Weird Al's Wikipedia Photo

Post by **TMBJon** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:55 am

Why is the picture on Weird Al's Wikipedia page so lame, and can we get a cooler-looking photo on there instead? This should be a campaign we can win.

jbracciante · Post by **jbracciante** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:11 am

It should be of him leaping into the air heroically with an accordion.

Post by **FredHuggins** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:12 pm

No accordion, but...

Post by **Grom** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 2:18 pm

According to Wikipedia policy, the images should ideally be free-to-use. When I was getting the article up to Featured status back in '06 or '07 (whenever it was), that was pretty much the best free-licensed photo available on Flikr. Times must surely have changed, so get on it and find a better article if you think you're so good and can do better.

Post by **TMBJon** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:19 pm

My recommendation is that we use a great live performance photo. If Kristine would be willing to use one of her photos, that would probably give us the best variety of shots to work with.
I like the idea of using either something from the polka or something from Yoda.

minnick27 · Post by **minnick27** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:31 pm

I think a polka pic would be good because it's one of the few songs with a recognizable look of Hawaiian shirt and accordion.

Post by **Well, Well, Well** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 12:13 am

this? i don't see what's wrong with this image. i think it has a good feel of al's weird side, with the hair going all over, and a good sense of him being a regular person with the (kinda) basic shirt, jeans, smile, and background. i'm not familiar with the typical "type" of wikipedia photo, or if there is one, but if the photo was of him making a forced "weird" face or holding an accordion, it pigeonholes and patronizes him more than he already is.

Way_Moby · Post by **Way_Moby** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:38 am

But in all honesty, it's been the picture for about five years now, and that's ridiculous!

This picture is pretty cool:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mufan96/2753735400/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Elvis** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 4:08 am

Agreed. Wikipedia originated as a great idea, but got too annoying to work with, with all their covering their ass stuff, which is why I no longer actively edit the site, but I really dislike the picture they use for Al. I'd prefer a publicity photo, or a fan shot concert photo with Al in a Hawaiian shirt. There's enough talented photographers on here that we should be able to get a better picture than the one they currently use.

Dave

spmahn · Post by **spmahn** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:55 am

Agreed, I don't edit Wikipedia for mostly the same reasons, everything always devolves into a flame and edit war, and you never win the argument anyways since the other person is always friends with a moderator or arbitrator who will rule in their favor, but I digress. I do agree that the picture could, and should, be improved, but remember, per Wikipedia guidelines, you need signed, sealed, authenticated, notarized proof signed by three witnesses, and proven by an expert who testifies under sworn oath to be real, that the picture you use is one you own the rights to or is free to use. Otherwise the instant you change the page, a team of edit bots wil swarm you and change it right back and leave you a nasty note on your talk page.

World of Weird Al Yankovic