GainsboroughFoundation

This user's request to be unblocked to request a change in username has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without a good reason (see the blocking policy). Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

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

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Requested username:

James Allen at the Gainsborough Foundation (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Request reason:

Guys, I appreciate you trying to help but this (feels) so damned complicated to even find the right button to link to this conversation that if the user name I've proposed isn't accepted, I won't be trying again! If there are any questions you'd like me to answer please email me on the address on file. Best, James

Decline reason:

The username is acceptable, however I am unconvinced that you should be editing articles where you have a significant conflict of interest. PhilKnight (talk) 04:35, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for your time guys, I'm done.

Your username

Welcome to Wikipedia. I noticed that your username, "GainsboroughFoundation", may not comply with our username policy. Please note that you may not use a username that represents the name of a company, group, organization, product, or website. Examples of usernames that are not allowed include "XYZ Company", "MyWidgetsUSA.com", and "Trammel Museum of Art". However, you are invited to use a username that contains such a name if it identifies you personally, such as "Mark at WidgetsUSA", "Jack Smith at the XY Foundation", and "WidgetFan87".

Please also note that Wikipedia does not allow accounts to be shared by multiple people, and that you may not advocate for or promote any company, group, organization, product, or website, regardless of your username. Moreover, I recommend that you read our conflict of interest guideline. If you are a single individual and are willing to contribute to Wikipedia in an unbiased manner, please create a new account or request a username change that complies with our username policy. If you believe that your username does not violate our policy, please leave a note here explaining why. Thank you. Widr (talk) 15:42, 21 December 2014 (UTC)

Your account has been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia because it appears to be mainly intended for publicity and/or promotional purposes. If you intend to edit constructively in other topic areas, you may be granted the right to continue under a change of username. Please read the following carefully.

Why can't I edit Wikipedia?

Your account's edits and/or username indicate that it is being used on behalf of a company, group, website or organization for purposes of promotion and/or publicity. The edits may have violated one or more of our rules on spamming, which include: adding inappropriate external links, posting advertisements and using Wikipedia for promotion. Wikipedia has many articles on companies, groups, and organizations, but such groups are generally discouraged from using Wikipedia to write about themselves. In addition, usernames like yours are disallowed under our username policy.

Am I allowed to make these edits if I change my username?

Probably not, although if you can demonstrate a pattern of future editing in strict accordance with our neutral point of view policy, you may be granted this right. See Wikipedia's FAQ for Organizations for a helpful list of frequently asked questions by people in your position. Also, review the conflict of interest guidance to see the kinds of limitations you would have to obey if you did want to continue editing about your company, group, organization, or clients. If this does not fit in with your goals, then you will not be allowed to edit Wikipedia again.

What can I do now?

If you have no interest in writing about some other topic than your organization, group, company, or product, you may consider using one of the many websites that allow this instead.

If you do intend to make useful contributions here about some other topic, you must convince a Wikipedia administrator that you mean it. To that end, please do the following:

• Add the text {{unblock-spamun|Your proposed new username|Your reason here}} on your user talk page.
• Replace the text "Your proposed new username" with a new username you are willing to use. See Special:Listusers to search for available usernames. Your new username will need to meet our username policy.
• Replace the text "Your reason here" with your reason to be unblocked. In this reason, you must:
  • Convince us that you understand the reason for your block and that you will not repeat the edits for which you were blocked.
  • Describe in general terms the contributions that you intend to make if you are unblocked.

If you believe this block was made in error, you may appeal this block by adding the text {{unblock|Your reason here}} below, but you should read the guide to appealing blocks first.

--Orange Mike | Talk 13:15, 22 December 2014 (UTC)

This user's request to be unblocked to request a change in username has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without a good reason (see the blocking policy). Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

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

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Requested username:

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

Request reason:

Hi Mike I am a volunteer worker with the Gainsborough Foundation and have been asked to edit Nick Charles MBE's wikipedia profile to represent a more current, comprehensive and accurate profile of Nick and what he does. I also intend to contribute on articles relating to alcohol misuse and alcohol recovery treatment in the UK and internationally. Excuse my naivety in creating the Wiki user account name -this is all new to me! - but rest assured it isn't an exercise in promoting Nick Charles or his charity. I've lost two members of my own family to alcohol addiction and I've become passionate about educating people about alcohol misuse. If you could guide me on how best to set up an account, I'll gladly put in the time to learn how best to edit and contribute across many articles - I just started with the one I know best...Nick Charles MBE! Thanks in advance for any help.

Decline reason:

I'm sorry, but your requested username is still promotional. You can't use your company/group/product name in your username. You are more than welcome to try again. SQL^{Query me!} 09:03, 26 December 2014 (UTC)

Here are a few key questions:

• Do you understand that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, and not a business directory?
• Do you understand conflict of interest?
• Do you understand that to be considered for an encyclopedia article, the subject must be notable?

You are currently blocked because your username appears directly related to a company, group or product that you have been promoting, contrary to the username policy. Changing the username will not allow you to violate the 3 important principles above. the panda ₯’ 00:18, 25 December 2014 (UTC)

You will also have to leave out any reference to "Gainsborough Foundation" in your proposed user name. Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 00:07, 26 December 2014 (UTC)

(Ronhjones—SQL) This is not true. As an ACC user, I frequently come across situations like this. Having his name as well as a company name is permissible per the username policy. "However, usernames are acceptable if they contain a company or group name but are clearly intended to denote an individual person, such as "Mark at WidgetsUSA", "Jack Smith at the XY Foundation", "WidgetFan87", etc."—cyberpower _Online^{Happy 2015} 20:24, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

It's amusing that you'd mention being an ACC user. I pioneered ACC as you know it today. Anyhow, that aside - personally I feel that the username fails either as implying a shared account, or being promotional. That being said, If someone wants to overturn me I'd take absolutely no offense. SQL^{Query me!} 10:37, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

Also, I'd be extremely interested in seeing the user's answers to the questions that panda asked over a week ago. SQL^{Query me!} 10:41, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

It's only promotional if he uses it for promotional purposes. That has yet to happen. P.S. ACC has changed significantly since you pioneered it, and I do remember you contributing to the source code for ACC. A copy of it was stored in X!'s toolserver account, if I'm not mistaken. I found it there when I took over what is now called xtools.—cyberpower _Online^{Happy 2015} 22:58, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

You are correct - I was referring to just having it as part of the user name, as per his suggested name. Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 21:53, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

That's what I mean. The username he requested is acceptable.—cyberpower _Online^{Happy 2015} 22:40, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

As silly as it may seem, that is correct. Some admins refer to it as "Mark at Alcoa" exemption. The discussion is here. Widr (talk) 07:26, 5 January 2015 (UTC)