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under your former account. It is best that you completely avoid articles or topics that you previously edited, especially if you were involved in a dispute with another editor(s). If you do not make positive changes in your behavior, you may be recognized and held accountable for the actions of your past account(s). Likewise, if you want to make a clean start because of harassment from other editors, you should avoid editing articles that may place you in conflict with the same editors, because they will probably recognize you.
429:, changing accounts hides the editor's past relationship to the disputing parties, and interferes with the community's ability to monitor the dispute. It is not an appropriate use of clean start to resume editing contentious or scrutinized topics with a new account. Changing accounts, and then resuming to edit in a contentious area, carries a substantial risk that other editors will recognize you and connect your old and new accounts. You may be viewed as
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areas and building a reputation as a "good" contributor before returning to former topics of interest. Remember that the goal of "clean start" is to make a positive change in your behavior so that you are not recognizable as your former account; returning immediately to areas of editing that were previously contentious makes it more probable that your previous account will be identified.
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367:, and get confirmation that there are no obvious problems with you following the clean start procedure. This may reduce the risk of misunderstandings that might result from "behind-the-scenes" discussions and investigations, and may assist you in an appeal of a mistaken block or sanction for creating an alternative account.
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For this reason, it is best to completely avoid old topic areas after a clean start. If you have a favorite topic that you wish to edit, it may be better to continue using the old account, clean up your behavior, and rebuild your reputation the hard way. Alternatively, spend some time editing other
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It is assumed that editors who change accounts under the terms of fresh start are seeking exactly that, a fresh start. You are responsible for editing in a manner that respects community norms of behavior and avoids association with disputes or poor behaviors that you might have been involved with
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It is only natural that editors will want to edit the same topics that drew them to
Knowledge (XXG) in the first place. However, returning to a favorite topic after a clean start carries a substantial risk that other editors will recognize and connect the old and new accounts. This can result in
257:
is when a user stops using an old account to start fresh with a new account. The two most common reasons for wanting a clean start are recognizing past mistakes and avoiding harassment. The old account must be clearly discontinued and the new account must avoid editing patterns or behaviors that
265:. However, if an editor uses their new account to resume editing articles or topics in the same manner that resulted in a negative reputation in the first place (becoming involved in disputes, edit warring, or other forms of disruptive editing), the editor will
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The guiding principle is that clean start is not a license to resume editing in areas under heightened scrutiny. It is intended for users who wish to move on to new areas having learned from the past, or who wish to set aside old disputes and poor conduct.
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after a clean start often results in controversy. If the reasons for your clean start no longer apply, then your best option is to simply link the two accounts before your RFA and resolve any outstanding issues relating to the account that ceased editing.
457:(in strictest confidence if you wish) of the existence of a previous account or accounts prior to seeking adminship or similar functionary positions. Failure to do so may be considered deceptive, and be poorly received by the Knowledge (XXG) community.
277:. The behavior of the new account determines whether it is a legitimate fresh start or a prohibited attempt to evade scrutiny. A clean start is not permitted if there are active bans, blocks, or sanctions (including but not limited to those listed
499:– discusses how a user in good standing—upon leaving Knowledge (XXG) forever—may request renaming of their account; deletion or blanking of user pages; and possibly the deletion or blanking of discussions related to their conduct.
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may stop using their current account and start using a new one. Clean start does not guarantee the two accounts will not be connected, and a user who uses clean start to resume old habits of editing may be identified and seen as
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would allow other users to recognize and identify the account. It is expected that the new account will be a true "fresh start", will edit in new areas, will avoid old disputes, and will follow community norms of behavior.
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If you decide to make a fresh start and do not wish to be connected to a previous account, simply stop using the old account and create a new one that becomes the only account you use. As any editor in good standing may
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Becoming an administrator without admitting that you had a previous account risks losing the confidence of the community if the former account is subsequently revealed.
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the old and new accounts. The fact that you notified someone of the change will not excuse you from the consequences of your actions or protect you from recognition.
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If you want to become an administrator without revealing your former account, it is best to wait rather longer than if you had let people check your former account.
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Any user in good standing who has no active or unexpired sanctions and who is not being or about to be formally discussed for their conduct, may have a clean start.
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This page is about making a fresh start on
Knowledge (XXG). For removing personal information that you may have accidentally revealed about yourself, see
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sanctions, you are not required to notify anyone of your clean start. However, you may find it helpful to notify the
Committee or a member of the
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27:. For restarting your account with a block or ban after a period without sockpuppetry, see
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probably be recognized (as a "sockpuppet") and connected to the old account
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even if your behavior while using the new account was entirely proper.
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You are not obliged to reveal previous accounts; however, it is
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It describes a widely accepted standard that all editors should
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arguments, further loss of reputation, and blocks or bans,
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374:for a clean start. The term "
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119:A user who is not under
117:This page in a nutshell:
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1358:Volunteer Response Team
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351:in most circumstances.
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907:Compromised accounts
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121:current restrictions
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419:community sanctions
319:have a clean start.
191:No personal attacks
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1616:Categories
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1487:SPI clerks
1460:Committees
1450:Researcher
1388:Bureaucrat
1305:Page mover
1257:File mover
820:Logging in
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1554:Meta-Wiki
1404:Oversight
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1090:Wikibreak
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1032:Essay
945:Tools
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