== BN == 

 Hi Ligulem, 
 We don't know each other, but I just read the WP:BN thread. I have Christmas guests, so I can 
 t do this justice, but I tried to read the thread through your eyes, or at least, my eyes in a similar situation. I have been part of a community which I left for years and then returned. The return is with trepidation, who will be here, obviously a lot of new people, but will the veterans remember me, how will they greet me? Will it be like the return of a veteran to a small town, with a ticker tape parade, or maybe a little more subdued, with a lot of "great to see you again" and "hey, there's still a lot to do let's get to work". Yet it wasn't like that at all, it was the third degree. Why do you want the tools? Why are you qualified? Perhaps forgetting that a message was sent to you stating that you could simply ask for the bit back, and it would be granted. 
 
 Your response was remarkably measure given that the reception can't possibly have matched what you expected. I understand your final comment, and I don't even urge you to reconsider and ask again immediately, but I do hope you return, pick up editing , read some of the policies , and determine for yourself if you feel comfortable asking for the bit back. 
 
 As was hinted, there was a bad incident relatively recently, which is prompting some of the questions—I'm sorry you got caught in the cross-fire.