Wikipedia talk:Changing username/Usurpations/Archive 4

Objecting to usurpations
While there is a general notion that usurpations (and renames) must be uncontroversial to be performed, what would be the most proper way to lodge opposition to a rename? I've seen several cases where this has occurred, yet there's no general procedure to do so. Tito xd (?!? - cool stuff) 23:48, 4 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I would say post it on the request thread on this forum initially. If it turns into a lenghtier discussion, we can move it to a more appropriate forum. Which one that might be would depend on the reason why the opposition exists: normally, the requester's talk page, but depending on the issue, maybe even the Administrators' Noticeboard or another similar forum.  For the duration of the discussion, the request remains on standby, and we will add a link to where the discussion might be taking place.  Redux 11:43, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
 * The Usurpation requested explains how to do this, the easiest thing to do would be to edit your talk page and write no or something then the account has edits and can't be usurped. Qst 11:54, 5 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Actually, the template explains how the owner of the account-to-be-usurped may object to the usurpation. I believe Titoxd means to ask how a third party may log an objection.  Redux 12:03, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh, well I'm not sure as to why a different use would which to oppose a usurpation if they were not affiliated with that account unless the account requesting a usurp was being used for vandalism. Qst 12:05, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
 * That's a reason. Also, there's users who are under ArbCom restrictions, etc. We have a case right now with Betacommand's request, in which two bureaucrats have already objected to the usurpation, so it brings up the question of what mere mortals like us have to do to object to one. Tito xd (?!? - cool stuff) 19:31, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Mhh, not you mention it sounds good... I'll have a little think. Qst 19:52, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

Usurping a user name that is currently indefinitely blocked
I am interested in usurping User:A, since my English name begins with an A. However, it's indefinitely blocked by an admin who has indefinitely left Wikipedia. His contribution log is empty. So, as advised by WP:VP/P, I am asking the question here. Can I usurp his username?--Kylohk 13:25, 8 July 2007 (UTC)


 * This username has been requested before, see Changing_username/Usurpations/Rejected/1. I discussed it with Naconkantari at the time and he was unable to recall the reason for the block - its seems to have been a summary he used quite a lot at the time. Generally policy does not allow accounts with logged actions to be usurped and this block log entry will not move during the rename. The fact that an account has been blocked suggested they edited and policy does not allow the usurpation of accounts with deleted edits (they are also not reassigned during renaming). My instinct is that account is not available under the policy as it stands, but a crat may want to look into it and offer a more definitive answer... WjBscribe 14:12, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
 * That explains why my old user name regained edits when bjadon was undeleted. :P -N 14:15, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Another question, let's say I want to usurp a username with only 1 edit several years ago, and he cannot be contacted by email. What can be done then?--Kylohk 14:44, 8 July 2007 (UTC)


 * At the moment, nothing really. The present usurpation policy does not allow for accounts with any edits at all to be usurped. You could propose a change to the policy - but I suspect the next logical expansion would be where the account made no edits to the encyclopedia and those edits were several years ago (e.g. 2004 or earlier). Where edits are to an article, there may be a GFDL problem with usurpation (as User:Foo anticipated that his edit would be attributed to User:Foo in the article history, not to User:Foo (usurped) or similar). Usurpation was (and to some remains) controversial even where the account has no edits - any planned expansions of policy will likely have to be defended carefully. WjBscribe 15:23, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
 * See the section below. We can now check if A has deleted edits. R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 00:58, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * According to that tool, User:A does not have any deleted contributions. WjBscribe 00:59, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * . If the block log isn't moved with the rename, and this user was blocked for something but nobody can remember what, I'm reluctant to do the rename. --Deskana (talk) 01:02, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Deskana. I disagree with your action. Thanks to this new amazing tool, we have found out that User:A doesn't have any deleted contributions or regular contributions. That basically means the account was blocked for no reason at all, which is probably why the blocking admin doesn't remember. I suggest unblocking it and performing the usurpation. It's your decision though. R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 01:21, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * After consultation with the clerks, we believe a request on CHU/U should be created so this matter can be considered. Unfortunately, doesn't exist. :-) --Deskana (talk) 01:31, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

OK, I've written a usurpation request for User:A at the bottom of the page right now. Cheers.--Kylohk 11:22, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Just so you know as the reason for the block in the block log was rather vague, the reason the account was blocked is becouse it is the unconfermed alterate account of User:Brian Hickey. -- C h r i s   g 11:51, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * "Unconfirmed alternate account"? What does that mean?--Kylohk 13:12, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I guess it means we block accounts that we think might be alternate accounts of someone else even when there's no evidence... Ssary, especially since alternate accounts are perfectly acceptable – Gurch 15:55, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * In this case User:Brian Hickey create A's userpage with a message that it was his alternate account but A has not confirmed this so this account was blocked until it is confirmed, this has also happend when an account clams to be the alternate account of an other user but the other user has not confirmed this. This can be avoided by creating an account while logged in. --  C h r i s   g 02:32, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

The account may have deleted edits, as the deleted edit logs only go back to September last year. The distinct User:А requested usurpation of the account before this was permitted. While User:А has been inactive for over a year, the similarity of names may be an issue. Warofdreams talk 03:14, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Special:DeletedContributions
Admins can now tell if a user has deleted edits by going to Special:DeletedContributions! This will be a great help with CHU/U. Maybe we should add it to the request template. R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 00:57, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * The bad news is a few clerks (ie. me) are not admins so we can't check if the user has deleted contribs. -- C h r i s   g 11:53, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Just assume I (or one of the other admins who sometimes look at this page) will double check. None of the requests at WP:CHU/U have deleted contribs. WjBscribe 16:35, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Also, if you clerk someone, and can't check the deletedcontribs page, just leave a message and one of the admins that visit this page will do that check for you. Tito xd (?!? - cool stuff) 23:33, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Change to
Using my absolutely nothing knowledge of parser functions, I was able to copy, paste, and replace existing parser functions of to add parts to include deleted contributions. I've tested it and it seems to work! (yay!). By default, the CUU template will say the username must be checked for deleted contributions. However, you can later (or at that time if you're an admin), put "|dcontribs=no", which will say it doesn't have deleted edits, or "|dcontribs=yes", which will say it has deleted edits and cannot be usurped. If the latter is used, it will be the only line displaying on the template, like how "logs=yes" makes only the "usernames with logs can't be usurped" line appear. Feel free to fix, because like I said, I have no knowledge of parser functions. I just copied, pasted, created some new templates, and replaced. R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 17:02, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * If you have done it, you are to be congratulated. But I cant see a change in your diff of the template, strangely. I have a bit of knowledge of parser functions, mostly the #switch: and #if:, if there are mods to be made. Once again, if you have done it, then good job, especially for someone who hasnt used PFs before. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 17:12, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * You can't see the changes here?. R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 17:15, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Yep. I can now. Somehow I must have misclicked the diff or some weird thing. Anyway, good job. You will now need to inform the documentation and make the necessary updates to any related pages recording usage of the temp, if you havent already. Cheers, -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 17:17, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I guess we'll have to rely mostly on WJB to go through all the usernames that now need to be checked :). -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 18:03, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Ahh! Infuriating admin-only access! :) -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 18:07, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I'll help out checking for deleted contribs. By the way, if someone types, should I change   to   or should I just leave a note at the bottom of the request saying that I've checked it? Greeves (talk • contribs) 18:18, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * R is telling the story here. As far as I can see, the Parser  is , so theres no need to type it. If you've checked it, you should know whether there are   or not, as far as i can tell. --  Anonymous Dissident  Talk 18:21, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * (edit conflict) Change it to yes or no. And you don't need to do . Though you can, it default to that, so simply typing   will still say that deleted edits must be checked. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 18:23, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

Looks good. I wonder though if we need a message for "no deleted edits" (currently no dedits - would it not be simpler if the parameter "dcontribs=no" didn't add anything extra, just removed the note that an admin needs to check for deleted contribs? WjBscribe 19:06, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I just put it in because it shows that it's been checked, and it can't be checked by everyone, so people would probably want to know it's definitely been done. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 19:12, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree with WJB. There is no need to clog the clerking when there is really nothing to say. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 01:43, 15 July 2007 (UTC)


 * All done I've fixed it up, if you don't like it revert me. -- C h r i s   g 02:58, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Dates
Hi. I would like to get some information about date sections on this page. Should the bureaucrats put in the dates or the users who want to usurp names? Is template which inserts the current date and the deadline date or should it be done with copy and paste? I would be grateful also if this information would be added to the help part at the top of the article. Thanks in advance:) Woodchuckk 13:02, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * With the dates anyone can update them, but normaly the clerks (ie. WjBscribe :) do the updates and there is no template that I am aware of. -- C h r i s   g 08:55, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Username changes for admins
I'm sick and tired of seeing "new" usernames who are admins, and having no idea who these people are, only to discover after digging around that the person in question has changed username and was formerly well known under a different name. Often this is accompanied by absolutely no disclosure at all. Adminship involves trust, and how can I trust somebody who has changed username and doesn't even bother to disclose that fact?

I would like to propose that we do one of the following:
 * 1) Stop migrating sysop bits with username changes
 * 2) Require people who have changed username to disclose this in a prominent fashion on their user page
 * 3) Stop username usurpations altogether, as it is a process which is causing confusion and taking up bureacrat time with little useful return.

--kingboyk 16:20, 27 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Well all username changes are in the rename log, so transparency is available. Admin renames that do not involve a privacy consideration are documented at: User:NoSeptember/admin username changes. In response to your various specific suggestions:
 * That's just punitive - there are many reasons why sysops change names. Sometimes there are privacy concerns, sometimes its to simplify the name to make it easier for people to find the sysop (e.g. Picaroon9288 → Picaroon). Old usernames are usually kept as redirects to the new one.
 * In my experience most already do - unless the rename was for privacy reasons. All you probably have to do is drop a note on their page asking them what their old username was... is that so unreasonable?
 * I can't see how usurpation is more confusing than ordinary renames. The fact that people have usernames they are more happy with is a fairly useful return - its a volunteer project after all and our contributors are not robots.
 * All in all, I can't see any serious problem with how the system operates at present. WjBscribe 23:06, 27 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I agree as usual with WJBscribe and I think kingboyk's comment is generally lacking in merit. Andre (talk) 23:25, 27 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Also on the topic of number 2 many users I know who had their names changed leave a note in their sig (And I myself have a note of my name change on my user page even though that was months ago.) A good admin example is The Rambling Man. -- C h r i s   g 07:55, 28 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm just a lowly editor (and a casual one at that), but I think it would be nice if the history of each Admin (name changes, and RfA history, as well as any de-sysops and re-sysops) were clearly presented in one place and not buried somewhere. Transparency is good.--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back 16:46, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Well, NoSeptember has done a very good job recording many many useful things about admins and RfA's etc atUser:NoSeptember/The_NoSeptember_Admin_Project. Hope this helps. i  (said)  (did) 18:06, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

Ambiguous word choice
I've noticed that pages associated with Usurpations that the phrase "account with edits cannot be upsurped" crops up frequently. This sounds like there is some sort of technical restriction on renaming account with edits, for the purpose of another account to take that name. Just a thought here, but isn't "may" a better choice of wording? I distinctly remember "can" confusing me, when this system was introduced. Comments?

Anthøny 17:03, 14 August 2007 (UTC)


 * I wouldn't be adverse to switching to "may" and indeed a more qualified wording may be needed to bring it in line with WP:CHUG. In particular the crats do seem more willing to allow the usurpation of accounts with edits of no GFDL consequences - e.g. vandal edits that were reverted. Not sure how best to phrase this clearly. WjBscribe 23:10, 14 August 2007 (UTC)


 * "account with edits will not be upsurped"? --  Chris   G  12:02, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Username change question
Is there any limit on how many times that you can change your username or usurp a username? &mdash; E  talkbots 07:44, 17 August 2007 (UTC)
 * WP:CHUG doesn't really say anything. On the talk page, Andrevan and Deskana were opposed to putting a number on it,but letting it be discretionary based on each user. There wasn't really a consensus for a quantification, or what that number would be. It's really bureacrat discreation I believe. i said 08:02, 17 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I think the b'crats normally stop at about three unless you have a good reason for the change. --  Chris   G  01:36, 18 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Changing it a whole lot is obnoxious. There is no codified definition for "a whole lot" nor need there be. Pick a good name and stick with it. &mdash; Dan | talk 08:02, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Doppelganger usurpation?
I would like to create a new account (named whatever) and have it renamed to (logs), usurping that user (which seems to meet the criteria to be usurp-able). I intend to continue editing as BigNate37, but I would like to have the name without the 37 suffix as a doppelganger account. Would this be a legitimate request, and should I make said request on the new account or from this one?  Big Nate 37 (T) 17:07, 24 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Its just about legitimate. My main worry about letting people usurp accounts they don't actually plan to use is that it stops those names being used by someone who'd make edits with them. However, I doubt we'd let anyone else usurp "BigNate" given the similarity to yours. That just leaves the fact its a bit pointless - BigNate isn't going to use his account (if he we're we'd let him keep it) and your not going to use it if you usurp it, and we wouldn't let anyone else usurp it - so you usurping it doesn't make much difference. If you did make a request, you should sign it with both the account you wanted renamed and your main one. Any reason why you don't want to be renamed to "BigNate"? - seems easier for people than trying to remember if you're BigNate37, BigNate36 or BigNate38... WjBscribe 17:51, 24 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, I've gotten to like the three-tone signature, and I've parked BigNate37 on commons and wiktionary (though looking now, commons:User:BigNate and wikt:User:BigNate were both available). Plus, changing a name can be confusing when looking at old talk pages and comments made about me, and my userspace includes several templates (some of which see use). I see what you mean about it being pointless—with respect to impersonation, I don't see User:BigNate as having the potential for trouble. I've had the whole User:BigNate thing in the back of my mind since around the time it was being discussed whether usurpations would be allowed, and I'll probably think on it some more before acting. The assurance that nobody else will be able to usurp User:BigNate is nice; from what I've seen I'm the most prolific bignate variant and perhaps the only active one. That alleviates one of my bigger concerns.  Big Nate 37 (T) 19:24, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Malformed requests
Are they fixed or removed? If fixed, do we just move the signature and datestamp? i said 05:54, 25 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Fixed. Yes. If someone posts a usurpation request but the account isn't taken, move it to WP:CHU and switch it to the appropriate template if necessary (you may need to juggle some of the info around) and link to where the request was originally made. WjBscribe 05:57, 25 August 2007 (UTC)

On this template, would it be a good idea to add a link to the requesting users' edit count? It may not be important, but I usually check them just incase. i said 02:39, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I usually just check their contribs. If it's on more than one page of the 50 edit display, they usually have enough edits. Edit count really isn't needed. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 05:06, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * May not be needed, but it might not go amiss. Might be a good idea. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 07:56, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Proposal
I think the generally accepted prerequisites for filing a request (ie. several months of editing etc.) might need to be made more clear. Already today, two requests have been from users who are very new and have made very few edits. Perhaps if there was a separate section for the "prerequisites" (or however it is preferred the section be named), this little problem might better be avoided. Any other ideas? Comments? -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 08:02, 30 August 2007 (UTC)
 * "Please do not request usurpation if your user account is less than several months old, or barely used. In order to ensure that usurped usernames be put to good use, we prefer only to grant requests from reasonably well-established users." at the top of the page seems pretty clear. I've made it bold so it stands out more... WjBscribe 08:06, 30 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I know, but it seems like it is getting ignored or missed out a fair bit. The two requests I referred to, made just today alone, are evidence of this. Still, maybe bolding will help. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 08:09, 30 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Maybe the page should be semi-protected. Since anon's can't change their usernames, there's no need to have them editing this page. Semi protecting would stop non-autoconfirmed users from adding their requests (for a few days), if their account was created only to go to usurp a name right away. We seem to get plenty of people whose accounts were just created and whose only edits were to this page. -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 18:08, 30 August 2007 (UTC)
 * But that would stop people who edit on other wikimedia wikis. --  Chris   G  10:42, 4 September 2007 (UTC)
 * No need for any changes. Volume is still low enough that we can put up with a few newbies. &mdash; Dan | talk 08:01, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Downtime
No requests since the 6th. This is odd.... *shrugs* -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 09:52, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

Will Be Approved
I was wondering if we could add a "will be approved" feature for usurpations that will be approved as long as the target username's owner does not object within seven days of the request. Cyanocittacristata 20:58, 28 September 2007 (UTC)


 * It seems that is implicit in the standard template added by the clerks. They also note when accounts are asking for usurpations that may be problematic, such as a too-new account. I'm not sure this is necessary.-- Flyguy649 talk contribs 20:24, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * See, that's why it is necessary. When it'll be approved, it'll say so. -Cyanocittacristata 01:23, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
 * The bureaucrats decide whether to approve or not, it doesn't happen by default. The template doesn't actually consider whether the requester is eligible anyway, just whether the name is suitable for usurping. Secretlondon 09:15, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

Usurping long-abandoned accounts
Is it at all conceivable to usurp an account with very few edits (less than 10) which were all made more than two and a half years ago over a period of only 3 days? If not, is it due to technical restrictions regarding reassignment of contribs or due to having a bright-line distinction of which accounts can and which cannot be usurped? — aldebaer⁠ 12:22, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Just read above that it requires two renames, which makes sense. But how could an abandonded account agree to a rename? Does that mean such accounts with edits cannot be usurped unless the user can be contacted and subsequently consents to the rename? The account I had in mind has no e-mail specified. — aldebaer⁠ 12:28, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Generally, it depends heavily on which spaces have been edited, in the case of an account with very few edits. However, policy is fairly strict on this; even accounts with even a few edits several years ago may often be impossible to usurp. If you could point towards the username in question...? -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 12:55, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * User:Cornelius. — aldebaer⁠ 13:16, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I'd say that that name is likely to be rejected. It has made edits to the encyclopedia, to the mainspace.... -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 16:06, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Ok, thanks. — aldebaer⁠ 16:24, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I would reject. Secretlondon 09:10, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

Due Date
Once the date for the usurpation has come, how long does one generally have to wait until the usurpation happens? Sorry if I seem pushy or impatient, but mine has come.-Cyanocittacristata 01:16, 6 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Usurpation is not really a priority task of the bureaucrats. They usually get to them soon after the 7 day wait, but it may take a day or so afterward. -- Flyguy649 talk contribs 14:15, 6 October 2007 (UTC)
 * If it doesn't happen within a day or two, is it okay to contact a bureaucrat?-Cyanocittacristata 02:03, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I would wait it out. The bureaucrats have people that help out with name changes, so if it gets too far behind, I'm sure one of them will let someone know.  J. Hall  • ( Talk ) 01:19, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

7 day waiting period
If there is a request for usurpation placed on the user's talk before a request is made here, can the change happen right away once it's placed here if the request has had more than seven days to respond? For instance,here? It wasn't done then, but Andrevan was a two day old bureacrat, and may have not done it because he was new. Also, just out of curiosity, why do any edits whatsoever bar usurpation? I presume it in in some archive somwhere, but there are lots of archives in lots of different places. i said 00:40, 10 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't know for sure the answer to your first question (but I would guess that it could happen right away). I can, however, answer your second question. When a user registers an account and makes edits with it, that user agrees to have those edits attributed to the username they selected. To rename an account with edits without that person's consent would not properly attribute the author of those edits, which is required by the GFDL.  W ODU P  00:57, 10 October 2007 (UTC)


 * That's what I don't understand. The system retroactively changes the name of the user who made the edit. So all edits made by, for instance, John Doe would now say John Doe (usurped), thus satsifying the GFDL, as the author is attributed. Granted, my rationale is based in a primitive knowledge of the GFDL. i said 01:01, 10 October 2007 (UTC)


 * User:John Doe agreed to have his edits attributed to "John Doe", not "John Doe (usurped)".  W ODU P  01:05, 10 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Hm. I see. Thanks. i said 01:07, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

How does this works?
Can anyone please explain how does this usurpation works? What's the whole procedure? I'd like to introduce to the Malay Wikipedia, wonder anyone there heard of this. Can anyone please introduce to Yosri, who is a bureaucrat there? Thanks a lot! --Edmund the King of the Woods! 16:20, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Non-admins clerking, and then admins later coming and adding "dcontribs=no/yes"
– Anthøny  20:59, 29 October 2007 (UTC) It seems like a waste of time for non-admins to clerk with a missing piece of information, only to have sysops later come along and fill it in. Wouldn't it be easier just to leave the clerking to sysops? Because non-admins just can't obtain the whole quota of information. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 09:07, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes, I see your point, but the only response seems to be to ask all non-Admins to refrain from Clerking here, which is (a) unfair, seeing as we have many helpful contributors here, who are non-sysops; and (b) would drastically increase the workload on Administrators (in that, each request would have 4 fields to investigate, rather than 1). Anthøny  09:20, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Its not unfair when they can't completely do the job. Their contributions here, as far as clerking, are superfluous in that regard. Its just an edit that will later be effectively overwritten. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 09:39, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm fine ether way this goes as long as you don't remove me until 04:02, 3 November 2007 (UTC). --  Chris   G  09:57, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Heh - don't be so sure Chris; it could turn around at any time ;) -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 10:01, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

It doesn't hurt to be optimistic! :) --  Chris   G  10:02, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree with AGK that admins will only have to check one criterion if someone else has come by and filled the rest. If Joe User clerks for a request but skips deleted contribs, and Joe Sysop checks for those deleted contribs and fills that field, why would Joe Sysop need to re-check the other things if Joe User has already?  W ODU P  ( ? ) 10:08, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Hmmm. I suppose that is a valid point, but its not like it takes a large amount of time to check each field.... -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 10:19, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Every second counts :) is there any reason why you're opposed to non-Admins clerking? I remember the time before my RfA, and this sort of thing was actually quite disheartening. We should be doing everything we can to include non-Administrators in our responsibilities - there is already an excess of locations they are excluded from. Anthøny  10:57, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Not in the principle, no. I just find it to be superfluous, when they can't get that extra bit of information, and when it is so easy for a sysop to check the fields anyway. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 11:06, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't like the idea of making any task admin-only unless we really have to. If a non-admin can do 90% of the task then it seems unfair to ask them not to just because there's a bit of the task they can't do. Ultimately even if no admin ever looked at it, the crat who performed the request would know it met all the criteria but had not been checked for deleted edits. They then could look at that. If a non-admin clerk I trust has done everything except look for deleted edits, I'd just do that - which is less time than having to check that everything else is right too. So while I agree there's a bit of duplication going on - if non-admins want to do this, I see no harm in letting them. The traffic on this board is slowing quite a bit anyway so there's not a huge amount to do... WjBscribe 12:22, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Hmm. I think I agree with that. In the end, I don't care either way, I just was wondering what USURP regulars thought about this recurring duplication. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 12:27, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but I have to agree with AGK on this matter, not allowing users to clerk her and provide assistance just because they are not administrators, would be unfair. Clerking here, is a positive thing to do and stops users from getting themselves into edit wars/conflicts etc. However, on that note; I can see your point, Anonymous Dissident about all of this :) Qst 13:26, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * So I assume that we can say that non-Administrators are not only permitted, but indeed encouraged, to contribute to clerical activities here. However, as a group we recognise Anonymous' point on Administrators having to go back and finish the task that non-sysops cannot complete, but conclude that it is not a drastic enough problem to alter the method of operations we have had up to this point? Anthøny  14:18, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Yep, 100% agree, Qst  16:36, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree too. -- Anonymous Dissident  Talk 21:15, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I do, partly agree with what Anonymous Dissident says; although I'm against leaving clerking to admins only (leaving me out : but I do think it's a little bit of a time waster of non admins adding the template then admins coming along and "completing" the request. Qst  21:30, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I think its a good thing to have a bit of duplication, every one makes mistakes and it's good to have a bit of double checking. --  Chris   G  09:07, 29 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I guess we all agree then. If there are any further issues, then by all means raise them in full - this is, after all, an important process and we should award it the scrutiny it deserves. However, in the meanwhile we can threat this as resolved, and I've tagged it as such. Anthøny  20:59, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Merging alternate accounts with main account
I have two alternate accounts (which I have now properly marked, with redirects to the main account) but have only recently learned how inadvisable this is, since the accounts don't serve any real pupose other than for my amusement. All three accounts have a significant number of edits. Is it possible for me to change the names of the alternate accounts to my main account name? Tim Ross 13:08, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
 * No, it is not possible to do this; the tools we have only allow us to rename accounts to names which are currently available. I'd recommend sticking with one account from now on, and mentioning on all three userpages the relationship between the accounts to avoid future confusion. Warofdreams talk 21:03, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I'll do that, then. Thanks for the advice. -- Tim Ross (talk) 21:58, 16 November 2007 (UTC)