User talk:CalStateWatch

Welcome!

Hello, CalStateWatch, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions.

I noticed that one of the first articles you edited was California State University, Fresno, which appears to be dealing with a topic with which you may have a conflict of interest. In other words, you may find it difficult to write about that topic in a neutral and objective way, because you are, work for, or represent, the subject of that article. Your recent contributions may have already been undone for this very reason.

To reduce the chances of your contributions being undone, you might like to draft your revised article before submission, and then ask me or any other editor to proofread it. See our help page on userspace drafts for more details. If the page you created has already been deleted from Wikipedia, but you want to save the content from it to use for that draft, don't hesitate to ask anyone from this list and they will copy it to your user page.

One firm rule we do have in connection with conflicts of interest is that accounts used by more than one person will unfortunately be blocked from editing. Wikipedia generally does not allow editors to have usernames which imply that the account belongs to a company or corporation. If you have a username like this, you should request a change of username or create a new account. (A name that identifies the user as an individual within a given organization may be OK.)

Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

The plain and simple conflict of interest guide
The five pillars of Wikipedia
Tutorial
How to edit a page and How to develop articles
How to create your first article (using the Article Wizard if you wish)
Simplified Manual of Style

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your messages on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically insert your username and the date. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or ask your question on this page and then place {{Help me}} before the question. Again, welcome! Flat Out let's discuss it 09:02, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Welcome to Wikipedia. Because we have a policy against usernames that give the impression that the account represents a group, organization or website, I have blocked this account; please take a moment to create a new account with a username that represents only yourself as an individual and which complies with our username policy. You should also read our conflict of interest guideline and be aware that promotional editing is not acceptable regardless of the username you choose.

If your username does not represent a group, organization or website, you may appeal this username block by adding the text {{unblock|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}} below this notice.

You may simply create a new account, but you may prefer to change your username to one that complies with our username policy, so that your past contributions are associated with your new username. If you would prefer to change your username, you may appeal this username block by adding the text {{unblock-un|new username|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}} below this notice. Thank you.

Daniel Case (talk) 20:29, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

This user's request to be unblocked to request a change in username has been reviewed by an administrator, who accepted the request.

CalStateWatch (block log • active blocks • global blocks • autoblocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

Requested username:

UnderdogU (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Request reason:

name change required in order to lift ban for using a name that appears to represent an organization CalStateWatch (talk) 04:54, 14 April 2014 (UTC)

Accept reason:

For username change. Use {{unblock-un}}. For the record your block was not draconian, merely standard procedure for apparently promotional usernames.--Anthony Bradbury^"talk" 17:03, 14 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I do not exactly understand the reason for the block. The edits I made to the Fresno State article were in no way inappropriate or destructive. If it's simply because my user name appears to represent a "group," then I will gladly change it, but the severe nature of the ban prevents me from doing that, as far as I can tell. Please advise how I can proceed with changing the name. To be honest, the draconian nature of your response to my innocuous edits to the Cal State Fresno page are rather irksome and difficult to justify. I have an interest in numerous Cal State University articles and would like to work to makes these articles better... especially ones that are filled with boosterism and are essentially weak, which is the case with the CSUF article. CalStateWatch (talk) 20:30, 13 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

If you enjoy imposing severe/permanent blocks on Wiki users, I would suggest you take a look at fredin323. The generally combative nature of this user's involvement in the CSU Fresno project and his/her obvious boosterism, to say nothing of his/her tendency to engage in edit wars, revert edits without explanation, post inaccurate information, use weasel words, and accuse other users of racism for posting innocuous demographic data is absolutely contrary to Wiki ideals and is extremely destructive. Furthermore, it seems to me fredin323 is intent on concealing Fresno State's high minority (Hispanic) enrollment, which is strange/suspicious and frankly makes one wonder whether he/she is actually the racist one. Fredin323's unchecked behavior and your draconian block are very disappointing examples of why the Wiki community often doesn't really "work." Sad. CalStateWatch (talk) 20:45, 13 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

This user's request to be unblocked to request a change in username has been reviewed by an administrator, who accepted the request.

CalStateWatch (block log • active blocks • global blocks • autoblocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

Requested username:

UnderdogU (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Request reason:

name change required in order to lift ban for using a name that appears to represent an organization

Accept reason:

From the above accepted unblock request, it is evident that Anthony Bradbury intended to unblock you, but didn't, evidently by mistake, so I have unblocked you on his behalf. Allowing username change to requested username. Please put this request in at Wikipedia:Changing username as soon as possible to avoid re-blocking. The editor who uses the pseudonym "JamesBWatson" (talk) 11:42, 22 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

CalStateWatch (talk) 22:48, 14 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

A couple of words of advice. You will have a much better time at Wikipedia if you are civil towards other editors. Accusing others of such things as "enjoy[ing] imposing severe/permanent blocks", you will be likely to antagonise other editors, who will then be less likely to be receptive to other things you say. Even if you think anger is justified, expressing that anger is likely to be unhelpful. Remember that the vast majority of Wikipedia editors are volunteers acting in good faith, and if you think they have made a mistake, then explain why in a friendly way. Also, I don't understand why you were under the impression that "the severe nature of the ban" prevented you from changing your user name. The message about the block seems to me perfectly clear, and I don't understand how you misunderstood the situation. If you can suggest ways of improving the wording of the message to help others from making the same mistake, please do so. The editor who uses the pseudonym "JamesBWatson" (talk) 11:42, 22 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]