Talk:2133: EHT Black Hole Picture

...someone edited the page to describe the EHT as "This comic references the non-existent "Event Horizon Telescope", an international project dedicated to deceiving the masses into thinking that black holes are real, in accordance with the whims of the Zionist conspiracy." wot? 9yz (talk) 17:43, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Seems like there are a lot of vandals nowadays... I don't think I would be against requiring registration to edit pages. Linker (talk) 19:19, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

I totally agree. It doesn't really detract from the ability to edit a page, it's still easy, but it just adds an extra step for vandals. 9yz (talk) 19:27, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

I am also in favor of a registration requirement. I don't see a great proportion of helpful edits from users who aren't logged in. Requiring registration to edit seems like it could potentially be more effective & easier to implement than other moderation tactics. ProphetZarquon (talk) 20:26, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

As someone who has made a half dozen or so edits (including once writing the first draft of a description of a comic) and probably two dozen comments over the past 5 years without ever creating an account I won’t say you are wrong, but there will be fewer people editing and making comments if registration is required. Will registering keep vandals from vandalism? I very much doubt it. Who will enforce the termination of accounts?and what’s to stop vandals from creating multiple accounts? Again, I’m not saying you are wrong, but I will suggest that registration isn’t the panacea you might hope it to be... 162.158.78.82 04:31, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

I'm honestly surprised it isn't a requirement already...--Jlc (talk) 21:55, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

I probably wouldn't register but I do like to make the occasional comment. 162.158.214.28 11:47, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

It's true, and you know that it's true, fucking shill. -- 108.162.246.215 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I know that it exists, and I'm not going to argue it. Oh, also not signing a post doesn't hide your IP. You can literally see the IPs of anyone who edits the page, Mr. 108.162.246.215 9yz (talk) 17:49, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

The IPs are irrelevant anyway, they're CloudFlare's -- 162.158.90.36 18:23, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

"Shill" implies that someone's paying us to correct these fallacious & bigoted statements. Do you really think any of us get paid to remove these blatantly offensive & frankly ridiculous assertions that space exploration is somehow a worldwide Jewish deception? Personally, I just enjoy accuracy. ProphetZarquon (talk) 20:26, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Couldn't "shill" also mean somebody acting as if they weren't part of the group, to test that somebody was loyal and obedient? 172.68.65.210 22:28, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

It seems like many of these vandals are using IPs associated with generally good-willed editors in the past, e.g. Special:Contributions/108.162.246.215. Are they just connecting from places with public wifi? --Youforgotthisthing (talk) 02:25, 7 April 2019 (UTC)

In the transcript, Cueball is described as standing behind a podium. He may be standing /on/ a podium, but he is standing /behind/ a lectern. Seezee (talk) 17:47, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Arent podiums and lecterns the same thing? 9yz (talk) 17:49, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

No - https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-lectern-and-vs-podium/

No. Podium (from the Latin root meaning "foot") is the thing you stand on, a raised platform or dais. Lectern (from Latin "to read") is the stand that provides a place for notes or other written prompts, from which a speaker may read during a lecture or presentation. It's not uncommon for people to conflate them. Seezee (talk) 18:02, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

If enough people conflate them, it's not a mistake any more, it becomes another definition. And lexicographers often use written uses as confirmation, so anyone who wants to see podium get this sense should forward this URL to all the dictionary publishers.Barmar (talk) 18:15, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

What's the threshold for "enough people" (itself a grammatically incorrect phrase; see https://grammarist.com/usage/amount-number/)? In any case, I'm not getting into a debate about prescriptive vs. descriptive lexicography as it's off-topic and trollish. Besides, the transcript has been updated. Seezee (talk) 18:23, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

"Enough people" is fine grammatically because "enough" can refer to either an amount or a number; it the case of "enough people" it's referring to a number of people. 162.158.214.28 02:42, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

1661: Podium That's right, Jacky720 just signed this (talk | contribs) 19:15, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Heh. I'd forgotten that. Thanks, Jacky720! Seezee (talk) 19:27, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Totally forgot! Awesome 9yz (talk) 20:21, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Thank goodness someone corrected that. A million people using the wrong word doesn't mean it's the right word (especially when the root words have obviously different meanings); It just means a million people are using unclear\inaccurate language. Common usage ≠ correct usage. It's utility that matters: In this case, if a lectern is also a podium, what is the thing you stand on??? Podium is a common error, but it's still an error. Popularity doesn't equal truth. ProphetZarquon (talk) 20:26, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

That is very incorrect. Language is not a natural resource; it can't be measured or described outside of how it is used. If podium commonly used and understood to mean the thing you stand behind, and it's been used that way by many people for a long tome, the thing you stand behind is a podium. You can disagree with that usage all you like, it isn't any less correct. HisHighestMinion (talk) 13:26, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

I would call that a stool. Also, FWIW, words have different meanings from their roots all the time. Incredible originally meant unreliabe. 162.158.62.67 14:16, 7 April 2019 (UTC)

Is there really anything else we need to add to the explanation? It seems complete.9yz (talk) 19:02, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Ah, Pinterest. That website where you have to create an account to view pictures. And then once you do that and get to the post you want, you discover the original “pinner” literally just posted a photo from somewhere with zero indication of where it came from or how to find it so now you’re back to square one but have wasted a bunch of time, been spammed to death by emails and sold your soul to Pinterest. Herobrine (talk) 06:50, 6 April 2019 (UTC) Tha's why whenever I do a Google search I add -pinterest . . . . 162.158.214.28 11:47, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

I don't know if these are appropriate for the explanation, but NASA and ESA have been being coy on Twitter. 172.68.143.162 23:11, 7 April 2019 (UTC)