From Wikitravel

It may occur from time to time that we delete an article by mistake -- that is, that the article doesn't actually meet the standards for deleting articles listed on the VFD page. In this case, a Wikitraveller should link to the page on this page, with an explanation of why the deletion wasn't in accordance with our deletion policy. Articles and images are still considered guilty until proven innocent. After fourteen (14) days of discussion, if a nomination is uncontested or a consensus arises that the page was deleted unnecessarily, then an administrator should reinstate the page. Otherwise, the page will stay deleted.

See also: votes for deletion

Please list new pages below.

[edit] Image:Nativity Monk.JPG

• So. I do not accept the deletion of this image, and I would like anybody who is still in favor of deleting it — currently only Nils? — to a) explain exactly what they find objectionable, and b) suggest how to fix it. Jpatokal 12:46, 8 Oct 2004 (EDT)
  • Firstly, there wasn't consensus to keep the picture, which is the standard we have for v.f.d. I count 3 people (myself, Colin, Nils) who said to delete it, and 3 (you, Hans, and Pierre) who said to keep it. (I archived the v.f.d. discussion at Image talk:Nativity Monk.JPG.) The main problem is that it is a picture of a person, which is contrary to our image use policy. In addition, the photographer doesn't have a verbal or written model release, which violates the privacy rights of the model. You've put forward the argument that the person is not recognizable, but I think that's not the case (it's a caucasian male, early 30s, about 5'8" or so, dark brown hair, full beard, average complexion). It's beside the point, in any event, since there's nothing in our policy that says it's OK to have people if they're not recognizable. The monk is very clearly the subject of the picture -- he didn't accidentally walk in the way as the photographer was shooting those two loudspeakers, a short stairway, and 1/8th of an arch. Needless to say, the image name suggests that the monk is the subject. Another point is that he's engaged in an extremely private activity -- prayer -- and was not part of any group (a concert, a protest). Finally, I don't think the photo has particular travel relevance -- travellers aren't going to be able to go to that church and find that same monk praying, anyways. It's a really great photograph, but it's just not appropriate for an Open Content travel guide. The photographer may be able to avoid a privacy rights lawsuit if his lawyer makes a good argument before a judge, but this isn't a court of law. This is a collaborative project, and the entire group has to agree that publishing this picture is worth the risk, however small. I, for one, think it's not. To fix it, I'd suggest using an actual photo of the church in question, without people in it, or if needed a crowd scene which doesn't focus on a particular person. [On a personal note, I want you to know that the deletion of this picture does not in any way signal a lack of appreciation for your excellent work on Wikitravel. You are one of the best and most dedicated people here, and your very generous donation of high-quality photographs has raised the visual standard of Wikitravel several notches. I hope you understand that making exceptions in the rules based on who makes the contribution is a very slippery slope.] --Evan 13:37, 8 Oct 2004 (EDT)
  • I prefer this stay deleted. First, it has some hypothetical legal risk (as I mentioned in vfd). Second, it's helpful to be consistent with policy. Third, I don't see this as a "must have" image since people don't go to Bethlehem because it has a pretty chapel — so I don't feel willing to accept risks to keep it. It's nice, but the article will be fine without it (unlike, for example, Image:Okayama Castle Hilltop.JPG which is extremely illustrative of the location and jaw-dropping gorgeous to boot). -- Colin 14:50, 8 Oct 2004 (EDT)

I think all the controversy and back and forth over the ethical/legal aspects of showing the person should just be gently pushed aside by the practical issues, just to get out of deadlock. This photo is currently not used in any article, it doesn't recognizably depict any specific travel destination, nor do I think it even shows a unique "slice of life" of the culture/destination it depicts. I don't think anyone could, just by looking at the photo, even place the continent it's from. There is certainly nothing objectionable to it. It's an excellent photo, with good composition and interesting matter, but it's just not a travel photo. Delete. -- Paul Richter 21:26, 8 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Um, it is used by Bethlehem and (IMHO) represents a pretty darn good summary of what the town is about. Some strange bug (probably due to reuploading the file under the same name) prevents it from being listed as a link though. Jpatokal 02:18, 9 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Anyway, while I still disagree with the reasoning above, at least there's some consensus against now and I'll bow to it gracefully. But before I shut up, y'all will have to pick a new image to replace Mr. Monk from here:

http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Palestine/Bethlehem/

My favorites are this and this but somehow I doubt those will pass privacy police scrutiny either. This is postcard-y but gives the wrong impression (nobody goes to Bethlehem for the mosques). This is a nice picture but doesn't really say very much... this and this are uglier but give some idea (and hey, the church is ugly too). Or maybe just this or that for that warm and fuzzy "Welcome to Bethlehem!" feeling. Jpatokal 02:18, 9 Oct 2004 (EDT)

OK, I think we can easily agree on this one: Elvis Sheik!! Seriously, I think some of the Old Town or Manger Square scenes would be good if you have some that aren't as politically charged. --Paul Richter 04:06, 9 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Unfortunately the King was spotted not in Bethlehem, but in the legendary Elvis Diner on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway... a destination in itself, I might add. But "not politically charged" is a pretty tough call for an occupied war zone in these days of intifada, the last time I visited (Apr 2003) I traveled by armored car. And the pics in the link above are all I have. Jpatokal 04:19, 9 Oct 2004 (EDT)

[edit] St.Joakim Osogovski Monastery

• Undelete. We reached the consensus that monastery can be an exemption for what constitutes an article. Windhorse (I believe) was working on this article. - Sapphire.
• I deleted this one - there was one vote in favor of keeping it on the Wikitravel:Votes for deletion and several against. The article itself had no content other than a vfd notice, despite it having been on the site for a few weeks. Also, I don't see anything on Wikitravel talk:What is an article? saying that this particular monastery should be kept or should not be listed as an attraction. If we need an article for this monastery in the future it can be re-created, but until then I think it was properly deleted and should stay that way. -- Ryan 02:52, 19 April 2006 (EDT)
• Yeah, this kind of looks like a fair deletion. Monasteries can be articles sometimes, but it wasn't clear that this one was. --Evan 02:55, 19 April 2006 (EDT)

I've never actually seen this article, so I don't know how great it was, but I came across a conversation on this article with someone asking us to keep it. I figured I'd throw it up here in case an error was made. It's not possible to see what it looked like prior deletion, right? Sapphire 02:58, 19 April 2006 (EDT)

Nevermind. I didn't read Ryan's note. If there was nothing on it then void my asking for the "undeletion." Sapphire 03:00, 19 April 2006 (EDT)

[edit] Freiburg i. Br.

Was not VFD'd, yet Google reports "about 1,320,000" hits, and was (and still is) linked to from Baden Württemberg. Valid abbreviation for Freiburg im Breisgau, should be a redirect to Freiburg. ~ 58.8.2.182 15:06, 18 June 2007 (EDT)

Outcome: Recreated as Redirect to Freiburg --Nick 05:05, 29 February 2008 (EST)

[edit] Pereira

This page was not VFD'd. It was deleted @ 01:38, 20 December 2007 and then Pereira (Colombia) was moved to Pereira @ 01:39, 20 December 2007. At the time of deletion it was a disambiguation page. I have no objection to it being undeleted as Pereira (disambiguation). ~ 203.144.143.4 01:30, 20 December 2007 (EST)

• So what goes on here? Looks like it's been re-created via a move. -- Bill-on-the-Hill 11:42, 1 January 2008 (EST)

Yes, that's exactly what the VFU says. First the move needs to be undone, and then the deletion. ~ 61.7.183.208 03:57, 5 January 2008 (EST)

[edit] Ferries in the Mediterranean

We need information on ferries around Mediterranean (or at least between the key destinations in Greece), and Ferries in the Mediterranean was the first attempt to gather such info that I can remember at Wikitravel.

Earlier we have removed an extlink to a third-party source of schedules and routes available for Greece alone (see Talk:Greece#ferry schedule and routes). But if we also don't allow such info to be gathered by Wikitravelers--and we don't have an official one-stop source for such info, it's quite strange for me.

I did travel around Greek islands, and it was really a nightmare to find any online source of information that give enough information even for my individual route--and yes, finally I turned to Lonely Planet (which helped a bit, but did not allow to complete my task).

It's really pity for me that I couldn't vote to keep it earlier, so I vote for undeletion.

VFD discussion can be found here: Wikitravel:Votes_for_deletion/September_2007#List_of_ferries. --DenisYurkin 17:24, 2 February 2008 (EST)

I've gone over the original VFD discussion and still have the same main concern. We do not need a useless list of contacts.

If you are however willing to put in the effort to turn this into a real travel topic then I'll definitely support an Undelete. I do think this can be useful provided that it does not try to be overly detailed, i.e. specifying the departure times of each and every ferry from each and every port is not a good idea since those are subject to frequent changes that will never be updated in WT.

You might also want do consider a rename if this is undeleted. Ferries in the Mediterranean invites people to turn it into an ugly long list, something like Travel the Mediterranean by Ferry suggest that there should be more to the article. --Nick 02:00, 7 February 2008 (EST)

Outcome: Undeleted --Nick 05:01, 29 February 2008 (EST)

I'm happy to see that the page I started a year ago, which was deleted, is revived again. -- Eiland 13:32, 6 July 2008 (EDT)