User talk:ColinFine

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Sarah Grace

So may you please help me with the article@ColinFine Articlewriter1 (talk) 08:01, 1 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, @Articlewriter1.

No, I have no interest in this article.

My advice to you, as I said on the Help Desk, is to forget about Sarah Grace completely for a few months, while you work on existing articles and learn about how Wikipedia works. You can go to the task center for suggestions. ColinFine (talk) 13:13, 1 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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Career editors

I would normally agree with this, but wondering if it isn't discouraging since not everyone comes to Wikipedia to stay. The user disclosed their COI and submitted through AfC which is what we ask for. Same with this one. Just my 2 cents. CNMall41 (talk) 23:26, 3 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, @CNMall41. Thanks for the comment.

It might be discouraging; but frankly, I want to discourage people from doing what they are doing.

Generally, they are coming here specifically and only to promote their company or product, they are taking on a new role for which they are completely untrained (would their bosses approve if they understood this?), they are likely to waste an awful lot of their own and others' time even if they are eventually successful in getting their article accepted, and most often they will not succeed, and they will have added no value at all either to their company or to Wikipedia.

Of course, they generally don't realise any of that, which is the problem.

I always hope that they will get the Wikipedia bug, and stay and contribute. But if their first experience is trying to create an article that is rejected for reasons they are unable to understand, what is the likelihood they will stay? I try by my warnings to guide them onto a path that will be less frustrating for them. If they ignore my warnings, they are likely to have a miserable waste of time. If they heed it and give up, they will have saved themselves and others wasted effort. And if they follow it and spend some time getting to know Wkipedia, they might just get interested in contributing. ColinFine (talk) 10:18, 4 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I get your contention and agree 100% with the purpose. I think we just disagree slightly on the approach. I don't think most employers care. They simply tell an employee to go do it as part of their job. I used to be stronger with how I spoke to these editors, but after some feedback from others here I am a little more empathetic, especially to those who disclose their conflict and go through the AfC process. Yes, many are still wasting your time and mine, but it does help cut down on the bludgeoning from undisclosed paid editors who waste even more. Regardless, not telling you to change you approach, just wanted to provide some insight from my POV (fwiw). Cheers! --CNMall41 (talk) 16:42, 4 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think I've perhaps become a bit more outspoken in talking to them - particularly on WP:AFCHD. I think I'm less direct on WP:TH. I do often acknowledge them for declaring. ColinFine (talk) 17:11, 4 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I get it. Again, nothing wrong with what you're doing. Just offering an alternative perspective. All respect here. --CNMall41 (talk) 22:34, 4 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

House-building metaphor at Teahouse

Hi again, Colin. I thought your house-building metaphor at the Teahouse (section; diff) was quite good. If this is one of your user templates, may I suggest adding one more sentence to it? After the line:

So if they get something built, they probably won't even understand the comments they get from builders and inspectors

one could add:

and as a result, their house would end up being condemned for non-compliance to regulations and torn down.

I think your metaphor continues to hold here and gives it even more impact, with condemned = Afd closure, regulations = violated WP:P&G, and torn down = resulting deletion. Feel free to steal/adapt into your template if you like it; and if it isn't a template yet, it would make a great one! Cheers, Mathglot (talk) 22:11, 5 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement, @Mathglot. No, it's not a template ... yet. ColinFine (talk) 22:02, 6 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Looking for an editor to translate from English into Dutch

Hi Colin, How can I find an editor who can be asked to translate an English article into Dutch ? The article is about Djan Khoe

Khoe0005 (talk) 20:20, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, @Khoe0005. I have no idea why you have asked me here rather than asking on one of the public help pages. All I can suggest is asking one of the editors listed at WP:Local embassy#Dutch. I have no idea whether or not any of them would be interested in responding to your request. Generally, Wikipedia editors work on what they want to work on, and are unlikely to work for other editors, unless the subject of the article particularly interests them. ColinFine (talk) 21:15, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Colin, thank you. Khoe0005 (talk) 21:28, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Script

Isn't there or shouldn't there be a script to move sections to the (more) appropriate refdesk/helpdesk/teahouse/whatever which leaves a {{moved discussion to}} and perhaps even an optional note on the talkpage of the OP? Polygnotus (talk) 14:17, 12 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No idea, @Polygnotus But I see you've moved it. ColinFine (talk) 15:00, 12 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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