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I should also note that many other mainstream editors here besides myself use the term "Fringe POV Pusher". The term, IIRC, was coined to describe Levine2112's editing patterns. Stmrlbs should look a bit harder before selectively singling out one editor who uses the term, since many use it. ] (]) 14:29, 6 August 2009 (UTC) I should also note that many other mainstream editors here besides myself use the term "Fringe POV Pusher". The term, IIRC, was coined to describe Levine2112's editing patterns. Stmrlbs should look a bit harder before selectively singling out one editor who uses the term, since many use it. ] (]) 14:29, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

: In a ], Stmrlbs comments about proxies. On all the other points, yes, there are possiblities, but that one I've never explored or fully understood. I remember my first encounter with such use. A very prominent person in NZ was blocked from a discussion list. He then reappeared with emails sent to my personal email address, using another name, was blocked by me from my own email, reappeared with another name, was blocked, ''ad libitum''. This happened in cycles that took about two minutes, and each time from a totally different place in the world. I think he went through about 7-10 new names before giving up. I still have no idea how that can be done! I do travel alot, but I always try to log in, and I'm currently nowhere near England. The few times I have inadvertently used an IP was because I was using another PC (usually my host's) that didn't have me automatically logged in, and I have then signed my post. But by all means, as I have suggested above, check the IPs. I have nothing to fear. I would caution any CU clerk to be cautious about publishing my location, no matter where, as I do have serious security issues (death threats and stalking), and users have been indef banned from Misplaced Pages for outing me. CU clerks can contact me if necessary. ] (]) 14:15, 7 August 2009 (UTC)





Revision as of 14:17, 7 August 2009

Chiropractic

Chiropractic (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log· investigate · cuwiki)

For archived investigations, see Misplaced Pages:Sockpuppet investigations/Chiropractic/Archive.


Report date August 4 2009, 22:02 (UTC)
Suspected sockpuppets

Users active in current dispute:

Possibly involved accounts no longer active under these names:


Variety of IPs in range(166.128.0.0 - 166.255.255.255) for wireless cellphones were used to avoid violating 3RR; often perform exactly the same edits/reverts as Levine2112; example IPS:

AT&T Mobile; unfortunately a large block (32.0.0.0 - 32.255.255.255 ) may not be useful; example IPs:

Evidence submitted by User:Shell Kinney

There are ongoing battles in Chiropractic and related articles which fall under the arbitration remedies given at Misplaced Pages:Requests_for_arbitration/Pseudoscience#Remedies. Some of the above mentioned editors have been previously warned or sanctioned under these remedies (see Misplaced Pages:Requests_for_arbitration/Pseudoscience#Log_of_blocks_and_bans and Misplaced Pages:Requests_for_arbitration/Martinphi-ScienceApologist#Log_of_notifications) and there has been a history of using meatpuppets, sockpuppets or logging out to continue revert wars or influence consensus building discussions in this topic area. Several of the accounts listed as inactive stopped editing immediately or shortly after being warned of the Arbcom sanctions which brings up concerns that they are now avoiding scrutiny.

This area had calmed down for a while, but now that there are content disagreements again, IPs are resurfacing with the same patterns: blind reverts, obvious understanding of Misplaced Pages terms and processes, chiming in to support one side or the other in consensus discussions - its disruptive and makes enforcing the arb sanctions very complicated and resolving the constant disputes nearly impossible. If any of the involved users are logging out to give the appearance of extra support or avoid scrutiny, it would likely mean sanctions which hopefully will allow editors who are handling these situations in good faith to resolve disputes more productively. Shell 01:30, 2 August 2009 (UTC)

I believe there is strong evidence that Levine2112 is either logging out to avoid scrutiny/continue edit wars or is, at best, enlisting meat puppets to revert during edit wars. Consider the following exchange from May on Chiropractic history:

  • May 8, QuackGuru adds a claim about mysticism being part of Chiro's history
  • Over the next 4 days, Levine2112 and many different IP addresses revert this same edit. They mention the same claims, never participate in the discussion and some IPs even mention agreeing with Levine. The IPs strangely understand terminology such as consensus, BRD, sourcing and bad faith. , , , , , , , , ,
  • User:BullRangifer and User:2over0 both revert the IPs and were active in the discussion on talk where Levine2112 was the sole objector. Shell 00:42, 5 August 2009 (UTC)
Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.
Comments by Levine2112

I have no sockpuppets. I have not asked any editor (anonymous or not) to come edit along side me. Of links 2-11 provided just above, the only ones which use any advanced Misplaced Pages lingo in the edit summaries are myself ("BRD") and editor 70.71.22.45 ("consensus"). 70.71.22.45 is an editor whom I and others have asked many times to join Misplaced Pages by setting up a proper account, but he/she has opted not to do so (much to my chagrin especially now). Regardless this editor is not me. The rest of the edits are made by what I am assuming is one anonymous user in the 166.xx.xx.xx IP block and one editor with the 32.133.106.62 IP, neither of whom seem to know Misplaced Pages terminology very well ("reedit"). The IPs resolve to Canada, Texas, and Alabama respectively, which are three places I do not live and have not visited in at least the past five years. QuackGuru's edits tend to be particularly egregious in terms of POV pushing and flagrant in terms of pushing the boundaries of 3RR. So if a couple of other people saw this one particularly blatant attempt to skew this article with his week-long onslaught of edit-warring then I am not particularly surprised that they too reverted QuackGuru. This is business as usual with QuackGuru. It seems wherever he edits, QuackGuru finds himself butting heads with all kinds of editors. He has made all kinds of "enemies" with his general incivility and childish debate tactics over the few years he's been here. So it wouldn't be to surprising or outrageous to think that there is an anonymous editor out there who follows and reverts him. If I could contact this editor directly, I would tell them that this is not the proper way to do things, and to sign up or edit with a proper account. In fact, I have done so using Friendly with many of these anonymous IPs. Anyhow, if the investigating admin (Nathan or even Shell) would like any information about my actual location or permanent IP address, please feel free to contact me via email. Hopefully that will clear up any possibility that these anonymous IPs are me. They are not. I am more than happy to supply you with any information that could help put an end to QuackGuru's ridiculousness. Thanks! -- ǝʌlǝʍʇ ǝuo-ʎʇuǝʍʇ 01:59, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Comments by other users
Comment 1 by BullRangifer

The above, especially the part about May 8 (and onwards) is VERY interesting to me, because at the time the air literally reeked of Levine2112. Everything about the encounter gave me the same feelings now expressed by Shell Kinney above.
To understand this particular edit war, one must realize that it was a very convoluted discussion at several levels, and any participants must have understood the intricacies of what was going on. There was obvious socking and/or meatpuppetry going on.
A CU is absolutely necessary in this case. I strongly suspect that one or more of these IPs will appear hidden behind Levine2112's username during his editing history since he started (and before) using this username. IPs behind User:Stmrlbs could also have been involved and should be checked.
Here is the page's edit history from that time. It's quite a striking edit war. Notice the tag teaming between Levine2112 and the IPs. He is from Los Angeles and so are they (except for one SPI from B.C. who always supports Levine2112, and especially functions as User:Stmrlbs's shadow/alter ego), so I have added their locations. I have also bolded the probably related participants:

  • (cur) (prev) 20:48, May 17, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,482 bytes) (rmv extra spaces) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 05:32, May 15, 2009 Citation bot (talk | contribs) m (36,494 bytes) (Citation maintenance. Formatted: doi. You can use this bot yourself! Please report any bugs.) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 05:47, May 14, 2009 BullRangifer (talk | contribs) (36,464 bytes) (Too many edits are being reverted at one time. The other matter should be proposed and it can be worked in. This one is properly sourced and it's vandalism to remove it.) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 02:46, May 14, 2009 76.222.232.146 (talk) (36,377 bytes) (Undid revision 289799721 by BullRangifer (talk) other matter should be addressed before reedit is made) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 02:17, May 14, 2009 BullRangifer (talk | contribs) (36,464 bytes) (Undid revision 289690250 by 166.135.62.157 (talk) It is very faithful to the source. The other part is another matter.) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 16:13, May 13, 2009 166.135.62.157 (talk) (36,377 bytes) (Levine is right. This is not what the fulltext says at all. Y'all should read it sometime.) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 15:41, May 13, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,464 bytes) (faithfully sourced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 15:38, May 13, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,377 bytes) (I agree it has been discussed, but there is no consensus to include yet. The source has conflicting statements and we are leaving one of those statements out for some reason.) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 15:33, May 13, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,464 bytes) (Per WP:BRD. This has been discussed on talk page. Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced.) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 02:35, May 13, 2009 166.134.18.118 (talk) (36,377 bytes) (Bad faith edit) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 07:04, May 12, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,464 bytes) (rmv extra space) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 03:11, May 12, 2009 2over0 (talk | contribs) (36,465 bytes) (Undid revision 289311442 by 166.191.225.235 please also note that the Manual of style stipulates that refs be unspaced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 19:38, May 11, 2009 166.191.225.235 (talk) (36,377 bytes) (Cease this fighting & talk it out Quackguru) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 19:09, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,465 bytes) (rmv extra space) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 19:01, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,466 bytes) (No explanation given for edit. Please explain on talk page. See Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 18:59, May 11, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,377 bytes) (I don't think anyone is arguing this wikilink) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 18:54, May 11, 2009 70.71.22.45 (talk) (36,373 bytes) (Undid revision 289204178 by QuackGuru (talk) no consensus) (undo)

New Westminster, B.C.

  • (cur) (prev) 06:21, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,466 bytes) (rmv extra space) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 06:20, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,467 bytes) (Completely sourced. See Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 06:18, May 11, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,374 bytes) (Reverted to revision 289201081 by Levine2112; no such consensus exists. read the full-text or at least the passage I quoted on the discussion and then let's talk.. using TW) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 06:13, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,467 bytes) (rmv extra space) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 06:13, May 11, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,468 bytes) (Consensus is that text is fully sourced. See Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 05:49, May 11, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,374 bytes) (Reverted to revision 285324251 by Levine2112; Text sourced to abstract, doesn't match up with full-text.. using TW) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 22:02, May 10, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,468 bytes) (rmv extra space) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 22:00, May 10, 2009 BullRangifer (talk | contribs) (36,469 bytes) (fix) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 21:59, May 10, 2009 BullRangifer (talk | contribs) (36,469 bytes) (wikilink) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 04:04, May 10, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) m (36,453 bytes) (→Straight versus mixer) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 04:02, May 10, 2009 BullRangifer (talk | contribs) (36,454 bytes) (→Straight versus mixer: faithful to source, and which is an evident fact) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 22:20, May 9, 2009 2over0 (talk | contribs) m (36,446 bytes) (Undid revision 288801803 by 32.133.106.62 (talk) Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 03:36, May 9, 2009 32.133.106.62 (talk) (36,374 bytes) (Undid revision 288786185 by QuackGuru (talk) concur w/ levine) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 01:39, May 9, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,446 bytes) (The text is faithfully sourced. See Talk:Chiropractic history#Mystical ideas sourced.) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 01:34, May 9, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,374 bytes) (Reverted to revision 288784842 by Levine2112; per WP:BRD please discuss.. using TW) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 01:30, May 9, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,446 bytes) (text is referenced) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 01:29, May 9, 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,374 bytes) (Reverted to revision 288781918 by 166.191.166.100; actually I just read the source. It says nothing about Mysticism... see talk. using TW) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 01:27, May 9, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,446 bytes) (documented claim) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 01:07, May 9, 2009 166.191.166.100 (talk) (36,374 bytes) (Undocumented claim) (undo)

Los Angeles

  • (cur) (prev) 18:39, May 8, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) m (36,446 bytes) (→Straight versus mixer) (undo)
  • (cur) (prev) 18:34, May 8, 2009 QuackGuru (talk | contribs) (36,446 bytes) (→Straight versus mixer: mystical ideas tidbit) (undo)


Please perform CUs of Levine2112 and Stmrlbs. -- Brangifer (talk) 06:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Comment 2 by BullRangifer regarding some IPs provided by QuackGuru

The following section by QuackGuru is problematic and reveals a failure to understand how to geolocate an IP. (He has now fixed his entry.) The Richardson, Texas address is the main headquarters of the ISP, not the actual location of the end user, IOW the one who is possibly engaged in sockpuppetry:

If one uses the following IP locator (the most precise one I've found yet), one finds that all three of these IPs locate to Los Angeles, which is Levine2112's location:

So, the IPs are indeed suspect because they (1) locate to Los Angeles, (2) edit the same articles, with the (3) same POV as Levine2112, and (4) often back him up. Brangifer (talk) 01:20, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Comment 3 by BullRangifer regarding comments made by Stmrlbs

I agree that those edits look very suspicious and request that a CU be run against the accounts. They resolve to England:

I should also note that many other mainstream editors here besides myself use the term "Fringe POV Pusher". The term, IIRC, was coined to describe Levine2112's editing patterns. Stmrlbs should look a bit harder before selectively singling out one editor who uses the term, since many use it. Brangifer (talk) 14:29, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

In a new section, Stmrlbs comments about proxies. On all the other points, yes, there are possiblities, but that one I've never explored or fully understood. I remember my first encounter with such use. A very prominent person in NZ was blocked from a discussion list. He then reappeared with emails sent to my personal email address, using another name, was blocked by me from my own email, reappeared with another name, was blocked, ad libitum. This happened in cycles that took about two minutes, and each time from a totally different place in the world. I think he went through about 7-10 new names before giving up. I still have no idea how that can be done! I do travel alot, but I always try to log in, and I'm currently nowhere near England. The few times I have inadvertently used an IP was because I was using another PC (usually my host's) that didn't have me automatically logged in, and I have then signed my post. But by all means, as I have suggested above, check the IPs. I have nothing to fear. I would caution any CU clerk to be cautious about publishing my location, no matter where, as I do have serious security issues (death threats and stalking), and users have been indef banned from Misplaced Pages for outing me. CU clerks can contact me if necessary. Brangifer (talk) 14:15, 7 August 2009 (UTC)
Comment by QuackGuru

There have been many suspicious IP edits over the past couple of months. Here are some examples of a few of the IP sock/meat edits.

  • (cur) (prev) 02:58, 13 July 2009 166.205.131.94 (talk) (21,551 bytes) (This is misstated and is already in another article)
  • (cur) (prev) 02:46, 14 May 2009 76.222.232.146 (talk) (36,377 bytes) (Undid revision 289799721 by BullRangifer (talk) other matter should be addressed before reedit is made)
  • (cur) (prev) 01:07, 9 May 2009 166.191.166.100 (talk) (36,374 bytes) (Undocumented claim)
  • (cur) (prev) 01:29, 9 May 2009 Levine2112 (talk | contribs) (36,374 bytes) (Reverted to revision 288781918 by 166.191.166.100; actually I just read the source. It says nothing about Mysticism... see talk. using TW)
  • Ernst E (2008). "Chiropractic: a critical evaluation". J Pain Symptom Manage. 35 (5): 544–62. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.07.004. PMID 18280103. Chiropractic is rooted in mystical concepts. This led to an internal conflict within the chiropractic profession, which continues today. The text is faithfully sourced but for no valid reason Levine2112 deleted it. These two edits can't be a coincidence.
  • (cur) (prev) 15:59, 30 July 2009 166.205.131.73 (talk) (45,805 bytes) (I am going back to the ThuranX version.)
  • (cur) (prev) 21:05, 27 July 2009 166.205.131.73 (talk) (5,327 bytes) (No edit warring on this page pls.) Before the IP edited the Quackwatch page the IP made an edit to an unrelated page where I was editing. On the same page, Levine2112 commented on the talk page disagreeing with my edit.

The IP 69.234.129.52 was recently used in edit war that also seems to reside from Los Angeles, CA.

  • (cur) (prev) 02:23, 30 July 2009 69.234.129.52 (talk) (43,968 bytes) (I don't agree with these edits. I will reverse edit warring changes.)
Comment 2 by QuackGuru
http://www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer/207.215.246.46
http://www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer/69.234.129.52
http://www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer/76.222.232.146
According to another IP check the IPs also match and reside from or close to Los Angeles, CA. QuackGuru (talk) 09:50, 6 August 2009 (UTC)
A note from TheDoctorIsIn

Man I really hate logging in... I vowed never to do so again after my very wrongful block a few months back. I'm making this exception THIS ONE TIME because it would be real lousy letting Levine2112 take the rap for my IPs. . . which are all but the Canadian ones I think. I never violated the 3 revision rule at any time. . Much less so than Quackguru. I'm really blown away by how much he gets away with with his pushing & bullying. I'm a DOCTOR of chiropractic and if I've undone some of his edits, it because he tries to discredit my profession with lies & smear. I apologize to Levine2112 for not speaking up earlier but this sockpuppet nastiness was just brought to my attention. . . just one more reason why I don't plan on logging in or editing regularly.TheDoctorIsIn (talk) 03:12, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Comments from Stmrlbs about Quackwatch edits (the origin of this CheckUser Request)

Comment by Stmrlbs I would like to point out my earlier comments about what I noticed about the IP that showed up right after QuackGuru had run his up to his 3rr limit on reverts. QuackGuru has a pattern of going up to the 3RR limit even for minor inconsequential edits if he doesn't like the editor (like me). Example: QuackGuru went up to the 3RR limit reverting a search archives template that I went to add to the Stephen Barrett article. The reason? "unnecessary, archives are mostly nonsense", So, it was no surprise that Quackguru would revert my edits on the Nguyen review. Since QuackGuru was the one reverting, he would reach 3RR before I would. My version would be the one left standing in a 24 hour period if no other editors showed up. So, there is a pattern of 3rr, wait, 3rr, wait, 3rr. After a couple of days of this, the new IP started showing up to do that 4th revert so that the article would return to Quackguru's version. This happened not just once, but twice - just before the article got protected. What is interesting is that this IP would not show until QuackGuru had run his 3RR for the 24 hour period. So, here is the pattern - (I'm not going to give every edit, but a synopsis of the beginning and ending for each 3rr. You can always go thru them one by one if you wish from this link by backing up one, then forwarding one by one):

  • 7/23 3RR:
  • 7/25 3RR:
  • 7/28 3RR:
  • not long after this last 3rr: 86.146.119.24 shows up, does a very convenient 4th revert that returns the article to QuackGuru's version:

: 2009-07-28T17:38:09 86.146.119.24 (talk) (44,143 bytes) (Undid revision 304633920 by Stmrlbs (talk) undo vandalism against wikipedia core principles and truth)

  • I revert (my last revert), and 86.146.119.24 reverts again :
2009-07-28T20:55:25 86.146.119.24 (talk) (44,143 bytes) (Undid revision 304718543 by Stmrlbs (talk) NPOV)
  • I make a couple of unrelated minor edits, and this ip reverts me again
2009-07-29T08:15:00 86.146.119.24 (talk) (44,143 bytes) (undo vandalism by 2 well known fringe pov pushers)]:
  • again:
2009-07-29T21:32:44 86.134.240.225 (talk) (44,143 bytes) (revert edit identified as vandalism)
  • then Quackguru returns for 3rr ,

then 86.134.240.225 shows up for the final 4th revert back to Quackguru's version:

2009-07-30T06:38:23 86.134.240.225 (talk) (45,282 bytes) (Undid revision 305026396 by Stmrlbs (talk) vandalism and POV)

So, there is a definite pattern of QuackGuru first doing the 3 reverts, then this IP doing the 4th. The comments on these IPs indicate the editor is very familiar with Misplaced Pages, and uses a phrase I could not find on the internet anywhere except on wikipedia and wikipedia mirrors. They refer to Levine and me as "2 well known fringe POV pushers". This is a phrase unique to wikipedia. Plus.. I am a fairly new editor who has only edited on a couple of fringe areas - colloidal silver, which is really quiet most of the time - and chiropractic. I have also edited on Quackwatch and the Stephen Barrett. BullRangifer and QuackGuru are regulars on Chiropractic and Quackwatch/Barrett, along with a couple of other editors I have locked horns with - Ronz and Verbal. I would also like to note that "Fringe POV Pusher" is a favorite phrase of BullRangifer's. A couple of examples (there are many) :

  • In this case the narrow inclusion criteria allow a number of fringe POV pushers to keep their favorite PS delusion from being mentioned at all, in spite of the fact that those delusions are widely described as pseudoscientific by many V & RS, many quite notable.
  • It was a cowardly bad ban, created by an ArbCom that wasn't willing didn't know how to deal with the fringe POV pushers and baiters who have pushed all of SA's buttons. The fringies and alties (many disguised as civil POV pushers) are taking over this encyclopedia and soon it will be a good substitute for rense.com, curezone.org, or mercola.com, or any number of other bad websites. Don't get me wrong, I have never defended SA's methodology, but it shouldn't have been necessary for him to defend Misplaced Pages at all from such nutty editors. -- Fyslee (talk) 11:51 pm, 9 March 2009, Monday (4 months, 30 days ago) (UTC−4)

I don't know who this IP is, but I would bet it is one of the regular editors on Chiropractic or Quackwatch. The timing, the comments.. a bit too coincidental. So, I request these IPs, 86.134.240.225 and 86.146.119.24 , be checked against this group, or at least Quackguru and BullRangifer.--stmrlbs|talk 09:59, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

reply to comment 3 by BullRangifer

BullRangifer said "I should also note that many other mainstream editors here besides myself use the term "Fringe POV Pusher". " I did not say that was the only evidence. It is the combination of:

  • BullRangifer knows me, a relative unknown editor.
  • BullRangifer uses the term "fringe POV pusher" frequently
  • BullRangifer considers me a "fringe POV pusher"
  • BullRangifer is one of the very few regular editors on Quackwatch and Chiropratic, so would be familiar with everything there
  • Quackwatch, unlike Chiropractic has a low outside view count.
  • BullRangifer is evidently internet/computer savvy (as evidenced by his statements previously) and would therefore probably know about proxies which can make a user appear like they are in another country.

It is not just one thing, but put them all together... --stmrlbs|talk 12:18, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

response Chiropractic part of Sockpuppet investigation

BullRangifer seems to forget that I initiated this request for checkuser of IPs both on Quackwatch and Chiropractic, when he states " IPs behind User:Stmrlbs could also have been involved and should be checked." I was sick of BullRangifer and Quackguru accusing me of being a sockpuppet on - well NO EVIDENCE - in an effort to discredit me. However, I have noticed that the IP problem seems to be mostly on Chiropractic, and not that much of a problem on Quackwatch and Stephen Barrett. I looked at the archives of the Quackwatch/Barrett articles and socks aren't really mentioned that much. People still accuse each other of being socks.. but socks of other registered editors. I have not been accused of being a sock on Quackwatch/Barrett articles, and I have gone head to head with these guys as much or more there. But.. on chiropractic.. everytime there is a surge of IPs, I'm automatically accused of being a sockpuppet. Personally.. I don't think people change these kinds of habits from article to article. If they are going to use IPs, they are probably going to develop a pattern of it over many articles over time. I have only been editing regularly the last few months.. but I checked the sockpuppet investigations, and I don't see anything even filed for Levine2112 for any of the controversial areas that he has participated in. So.. why would he only do this at Chiropractic? Or perhaps the question should be, why does Chiropractic seem to attract the IPs? Chiropractic does seem to have more IPs than the other articles that I've edited on that are also equally controversial, like Quackwatch. and I have wondered about this difference between two very controversial topics. So, I did some checking around of statistics and found that the Misplaced Pages page for Quackwatch was viewed 3,032 times in the last 30 days. However the Misplaced Pages page for Chiropractic was viewed 71,349 times in the last 30 days. That is a huge difference. Perhaps the interest in the Chiropractic article stems from the fact that there are over 60,000 chiropractors in the United States according to the ACA. There are chiropractic colleges across the united states- two colleges in Los Angeles . Add to this that this article, "Chiropractic on Misplaced Pages: Controversy and Opportunity", came out a couple of years ago in Dynamic Chiropractic a major chiropractic magazine. This article described in detail the Chiropractic article, and called it "an opportunity" for the chiropractic community "to provide the public with a clear, accurate picture of this vital health care profession". Because of this, I think that there might be a few out of the 70,000+ that do follow the chiropractic article. The thing is, if an editor can be accused of puppetry just because they are the sole opposition to the group that writes most of the chiropractic articles (QuackGuru, BullRangifer, and Eubulides), then an article with this many IPs this will open the door to QuackGuru and BullRangifer doing the same thing to any new editor that walks in on the scene. They did it to me, and I wasn't even on chiropractic much. So, as far as the chiropractic article, I ask that the committee weigh in

  • the high view count of chiropractic
  • the fact that there are over 60,000 chiropractors in the US
  • the fact that an article was written in a very visible chiropractic magazine about the chiropractic on Misplaced Pages, an article that called for chiropractors to participate,
  • the fact that there are two chiropractic colleges in Los Angeles

before they assume a long standing editor like Levine2112 could be the only possible person that might not agree with QuackGuru and BullRangifer's view on Chiropractic. --stmrlbs|talk 12:40, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

CheckUser requests

{{RFCU}} is deprecated. Please change the case status parameter in {{SPI case status}} to "CURequest" instead.

Checkuser request – code letter: A (Arbcom ban/sanction evasion )
Current status – Completed: Reviewed by a Checkuser, results and comments are below.    Requested by Shell 22:02, 4 August 2009 (UTC)
Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

* It doesn't seem likely that QuackGuru and Levine112 are linked, at least; of the other accounts, can you state who you believe related to who and which IPs? More concrete connections to verify might help limit the number of checks involved in a request like this. Will note that CU action to clean up an area of ArbCom enforcement is something that ArbCom has recently endorsed, if I remember correctly. Nathan 22:13, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

I apologize for the convoluted mess :) Essentially we have two "factions" here with bad habits that are making it hard to guess what's what. My main concerns for checkuser are:
  • QuackGuru against 86.134.240.225 and 86.146.119.24 which are in the same block and have been used to edit war.
  • Levine2112 against the 166.128.0.0 - 166.255.255.255 range (specific IP examples above).
  • 70.71.22.45 admits a prior account and could be checked against the "inactive" list. Best guess would be Hughgr followed by Surturz.
As for the rest, they are all "pro" Chiropractic which would essentially leave open anyone but QuackGuru, however, I strongly believe that Levine2112 is involved in them. I think they can be handled without checkuser since stepping through their behavior shows pretty clearly that they are, at the very least, meatpuppets brought in solely to edit war. (see further detail added to evidence above) Shell 00:42, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Unfortunately, a lot of these are from early May or earlier, making them too old to check.

  • 70.71.22.45 used WinrarWinner for 3RR evasion.
  • The AT&T Mobile IPs could be TheDoctorIsIn, since he has also edited from that range. He also used 67.49.123.119 for 3RR evasion.
  • In general, the mobile phone IPs could conceivably be nearly any of the accounts. Nothing of interest was found regarding any of the other accounts/IPs. Dominic·t 20:45, 5 August 2009 (UTC)
Conclusions

Category: