On 8/12/06, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Alphax (Wikipedia email) wrote:
Joe Anderson wrote:
Cool Cat recently created an article called Starfleet Uniformshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Uniforms, and it was nominated for deletion as cruft and OR.
The screencaps/promo photos in the article, IMO, acted as a reputable source. I mean, how else (canonically) are you going to know about the uniform switch between TOS and TNG? Using a book is not canonical, and therefore is surely not [[WP:V]].
There are such things as Star Trek encyclopediae, which report canon and real life (and probably not fanfic/other non-canon).
While the TV shows are canonical (as are the movies (except where continuity fails, cf. /Enterprise/)), using a screencap is close to original research and on dangerous ground wrt. using "fair use" as an excuse for copyright infringement.
So using a picture from the secondary source would be somehow more free than using a screen capture?
No, the secondary source would describe the uniform switch from TOS to TNG.
If one draws from a Star Trek Encyclopedia, comparing what is said there with the original source is still important. How else are you going to know whether the Encyclopedia information is accurate?
"Wikipedia articles include material on the basis of verifiability, not truth. That is, we report what other reliable sources have published, whether or not we regard the material as accurate. In order to avoid doing original research, and in order to help improve the quality of Wikipedia articles, it is essential that any primary-source material, as well as any generalization, analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of information or data, has been published by a reputable third-party publication (that is, not self-published) that is available to readers either from a website (other than Wikipedia) or through a public library. It is very important to cite sources appropriately, so that readers can find your source and can satisfy themselves that Wikipedia has used the source correctly." WP:NOR
I seriously question the notion that using material from the original movie or book is original research.
I don't see how you possibly could question it; it's clear as day (see above). Where have the screencaps in question been published?
The original research was done by the author of the book.
That's right, and he's allowed to. Scientists, researchers, authors, newspaper reporters - they all do original research. We don't, we use the material the have published in reliable sources instead.
Jay.