User talk:Graham87

September music

My September image shows in the centre a sunflower, the flower filling most of it, against a blue sky with a little white cloud, with another flower "looking sideways" to the left, some leaves on the right, and a fat bumblebee almost in the centre of the main flower. - My story today, pictured on the main page, is about the best concert I sang (on 1 September 2019), and references for the article were collected by Brian Boulton. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:42, 1 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

My story today is about a composer and his ballerina wife, pictured as I saw them in 2009. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:44, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today another giant's music: Canto General. Listen if you like it really big and emotional, with the composer as the conductor, in Chile, after years of suppression. Before each number, the poem is read - in Spanish. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:04, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

A soprano pictured on DYK, a soprano and a composer and a bassoonist on RD, and a composer with the pic of the day: a good day for classical music! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:25, 5 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I enjoy a DYK that pictures a person together with achievements in art, portrayed against a wall with three pictures he painted. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:15, 7 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

As you will know, Arvo Pärt is 90 today. Did you know that it tool me some trouble to get him to the main page? Listen! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:48, 11 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today is the birthday of the 16th Thomaskantor after Bach, remembered. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:52, 20 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Can I interest you in my 100th biography to the Main page in 2025, Siegmund Nimsgern? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:24, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

John Rutter 80 today! I sang his major choral works with four choirs, and many of his uplifting anthems, DYK? I watched him explain his Magnificat in person in 1998, and now see it on Youtube: he wore the same outfit. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:23, 24 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

My story today is about the principal violin of the Concentus Musicus; she would have been 95 OTD. I felt connected when the second oboist of our recent concert, of Haydn's Stabat Mater, said that he built an English horn for his performance of the work with the Concentus Musicus. - Concert weekend pictured in "places". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:11, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today I could have told many stories, - St. Michael's Day (The Company of Heaven) and the anniversary of our performance of the Mass in B minor in 2013. I picked the composition (and its author) that was on DYK in the morning, and you can listen. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:02, 29 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

ANI

Hi, I noticed you thanked me for my ANI section. Thanks! I was dumbfounded by how it played out. If you have a moment, would you mind explaining to me what I did wrong? You seem to be one of the few people who have a pretty full picture, interacting with the same user in a similar fashion. I'd be very grateful. I'm going insane trying to figure out what happened. FaviFake (talk) 15:34, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@FaviFake: Yeah I didn't notice the ping until after it had closed (I don't always notice pings with my screen reader straight away due to how their HTML works, but I do try to check up on them when I remember ... and will always get a ping within 24 hours at the very most!) I'm not an admins' noticeboard expert, so don't take my advice as gospel, but the first thing that struck me about your report is that it was TL;DR ... it had way too much unneeded detail. I don't think I could've helped much anyway even if I had noticed the report in time, for the reasons other people noted. Having had my own second runin with this user just today at Talk:Dirty Dick#"As of" template usage, I'd actually looked a little bit in to his history the same way you tried to, but didn't pursue things any further, for two main reasons: (1) the dispute is resolved from my point of view and (2) this user has ... quite a reputation as a great content writer who can be abrasive at times, and such people are the hardest to deal with on Wikipedia, for historical reasons that I don't even know how to begin to summarise except by linking to the essay Wikipedia:Unblockables, which feels like the equivalent of summarising War and Peace by saying "It's a novel written in the northern hemisphere". (I'm not saying that the above user is or is not an "unblockable", just that that's the most relevant shortcut I could think of to describing their standing here). The edit-warring could maybe go to the edit-warring noticeboard; from noticing these things play out over time I'd say that anything more requires many years of experience, much determination, and a lot of social capital to pull off. Also, when I used the thank feature on your edit, it was a private acknowledgement that "Yes, I got this, and yes it was well-meant" ... I didn't want to make my acknowledgement any more public ... but that horse has well and truly bolted out of the barn now. Graham87 (talk) 15:50, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, sorry about bringing the thanks up. I knew you wouldn't have done just that if you didn't want to be involved like this, but I truly didn't know who else to talk to. Thanks for your reply. I remember reading BMK's full /Thoughts page, and I didn't actually think what he was saying about ANI was true. At least I'm never messing with it ever again. I'm just concerned that the absurd "disruptive editing" warning will be brought up later, like, if in a few years I'm brought to ANI for something else and they see it, who knows what they're going to think. Anyways, thanks so much again and sorry for the broken barn!! Feel free to remove this thread w/o archiving it. FaviFake (talk) 16:07, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@FaviFake: Nah (or should I say neigh?), not my style re message removal. The warning shouldn't be a long-term problem for you if it's a one-off. I hadn't read User:Beyond My Ken/Thoughts re ANI before, but (a) note that SC isn't an admin, (b) it was written before admin recall, and (c) ANI posts can stick in certain unusual situations, in my case relating to point B (see the saga of how I lost my adminship). But avoiding ANI like the plague is a good idea. Graham87 (talk) 16:31, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

FaviFake, chiming in: I watched the process but only when it was too late, when it went to ANI that is. Shaking head: all this about a "See also" section, really? Forgive me: I don't need them and don't like them, - I don't think any of my articles have such a section. I don't believe any link in a "See also" should be piped, but it's no reason to edit war. I strongly recommend WP:BRD, and sometimes I explain it to new users by saying: when reverted don't revert back even if you are 100% sure that you are right. - Happy editing! There are really more important problems to fix on Wikipedia ;) - tagged articles with multiple problems, missing references ... you'll find something. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:27, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Gerda Arendt Thanks for your message; everyone is saying I've edit warred, but I've only made one edit to the page... How can someone edit war if they stop at their first edit?

when reverted don't revert back even if you are 100% sure that you are right.

That's what I did? My first edit on the page was reverted and then I immediately stopped editing it. I don't understand.

All of this while the other editor reverted the same edit 4 times. FaviFake (talk) 19:31, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I am not everybody, I didn't say you edit-warred. I saw that the same thing was reverted twice. It doesn't matter if by the same user or a different one. After one revert, the safe approach is to use the talk page, or go away and do something useful. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:41, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, it sure sounded like you were addressing me. Have a nice day FaviFake (talk) 19:44, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Now we had an edit conflict, still in response to the former comment: Perhaps more clearly: it was fine what you did at the article, making only one edit, but what the other user did, restoring the status-quo, was also fine, and expecting administrators to help was expecting too much. - I am on Wikipedia for 16 years now but went to WP:Great Dismal Swamp only once. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:49, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There are really more important problems to fix on Wikipedia
Oh well, for what it's worth the discussion was reopened... more time wasted! FaviFake (talk) 11:28, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. I confess that I was tempted to talk to the closer because the close was downright wrong. I didn't because I was too busy. (I was successful on that talk page once.) I won't go there now, nor go the Swamp, - too much heat already. You did nothing wrong with the article, but overdid the report, so it seems to get missed. I suggest that you also stay away from the discussion, unless something really gets factually wrong. Once upon a time I invented a rule of 2 comments per discussion, which was turned against me as a restriction, but is actually liberating. Example: look at Canto General, my story today: it has a nomination on the talk, and just reflect how much shorter that would have been if everybody stuck to 2 comments! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:00, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, perhaps we can invite User:Fortuna imperatrix mundi to this quiet corner. Graham, is that acceptable for you? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:10, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gerda Arendt: Thanks, but I'd prefer that the discussion take place somewhere else, at least while I'm awake and actively getting notifications about new messages. Graham87 (talk) 12:16, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Understand. How is this: it is an invitation to Fortuna imperatrix mundi to read this and reflect how a not so experienced editor was treated by a senior editor, - the diffs are on ANI. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:24, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

They can take it as they will. Sorry, that's a non-answer, but I really don't know what else to say at this point. Graham87 (talk) 12:38, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the ping, Gerda, and apologies Graham, I won't take up too much space! But I've already discussed this with FaviFake on my talk, and since it was I who ended that discussion, it would be unfair on FF for me to join it elsewhere. Suffice to say that it's starting to take on a Frankenstein-esque life of its own, consuming everything it touches, to mix metaphors, and it would probably be best just let it die naturally. My opinion only of course, Cheers —Fortuna, imperatrix 12:47, 3 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

As of 2025

Hi Graham

I hope you're well. Looking at this edit - [1] you've declared the fact to be "as of 2025", but the source cited is dated to 2020. Shouldn't it be "as of 2020"? Cheers — Amakuru (talk) 11:02, 9 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Amakuru: For the general case, yes, but I'm not sure it's needed there at all, now that I think about it. Graham87 (talk) 11:11, 9 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well thanks, although that clearly is a fact that might become dated, so it seems to me that this is the sort of case where "as of" is useful. Huddersfield have seemingly gone through 10 different managers since 2020 so the statement will only remain true if someone is keeping an eye out for it at all times, ready to remove or amend it if another boss from Huddersfield later takes over. I guess the general point I'm making is that it's good to remove the CURRENTYEAR template from "as of" instances, but if you do so the year should be replaced with the actual last verified year, not just the current year, or else the source should be updated. Inserting 2025 without verification just perpetuates the problem. Cheers — Amakuru (talk) 11:19, 9 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Amakuru: Fair point; will take it in to account where feasible. Graham87 (talk) 11:22, 9 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please do not remove WikiProject templates

Hi Graham87 - I just undid two edits you made to talk pages where you removed the Wikiproject Electronic literature templates from articles about the first generative poetry machine and the inventor/author of the machine. I don't think you're active in the electronic literature Wikiproject? The project covers generative literature, which these articles are examples of, and it also covers precursors to digital works as these are commonly discussed in scholarship about electronic literature. The problem with just removing Wikiproject templates is that there is no automatic warning about this to the Wikiproject - perhaps if you have similar concerns about other pages with templates for Wikiprojects you're not actively participating in you could leave a message on the Wikiproject talk page instead suggesting the change? Lijil (talk) 20:54, 10 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Lijil: Thanks for your message. When I deal with WikiProject tags, I'm usually far more inclined to add/extend them than remove them. And most WikiProjects are almost dead these days, so there's generally not much point in writing on their talk pages (but I guess it can't hurt as a heads-up). Graham87 (talk) 06:08, 11 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the response. I guess if a WikiProject is really dead removing clearly incorrect templates might be reasonable, but you'd have to be sure you knew the topic area well enough to make that judgement and that the WikiProject was really dead. WikiProject Electronic literature is active. Have a good day! Lijil (talk) 06:26, 11 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Blocking of account

Hello @Graham87, why can't I create an account for a new editor. When we try to create an account, it says this account has been blocked form editing Wikipedia. I don't remember violating any rules. How do I go about this to have the account created. Solomon Suubi (talk) 08:57, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Solomon Suubi: You haven't done anything wrong; you were probably caught in a wide rangeblock when it's necessary to block several IP addresses to catch one disruptive user. Could you tell me which IP address/range it said the block applied to? I presume it was 41.75.160.0/19, because it's the only IP range in Uganda I have any recollection of dealing with (and many IP addresses in Africa start with 41). I'd be OK with undoing that block entirely since the editor I was after was only active for a month or so, but I'm no longer an admin so I can't unblock the range myself. I'll be back in an hour and can look in to this more. Graham87 (talk) 09:23, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes thanks for the response. I was creating an account for a new editor that I know will do some constructive work for Wikipedia through the different campaigns. i am in Uganda. The IP address blocked was 41.75.160.0/19. I will be grateful for your help. Solomon Suubi (talk) 11:49, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Graham87Oh, thanks so much. I know its been your intervention that has helped us out. We have been able to create an account without any restrictions. I am grateful. Solomon Suubi (talk) 12:00, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Solomon Suubi: No worries. Yep, looks like ScottishFinnishRadish dealt with it while I was writing a reply here. Graham87 (talk) 12:05, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks so much Solomon Suubi (talk) 12:12, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Resources for blind editors

Hi Graham, I hope you are keeping well.

There have been a couple of queries recently, at The Teahouse and Help Desk, from people who are using screen readers to edit. I wonder if you know of any help pages or user groups, etc. for such editors, to which they can be referred? Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 12:34, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Pigsonthewing: The WikiBlind User Group (that I helped out with) is inactive but its homepage still has some useful information. Trust you're going well too. I'm about to talk to Louisj92. Graham87 (talk) 12:39, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Graham

Hello, and I hope all goes well. I pinged you at a talk page but not sure if it went through. An interactive template, {{Drbogdan Mars feature map}}, has been criticized because it is not blind accessible, so wondering if you can read it or, if not, do you mind it's use? The full discussion is at several spots but now mainly at the bottom of Template talk:Features and artificial objects on Mars. Thanks. Randy Kryn (talk) 13:50, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Randy Kryn: Good to hear from you. I replied there. Graham87 (talk) 14:16, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

October music

The October picture has a timber-framed house (in Idstein) in the background and in the foreground the garden (right and left of a narrow path downward, but you see only the right side) abundant with different kinds of high-growing flowers. - My story today is about a woman and her husband who played Bach's Sonatina for us (Rheingau Musik Festival, long ago) on an upright piano, and it made me cry, and I still remember. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:35, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gerda Arendt: Awwww, a wonderfully sensitive arrangement and performance of one of my very favourite cantata movements by Bach. I can't believe he was only 22 when he wrote that cantata! Graham87 (talk) 11:00, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Same for me. I should make it FA some day. - Thank you for the obituary for Michael! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:37, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gerda Arendt: Oh, it made it from the obituaries page to the Signpost! Cool. Graham87 (talk) 11:11, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes! I suggest you place a note of the Signpost article on his user talk, for relatives and friends to find it and the condolence on the talk (where more may come). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:18, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gerda Arendt: Done. Graham87 (talk) 11:23, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, seen. - Carl Nielsen (FA by four colleagues, not me) is remembered on the main page! My story on the Germany National holiday is a song calling to trust the new ways, written shortly before the events leading to reunification. I saw a lovely Mozart opera production yesterday, in case of interest. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:10, 3 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]