If you have been directed to this page[edit]

If you received a note on your talk page asking you to see this page (or saw a note in an edit summary when your changes were reverted), it is because you made changes to an article of a type that has become a problem. Articles on kids' TV shows, kids' movies and some train-related articles have attracted large numbers of changes to dates (and, in some cases, other numbers) without sources that backup the changes or explanations as to why the changes are being made.

What to do[edit]

Not to worry. If you were correcting wrong info, make the change again and include an edit summary explaining how you happen to know what the correct date/information is. If at all possible, please cite your source for the information.

What if I don't do that?[edit]

If you continue to make the changes without explaining why and/or giving your source, you will be blocked from editing.

Further explanation for anyone interested[edit]

For whatever reason(s) numerous IP editors have been making unsourced/unexplained changes to dates for various kids' TV shows (and some movies) and a few train-related articles. When examined, the overwhelming majority of these changes have turned out to be incorrect. The editors in question typically do not provide sources or explanatory edit summaries, ignore all talk requests and continue until blocked. While it is certainly likely that there are fewer editors than there are IP addresses being used, the wide distribution of locations and dissimilar sets of targets seems to indicate there are several editors involved.

As noted, this affects mostly kids' TV shows, with some train-related articles sometimes mixed in. Kids' TV shows involving transportation (Thomas & Friends (and related), Tugs (TV series), etc.) are common targets. Various VeggieTales articles were common targets until the articles were merged and a zero tolerance policy for unsourced date changes was implemented. A similar approach at Baby Einstein has been somewhat less successful.

I am aware that there some people with Autism Spectrum Disorders are very interested in trains and similar subjects. Some people with ASD's are, to one degree or another, unable to communicate or communicate in atypical ways.

All of that said, I am currently at a loss as to how to better handle this. Hopefully, tracking this a bit more closely will reveal some patterns that will allow us to address this issue more concretely.

Examples[edit]

• Colinmiller13
• 65.25.166.255: Tugs (TV series), Thomas & Friends, Theodore Tugboat; "was"/"is" in WP:TVLEAD
• 69.118.9.111: various Arthur, Fresh Beat Band, Wow Wow Wubbzy and The Wiggles articles after several blocks for the same
• 64.121.39.63: Arthur articles, as well as assorted others (one family-friendly film, an article on a child's death
• 107.107.63.28: Arthur (season 7)
• 2601:981:C002:9CC0:5C8A:5913:AFDD:3E26: Arthur (season 7)
• 94.70.1.108: Little Einsteins and trains in Greece
• 85.155.2.141: numerous changes to dates to a variety of shows at a rapid rate

Numerous other examples can be found by clicking the "What links here" tool which will show users' talk pages where they have been warned for making such changes.