Autobiography edit

Since you seem to be new here, let me tell you that edit wars are considered a very bad thing indeed, especially if you are outnumbered. We should always discuss things on talk pages and try to compromise instead of insisting on a certain version. There is even a rule, the three-revert rule, which says that you cannot undo an edit too often. Please bear this in mind. -- Jitse Niesen (talk) 04:03, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply

Thank you, I appreciate that constructive feedback. It's not clear to me that all participants involved here have used the talk page as their first resort; I do actually know about the three-revert rule incidentally. In any case, it's slowly dawning on me that this is really just Usenet all over again, if you are old enough to remember that, and that ultimately was rarely worth the trouble as well. :) Democritus

I notice that YOU made the first change to the guideline page and did not use the talk page first. 70.18.247.84 04:35, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
Correct. The guideline itself indicates discussion only for major changes. My edit reflects factual and relevant aspects of the application of the guidelines in practice; it proposes no changes to the guidelines, so doesn't even qualify as a minor change. The first person to break guidelines was the pre-emptive deleter. Democritus
The consensus on the talk page was that your edit was a major change. That's why it was reverted, with a consensus of 3 to 1. 70.18.247.84 04:47, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
Dear pool-70-18-247-84.res.east.verizon.net, whomever you are, the suggestion that it was a major change was offered there, but to say there was a consensus is merely to see what you desire. Democritus
Wow, you can do a tracert. I suppose I'm supposed to be impressed, or scared, or both. It's clear from your history (I just pulled up your contributions), that you're just here to fight. You haven't contributed to a single encyclopedia article since 2002; it's all been fights, hasn't it? I'm not wasting any more time with you. 70.18.247.84 05:05, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
Hm, no response on point, I see. As for fighting, it is pretty clear that you are projecting. :) Since you want to discuss other things, no, I didn't need tracert (which marks you as a Windows user just FYI), just a simple reverse DNS lookup. I'm not sure what "2002" is about -- my account is a few weeks old, created when I was moved to comment about self-created entries, and for that purpose. I suspect you have actually somehow managed to confuse my User account with the Wikipedia article about the philosopher -- amazing. BTW, your wasting of your time was on your own initiative, so don't complain to me as you turn tail and flee. :) Democritus
No, you idiot, I pulled up your contribution history. And here's the reply to your earlier nonsense: Anyone looking at the Autobiography talk page and the history can see that you made the first change to the policy, that the consensus was to revert your change, and that like a child you refused to accept it. There's even an admin warning you about edit wars right at the top of this page and stating that you're outnumbered. But you're thick as a plank, or mentally ill, so this really will be my last post to you. 70.18.247.84 05:36, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
My account is a few weeks old, so a reference to whatever I've done since 2002 is just not relevant; you appear confused. And you are the one exhibiting the need to fight, which is why I pointed out that you are projecting. BTW, descending to ad hominem doesn't give you any particular credibility; it is the resort of the feeble-minded. So, is this really the last time, or the last time like the last time? :) Democritus

Are user names re-usable? edit

Hi Jitse,

I created the "Democritus" account last month, that being the first time I felt moved to engage in a discussion on Wikipedia. I have noticed now that there are four entries under this same name, from almost four years ago -- before I knew much about Wikipedia, let alone had an account. How could this happen? Is it possible that someone had an account with this name, and abandoned it, leaving it free for someone else to use, but with the previous user's activity intact?

  1. 01:25, 21 January 2002 (hist) (diff) m Talk:Joshua A. Norton
  2. 01:25, 21 January 2002 (hist) (diff) Joshua A. Norton (Removed a probably copyrighted image.)
  3. 01:10, 21 January 2002 (hist) (diff) m Epimenides paradox
  4. 01:08, 21 January 2002 (hist) (diff) m Epimenides paradox

If it is possible to remove these, or somehow distinguish between the two owners of the name, that would be very helpful.

Thank you kindly, Democritus

User names should not be re-usable. I have no idea how these contributions ended up being linked to you, so I asked for you at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)#Contributions from before creation of account. -- Jitse Niesen (talk) 21:00, 14 January 2006 (UTC)Reply