 2025 (UTC)

Question about reporting repeated vandalism

Hello, I am a new editor. I just created an account to remove an instance of vandalism I witnessed. The specifc page is Brachydactyly type D. I have successfully reverted the edit that contains the vandalism, and I am now about to leave a warning on the IP address's talk page. I noticed that on this talk page, the sections are divided into specific months in each year. Each month, warnings start over at level 1/blue. The warning I would be leaving on their page is for their first instance of vandalism in February 2025. However, they already have a warning in January 2025 for vandalizing the same page. This would also be their third warning in 2025. Would it be appropriate to send this person a level 3 warning, or must it be a level 1 warning? In addition, looking at the IP's contributions, it appears that all contributions they have made since 2018 have been reverted for vandalism. I would like to report this person, but I worry that they might not have been warned enough this month to be reported. Though, I think that it is safe to believe that any contributions they make in the future will be vandalism. I apologize if this is not the correct place to ask. I have been reading all of the pages on removing vandalism, and I have not yet found an answer to my question. Thank you. Evilnice (talk) 22:56, 20 February 2025 (UTC)

@Evilnice You've asked your question on the wrong page (this is a Talk page for discussing the management of the Teahouse). The main Teahous epage is HERE. But, yes, it would have been quite appropriate to leave a Level 3 warning in the circumstances you describe. Had it been many months ago when they were last warned, you might start again with a level 1 or Level 2 warning. I notice they have since been blocked by an administrator for repeated disruption.

Please acknowledge you've seen this repl,y as I will be removing it from this talk page in the next week or so. Regards, Nick Moyes (talk) 17:27, 9 March 2025 (UTC)

Header change

Re this change by Moxy, if we keep it, we should use or similar templates to ensure it only shows up when needed. Sdkb ^talk 06:44, 24 February 2025 (UTC)

Put into Template:If IP Moxy🍁 06:48, 24 February 2025 (UTC)

Sorry I see its normal Semi-protection using Template:If autoconfirmed instead Moxy🍁 07:12, 24 February 2025 (UTC)

The message people get who are not autoconfirmed...

... and try to ask a question on the Teahouse tells them that they can't edit this page and "If you need help getting started with editing, please visit the Teahouse." Absolutely Kafkaesque. Surely we can do better. - Jmabel | Talk 23:40, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

There’s an LTA who consistently targets this page, see above. E_F⁵ 23:42, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

Nevermind, I see what you mean. E_F⁵ 23:45, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

This has been mentioned a couple of times on this talk page and on the Teahouse as well. The wording comes from MediaWiki:Semiprotectedpagewarning, which is fully protected. I think suggesting new users direct their questions to their mentor would be the best replacement, but I'm unsure the technical methods to provide that information. Barring that, perhaps a mention of the {{Help me}} solution mentioned above would help? Perfect4th (talk) 20:59, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

Pls read teahouse header when logged out. Moxy🍁 02:26, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

MediaWiki:Semiprotectedpagewarning is the message autoconfirmed users see when editing a semi-protected page. The message non-autoconfirmed users see in that situation is Template:Protected page text/semi, which does not, and has never, linked to the Teahouse. * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 18:54, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

Ohhhh I see..... MediaWiki:Semiprotectedpagewarning...perhaps we should be changing this since the teahouse is useless for them. Get rid of the teahouse stuff and add a link to the talk page through the help template so they can get help on their own talk page? Moxy🍁 19:15, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

Ah, thanks, Pppery, that makes more sense and is much more helpful. Perfect4th (talk) 19:47, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

Oh, and when trying to edit the Teahouse specifically they instead see Template:Editnotices/Protection/Wikipedia:Teahouse which I set up a month or so ago by copying the banner from the top of this page (and did the same for the Help Desk). * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 19:49, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

We should use our automated system and set this up for them instead of them having to copy and paste... Make it as easy as possible....use ... ; a volunteer will visit you there shortly! Moxy🍁 19:59, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

You're a template editor ... feel free to edit that page yourself. * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 21:50, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

This seems a better solution than directions alone, and I've boldly gone ahead and added it to the talk header. Perfect4th (talk) 22:06, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

And I've copied that over to the editnotice and set them up to autosync. Wikipedia:Help desk/Banner/Help desk protected notice is separate and probably needs a similar change. * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 02:33, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

I've now done so there. Perfect4th (talk) 07:23, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

Yep, we always can. - ParticularEvent318 home (speak!). 07:41, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

Teahouse being semi protected

Why is the Teahouse semi-protected despite being a help page? - ParticularEvent318 home (speak!). 06:09, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

@ParticularEvent318: due to persistent disruption of a particularly serious nature from a certain vandal. Some details can be found in the other threads on this page. JavaHurricane 06:29, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

Moderation-process halted

Moved to Wikipedia:Teahouse § Moderation-process halted

 – —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 01:51, 3 April 2025 (UTC)

Identifying and Removing Predatory Sources

Moved to Wikipedia:Teahouse § Identifying and Removing Predatory Sources

 – —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 01:33, 3 April 2025 (UTC)

Unblock access and edit permission

Moved to Wikipedia:Teahouse § Unblock access and edit permission

 – —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 17:09, 6 April 2025 (UTC)

Why did someone lock the teahouse?

Did someone lock the teahouse to keep me out? L$Aiden$L (talk) 19:16, 6 April 2025 (UTC)

@L$Aiden$L: No. We're dealing with a persistent vandal. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 21:33, 6 April 2025 (UTC)

L$Aiden$L, no, the public logs for the teahouse will show that the teahouse has been almost uninterruptedly "semi-protected" for months, and thus since well before you made your first edit. -- Hoary (talk) 21:57, 6 April 2025 (UTC)

Terms of art

I've written a new essay, WP:Terms of art on Wikipedia, which may be helpful when new editors are confused by words like "notable" which have specific meanings on WP that differ from the general meaning. Improvements are welcome. Sunrise (talk) 07:42, 9 April 2025 (UTC)

Two ideas: DiscussionTools link for helpme and using Pending changes

I have two ideas for the Teahouse:

1. For the "Use this link to ask for help" link, mw:Help:DiscussionTools#Preloading message content says you can use dtpreload=1. If that can be used signatures will be applied automatically so the preload text could be simplified, plus users get the live preview. The link uses {{edit}} which doesn't seem to accept dtpreload, but is it technically possible and desirable?
2. Would Wikipedia:Pending changes be suitable for times when the Teahouse is semi-protected?

Commander Keane (talk) 06:44, 13 April 2025 (UTC)

Unfamiliar with the preloading message content solution, but pending changes was discussed at AN in November – there seem to have been mixed feelings about it at the time. Perfect4th (talk) 16:50, 18 April 2025 (UTC)

"This section is pinned" appearing in the wrong place

Probably a screen width / float clearing issue of some sort. For me (using Vector 2010), the "this section is pinned" box whose code is in the intro message is actually appearing below the ToC on the right, currently inside the "How to seek Visual and Source editor experts" section -- which is misleading.

I tried adding the {{clear}} template to the bottom of the "Assistance for new editors unable to post here" section, but due to the length of the ToC that created other display issues, so I didn't save it. Maybe someone with more experience with wiki layout issues could fix it? -- Avocado (talk) 16:37, 18 April 2025 (UTC)

Help moving article to mainspace (affilated with Mawhiba)

Hello! I’ve created a translated article about King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness & Creativity – Mawhiba here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mawhiba.SM/King_Abdulaziz_and_His_Companions_Foundation_for_Giftedness_%26_Creativity_-_Mawhiba

I’m contributing in my capacity as someone affiliated with Mawhiba and using a Mawhiba domain email. I’m aiming to ensure accurate and neutral representation of the foundation. Since I don’t yet have the editing permissions to move it to the mainspace, I’d appreciate if an experienced editor could kindly review and assist with moving it, if appropriate.

Thank you! Mawhiba.SM (talk) 12:17, 20 April 2025 (UTC)

Mawhiba.SM This page is for discussion about the operation of the Teahouse, and is not the Teahouse itself. Please post to the main Teahouse page. 331dot (talk) 12:19, 20 April 2025 (UTC)

@331dot: Mawhiba.SM is not autoconfirmed and therefore cannot post to the main Teahouse page that is currently semi-protected right now.

@Mawhiba.SM: Your page has been deleted for unambiguous advertising or promotion. If you're involved with the subject, please make the necessary disclosures of conflict of interest, preferably on User:Mawhiba.SM. You're also discouraged from sending it directly to mainspace; putting a draft through the Articles for Creation process is recommended. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 01:29, 21 April 2025 (UTC)

Thanks, I forgot about that.... 331dot (talk) 07:45, 21 April 2025 (UTC)