Wikipedia talk:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerks

For general information about SPI clerks, see Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerks.

Clerks' Noticeboard

Trainee/clerking interest and discussion

Active requests

DreamRimmer

DreamRimmer (talk · message · contribs · global contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · user creation · block user · block log · count · total · logs · summary · email | lu · rfas · rfb · arb · rfc · lta · checkuser · spi · socks | rfar · rfc · rfcu · ssp | current rights · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) | rights · renames · blocks · protects · deletions · rollback · admin · logs | UHx · AfD · UtHx · UtE)

I would like to become an SPI clerk. I've heard that SPI is in need of clerks with experience in Hindi and other Indic languages. I'm fluent in Hindi and proficient in several other Indian languages. I have a good sense of judgment when handling UPE/COI editors and I'm experienced in WP:GSCASTE matters. Having observed numerous cases related to Indian and Pakistani topics, I believe my deep understanding of South Asian (Indian and Pakistani) subjects would be beneficial. – DreamRimmer (talk) 09:34, 14 November 2023 (UTC)

@L235, I apologize for bothering you with this ping. Do you have any updates? – DreamRimmer (talk) 09:41, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

@DreamRimmer: Thanks for the ping. Your application is under discussion. Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 21:04, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

@L235, any updates? – DreamRimmer (talk) 06:24, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

AllyD

AllyD (talk · message · contribs · global contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · user creation · block user · block log · count · total · logs · summary · email | lu · rfa · rfb · arb · rfc · lta · checkuser · spi · socks | rfar · rfc · rfcu · ssp | current rights · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) | rights · renames · blocks · protects · deletions · rollback · admin · logs | UHx · AfD · UtHx · UtE)

Following up on the Signpost article, I would be happy to help out with this. I probably initiate a couple of SPIs per year when a situation seems to merit it, and am conscious of the ongoing workload. AllyD (talk) 12:22, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

AirshipJungleman29

AirshipJungleman29 (talk · message · contribs · global contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · user creation · block user · block log · count · total · logs · summary · email | lu · rfas · rfb · arb · rfc · lta · checkuser · spi · socks | rfar · rfc · rfcu · ssp | current rights · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) | rights · renames · blocks · protects · deletions · rollback · admin · logs | UHx · AfD · UtHx · UtE)

Caught up on the Signpost, saw the rather lengthy backlog, and thought I'd put my name down for consideration. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 17:56, 25 November 2023 (UTC)

0xDeadbeef

0xDeadbeef (talk · message · contribs · global contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · user creation · block user · block log · count · total · logs · summary · email | lu · rfas · rfb · arb · rfc · lta · checkuser · spi · socks | rfar · rfc · rfcu · ssp | current rights · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) | rights · renames · blocks · protects · deletions · rollback · admin · logs | UHx · AfD · UtHx · UtE)

Previous request (from ~1 year ago) here. I saw the discussion at #Do you need more clerks? and wanted to help reduce the backlog, after acting as an patrolling admin for some time. 0xDeadbeef→∞ (talk to me) 10:57, 9 December 2023 (UTC)

Ah, and also I'm fluent in Chinese. 0xDeadbeef→∞ (talk to me) 14:32, 9 December 2023 (UTC)

Edit filter against IP reports

Reports where the named master is an IP are usually wrong and are often met with closing and speedy deletion. Should we create an edit filter to warn users before creating a new report for an IP (either IPv4 or IPv6)? This would not apply to new reports for already existing SPI cases, since there's a small number of long running cases that are named after an IPv4 address, but new cases are almost always wrong. MarioGom (talk) 12:00, 10 September 2023 (UTC)

I don't think this would be a great idea. It's fairly common for editors to file a legitimate SPI but list an IP as the master instead of a named account. In addition, it's not difficult to deal with occasional misfiled or unnecessary cases. I think an edit filter would just add more confusion to a process that many people struggle with already. Spicy (talk) 12:29, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Fair. MarioGom (talk) 21:12, 23 September 2023 (UTC)

Filter 809

Is there a reason why we're outright disallowing moves of AfDs in the general SPI filter? I'm looking at Special:AbuseLog/35961648, where somebody attempted to move an AfD, but I'm not quite understanding why this is in the "possible SPI disruption" filter. Is there something I'm missing here, or can that be removed? — Red-tailed hawk _(nest) 20:43, 21 September 2023 (UTC)

This is historically an LTA filter, see for example [1] (AfD) and [2] (SPI). The LTA (BuickCenturyDriver) is still active, and would I put it beyond them at this time? no, not really. I agree it's not ideal an ideal filter placement, but that's the history. Very few people should be moving AfD's or SPIs though. -- zzuuzz ^(talk) 22:43, 21 September 2023 (UTC)

Sure. Is it possibly better to re-title the filter, then, to reflect that it's merely an LTA filter rather than one specific to SPI disruption? — Red-tailed hawk _(nest) 04:07, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

The filter does contain other, more generalised stuff, so I'd suggest a split over a rename. --Blablubbs (talk) 11:15, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

Yeah, I don't see any problems with splitting to another private filter. 0xDeadbeef→∞ (talk to me) 10:17, 25 September 2023 (UTC)

@Zzuuzz: Just pinging to confirm that you have no objection to a split. — Red-tailed hawk _(nest) 03:14, 28 September 2023 (UTC)

I've no objections depending on the detail. I would observe 3 things... the parts in the line in question should probably be kept together; the first line will need adjusting; and this filter is tracked by DatBot filters, which will need thinking about. -- zzuuzz ^(talk) 11:43, 28 September 2023 (UTC)

I have renamed the filter, since it looked like a better option (and one that is also easier to implement) than splitting. 0xDeadbeef→∞ (talk to me) 13:18, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

Second opinion on Lazy-restless

The reporter of Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Lazy-restless/Archive#05 September 2023 has provided some further evidence at my talk page. I would like to hear a second opinion about the evidence in the report or, if you think there's pending action, feel free to go ahead. Best, MarioGom (talk) 20:01, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Do you need more clerks?

I noticed there's a big backlog of closed cases. Does the noticeboard need more clerks? Maybe I can facilitate if so, through The Signpost. Let me know if you want this. ☆ Bri (talk) 17:42, 11 October 2023 (UTC)

The backlog of closed cases is not worrying, but we could use more active clerks to handle open cases. I think the pool of editors who are interested, able to commit to it, and fulfilling criteria to be accepted is fairly small. An article at The Signpost could have the effect of just attracting a bunch of candidates that are rejected, which would be quite frustrating for them. On the other hand, if it managed to motivate even just one viable candidate, it would make it worthwhile. Also active admins would generally be good clerks, but I think it's unusual for admins to consider being SPI clerks... It'd be great to hear other opinions here. MarioGom (talk) 08:11, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

It would also be awesome to have some clerks who speak Chinese, Bangla or Hindi, but that's even a smaller pool. MarioGom (talk) 08:15, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

@MarioGom: a long time ago, I was very active at NPP, which in turn made me active at SPI. I can speak/read Hindi, and Marathi. But I am not sure if I want become a clerk for now. —usernamekiran (talk) 20:29, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

Good to know. Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 00:20, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

@L235: sorry, my previous comment was sort of ambiguous. A couple of years ago, I was giving it a serious thought. But currently, my interests have shifted a little, and I'm confused regarding being a clerk. —usernamekiran (talk) 08:38, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

I was a clerk a long time ago and I could speak & write Chinese. But SPI clerking is such a thankless task and a time sink that I don't know if I ever want to get back in on it. One bad read on duck test and you get hauled to AN where people demand you to hand in your bits unless you come up with a strong justification. OhanaUnited^{Talk page} 04:33, 31 October 2023 (UTC)

I have some command over Bangla and Hindi, while I don't think I have the on-wiki experience yet to be a clerk, consider me interested in helping out. :) Sohom (talk) 12:26, 2 November 2023 (UTC)

Sohom is a talented volunteer MediaWiki developer and very pleasant to interact with. Would make a great clerk once they've amassed enough experience :) –Novem Linguae (talk) 20:14, 2 November 2023 (UTC)

Where have all the administrators gone? apparently encouraged three candidates to come forth. I can't remember the last time we've had three RFAs running at the same time. If The Signpost could do the same for SPI, that would be wonderful. I'll also note that as much as we need more clerks, we also need (perhaps even more so) more admins working SPI. Admins who are also clerks would be ideal, but non-clerk admins are almost as valuable.

And for people who are thinking of RFA but aren't sure if they qualify, historically being an active SPI clerk has been a reliable road to smooth sailing at RFA. RoySmith (talk) 15:03, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

Also, non-admin clerks at SPI are, rightfully, a very strong pipeline to RfA. The community has historically recognized that SPI clerks have very strong uses for the tools (particularly in viewing deleted content, in blocking socks, and in deleting G5s). KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 19:48, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

Sorry I didn't see this conversation had proceeded before the latest issue of The Signpost went out today. I've started something in News and notes for the next one. By the way, is archiving closed cases a one-click process with the spihelper.js script, or does it require more? ☆ Bri (talk) 04:21, 6 November 2023 (UTC)

@Bri It is indeed a one-click process, but only SPI clerks and CUs are allowed to do that per WP:SPI/PROC RoySmith (talk) 14:06, 6 November 2023 (UTC)

While it is technically a one-click process, it involves a last review of the case. Some loose ends are occasionally fixed at that stage. That is why it is not automated. MarioGom (talk) 21:20, 6 November 2023 (UTC)

In fact, when I train clerk trainees, one of the first things we discuss is the (fairly large) set of things that they should double-check before archiving it. For some SPIs, the archive stage is the only double-check from a clerk or CU, as non-clerk admins can adjudicate and close cases. Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 00:11, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

Bri: Thanks for putting together the announcement. I think Any user in good standing is considered qualified to apply needs some editing. While any user in good standing can apply, not everyone is qualified, and I think it is quite common for applications to be rejected. So perhaps the announcement should link to Wikipedia:Advice for prospective SPI clerks to help in self-assessment. MarioGom (talk) 21:23, 6 November 2023 (UTC)

I have experience using CheckUser to identify and block sockpuppets on other wikis (with first hand experience dealing with User:A Den Jentyl Ettien Avel Dysklyver and similar tricky sockmasters) and would be willing to train as a clerk, as long as the community is okay with someone who comes and goes as an editor serving in such capacity. I come forth realizing that sockpuppet investigations on Wikipedia is inherently more complex than on smaller wikis due to the volume of visitors on Wikipedia. PCHS-NJROTC ^{(Messages)Have a blessed day.} 23:59, 11 November 2023 (UTC)

I am fluent in several Indian languages, including Hindi, and I am also active at SPI. If you need a clerk, please let me know. – DreamRimmer (talk) 18:03, 12 November 2023 (UTC)

Merge needed

Can a Clerk please merge Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Specialkay12, which I created yesterday, to Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Priscilla 223? Izno pointed out the possibility of a connection and I do see overlap not only in ranges used, but on one specific IP from the logs.-- Ponyo^{bons mots} 23:17, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Done. Spicy (talk) 01:05, 30 November 2023 (UTC)

Cheers Spicy; you're a star!-- Ponyo^{bons mots} 17:34, 30 November 2023 (UTC)

Editor interaction utility

@The Earwig and Σ: What happened with the Editor interaction utility? It's not working any more? Vanjagenije (talk) 23:09, 20 December 2023 (UTC)