2.217.209.178

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Happy editing! Airbornemihir (talk) 03:46, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

Formerly known

Hello, I see you are using a custom signature that identifies you as "{The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195}" This IP address hasn't edited in 8 and a half years. It seems weird to me that you claim "ownership" of a former IP address, especially one that you apparently don't control or use anymore. What would happen if someone edited from that address again? Would you realize? Would you continue to claim ownership of it? It also seems weird for an IP user to be using a custom signature. Do you think you could make do with the standard ~~~~ and let us sort out who's whose IP address? Thanks. Elizium23 (talk) 23:28, 25 November 2019 (UTC)

@Elizium23: You might be right about this user's specific custom signature being misleading, but I'm wondering why you would object to the very fact of them using a custom signature. We should let them have something other than ~~~~ if they find editing more fun that way, LOL. Airbornemihir (talk) 15:12, 26 November 2019 (UTC)

I've explained this to several querants over the years, so let's go through it again.

I've been contributing to Wikipedia from the early 2000s, from not long after it started.

I have not thus far wanted to open an account because, due to my admittedly eccentric personality, it would induce me to commit more time and effort here than I really ought to spend. One day, perhaps when I reach retirement age in 3 years time, I may change my mind, and register an account, probably in my own name like, for example, my meatspace acquaintance ColinFine.

One reason for this stance is that I think any contribution to the project should stand or fall on its own merits, and I have no interest in building a reputation under a particular name – assumed or not.

When I first went online at home (though I have also edited from libraries, workplaces and other locations), my then ISP (Orange) provided a fixed IP. They were taken over by UK Online, who did the same, and 87.81.230.195 was for some years that home IP.

Then UK Online were taken over by Sky, who instead provide dynamic IPs. I decided to adopt a "pseudo-signature" to ensure continuity in discussion threads on talk pages, etc., and decided to emulate the rock artist Prince, aka "The artist formerly known as Prince."

I don't think this usage claims any current ownership of the IP (which for all I know may no longer be in use, or valid), and has to my knowledge caused confusion only once, to an ISP newbie on a Ref or Help desk who misread the phrase as referring to a previous comment by themself – the confusion was quickly dispelled by another user before I myself even had a chance to.

If my continued use of this "pseudo-signature" causes an actual problem for Wikipedia or in the wider world, tell me about it (via whatever dynamic IP I've been recently assigned, as you did here) and I'll stop using it. Until then I'll continue. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.217.209.178 (talk) 17:16, 26 November 2019 (UTC)

That's good enough for me. Happy editing! Airbornemihir (talk) 01:07, 27 November 2019 (UTC)

A nice case of WP:WNCAA, I cannot beat that with an unused 2011..16 account + a dead 2005..06 account. –84.46.53.211 (talk) 19:41, 9 December 2019 (UTC)

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