User talk:Blacktygrrrr

You have been temporarily blocked from editing Wikipedia for continuing to add spam links. If you wish to make useful contributions, you are welcome to come back after the block expires. Persistent spammers will have their websites blacklisted from Wikipedia.

This account has been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia, because of concerns that the chosen username may not meet our username policy.

This is often not a reflection on the user, and you are encouraged to choose a new account name which does meet our guidelines and are invited to contribute to Wikipedia under an appropriate username. If you feel this block was made in error, you may quickly and easily appeal it - see below.

Our username policy provides guidance on selecting your username. In brief, usernames should not be offensive, disruptive, promotional, related to a 'real-world' group or organization, confusing, or misleading.

If you have already made edits and wish to keep your existing contributions under a new name you may request a change in username. To do so, please follow these directions:

1. Add {{unblock-un|your new username here}} below. This is possible because even when you are blocked, you can still edit your own talk page.
2. At an administrator's discretion, you may be unblocked for 24 hours to file a request.
3. Please note, you may only request a name that is not already in use. The account is created upon acceptance – do not try to create the new account before making the request for a name change since we can far easier allocate your new name to you, if it is not yet used. Usernames that have already been taken are listed here. For more information, please visit Wikipedia:Changing username. Keep in mind, though, that creating a new account is much faster and easier.

Last, the automated software systems that prevent vandalism may have been activated, which can cause new account creation to be blocked also. If you have not acted in a deliberately inappropriate manner, please let us know if this happens, and we will deactivate the block as soon as possible. You may also appeal this username block by adding the text {{unblock|your reason here}} below or emailing the administrator who blocked you.

Ian Cairns (talk) 21:33, 3 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mr. Cairns,

I noticed that I was blocked. I was surprised by this.

I was told that my nickname "blacktygrrrr" violates the guidelines somehow. I have had this nickname since college. It is my favorite color and favorite animal. Also, it is a takeoff on 80s rock bands with colors and animals such as White Lion, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, etc. I have been known as the Black Tygrrrr for half my life.

I also saw that I was labeled as a spammer. The links that I posted were actual interviews that I conducted with people, or my interactions with meeting them.

In every instance, they were pleased with the results of the interview or meeting.

I have only recently learned about Wikipedia posting because somebody I did an interview with decided to put my interview on their page. That gave me the idea to add my other interviews to pages.

I have gotten thank you notes from more than one interviewee for doing so.

Please let me know if this is sufficient to remove the block, or what procedural steps I need to take. Any rules violations were accidental.

Respectfully,

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express Blacktygrrrr (talk) 22:09, 3 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hello eric aka the Tygrrrr Express - Thanks for your message - first names please, no formality around here - Thank you for making contact - this is much appreciated. My block was expressing concern that your username was being used to promote a website / organisation that was related to your username, and was being used to add a repetitive link to your website / webpage. Please check WP:U and then the paragraph on Company / group names and Inappropriate usernames (Promotional usernames) - it was this point that caused me to consider blocking your account. Wikipedia exists to be an encyclopedia - and is not a promotional medium for any company or cause. To paraphrase, you are most welcome to add material to Wikipedia - provided that it is sourced (i.e. you can provide a reference to it), true, and does not soapbox / promote your own cause. If you are happy to conform to this standard Wiki format, then I have no problem with releasing your username - but you must not then use it to promote your interviews. Please read up and let me know what you think. Best regards, Ian Cairns (talk) 22:51, 3 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ian,

Thank you for your timely response. This is a learning process for me, so forgive me in advance if my questions seem less than brilliant.

First of all, I absolutely want more traffic directed to my blog. I freely admit that. I am just not willing to violate any rules to do it. If what I bring to Wikipedia enhances Wikipedia, and benefits me as well, then that I guess would be allowed.

Is the issue the links, or the combination of the links and the username?

If I change my username to something hypothetical like Mickey Mouse or even "eric," does that change the situation? I like my username, but the links are more important than the username.

Also, I noticed the conditions regarding links. The information has to be truthful. This is not a problem. I am very careful about that. The second issue is one of sourcing. This one might be trickier. The reason I say that is because for me, the person I am interviewing IS the source. What verification can I provide? If I were to say I interviewed someone, and I did not, that would be some kind of fraud! What type of verification that I actually did the interview would be satisfactory?

While the links do have the title of my blog in them, how is that different from a Wall Street Journal or USA Today interview? Should I change the title of the link so it does not have my blog name in it?

Lastly, and forgive my reiterating, the main reason I even thought about doing this was because one of my interviewees liked my interview, and either she added the link herself, or somebody else did. So rather than have me add the links at all, is it permissible to just go to the interviewee or one of their people, and have them add the link to their own Wikipedia page themselves? They would be happy to do it for me, but I would prefer not to bother them.

If that is not necessary, can I just provide Wikipedia with the link to an email giving me express permission to update their page?

My goal is to get this right. I saw one page (before I was blocked) that expressly banned updates without permission, so I am going to their representatives. The others I checked did not say that.

Forgive the length of my questions. If the issue is the username, I can request it back or choose a new one. If the issue is the links themselves, I will do what is necessary to make them compliant with Wikipedia policies.

Your guidance is appreciated.

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express Blacktygrrrr (talk) 19:28, 4 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]