[WikiEN-l] Re: Jeezis needs a name change

[Tim Starling]

Jimmy Wales wrote:
> What's our exact policy on this?  I'd be happy to issue a ruling, but
> I'd prefer to stick with exact precedent.  But I don't remember what
> that is.
> 
> --Jimbo


We don't have an exact policy. [[Wikipedia:Username]] is a good start, 
but it's probably best to look at the revision before SV changed it in 
response to this debate, in order to make this particular case a more 
clear-cut violation. Although there's no exact policy, there is a broad 
consensus, which IMHO trumps policy every time. Consensus beats policy, 
principle beats consensus.

After TMC, there was a broad consensus that "offensive usernames" should 
not be allowed. I interpreted this to mean offensive to a significant 
minority, rather than offensive to the majority of people.

In the SH case and in this case, it was clear that most people are 
interpreting the policy in a similar way. Although people who openly say 
that they are personally offended by a given name are rare, a majority 
in each case wanted the name changed. I was not at all offended 
personally by SH, but I changed the name out of respect for those who 
were offended.

My own personal opinion is that people who are not offended by a 
particular name, and can see no reason why anyone else should be 
offended, should abstain from voting, unless they have some other reason 
why they believe the name is acceptable or unacceptable. That's their 
choice, though.

In the SH case there was no formal vote, but a head count of opinions 
expressed played the same role.

-- Tim Starling.