o4 mirror: https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-16864029/discussion-username-policy-definition
Issue: 'In part', the issue is the current used for our username policy on 'Join The Site' page implies there is another source of information on this topic. This is not the case.
The solution is simple, we rephrase the section on the page to be the account username policy itself. While we are here, it also makes sense to be able to revisit the policy, based on the conversation that took place on this topic here, in 2022: https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14659521/discussion-username-policy#post-5291500
Rephrasing the Policy
From the above linked discussion, EstrellaYoshte had suggested the following rephrase for the Username Policy test:
- No names with profanity, slurs, offensive content or connotations.
- No names implying official staff positions (e.g. Staff, Operational Staff, Moderator, Admin, Administrator, etc.)
- No names implying specific, unique positions/affiliations in the Foundation or other fictional groups on our website (no SCP-173, O5-Money, D-1234, MTF Leader, etc.)
- No names with pre-established Foundation characters on site.
This phrasing received significant support at the time - I think we can append to this slightly, to have a bit more specific points of policy we can connect things to.
- No names with profanity, slurs, offensive content or connotations. The final decision on what constitutes offensive content is made at the discretion of Site Staff. (Added direct language empowering staff to what is 'offensive')
- No names implying official staff positions (e.g. Staff, Operational Staff, Moderator, Admin, Administrator, etc.) (Unchanged from above)
- No names implying specific, unique positions/affiliations in the Foundation or other fictional groups on our website. In addition, no names that are based on pre-established Foundation characters, from works found on the wiki. (Collapsed the last two points into a single bullet, and removed the examples, instead pointing to the tech hub tag list)
- For example, names containing Director, D-XXXX, O5-Queen, MTF Captain XXXX or named characters like Clef, Gears, or Kondraki would not be permissible. For a summary of existing characters or entities, please refer to the character tab of the Tech Hub Tag List. (Added a link to the tag list, as we can base the list of prohibited names on the character tags)
- No names that impersonate or reference notable public figures. For example, "DrJoeBiden" is not allowed while "DrJoe" is. (Rule added from the current Join The Site page)
Updating the 'Join the Site' Page
As a part of this, to ensure that there is full clarity, I suggest that we treat the section of the page as the username policy. To that end, I would suggest we separate the username policy from the account requirements, and have them listed separately on the page.
I would suggest we separate it at such:
Username Policy
The SCP Wiki maintains a policy that dictates what constitutes usernames that are permissible for membership. The policy is as follows:
- No names with profanity, slurs, offensive content or connotations. The final decision on what constitutes offensive content is made at the discretion of Site Staff.
- No names implying official staff positions. (e.g. Staff, Operational Staff, Moderator, Admin, Administrator, etc.)
- No names implying specific, unique positions/affiliations in the Foundation or other fictional groups on our website. In addition, no names that are based on pre-established Foundation characters, from works found on the wiki.
- For example, names containing Director, D-XXXX, O5-Queen, MTF Captain XXXX or named characters like Clef, Gears, or Kondraki would not be permissible. For a summary of existing characters or entities, please refer to the character tab of the Tech Hub Tag List. (Note: Authors who are responsible for the creation of said tagged characters are exempt.)
- No names that impersonate or reference notable public figures. For example, "DrJoeBiden" is not allowed while "DrJoe" is.
The username policy is enforceable both for prospective members, and existing SCP Wiki members; enforcement for existing members is implemented on a case-by-case basis, at such a time when an existing user with a non-permissible username posts a page, or comments on a discussion thread.
Account Requirements
Keep in mind the following rules when creating your Wikidot account and applying to the SCP Wiki:
- Your username must follow our username policy, as listed above.
- If you've already created your account, to change your name go here, and click on Edit next to your username. You can only change your account's username twice, so be careful.
- You must be at least 18. This website contains mature themes and discussions, and we expect members to behave in a mature and adult-like manner. All members are expected to be at least 18 years old, and to have reached the age of majority within the nations of which they live. There are no exceptions to this rule, ever.
- You may only have one account per person, and one person per account. No alts, no account sharing.
- Please note that membership in various sites which have had adversarial relationships with our own is cause for an application to be declined.
Benefits/Concerns
In terms of the benefits of this wording change, adding better clarity that there is no additional resource for a username policy, while still leaving the space to catch outliers the policy does not address.
In terms of concerns, if we made this change, the potential concern would be enforcing the updates on existing membership — I believe that the language regarding the enforcement of the account name policy should address that.
What Would Need to Be Done?
In terms of scope of work needed to implement these changes, the only work would constitute updating the system join page, which requires an admin. Otherwise, codifying this into proper policy requires no other updates.
The goal of this discussion is to discuss any potential issues or conflicts that might arise from this change. If anybody has additional issues or thoughts, please mention that below!