Wikipedia:Anything to declare?
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This is an essay; it contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. It is not a policy or guideline, and editors are not obliged to follow it. |
The use of alternate accounts is controversial, with discussion on Wikipedia talk:Sock puppetry suggesting people declare their alternate accounts (not doppelganger accounts).
Some users (e.g. User:Geni, User:Solumeiras) declare their alternate accounts openly. These are used within policy, and for completely legitimate reasons, not abusively, not to gain the upper hand in disputes etc.
There are completely legitimate reasons to have alternate accounts, such as:
- An account for editing at public terminals/wireless access points
- Editing controversial subjects (e.g. Asperger's Syndrome, Down's syndrome, Paedophilia, Britney Spears)
- Mass image uploads (not the same thing as a bot account)
- For Foundation-related work (examples include User:Cary Bass and User:Dannyisme)
If you have alternate accounts, declare them now. If you have to, then declare them to a member of the Arbitration Committee or via OTRS.
It is much better to declare if you have alternate accounts, e.g. for Wikipedia:Requests for adminship and the Arbitration Committee elections.
