[WikiEN-l] Admin Power Abuse

[Mark Gallagher]

G'day Bacchante,

> Almost immediately after creating account for what would be my first
> time editing wikipedia an admin blocked me indefinitely.
> 
> username : Let's Get High And Edit Wikipedia IP : 69.60.118.148 
> Reason given "stoner..." by 
> "*Freakofnurture<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Freakofnurture>" *
> 
> This admin describes himself as pissed off and also proudly displays
> a widget that says he does not do any drugs.  I had the impression,

You aren't trying to imply that these silly widgets make people look 
silly, are you?  Golly, gosh.

> perhaps wrongly so, that wikipedia was supposed to be more of an open
> atmosphere where there isn't such a heavy hand with admin powers.  In

Registering an account is incredibly easy.  What's to stop you 
registering a new one, with a different username?

> other words, a place where someone's first visit isn't met with an
> insult (stoner) by someone claiming to be angry, pissed off and a
> judeofacist (whatever that is, but it doesn't sound too nice).  I
> really do not see what the problem with my username is.  It is silly,
> perhaps, but not offensive.

I'll be honest with you.  I would not have blocked that username myself. 
  I don't personally consider it a violation of our username policy. 
However, I *also* would not have *registered* that username, because it 
is, frankly, a very stupid username indeed.

Chalk it up as a character-building experience: you ran into someone who 
did something you didn't like (welcome to the world!), and you got the 
opportunity to choose a decent username.  This time tomorrow, you'll be 
a much better person because of it.


--
Mark Gallagher
"What?  I can't hear you, I've got a banana on my head!"
- Danger Mouse


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