[WikiEN-l] Controversial user nicknames

Tue Aug 26 11:40:29 UTC 2003

>From: Dante Alighieri <dalighieri at digitalgrapefruit.com>
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>Wikipedia<wikien-l at Wikipedia.org>
>To: Discussion list for English-language Wikipedia <wikien-l at Wikipedia.org>
>Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] Controversial user nicknames
>Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 01:55:40 -0700
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>
>At 09:48 PM 8/25/2003, you wrote:
>>How about your real name, a real pseudonym or
>>a fanciful name? If you try and change your name
>>to something offensive, no judge will allow you to
>>do that, but most places allow people to use any name
>>they want without any formalities if the use of that
>>name is not meant to be confusing, misleading or
>>fraudulent. Using a famous name as a pseudonym
>>can be confusing, misleading and/or fraudulent.
>>
>>How about a bright line rule: no historical or actual
>>public figures i.e. "absolute person of contemporary history"?
>>see:
>>http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights#Personality_rights_in_Germany
>>
>>No one should be allowed to use a name that could
>>be considered offensive, misleading or fraudulent,
>>that includes IMHO calling onself Albert Einstein,
>>Beethoven or Blaise Pascal (amongst others).
>>Alex756
>
>I'm just curious how my user name could be considered confusing, misleading 
>and/or fraudulent. Since I can't figure out what "contemporary history" 
>means (since you've listed people who have been dead for centuries) I'll 
>just have to assume that my name would be forbidden under your proposal.
>
>Aside from the fact that the historical Dante Alighieri died 682 years ago, 
>I'm sure that I could change my name legally to Dante Alighieri if I so 
>desired. As a matter of fact, I don't suppose there's any way that you 
>could prove that my name /isn't/ legally Dante Alighieri.
>
>
>
I had your case in mind when I suggested no /twentieth century/ names that 
were political, military etc. I think pre-20th century names are reasonably 
OK though the odd problem might crop up. But 20th century/21st century is an 
easily understood cutoff off, whereas 'contemporary' is too ambiguous.

Re real names, I'm not in favour. By all means encourage it, but some people 
might prefer to keep their personal identities to themselves, and that that 
attitude may increase as academics, journalists, writers etc decide to come 
on board as we get bigger. They might prefer to be judged on what they write 
on wiki, not on their off wiki identity.

JT

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