Mark at Alcoa

Hello. My username is Mark at Alcoa (talk) and from 2007 to 2014 I was a member of Alcoa's corporate communications team. I selected this username to promote transparency in my active participation in the Alcoa article within rules, policies and COI guidelines. As a connected contributor, I expected and welcomed open and honest dialogue and collaboration around any edits I made, or edits I suggested on Alcoa's Talk page, past or present. For full disclosure, I was not authorized nor did I purport to speak or edit on behalf of the company. The edits and actions therein were mine alone. I left Alcoa in August 2014. To contact Alcoa Corporate Communications, please visit http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/news/media_contact.asp. --Mark at Alcoa^"talk"

COI

Hello, and welcome to Wikipedia!

I hope not to seem unfriendly or make you feel unwelcome, but I noticed your username, and I am concerned that it might not meet Wikipedia's username policy. After you look over that policy, could we discuss that concern here?

I'd appreciate learning your own views, for instance your reasons for wanting this particular name, and what alternative username you might accept that avoids raising this concern.

You have several options freely available to you:

• If you can relieve my concern through discussing it here, I can stop worrying about it.
• If the two of us can't agree here, we can ask for help through Wikipedia's dispute resolution process, such as requesting comments from other Wikipedians. Wikipedia administrators usually abide by agreements reached through this process.
• You can keep your contributions history under a new username. Visit Wikipedia:Changing username and follow the guidelines there.

Thank you. --Ronz 18:15, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

If you have a close connection to some of the people, places or things you have written about on Wikipedia, you may have a conflict of interest. In keeping with Wikipedia's neutral point of view policy, edits where there is a conflict of interest, or where such a conflict might reasonably be inferred from the tone of the edit and the proximity of the editor to the subject, are strongly discouraged. If you have a conflict of interest, you should avoid or exercise great caution when:

1. editing articles related to you, your organization, or its competitors, as well as projects and products they are involved with,
2. participating in deletion discussions about articles related to your organization or its competitors,
3. linking to the Wikipedia article or website of your organization in other articles (see Wikipedia:Spam);

   and you must always:

4. avoid breaching relevant policies and guidelines, especially neutral point of view, verifiability, and autobiography.

For information on how to contribute to Wikipedia when you have conflict of interest, please see Wikipedia:Business' FAQ. For more details about what constitutes a conflict of interest, please see Wikipedia:Conflict of Interest. Thank you. --Ronz 18:11, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

My choice of the name 'Alcoa' is an attempt to be as transparent as possible. Alcoa has an interest in the accuracy of the Alcoa article, and I chose this account as way of offering data sources that the other editors may not be aware of to keep things as accurate as possible -- the capacities of our smelters for example, or where the company started, or the status of our offer for Alcan.

Our (my) policy is generally not to edit the article directly, but to offer inputs in the discussion section and let other editors decide what to do. This has worked pretty well most of the time. I've found that by sticking to data and facts, and leaving the editorial decisions up to the community, usually the facts see the light of day and that's great.

To me the name Alcoa is appropriate for this process -- sort of a 'caveat editor' message. But if you think it violates the name policy (as a 'promotional' name, I suppose), feel free to suggest something else that fits the guidelines. I have no problem changing it.

Brad

Alcoa 18:01, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

I guess I'll add here that I just reviewed the COI policy and understand a little more where your concern comes from. To reassure you, we don't intend to monitor or participate in any Wikipedia entries other than the Alcoa main article and any others that may be about one of Alcoa's businesses or plants. We're not, in other words, out to make 'expert' edits to other Wikipedia articles and plaster the Alcoa name all over the site.

As I've already said, we don't intend to do any direct editing to Alcoa content, except in an extreme case such as obvious vandalism (that's happened once recently.) Our contributions will be fact-based, and made to the discussion section.

We also understand that the notion of contributing facts to an editorial discussion can sometimes stray into the area of promoting a point of view. We expect to be challenged if and when that happens in discussions about Alcoa, and we expect the community to be the final judge. Again, that's where the choice of the name 'Alcoa' came from. It's a way of saying, this is the corporation talking, judge what we're saying by that yardstick.

Alcoa 17:50, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

Your attention needed at WP:CHU

Hello. A bureaucrat or clerk has responded to your username change request, but requires clarification before moving forward. Please follow up as soon as possible. Thank you. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WikiProject Japan! 23:08, 11 July 2010 (UTC)

• I've replied there. –xeno^talk 13:44, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Please choose a name that 1) represents you as an individual; 2) does not give the impression that it is a role account; and 3) does not contain a company name. –xeno^talk 15:30, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Please respond as soon as possible, and before continuing to edit the mainspace. Thank you, –xeno^talk 12:39, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

• Since you seem dead-set on having "Alcoa" in your username, I am willing to change your name to "Mark at Alcoa", if you like (though I can't guarantee a user won't still file at WP:RFC/N seeking comment). But you cannot continue to edit using this username and the two usernames you have suggested aren't appropriate either as they give the impression that it is a role account. –xeno^talk 12:54, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

This account has been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia because your username, Alcoa, does not meet our username policy.

Your username is the only reason for this block. You are welcome to choose a new username (see below).

A username should not be promotional, related to a "real-world" group or organization, misleading, offensive, or disruptive. Also, usernames may not end in the word "bot" unless the account is an approved bot account.

Please choose a new account name that meets our policy guidelines. However, do not create a new account if you wish to credit your existing contributions to a new name through a username change. To request a username change:

1. Add {{unblock-un|your new username here}} on your user talk page. You should be able to edit this talk page even though you are blocked. If not, you may wish to contact the blocking administrator by clicking on "E-mail this user" on their talk page.
2. At an administrator's discretion, you may be unblocked for 24 hours to file a request.
3. Please note that you may only request a name that is not already in use, so please check here for a list of names that have already been taken. For more information, please see Wikipedia:Changing username.

If you feel that you were blocked in error, you may appeal this block by adding the text {{unblock|Your reason here}} below, but you should read our guide to appealing blocks first.

Daniel Case (talk) 14:47, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

This user's request to be unblocked to request a change in username has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without a good reason (see the blocking policy). Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

Mark at Alcoa (block log • active blocks • global blocks • autoblocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

---

Requested username:

alcoa (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Decline reason:

see below. You need to come up with a name that represents only you, and you need to demonstrate that you understand our guidelines regarding conflicts of interest. Beeblebrox (talk) 18:29, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Dear bureaucrats, I am the one who initiated a username change request to change from Alcoa to something else to conform with guidelines. I have read the COI. Nowhere in the COI or username guidelines does it say company names cannot be used. It says they cannot be used alone or explicitly, but it does not say they cannot be used in conjunction with other descriptors. I believe it does a huge measure of disservice and removes transparency if we are forced to remove our company name from our username. To that end, please unblock my account, and please change my username to Alcoa Corp Comm (first choice) or Alcoa Comm Guy (second choice). Again, nowhere in the COI or username guidelines does it say company names cannot be used, they just shouldn't be used explicitly. Thank you for your consideration. [user talk:alcoa|^talk]]

Whatever you have found, or failed to find, in our guidelines, you are not allowed to use your company name as a username. Furthermore, wikipedia does not accept role accounts, only individual ones. And furthermore again, after you achieve a mutually satisfactory name change you will not be alloowed to edit articles about you own company. On the basis of these facts, which are part of wikipedia policy and not negotiable, do you still wish to have an account here? If so, given that you will not be able to write about Alcoa, what do you intend to write about? --Anthony.bradbury^"talk" 18:14, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Technically there is no blanket prohibition on affiliated users editing, one of the reasons we have {{connected contributor}}. –xeno^talk 18:57, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict) See Wikipedia:Username policy#Company/group names. –xeno^talk 18:15, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Dear Anthony, or another bureaucrat, please change my username to aluminumadvocate. I hope this resolves this issue. However, I just want to note for the record, we are taking the advice of Jimmy Wales which says, "If someone sees a simple factual error about their company, we really don’t mind if they go in and edit,” he said. But if a revision is likely to be controversial, he added, “the best thing to do is log in, go to the ‘talk’ page, identify yourself openly, and say, ‘I’m the communications person from such and such company.’” (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/technology/19wikipedia.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1) To this end, all I was trying to do is change our Alcoa username (for the record, I initiated this change) to something more transparent; something that identifies me as a member of the Alcoa corporate staff. I believe it is not in the best interest of COI guidelines to not be able to use one's company in conjunction with other words as their username. As stated above, I would ask that you please change my username, but just wanted to state for the public my views in a friendly manner.

question to both "Alcoa" and Anthony/Beeblebrox (UAA is not my specialty): What about my suggestion about "Mark from Alcoa" or "Mark at Alcoa"? –xeno^talk 18:42, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Xeno, I'm open to this change "Mark at Alcoa" and I'm also open to "AluminumAdvocate" if Xeno and/or other bureaucrat's feel that is more appropriate. Thanks for helping to mediate. Regards, Mark

Since patrolling usernames is not my usual area of focus here, I'd like to see what the other admins who have commented here think about the suggestion; please forgive the brief delay. –xeno^talk 18:57, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Not a problem. I support open and honest dialogue and accept what the community feels is right. alcoa

Obviously AluminiumAdvocate is problem free. Please let me stipulate that my opinion is only that of one admin, and the community at large decides; I would personally not be happy with "Mark at Alcoa", given that this user has already identified himself on his page as a controller of an account operated by Alcoa. --Anthony.bradbury^"talk" 19:14, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

I'm not quite sure I understand your line of argument - since it's operated by an employee of Alcoa, and used to make edits (apparently adhering to COI and other related guidelines) to the Alcoa article, wouldn't "Mark at Alcoa" be nicely transparent and in the interests of assisting editors in knowing when to to scrutinize edits from connected contributors? –xeno^talk 19:17, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

As a matter of policy, I believe "Mark at Alcoa" would be acceptable, as it represents an individual. The added bonus is that it would be clear to one and all that they are in fact dealing with someone from the company itself, so COI issues will be easier to spot. "AluminumAdvocate" would be fine too. Beeblebrox (talk) 20:36, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

While "Mark at Alcoa" does eliminate the role account issue and is transparent, and I welcome corporate participation in their own articles within our rules and policies, I am still not sure about the COI issue. Users have to collaborate whether they expect to or not, and could another user honestly assume good faith with a name like that? I have no problem with a more neutral name as long as the relationship is disclosed on the user page. Daniel Case (talk) 20:52, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

We can at least assume that they aren't trying to hide anything (see Wikipedia:COI#Declaring an interest). I'm going to go ahead and rename the user to "Mark at Alcoa" but without prejudice to WP:RFC/N if anyone feels this new name is problematic. –xeno^talk 21:36, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

• Username changed and unblocked per above. –xeno^talk 22:12, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, and thanks to all admins for the open dialogue. Mark at Alcoa

FYI, you can copy that signature code into Special:Preferences (the signature box), make sure to check "Treat as wikimarkup" and then you can sign regularly using four ~tildes~. –xeno^talk 23:10, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

External links

I have removed promotional external links to youtube, twitter and facebook they are not required Wikipedia is not a directory.Teapotgeorge^Talk 07:26, 14 July 2010 (UTC)

Rename

Hello! I am User Tyw7. Your username is currently been discussed Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User names. It seems your username has generated a lot of interest/arguements due to the phrase "at Alcoa" and you have been editing the Alcoa article. Therefore, I recommended you to rename yourself to another username that doesn't contain the name "Alcoa". I suggest User:MarkA or User:MrkAA --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 20:29, 31 December 2010 (UTC)

Hello, Tyw7. My username was selected by Wikipedia bureaucrats after a lengthy debate as per the threaded discussion above. Mark at Alcoa (talk) 16:54, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

Westfield Industrial Park in Swansea

Is it still owned by Alcoa? Conflicting information available. –xeno^talk 17:35, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

Hi Xeno. I have verified with Alcoa's local Swansea Estate Manager that the information here is accurate and Alcoa does still own the site. Thanks, Mark Mark at Alcoa (talk) 13:05, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Much obliged. –xeno^talk 15:42, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Greetings

You = cool, calling WP members bureaucrats = priceless and awesome. Keep on trucking muh dood!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.157.65.194 (talk) 22:31, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Hiding your email adderss

Hi Mark. I thought you might like to know you can hide your email address from web crawlers that gather addresses for spam by replacing @ with {{@}}. It looks like this: joecompany.com. --Anthonyhcole (talk) 06:06, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

Thank you.

Untitled

Moved from user page

Mark at Alcoa is unresponsive via email. --Dana60Cummins (talk) 14:13, 23 September 2013 (UTC)

Dana60Cummins If you would like to reach me, please use the email above. Thank you for your interest in Alcoa. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mark at Alcoa (talk • contribs) 04:27, 23 January 2014‎ (UTC)

The end of an era

I see you've left Alcoa. I'm not sure if you were aware but you (your username, more specifically) kicked off a new era of connected contributor username formats. I wonder if you will still contribute to Wikipedia and if you'd like to be renamed? Let me know. –xeno^talk 13:33, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

Hi Xeno. Yes, I would like to still contribute and when I land at my new role, I would like your assistance to be renamed. Very much appreciate your collaboration over the years and look forward to continuing to work together. Regards, --Mark at Alcoa (talk) 14:01, 12 August 2014 (UTC)