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Respiratory therapist

A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare practitioner trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists graduate from a college or university with a degree in respiratory therapy and have passed a national board certifying examination. The NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) is responsible for credentialing as a CRT (certified respiratory therapist), or RRT (registered respiratory therapist),

The specialty certifications of respiratory therapy include: CPFT and RPFT (Certified or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist), ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist), NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist), and SDS (Sleep Disorder Specialist).

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals in the intensive care units (Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal), on hospital floors, in emergency departments, in pulmonary functioning laboratories (PFTs), are able to intubate patients, work in sleep labs (polysomnography) (PSG) labs, and in home care specifically DME (durable medical equipment) and home oxygen.

Respiratory therapists are specialists and educators in many areas including cardiology, pulmonology, and sleep therapy. Respiratory therapists are clinicians trained in advanced airway management; establishing and maintaining the airway during management of trauma, and intensive care.

Respiratory therapists initiate and manage life support for people in intensive care units and emergency departments, stabilizing, treating and managing pre-hospital and hospital-to-hospital patient transport by air or ground ambulance.

In the outpatient setting respiratory therapists work as educators in asthma clinics, ancillary clinical staff in pediatric clinics, and sleep-disorder diagnosticians in sleep-clinics, they also serve as clinical providers in cardiology clinics and cath-labs, as well as working in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Clinical practice
Respiratory therapy, done by respiratory therapists, is a large variety of treatments to help with breathing and support the heart's work. Giving oxygen and drugs to ease breathing are two examples. Respiratory therapists also do patient assessments.

Intensive care and operating room
Respiratory therapists educate, assist in diagnosis, and treat people who have heart and lung problems. Specialized in both cardiac and pulmonary care, respiratory therapists often collaborate with specialists in pulmonology and anaesthesia in various aspects of clinical care of patients. Respiratory therapists provide a vital role in both medicine and nursing such as the initiation and maintenance of mechanical ventilation.

Outpatient clinical practice
Respiratory therapists are also primary clinicians in conducting tests to measure lung function and teaching people to manage asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder among other cardiac and lung functions.

Internationally, respiratory therapists that provide lung function testing are termed respiratory scientists, but in North America, they may be a respiratory therapist.

Home-health care
Outside of clinics and hospitals, Respiratory therapists often manage home oxygen needs of patients and their families, providing around the clock support for home ventilators and other equipment for conditions like sleep apnea.

In the clinic or outpatient setting respiratory therapists assist with diagnosis and serve as an educator for patients with cardiac and respiratory illness. In the United States, respiratory therapists with certification as registered respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with a great deal of autonomy under the direction of a pulmonologist. In facilities that maintain critical care transport teams respiratory therapists are a preferred addition to all types of surface or air transport.

Public education
In other settings respiratory therapists are found in schools as asthma educators, working with teachers and coaches about childhood symptoms of asthma and how to spot an emergency. In the United States, legislation has been unsuccessfully introduced several times to allow respiration therapists certified as asthma specialists with registered respiratory therapist certification to prescribe and manage previously diagnosed respiratory patients in physician clinics. In sleep clinics, respiratory therapists work with physicians in the diagnosis of sleep-related illnesses. Respiratory therapists in the United States are migrating toward a role with autonomy similar to the  extension of the physician like the physician assistant. Respiratory therapists are frequently utilized as complete cardiovascular specialists to place and manage arterial accesses along with peripherally-inserted central catheters.

United States and Canada
In the United States and Canada, respiratory therapists are healthcare practitioners who, after receiving their education, complete a credentialing process and become a certified respiratory therapists (CRT) or registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

After satisfactorily completing the required examinations and being added to a registry, the practitioner is then eligible to apply for a license to practice in the region governed by their respective licensing body.

In the United States, specialist respiratory therapists are clinicians who hold National Board for Respiratory Care specialty credentials, which may include neonatal/pediatric specialist (CRT-NPS or RRT-NPS), adult critical care specialist (RRT-ACCS), sleep disorder specialist (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS), and pulmonary function technologist (CPFT or RPFT). The NBRC's RRT-ACCS examination is the newest NBRC examination: it was introduced in 2012.

In the United States, one must obtain a degree in Respiratory Care and must then sit for the board exams to become a RRT. RRT is issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care after passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination NBRC-TMC and Clinical Simulation Examination NBRC-CSE examinations. Eligibility for the NBRC-CSE examination is based on scoring high enough on the NBRC-TMC, and holding at least an Associate of Science in Respiratory Care. Professional credentials denoted as a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) may also be earned by passing the National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) exam.

In some parts of Canada, one may practice as a provisional respiratory therapist after graduating, until writing and passing the CBRC exam. The RRT certification is granted by examination from the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists.

Scope of practice
The registered respiratory therapist is typically governed by their medical director for clinical services and their licensing body for laboratory, rehabilitation and home-health services. Trained in cardiology and pulmonology medicine. The registered respiratory therapist is prepared didactically and clinically to perform advanced procedures and emergency management. Actual scope of practice varies by region and institution.

International respiratory care
Except for the United States and Canada, very few countries have a dedicated professional role for respiratory health. In these countries, respiratory care is provided by physiotherapists, nurses and physicians that have chosen to specialize in this field. In many countries this recognition is in a transition stage; as an example, in 2011, a journal from China claimed that hospitals in Beijing, China began a recruitment drive to acquire respiratory therapists for their intensive care units where previously nurses were the only clinician.

Canada
Upon graduation from an accredited school of respiratory therapy, the graduate is then eligible to write the national exam administered by the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care.

Success on this examination will then allow the respiratory therapist to register with any licensing body in Canada. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan are the Canadian provinces with provincial licensing bodies; in these provinces, it is illegal to practice the profession of Respiratory Care without first being licensed as a full or provisional member with the provincial licensing body.

These provinces are so-called regulated provinces. In some provinces, one may work provisionally upon graduating, until writing and passing the exam. In all other jurisdictions, the licensing body for the profession of Respiratory Care is the Canadian Society for Respiratory Therapy.

Registration as a full member is optional for respiratory therapists living in regulated provinces, however, for respiratory therapists living in non-regulated provinces, registration as a full member with the CSRT is compulsory. Registration with the provincial regulatory body or the CSRT (in non-regulated provinces) confers upon the respiratory therapist the title of registered respiratory therapist (RRT). Canada and the United States recognize each of their cardio-pulmonary education structure as equal, however, a qualifying exam must be written in order to practice in either nation.

There is pressure for the program to become a degree, like other therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy) now require a master's degree or greater. However, in some places such as Alberta, Canada the cardio-pulmonary course work is only offered at technical schools that are unable to grant a formal degree.

France
Respiratory therapy is a sub-specialty of physical therapy in France. Respiratory care as a specialty is regulated by the Fédération Française des Masseurs Kinésithérapeutes Rééducateurs.

Germany
The German Respiratory Society first issued a resolution to develop the dedicated respiratory therapist (RT) role in 2004 as a means to increase the quality of patient care, delegate physician duties and respond to the observed increase in respiratory conditions and diseases. In 2006, a year-long pilot training program was offered to established nurses and physiotherapists. Researchers report that significant additional work is necessary to define and position the role of the respiratory therapist within the current healthcare system.

Italy
In Italy, the title of the respiratory therapist can be acquired applying to the master's degree in respiratory therapy. It consists of frontal lessons and various internships throughout Italian hospitals.

Philippines
In Philippines respiratory therapists are clinicians who have been awarded at minimum a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care degree. Licenses to practice respiratory care are regulated by the Professional Regulatory Board of Respiratory therapy and Professional Regulation Commission which is established and legally maintained by the Philippine Respiratory Therapy Act (Republic Act No. 10024).

United Arab Emirates
In United Arab Emirates respiratory therapists must have been awarded a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. An additional two-years of experience is required for foreign applicants. Licenses are maintained and awarded by the Dubai Health Authority. The Dubai Health Authority restricts respiratory therapists to working only in physical medicine and rehabilitation Centers, in hospitals, in surgical clinics with cardio-thoracic surgeons and with physicians in family/general practice or pulmonology.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia utilizes respiratory therapists in a similar fashion to Canada and the U.S. Some respiratory therapists from North America travel to Saudi Arabia for temporary need.

Singapore
In Singapore, a respiratory therapist is an allied health professional who plays an integral role in the care of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Units, managing patients on invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, and other respiratory supportive devices. Respiratory therapists are recognized domain experts pertaining to respiratory care and are responsible to facilitate learning and training for respiratory care topics (mechanical ventilation management, artificial airway management, lung protective strategies, diagnostic procedures, etc) for medical students, nursing students, and health care colleagues (nurses, physicians, allied health professions) in the hospitals.

As part of their duties, some of the respiratory therapists are also routinely assigned to staff the emergency department, outpatient ambulatory clinics, diagnostic polysomnography laboratories, as well as the pulmonary function test laboratories to assist with the diagnostic procedures for patients.

All respiratory therapists in Singapore have a baccalaureate degree in respiratory therapy awarded by accredited institutions across the region and the United States and hold board certifications in their country of training. In 2010, the Association of Respiratory Therapists Singapore (ARTS) was established as the national professional organization for respiratory therapists working in Singapore and is a recognized international affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Therapists (AARC). In 2022, ARTS was also inducted as a council member into the International Council for Respiratory Therapists, with two established leaders serving as co-governors to represent the interests of respiratory therapists in Singapore.

As of 2024, services and care provided by respiratory therapists can be found in all public hospitals in the country and is continuing to grow at with demand.

United States
In the United States, a respiratory therapist is a clinician who has at a minimum completed an Associate of Science in Respiratory Care degree along with a certification process. After satisfactorily completing required examinations either administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care or directly by the individual state licensing board (either the medical examiner's board or a special state respiratory care board), the practitioner is then eligible to apply for a license to practice in the region governed by their respective licensing body..

There are two recognized governing bodies in the United States: the State Board of Respiratory Care in the state in which a respiratory therapist is licensed to practice and the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), a non-profit organization which regulates two levels of certification along with some additional specialist certifications.

The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is the certification given after successfully passing the Therapist Multiple Choice NBRC-TMC exam; the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification is given after first making the RRT cut-off score on the TMC exam, and passing the Clinical Simulation Exam NBRC-CSE.

Most state boards of respiratory care require proof of the appropriate NBRC credential and award various license titles, including (but not limited to) respiratory care practitioner, licensed registered respiratory therapist, and licensed certified respiratory therapist.

There has been a substantial push to standardize the state licensure by the American Association for Respiratory Care. The NBRC credential is renewed every 5 years for a fee in addition to fees assessed by the state boards of respiratory care.

United Kingdom
Respiratory therapy in the UK is not a recognized specific profession, but a specialization route available to physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

Common titles include cardio-respiratory physiotherapist, clinical respiratory physiologist (as well as other healthcare scientists), respiratory nurse and cardio-respiratory occupational therapist.

All UK trained physiotherapists receive advanced training in respiratory therapy theory and practice as a core component of their pre-registration physiotherapy degree program. Following qualification and a period of rotations throughout the core areas of physiotherapy practice, they may then follow a career pathway specializing in respiratory physiotherapy. Areas of practice include critical care, respiratory medicine, cystic fibrosis, asthma, hyperventilation syndrome, general and specialized surgery, non-invasive ventilation, ventilation weaning, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, respiratory therapy outpatient clinics and community respiratory therapy. The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists interested in respiratory care is the specialist interest group for UK physiotherapists working within the field of respiratory therapy. All physiotherapists working within the United Kingdom must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, regardless of their area of clinical practice, in order to be allowed to work in both the public and private sectors. Respiratory physiotherapy postgraduate master's degree and PhD programs exist within the United Kingdom for suitably qualified and experienced therapists.

The main grouping of healthcare scientists working in areas similar to respiratory therapists are respiratory and sleep physiologists. They perform the majority of comprehensive pulmonary physiological assessments (including cardiopulmonary exercise tests) as well as sleep studies. They might also manage non-invasive ventilation services and undertake allergy testing. Similarly, critical care scientists are involved in many aspects of patient critical care care that respiratory therapists might, including the management and application of invasive ventilation technologies and other respiratory adjuncts as ell as point-of-care blood testing (including interpreting the results for other clinicians), but are also involved in other areas of critical care, such renal replacement therapy and non-respiratory related patient monitoring; Critical care scientists might also be involved in the provision of non-invasive ventilation services and pre-operative cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Other healthcare science groupings might also occasionally be involved in some of the physiological investigations mentioned above e.g. neurophysiologists might perform sleep studies to investigate neurological reasons for sleep disturbance, while cardiac scientist might perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing focused on the diagnosis of cardiac issues. Since the advent of modernising scientific careers, there have been a largely unitary model of accreditation pathway for Healthcare Scientists in the UK. The framework can be roughly divided into four stages: an associate/assistant stage (usually not holding any professional registration), a BSc-level practitioner stage eligible for voluntary registration (e.g.with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists or the Academy for Healthcare Science Healthcare Science Practitioner Register), an MSc-level Scientist stage where individuals are eligible for state registration as Clinical Scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council, and a doctoral-level stage that in addition to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council involves registration on the Academy for Healthcare Science Higher Specialist Scientist Register. Those on the Higher Specialist Scientist Register are largely equivalent in seniority to medical consultants, though they cannot prescribe; in Respiratory Science this might e.g. involve the advising on the provision of non-invasive ventilation to complex patients. Healthcare Scientists are usually trained to work with all patient age groups.

Taiwan
In Taiwan, the respiratory therapist is one of the allied health professionals who need minimum four-years Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy (Care) for the license. According to the Health Professionals Act and Respiratory Therapist Act lawed in 2002, respiratory therapists require "Senior Professional and Technical Examinations" by the Ministry of Examination to get the license.

Most respiratory therapists in Taiwan participate in adult, neonatal and pediatric ICU care for artificial airway maintenance, invasive or non-invasive ventilation management, aerosol therapy, oxygen therapy, inhaled Nitric oxide therapy, CPR, chest physiotherapy, artery blood gas analysis, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lung expansion therapy, etc.

Some respiratory therapists also will be available in PFT (Pulmonary Function Testing) room or RCC (Respiratory Care Center) and RCW (Respiratory Care Ward) built for focusing on difficult-weaning patients' ventilator weaning. Moreover, after 5 years of experience in hospital, respiratory therapists can set up a home respiratory care office by themselves.

Nowadays, there are five colleges with the Department of Respiratory Therapy including Chang Gung University, Taipei Medical University, Kao Hsiung Medical University, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (ChiaYi Campus), and Fu Jen Catholic University.

Yemen
Respiratory care in Yemen has started in 2005 and the profession has accredited by Yemeni Medical Council in 2020 as one of allied medical professions.

Respiratory care professionals need to complete either minimum three years Associate of Science in Respiratory Care or four-years Bachelor of Science in respiratory respiratory care (BsRC) for the license called YRCLE. there are currently 3 accredited programs in bachelor degree and one postgraduate program as master of science in respiratory care in Yemen.

Yemen has joined International Council For Respiratory care in 2020 as the third Arabic country after Saudi Arabia & UAE. It has currently full member of International Council For Respiratory care and Saleem N. Hamilah, BS, RCP, FNIV, MsRC is the official governor for Yemen.

Respiratory Care Services Administration
The Respiratory Care Services Administration (RCSA) is a governmental administration at Yemen's Ministry of Public Health & Population established in July 2019.

Yemeni Association For Respiratory Care
The Yemeni Association for Respiratory Care (YARC) is a non profit organization and is the only professional organization supporting Respiratory Care in the Yemen. In addition to attempting to help respiratory therapists nationally and locally, the YARC is trying to promote the profession as a whole to increase interest and membership. The YARC established in 2017.

Anesthesia assistants
The traditional role of the operating room respiratory therapist has included providing technical support to the anesthesiologist for the proper use and maintenance of the anesthetic gas machine, in addition to also providing airway management. In Ontario, Canada, this role in the operating room has evolved to include a more advanced and specialized role with increasing responsibilities to the respiratory therapist. This "anesthesia assistant" is a distinct occupation from the American "anesthesiologist assistant". These Canadian respiratory therapists are academically prepared to perform activities such as sedation by the administration of anesthetic gases and medications, insertion and management of vascular (arterial and venous) access and assessment of the depth of anesthesia under the guidance of an anesthesiologist. This role is similar to the nurse anesthetist, except that an anesthesia assistant must have an anesthesiologist supervising them and a nurse anesthetist, does not.

Asthma specialists
Asthma specialists work with clinics, hospitals and schools as an educator for teachers, parents, patients and practitioners on asthma and allergies. Respiratory therapists in the role as an asthma educator additionally help diagnose and treat asthma and other respiratory illness. Additionally, an asthma educator is the resource clinician in inpatient and outpatient environments for evaluating and advising physicians on treatment plans and helping facilitate patient understanding and compliance with the plan. In the United States, certified asthma educators (AE-C) are credentialed by the National Asthma Education Certification Board (NAECB).

In Canada, the Canadian Network for Respiratory Care administers two certifications for the specialization as respiratory therapist asthma educator, the certified asthma educator (CAE) (preferred by practitioners with a pediatric focus) and the certified respiratory educator (CRE), which comprises the CAE program with additional training in COPD.

Cystic fibrosis
Respiratory therapists work with people who cystic fibrosis in clinics and hospitals by educating them about their disease and working with them on a treatment plan. While admitted to a hospital, patients with cystic fibrosis have their treatment schedule modified and maintained by respiratory therapists. Maintaining a healthy schedule for pharmacokinetic and physical therapeutic airway clearance typically more frequent than home treatment plans because admissions are usually due to an increased need for therapy during the stay.

Cardiovascular perfusionist
Respiratory therapists are able to fulfill the role of perfusionist with appropriate training. The perfusionist is a highly trained member of the cardiothoracic surgical team (often time an RT with extra training) which consists of cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, surgical technicians, other respiratory therapists, and nurses. The perfusionist's main responsibility is to support the physiological and metabolic needs of the cardiac surgical patient so that the cardiac surgeon may operate on a still, unbeating heart. Perfusionist certifications are maintained and awarded by The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified cardiopulmonary bypass technique used for the treatment of life-threatening cardiac or respiratory failure. An ECMO Clinical Specialist is a technical specialist trained to manage the ECMO system including blood pump, tubing, artificial oxygenator, and related equipment.

The ECMO Specialist is also responsible for the clinical needs of the patient on ECMO which may include bedside management of oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal, maintenance of normal acid-base balance, administration of medications, blood and blood products, and maintenance of appropriate anticoagulation therapies for the blood. This ECMO Clinical Specialist may be the bedside critical care nurse specifically trained in ECMO patient and circuit management, or the ECMO system may be primarily managed by a registered respiratory therapist, or physicians with training as ECMO clinical specialists.

Neonatal & pediatric intensive care
Much like adult intensivist respiratory therapists, neonatal and pediatric specialists deal primarily with managing life support for the pediatric or neonatal patient. Pediatric respiratory therapists are trained extensively in antenatal and intrapartum patients and family. In the United States a specialist certification exists and is awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Available to respiratory therapists holding certification as a certified respiratory therapist or registered respiratory therapist however the registered respiratory therapist is preferred by most institutions.

Sleep disorder specialist
Respiratory therapists monitor, interpret and diagnose findings from a sleep study, as well as the medical history and physical exam to make the diagnosis and decide on treatment related to sleep-disorders. A sleep study can also help diagnose narcolepsy.

In the United States a sleep disorder specialist can be a registered respiratory therapist with the sleep disorder specialist certification (RRT-SDS) who performs sleep disorders testing and therapeutic intervention along with a diagnosis of sleep-related disease such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Central Apnea. In Canada, it is often an RT with additional training to become a Registered Polysomnography Technician (RPSGT)

Case management
Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client's health and human services needs. It is characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes. Eligibility and certification is maintained by the Commission for Case Management Certification, a body certifying healthcare professionals in the United States.

Surface & air transport specialist
Respiratory therapists work with nurses, physicians, and paramedics in emergency flight and ground transport. They are a vital practitioner delivering care inside helicopters, air ambulance or ground ambulance working to pick up a patient and move them to a facility that has what they need. In the United States certification for transport (C-NPT) is currently awarded by The National Certification Corporation.

Pulmonary research and science
Respiratory therapists are sometimes referred to as respiratory scientists who are specialists in pulmonary function. Respiratory therapists work with Pulmonologists in both clinical and general research of the respiratory system, ranging from the anatomy of the respiratory epithelium to the most effective treatment of pulmonary hypertension in pediatrics. Scientific research also takes place to look for causes and possible treatment in diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.

History of respiratory care
The profession of respiratory care was officially established in the United States c. 1930; and respiratory research has officially existed since the early 1900s. During the early years, respiratory therapists were referred to as "oxygen technicians", and most of their activities involved moving cylinders of compressed gas and administering oxygen via nasal catheter or oxygen tent. Most oxygen technicians were trained on the job, although brief training programs began to appear in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Today the profession hardly resembles what it was in the 1940s. Respiratory therapists provide direct care, patient education, and care coordination. They are academically trained in respiratory nursing and respiratory medicine. They practice in acute care facilities, long-term acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, assisted-living centers, subacute care units, rehabilitation centers, diagnostics units, and in the home. Respiratory therapist training has also dramatically changed. Current accreditation standards require Respiratory therapists to have, at minimum, an Associate of Science in Respiratory Care degree from an accredited program. Legal requirements to practice respiratory therapy have also dramatically changed. 49 states now legally recognize respiratory therapists. Limited permits or state licenses are now required in all states except Alaska, which has no statutory authority over the practice of respiratory care. All states that have licensure requirements also require continuing education.

In 2007 the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) began developing recommendations for the promotion of the field of respiratory care in the United States in response to increased concern regarding licensure and credentialing issues as well as international recognition of those practicing in the United States. The task force decided to recommend that by 2015 the minimum education requirement for licensure and certification as a respiratory therapist be a bachelor of science in respiratory therapy (BSRT). The AARC task force also recommended the American Respiratory Care Foundation change its scholarship policies and only award assistance and grants to those working toward a bachelor's degree. The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) was asked by the AARC task force to change its accreditation standards and no longer accredit associates level respiratory care programs. The CoARC replied by a press release rejecting the recommendation. In 2011 legislation introduced by the AARC will help improve the use of respiratory therapists in clinical applications by allowing them to manage patients with asthma and COPD seeing a clinic for routine checkups. Similar bills have been introduced before and have died in committee.

title: Respiratory therapist


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Talk:The Wheel of Time

TEotW now on bestseller lists.
Sorry, I’m not a practiced editor. Apparently TEotW is #1 on the NYT audio bestseller list, as well as placing on the the NYT mass market list and the USA Today list. 2600:1702:1D70:1EF0:E03D:6A41:6DDE:FCFF (talk) 18:45, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

The Old Tongue needs a mention
Just a passing visit; I notice that the Old Tongue is now not even mentioned here. At least one WP:RS exists,. I note that fans have created whole dictionaries translating between Old Tongue and English (indeed, multiple real-world languages), so it seems the matter is significant. All the best, Chiswick Chap (talk) 05:33, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

First mention of the one power in PLOT
The first mention of the one power under the plot heading says only women can handle the one power safely which is not true by the completion of the series. 76.115.45.5 (talk) 17:40, 13 June 2024 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Talk:The Wheel of Time


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Talk:ArtCyclopedia

We've already had a discussion about having links to all websites that come down the pike...Wikipedia isn't a web directory. --Larry Sanger

Worth of this article?
What exactly is the worth of this article? The ArtCyclopeida is a valuable resource, but I don't think it requires a separate encyclopedia article. Referencing it in relevant art articles should be enough. Tullie 20:34, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Why I removed PROD
I don't see any reason to single this article out for deletion while retaining articles about similar web resources, as listed in Category:Virtual art museums and galleries. At a bare minimum, the proposed deletion should be discussed at AfD. Artcyclopedia seems to be widely respected, as indicated by the following collection of online reviews, articles, and awards: --orlady 16:30, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
 * http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/mars/marspubs/marsbestref2001.htm
 * http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NEW/is_1999_Sept_1/ai_55660092
 * http://www.lib.utulsa.edu/databases/descriptions/ARTCYC.asp
 * http://www.labforculture.org/en/layout/set/textonly/resources/artcyclopedia
 * http://www.usc.edu/e_resources/isd/gateways/948.php
 * http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/index.php?rid=124
 * http://www.nea.org/webresources/artslitlinks.html

title: Talk:ArtCyclopedia


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Talk:Coral Sea Islands/Economy

Do we need empty pages like this? All it says is that the Coral Sea Islands have no economy!
 * Looks like all of the subpages could be consolidated into a single page. Danny

title: Talk:Coral Sea Islands/Economy


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Pulitzer Prize for Poetry

The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually for Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first presented in 1922, and is given for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, published during the preceding calendar year.

Finalists have been announced since 1980, ordinarily two others beside the winner.

Before the establishment of the award, the 1918 and 1919 Pulitzer cycles included three Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards (called at the time the Columbia University Poetry Prize) for poetry books funded by "a special grant from The Poetry Society." See Special Pulitzers for Letters.

Winners
In its first 92 years to 2013, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry was awarded 92 times. Two were given in 2008, none in 1946. Robert Frost won the prize four times and several others won it more than once (below).

Multiple wins and nominations
The following individuals received two or more Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (The 1918 and 1919 Special Prizes are included): The following individuals received two or more nominations:

Bolded years are years that the poet won Robert Frost won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry four times from 1924 to 1943. Edwin Arlington Robinson won three prizes during the 1920s and several people, all male, have won two.

Carl Sandburg won one of the special prizes for his poetry in 1919 and won the Poetry Pulitzer in 1951.

Only four women have had multiple nominations: Adrienne Rich with 4, and Louise Glück, Jorie Graham and Diane Seuss with 2 each.

title: Pulitzer Prize for Poetry


text:
Talk:Chess strategy

Old talk
Hi,

I'm a newcomer here and I'd like to contribute to the chess theory pages! I'm a chess player and teacher and I was wondering if this project could have sense: building a complete free chess encyclopedia! Perhaps it's a too big deal, but Wikipedia is bigger than one could imagine 2 years ago! What do you think? The starting point is choosing a standard for classifying openings (and symbols for evaluation, like +-, =, etc.), middlegame and endings. Then contributors will start editing a specific page (i.e.: Marshall attack in Ruy Lopez, or identified by a code like C90 for instance) simply inserting the PGN game score (with variations). The perfect thing would be using some browser-based tool, like an applet, to show the moves. I hope this could be done, in a future (perhaps not so far). Teutoburgo

Alex, why add origin squares to some of the moves? That's not normal notation, and it might be confusing because it's only done for a few of them and not in general. --LDC

Well, I thought it would be helpful to know where the pieces came from. I reverted. AxelBoldt

Usually the entire sequence of moves is known, or at least the starting position. When the only diagram is the position after the move, I think think it makes sense to include the square of origin. True, it isn't _the_ standard, but is _one_ standard, and a good idea in some situations. --Karl Juhnke

 * This issue is really a function of who the audience is. (There's a Wikipedia rule about that.) If we intend the reader to be the experienced chess player, then by all means omit redundant origin squares.  But it's more likely that the reader will be very inexperienced and fumbly when it comes to reading notation.  Including all origin squares is just as "normal" as omitting them.  If origin squares are shown they act as a reality check to whether a previous move was made correctly, and they avoid the problem of omitting them when they really aren't redundant. Eclecticology

 * I just noticed that we have a bigger problem: our diagrams don't show the file letters and row numbers, so that beginners won't be able to read the algebraic notation. AxelBoldt

Karl, your example diagrams are great! For the endgame section, where we say that kings should fight for the squares in front of passed pawns, I'd like to request a diagram of white: Ke5, Pd5 black Kd8. White moves, the only winning move is Kd6. AxelBoldt

Diagram added. I'll leave the spacing, format, caption, etc. to you. My work on this page is convincing me that it is vastly harder to discover/design a good position than it is to make and upload the image. If anyone has any more suggestions, I'll happily make more pictures.

P.S. Kd6 is not the only winning move. Ke6 wins too, e.g. 1.Ke6 Ke8 2.d6 Kd8 3.d7 Kc7 4.Ke7 etc. However, if you back everyone up a rank, i.e. white Ke4, Pd4 black Kd7, then white Kd5 is the only winning move. Should I include that diagram instead?--Karl Juhnke

You are right, the Ke4 position would be much better. Also, I was thinking for the king attack section: a standard bishop sacrifice on h7, maybe in the Colle system. AxelBoldt
 * ditto about the diagrams. We may be close to spinning off endgames as a separate article.  I agree completely with the point that you are trying to make with your example.  An even more fundamental point to illustrate and understand yours would be something to illustrate the concept of the opposition.  Eclecticology
 * Actually, the diagram that Karl just added is a nice example of opposition; we just need to cover the concept in the text. Personally, I'm not a big fan of splitting the article into pieces: that way, people have to click around too much and get lost. AxelBoldt

The diagram has been modified. (Interesting how the page doesn't show as modified, because I only overwrote the image with one of the same name.) I'm still taking requests for more diagrams if anyone wants to think them up and compose the surrounding text. --Karl Juhnke

Values Of The Pieces
The "values of the pieces" section is incomplete in one important way. To be sure, there is no significant error in rounding-off the relative piece values (expressed in simplified ratios) as 1, 3, 3, 5, 9 for all of the pieces except the king. Unfortunately, I do not know the proper relative piece value of the king.

There is a popular misconception that the relative piece value of the king, despite its low attack value, is infinite since a game of standard chess can be won by capturing a single, royal piece (to use chess variant terminology). This compelling logical truth is deceptive and ultimately, simplistic. For, nonetheless, programs (by example) written to play chess which ascribed an extremely-high, finite value (as a useful approximation of infinity) to the king in this game achieved less-than-impressive ELO ratings. The reasons can be explained deterministically.

Where the king is given an extremely-high, finite value, the AI player or alert human player will demonstrate a tendency to make unnecessary moves of the king or other pieces to enhance king safety trivially. Essentially, such irrationally-defensive play wastes moves. This works to the advantage of the opponent in development. Typically, this leads to positional advantages, then material advantages and ultimately, the capture of the king for the opponent. One could choke on the irony.

Relative piece values are extremely important to any chess variant (including standard chess). In the case of standard chess, this fact is not so obvious due to opening book theory being so richly developed and catalogued. Strategy and tactics can become chaos, nonetheless, in the absence of accurate and complete information if playing against a competent opponent in possession of accurate and complete information.

There are surely some computer chess experts or people deep into researching this game out there who know a useful, moderate finite value for the king. Not being one myself, your input is much needed.

OmegaMan

 * There is no logical finite value for the king in chess because it cannot be exchanged for any other piece or any other combination of pieces. The whole point of the game is to checkmate the enemy king. Alex.tan 15:32, 1 Dec 2003 (UTC)

"This value will be completely dependent upon the particular program which is being coded. But consider the following proposition:  The King is worth the value of all the other pieces combined.

Thus with the 1/3/3/5/9 value system, the King would be worth 39. A relatively low value but significantly higher than all the other pieces. This will effect the program's move evaluation, givng the piece an aggressive profile. And the look-ahead of the program will take care of potential mating."

L. Lynn Smith

computer programmer & chess variant expert

 * I think this is an issue for the computer chess article rather than here. In pure chess terms the king really is of infinite value, but when programming a computer, I suppose there may possibly be reasons why you wouldn't want to give it an infinite (or stratospherically high) value (though I admit, I don't see what those reasons would be myself). Either way, this is really a computer programming issue, not a chess issue. --Camembert

Well, it goes against the Turing Test principle to make an arbitrary distinction between rational criteria used by computers and humans. Nonetheless, the difficulties many have with accepting the aforementioned ideas are understandable. I only want Wikipedia to be more incisive and informative than a typical introductory chess text on this important point, to describe the vast theoretical complexities of this game correctly (within realistic limits). Unfortunately, I am at a loss to prescribe exactly how- to give you an exact, authoritative value for the king to publish.

OmegaMan

The secondary source of the 200 point valuation of the king in chess:

chess piece point value

This information was migrated from that long-standing Wikipedia article to this one. The primary source of this value would be known to the Wikipedia editor Siroxo who wrote that article. In my opinion, he/she is probably rational. Please ask him/her about the details, any verifiable citations in the literature or effective chess programs which use this appr. value. You may discover that you need to replace what you have deleted without first investigating. --BadSanta

 * Thanks for pointing out that article; I didn't know of its existence. I'll raise some points on its talk page. --Camembert

WikiProject, possible move to wikibooks
Hi, A discussion on what should go in a wikipedia article on games is underway at WikiProject Games. The current concensus (by only two users, including myself) is that strategy guides like this page should be moved over to wikibooks. So far, I don't think there are enough particpants to make such wide reaching decisions, so I'm asking for more voices to be heard. The discussion is at the wikiproject's talk page.

Please note that I do not advocate deleting this type of article completely, but feel a chess strategy guide (and strategy guides for all games) fits better with the mission of wikibooks, so this page would be moved over there, and be linked to from the wikipedia article about chess. Premeptive thanks for your participation. Gentgeen 08:03, 14 Jan 2004 (UTC)

 * Indeed, I think this article should be merged into Chess. --ZeroOne 16:12, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC)

 * I'm in favor of keeping it here. Bubba73 (talk), 04:04, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Zugzwang
Should the Zugzwang page be deleted and entered in here under tactics? I just noticed that Zugzwang had its own page but no mention on this one. kmac 14:58, Mar 6, 2004 (UTC)

 * It certainly ought to have a mention on this page (thanks for putting something in about it), but I don't see the harm in it having its own article as well for a more detailed look at the subject. It's a pretty important concept, and quite a lot could be said about it - the article as it stands is just a start, really. --Camembert

Piece values (again)
The article sayeth:

 * There is another system for evaluating chess pieces, as follows:
 * pawn = 3,1st captured Bishop = 11,2nd captured Bishop = 10,Knight = 10,Rook = 15,Queen = 29.
 * Using this system, in a B&N trade for a R&pawn (for example, on square f7, after castling), the B&N are worth more (20 or 21 vs. 18 for R&pawn), hinting that this kind of a trade is not equal, and therefore unadvisable. The traditional system indicates that these pairs are equal.

This system seems needlessly complicated to me, and I'm not sure it has very wide currency. Can somebody give an example of a writer who advocates it? If so, lets cite them in the article. If not, I tend to think it should be removed. The fact is that the value of pieces changes with the position, and no simple points system can take account of that. These systems are just a rough guide, and the 9/5/3/3/1 system, which is almost universal, does the job about as well as anything else. --Camembert

 * I also think this secondary evaluation of piece values should be removed. Although its author considers it refined and more accurate, such systems are argumentative by nature.  Furthermore, the writing style is probably confusing to the general reader.  Talk where rules and exceptions to rules and exceptions to the exceptions are mentioned (even if they have a basis in fact) should be avoided if at all possible in general encyclopediac articles.  --BadSanta

 * Actually that system has a lot going for it. First, divide everything by 3.  That gives:

 * pawn = 1
 * knight = 3⅓
 * bishop = 3⅓ or 3⅔, depending on whether or not you have two of them
 * rook = 5
 * queen = 9⅔.

That is in very good agreement (always within 1/6 point) with Larry Kauffman's compupter analysis showing:
 * pawn = 1
 * knight = 3¼
 * bishop = 3¼ or 3½, depending on whether or not you have two of them
 * rook = 5
 * queen = 9¾. Bubba73 (talk), 06:02, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

Beginning quote
Since when did wikipedia articles have beginning quotes? Trevor Andersen 20:45, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

 * I agree, I'll change it. Bubba73 (talk), 03:59, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

++What is space?++ It isn't defined, and different authors use the term in two different ways. One, is the amount of territory you have marked off with your pawn fence. The other is piece mobility. Both are taken to be important by most authors.

Value of knights and bishops - 3 or 2.5?
Hello - I noticed someone (71.11.170.107) has changed the relative piece value of the knight and bishop from 3 to 2.5. Other chess sites I've visited recently have the queen=9/rook=5/knight=3/bishop=3/pawn=1 valuation mentioned by Camembert above. I hesitate to revert it myself since my knowledge of chess is very rudimentary Lindisfarne 01:07, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

 * It has been fixed. That was either a vandal or someone who isn't very familiar with chess.  Also see chess piece point value.  Bubba73 (talk), 04:09, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Formal tone
The article needs to be comprehensively edited to conform to the formal tone of an encyclopedia. There should not be lines talking directly to the reader ("You should...") - rather this should be an article telling the reader about chess strategy and tactics, not teaching chess strategy and tactics. I know the difference sounds minor, but it should be reflected in the style of the prose. Themindset 22:17, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

 * I agree. It definitely needs to be fixed.  Bubba73 (talk), 02:56, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

 * Ugh. I took care of the 'you's The Monster 03:55, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

 * It's not just the "tone" but the content. The bulk of the page is about point values, omitting other factors, like choice of standard/nonstandard opening, black's goal for topological imbalance to make up for white's initiative, and importance of the middle.  The problem of the "tone" is merely the the article gives directions on strategy like telling you how to rather than "passively" treating of the topic. Charlespouliot 23:36, 16 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually as far as I can tell this article violates WP:NOT as a game guide. If people want to write strategy guides, they should look at wikibooks, that is a more appropriate place for this article.--Crossmr 15:51, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Article split
I think this article should be split into two different articles: "Chess strategy" and "Chess tactics". Actually, there is already article names Chess tactics. So, I would suggest the following: Any comments or objections? Andreas Kaufmann 22:31, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Move tactics related part into Chess tactics.
 * Rename the current article to Chess strategy (now "Chess strategy" is just a redirect to this article).
 * Redirect "Chess strategy and tactics" to Chess.

 * It sounds fine to me. The only suggestion I have is that rather than redirect to chess, do more like a dis-ambig page: "Go to chess strategy or chess tactic."  Bubba73 (talk), 23:53, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

 * By the way, about 1½ years ago, it was proposed that chess tactic be merged into this article. At the time, I agreed, partly because chess tactic didn't seem to say much rhat wasn't in this article, and the article wasn't very good on its own.  Now I am in favor of the split you propose, but the current tactics article will need some work.  Bubba73 (talk), 05:15, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Deletion review
The Deletion Review (DRV) for this article is Deletion_review/Log/2007 July 16. Bubba73 (talk), 03:00, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Misleading title
The article briefly mentions some strategic elements in its first paragraph, and then devotes the remainder of its space to a rather poorly written discussion of the relative values of the pieces. The entire article should be rewritten or deleted. 75.111.197.14 02:27, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

 * It still needs a lot of work, but it shouldn't be deleted. Bubba73 (talk), 02:32, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Winning Chess Strategies
I got the book Winning Chess Strategies, and I plan to work on the article guided by the topics in that book, sometime. Bubba73 (talk), 01:15, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * excellent! this article is in pretty bad condition with mostly redundant information, when it should be one of our best. i'm excited for there to be some development! let me know if you need any help  Matthew  Yeager  15:25, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Off topic?
This article seems to be out of focus. I am in no way any master of chess, but I know that chess strategy is not primarily about piece value or chess openings. What really matters is board domination.

Unlike tactics, which focus on plotting an attack against the opponent’s pieces, strategy is about moving ones pieces to the squares where they later will have a maximum impact on the game. This is usually the same square’s from which they can attack the largest amounts of other squares on the board. The reason for this is simple. The more squares one is able to attack, the harder it gets for the opponent to safely relocate his pieces. He becomes immobilised, while ones own mobility increase. It stands to reason that the one controlling most squares will have more good opportunities in the game since the opponent will have hard to find a square to begin an attac from, or even to find a safe heaven for his pieces or to protect them, once they become the selected target of an attack.

To achieve this domination it is important to create a strong pawn skeleton without weaknesses like doubled, overworked, overstretched, isolated or backward pawns. One should also move pieces to squares from which they have the greatest mobility. Knights (that have only a short range) should be located close to the centre of the board. Bishops will prosper on open long diagonals, and rooks at open or semiopen ranks or files.

I think this article should therefor be rewritten to focus on these importante concepts. —Preceding unsigned comment added by RBM 72 (talk • contribs) 21:06, 27 August 2008 (UTC)

 * Yes, I noted that the article needed major work last year, and last November I got the book Winning Chess Strategies with the intention of using it as a guide to rework this article. But it seemed like a daunting task, and I haven't done it.  It is a lot easier to write about tactics than strategy.  Bubba73 (talk), 05:45, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

merge?
I am in favor of the proposed merge of Control of the centre into this article. Anyone have any input? Bubba73 (the argument clinic), 21:53, 1 November 2009 (UTC)

 * As of now, Chess strategy is 23333 bytes long and Control of the centre is 1136 bytes long for a total of 24469 bytes. If the ideal article is no longer than 32 kbytes long, then we have about 7500 bytes to spare if the two articles are merged.  I suppose another question is "What can be written about control of the center?" regarding chess.  I'm not sure if there is that much more meaningful information to write about it.  If there is nothing more to add about "control of the center", then I agree that it should be merged into Chess strategy.  I suppose more could be written about chess strategy, but I'm not sure what.  Even if we go over 32 kbytes, it's no big deal.  There are plenty of articles longer than 32 kbytes.  H Padleckas (talk) 04:43, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

 * The 32K thing is not observed too much now - it mainly was for some very old browsers. For now, I think it is OK to simply make the control article a section of strategy.  Bubba73 (the argument clinic), 05:03, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

The merge has been done. This article still needs a lot of work though. Bubba73 (You talkin' to me?), 16:41, 18 February 2010 (UTC)

Defending Pieces
This section seems to have been added in order to make a reference to Nimzovich's theory of overprotection, but it misses the point of OVERprotection: that a key point that is already protected is reinforced, and the overprotecting pieces gain value in their focus and association with this key point. It belittles the theory to suggest that it's just about not hanging pieces. In this sense, Nimzovich's theory of prophylaxis is closer to the mark. --mdamien —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.162.225.49 (talk) 13:26, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

Rooks
The section on the rooks is very bad. For example it claims that what marks a rook out from a minor piece is that it is able to checkmate with a king. The Gaon (talk) 22:45, 5 July 2011 (UTC)
 * It doesn't say that. It says king and rook are able to "checkmate an opposing lone king".  King and minor piece cannot do that. Ihardlythinkso (talk) 08:30, 6 July 2011 (UTC)

Castling
Before today, this Chess strategy article said almost nothing about castling. I put in a few words on castling under the "King" subsubsection. If anybody wants to take a look at it, go ahead. Also, adding a small section summarizing the role of castling in chess strategy might be a reasonable idea. H Padleckas (talk) 05:19, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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Confused
What does this mean?--

"A bishop always stays on squares of the color it started on, so once one of them is gone, the squares of that color become more difficult to control. When this happens, pawns moved to squares of the other color do not block the bishop, and enemy pawns directly facing them are stuck on the vulnerable color."

Say you sac or trade your dark square Bishop because it's bad and attacks only your own pawns, most of which are on dark squares.

According to the article, moving a pawn to THE OTHER COLOR (squares or pieces?) which in this case would be a WHITE SQUARE, they "do not block the Bishop" (what, the remaining white squared Bishop? YES THEY DO!) and pawns facing them are vulnerable (NO, they would be on black squares and the black Bishop is gone-- according to the article's logic)?

Help me get it?! CoachingChess (talk) 15:12, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

title: Talk:Chess strategy


text:
Talk:Urban legend

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Luciusjj.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 12:10, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Contradiction
"Urban legends are most often circulated orally"

"Urban legends are mostly spread on social media"

title: Talk:Urban legend


text:
Grassroots democracy

Grassroots democracy is a tendency towards designing political processes that shift as much decision-making authority as practical to the organization's lowest geographic or social level of organization.

Grassroots organizations can have a variety of structures; depending on the type of organization and what the members want. These can be non-structured and non-hierarchical organizations that are run by all members, or by whichever member wishes to do something.

To cite a specific hypothetical example, a national grassroots organization would place as much decision-making power as possible in the hands of local chapters or common members instead of the head office. The principle is that for democratic power to be best exercised it must be vested in a local community and common members and instead of isolated, atomized individuals, at the top of the organization. Grassroots organizations can inhabit participatory systems. Grassroots systems differ from representative systems that allow local communities or national memberships to elect representatives who then go on to make decisions.

The difference among the three systems comes down to where they rest on two different axes: the rootedness in a community (grassroots versus national or international);  and the ability of all individuals to participate in the shared decision-making process (participatory versus representative).

As an economic system
Grassroots democracy is a key component of libertarian socialist political philosophies, which, for various reasons, advocate putting firms under the control of local communities or councils. For example, eco-socialists argue that firms should be controlled by the group of people whose ecosystem is directly affected by that firm's activity. Meanwhile, Anarchists view contemporary forms of employment as examples of unjust and unnecessary forms of hierarchy and centralization. Finally, Libertarian Marxists view history as a struggle between various social groups where the inclusive nature of a grassroots economy will enable new socioeconomic groups to emerge such that these struggles will abate, thereby, improving the human condition.

title: Grassroots democracy


text:
Talk:Otter

Pantolestidae
I will remove the reference to Pantolestidae. Pantolestidae are not even remotely related to otters, other than that they are mammals. Sure they are semiaquatic but so are desmans, some extinct badgers, a number of extinct carnivores etc.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Laplandgerard (talk • contribs) 13:12, 28 December 2011 (UTC)

Romp
Last I checked independent research, like armchair 'Googling', was not allowed on Wiki. What's the difference between googling something and presenting your own original research? Well, in the case of original research you might actually follow some kind of recognized research technique. But we don't even allow that. Why this 'Google' research? Or is there independent research accepted by the Wikipedia community that Google is in fact an authoratative source on the English language?--24.69.71.11 20:18, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
 * A little late, but: You're right, a Google search is not really a reference. I found a reference in the magazine Natural History, though, and have added that instead of all the junk about the OED and Google. —Seqsea (talk) 03:59, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Added
Added to mane page:

''Males kidnap pups from mothers to use as extortion for food. Rough sex that often kills female. Pups steal food from mother. Do not react well with crude oil. Beneficial for kelp beds and natural fish nurseries. Bad for sea urchins and shellfishermen. Tie themselves up in kelp to keep from floating away while sleeping. They are the newly discovered favorite snack of orca.''

This is a mix of questionable assertions (kidnapping pups, tying themselves up in kelp) and weird phrasing ("do not react well with crude oil"). Someone needs to verify (or refute) the odder bits, and rephrase the rest. I'll try to get to it soon, but can't promise anything. Vicki Rosenzweig

Vicki, others, I added a bit here about size, weight, agricultural damage. I think the kelp bed/shellfish issues should be included. Don't know about the "rough sex", etc. I do wonder at the implication that the native Americans did *not* use otter fur. Ortolan88

Why was the bit about south park removed? L6

 * so funny... what about, how cute otter are though? i think that should be documented. plus, search on youtube and you can see evidence of otter holding hands like little friends, and also a video of an otter crying because he lost his favorite rock. SOOOO cute. 169.226.100.27 21:01, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Trapping
Many more otters were trapped after European contact, for export.

On weight, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which manages sea otters in Alaska, has very different size numbers than you found: http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/marine/seaotter.htm says adult males are generally 70-90 pounds, some up to 100, and adult females generally 40-60 pounds. What's the source for your numbers? (The Alaska page is a few years old, but this doesn't seem like something that would change rapidly).

I seem to have some free time, so will try to find more info about otters generally, including their mating. Vicki Rosenzweig
 * Sos un cara de sieso — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2806:1016:6:27F7:E04D:57F:DE17:1DDD (talk) 21:13, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Images
Please! Someone who knows how images are handled in wikipedia articles, fix the ending of the article! -- Jussi-Ville Heiskanen 12:56, Dec 15, 2003 (UTC)

Location
"as far south as Japan" -- anybody know which part of Japan? Japan is a very long country... it stretches far north enough that it has some standing territorial disputes with Russia, and clusters of islands in Okinawa to the south are on the same latitude as Taipei. -- Mote 03:31, 2 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Vandal
Help someone revert the latest vandal! He's added spurious crap to the infos! -68.39.174.205 11:12, 2 Jan 2005 (UTC)

This story is very well written and deserves to be on wiki. I like your picture choice and descriptions.

Genus
Why is the North American River Otter listed under two different genuses in this article? It is listed under BOTH the Lontra and the Lutra genus names. Shouldnt it be one or the other???

Apex Predator
Does the North American river otter live in the Great Lakes? If so, then this animal must be the apex predator of a large area of water.

--66.231.41.57 23:26, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Disparity
The Sea Otter article says up to 100,000 hairs per cm^2, while this article says 200,000. Another Google search says up to 300,000.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Climbing
Can otters climb?61.230.88.35 11:02, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe so, yes... I mean, they have claws, right? Why wouldn't they be able to climb? Whats a question? 01:41, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Moved from article: Thermographic image of an otter

 * I'm not sure what this image shows, but it was oddly placed. According to the text, otters cool their bodies by leaving a trail of warm bubbles. -- Ec5618 19:18, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Otters in Mythology
"Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Animals Through the Ways of Animals"

The description of this book is far too lengthy, and largely irrelevant. It needs to be shortened or cut out altogether. In fact, it sounds more like a product promotion than good information.

More species
Is this supposed to contain a full list of otters? I am missing Lontra provocax (Southern River Otter, huillin) and Lontra felina (Sea cat, chungungo) --Lupo Manaro 15:38, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

The article now claims 13 species but only 12 are listed and only 12 in the cladogram PFZoll (talk) 14:17, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

Maxwell otter
This otter sounds ridiculously awesome, but is this real?

New Wikiproject
I wanted to make a wikiproject about ferrets and weasels but it became to small a range so i have made a bigger wikiprojects including all animals in the Musteloidea super family which include both ferrets and weasels and much similar animals. Support would be appreceated.

This new wikiproject includes

you can find it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Council/Proposals#Weasels

i also made a little template for the project,

I hope you like it.

This wikiproject is for the superfamily of Musteloidea which currently and surprisingly does not have an article yet. This superfamily includes ferrets and weasels and all of our other furry little weasel like friends. Please put your name on it so this article could have it's very own wikiproject outside of wikiproject animals.

Teh Ferret 19:56, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

 * I don't like it -- I think the picture should be of two otter holding hands... a still from the youtube video maybe. Youtube search otter holding hands, and you'll see -- your heart will melt. 169.226.100.27 21:04, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Extinct Lutra taxa
Back in October I put queries on four Lutra species: L bravardi, L libyca, L palaeindica and L simplicidens, with a note saying "are these species or subspecies of others?". My query was not whether these taxa exist, but whether they are full species. The refs just posted by User:Narayanese support the existence of the taxa – but not of their rank, and so don't answer the query (I've replaced it for the moment). What caught my attention is that two of the names imply origins within the range of Lutra lutra, suggesting they might properly be, for example, Lutra lutra libyca. The refs show that someone at some time has considered them full species, but not what the scientific consensus now is.

The page with those refs raise another doubt. It lists "Lutra maculicollis" – but that is given on this page as Hydrictis maculicollis. So what about the extinct ones – are they properly Lutra or perhaps something else? It would also be helpful to know whether they are just recently extinct – or are they fossil taxa (as perhaps suggested by "paleaoindica")? --Richard New Forest (talk) 18:54, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

The refs show these taxa as "extinct".
 * Lutra libyca is a basal Lutrinae from the Pliocene rather than a real member of Lutra, don't know about the rest, it does seem like people threw any leftover species into Lutra. Narayanese (talk) 22:47, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

otters are so so so so so so so cute

Ring of Bright Water
I popped by here on my way to the disambiguation page, but I've had a fondness for otters since reading Ring of Bright Water in late childhood, can't remember the author; it was made into a film, and is about the adoption of an Iraqi marsh otter, presumably the Eurasian species? Anyway, I gather it would go in the cultural refs section, I just don't know the author's name; it was at one time very famous...also teaching me to be fond of otters were teh ones in the Stanley Park zoo, which I watched for years brfore they became youtube stars..... (I'd include that link, to, but youtube links are no-nos, right?).Skookum1 (talk) 19:55, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

 * That would be Gavin Maxwell. I loved Ring of Bright Water as well growing up. (As for the YouTube thing, just search for 'otters holding hands' and you'll find'em.) Tony Fox (arf!) 20:11, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

 * Maxwell's Ring of Bright Water otter was a smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), though as I recall the local Eurasian otters featured in later books. --Richard New Forest (talk) 15:31, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

Image ID request
Anyone knows what species this is? Please reply at my commons page. --165.21.155.11 (talk) 03:28, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Asian small-clawed otter, says an ad for the park. Narayanese (talk) 09:12, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

Otters in popular culture
I added a Otters in popular culture to try to help remove the "Cultural References" from this article. Azoreg (talk) 20:19, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Merge
Regarding the proposed merge of the pop culture article back into the main article, I oppose such a merge. Let the pop culture article stand on its own; if it is unacceptable then let it be AfD'd. If it fails an AfD, then the material is unworthy to even be merged into this article. If the AfD results in a merge, we can deal with it then. Rgrds. --Tombstone (talk) 16:28, 23 January 2009 (UTC)

 * I oppose such a merge too... but since I was the one who created the Otters in popular culture article, my vote may not count. Azoreg (talk) 17:34, 23 January 2009 (UTC)

Meowter
Hello, there is a new reference added to this page and a assertion that male otters are called "meowters". After some searching and looking through dictionaries, I believe this is a made up word with the only citation being a dubious site claiming the same thing. I would like to have this word removed from the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.164.221.38 (talk) 15:01, 2 December 2010 (UTC)

 * I have changed the entry as there are only Tumblr memes to support the new taxonomical suggestion of Meowter. Please stop putting meowter graffiti up on this page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.164.221.38 (talk) 14:40, 4 December 2010 (UTC)

 * The reference you removed from the article is not Tumblr or "graffiti"; so (1) you removed sourced content and (2) replaced it with your POV.  Removing that information from the article probably improved it, but not finding a better reference made it less trustworthy. --Fama Clamosa (talk) 16:19, 4 December 2010 (UTC)

 * The ref is of poor quality: it does not give its own source, and is generally far from authoritative in tone. Other sources appear to be derivatives.  We need a reliable source for this word, which looks to me too as if it's been made up quite recently.  I think mention of it should be removed until a better source can be found.  (And isn't the usual term for a male a "dog otter" anyway?)   Richard New Forest (talk) 19:54, 4 December 2010 (UTC)

 * I have removed the extraordinarily dubious claim that a male otter is called a "meowter," as well as the somewhat more plausible but nonetheless inadequately sourced claim that male otters are also called "boars" and females "sows" or "queens." I agree with Richard New Forest: may not be a Tumblr, but it still isn't a citation worthy of reference. The same goes for http://www.bioparksociety.org/pdfs/CC_Tearsheet_otter.pdf. I have added a reference to a more reliable source (Kruuk's _Otters: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation_), which states simply that female otters are "bitches" and males are "dogs." Hopefully, nobody will insert any additional otter-related terminology without providing reliable verification.Echizenkurage (talk) 22:11, 8 December 2013 (UTC)

Otters building ladders in zoo's
sometimes vandals can be funny. Just deleted this:

''Otters are curious creatures and in zoos, often build ladders out of thier enclosures at night to explore the zoo. They then climb back into the enclosure and hide the remnants of the ladder. They know they will be fed and looked after in the enclosure but they have an undying curiosity about the rest of the zoo.'' --Raindeer (talk) 15:56, 6 January 2012 (UTC)

 * omg. that's TOO funny.Colbey84 (talk) 23:52, 20 October 2015 (UTC)

Bonding in Newborns
A sea otter was recently born at the Seattle Aquarium. They moved the father to a different facility so that the mother could bond with her pup. Apparently mother sea otters isolate themselves when giving birth. Is this common to all otters? Why do they do this and when do they return home? Rotsujin (talk) 21:10, 15 January 2012 (UTC) (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017242474_otter15m.html)

Untitled
BTW - The otter is also the mascot of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB)... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.26.180.173 (talk) 07:37, 21 April 2012 (UTC)

Distribution map of otter range
The map showing the ranges of otters is incomplete - it does not show the range of African otters such as the Cape Clawless Otter, for example. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Drakenwolf (talk • contribs) 20:23, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Also, the color-coded distribution map seems to lack a key as to what the colors mean. Lightningbug (talk) 06:29, 14 October 2015 (UTC)LightningbugLightningbug (talk) 06:29, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

 * L.bug--YES. that's what i came out here to note.  and there are other images/maps being used on other wiki pages (see Skunk, Hog-nosed skunk, Spotted skunk).
 * Actually, this appears to be the efforts of one individual--https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Craig_Pemberton
 * he joined in Feb. 2011 and started uploading new maps he had created. i saw one note (somewhere) about "vector maps" being more appropriate for certain usages.  i'm guessing, based on this idea (i don't know where it comes from), that craig started creating vector maps for WP, based on other maps.  i don't know if vector maps are better, but i'm wondering if craig has been deleting the keys to these maps.  (either intentionally or unintentionally.)
 * on the Sable article, there is still an "older" map, which was uploaded Dec.2010. it has a key.  on one of the pages using one of craig's maps, there WAS a key--but you had to click the image, then click "Details" to get to it.
 * has no one else noticed this problem, and maps have been being either added without keys, or other maps swapped out for ones with no keys, for over 4 years?? (i haven't been able to find a page where i can see if there was an earlier range map that had a key that was lost).Colbey84 (talk) 00:12, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

Range image
The range image forgot Aonyx and Hydrictis.

Semi-protected edit request on 22 December 2014
International Otter Survival Fund

Internationalotter (talk) 09:17, 22 December 2014 (UTC)

From your username it appears you may have a conflict of interest and may be trying to promote your organization. If you want to suggest a change, please request this in the form "Please replace XXX with YYY" or "Please add ZZZ between PPP and QQQ". Please also cite reliable sources to back up your request, without which no information should be added to, or changed in, any article. - Arjayay (talk) 09:25, 22 December 2014 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: as you have just posted a URL, not requested a change.

Terminology/Lifecycle
The terminology and lifecycle sections contain information that is specific to the European river otter, and is not general to all otters. In particular the comment 'more common in Scotland' implies that the author is speaking narrowly of the otters in the United Kingdom. I don't have the expertise to remove the facts that are species specific, but perhaps someone with that knowledge could clean these sections up? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.89.214.103 (talk) 16:58, 7 March 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 August 2017
A few pieces of information that need to be changed in reference to Otters page:

1. Oriental small-clawed otter (Amblonyx cinereus) - The scientific name for this species is in fact "Aonyx cinereus" 2. Congo-Clawless Otter - Aonyx congicus - (or Cameroon clawless, as listed on wikipedia, although Congo-clawless otter does not have its own wikipedia page) is not listed under Aonyx within this list.

It would be great if in External Links there could be a link to the International Otter Survival Fund (www.otter.org), one of the world's leading organisations in the conservation of otters. This could promote otter conservation worldwide and help populations.

Thanks
 * Pictogram voting comment.svg Note: Please do not use a template in a header. This makes the header not work. I have taken the liberty of fixing this for you. Therefore, I will let someone else handle this request. jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 11:35, 14 August 2017 (UTC)

Partly done:
 * , I have added the link to the International Otter Survival Fund. Based on apparent coverage, this might be worth a short article in itself?
 * Regarding the other two issues, I've not made any edits because I think the current state is correct. Amblonyx cinereus and Aonyx cinereus are synonymous, with some tussling going on about which genus is appropriate; see the taxonomy section in the Asian small-clawed otter article. We are currently using Amblonyx, so this is what the link should say as well. As for the Aonyx list entry, this contains only species, not subspecies; these are listed on the African clawless otter page (of which capensis and congensis are the only ones with articles of their own at the moment). -- Elmidae (talk · contribs) 17:00, 14 August 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for your reply. How do we go about creating a page/article for International Otter Survival Fund? In relation to Congo-Clawless otter. There is a species under the scientific name "Aonyx congicus". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.136.4.172 (talk) 09:30, 18 August 2017 (UTC)
 * The Cameroon/Congo clawless otter appears to be variably classified as either a subspecies or a species (see the "Taxonomic Notes" on the IUCN page ); we are currently going with the subspecies interpretation. I suppose a case could be made for either (and it might in fact be useful to add a note on these interpretation differences to the article, and/or change the content of the article if scientific consensus has swung predominantly to the full species interpretation since). - If you haven't created an article before, I suggest using the Article Wizard. Remember that all statements in the article need to be sourced, and that with exception of completely uncontroversial data such names of participants, locales, etc., all coverage should come from independent, 3rd-party sources (thus, coverage in articles, newspapers, etc.). Cheers -- Elmidae (talk · contribs) 15:19, 18 August 2017 (UTC)

Thanks again for your reply. Is it possible to have the "External link" to the International Otter Survival Fund (www.otter.org) attached to each species page? Thanks for your help so far! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Yoxon2414 (talk • contribs) 14:12, 3 October 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 June 2022
Please change "Male otters are called dogs or boars, females are called bitches or sows, and their offspring are called pups" to "Male otters are called dogs, females are called bitches, and their offspring are called pups (US) or cubs (UK)." Shirleypooface (talk) 16:29, 27 June 2022 (UTC)
 * That sounds reasonable, but we will need a source supporting the change. I can find one for the "cub" part, but not the rest - if you can provide one that should be fine. Anaxial (talk) 17:41, 27 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Please provide a reliable source for this information. For now, I have closed this request. Please make sure to re-open it when giving a source. Thanks. Aidan9382 (talk) 20:08, 27 June 2022 (UTC)

Edit request
Somebody please fix this sentence to create a parallel construction: "Bitch otters reach sexual maturity at approximately two years of age and males at approximately three years."

If we're going to say "males" at the midpoint, we can say "Female otters" at the beginning. Male otters are also referred to as dogs, so changing "males" to "dogs" would be another option.

Right now this article reads like an excuse to write the word "bitches" as often as possible, and that's distracting rather than illuminating. 47.222.125.80 (talk) 08:33, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 January 2024 (2)
2603:9001:700:1A2:D5A6:5FCC:6979:578F (talk) 21:31, 8 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. RudolfRed (talk) 21:38, 8 January 2024 (UTC)

Otter Food
They eat up to 5% or 25% of food each day 98.28.12.226 (talk) 18:17, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Otter