The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

Should the article include mention of her master's thesis? Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 14:01, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

A related discussion to this can be found in this WikiProject Biography thread

Pinging @Mvbaron, Joe Roe, Fieari, Rp2006, MrOllie, Roxy the dog, GoodDay, and ScottishFinnishRadish: due to having taken part either in the Wikiproject thread or in discussions within this talk page. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 16:01, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Notified WikiProjects: Biography, Skepticism, Women scientists

Survey[edit]

• No, as RfC creator. I believe this is in violation of various PAGs, mentioned in the thread I have linked above. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 14:12, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• No. Yes, but briefly - per Wikipedia:Reliable_sources#Scholarship: Masters dissertations and theses are considered reliable only if they can be shown to have had significant scholarly influence. This thesis has no secondary sourcing or tertiary sourcing which describes it as notable, significant, or impactful. Ergo, we should not discuss it in any considerable depth. We can mention that it exists, but that's probably about it. If anyone were to find good sourcing which supports a claim of impact, I would be willing to change my mind on this. But I could not find any. (edited 03:35, 25 January 2022 (UTC)) — Shibbolethink ^{(♔ ♕)} 15:23, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes (with some trimming of text). The thesis is in the area of study for which she is known, and part of the narrative throughline linking childhood and profession. This is clearly due a mention in a biography. The amount of text about the thesis is excessive, though, and should be reduced by half. WP:RS, WP:SCHOLARSHIP, and so on are not applicable, because this is not about using the thesis as a source for claims. Sennalen (talk) 15:30, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

We do not post content from unreliable sources on Wikipedia, except for extremely basic and uncontroversial, uncontested claims. Do you have reliable sources which describe the thesis? — Shibbolethink ^{(♔ ♕)} 15:33, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The usage here is allowable per WP:SPS both as a expert in the field of science communication and as WP:ABOUTSELF. Sennalen (talk) 20:37, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Depends. Are you trying to talk about her work broadly and make a statement like she completed her thesis on X? Or are you trying to discuss the content of the thesis? In the first case, I do not see an issue with including it, in the second case WP:NPOV come into play and I do not think it is appropriate. Tepkunset (talk) 15:52, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes to the phrasing of the RFC. I believe the thesis bears mentioning, and [2] is good enough for me to include that it lead to her book. More than that, no. Cheers, all. Dumuzid (talk) 15:58, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• (edit conflict) Yes - (Summoned by bot) but basically per Shibbolethink. That is, the question asks whether the article should include mention of the thesis. So yes, I think a mention of what the thesis was makes sense for a researcher, but anything more than a mention needs some sources which talk about it. So reduce it to a sentence (or two, max) unless other sourcing can be found. — Rhododendrites ^talk \\ 16:02, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes per every inclusionist argument for adding more reliable and informative content to BLPs. Digital = more. Dkriegls (talk to me!) 18:47, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes to that general question the RFC asks: Mention it in a sentence but not more. Trim the current text and remove text sourced to the thesis. per Shibbolethink and Dumuzid. --Mvbaron (talk) 18:59, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No to what I think the RfC question actually is, which is "should the thesis be more than a brief mention". It is completely WP:UNDUE to devote anything more to a topic that has not been covered at all in independent secondary sources. We wouldn't use ABOUTSELF to justify describing someone's blog post in this depth; why is an unremarkable thesis any different? JoelleJay (talk) 23:46, 29 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes and no. Yes to a brief mention (such as a listing of its title), as this is an appropriate thing to include in a biography of someone working in a field related to the subject of the thesis. However, no to any more detailed description of the thesis unless it can be sourced to an independent reliable source. BLPSPS only allows factual claims, like titles of works, not opinion-based material, like a description of what the work is really about. Additionally, unless there is some independent source-based reason to think that the thesis had wider significance than merely completing the requirements for a degree, a single line about it should suffice; the whole paragraph we have now is far out of balance to its significance. —David Eppstein (talk) 01:16, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes The article could, and I expect should, include mention of her master's thesis. It is an aspect of her life that seems to me sufficiently significant to be WP:DUE for mention. I am not expressing any view on how much mention there might be, nor on whether the contents of the thesis are reliable because we have not been asked about such matters. I would be amazed if simple mention violated any WP:Policies and Guidelines but a clear statement of alleged violations would be required. Thincat (talk) 10:03, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I probably should have worded the RfC as "extended mention" or something along those lines, but I feel changing it now would be disingenuous. In any case, the detailed responses from everyone fill in the gaps in my wording well and will provide a good consensus on this issue. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 11:36, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Don't worry about it. In recent years there's never (hardly ever?) been a well-worded RFC. Thincat (talk) 11:46, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

How the WP community manages to carry the utter chaos in here, like a toddler carrying an over-filled paper grocery bag up a flight of stairs, to this more-or-less consistent state of organized knowledge is black magic to me lol. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 12:12, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Yes - her book, Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers is described as being based on her master's thesis by reliable secondary sources. So why wouldn't we give this a (brief) mention? I do not believe the WP:SCHOLARSHIP and WP:RS policies apply to mentioning the thesis in this context. Tewdar (talk) 11:21, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Neutral - As I don't know what a "masters' thesis" is. GoodDay (talk) 16:32, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  GoodDay, it's a thesis usually required to graduate with a Master's degree, usually taking between 6 months to a year of time to write and supervised by a staff member. In her case, the thesis was a requirement for getting her degree in "Science and the Public" from the University at Buffalo. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 16:37, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Yes - include, since it's a rare accomplishment. GoodDay (talk) 16:40, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  It is most definitely not a rare accomplishment at all, GoodDay. My university produces hundreds of these theses a year alone. Globally probably millions a year. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 16:45, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Best to let others weigh in here, at this RFC. I've little to no interest or knowledge in University degrees or thesis. GoodDay (talk) 16:48, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Maybe - If per the comment by Tewdar, that her masters thesis was the basis for her book and this is mentioned in reliable secondary sources about her book, then a brief mention (no more than 1-2 sentences) of this link would be acceptable. However that is only in the context of larger section on the book. Otherwise, it is not due to mention the thesis. Without reviewing the article, are there sources to support this? Sideswipe9th (talk) 19:25, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  There's this, and her website says it is, and the book cites the thesis multiple times. I think a statement like, "Scientifical Americans, based in part on her master's..." is perfectly justifiable. Again, why would anyone want to exclude this rather mundane factoid from the article? Is there something I've missed here? Tewdar (talk) 19:47, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I think it's fair to say that there's a lot of interplay between this section and one at WP:COIN regarding the so-called "Guerilla Skeptics of Wikipedia" more generally, so that may be the subtext you're sensing. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 19:51, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Ahh I see. So that's what GSoW means! I thought it was something to do with the Graduate Student Organization of Wharton or something...Tewdar (talk) 19:57, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  @Tewdar: the current section in the article mentioning her thesis appears to be two paragraphs long. That length is undue, and makes no mention at all of its relevance to her book. A masters thesis is usually not notable, as a great many are produced every year as fulfilment towards university degrees.

  I would agree that your proposed sentence would be far more acceptable, as there is (thanks for the links) sources for that linkage. Her thesis is only notable because of her book. Otherwise it is just a necessary requirement for the degree pathway she was on at university. Sideswipe9th (talk) 19:58, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Well, this RfC doesn't really give many options, just include or don't include. Even so, I don't think describing the contents of the thesis does any harm... probably a little too much detail, however. Tewdar (talk) 20:04, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  At worst, I would say it's just a poorly formed RfC, hardly the worst thing anyone's ever done. But I think a consensus by compromise has formed nonetheless, in favor of trimming any inclusion to just a cursory mention that the master's thesis exists. — Shibbolethink ^{(♔ ♕)} 21:58, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Hey, you should see the RfC I did. They haven't come up with suitable adjectives yet. Tewdar (talk) 00:36, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Yes, but briefly - No harm in mentioning the thesis as the basis of her book, but also no reason to spend any more time on it if the thesis isn't notable in itself. PraiseVivec (talk) 15:38, 4 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, briefly - Mentioning that her master's thesis lead to her book is likely sufficient. No need to go into excessive detail about what it contains... at most a sentence or two of summary, but I'd be fine with (and prefer) just the fact that it led to her book, which is the notable thing. Fieari (talk) 23:57, 6 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes in the article, but not in the infobox. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:23, 8 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• No. As JoelleJay mentions, it is UNDUE prominence to give any detail or an infobox coverage of what is a non-noted thesis meaning not given secondary coverage, and just no importance to others. DUE is supposed to be objectively shown by coverage, which this lacks, although other posters here seem to think it instead means “I feel it should.” The thesis also seems to have had no enduring place in her life so just isn’t a big part of her biography. She wrote a thesis and got a degree like hundreds of thousands of others and help getting a degree is all it did. I just don’t see it as worth a mention. Cheers Markbassett (talk) 05:01, 9 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, briefly. This is not unduly promotional, and arguably due on the page because her Master's thesis is obviously related to everything she did later. But the field in the infobox is for the PhD degree only, unless I am mistaken. My very best wishes (talk) 01:10, 17 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Overall, this page does promote someone who is not so notable using weak sources and by producing too long texts. This needs to be fixed by making the page shorter. But I do not see this as a big problem since the page does not include any misinformation, withholding important information, or outright distortions. If all other editing by GSoW people is like that, this is much ado about nothing. My very best wishes (talk) 22:54, 30 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No. Not as currently written, per Markbassett, it is UNDUE prominence to give any detail … … of what is a non-noted thesis meaning not given secondary coverage, … … DUE is supposed to be objectively shown by coverage, which this lacks. A sentence at most, specifically if linked to any later published work being 'based on' the thesis would be warranted, but this is not. Pincrete (talk) 09:21, 22 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Discussion[edit]

• Note, this is the first in a series of RfCs I will do about various edits I wish to make to the page (which you can see in the diff I provided in the thread "IP reverts"). I will not ping anyone that has participated in this RfC and not on other discussions in this talk page unless they explicitly mention in a reply to this comment that they wish to be notified for further RfCs regarding Hill. I think that's the best way to go about it.Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 11:38, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Why do you want a series of RfC's. What is wrong with the normal editing process? Your pings dont work anyway. -Roxy the dog. wooF 15:09, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I have to agree with Roxy the dog here; RfCs are certainly a useful tool, but as seen above, the constraining of the issues to a single question can be limiting. Normal editing is, to my mind, generally a better approach. As ever, reasonable minds may differ. Happy New Year, to those who celebrate! Dumuzid (talk) 15:20, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Dumuzid please see the section above for why normal editing (or WP:BRD) failed in this instance. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 16:00, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I do understand that, and don't begrudge you RfCs, but I also think it's worth attempting a return to the normal course after an RfC if only to see if new blood (so to speak) has changed the editing landscape. You are, of course, entitled to proceed as you see fit. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 16:03, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I'm assuming because their regular edits were reverted wholesale, and they were told that RFCs we're likely the best way to make headway. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 15:25, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

So they want to do their poor edits by RfC? That's how it appears, compounded by their admitted antithesis towards anything to do with GSoW, which seems to be their cause celebre ATM. -Roxy the dog. wooF 15:29, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

If there is community consensus to implement an edit, I'd be surprised to call it "poor", Roxy the dog. I attempted to notify you of this discussion in good faith seeking discussion. As you have only replied with bad faith I will not notify you in the future, although you are more than free to keep this page in your watchlist and participate as you wish. As can be seen in the above sections of this talk page, various editors have reverted my edits without meaningfully discussing them. Thus, per WP:BRD and feedback I have received from other editors doing multiple RfCs is the only way to proceed towards a better article without starting an edit-war. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 15:59, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Also I'm not sure what your justification is for calling them poor when you had previously admitted to reverting them without reading my justification for them. If you wish to discuss your issues with me you are free to either take it to my talk page or take it to the appropriate noticeboards. If you don't and just continue casting aspersions about my intentions in this wiki I will not hesitate to take it there myself. Any other editor can see that there is no need for all this piss-fighting between us and I'd rather you just back off and focus on the content rather than the person. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 16:12, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

@Roxy the dog: ordinarily I would agree. RfCs are a pretty heavy and bureaucratic way to preform article edits. However there are a number of editors present, including yourself, who refuse to engage with the good faith edits A._C._Santacruz has attempted to make, and show no sign at all of stopping such tendentious behaviour. Per the discussion at COIN, this article along with others edited by GSoW in this topic area are rife with COI and potential BLP issues. However there is a seemingly strong resistance to change from editors outside of the GSoW group.

If the only way to clean up these articles is to do so via RfC, then multiple RfCs will need to be ran. If however the GSoW editors were instead to engage with Santacruz and others at COIN in good faith then that heavy handed process would not be necessary. Sideswipe9th (talk) 19:39, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I don't think they need to engage at WP:COIN, come on. That is, in essence, admitting wrong-doing for which there is very little, if any, proof. But I agree with you: GSoW editors should engage with ACSC in good faith on this talk page and other talk pages. — Shibbolethink ^{(♔ ♕)} 19:46, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

While this is undoubtedly a discussion for COIN, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. I suspect some of that lack of evidence is due to outing concerns, and also the number of articles involved that would require a review to establish it beyond reasonable doubt. I'd be happy to discuss further at COIN or your talk page. Feel free to ping me at either if you want. Sideswipe9th (talk) 20:03, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

A COI has not been sufficiently demonstrated, and no poor edits have been attributed correctly to GSoW editors, so I see no need for GSow editors to out themselves, unless they feel like doing so. RP, for instance seems to acknowledge their involvement, though in all the years I've known them, they appear to embrace P&G wholeheartedly, and the pettiness of this campaign is astonishing. People are going about this wrongly, arse backwards. Identify problem articles rather than allegedly problem editors. Note : This article is not a problem article. -Roxy the dog. wooF 23:41, 30 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Roxy I will collapse your comment above unless someone else opposes me doing so. Leave COIN discussions for COIN, and stay on-topic in this discussion of the RfC, please. Labelling other editors as petty or your colorful use of language are both unnecessary for what is really all things considered a terribly boring, run-of-the-mill RfC. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 01:16, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

A.C. Santacruz -- I would respectfully oppose the collapsing, for a couple reasons. First is peculiar to me: I think we try to bound talk page discussions too much and should broaden our borders a bit. But more substantively, I think it generally serves only to exacerbate disputes, and I think it would especially do so where you are 'involved' (no offense intended by that term, of course!). I agree with your underlying point, however. Let's stick to the question at hand and let the other venues resolve themselves. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 01:43, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

That's a fair assessment. Will do as promised then, Dumuzid. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 14:02, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Is there any opposition to me closing the RfC as "There is consensus to keep mention of the thesis to one or two sentences, within the context of it being the inspiration for her book. Arguments against any mention cite the policy of Wikipedia:Reliable_sources#Scholarship, but the majority of users believe this is not enough to warrant not mentioning the thesis at all. Those against more than a passing mention argue based on WP:DUE and WP:NPOV. There were arguments to include more than that, but they were not the majority opinion nor based on policy."? I don't see the need for this RfC to go much longer, as I feel the consensus is quite clear. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 14:13, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  yes, you shouldn't close your own RFCs. An uninvolved editor needs to do it. also RFCs may run up to 30 days unless the participants end it WP:RFCCLOSE. This one is heading to a SNOW close anyways in my opinion, so there shouldn't be a problem closing it. Mvbaron (talk) 14:20, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Fair, hopefully someone else closes it soon, then. Don't see the point in the process going longer just for the sake of it. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 14:24, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I would suggest that in the future you don't bother opening an official RFC. You can use the RFC format for structure in a less formal discussion if you'd like, but avoiding opening a full RFC makes it a lot easier to move on once consensus is clear. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 14:29, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Fair, I'll do that for the next discussions. My main concern was without RfC notices the bias in the editors who have this page watchlisted might alter the results but I guess as long as I notify the wikiprojects (especially wp:bio, since so many users watchlist that), that concern is significantly lessened. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 15:04, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  No, opening this RFC was the correct thing to do. The stark contrast of the consensus emerging from the RFC and the aggressive and unreasonable stonewalling in the discussions leading to this RFC attest to the need of said RFC. Mvbaron (talk) 19:20, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I agree completely. What I mean is more that the benefit is coming from more eyes and editors being involved in the discussion rather than the bureaucracy of RfCs, so (as I did for the thread before, just need to add the text testifying that) as long as I notify the relevant wikiprojects and the questions/issues to discuss are concise and clear this talk page should be able to avoid the stonewalling from now on. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 19:30, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

After attending the Phenomenology Conference in Gettysburg, PA, Hill wrote about her observations for the Center for Inquiry (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry). She described what she saw as a shifting attitude of these paranormal groups from a "sciencey-sounding" approach to a spiritual one. She refers to an example of this change, the Catholicism-influenced TV show Paranormal State, noting a lack of scholarship and noting that contemporary investigation teams seemed to be able to "do as they please". Of these paranormal groups, Hill wrote that it is critical for observers of paranormal culture to note "how important FEELING is in these experiences, rather than THINKING." I don't believe it should, based on A) Her opinions described here are not published in independent RS, so I don't see the point in including it B) adding more of her opinions just for the sake of content is unencyclopedic almost to the point I'd consider it WP:Fancruft or WP:SOAPBOXing Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 15:43, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Survey 2[edit]

• No, as discussion starter -- Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 15:48, 31 December 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No, as it's a primary source given undue prominence. --Animalparty! (talk) 02:15, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No, but I think it could be rewritten using [4] in a similar spirit (pun intended). Dumuzid (talk) 02:43, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Sadly that is paywalled to me, but if anyone else can verify Hill is quoted or mentioned in the article I'd appreciate that input. I'm not entirely sure what the copyright policy is with articles (i.e. how much content can be shared) so I won't ask for text itself, just a description of how Hill is used in the piece. The find is much appreciated, Dumuzid!Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 02:55, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  So, in essence, it is a brief bit of her description of paranormal television becoming more "science-y", though this time focused on the series "Ghost Hunters." A key quote (this much fair use I am comfortable with): “They had gadgets, they talked in jargon, it sounded professional,” Ms. Hill said. “It was convincing to the person at home that this was a serious thing going on in the world.” Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 03:02, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  (edit conflict) It's the type of secondary source so much needed in this article. e.g. "Sharon Hill... sees the rise of nonfiction paranormal television shows like Syfy's Ghost Hunters... as particularly influential in the culture" and then features several of her quotes on the topic. Thus it is the NY Times providing weight and context to Hill's views, not Wikipedians. --Animalparty! (talk) 03:08, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  (reply to both) These are great quotes. I think they'd be much more fitting to an article on paranormal television than Hill's BLP, but I don't necessarily have an issue with including a few sentences based on the NYT topic. After all, she is an expert on the topic and her BLP should include some of her views on her subject of expertise if published by RS.Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 03:12, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No, rewrite using 3rd party sources - Per Dumuzid and conversation above. I'm sorry to hear A. C. Santacruz feels the need to do an RfC for every change due to edit warring with IPs, but I am glad to see that this RfC in particular might lead to a considerable improvement of the text without cutting information. Fieari (talk) 04:05, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• 'No, rewrite using secondary sources - Per Dumzid above. The source currently used is WP:PRIMARY and should be replaced with a reliable secondary source. Sideswipe9th (talk) 18:35, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Discussion 2[edit]

This passage is based on a primary source (written by the subject), given undue weight. WP:PRIMARY states Do not base an entire article on primary sources, and be cautious about basing large passages on them. WP:BLPSELFPUB allows some self-published sources, so long as the article is not based primarily on them. This article overall has the essence of selectively showcasing the views of and writings of Sharon A. Hill (which would be fine for a magazine article, of which Wikipedia isn't), rather than summarizing what Hill is most known for, which can only be demonstrated by independent secondary sources. There is a large deal of editorial discretion in picking one or a few choice tid-bits from Hill's columns or podcast appearances and inferring these are among the most notable aspects of the subject, a practice which hinders WP:NPOV at best and approaches WP:OR or WP:PROMO at worst. --Animalparty! (talk) 02:15, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

@Fieari: replying to you here. The reason for the repeated RfCs is due to some disruptive behaviour by other by both IP and registered editors. It's unfortunate that some editors are stonewalling progress in cleaning up the article, but unless they chose to engage in good faith with Santacruz this is the only way to establish a consensus. It runs the risk of RfC fatigue, but compared to the alternative of edit wars, AN/ANI referrals, etc. it is preferable. Sideswipe9th (talk) 18:38, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Would you want to work with someone who at the same time leads a massive campaign against you on noticeboards for months? I understand that the GSoW folks would not want to cooperate with someone like that. Or with someone who disses them as "stonewalling progress". --Hob Gadling (talk) 19:14, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I propose the following wording for the section: Hill sees the increased number of paranormal TV shows as allowing paranormal theories to become more influential in culture due to the atmosphere of professionalism and science curated by these shows misleading viewers into believing invention as fact. What do y'all think? It's not a direct quote nor can I read the NYT article, but if Dumuzid or Animalparty believe it is supported by the source I think we could add this into the article and move on.Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 18:53, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

It's not an "atmosphere of professionalism and science". It's something that looks like it to a layperson, but it's fake. --Hob Gadling (talk) 19:14, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

That's fair, Hob Gadling. How do you suggest the sentence be phrased to incorporate that? Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 19:17, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I agree with Hob Gadling's point here; perhaps a "thin veneer" of professionalism and science? Trying to find an apt way to point out that it's nonsense. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 19:22, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Veneer was the word I was thinking. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 19:24, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I like that -- I would add from the source something like "This went hand in hand-in-hand with the growth of websites about the unexplained and mysterious--like certain Reddit communities--which gave believers the chance to connect worldwide." I am not at all picky about the wording here, but I think it's worth trying to get in the complete thought, as it were. Happy Friday, everyone! Dumuzid (talk) 19:20, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

That's a great quote. Damn, Dumuzid, next time I want good quotes for an article I'll make sure to ping you /s :D! Perhaps that quote could be added paraphrased as part of a second sentence? It would also be interesting to see if she has any thoughts on online skeptic communities. Being able to contrast her thoughts on those two could give some interesting nuance, if there is some way to do it without WP:SYNTH. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 19:25, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Sorry, I was a bit misleading there -- that is in fact my paraphrase, so use it as you wish. In the interest of avoiding copyright issues, the actual quote is: The internet allowed for people across the globe to connect with each other over paranormal interests, Ms. Hill added. Reddit became a popular forum to discuss unexplainable mysteries, such as an eerie experience at a rest stop or claims of a demonic run-in at a hospital unit. The site added a new element to these stories by making them interactive, with readers going back and forth in the comments, joining and adding to the narrative themselves. Sorry for my imprecision! Dumuzid (talk) 19:29, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

In that case your original paraphrase mostly works, although I'm unsure if it should be phrased as an opinion from Hill, an observation by the NYT article or just stated as you did. No particular preference, but it is a choice to make. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 19:32, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

If it's supported by the NYT, I think it's fine to say in wikivoice. Although it's a summary of Hill's words, it's also a WP:BLUE situation, so I think we're okay. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 19:33, 7 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

Is the inclusion of Brian Regal's review of her book in the article due? A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 17:40, 12 February 2022 (UTC) Notified WikiProjects: Biography, Skepticism, Women scientistsReply[reply]

Why is WikiProject Skepticism not in the list of notified projects (bio|sci|soc|policy) in the banner? In fact, why does it include Projects not listed on the Talk page? Rp2006 (talk) 07:15, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Those aren't WikiProjects, Rp2006 they're topic lists. It has to do with how RfCs are categorized, see WP:RFC/A and WP:FRS. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 07:21, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Survey 3[edit]

• No, as nominator. -- The section "Scientifical Americans" consists solely of a review by Brian Regal published in Skeptical Inquirer, a publication owned by the company Hill was a technical and scientific consultant for. She also published articles for SI. Therefore, the source in which the review is published is not independent, and thus I don't think it is WP:DUE inclusion. Note that WP:INDEPENDENT says: If Wikipedia is, as defined by the three key content policies, an encyclopaedia which summarises viewpoints rather than a repository for viewpoints, to achieve this goal, articles must demonstrate that the topic they are covering has been mentioned in reliable sources independent of the topic itself. While this quote is meant for whole articles, I argue that it applies to the content within as well. The book has not (per my own research) been reviewed in any independent, major book reviewing publication. It has no major legacy nor influence either in its field or in culture. Thus, I argue that a single, non-independent review of the book is not a proper summary of the majority opinion in reliable sources: there is no opinion because the book is not notable. Including the review reduces the neutrality of the article and is WP:UNDUE. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 17:40, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• No. Hill has "contributed reports and articles" to Skeptical Inquirer, so it's basically a colleague (perhaps a friend?) writing positively about her book. Essentially, it's promo. At best, a mention of the review would be suited to a standalone article about the book (provided that it meets WP:NBOOKS) and balanced with other reviews from independant sources. Just a reminder, though, that there's no policy governing the inclusion of content in articles except WP:ONUS. However, this should not prevent editors from drawing potentially useful analogies with other policies and guidelines to explain why they argue for the exclusion or inclusion of content. JBchrch talk 18:26, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  A note: Hob Gadling has been quoting and interpreting this comment at various points and for various purposes below. Proceed with caution. JBchrch talk 17:23, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Yes. The reasons given here are silly. Regal and Hill are obviously interested in similar rather obscure subjects, and there are not that many publications dedicated to those subjects. Please name another English-language journal of similar reputation that would review a book about paranormal amateur researchers. You can't. So, it is difficult to avoid publishing in those publications. If we start assuming people are "friends" or "colleagues" because they published in the same specialized outlets, lots of reviews would need to go. It does not need to be in exactly this form, but there is no real reason not to mention the review. All this is just part of the ongoing vendetta against skeptics on Wikipedia. --Hob Gadling (talk) 19:55, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  but there is no real reason not to mention the review. But what's your argument for inclusion, though? Because as you know, the instruction manual says that verifiability does not guarantee inclusion and that the onus is on those in favor. JBchrch talk 01:39, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Hill wrote a book, and it was reviewed. It is normal to include that. This article is not so long that we have to cut it down as much as possible. --Hob Gadling (talk) 05:49, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I agree: if the issue is being framed in terms of WP:ONUS, I can't imagine that a consensus significant enough to override the status quo will arrive at the conclusion that a review of one of the subject's better known works is irrelevant, seeing as the mention of such reviews is pretty stock standard practice across BLPs for public intellectuals. I honestly think this is a borderline WP:SNOW call, but we'll see how it bears out. SnowRise ^{let's rap} 06:35, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  This discussion is going nowhere, so I'm going to stop now. I will note that there's no basis for the assertion that this is normal, and recommend that you read Meta:Exclusionism so you can see where some editors stand on this issue. JBchrch talk 14:55, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  On second thought, Skeptic Magazine is another such journal. That does not detract much from my reasoning though. --Hob Gadling (talk) 06:54, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Yes. It's a published book review in an RS-publication. Unsupported supposition is not a valid reason for excluding an RS. Gamaliel (talk) 22:11, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Gamaliel, what do you mean by unsupported supposition? A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 23:30, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I gather Gamaliel is talking about the implications above that the review is some sort of quid pro quo, or at least certain to be the result of some sort of cozy relationship that automatically disqualifies it from being considered a legitimate part of critical reception for the book. I for one agree that is highly speculative, and the proffered principle itself is not reflected anywhere in policy that I am aware of--and is certainly nowhere to be found in the cited policy of WP:DUE. The source is clearly WP:RS and the WP:INDEPENDENT read is (at worst) a slightly mixed bag: the source easily satisfies two of the three loci enumerated in the balancing test defined in said policy, and only partially conflicts with the third, at most. Any remaining issue can be easily addressed with clear attribution, including the possibility of express notation through as simple a change as "Historian and fellow Skeptical Inquirer contributor Brian Regal . . ." In fact, the article already explicitly notes the fact that both individuals have published with that magazine. With respect, the objections I am seeing in the discussion thus far seem to constitute a false dilemma: any issues with inclusion can be easily resolved with pretty minimal adjustments. SnowRise ^{let's rap} 06:16, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I'll wait for Galamiel to respond, but there is actually no consensus that Skeptical Inquirer is reliable. See Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_364#Columns at Skeptical Inquirer. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 06:53, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I appreciate you linking that discussion for additional context: I've just read a significant chunk of it, but I'll pause on further observation until I can digest all of it. Needless to say, my opinion on the issue here would pivot by necessity if there is a good reason to deprecate IS (regardless of the validity of any of the other policy observations) but it wouldn't do to make a judgement as to that RS question without more consideration. SnowRise ^{let's rap} 07:07, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  A book review is not a column. --Hob Gadling (talk) 06:59, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Correct, but the discussion also talked about SI as a whole and reached no consensus on either the columns or the whole publication. If you wish to show there is community consensus SI is reliable as a source, I encourage you to start a thread at WP:RSN. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 07:06, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  The discussion did not "talk about SI as a whole". It was clearly framed as being about columns. When you tried to change the subject to SI as a whole, I said, The subject here is "Columns at Skeptical Inquirer". You gave your personal opinion that they should be treated the same, but nobody agreed with you.

  Independent of that, book reviews are clearly a very different subject. Editors have little influence on them in any case, in SI or elsewhere. --Hob Gadling (talk) 07:15, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  I concur with the comments by SnowRise. Gamaliel (talk) 13:06, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No. Per Santacruz and JBchrch above, it is not due. I agree with the comment that it might be due on an article about the book, if that book itself met WP:GNG, but it is not due in this context. Sideswipe9th (talk) 00:25, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes. (Summoned by bot) Per my observations immediately above. The source is WP:RS, doesn't really violate WP:INDEPENDENT, is fully attributed, and directly engages with one of the subject's works. It quite easily meets and exceeds the requirements of WP:DUE for the purposes of a brief mention. SnowRise ^{let's rap} 06:16, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

  Snow Rise above you mention "two of the three loci enumerated in the balancing test defined in said policy", I was wondering what you are referring to. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 08:59, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• Yes. It seems the argument for exclusion is based on false premises. Skeptical Inquirer is a reliable source (and the recent RSN discussion did not change that evaluation), and WP:INDEPENDENT envisions a much closer relationship than what we have here - and even when it does apply, it suggests attribution. This article already presents the mention with proper attribution. - MrOllie (talk) 15:19, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, reduced, with a few supporting comments:

Firstly, the question about whether the source is independent or not does not determine whether it can be included. The essay on Independent sources which was cited needs be treated with care because it "is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community." In particular, it focuses on what IS independent and why they are important, which means it often loses sight of other sources that can also have a role - but they are mentioned. For example it says "Non-independent sources may be used to source content for articles, but the connection of the source to the topic must be clearly identified" and later, "Once an article meets this minimal standard [for notability], additional content can be verified using any reliable source." I don't have any problem with independence on this article, but even if somebody disagrees about that, it does not prevent it being used in the article.

Secondly, there was some question whether a review of the book even belongs in the article about the author. So I checked four Featured Articles on authors, and all of them included reviews and responses to their works. Should we aim for a lesser standard?

Finally, I would like to reduce the quotes in this review section and just summarize his findings. Better still if other reviews could be added: there is a short one from Protoview (available through Wikipedia Library), but it is uncredited and I don't know how reliable the source is (not listed at RSP), so probably not worth any more than a quick mention. Perhaps something like "Protoview's review notes how she suggests that the greatest contributions can come from doing genuine research, rather than simply mis-using legitimate scientific terminology and concepts without their actual meaning."^[1]--Gronk Oz (talk) 11:23, 14 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Thanks for finding the source on Wikipedia Library, Gronk Oz — I myself am trying to use it more. Protoview's link is not a review however, but an Unbiased content summary of an academic book. The final sentence in the summary, The core of her book is her study of amateur research and investigation groups (ARIGs), who are passionate about extraordinary claims and the paranormal., probably could be used as a basis for a description of her book. Note that I do think her book should be mentioned in her BLP (there's a reason why it's mentioned in the NYT when quoting her), and that reviews should be included if independent ones can be found, but as the only review is not independent my point above is that we are creating an undue promotional balance by including it. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 13:09, 14 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Protoview's reviews are classified as book reviews in numerous library databases, so I see no reason we should not treat them accordingly, and I support inclusion. Gamaliel (talk) 14:55, 14 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

• No. The connection between the two is too close for the review to be considered independent. BilledMammal (talk) 00:23, 15 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes - Of course. This source is not proposed for WP:NBIO evaluation. Keep the attribution, as is usual for reviews. It's also from someone notable in the topic area and the author of Pseudoscience—A critical encyclopedia (the reason I'm familiar with his name). —PaleoNeonate – 11:00, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• If much briefer, yes, but as is, no. (This is on my watchlist now, so I might as well comment.) In reading the page as a whole, the section with the review sticks out like a sore thumb, because it devotes so much text to quoting from one book review. On the other hand, the book being reviewed is by the BLP subject, so the book should get more attention on the page, per due weight. So I think the section should be rewritten, and the arguments in this RfC discussion about COI would really become beside the point. There should be about 2–3 sentences about the book, followed by about 1 sentence citing the review, with attribution. --Tryptofish (talk) 23:36, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• At all? Yes. Unconvinced by the procedural gymnastics demonstrated in the arguments to omit this, and amount of bludgeoning going on here. Does it need its own section -- or more than a sentence or two? Probably not, no. — Rhododendrites ^talk \\ 00:24, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, but - I just realized that I don't believe I have officially weighed in here. If I somehow missed it, please forgive me, but my thoughts are very much in line with Rhododendrites, Tryptofish, and others above. I see no problem in a mention, but it doesn't deserve a lengthy exegesis. As ever, reasonable minds may differ. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 00:31, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, briefly - It is a WP:RS and I agree with the argument that WP:INDEPENDENT does not apply in this case. As for WP:DUE? Complete exclusion is not warranted, but an entire section devoted to it may be a bit much. It could be cut down, merged with another sections, etc... just not excised completely. Fieari (talk) 02:34, 18 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes, briefly The source is WP:RS, doesn't really violate WP:INDEPENDENT, is fully attributed, and directly engages with … the subject's works.. The CoI seems to be of such a low degree that it should not exclude using the review. There is too much rather "flannelly" text from the review at present, but there is no reason to think the reviewer - a subject expert - would be bought so cheaply that this needs to be excised completely. Pincrete (talk) 08:39, 18 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
• Yes It appears to be legitimate comment on the book. However one would reasonably expect more content in the section, so expand it.· · · Peter Southwood ^(talk): 10:04, 18 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Discussion 3[edit]

"While this quote is meant for whole articles, I argue that it applies to the content within as well." Your argument is contrary to policy, and thus null and void. If one applied this to individual contents of every WP article, most all would be slashed to the bare bones. Certainly most bibliographies of authors would be deleted. To what point? But there I go again, stonewalling you. Rp2006 (talk) 18:16, 12 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Which policy? WP:INDEPENDENT explicitly applies to the sources used within an article. The subsequent sentence to the one quoted above is These sources should be independent of both the topic and of Wikipedia, and should be of the standard described in Wikipedia:Reliable sources The source for this review is not independent of the subject of this article, given her past contributions to the source. Sideswipe9th (talk) 00:38, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The claim that "this review is not independent of the subject of this article" because Hill formerly contributed articles to the journal in which the book review was published - by someone with no clear connection to her - falls flat. Also, the review excerpt in the article is a fairly straightforward summary of the book - not a glowing account or similar that might be seen as having been written to hype the book. I fail to see what all this fuss is about, and why every item in THIS article continues to be singled out by this editor for these type of controversial deletions. Rp2006 (talk) 07:01, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Right. It's almost as if there were a Wikipedia guideline "Assume bad faith" about judging skeptic sources. --Hob Gadling (talk) 07:06, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hob Gadling, please see WP:AOBF. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 07:11, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I misunderstood that one at first, so I am deleting my first response. AOBF says you should not accuse others of assuming bad faith without giving evidence in the form of links. "Bad faith" refers to the following edits. I will not copy the links because they are in this thread.

• so it's basically a colleague (perhaps a friend?) writing positively about her book.
• the source in which the review is published is not independent - the source has a connection to someone with a connection to the subject, and that makes them "not independent"? That is, as I said above, silly.

The rules suddenly seem to become stricter when it is about skeptics. Huh. --Hob Gadling (talk) 07:33, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

@A. C. Santacruz: You actually said this to Gadling in the very same thread where you assumed bad faith about my comment about me trying to overcome being obsessive about my own edits? How do you not see the irony? Rp2006 (talk) 07:20, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Another thing about "colleague". You people seem to think that those who write for SI sit in a room together, typing their articles, and get their monthly cheques. But with the exception of the editor and maybe a few organizers and tech people, they have other jobs and do it because they care about the subject. I don't know if they even get paid for what they write for SI. If I did, I would not want any money for it. --Hob Gadling (talk) 07:42, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I tend to agree with Hob Gadling here. There seems to be a sort of slow erosion of SI's status as reliable. It seems reliable to me, but I am willing to hear arguments otherwise. If we assume for the moment it is reliable, I can't see disqualifying such a review as not independent (though there may be other issues). As noted, it's a bit of a niche area. I cannot see, for instance, an issue with a review in Trains Magazine because the author had previously submitted pieces to that publication. Again, if the publication is reliable, we put some faith in the ability to weed out such issues. If it's not, we don't. A bit of a silly comparison, but imagine if we decided that the New York Times was not independent as to everyone who had ever published an op-ed (or whatever we call them in this brave new world). If people would like to argue SI is not a reliable source, that's all well and good, but I think that's an argument that should be made explicit. Then again, I am frequently wrong about a great many things. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 08:24, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

It's not someone that just published a single op-ed, it's someone that was hired for multiple years as a technical and scientific consultant, spoke at its conferences, and published multiple articles in its publications (including a regular column). There is a long-standing working relationship there, paid or otherwise, that causes a conflict of interest and means that the source is not independent. This does not only need to affect the content of a review, but also the request or acceptance of a review. The reliability of SI does not affect how independent a review is. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 08:43, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I simply disagree. Have a nice day. Dumuzid (talk) 08:52, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Is a volunteer "hired for multiple years"? Have you been hired by Wikimedia? SI writers (and consultants) are not paid. Using the word hired here is poisoning the well, despite you adding "paid or otherwise" later. And you have been repeatedly told this. Again: see here, ("The Skeptical Inquirer is unable to pay authors, but authors will be mailed several complimentary copies of the published issue.") Rp2006 (talk) 17:33, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

As I said above, whether she is paid or not the long-standing working relationship and her advisory role to the parent company means that the publication is not independent. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 17:54, 13 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

You know someone is not paid, but you claim they are. When called upon it, you claim it does not matter. That is not how honest discussions work. First you take back the false statement, then you can say it does not matter. --Hob Gadling (talk) 06:51, 14 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

She said it does not matter from the get go (i.e., BEFORE being "called on it", in the very same post that the "false statement" was made). To be clear, you're accusing AC of making a "false statement" because she used the word "hired" in reference to a position that was unpaid, and in the very next breath she said that her argument applies equally whether the position is a paid or an unpaid one (in other words, that it doesn't matter). Then you accuse her of not saying that it doesn't matter until after being "called out", when in fact she had. That's some pretty elaborate wikilawyering, Hob Gadling, and is downright dishonest. 2600:1702:4960:1DE0:A036:88B7:C36F:4744 (talk) 02:28, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

[6] being a consultant for CSI is NOT even a paid position

"You know someone is not paid"

[7] someone that was hired for multiple years as a technical and scientific consultant

"but you claim they are"

[8] SI writers (and consultants) are not paid.

"When called upon it"

[9] As I said above, whether she is paid or not

"you claim it does not matter"

See? It was exactly as I said. Yes, she had said before it does not matter, but that does not change anything. Hiring implies payment. --Hob Gadling (talk) 09:55, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hiring does not imply payment to me, as I have done various jobs in the past for no compensation. What term would you suggest be used for CSI engaging in a long-term professional relationship with Hill, Hob Gadling? I'm glad to change the terminology I use if it is the source of misunderstandings. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 10:22, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Would "employ", "enlist", or "appoint" work? A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 10:22, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Employment implies payment. The others do not, I think. --Hob Gadling (talk) 12:13, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I'll use appoint then, but I think my points above still stand even with the new terminology. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 12:31, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

If we look to our colleagues at Wiktionary, "hire" means "To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment" (and other senses that are minor variations, all depending on payment).[10] "Employ" is much the same: "To hire (somebody for work or a job)".--Gronk Oz (talk) 22:40, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

[11] The spanish wiktionary equivalent does not outline payment as necessary, Aceptar a alguien para que realice un trabajo o un servicio, normalmente mediante una contraprestación económica. translates as "accepting someone to perform a job or service, usually through an economic benefit to the counterparty". Neither does the Spanish Royal Academy [12]. I guess it's one of those bilingual slips where the connotations in one language don't translate to the other. But again, we're getting into semantics and my point still stands. Someone appointed as a consultant for multiple years has a long-term professional relationship with the company that may result in conflicts of interest by either party. I'm certainly inclined to believe that is the source for her book being reviewed by SI when we can't find any other review outside of a service that mass-reviews academic books. Also, I realized that the article does not have a link to the review, you may wish to read it here (from Regal's website). A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 23:13, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

'Professional' also implies that they're deriving some direct or indirect financial benefit. The word you're looking for is 'volunteer'. She does volunteer work for the Center for Inquiry. MrOllie (talk) 23:32, 16 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Ok at this point it's a bit of an exaggeration to call her a volunteer, MrOllie. She spent years as a consultant, published a number of articles for their publications, and spoke at their conferences. How could that not be considered a professional relationship? Are you arguing she received no direct or indirect financial benefit from her connection to CFI? I am genuinely confused. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 00:04, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Because a profession is defined as a paid occupation. If your argument is strong you should not be resorting to blurry language like this to imply financial COI where none exists. MrOllie (talk) 00:12, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I don't see any point in engaging further with this, MrOllie. My language is not blurry, I believe I have argued coherently above while observing PAGs to the best of my ability, and I don't think either of us is going to convince the other. When one needs to resort to dictionary definitions in order to get some kind of "gotcha" moment while evading or ignoring the spirit of the argument, we will get nowhere. I encourage the others to just let it go and recognize that we won't convince each other. I hope y'all do your best to convince previously uninvolved editors of your perspective in the rest of the RfC the same way I will. I don't claim to know the truth of how best to handle inclusion or mention of the review more than y'all, nor do I claim to understand the nuances of WP COI guidelines better than y'all. Let's just hope that whatever the result of the RfC is that we've been able to guide constructive discussion towards a result that will benefit our ability to cover the subject in a more encyclopedic manner than before. A. C. Santacruz ⁂ Please ping me! 00:26, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I found this particular RFC to be frivolous. As I noted this is only a review and one by a notable person, there's nothing peculiar or suspect with it and it's not even controversial information. It would be different if the situation was that most of the article was to be based on it (and obviously no RFC would be needed to fix that), or if it was very controversial like pushing conspiracy theories or false medical claims without independent analysis... —PaleoNeonate – 17:54, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Amen. Rp2006 (talk) 18:59, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

You accuse someone of launching a "frivolous" RfC, and your argument is that... you disagree? And that people should only launch RfCs when WP:FRINGE or WP:MEDRS are involved? Come on, I'm sure you know better than this. JBchrch talk 19:21, 17 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

(I never know how to handle indenting when outdenting is involved. Never mind.) That is quite some a strawman, turning this is only a review and one by a notable person, there's nothing peculiar or suspect with it and it's not even controversial information - four substantial reasons - into you disagree. --Hob Gadling (talk) 10:51, 18 February 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]