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BarrelProof (talk | contribs) m →Python reticulatus length: Minor refinement |
ClemRutter (talk | contribs) →Python reticulatus length: WP can't ignore it so how should we phrase it |
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Surely it would be appropriate to discuss this here rather than dismiss it. It contains two substantiated fact- one something was found, and it is now dead and we have photographs. There was a fair discussion in the guardian as to its length- and a couple od subeditors miss labelled the story. We have a problem that our length fact is possibly now outdated. Could we have an expert read the linked articles and just modify the posting. --[[User:ClemRutter|ClemRutter]] ([[User talk:ClemRutter|talk]]) 18:39, 13 April 2016 (UTC)
:Sensational newspaper reports are not worth paying much attention to. The [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/11/python-captured-in-malaysia-believed-to-be-worlds-longest-snake/ ''Telegraph'' article] refers to "initial estimates" of length and "estimated" weight. The [http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/931001/huge-malaysian-python-dies-after-laying-egg ''Bangkok Post'' article] is similarly vague and includes an estimated length in units of [[Yao Ming]]s, which doesn't inspire great confidence – and says they expect to hear more from the Civil Defence department later. Neither of them quotes any herpetologists. Civil Defence officials are not who I would seek for reliable information about reptiles. It is not clear whether any scientist will ever see that snake. —[[User:BarrelProof|BarrelProof]] ([[User talk:BarrelProof|talk]]) 19:12, 13 April 2016 (UTC)
::I trust your herpetological judgement. So how do you suggest that the facts of the media interest are integrated into the article. Should it be a separate section or a paragraph we can't just ignore it -that makes Wikipedia look silly. I don't like media sections- thats just a personal POV. How about starting a paragraph with the phrase:
:::''There are regular claims in the media that the RP is the worlds longest snake, for instance in April 2016, a python captured on the island of Penang in Malaysia was measured at 26.2 feet long (8 metres).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/11/python-captured-in-malaysia-believed-to-be-worlds-longest-snake/|title=Python Captured in Malaysia Believed to be World's Longest Snake|website=The Telegraph|date=April 11, 2016|accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref> However, it died three days after capture while laying an egg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/931001/huge-malaysian-python-dies-after-laying-egg|title=Huge Malaysian Python Dies After Laying an Egg|website=Bangkok Post|date=April 12, 2016|accessdate=April 12, 2016}}</ref>. These reports are sensational rather than reliable, the ''Telegraph'' article refers to "initial estimates" of length and "estimated" weight, while the Bangkok Post article relies on the reports from civil defence officials rather than a herpetologist'' and then go on to reinforce the point about reliability. [[User:ClemRutter|ClemRutter]] ([[User talk:ClemRutter|talk]]) 21:07, 13 April 2016 (UTC)
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