Wikivoyage talk:Joke articles/Springfield (USA)

Images

Someone expressed concerns about copyright issues resulting from using images captured from the TV show, so I have not used any. Also, real-life images are probably better or a travel article, but it limits us in what we can show, unless we want to use stand-ins, e.g., a similar-looking nuclear power plant. I have looked for a failed to find a suitable picture of a tire fire, which makes me sad. Ground Zero (talk) 16:06, 23 March 2021 (UTC)

A book of interest...

There's a hilarious book titled The Simpsons Guide to Springfield written in travel guide style that would be of great use to this article. I owned a copy at some point, albeit not anymore. If anyone can get their hands on it before April Fool's, it's unbelievably comprehensive and lists pretty much anything that was ever travel-like mentioned in a Simpsons episode. In the interim, the Simpsons Wiki lists most/all of its locations, so we can use that to help build up the article. Vaticidalprophet (talk) 16:11, 23 March 2021 (UTC)

Banner Image

I was thinking it might be more nostalgic (possibly clever?) if the banner image were of clouds or a cloud with a blue sky (if it exists) like in the very first part of the opening theme song. It would be a good reference (to me) but then we could maybe move the Krusty's image to the top while keeping the donut image below. Right now the images are crowding the article and the donuts are doubled (and I like the one in the article more than the banner). I don't know if there is a cloud image like that available, but if it's possible, I think it'd be nice. ChubbyWimbus (talk) 12:10, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

In an earlier discussion, User:Ikan Kekek expressed concern about copyright issues arising from using images from the TV show. Maybe there is a picture of similar, actual clouds you'd like to suggest? Ground Zero (talk) 12:44, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Yes, I was thinking of real clouds. Since it is just clouds in a blue sky, I thought it might not be too difficult to find or even upload if someone finds a clear sky with a few clouds. ChubbyWimbus (talk) 15:00, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

I like this idea, if a suitable photo can be found. —Granger (talk · contribs) 07:13, 25 March 2021 (UTC)

Watch section

There is a mountain of material we could include that would be higher than even Mt Springfield; in fact there is a whole wiki dedicated to the Springfieldverse. As much as I remember and am a fan of Troy McClure, would a travel article include a long list of one actor's work? I kind of thinks this is out of scope for a travel article. Ground Zero (talk) 13:37, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Okay, next time you to go Springfield, tell them the complete works of their hero are worthless.

In all seriousness, though, I would object to cutting the list entirely, but would accept a trim down to one column if others thought it was necessary. Remember, this is a joke article that will be published for precisely one day only, and it's not going to be much fun if people start trying to have content removed.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 14:41, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

TT: I haven't deleted any of the content you've added.

Over the next few days, we could add a tonne of Simpsons trivia. There have been 639 episodes so far. I think it will be funnier if it looks like a travel article, rather than one of the hundreds of sites out there that document life in Springfield.

But I will defer to other editors on this. Ground Zero (talk) 15:15, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

GZ: I know you haven't, but you are "trying to have content removed" =) It's no biggie.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 16:02, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

I started the discussion here because we resolve things through discussion and consensus.

TBH, this looked like another situation where lots of people woukd talk about doing something, and then nothing would happen. Although I don't usually participate in joke articles, I plunged forward so that we could have a viable article by the end of the week. I am glad to see others contributing now, but I didn't appreciate the suggestion that I was being a killjoy. Ground Zero (talk) 17:28, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Well, I'm glad you created the article; I've had fun with it.

Yes, I do find it goes against the spirit of AF to discuss removing content by saying that it's "out of scope for a travel guide" when this isn't a real travel guide, but as usual will respect consensus and the offer of a compromise reduced list still stands.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 18:22, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

If we're not trying to write something that looks like a travel article, we could have just copied the Wikipedia article on Springfield and saved ourselves a bunch of time.

I doubt we will get other opinions on this, so let's trim it down to 4 or 5 of Mr McClure's most well-loved cinematic triumphs or edutainment films. Ground Zero (talk) 18:55, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

We've obviously got different ideas of what this is for. For you - and correct me if I'm wrong - it's all about the finished product. The traveller, i.e. the end reader, comes first. For me, that is a perfect approach for our normal articles, but April Fools articles are about us, they're for us to enjoy creating something that makes ourselves and each other laugh. If the readers appreciate them too, all the better, but they're not the point; the point is for us to enjoy writing something together, and if it doesn't look like a proper travel guide, it's not a problem as long as we've had fun with it.

Anyway, I've trimmed the film list to the degree I feel appropriate given the fact that no-one else apparently cares enough to comment. At the same time I did away with the long list of Springfields, which is a non-Simpsons-related duplicate of a useful list here.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 19:53, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Main page banner

• 
  Banner 1
• 
  Banner 2
• 
  Banner 3
• 
  Banner 4
• 
  Banner 5
• 
  Banner 6
• 
  Banner 7

A main page banner will be needed, and we only have a few days to go. I was looking around on Commons and found these, which could possibly be cropped to the right size, but none of them are perfect. I tried to avoid images with questionable copyright status. Thoughts, or other ideas? —Granger (talk · contribs) 09:04, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

I've taken the liberty of adding one more (and numbers). Ground Zero (talk) 11:33, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

• Banner 7 per my above banner thread. I think an image reminiscent of the Simpson's iconic intro　is the perfect intro to our article via the banner. ChubbyWimbus (talk) 12:12, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
• Banner 7 looks great to me too. Thanks, Ground Zero. —Granger (talk · contribs) 13:26, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
• 7 works for me too. My second choice is probably 6, since the rest are quite similar to the images in the article.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 14:27, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
• From someone who's watched The Simpsons only occasionally: definitely the clouds. --Ypsilon (talk) 14:29, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
• Banner 1 SHB2000 (talk) 09:38, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Here is a mock-up of Banner7:

Springfield

Destination of the month

Springfield mixes small-town charm with a certain je ne sais quoi cruddiness. It is home to the largest tire fire in the United States.

The caption needs some work.

Version 1: Springfield mixes small-town charm with a certain je ne sais quoi cruddiness. It is home to the largest tire fire in the United States. Ground Zero (talk) 09:43, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ground Zero: Sounds good! The only con that I can see is people not knowing what je ne sais quoi means. AnotherEditor144 (talk) 15:53, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

@AnotherEditor144: As I noted, the caption needs some work. I am hoping that other editors will make suggestions for improving the text. This isn't a one-person project. Ground Zero (talk) 21:14, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

The definition of "je ne sais quoi" is "a quality that cannot be described or named easily". How about indefinable? AnotherEditor144 (talk) 06:47, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

The banner looks too high, if normal banner dimensions are being used. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:35, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

I followed directions at Wikivoyage:Destination of the month candidates/Banners ("Please try to use banner dimensions of 1700 x 567", which are the dimensions of this picture). I'm away from my computer for the rest of the week, and won't try to mess with banners (let alone the Main Page) from my phone, so someone else will have to carry the baton from here. Ground Zero (talk) 21:12, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

I confirm with the very scientific method of lining up this banner and one of those at Wikivoyage:Destination_of_the_month_candidates/Banners side-by-side and using my finger and thumb to measure: the dimensions are the same.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 22:27, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ikan Kekek, ThunderingTyphoons!: Ok, here's a revised Banner 7(.1), with the caption updated:

Springfield

Destination of the month

Springfield mixes small-town charm with a certain indefinable cruddiness. It is home to the largest tire fire in the United States.

It really looks too tall. Is there a way I can see it as it will look on the page? When I click it, I don't see it anymore. Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:15, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

This is the main page panner; it's supposed to be this tall.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 08:19, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Oh. In that case, support. Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:29, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

• Support ChubbyWimbus (talk) 13:38, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

  Support. Alright, banner 7.1 it is then, I would say. AnotherEditor144 (talk) 16:30, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Caption

Here is an alternative:

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" in Springfield, which is home to the largest and longest-running tire fire in the United States.

Can anyone suggest a better alternative? Ground Zero (talk) 01:12, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

Somehow I missed the change to the caption above. I think This version, however, is a better way of letting readers know what the joke is. Any objections? Ground Zero (talk) 20:18, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

That looks good to me.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 21:18, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

Springfield

Destination of the month

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" in Springfield, which is home to the largest and longest-running tire fire in the United States.

S.H.I.T.

Shall we just delete this listing if it's going to cause so much fuss? The abbreviation given in The Simpsons is S.H.I.T, so if that's going to cause a problem, let's just delete the whole entry, because without the initialism, there's no joke.

I don't appreciate the edit warring carried out either. User:AnotherEditor144 might reflect on the fact that the Wikipedia community blocked them with one of the reasons given as "wasting [the community's] time"; I sincerely hope you don't intend to carry on that pattern of editing over here, because patience will quickly wear thin.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 15:53, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Ok. Just to be clear, I don't appreciate this kind of dark humour either. You were also right in deleting that entry, and I don't know why I didn't see that solution. -- AnotherEditor144 (talk) 15:58, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Let's wait to see if there are other opinions.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 16:04, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Okay so I only changed it from S.H.I.T. to S.H.I.o.T. just so I can satisfy AE144's wants while not dramatically changing it. I haven't watched it so I wasn't aware of it. But if it's in the Simpsons as S.H.I.T. and not something else, then please leave it as it is. SHB2000 (talk) 07:25, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

It is called 'S.H.I.T.' in the Simpsons. 82.3.185.12 08:44, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Then leave it as S.H.I.T then. SHB2000 (talk) 10:58, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Is this a real issue? The joke acronym comes directly from the show. The problem seems to be a single user edit warring rather than the acronym. ChubbyWimbus (talk) 13:37, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

@ChubbyWimbus: Yes. As I said, "just to be clear, I don't appreciate this kind of dark humour either." AnotherEditor144 (talk) 16:28, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

The acronym S.H.I.T. is actually used in the show. I have added it back in because the consensus from this conversation thinks that is the best thing to do. 82.3.185.12 17:28, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

El Barto

In Understand, there is a line that says:

El Barto

What is this supposed to do? Should it be removed? It seems rather intrusive. AnotherEditor144 (talk) 16:02, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Springfield has the worlds "El Barto" graffitied all over town, and no-one knows the identity of the mystery person behind the tags - of course to the viewer, it's obvious that El Barto is Bart Simpson. I decided that if Bart were real, he would also vandalise the Wikivoyage article about his hometown.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 16:09, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Okay. Let me add a comment not to remove this (people may think it is vandalism). AnotherEditor144 (talk) 16:12, 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Draft

This article is still a draft. When are we planning to make it a proper article? 82.3.185.12 16:35, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

On midnight 1st April, it will be moved into mainspace at Joke articles/Springfield (USA).--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 16:57, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Thanks. Can you take care of posting it on the Main Page, too? I am away from my computer.

Also, midnight where? I was thinking that it could be posted between 6AM on 1 Apr in Auckland, and 9PM in Los Angeles, or some approximation of that. Ground Zero (talk) 18:02, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

I will if user:AndreCarrotflower (who normally handles main page changes) doesn't. He does them around midnight UTC, so that seems logical.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 18:08, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

If there's a standard procedure, let's follow that then. Thanks. Ground Zero (talk) 18:23, 30 March 2021 (UTC)

Better NZDT time (Auckland) so most can enjoy the article. SHB2000 (talk) 05:05, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

When we've discussed AFD timings in the past, the consensus was to limit its exposure on the Main Page to 24 hours, so as not to steal too much time from our real Destination of the Month for April. Midnight to midnight UTC gives the most coverage on 1st April itself for most of the world (even Hawaii and NZ will get 11 or 12 hours on the day of 1st April). Midnight UTC on the first of the month is also when the DOTM is normally changed.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 09:15, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

Cod Italians

I probably don't watch The Simpsons enough to know the reference. (See here: "A dangerous mafia organization run by cod Italians"). Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:18, 31 March 2021 (UTC)