At the beginning of June (when I first happened on AB), before I registered, I remember reading some posts and on one of them was WM with a squiggle in green. Various people mentioned his return, with the usual banter etc. If it was the case that he had been banned, then he registered with the ~ in order to continue posting. On getting his original name with the - back after the ban, WM has kept this for use on any subsequent banning in the future.
Maybe fellow abers have not commented on WM's late wife, but I have seen some nasty jibes aimed at him (albeit in retaliation) about various factors, i.e. his spelling. Two wrongs don't make a right.............