Wikipedia talk:Changing username

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[edit] Some comments

The arrows in requests for CHU point → way, while the ones at CHU/U point ← way. Jpgordon moved the arrow in this edit, to be more logical with the request, as it was easier to switch the arrows than the fields of the template. I support making the arrows uniform, where the request is CURRENT NAME → REQUESTED NAME.

For this page, there is a field in the template asking for a reason. Is there a need for a reason to be provided? Will requests actually be denied if a reason is not given? I note that CHU/U doesn't require a reason. I see no need to require a reason, and suggest that it become optional only.

Also, is there convention on whether or not requests made on this page by brand-new or nearly brand-new users are accepted? I note that they are often accepted, but I have seen Secretlondon deny requests if the user has so few edits that it would just be easier to have them discard the account and create the new one (she will often allow requests like this if they would require an administrator to create the account, however). I think it would be a good idea to at least attempt to standardize practice, to prevent inconsistency and eventual bureaucrat shopping.

Hopefully, this will get more response this time :/ seresin ( ¡? ) 02:57, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

I also agree that the arrows should be standardized. However, the requests are handled by bureaucrats, so I think they'd be familiar with the procedure and not prone to err regardless of the formatting of the arrows. Useight (talk) 16:16, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
I'd also support standardizing the templates making arrow and reason= use uniform but how much of an issue is this with the 'crats? – Zedla (talk) 19:38, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

Just a note that this has now been sorted - mainly to allow both types of request to appear at WP:CHU/SUL without making a mess. WjBscribe 13:17, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Bots

It seems we barely need clerks now, as bots are there. ;) Qst (talk) 08:15, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Bots can't detect promotional usernames or {{uw-samename}} cases. -Jéské (v^_^v E pluribus unum) 08:23, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Additional bot function request

I have some feature requests for SoxBot VI. I wonder if these could be implemented.

  • Check if the user is blocked. Raise a red flag if currently blocked.
  • If previously blocked, raise a flag (maybe orange), so that a bureaucrat can evaluate the case.
  • Check if the account exists on other wikis. Raise an orange flag if not.
  • Check and see if the only change in the rename is. Deny it if the change is only:
    1. Converting the first letter of the old name from upper case to lower case.
    2. Converting an underscore to a space or vice versa
  • Check the User rename log if the user has already been renamed in the past. Raise a red flag if so.
  • Check the WP:CHU history to see if the user has already put in a request in the past.
  • Check if the user has any negative record in an arbcom case. I'm not sure how this can be determined but it is important.
  • Check if the user has a sockpuppet record. I'm not sure how this can be determined but it is important.

Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 10:10, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

In reply...
  • How would they be able to edit?
  • I tried, but there isn't really any easy way to go about doing it.
  • Considering that this has no interaction with the database currently, it would be hard, but could be done.
    • Already does it, but for onwiki only.
    • Good idea.
  • Same as above, there really isn't a way to do it easily.
  • That would also be difficult.
  • Yes, that would be difficult.
I'll see if I can work on some of those. Soxred93 (u t) 10:57, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
With respect to the blocked edit: An editor may have made an edit before being blocked. From what I've seen, this is most often the case with inappropriate usernames. Or the blocked editor can make a request on his talk page, and the request be forwarded by the blocking admin. (Does the bot validate such cases?). The other requests would really help a lot since it would be a tedious process to check for some them. Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 15:39, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
We did have a bot for a short while that was able to flag up whether accounts had been renamed previously: User:HBC RenameClerkBot. It unfortunately stopped operating when User:H was driven off the project :(... I don't know if its code was ever made public. WjBscribe 15:53, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
H has an email address set, I could contact him and ask for the source code, and then run a clone of HBCRenameBot if you feel that it would be useful. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 16:10, May 19, 2008 (UTC)
That might be worth pursuing - or perhaps Soxred could do that and, if H is willing to supply the code, incorporate it into his bot? Seems best to just have one bot checking everything than to have two... WjBscribe 16:24, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

[deindent] Working on it now. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 16:34, May 19, 2008 (UTC)

Email sent, we'll have to see whether H replies. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 16:38, May 19, 2008 (UTC)
Status report: I've got the source code [it's Perl] from H, I'm now setting up the stuff and will try it out. If anyone more experienced with Perlbots wants to try it out, I can post the code here [I won't do it unless wanted as it is fairly big]. I'm more of a Python/AWB/VB coder, but I should still be able to get this running. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 16:15, May 22, 2008 (UTC)
Perl simply doesn't seem to want to work for me. I can upload the code if Soxred wants to integrate it into his bot; that may be best, stops us having too many bots accessing this page at once. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 16:26, May 22, 2008 (UTC)
FYI, I hate Perl, so I am using PHP right now. But I might like to look at the source. Soxred93 (u t) 23:50, 22 May 2008 (UTC)
Trust me, I know the feelng :P. The code is here, when you've finished/downloaded it, please feel free to delete the page. Hope it is of some use. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 06:28, May 23, 2008 (UTC)

[edit] my changing

I posted a request about 2 weeks ago. i got a message saying if I let myself change my username again, i wouldn't be able to change again. i said that was O.K. And I still ahven't gotten a reply. What should I do, or why ahven't I gotten a reply?I am sooooo cool! 20:46, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

I looked at that request, and I think that the bureaucrat was trying to say that you should really think about the username change before making any request, because there is a heavy load on the servers. If you understand this (and I'm quite sure you do), then I would suggest making the request again. Singularity 18:35, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
I think you also needed to categorically state that you understood that you won't be allowed to change your name again. Your response to the bureaucrat's request was unclear. Go ahead and file again along with a categorical statement of the above sort. There seem to be no technical hitches.--Regents Park (moult with my mallards) 01:37, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Sorry about that

Sorry if I messed up the submission, I got a prompt, which looks like the missing edit summary warning box, so I put one in, and then tried to fix it, and oh well. Gopher backer (talk) 02:05, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Don't worry about it: I've fixed the formatting, and there's no harm done. Acalamari 02:07, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Administrator changing name

Is it possible for an Administrator to change their account name and retain their Administrator status? I can't seem to find any information on this particular tidbit. I ask as I'm considering it. Canterbury Tail talk 22:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Yeah it is, it transfers over with the change. Have you enabled SUL yet? If you have, you'll have to have your global account deleted first, then have the username changed, and then re-enable your global account. Ryan Postlethwaite 22:20, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
Is this SUL for Wikipedia or someone's own Wikimedia site? As I am asking with reference to Wikipedia not my own personal wiki sites. Canterbury Tail talk 00:06, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
SUL is, I believe, enabled for all Wikimedia projects (Wiktionary, Wikispecies, Wikibooks...). Singularity 05:30, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] When user name is changed

When your user name has been changed, are all your subpages still the former names? Example: My user name now is User:RyRy5. If I changed my name to User:RyRy, will my subpages still start as "User:RyRy5/SUBPAGENAME"? --RyRy5 (talk) 03:35, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Your subpages are automatically moved to User:NEWUSERNAME/SAMESUBPAGENAME when you are renamed. seresin ( ¡? ) 08:05, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] More prominent notice regarding deletion of global acounts

Almost every request currently filed cannot be completed due to the fact that global accounts need be deleted beforehand. Perhaps a more prominent or visible note would be prudent to ensure that people do this before they ask to be renamed? -- Anonymous DissidentTalk 17:14, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

That would definitely make sense on the SUL subpage, and stop clerks/crats having to repeat the same thing over and over again. RichardΩ612 Ɣ ɸ 13:12, June 8, 2008 (UTC)

[edit] usurpation and GFDL concerns

I'm not sure I understand the GFDL concerns related to usurpation of accounts with valid edits. The attribution isn't broken so as long as the renaming/moving procedure is considered, or is it?

In particular, I don't understand item #10 here: All bureaucrats and stewards operating usurpations must remember at all times that the GFDL is only interested in the name the person adds to the history when they release the work under the GFDL -- this is not a matter of debate or subject to personal decision.

Isn't that fact (the username which the person added to the page history when making their edit) still preserved and traceable via the moving procedure of the account? dorftrottel (talk) 08:01, 11 June 2008 (UTC)