Johnuniq
It's getting worse: WMF firing developers |
Hello!
editJust a quick update you might want to check out my new Help desk message of the Melbourne tram logo when available. Thank you! Rioooooooo9 (talk) 06:07, 24 May 2026 (UTC)
Lower protection for COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China?
editYou applied ECP in 2022 to the above. Would you be willing to lower this to pending changes or semi? I think the tradeoff between more updates and stemming disruption now favours the former. Thanks! In solidarity, —Femke (talk) 🐦 07:42, 25 May 2026 (UTC)
- Lowered to semi. Johnuniq (talk) 23:39, 25 May 2026 (UTC)
Wikipedia:Move review/Log/2026 May#Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration
editHi, there is a move review underway relevant to a discussion you were recently involved in. Link above. Thanks. Sirfurboy🏄 (talk) 19:57, 27 May 2026 (UTC)
"Newcomer tasks" are ruining Wikipedia
edit"Newcomer tasks" are instructing myriads of clueless people to copyedit material and subjects they know absolutely nothing about, and to "revise tone" on passages that are neutral and cited in articles and subjects they know absolutely nothing about.
Prime example: Over the past 7 weeks, "Newcomers" have removed the same accurate and neutral and relevant four words at least five times from Ian Charleson as a Newcomer "revise tone" task. I finally added 6 (SIX!) highly reliable citations to the four words two weeks ago, and the four words have still been removed twice since then as a "Newcomer task".
What can be done about this? There are no tags on the article, and no relevant hidden categories that I can see. Yet something is directing newcomers to remove four accurate, neutral, relevant, and multiply cited words. How can this be stopped? Is there a hidden template that can be added to opt out of newcomer tasks on an article? Softlavender (talk) 22:38, 29 May 2026 (UTC)
- I don't know how newcomers find text for tone edits but this example shows that at least some of them are highly desirable. On second thoughts, clicking the "Suggested: revise tone" tag in article history leads to mw:Help:Growth/Tools/Newcomer Tasks#Revise tone which mentions mw:Edit check/Tone Check#Model. The latter suggests that some WMF AI tool finds text which it thinks is either too positive (peacock) or too negative. Presumably a newcomer can get a list of such suggestions to create engagement. I can see why "in Sam Shepard's gritty and very physical two-person drama" attracts attention, but some plays warrant that description. I browsed the documentation and could not see any way to whitelist this article. I don't know how the general issue can be handled. If a community discussion concluded that several examples needed exemption, I could try to make a noise somewhere. My guess is I would be directed to make a Phab request with a link to the discussion. For this case, I could protect the article but it would have to be ECP which might generate excitement. I will watch but could easily miss it so you might remind me. Johnuniq (talk) 05:21, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- I looked a bit more and saw a suggestion to raise issues at WT:Growth Team features. Johnuniq (talk) 05:25, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- Hmm. What on earth is going on? I looked at some relevant edits, which seem to be all absolutely good faith, just wrong, or at least dubious. What exactly is Wikipedia:TWA, self-described as a "game"? Part of this game generated this page User:Mænd.W0lf/TWA/Earth, which would normally be spam if not made by the user. Is the theory that attracting more and more editors who do not really have the abilities to edit reliably will solve the problem of skilled editors leaving because of the ever-increasing number of unskilled editors? Imaginatorium (talk) 08:32, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- A lot more time and enthusiasm for bureaucracy than I have would be needed to follow all the WMF goings on. However, I suspect that many of those near the top of the management food chain have been recruited from places where bums on seats is the one and only criterion for success. Being kinder, it is possible that timid passers-by may start by engaging in a game, then develop into useful contributors if they are knowledgeable in a useful topic. That is particularly true for young contributors. Johnuniq (talk) 09:32, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- Just to add I've run into this problem of "changing tone" - new editors are unlikely to know when it's appropriate. Or maybe even what it means. Doug Weller talk 09:52, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- A lot more time and enthusiasm for bureaucracy than I have would be needed to follow all the WMF goings on. However, I suspect that many of those near the top of the management food chain have been recruited from places where bums on seats is the one and only criterion for success. Being kinder, it is possible that timid passers-by may start by engaging in a game, then develop into useful contributors if they are knowledgeable in a useful topic. That is particularly true for young contributors. Johnuniq (talk) 09:32, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
Johnuniq, since it is now happening every week despite the addition of SIX very reliable citations, and since there is currently no known way of blocking the AI-targeting of six neutral and accurate words cited with six citations, can you please EC protect the article? All of the 5+ newcomers who have deleted the four words have (at the time) had less than 500 edits. Softlavender (talk) 21:59, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
- Never mind, Nikkimaria has solved the Gordian knot! (see below). Softlavender (talk) 02:43, 31 May 2026 (UTC)
- Softlavender: {{No newcomer task}}. Nikkimaria (talk) 01:58, 31 May 2026 (UTC)
- Nikkimaria, you are awesome!! *bows deeply* Softlavender (talk) 02:43, 31 May 2026 (UTC)
- Brilliant, thank you. I suspected there would be some template but I couldn't find it. Johnuniq (talk) 04:30, 31 May 2026 (UTC)
- Is there anything to stop someone putting this on all pages? Imaginatorium (talk) 10:49, 7 June 2026 (UTC)
- Well, there are 8 million of them! Mass editing of any kind would not be regarded well. I'm not sure how serious you are but my suggestion would be to wait for a reason before adding {{No newcomer task}} on an article. Johnuniq (talk) 10:59, 7 June 2026 (UTC)
- Is there anything to stop someone putting this on all pages? Imaginatorium (talk) 10:49, 7 June 2026 (UTC)
Unfortunately, the template that Nikkimaria suggested is not working. The exact same removal of relevant text cited with SIX citations, along with removal of additional important text, was done five days ago by a newcomer with only 32 previous edits, as a "Newcomer task": . This is the sixth time this clearly unwarranted edit has been removed in just a few weeks. Could you please EC-protect the article, as requested above? Softlavender (talk) 00:47, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
- Somewhat reluctantly, I ECP protected it for one month because the no-newcomer task template probably needs time for the system to adjust. If a discussion occurs at article talk, it may become apparent that established editors don't support the wording, but a discussion needs to take place. Johnuniq (talk) 01:03, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
- Thanks Johnuniq! Much appreciated. Softlavender (talk) 01:19, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
- Apparently an experiment is circumventing the template. Nikkimaria (talk) 01:05, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
- I don't really understand that discussion, but thanks for pointing it out, and your report elsewhere as well. As far as I'm concerned, untrained and unskilled "newcomers" have no business copyediting, "revising tone", or removing neutral cited facts on subject matter they know absolutely nothing about. And clearly AI is simply finding any adjectives, no matter how important or relevant, and flagging them to be removed. It's a complete travesty. The "tasks" should be limited to non-subjective tasks like adding citations or links. Softlavender (talk) 01:19, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
Re: "It's getting worse: WMF firing developers"
editTwo links worth checking out:
--Softlavender (talk) 22:04, 30 May 2026 (UTC)
Good Lord, have you seen the new alert that shows up on watchlists?:
- The Wikimedia Foundation has disbanded the Community Tech Team that works on the Community Wishlist. Please join the discussion on a community proposal about the future of the wishlist.
--Softlavender (talk) 23:30, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
- Oh yeah, I noticed that before the watchlist. My strong thoughts can be seen by searching that page for my username. Remember when tobacco regulations started being introduced around the world and a group of denialists made up all sorts of reasons why smoking was good for you? Similarly, there are people imagining why firing developers is a great idea. I have sympathy for the WMF because speaking with a firehose (this community) doesn't work. Similarly, the wishlist gets votes from many people who don't spend time combating spam and other abuse, so tools to handle those critical needs end up being being out-voted by a wish for more bling. The WMF can be excused for sometimes going their own way. However, quite apart from the obvious on-the-nose coincidence about firing people who are starting a union, it is nonsense to claim that benefits will follow from spreading community requests across all developers, leaving no one with community responsibility. It is dismaying that the WMF shows no sign of understanding that the community wants bugs and other back-room functionality fixed, or that community concerns should override their need to organize another feel-good conference. Johnuniq (talk) 02:45, 4 June 2026 (UTC)
Now a politico who was also UPE on Wikipedia is CEO of WMF. I can't link the new offsite article bc it's Breitbart, but you can Google the headline "Wikipedia Page for Obama Official Now In Charge of Wikimedia Foundation Was Created by Paid Editor". Definitely worth a read. Softlavender (talk) 19:20, 9 July 2026 (UTC)
- Situation normal. I saw mention of that somewhere here. The URL (authored by the usual commentator) is
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/07/08/wikipedia-page-for-obama-official-now-in-charge-of-wikimedia-foundation-was-created-by-paid-editor/Johnuniq (talk) 01:01, 10 July 2026 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – June 2026
editNews and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2026).
Administrator changes
Bureaucrat changes
Guideline and policy news
- Following an RfC, the "persistent usage of large language models" has been included as a common reason for a block.
Technical news
- Mandatory 2FA for bureaucrats: Bureaucrats without two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled have already lost access to their advanced rights on 26 May. Those who do not enable 2FA may be automatically removed from the groups in mid-June 2026, and from that point onward, new members must have 2FA enabled before they can be added. (T423119, T423120)
Arbitration
- The arbitration case SchroCat has been closed.
- The arbitration case Michael Jackson has opened. Evidence submissions in this case closes on 1 June.
Miscellaneous
- Voting for the 2026 Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) election closes on 1 June.
Renaming LTA account.
editHi Johnuniq, I saw you blocked this LTA's bot. We might also want to globally rename the account; it is racial slur written in Chinese. 海盐沙冰 / aka irisChronomia / Talk 10:53, 6 June 2026 (UTC)
- Issue resolved; thanks! 海盐沙冰 / aka irisChronomia / Talk 12:03, 6 June 2026 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – July 2026
editNews and updates for administrators from the past month (June 2026).
Administrator changes
CheckUser changes
Oversight changes
Guideline and policy news
- A request for comment asks whether the criteria for autoconfirmed and extended confirmed should be modified.
- A request for comment proposes an addendum for the Real name section of the Username policy.
Technical news
- The special page Special:RangeCalculator has been created for any users to use to find an IP range. (phab:T268429)
- The "indefinitely" button in Special:Block for temporary accounts can be replaced with a preferred block duration stated on MediaWiki:ipb-indefinite-expiry-temporary-account. (phab:T427125)
Arbitration
- Following a series of motions, changes to the contentious topics procedure to restructure awareness have been implemented.
- The arbitration case Michael Jackson has been closed.
Miscellaneous
- The 2026 Developing Countries WikiContest will run from 1 July to 30 September. Sign up now!
- 10 candidates have been appointed to the U4C.
Already have been undid revision for DWPV-TV to PA call sign
edithi admin, my have Undid revision 1363732648 by Sedustinlizardo10112000 in scoured HERE my history in List of analog television stations in the Philippines no official callsign DWPV-TV Channel 11 Naga for ALLTV2 n block or not? Mcdin45 (talk) 12:10, 13 July 2026 (UTC)
- My post at User talk:Mcdin45#Teahouse was a suggestion that you should ask questions about how to proceed. Nothing warranting a block has occurred yet. Johnuniq (talk) 02:43, 14 July 2026 (UTC)
IP vandal
editThis IP keeps making vandalism edits. Can you block them? User talk:~2026-33859-55
Thanks. -- Ssilvers (talk) 02:53, 21 July 2026 (UTC)
- Done. Johnuniq (talk) 03:18, 21 July 2026 (UTC)