User talk:Formal Cambot

Hello, and welcome to Wikipedia!

I hope not to seem unfriendly or make you feel unwelcome, but I noticed your username, and I am concerned that it might not meet Wikipedia's username policy for the following reason: account names ending in "bot", which are not authorized bot accounts, are not allowed. After you look over that policy, could we discuss that concern here?

I'd appreciate learning your own views, for instance your reasons for wanting this particular name, and what alternative username you might accept that avoids raising this concern.

You have several options freely available to you:
 * If you can relieve my concern through discussing it here, I can stop worrying about it.
 * If the two of us can't agree here, we can ask for help through Wikipedia's dispute resolution process, such as requesting comments from other Wikipedians. Wikipedia administrators usually abide by agreements reached through this process.
 * You can keep your contributions history under a new username. Visit Changing username and follow the guidelines there.

Thank you. – Juliancolton  | Talk 20:33, 29 March 2009 (UTC)

Hi, Juliancolton. I use this name on forums and in games, because I like the silent but eve-present character of Cambot (the camera) in the TV show MST3K. I also like Tom in formal wear so I combined the two. I'd like to keep this account name if that's okay. Formal Cambot (talk) 02:17, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

This account, , has been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia, because your username does not meet our username policy as it is not currently an approved bot account.  Usernames may not contain the string "bot" unless approved. This is often not a reflection on the user, and you are encouraged to choose a new account name which does meet our guidelines and are invited to contribute to Wikipedia under an appropriate username. Our username policy provides guidance on selecting your username. If you feel this block was made in error, you may quickly and easily appeal it&mdash;see below.

If you have already made edits and wish to keep your existing contributions under a new name you may request a change in username. To do so, please follow these directions:
 * Add on your user talk page. This is possible because even when you are blocked, you can still edit your own talk page.
 * At an administrator's discretion, you may be unblocked for 24 hours to file a request.
 * Please note, you may only request a name that is not already in use. The account is created upon acceptance – do not try to create the new account before making the request for a name change since we can far more easily allocate your new name to you, if it is not yet used. Usernames that have already been taken are listed here. For more information, please visit Changing username.
 * In the alternative, you can "abandon" the contributions under this username and create a new account, which is much faster and easier.

Last, the automated software systems that prevent vandalism may have been activated, which can cause new account creation to be blocked also. If you have not acted in a deliberately inappropriate manner, please let us know if this happens, and we will deactivate the block as soon as possible. You may also appeal this username block by adding the text on your user talk page or emailing the administrator who blocked you. Nja 247 07:28, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

This is not what I want to change my username to, obviously, but I'm inexperienced and this is the easiest way to ask for an unblock, apparently. I thought I could ask for an exemption or at least a discussion, but if this is the way you apply the rules, it's not worth my time.


 * Would you consent to removing the "bot" part from your username? I understand wishing to keep the name you've used elsewhere, but on Wikipedia "bot" is usually reserved for actual bot accounts, which are used by programs to make automated edits to the project. This can confuse editors, as they may not realize there's a human editor behind the edits you make. Hers fold  (t/a/c) 21:08, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Is the "no non-bot username ending in bot" rule hard & fast? If so, I think it should be obvious (or automatic) during sign-up, not getting blocked afterward. "Formal Cam" looks odd to me, and it'd remind me that I was forced to change it. Formal Cambot 21:29, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Is there something I can do, besides change my name, to make plain I'm not an automated bot? Formal Cambot 21:30, 30 March 2009 (UTC)


 * No, there isn't. Surely the presence or absence of thesae three letters cannot be, to you, a big deal? It is, however, to wikipedia. --Anthony.bradbury"talk" 22:13, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

It's not so much what you're requiring me to do but how you're going about it. Form letters, blocking me, and a general less than welcoming welcome. Thanks, but this place isn't for me.