Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Buzzards-Watch Me Work

Buzzards-Watch Me Work

Buzzards-Watch Me Work (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)

Populated account categories: confirmed · suspected

For archived investigations, see Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Buzzards-Watch Me Work/Archive.

31 March 2015

– An SPI clerk has requested administrator assistance for action regarding the case below. The requested action is below.

Suspected sockpuppets

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

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Based on the evidence at this AfD. BWMW comes from Northern Virginia (according to their userpage). The IP editor had little or no edits (only 4 in the past 2 years) prior to theis AfD before they "discovered" it. Their IP address is located in Northern Virginia. They edit similar cycling articles with the same edit summary [1] and [2]. I raised this at ANI and was advised to come here. Lugnuts ^{Dick Laurent is dead} 18:21, 31 March 2015 (UTC)

Comments by other users

On a biweekly basis, I visit a friend working at the IP. During lunch, we discussed Wikipedia and Team Novo Nordisk, he’s diabetic... Anyway he made the contributions. Can it be verified? CheckUser will show 99% of my edits are located an hour away. The other 1% are located across the Washington area. The time was after lunch and work; I usually edit in the evenings (after 7:00 pm). So no, it can’t. But the location, time, and the contributions, he couldn't use links, offer support. The diffs are two years old; if they were a month or a year, I understand; but two years? That's a long time. Plus it's one word "website"; it's fairly common. Why did I not mention it first? Because Richmond was noted, I have no connections with that city; I thought it was a coincidence... Although I had my theory, the IP address runs through the administrative center, I didn't want this process to ensue. It looks strange having a friend push an AfD; it’s kind of pathetic. With that being said, this doesn't fall under puppeteering. If persuading someone’s vote is wrong, then I deserve sanctions. However, I am not a puppeteer, and any actions in that regard, I unequivocally deny. My history shows I’m a productive and constructive user... I don’t think I've ever slandered the project or an editor. Although I believe I’m unwanted by the nominator… I wish someone notified me; I would have responded quicker. Buzzards-Watch Me Work (talk) 02:29, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

"Anyway he made the contributions." Pure gold. So your "friend" you see on a biweekly basis, who has a handful of edits, just happens to want to !vote in that discussion. WP:DUCK. Lugnuts ^{Dick Laurent is dead} 18:07, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

We discussed it during lunch... But it doesn't matter. I could webcam us, go on international TV, and you wouldn't change your mind. It's pointless. Buzzards-Watch Me Work (talk) 01:53, 2 April 2015 (UTC)

@Buzzards-Watch Me Work: This is when you are caught, if you are not a sock then why you even have to advocate your position? OccultZone (Talk • Contributions • Log) 06:15, 2 April 2015 (UTC)

The section says "defend" yourself here, so I did. Buzzards-Watch Me Work (talk) 17:26, 2 April 2015 (UTC)

OK, Buzzards. If you claim what you say is true, talk to your "lunchtime buddy" and agree two different articles to edit at the same time. Say 12 noon where you are. Both of you add a dummy space in those articles and then revert each others edits. At exactly the same time. Shouldn't be too hard. You should be able to do this in the next 48hrs. Lugnuts ^{Dick Laurent is dead} 18:43, 2 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment; Please excuse my skepticism, but couldn't he also use two computers/browsers to pull this off?... Just a possibility. It might not be true. Zeke Essiestudy (talk) 22:14, 3 April 2015 (UT)

Each organization and home has their own. However, office buildings/apartments usually have multiple IPs or ranges (they share one)... It's not a bad idea. Buzzards-Watch Me Work (talk) 23:17, 4 April 2015 (UTC)

• IP was actually active in 30 March, since that ANI and this SPI, the IP has stopped editing. OccultZone (Talk • Contributions • Log) 10:32, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

•  Clerk note: This looks like either sockpuppetry or coordinated editing, but more like sockpuppetry. Both display similar style: After posting a comment, they make minor edits to their comment instead of using preview function (Buzzards: [3][4], IP: [5][6]). They editing two different articles about cycling teams on the same day, using same edit summaries [7][8]. Chances of something like that happening coincidentally are incredibly low. Still, I can't be sure, so I'll wait for other admins and clerks to comment. Vanjagenije (talk) 17:55, 2 April 2015 (UTC)

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