{{helpme}} Hi! I think I'm doing the "helpme" thing right... Anyway, I was wondering if there was a way to claim abandoned usernames. I'd really prefer to use the username "Lewis" but somebody else has it, though they've never seemed to have used it. They don't have a user page or talk page either, but it wouldn't let me sign up with that name and said it was already in use. Thanks! 18:50, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Yes, you are doing it correctly. I'll check that name, and reply here very soon. Cheers,  Chzz  ►  18:54, 24 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Wow that was fast! Thanks for checking that, and thanks for all the information below. I'll read through some of the tutorials tonight, and hopefully get to editing soon. Very exciting! --Little Lewis (talk) 19:02, 24 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Hello again. It is possible to usurp an account if it was created over a year ago, and it has no contributions - but often usernames are used on other projects, so it can get tricky. Normally, you can check such things with this tool, but right now, the tool server is not working. It might be by the time you read this though. Sorry that I cannot check it out - temporary 'technical difficulties'.
I hope that this answers your question - ie if the account has never been used, you might be able to 'usurp' it, so see the instructions in WP:USURP. If it has been used (on any Wiki), then it is unlikely that you could take over the name - because of the licencing we use, it is important to keep track of 'who did what', even if they are no longer around. For more help, you can either;
  • Leave a message on my own talk page; OR
  • Use a {{helpme}} - please create a new section at the end of your own talk page, put {{helpme}}, and ask your question - remember to 'sign' your name by putting ~~~~ at the end; OR
  • Talk to us live, with this or this.
Please note that the single, best thing you can do to get used to Wikipedia is try the 'talk to us live' thingy. Hopefully I'll see you there later.
Best wishes,  Chzz  ►  19:09, 24 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Welcome and introduction edit

Hi, Little Lewis. This is NOT some automated message...it's from a real person. You can talk to me right now. Welcome to Wikipedia! I noticed you've just joined, and wanted to give you a few tips to get you started. If you have any questions, please talk to us. The tips below should help you to get started. Best of luck!  Chzz  ►  18:54, 24 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

 
ようこそ
  • You don't need to read anything - anybody can edit; just go to an article and edit it. Be Bold, but please don't put silly stuff in - it will be removed very quickly, and will annoy people.
  • Ask for help. Talk to us live, or edit this page, put {{helpme}} and describe what help you need. Someone will reply very quickly - usually within a few minutes.
  • Edit existing articles, before you make your own. Look at some subjects that you know about, and see if you can make them a bit better. For example, Wikipedia:Cleanup#2009.
  • When you're ready, read about Your first article. It should be about something well-known, and it will need references.

Good luck with editing; please drop me a line some time on my own talk page.

There's lots of information below. Once again, welcome to the fantastic world of Wikipedia!

--  Chzz  ►  18:54, 24 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Getting started
Policies and guidelines
The community
Writing articles

Val Meets... The VIPS edit

I added external references and a reference section as per your note on this page. Not sure what you mean about 'sections' so I haven't attempted to make any other edits. Hope what I sourced is OK. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.19.158.199 (talk) 19:25, 25 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I broke the lists of guests into different sections to make it easier to read, and so it will make a table of contents automatically. --Little Lewis (talk) 19:56, 25 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Redirect categories edit

Hey there. Just letting you know that I've created User:Kingpin13/Little Lewis as your "class room". Please visit there when you get thte chance. Also, with those redirect cateogries you are adding. Please use templates instead (if you don't know what a template is, then that can be our first lesson, let me know either way :D). The templates you can use are at Category:Redirect templates. Cheers - Kingpin13 (talk) 23:30, 25 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Thanks! I was using the HotCats gadget to add the categories. Is there an easy way to add templates? I'm really patrolling newpages after some people on IRC suggested it and did something to my account so I could access that tool, and was just adding the categories along the way. I'll look over the page you've made for me now. --Little Lewis (talk) 23:33, 25 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Hi there. I've replied again. BTW, have you heard of watchlists? If not, feel free to add pages to your watchlist (by pressing the "watch" tab). You can veiw the changes to the watched pages at "my watchlist". See Help:Watching pages for more. I'd suggest watching User:Kingpin13/Little Lewis, as I will leave messages for you there etc. - Kingpin13 (talk) 23:55, 25 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I see you've been trying to tag pages for speedy deletion. However, at the moment you are doing it slightly wrong. Please hold on for a bit. And I'll create a lesson. Cheers - Kingpin13 (talk) 02:16, 26 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Oh! Okay, thanks. I suspect it'll be that I need those X34, G14, you-sunk-my-battleship codes instead of the comments I've been leaving. I need a decoder wheel close by.. :) --Little Lewis (talk) 02:17, 26 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Correct :D. Please read User:Kingpin13/Little Lewis/NPP, and then keep your eye on that, as I will reply their shortly after you have replied. - Kingpin13 (talk) 02:28, 26 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

New message at User:Kingpin13/Little Lewis/NPP for ya (in case you haven't already realised; that is a separate page from the one you have watchlisted (User:Kingpin13/Little Lewis), so to monitor changes to it, make sure you watchlist it too) - Kingpin13 (talk) 03:03, 26 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Felixberto C. Sta. Maria, 1989-1995 edit

Just a friendly note on Felixberto C. Sta. Maria, 1989-1995. I removed your prod tag on the redirect because redirects aren't eligible for prod. If you think the redirect should go, you can list it at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion. HTH! --Fabrictramp | talk to me 17:28, 10 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

ArbCom elections are now open! edit

Hi,
You appear to be eligible to vote in the current Arbitration Committee election. The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to enact binding solutions for disputes between editors, primarily related to serious behavioural issues that the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the ability to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail. If you wish to participate, you are welcome to review the candidates' statements and submit your choices on the voting page. For the Election committee, MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 14:06, 24 November 2015 (UTC)Reply