Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User names

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This page is for bringing attention to usernames which may be in violation of Wikipedia's username policy. Before listing a username here, consider if it should be more appropriately reported elsewhere, or if it needs to be reported at all:

• Report blatantly inappropriate usernames, such as usernames that are obscene or inflammatory, to Wikipedia:Usernames for administrator attention.
• For other cases involving vandalism, personal attacks or other urgent issues, try Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents; blatant vandalism can also be reported at Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against vandalism, which is sometimes a better option.

Do NOT post here if:

• the user in question has made no recent edits.
• you wish to have the block of a user reviewed. Instead, discuss the block with the blocking administrator (see also Wikipedia:Blocking policy § Unblocking).

Before adding a name here you MUST ensure that the user in question:

• has been warned about their username (with e.g. {{subst:uw-username}}) and has been allowed time to address the concern on their user talk page.
• has disagreed with the concern, refused to change their username and/or continued to edit without replying to the warning.
• is not already blocked.

If, after having followed all the steps above, you still believe the username violates Wikipedia's username policy, you may list it here with an explanation of which part of the username policy you think has been violated. After posting, please alert the user of the discussion (with e.g. {{subst:UsernameDiscussion}}). You may also invite others who have expressed concern about the username to comment on the discussion by use of this template.

Add new requests below, using the syntax {{subst:rfcn1|username|2=reason ~~~~}}.

Tools: Special:ListUsers, Special:BlockList

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Reports

Please remember that this is not a vote, rather, it is a place where editors can come when they are unsure what to do with a username, and to get outside opinions (hence it's named "requests for comment"). Bolded recommendations are not necessary. There are no set time limits to the period of discussion.

Place your report below this line.

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FeygeleGoy

FeygeleGoy (talk · contribs)

The offensive word "faggot" is a thin transalation of fegelye from yiddish. Ipatrol (talk) 02:57, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Both the words "faggot" and "feygele" can be taken as offensive, funny or absurd, depending on usage. They are only offensive when used against others as an insult. In applying the term to himself, FeygeleGoy makes it playful and humorous, much the same as established user Queer Scout. I see no reason not to let this editor continue using the name. Binksternet (talk) 04:07, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Comment Queer Scout's first edit was back in 2005, and the policy on usernames was this, which I don't see as violating the policy at the time (or by today's policy).--Terrillja _talk 04:19, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Other translations for "Feygele" (פֿײגעלע) are also "offensive" words: gay, homosexual, and queer; all terms which are offensive to those who find gays objectionable. On my talk page, Ipatrol has first objected to my name by saying,

names like yours are usually associated with vandals.

I sent an email explaining my name, its personal meaning to me, how I’ve used it on the web for four years with no objection, and asking for further comment. Ipatrol simply changed tactics, saying that my name is offensive for the gay content, because one possible translation for "feygele" is faggot. This of course ignores that Yiddish never had its own native, unbiased word for "gay". Neutral words meaning “gay” only really came into common use as attitudes toward gays became more tolerant, and the actual meaning of same-sex attraction became less stigmatized.

Ipatrol, it’s frustrating and unhelpful that you want to block me from using the word you find offensive, but you didn’t offer any constructive alternatives. It’s like you’re tagging it as a “bad word”, no matter how I feel about it, and no matter how many queer Jews feel about it. Find it in an old dictionary with a negative remark, and therefore no one at all can choose to use it, no matter how time, language, and attitudes change.

Then again, I don’t know if “gay” would offend you any less; many people use "gay" now as a slur equivalent to “faggot”, and it seems to be one of many terms automatically flagged in usernames, simply because it can be used disruptively.

I also don't understand why "feygele" has to be turned into an unacceptable term; it literally means, "little bird". It only becomes an insult if someone chooses to use it to insult. I'm embracing it with joy and humor, based on how I've seen it used by queer Jews. It can't be any worse than "dyke" or "queer", which have been and still are insults to those who hate "dykes" and "queers", yet have been successfully reclaimed as well by LGBT people.

There are more points I'm not addressing here — such as that I've used the name as my website domain for four years and on Wiki since August of 2007, with no problems till now, and that I mean no ill will to anyone by using this nick. However, I feel I covered it well on my talk page. FeygeleGoy/פֿײגעלע גױ‎ 04:42, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Comment - speaking as a goy (much more goyish than FeygeleGoy, I'd wager), I have no idea if "feygele" is offensive or not. So I've asked all currently active (edited in the last 7 days) editors in Category:User yi-4 and Category:User yi-N to give their input here. Unfortunately, that only works out to four editors, but any comments they provide should be helpful. -kotra (talk) 07:04, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Comment - "faggot" may not actually be a translation from "feygele" (see Faggot (slang)#Etymology). -kotra (talk) 17:41, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Comment There seem to be two issues here: One is that name is associated with vandals, the other is that the name is offensive. The first issue is utter rubbish. The user seems to have a clear head and is very willing to discuss matters before making big changes (see [1] and[2]). As for the name being offensive, if he says that it has personal meaning to him, I'm more than willing to believe that. FeygeleGoy, perhaps for those of us who are not as familiar with Yiddish euphemisms as you are, you could write a brief explanation of what your username means to you / why it isn't offensive on your user page? That way if someone actually does get offended by it, he/she/it can simply read your user page for a quick explanation rather than drag you back into this process. --Cryptic C62 · Talk 18:27, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

  This seems like a good solution, if FeygeleGoy is willing. Even something as brief as "I'm gay and I'm interested in Yiddish, hence 'FeygeleGoy'" should be enough. -kotra (talk) 18:44, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

  Sure, but it'll have to be tomorrow. I've been so busy with fighting this "battle", I had to stop and take care of my "civilian" life (gardening, laundry, etc.) and I don't have the energy to concentrate on it properly. FeygeleGoy/פֿײגעלע גױ‎ 04:30, 19 March 2009 (UTC)

In an online setting where people don't see each other face-to-face, the potential for misunderstanding and misinterpretation is great. All it takes is for someone a little sensitive to see this user's name to go completly ballistic to the point that we have to restrain them. It's usually best to prevent somethig rather than dealing with it when it happens. Therefore I do not believe that this name, even if it has been used on other websites, should be used on Wikipedia.--Ipatrol (talk) 22:44, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

Somebody that sensitive and unbalanced could go off the deep end when presented with any number of uncensored aspects of Wikipedia. It's an adult encyclopedia and it can be challenging. I don't think it's necessary to rubberize the walls so users can't hurt their feelings. We have methods in place to deal with problem situations when they appear; that's worked so far... Binksternet (talk) 00:41, 19 March 2009 (UTC)

NOTCENSORED has very little to do with this. We don't need to drive off editors by goading them into personal attacks. This username strikes me as poorly conceved in regards to our username policy.--Ipatrol (talk) 01:45, 19 March 2009 (UTC)

• I speak Yiddish with great fluency. In common Yiddish usage today, the word "Feygele" means a derogarory name for someone who is homosexual, and the word "goy" must be used with great care because it can be used in a derogatory way (but not always) for a gentile. See Goy#Modern usage: "...In English, the use of the word goy can be controversial. Like other common (and otherwise innocent) terms, it may be assigned pejoratively to non-Jews..." so that to combine two such names in an obviously provocative manner is sure to offend some, if not not many, editors, akin to having a user name of "HomoJoe" or "LesboJane" that would obviously upset editors sensistive to such names and insults. This is not about "free speech" but it is about following the guidelines and policies of Wikipedia:Username policy wherein it specifically states that: "Inappropriate usernames: Wikipedia does not allow usernames that are misleading, promotional, offensive or disruptive. Domain names and e-mail addresses are likewise prohibited....Offensive usernames make harmonious editing difficult or impossible. Disruptive usernames include outright trolling or personal attacks, impersonation, or otherwise show a clear intent to disrupt Wikipedia. These criteria apply to both usernames and signatures. Usernames that are inappropriate in another language, or that represent an inappropriate name with misspellings and substitutions, or do so indirectly or by implication, are still considered inappropriate. The line between acceptable and unacceptable user names is based on the opinions of other editors. The consequences for this are clearly spelled out: "Dealing with inappropriate usernames: Usernames which are obviously inappropriate should be reported at Wikipedia:Usernames for administrator attention, along with an explanation of the issue, and can be blocked on sight by any administrator....Usernames which are not obviously inappropriate, but which may fit the criteria listed above should not be immediately blocked. The issue should be discussed with the account's creator, who may not be familiar with the username policy. They should be encouraged to create a new account with a more appropriate name. If this is unsuccessful, a request for comment on the contributor's username may be created, and the contributor may be required to change their username if a consensus to do so is established...." Based on the foregoing it is therefore requested that the offending username of FeygeleGoy (talk · contribs) be changed to something not offensive or else be blocked from using this disgusting choice of combined curse- and cuss-word names. Thank you, IZAK (talk) 09:40, 19 March 2009 (UTC)

Captain poop

Captain poop (talk · contribs)

Immature and inappropriate username. Contains word that may be offensive to people.  єmarsee  • Speak up! 06:44, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

• Comment - user has not made any contributions yet. -kotra (talk) 07:06, 18 March 2009 (UTC) Username was misspelled. Have corrected now. -kotra (talk) 17:20, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
• Comment - The issue has not been discussed with the user yet (see instructions at the top of this page). Alternatively, you could bring it to UAA if you believe it's blatant enough. -kotra (talk) 17:26, 18 March 2009 (UTC)