User talk:Dksmart

Derek Smart?

May one infer from your username that you claiming to be Derek Smart, game developer? --ElKevbo 04:34, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Though highly unlikely, I was just wondering the same thing. When I saw this pop-up on my watchlist, I fired off an email to the man himself (dsmart@pobox.com) and got this response back

"That is obviously an imposter. Though I have been following the recent furor over my Wiki page, I don't and never have posted on Wiki because I'm not inclinded to feed the trolls and thereby start yet another time consuming flamewar. Most especially since Huffman showed up there. You might want to alert an admin or something so that they can look into it. There is another alias called Supreme Cmdr (I know who it is) who isn't me either. He did offer to give me that ID if I wanted it, but I declined."

Supreme_Cmdr^(talk) 14:14, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You can infer or debate whatever you want about my alias, consult whomever, shoot emails to the president. I would rather you discussed my edits & contributions thus far.--Dksmart 20:44, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Please see WP:USERNAME. It's not permissible to use the name of a well-known person as your username in Wikipedia unless you actually are that person. I hope you understand why that policy exists and why it's likely that this account will be blocked unless you can provide positive proof that you are, indeed, Derek Smart. --ElKevbo 21:38, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

where have I used another persons name, this is an alias that involves two letters a popular surname and I understand on this website I am allowed a certain amount of anonymity. If I had called myself 'Derek Smart' I would understand your concern and citing of the above. I could be donna kristof smart for all you know. If Im blocked I'll understand I have lurked around wikipedia long enough to understand the subjective nature of what happens.--Dksmart 23:16, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Okay. I've asked others more knowledgeable of the WP:USERNAME policy and its history of enforcement to look into the issue. Have a happy New Year! --ElKevbo 23:37, 30 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If you are actually Derek Smart, there's nothing inherently wrong with you editing your own articles, although there are problems with it (see WP:AUTO). If you are NOT Smart (I do not see anywhere where you specifically confirm or deny), according to WP:USERNAME, it is inappropriate to use "Names of well-known living or recently deceased people". Considering your first two contributions outside of your user page were on Derek Smart's games, one must assume that Smart is the person to whom your username refers. - (Nuggetboy) (talk) (contribs) 02:41, 31 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

My answer up above to Elkevbo stands to what you have said too, no one must assume anything. Again my alias is Dksmart, not 'Derek Smart' nor 'Dsmart'. I find it very intrusive that you demand to know who or who I am not. I would rather be blocked or simply stop editing myself if my fellow editiors are more concerned about debating my username than my edits & contributions to wikipedia.--Dksmart 02:52, 31 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If you are not Derek Smart, any edits or comments you make related to him could prove to be a liability for Wikipedia. Should Mr. Smart himself become aware of the situation and complain that a Wikipedia editor is impersonating him, Wikipedia may be at fault for allowing you to do so. (Edit: I don't know how I missed Supreme Cmdr's post above, but it seems Mr. Smart has already protested that you are impersonating him. At this point, it is even more imperative that you clarify that you do not intend to do so.)

I'm not an admin, but it would seem reasonable that a simple statement from you denying the connection would suffice to assuage Wikipedia's liability and keep the name. Like you said, the username is not so specific that a coincidence is implausible. However, coyly couching such statements in the hypothetical only serves to increase the attention given to this case.

On the other hand, if you would rather not answer the question out of principle, you can simply request to change your username and continue editing anonymously.

If you are Derek Smart, there is nothing wrong with your editing Wikipedia under your name or otherwise. Please be aware however that Wikipedia has guidelines on editing articles on subjects in which you are personally involved and managing a conflict of interest. You need not disclose your identity or refrain from editing such articles entirely, but we ask that you be respectful of our policies. (It's still a good idea to follow the policies, though.) – Anþony talk 04:41, 31 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]