User talk:Duncan Butlin

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Personally Identifying Information
It's usually not a good idea to post personally identifying information such as addresses, phone numbers, and the like, even if it's your own. Can you prove this information is yours? (that is, prove that you are actually Duncan Butlin)? If not, this information should stay removed. It is not needed to edit here. I have removed it again. ++Lar: t/c 02:56, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Hi Duncan, and welcome to Wikipedia. I do agree with Lar above; it is seldom wise to provide that much identifying information on any website. We've also had some unfortunate experiences where editors claimed to be someone they weren't, so we discourage providing full address and phone numbers. I hope you enjoy your editing time here, but do urge you to read our policy on neutral point of view, which is a core content development policy. Risker (talk) 03:05, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Apologies to Lars and Risker. I responded to both on my User page, not knowing how to edit here, and asked them to allow my personal details to stand. After a week or two of my details being left intact I removed my plea, assuming they had agreed, but I forgot to past it here, so it all made sense. Sorry. Here's what I told them:

"I appreciate your motives in trying to protect me, but I would very much prefer if you would allow my details to be displayed. I have made it a habit on all my (few) Internet postings to sign them properly, and have yet to receive an adverse response.  I worry that anonymity in public arenas encourages people to act irresponsibly.  I like people to feel they can check up on me, so please give me a call, Lar, and we can have a chat -- just to prove who I am!  My mobile is with me in the day time, though I have to call people back if I am in class.  Nights I am often home."

This offer still stands for anyone who would like to check me out.

Duncan Butlin (talk) 00:49, 26 December 2008 (UTC)


 * After some research, which can be seen below, I'm inclined to believe that Duncan is who he says he is. It's our responsibility to protect Duncan from others who might claim his personal information, but I'm not sure we have any right to protect him from himself. ;)
 * This is a serious matter, because there is evidently a senior man called Duncan Butlin, pictured on the university page. And this man has published views on gender, which fit perfectly with his edits here at Wiki. Anyone who has read his public material could adopt his persona here. Perhaps they might provide personal details to "prove" they are the real Duncan Morriss Butlin.
 * Only the real DMB can settle this for us. Duncan, if you haven't done so already, please help the responsible Wikipedians above by discussing verifying your identity. Please help me understand why, if that is too much to ask. Alastair Haines (talk) 17:21, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

December 2008
Welcome to Wikipedia! I am glad to see you are interested in discussing a topic. However, as a general rule, talk pages are for discussion related to improving the article, not general discussion about the topic. If you have specific questions about certain topics, consider visiting our reference desk and asking them there instead of on article talk pages. Gimme danger (talk) 07:35, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Dear Gimme Danger,

Thanks for your comments, but please don’t doubt me: I am not asking questions, I am focused on improving the article. Protecting it from erosion is the first step, and this means defending the work of Alastair Haines -- however embarrassing he finds it! Duncan Butlin (talk) 00:51, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

Duncan Morriss Butlin @ Philosophy Now

 * I notice that you adopt the same persona at Rick Lewis' forum, contributing, as you do from your Mac, with a link to this page in your signature there.
 * Perhaps you could upload a photo, here and there, similar to the one at the student union.
 * Is the maroon hatch(?) outside 51 Bradshaw Street, in the parking bay opposite the flats, yours or your neighbour's to the rear?
 * Did you move from Kettering when you retired (from Centrilift, Baker Hughes? and/or Usertek, Taipei?) — The Independent is online these days.
 * Did you know The Independent had also published the following?
 * "Gender-sensitive car number plates: A 2000 patent awarded to Duncan Butlin proposed colour-coded number plates differentiating drivers according to gender. Butlin's premise was that 'people can predict the behaviour of others if they know their sex'. He suggested that men have white number plates and women yellow, 'because yellow is a prettier colour'." Jonathan Thompson, "Hot plate and Spork fight it out for best gadget prize", The Independent Sunday, 6 October 2002.
 * I note the patent is GB2339950 (GB9815478.4) 17 Jul 1998, with a transcript that might prove interesting to those considering how you might interact in a Wiki environment.
 * I'm convinced you're dogging the subject, not me, which is a relief, of sorts.
 * I owe you an apology, because it does seem you are who you claim, and not the hypothetical "young lady" I thought. I should have known, since your user page is white, not yellow. ;)
 * Finally, I believe you have read Goldberg ("parsimonious" is only in my vocabulary because of Goldberg) ... and much more too. You are indeed an interesting man. Alastair Haines (talk) 15:05, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

May 2009
Welcome to Wikipedia. Although everyone is welcome to contribute constructively to the encyclopedia, we would like to remind you not to attack other editors. Please comment on the contributions and not the contributors. Take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to this encyclopedia. ''Please also read WP:AGF. '' Dougweller (talk) 21:11, 19 May 2009 (UTC)