[WikiEN-l] User names (snip)

[Stevertigo]

> --- Toby Bartels <toby+wikipedia at math.ucr.edu>
> That's neither here nor there when it comes to
> personal usernames.
> I have a great deal of faith in the wiki process
> these days --
> more than I did when I first heard of it! ^_^

To make the argument that usernames are in some way
different is the same as saying that they are special
-- in what way are they special? Do they need to be
protected? Are they under some different right, or
sphere, where the rules that govern other Wikipedia
aspects are separate?  This argument works both ways--
you can say "why treat usernames so differently" if
they are not "special".

The answer is obvious-- they are different, because we
cant simply "edit" them-- we cant click change this
username and presto-- it be wikified.  Its among the
few aspects of Wiki that are beyong wiki means, and
yet are system-level in nature.  Choosing a name is a
system command, and not a wiki edit.

~S~



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