User talk:GordonWatts

Terri Schiavo

Per Wikipedia:Community noticeboard#Community ban request on User:GordonWatts:

• You may not edit articles related to Terri Schiavo
• You may not link or suggest links to your own sites
• Your participation in Schiavo articles is restricted to making a very small number of brief comments to Talk pages, of the order of one per day. Note that this does not mean one thread, edited numerous times, it means one edit.

Failure to abide by these restrictions will lead either to an outright ban, or to ArbCom (who will almost certainly apply precisely the same restrictions, but with more force). Guy (Help!) 15:06, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

"* You may not link or suggest links to your own sites" I have just seen this message, so I am not prepared to respond to all points, but this point seems to be in violation of current Wikipedia policy: WP:COI clearly says that "If you feel it necessary to make changes to Wikipedia articles despite a real or perceived conflict of interest, we strongly encourage you to submit content for community review on the article's talk page or file a Request for Comment to the wider community, and to let one or more trusted community members judge whether the material belongs in Wikipedia," not that I suggest links to my web papers very often. Also, Wikipedia:Spam#Canvassing point 6 states that "If your product is truly relevant to an article, others will agree -- try the talk page. We usually recommend that editors be bold in adding directly to articles. But if the above advice makes you concerned that others will regard your contribution as spam, you can find out without taking that risk: Describe your work on the article's talk page, asking other editors if it is relevant." This one requirement alone is a violation of the Wikipedia policy I just quoted. I am interested to see what my the violations are. As I recall, I was accused of linking to my site, promoting my site, and excessive talk, but last I heard, talk is permitted, even if it is a minority viewpoint. To restrict a person's speech based on content seems a violation of Wikipedia policy, but I have not seen the latest posts.--GordonWatts 00:36, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Free advice - worth every cent.

Hi Gordon, I saw this comment of yours: "I have proof here that others are lying when they claim...". Now, I don't know if people are right or wrong, but I'm sure they aren't lying. At worst, they are mistaken. Can I trouble you to choose your words more carefully in the future? Thanks, Ben Aveling 21:46, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

Maybe they are lying; I call a spade a spade. However, I did make a point to be polite, did I not, in the process of calling a lie?

Just this morning, I learned my cousin, Catherine, just died. She was only about 53, and i have been very preocupied.--GordonWatts 00:36, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin. Was it expected? No need to reply if you have places you should be - family comes first at times like this, you probably don't want to hear my take on anything to do with wikipedia. Regards, Ben Aveling 00:49, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

She had been in very poor health for a long time, so my cousin, Kitty's death was not unexpected, but these things are always grave. Thank you for your sympathies, Ben.--GordonWatts 00:52, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

That can make it easier, not that these things are ever easy. All the best, Ben Aveling 02:19, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I concur with Ben's advice, and I'd like to join him in offering sympathy on the death of your cousin. Regarding Wikipedia, my advice would be to make great use of the preview button. Ask yourself if there's anything in the text or in the edit summary that will irritate people. If there is, do you really need to post it? Can you leave out that bit? Can you reword it? Don't argue over every little point. You're convinced you're right, and I'm not going to argue with you, but I'll just say that even if you are right, if you see people changing their votes to something more restrictive (or changing from "Oppose" to "Strong oppose" at your RFA) because they're irritated by your determination to have the last word, then even if it doesn't tell you that they're right and you're wrong, it should at least tell you that it would be wise to stop doing it. People do sometimes lose what they want because they fight too hard for it, and that seems to have been happening to you. I'm also disappointed at your accusations that others are lying, just as I was disappointed when Calton accused you, wrongly, of lying. I pointed out at the Terri Schiavo talk page that Calton's accusations against you were false, and Musical Linguist pointed out the same thing, in greater depth, at the Community noticeboard. But in behaving the same way yourself, you are actually making Calton look better, and also embarrassing the people who are trying to help you. The child who tells his teacher that he really did do his French homework but the dog ate it is presumably lying (if what he says is not true), byt someone who says that Gordon posts too much or Calton posts too much or Elinor posts too much is unlikely to be lying, since "too much" is an impression, and can't be answered by numbers. Try not to make such accusations, Gordon, as it's a violation of WP:AGF to do so, and doesn't really help your case. Anyway, best wishes, and sorry again about your bereavement. ElinorD (talk) 13:12, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I have initiated WP:RfA WP:RFAR action against the other editors involved in the recent ban action against me.

I have initiated WP:RfA WP:RFAR action against the other editors involved in the recent ban action against me. Observe:

Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration#Current_requests

--GordonWatts 02:30, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I believe you mean WP:RFAR not WP:RFA. I'm guessing you don't mean your starting a Request for adminship against the editors that wish to ban you. --Bobblehead 02:34, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Yes; Thank you for caTCHING MY TYPO. --GordonWatts 02:35, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

• Please be aware that the case may well not go the way you want it to. Guy (Help!) 12:16, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Arbitration notes

We generally ask that opening statements be kept to arounf 500 words. You are not trying to prove your case, but rather to show the arbitrators that there is a case needing to be heard. This is not a new rule but has not been emphasized in the past and not noted prominently on the WP:RFAR page. Following requests from several arbitrators, we are beginning to enforce this more closely. Can you kindly edit or re-word your request to come closer to this guide?

Also, you must notify editors you consider a party to this dispute now, when you file the request, and post diffs of the notifications in the Confirmation section of your request. These parties must have a fair chance to comment. Once the case is opened, the clerks will perform official notifications that the case has been opened. I know you have notifiefd Guy and Calton; if there is anyone else you consider a party to this dispute, please add their name to the request and notify them now. Thank you. Thatcher131 02:07, 26 February 2007 (UTC)