User talk:Badger151/templates

I like the idea here. I'm not sure how we could generate alternative username suggestions in a way that makes any sense. Otherwise, I think you've got a good rewording for the {{UsernameBlocked}} template. Maybe the talk page of that template would be a good place to ask for feedback? Also Wikipedia talk:Blocking policy seems like a good forum to find people interested in blocking-related topics. -GTBacchus^(talk) 08:25, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

The "suggested" alternatives is not a workable idea. Similarly, where it says "State the nature of the problem here", it should be something general. This template should be quickly and easily usable. —Centrx→talk • 01:56, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

I think a more professional icon is needed too. I was thinking of one that conveys a sort of technical error, like the Macintosh boot error on MacOS 1–7, but I only found these:

—Centrx→talk • 02:04, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

I actually specifically avoided those icons. I may be misinterpreting the point of this template, but my understanding is that it is used for new users who have, for any of a variety of reasons, unwittingly chosen an improper username. If the block appeared immediately, then I'd agree with you absolutely - an x or other technical error-type icon would be appropriate. But if the block is delayed, the x and the tone come across as rude - given the amount of time that has passed, a human being must have made the decision that there was something wrong with the username. But perhaps no icon is needed at all.

The other aspect of the original template I tried to address was the assumption that a new user would know how to email an administrator or even how to use a talk page - the present template highlights the inexperience of the new user by implying that they should know how to do something that they probably have no idea of how to do. I may be overly sensitive (that wouldn't surprize me), but I worry about biting the newcomers.

Question about templates - I guess that the intention behind the template is to be able to just type {template XYZ} on the userpage and the template writes out everything else? --Badger151 02:25, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

User:Pathoschild put together another proposal at User:Pathoschild/Sandbox2. I like Pathoschild's version more that the one now in use, but I wonder if the order of possible reaspons for the block might be rearranged to place "too similar to another user's name" first and "long and confusing last," since the first and last items in the list may make the biggest impression. --Badger151 02:31, 28 October 2006 (UTC)