RationalWiki:Saloon bar

Welcome, BoN
This is a place for general chit-chat about virtually anything that doesn't fit anywhere else.
For previous conversations, see the automagic barchives.

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Server upgrade

With the software upgrades, a few things have changed. Here's a brief summary of the most important changes:

Vandal Brake

The vandal brake is now located at Special:VandalBrake and Special:VandalBin. The former is the interface for applying the brake on users, and is open to sysops only. The latter is a list of users in the bin, and an interface for paroling. Non-sysops may view the list.

There are several options available when vandal binning a user, similar to the block options, however there are some caveats:

• Autoblock: This will bin IPs of a user, but since vandal binning is always infinite, be careful with this option.
• Prevent account creation: When binning IPs, this does what it says. However, when binning users, it will only prevent the user from creating an account, not their IP. To prevent the user from creating an account by logging out first, you can use autoblock, since the autoblocked IP address will inherit this property.

The vandal brake accepts usernames as parameters: Special:VandalBrake/Nx

Intercom

The intercom is located at Special:Intercom. Groups are now located at MediaWiki:Intercom-list. The two main changes to the Intercom are the interface and handling of the Site wide (urgent) group.

• The interface for writing new messages is very similar to the default editing interface, and provides a normal preview. Expiry is mandatory, and works. You may provide a summary for a message; this is recommended to make finding your message easier. Existing messages are listed on Special:Intercom without their contents, and can be opened individually. This is why the summary is recommended.
• Messages from the Site wide (urgent) group are special in that anonymous users will see them, and every user is a member of the group by default, but may remove themselves (this is not recommended however). Because of the increased visibility of these messages, only bureaucrats may send them. In addition, bureaucrats may mark them as read for anonymous users (since anonymous users cannot do this). The latter option is available from the message list.
• Most importantly, group memberships have been reset. Please go here to select your groups.
• The intercom also accepts parameters. Special:Intercom/selectgroups takes you to the group configuration page, Special:Intercom/writenew takes you to the new message page, and message id parameters show the specified message, for example Special:Intercom/333.

Wigo & Bestof

Aside from background changes, both function similarly. By default, Bestof does not allow changing parameters, but it has an optional parameter, dynamic, which presents a form similar to the old one. This does not use javascript however, and instead reloads the page. Having two dynamic bestof tags on a page will cause both to change their settings simultaneously.

Signature cleaning

Signature cleaning has been disabled. You can now use template transclusion, e.g. {{User:Nx/sig}}, as your signature. What this means is there's no need for the double template trick any more.

Imagelinks

MediaWiki 1.14 supports links to arbitrary pages for images. Template:Imagelink has been updated, but using it is not recommended. Just add a link=target parameter, like this: ([[Image:PHsig.jpg|link=User:Phantom Hoover]]) (use text-bottom to align: ([[Image:PHsig.jpg|link=User:Phantom Hoover|text-bottom]]))

Please report problems to RationalWiki:Technical support. Thank you --  Nx/talk  19:33, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

EddyP for 'crat

A very handsome and intelligent user, though I have not yet had the pleasure of speaking with him. ETrundel 19:59, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

suspicion _and marmite 20:07, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

I am completely neutral. EddyP 20:11, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

We don't need gender information. _and marmite 20:14, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

No! He is an insane, biased Commie Mutant traitor, member of multiple secret societies and all round cad. Also, his first actions would be a Stalinesque power-grab, swiftly followed by a purge of all true anti-communist servants of The Computer, such as Broccoli 21:32, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

It would have worked, had you not shown that you magically had access to ETrundel's email messages. User:Theemperor/Sig/Sig 18:53, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

>:O Damn! I'll get you next time, Team Laser Explosion! Come, The Pigeon! EddyP 19:38, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Coo. ETrundel 19:39, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

An Idea....

Now, after CUR's recent outbreak (see talk:felidae for the most recent shit) I have a proposal. He is going to hate this but fuck him. He said he was leaving but saw more discussion on the future of Felidae. It was in no danger of being deleted, most likely it would have been moved to Fun. However CUR broke silence and again caused a nightmare. What I propose has probably never been done nor never wanted to have done. I say we block and delete his account. I dont want to ban him outright, no we dont do that round here. But this may force him to stop, think, recreate under a new persona and become a valued editor. This isnt because I want rid of him, just rid of his current state. Thoughts? Ace McWicked^{bitch and moan} 22:38, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

That didn't work for SusanG, won't work for me. Though I would like a rename to Arthropleurus. -- 22:40, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

Okay I have renamed you, I'll email you the password for ConservapediaUndergroundResistor. It is up to you to clean up the mess. - User $\scriptstyle h/2\hbar$ 23:31, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

The blocking sounds good since he made a big deal about leaving for at least a week anyhow. But I'm not really sure what the point to deleting his account is. It's not like making a new account changes his personality or makes him grow up about two years or anything. --Kels 22:43, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm sick of listening to him. Can I write an extension that replaces everything he writes with the Cheetah Man image? --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 22:46, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

I dunno, can you? Can you make it a personal monobook thing, where we can replace anything he writes with the template of our choice? ħuman 00:58, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

@Jeeves - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Do it man! Ace McWicked^{bitch and moan} 22:49, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

No to all of this. Would be a really bad precedent & really unnecessary; desysoping is enough. Surely everyone who has been even remotely paying attention to events of the past six months must have known that CUR would leap to the defense of the Felidae article the moment deletion was proposed yet again, notwithstanding his alleged departure. Using his defense of the article as an excuse for really un-RationalWiki-ish steps against him strikes me as very unfair. Wèàšèìòìď^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 22:50, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

I know weasel, just throwing ideas around ya know. I am just so sick of it. How about a blanket ignore CUR rule? Again, unRationalWiki though. Ace McWicked^{bitch and moan} 22:52, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

I don't think we have the extension to delete users here; we do on RWW, and the special page isn't there. Stupid word Phantom Hoover! 07:11, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Deleting users is not possible, except users without any edits at all. On RWW I installed an extension that can merge users, and delete the user whose edits got merged into the other one. -- Nx / talk 18:28, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

I fucked up...

Vandal binned Fall down, disabled account creation, can't figure out how to undo that...TheoryOfPractice 18:35, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Special:VandalBin -- Nx / talk 18:40, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

You do know that the IP is still binned, right? -- Nx / talk 18:46, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

no. No i don't. TheoryOfPractice 18:47, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

I win

So what do I get? ENorman 19:34, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Nothing. Random chance is now dealt with by the slot machine. User:Theemperor/Sig/Sig 19:36, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I got that yesterday and printscreened it. Then I got it five more times. Don't think its random anymore. EddyP 19:37, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Relevant thread is relevant. -- Nx / talk 19:39, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

TOP and Human

They're going on a little deleting spree, deleting pages that they have decided arbitrarily, without a consensus, must be deleted. I'd clean up after then, but as most people here know, I don't have that ability. -- 20:51, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

CUR, STFU & GO TO BED. _and marmite 20:53, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

ToP went bye-bye, but it had nothing to do with our pet twerp. ħuman 07:49, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

First break up therapy

What would you say to a young person going through their first ever break up out of their first "real relationship"? Highschool senior age range. Any suggestions? tmtoulouse 22:20, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

I don't really think there's much you can say that isn't cliche ("More fish in the sea", "if you love them, set them free" etc). I mean, everyone has their first soul-crushing experience sooner or later, it's just something we have to learn to cope with in our own way. How did my friends help me overcome it? By getting me drunk and taking me womanizing, worked for me. Some people need time, others need their friends, some need to hop into bed with the next available person, there's no set remedy which is why it's so hard to help someone overcome it the first time. The only certainty is that the sooner they realize that the first relationship is only supposed to be practice they have a whole lifetime to find love, the easier it'll be for them, so I'd stress that point.
Do be careful, according to that Religulous movie/documentary/whatever, the first breakup can make some people turn to god, because the only way they can console themselves is to become convinced that "god had other plans for them". -Redback^{demands obedience} 22:33, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Didn't we cover this the last time your girlfriend dumped you, Trent? Anyway, one thing I once found tiny solace in was someone telling me that at least now I knew I could "be in love" or "be loved" or however you want to put it. But not much besides time will heal the wound. ħuman 22:42, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

There doesn't seem to be much to do other than be there for them and listen. And having a good dinner. Booze may very well just amplify the misery, so be careful there. Laughs are always good, and a good distraction, so maybe a good comedy would help after or during dinner. Maybe The Big Lebowski? Corry 22:46, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

What he said about listening. Also, yeah, picking "diversions" can be tricky. Music can work well, due to the way it can resonate with the pain, but then stir other emotions. I always found Bridge Over Troubled Water (played really loud) to be a good "transitional" song from the maudlin to the happier. Trouble is, it pretty much has to be self-programmed, unless you know someone's taste quite well. ħuman 23:04, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, what ever happened to a week of angsty music and then you're over it? Surely , that's the time honoured solution. The Velvet Underground were good enough for me, and they ought to be good enough for this generation, dammit! --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 23:06, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

You can't watch this without being at least somewhat happy. Corry 23:08, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Actually, I could use some happy now, but for completely different reasons... ħuman 01:32, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

What about just realising that women are all mean bitches and you shouldn't expect anything else? Fall down 13:55, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Ah! Hadn't realised that you were homosexual, Fd, Welcome to the dark side. _and marmite 14:00, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm not. And you're a woman so that doesn't even make sense.

Oh, and nice of you to call me a homosexual. But this is RW, where libel is allowed. Fall down 14:58, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

The "girls are icky" phase is quite normal for heterosexual boys who are about nine or ten, but when they get to be thirty or forty and they still say that, you gotta wonder if they always stop at 7-11 to pick up Playgirl magazine. Mega 15:13, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

True, Mega. @ Fd: why does my being female make no sense? _and marmite 15:39, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

You have no right to judge me, as being female is a mental disability. You have no idea what makes a man gay. Fall down 01:47, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Do you? I could show you, if that's what you'd like. -Redback^{demands obedience} 01:59, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

"My mother made me a homosexual"
"If I gave her the wool do you think she'd make me one too?"
Генгис^{Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.} 12:56, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Wait wait wait...back up

Why (exactly) would it be libel to infer that one is homosexual? CЯacke® 02:21, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Because if it is done with malicious intent, the act of labeling someone as homosexual can play on the social stigma that still revolves around homosexuality and could, perceivably, result in a negative outcome for the person on the receiving end of the accusation... did I win? What prize do I get? Cash is fine, or a new car. Best make it a car. -Redback^{demands obedience} 02:30, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

planet.rationalwiki.com

Since there is much fiddling with the server right now, I wonder if instead of various rationalwikians using WIGO blogs for self promotion, we couldn't install the planet software and have planet rationalwiki. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 07:44, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I like it. Does that mean we can each have our own blog? -- 13:05, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

We can each have our own blog anyway, this means they all link in a jerk circle link farm, that will get each contributor greater exposure, or passed over by bots depending on how planetplanet is set up. Jeeves is it likley that Google would mistake it for reciprocal linking or is this a means of avoiding that? - π 13:11, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Why are racists so concerned about spelling

I have been editing Metapedia recently and a racist banned me for misspelling Neanderthal as Naeanderthal. Why are racists so concerned about spelling. I noticed similar phenonmenon with Conservapedians. They too get angry on seplling.--EvilFlyingMonkey 10:13, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

You misspelled Volkenhass. Flare^Talk 11:15, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

It gives them a handy escape clause. Just look at Andy: "I can disregard your entire argument because you spelt one word incorrectly." --PsyGremlin_Whut? 11:24, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Don't you mean: "I can disregard you're entire argument because you spellt one word incorectly?" -- 13:07, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Ever try running the book of Genesis (KJV of course just like Jesus wrote) through a spellchecker? Mega 15:11, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, no matter how "good" your argument may be, if you can figure out how to write more correct grammatical sentences, you can be disregarded. SirChuckB^{I brake for Schukky} 19:10, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Goat knows what inspired me to actually do it, but I present The Spellchecked Genesis! --Kels 20:06, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Actually it would be nice if atheists learned to spell atheist. It's not fucking ATHIEST, so I'm not ATHIER than you! Генгис^{Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.} 13:02, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

It's like this

Spellings is important to racists simply because AATTTTCCCCCCGGGGAAGAGATCCA...If you get them A's and T's and C's and G's conflused you'll end up darker.CЯacke® 02:24, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Flawless rationale there! ^sshole 12:46, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

You might not hear from me after this post

I've discovered TV Tropes. Ever so slightly addictive. It was nice knowing you... Totnesmartin 13:16, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I manage to do TV Tropes and RW. Probably because I've read and practically memorized the whole damn site. Once you start using trope-lingo and mixing regular wikicode with tropecode, you've gone off the deep end.

(actually, I like the TVT wikicodes better than the standard ones. They seem more practical. ENorman 16:16, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I sometimes get sucked into TV Tropes as well. Though (for now) "only" as a lurker. --Sid 16:21, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I bounced around reading that for a hwile. It's quite interesting where they're trying to make the excuse of why all aliens in Star Trek not only speak English, but move their lips to the right words too... ^sshole 19:43, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Also, every character is a Time Lord, and every series takes place during the Instrumentality in NGE. ENorman 19:58, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I thought memorizing the site would stop me from spending hours and hours of lurking, but no, after a short hiatus there were many more newly created trope pages to be read (or maybe I missed them the first time). Flare^Talk 06:51, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Ah yes, NGE, the no.1 under "mind fuck". ^sshole 14:33, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Stumblin' around

Found this:

“”ARTICLE 11. As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

—Ratified by the United States June 10, 1797, From here(Yale)

Someone tell Andy. _and marmite 15:14, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

He knows, that's why he mentioned "Adams's quirkiness" in the Founding Fathers article. Mega 15:23, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Liberal vandalism to the constitution, clearly... ^sshole 19:44, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Not constitution, 'twas a treaty. ħuman 20:06, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I almost certainly am), but wasn't the treaty drafted during Washington's term, and was signed by Adams because ratification was done slightly after Washington's term ended? -Redback^{demands obedience} 20:20, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

In the separation of church and state article, the Treaty of Tripoli (whence the above quote was taken) is addressed. They had to do some serious tap-dancing to try and downplay its significance. ListenerX^TalkerX 21:10, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

From the article linked above: the United states did not want to make it seem like it was a Crusade of Christianity against Islam, but rather that the kidnapping actions of the government regardless of their religious views was what was being objected to.
That has got to be some of the stupidest rationale I have seen - ever. Hey, CP dingbats, even if that was their aim, they could have achieved it without the "Not based on christianity" part. Jesus, these guys really, really clutch at straws. Why can't they just face that America is not a christian nation? Must be the fact that freedom of religion is a librul ideal, second only to freedom of speech as the epitome of liberalism. -Redback^{demands obedience} 21:44, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Wow, I just read the CP article for the first time..... I love when they say Thomas Jefferson had almost no role in the creation of the first amendment.... I don't think it's much of a strech to say the entire bill of rights is a result of Jefferson. SirChuckB^{I brake for Schukky} 23:10, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

But was he a Conservative? If not, I doubt he had much to do with writing that stuff. Except, perhaps, as a teenager. ħuman 23:16, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

7 Deadly Scenarios...

...is a absolutely fantastic book for you people who are interested in military history, and military writing. I'm reading it now, and I just can't put it down. User:Theemperor/Sig/Sig 00:42, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Who's it by? I may take a look at it, haven't been to a bookstore in too long. ENorman 03:40, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Andrew Krepenevich (I think that was spelled correctly). User:Theemperor/Sig/Sig 12:07, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Airport Bar Bloody Mary

My, that was good. Thank you Mr. Bartender! DogP 02:38, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Come on then, let us all know which airport supplied this exquisite beverage. And on a slight tangent may I say how crap I find US airline lounges to be. Even the Aєрофлот lounge in Moscow is way better than any of the Continental and Northwest ones I've visited. Генгис^{Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.} 14:47, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Sharing

Poses a very good question... ĴάΛäšςǍ₰ and his Sword of Wiki-Editing! 03:28, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Time Cube

So in that morning moment, just before the caffeine kicks the brain into first gear, I thought I'd have a look at Time Cube again (thanks to whoever WIGOed that, you kick up the jacksey is in the mail). It's as incomprehensible as ever, except it's been updated. By JPatt, by the looks of it.

“”CATASTROPIC WARNING - Obama must resign to save his people from his catastrophe. SUN power will not allow any Black Skin power to rule over its Light Domain. Hell cometh to the dumb, ignorant, educated stupid "Worshippers of ONE", for Creation is of OPPOSITES.

No, I don't know what it means either, and I've ignored some of the other remarks there, which are more suited to SF than anything else. --PsyGremlin_Whut? 05:36, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

You're welcome! Z3ro^talk 14:21, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

"PsyGremlin" (you can't even post in your own Queer Bastard real name), I'd like to see you criticize ONEness Deceit. You've never done that before, have you??? I reread the Beginning of Rant at Top of section and it's the high Word:substance ratio that characterizes the Word Opposite every time, so clearly you're a victim of ONEness cubic Bastard. Like all educated stupid, you deny that God Entity pregnancy stops four-sided moral decay. Observation and cube logic dicate that Carl Sagan was Evil death Opposite spokesmen for Death word Math in the 1970s and 1980s, and an Academia adviser to Jimmy Carter and Worship leaders. You might as Well deny that -1 x -1 = +1 is stupid and evil. Make substantive contributions to this encyclopedia or your Evil account will be One Cancelled without further Notice.--aschlafly, wisest human 06:01, 27 April 2009 (EDT)

Mommy, I'm scared.... ENorman 12:18, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

That right there is a whole new level of stooooopidity. ĴάΛäšςǍ₰ and his Sword of Wiki-Editing! 14:31, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Throwing another sumpin at y'all...

This may not be particually funny, but I would like to share a work of art with the rest of the mob. [1] ĴάΛäšςǍ₰ and his Sword of Wiki-Editing! 15:56, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

This needs the RationalWiki treatment

• Corporate website
• The supposed science

It is pseudoscience, quack medicine, and a pyramid scheme all rolled into one. It is a niche group, with little existing counter information. This is just screaming for RW to take on. Fifth Horseman 17:31, 27 April 2009 (UTC)