Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 05:41, 13 November 2007

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The suspected sock puppets page is where Wikipedians discuss if a fellow Wikipedian has violated Misplaced Pages's policy on sock puppets. Cases on this page are evaluated primarily on the basis of behavioral evidence, and the editors and administrators who look at the reports typically do not have the ability to determine what IP addresses Misplaced Pages editors are using. If you believe your case requires an IP check, please go to requests for checkuser.

Sometimes users who appear to work with a common agenda are not sockpuppets (one user, multiple accounts), but multiple users editing with the sole purpose of backing each other up, often called "meatpuppets." Meatpuppets are not regular Wikipedians who happen to agree with each other; they are accounts set up by separate individuals for the sole purpose of supporting one another. For the purposes of upholding policy, Misplaced Pages does not distinguish between meatpuppets and sockpuppets. Please see Misplaced Pages:Sock puppetry.

Administrators

Administrators, please see Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/Administrators for detailed instructions about how to determine sockpuppets, archiving, etc. for editing here at Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP). This has recently been updated and therefore administrators should read over the minor changes that have happened.

Reporting suspected sock puppets

view • edit

Before creating a report at Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP), please be sure that: The problem is current; if the suspected sock puppets have not edited recently, the case will likely be closed as stale. If the problem is not ongoing, just watch the user and report when you see a new instance of abuse. You have strong evidence. To learn what can be evidence, see here. If your evidence is weak, then it will be nearly impossible to reach a determination of sockpuppetry. All your statements should be supported by diffs. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already blocked. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already reported. Look through open SSP cases for usernames frequently associated with your suspect. Both older and newer cases, many of whose accounts are now blocked, show up in the categories for sockpuppeteers, sockpuppets, and suspected sockpuppets.

1. Assume good faith, if possible. An alternate account that is not used for abuse does not warrant a complaint. Keep in mind that users may sometimes make mistakes, so in cases where an alternate account is largely used for legitimate activities, it may be appropriate to ask the user before making accusations. The problem might merely have been caused by a mistaken login or other absent-mindedness.
2. Fill in the names. Clicking "Start a case" with a new case name-or-number opens a fresh page, with a form ready to be filled in. The puppetmaster's name will be automatically filled in as the filename; if this is not correct, due to added numbers like "(2nd)", replace the {{SUBPAGENAME}} tags with the puppetmaster's username. Also replace the placeholder names SOCKPUPPET1 and SOCKPUPPET2 with the account names of the suspected puppets; add or delete these lines as needed. Always leave out the "User:" prefix.
3. Make your case. Now write up your evidence in the "Evidence" section. This should describe why you believe there's puppetry occurring, however obvious it might be. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, links to other cases you know about should be provided as well. The evidence should point to one or more instances of illegitimate use of the puppet account. Include the diffs to support your statements. Sign and timestamp your case with ~~~~ on the line below "Report submission by"; preview your report for any problems; and, when you're satisfied, save it.
   

   To start a case report about suspected sockpuppetry: Cases are created on subpages of Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets. To do so, add the username of the puppetmaster (the main account, not the sockpuppet!) -- and the number of the case, "(2nd)", "(3rd)", etc., if there were previous cases on that username -- into the box below. Leave out the "User:" prefix. Replace only the word PUPPETMASTER, leaving the rest as is. Example: if there were already two cases about User:John Doe, the new case would be titled: Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/John Doe (3rd) Then click "Start a case". You will be taken to a page where you can fill out the report. After you've saved the report, come back to see the remaining instructions below this box. Use of this form is deprecated. Please use Misplaced Pages:Sockpuppet investigations.

4. List your case for review in the WP:SSP open cases section here. Add the line {{Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/PUPPETMASTER}} (or PUPPETMASTER (2nd) or PUPPETMASTER (3rd), etc.) at the top of the list, just below the section header. (Again, remember to replace PUPPETMASTER with the actual account name, without the "User:" prefix.) Save your edit. Check to see that your report shows up at the top of the list, just below the "Open cases" header. If there's only a red link, check that the spelling of the username and the number match the filename you created.
5. Notify the suspected users. Edit the user talk pages (not the user pages) of the suspected sockpuppeteer and sock puppets to add the text {{subst:uw-socksuspect|1=PUPPETMASTER}} ~~~~ at the bottom of the talk page. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, the most recent evidence page should be specified by adding "(2nd)" or "(3rd)", etc., after the user's name: {{subst:uw-socksuspect|1=PUPPETMASTER (2nd)}} ~~~~ or similar.
6. Consequences. If the evidence shows a case of clear abuse, with no serious doubt, an administrator may block any sockpuppets, and take further action against the puppetmaster. In less severe cases, administrators may quietly monitor the account's activities.
7. Checking further. In some cases, where there is significant abuse and yet puppetry is not certain, it might be appropriate to use technical means to detect puppetry. See Requests for checkuser (WP:RFCU) for details.

Open cases

Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/Arcayne

The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, read this for detailed instructions.

User:Jay2p

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Jay2p (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Hoyts555 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

faithless () 03:59, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Evidence

I suspect Hoyts555 of being a sockpuppet of Jay2p because of the former's creation of articles on the latter. Examples:

Comments

I think it's a likely match, but blocking may not be the best response. Both newly created articles are up for deletion. Neither account has done much of anything on Misplaced Pages, so it may be okay to just leave it alone. Shalom (Hello • Peace) 04:31, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

I agree that blocking might be a bit harsh; I'm pretty unfamiliar with how socks are dealt with, so I just figured I'd bring it to the attention of you guys and let you decide. Cheers, faithless () 04:49, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

"Alternate accounts" normally are not blocked. If accounts are working together as a team to support an !vote or a discussion position, then there might be reason to block. This report provides a link between the two names, so that probably is all that is needed. Recommend closing this SSP. -- Jreferee t/c 08:39, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Conclusions

Nothing to suggest operating outside the limits of SOCK. Mercury 13:19, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, read this for detailed instructions.

User:Claymort

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Claymort (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Rhode Island Hero (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Jungwirthwillkillallrocks (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
65.31.98.166 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

User:Elaich, created by User:Rlevse because Elaich had trouble with the form. — Rlevse • Talk • 03:23, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Evidence

Comments

There was no evidence submitted as part of this report. From reviewing the contrib logs, the only article shared in common that was edited by the suspected sockmaster and two sockpuppets is Ed, Edd n Eddy. The edits of the three accounts to this article did not occur within the same week. Unless someone can show that the content of these edits was very similar, I would recommend to dismiss this case without asking for a checkuser. Shalom (Hello • Peace) 04:37, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Conclusions

There are not enough edits to conclude sockpuppetry. I don't see any patterns. Mercury 13:15, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, read this for detailed instructions.

User:Morganaf

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Morganaf (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

67.166.161.96 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

Cheers,JetLover (Report a mistake) 23:57, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Evidence

Both users editing sexual related content and vandalizing them. Appear to be tag teaming.

Comments

• This seems likely. Both accounts edited several vandalism targets within the same hour, and have not edited any articles before or since. There was one article edited by both accounts. I'm not sure what action should be taken. Shalom (Hello • Peace) 04:39, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

• The four level vandal warning scheme seems a better route towards blocking. To address the sockpuppet issue, are there any diffs that show one account supporting the other account? -- Jreferee t/c 08:43, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Conclusions

Agree with Jreferee, while they are probably the same, they are not sock violations, more a generic vandal case. — Rlevse • Talk • 11:23, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, read this for detailed instructions.

User:AndreLapalme

Suspected sockpuppeteer

AndreLapalme (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log) RFCU

Suspected sockpuppets

Toweepformenot (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Nowimgone (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Radicalmember (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Memberradical (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

Hersfold 07:37, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Evidence for Toweepformenot

The five diffs below clearly duplicate the contributions of User:AndreLapalme and associated accounts.

Identical vandalism, as well as a malicious intent to avoid notice and subsequent blocking as noted in the links in the comments section. Hersfold 07:37, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Evidence for Nowimgone

Name matches pattered followed by many of the other accounts (Nobody's going to convince me otherwise this time, so don't even try!). Recent account creation, very first edit only seconds from account creation was to remove warnings from User talk:Toweepformenot . These warnings have since been restored. Hersfold 08:16, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Comments

• Due to the nature of previous dealings with this user (See also Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/Nexttubeban and User talk:Hersfold#Banned?, where under User:Toweepformenot, the vandal successfully managed to convince me to (wrongly) assume good faith about his actions), I believe it would be prudent at this time to request a checkuser on these accounts so that the IP address may be blocked to prevent the creation of further accounts by this vandal. At this point there are 14 confirmed sockpuppets of this user, one suspected, and this one currently under accusation. Hersfold 07:37, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

• Update: I'm being bold and listing this for checkuser already. Seems to be a clear-cut case for code A. Hersfold 07:59, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

• I've speedy deleted Image:Glenncommunist.PNG. — Rlevse • Talk • 12:51, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
• Checkuser is not necessary. This is the IP address. 216.231.162.9 22:47, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

• We need to know if the two new users use that IP, so yes CU is necessary. — Rlevse • Talk • 22:49, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

• I am the vandal. I created all the aformentioned usernames (and MANY more), and carried out the malicious edits. 216.231.162.9 22:54, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
• I went through 216.231.162.9's talk page. In addition to his 22:54, 11 November 2007 disrupting post and immediate vandalism noted on his talk page, the 216.231.162.9 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki) IP has had trouble for the past two years. I blocked 216.231.162.9 for three months but left open the ability to create Misplaced Pages accounts since the IP is a shared IP. -- Jreferee t/c 18:25, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Sirex98 report on sockfarm

I was ask to comment here this is what I was able to find out.

I my believe that the sockpuppeteer is BradSerious (a banned user) who's sockfarm came after his ban with AndreLapalme being one of them.

Early socks

• Jealousagain38 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Made six acts of vandalism all WP:BLP vio's between April 29-May 1, 2007 starting with

• 216.231.162.9 (talk · tag · contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RBLs · proxy check · block user · block log · cross-wiki contribs · CheckUser (log))
• April 30-May 13, 2007 starting with same edits as Jealousagain38

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

July 1- July 16, 2007 same edits as Jealousagain38

• Other ties uploaded album Image:BlackFlag - ICanSeeYou.jpg which seem to be good faith complate with Non-free / fair use media rationale, but which links to Jealousagain38 due to the user name.
• note: The user name Jealousagain38 comes from an album by the group Black Flag Jealous Again .
• BradSerious had other album cover art uploads, that were deleted which can be seen at his user take page where Fair use was disputed User_talk:BradSerious.
• BradSerious was perm ban on 25 October 2007 by sysop Dreadstar. after making serveral act of vandalism on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, mainly adding his own image upload since deleted to the article.

Beginning of new sockfarm

• BobDyland (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) a play on the musician Bob Dylan -Category:Wikipedia_sockpuppets_of_AndreLapalme

• vandalism on J._Howard_Marshall article on October 29, 2007, four days after BradSerious was banned.
• vandalism on The_Basement_Tapes using the Image Glenncommunist.PNG uploaded by Toweepformenot
• Image was deleted many times

DanielssJohnston (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) - Category:Wikipedia_sockpuppets_of_AndreLapalme vandalism on J._Howard_Marshall and The_Basement_Tapes articles on October 30, 2007 which ties to

• VandalDyland (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) Category:Wikipedia_sockpuppets_of_AndreLapalme
• vandalism on J._Howard_Marshall on October 31, 2007 same as DanielssJohnston

• GonnaTakeTime (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Errsfasfasfrkerror (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Typesmerit (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Ajadijasduwqe (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• SnarkyjSu (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Nexttubeban (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) same MO, Category:Wikipedia_sockpuppets_of_AndreLapalme
• vandalism on J._Howard_Marshall beginning on October 31, 2007

• Toweepformenot (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki) same MO has yet to recieve a block.

It is my belief that BradSerious "could" have made for a good faith editor in the area of punk/metal music article but felt the need to vandalize anyways, this may be in part due to the album covers that he uploaded being deleted as well as his eventual ban. the new sockfarm came shorty after his ban.▪◦▪≡ЅiREX≡ 22:15, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Being a serious editor was actually my purpose behind creating the account BradSerious. I guess I just got bored with it. Toweepformenot 02:35, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

He just created two more. IrishGuy 22:23, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Conclusions

All three socks (currently listed) are blocked and tagged. Leaving open for awhile as we keep finding more and the IP RFCU case is still pending. — Rlevse • Talk • 11:11, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

See RFCU IP results here. The real master is Bradserious, so I'm retagging all the accounts. The CU results confirmed our calls. — Rlevse • Talk • 23:58, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

User:BradSerious and all his socks are bannded from wikipedia. He's been listed on the banned user list. — Rlevse • Talk • 00:24, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

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