User talk:Mavalasik

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Hello, Mavalasik, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions.

I noticed that one of the first articles you edited appears to be dealing with a topic with which you may have a conflict of interest. In other words, you may find it difficult to write about that topic in a neutral and objective way, because you are, work for, or represent, the subject of that article. Your recent contributions may have already been undone for this very reason.

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I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your messages on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically insert your username and the date. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or ask your question on this page and then place {{Help me}} before the question. Again, welcome! — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 18:33, 18 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much for pointing this out. Here is my initial request, can you see if I am suggesting something inappropriate.

The opening sentence should be changed to this:

"The Proud Boys is an American far-right, neo-fascist, white nationalist, street gang that is exclusively a male organization that engages in a range of street-level violence and promotes and participates in political violence in the United States.[1][7][8]

additional cites:

Campbell, A. (2022). We are Proud Boys: How a right-wing street gang ushered in a new era of American extremism. Hachette Books ISBN 9780306827464

Reid, S. E., & Valasik, M. (2020). Alt-right gangs: A hazy shade of white. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520300453

Valasik, M. & Reid, S. E. (2021) “Why Law Enforcement Needs to Classify Far-right Groups as Gangs?” Contexts, 20(4): 70-71.'

The second sentence should be changed to this:

"Despite the Proud Boys penchant for violence and street gang characteristics [Campbell, 2022; Reid & Valasik, 2020] the group is designated as a terrorist group in Canada[9][10] and New Zealand.[6] Mavalasik (talk) 18:18, 13 October 2022 (UTC).

I will note that I am a tenured professor of criminology and criminal justice, an expert in street gangs, and one of the few academics that are treating Proud Boys with the concern that they warrant. I am citing my own work, along with Andy Campbell's brand new book which the editors decided to cite, because it is the most appropriate piece of research. While I may have a COI, I get nothing out of my work being cited other than providing a lay audience with a well sourced cite that is most appropriate, just as I would in any piece of writing I do. As an academic social scientist I am held to certain ethical standards and I not trying to do anything improper.Mavalasik (talk) 19:02, 18 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Please take this back to the Talk page for the article. I only posted on your own Talk to make sure you are aware of our COI rules and that you follow them. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 12:37, 19 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]