Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents

Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents
This page is for urgent incidents or chronic, intractable behavioral problems. Before posting: Take a look at these tips for dealing with incivility If the issue concerns a specific user, try discussing it with them on their talk page Try dispute resolution Just want an admin? Contact a recently active admin directly. Be brief and include diffs demonstrating the problem Do not report breaches of personal information on this highly visible page – instead go to Requests for oversight. When starting a discussion about an editor, you must leave a notice on their talk page; pinging is not enough. You may use {{subst:ANI-notice}} ~~~~ to do so. Closed discussions are usually not archived for at least 24 hours. Routine matters might be archived more quickly; complex or controversial matters should remain longer. Sections inactive for 72 hours are archived automatically by Lowercase sigmabot III. Editors unable to edit here are sent to the /Non-autoconfirmed posts subpage. (archives, search)
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Two editors deleting a talk page comment

I've found a pair of editors bullying another editor by removing his/her talk page comments. These editors are part of the discussion thread containing the comment and have been warned that as such, they should leave it to an impartial 3rd party to review the comment. I'm an impartial 3rd party (not part of the thread, etc), and it's my opinion that this particular comment contains several useful points that should be addressed. And as far as offensiveness or incivility goes, it falls far short of any standard that would require its removal. I'd block the editor responsible for repeatedly deleting the comment - especially given that he/she was warned, but I see no harm in bringing it up here first. Rklawton (talk) 18:57, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Don't be a dick. DocOfSoc and I were in a content dispute on a BLP and whether the subject should be called "Jewish". His language was a little heated, but we resolved it. Then, NeoNeuroGeek (a new user) launches a tirade against DocOfSoc about whether he is a real Jew. He, not unreasonably, removed it. Rklawton then blunders in, reverts the removal with some wikilawyering about "involved" but does nothing to cool NeoNeuroGeek. Since it wasn't me NeoNeuroGeek was attacking, but my erstwhile opponent, I felt disinterested enough to remove the post and have a gentle word with the newbie about our expected decorum here [1]. Next thing Rklawton's spitting block threats here, with, despite me posting to his talk page, no attempt to resolve anything. This just looks like trolling to me. Calm down, sir, and get your overly-dramatic tanks off my manicured lawn.--Scott Mac 19:08, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Anyone wishing to follow the thread can do so in sequence, it's short. Not only is Scott Mac mischaracterizing my comments/summaries (I explained the problem and what I'd do to resolve it if the problem persisted) he's being rude, too.

[2], [3], [4]. Rklawton (talk) 19:15, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I've restored NeoNeuroGeeks comments with some elements redacted. My concern was that it was not a vitriolic attack on Doc but that the editor clearly felt hurt by the comments they read and made comments in the heat of the moment - we all do it. Please don't unilaterally remove comments like that in the future; it is better to politely ask the editor to retract the attacks (pointing them at the relevant policy) and, if they do not, ask an admin to come in and explain it more explictly (and redact the commets). The other way risks alienating someone further :) --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 19:18, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Nonsense. What do you mean "unilaterally"? Every time one clicks submit it is unilateral. I stand by my action, I removed the comment, and left a very polite note on the newbie's talk page, explaining our civil ethos here, and assuming that his post was made in ignorance of that. Rklawton's actions were totally unhelpful: restoring personal attacks, with no attempt to talk with the newbie, indeed no attempt to explain anything to anyone outside of threatening edit summaries. How was that going to help? Drama-stoking at it worst. Liable to allow the heated rhetoric to escalate, while slapping those trying to dowse the flames. If he didn't like my way of doing it, he should have substituted his own, or at least done something constructive. --Scott Mac 19:25, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Sorry, I meant nothing by "unilateral" except in the sense it was just the two of you :) and, yes, your note was constructive. Rklawton should, perhaps, have removed the PA's (or reported them to be removed) or encouraged you to report it. But he was correct in restoring the comment. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 19:30, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Two isn't unilateral, by definition. Had Rklawton refactored and replaced, or had he taken some other course of action, that might have been correct. What he did was extremely disruptive. The correct thing to do, if you involve yourself, is to try to defuse a situation - you may wrongly judge what will do that, but any good-faith attempt is a start. Rklawton's action were in no sense of the word correct, as there was no strategy to help the situation lying behind them.--Scott Mac 20:06, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm not obligated to solve your problems. I saw the need to prevent two editors from abusing a third by removing talk page comments that were marginally offensive at best. In general, we don't remove comments from talk pages and we don't bite the noobs. I restored it with a reminder and restored again with a warning. As an experienced editor, you should know better, and the comments above from 3rd parties bear this out. Rklawton (talk) 20:10, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I stand by my actions - and in my criticism of yours. But since the thing is moot now, I'll let it go. Unwatching.--Scott Mac 20:32, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Sorry Scott, if I wasn't clear - don't read anything into my use of the word unilateral :) it was cultural/personal use & I realise that in this forum it came across differently. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 20:20, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Let me make an observation that, as an uninvolved user, I believe that the warred over comment is valid and does indeed raise some very good points. Yes, the language is a bit heated, but it is certainly not in the realm of anything that would require removal of said comment. It appears to me that the removing users have rather vitriolic opinions of Schlessinger and perhaps should disengage and not edit the article because of such opinions. Silverseren^C 19:26, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Wrong. I know nothing about her and have no opinion. I got involved when I picked up she was unhappy with the article, I reported it to BLPNB, and began removing unreferenced negative stuff.--Scott Mac 19:39, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• That was referring far more to DocOfSoc than you. Though you should have also not removed that comment. Silverseren^C 19:46, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Comment please note that Scott Mac is jewish, so this is a WP:COI issue.--Caravan train (talk) 19:28, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Eh? Not Jewish - never have been - keep your knife off my penis, thanks. (Not that I'd think any less of myself were I Jewish.)--Scott Mac 19:39, 27 August 2010 (UTC) stricken with apologies.--Scott Mac 21:54, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Are comments like these appropriate for the project and this board? --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:24, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Yes, Scott MacDonald. That's an awfully Jewish name, isn't it? The Wordsmith^Communicate 19:44, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
• This Caravan train account does not pass the WP:DUCK test, if you look at its edits. Enigma^msg 20:29, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• I'm not sure what you mean. It doesn't quack? Dougweller (talk) 20:32, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• It means I'm saying the account is a sockpuppet and should probably be blocked. Enigma^msg 21:48, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Now blocked as a sockpuppet of User:AtlanticDeep. Enigma^msg 21:59, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• It is a bizarre comment out of left field from an account that's never edited here before, nor has this account edited any of the same articles Scott has during the two days of its existence (or the AfDs). I should AGF and say 'this is a new editor who doesn't understand our guidelines', but that would be hypocritical of me. Dougweller (talk) 19:43, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• I am finished with the Laura article. Period. Please see further comments on my talk page, where such comments belong in the first place, NOT on an article talk page, the newbie obviously does not know this[redacted]. Namaste. DocofSoc

• Personal attack redacted. Cut that out. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 20:04, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Unsuccessfully tried to inject some humour. So yessir! Exalted Sarek ;-) Namaste...DocOfSoc (talk) 20:30, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Wait. A person is not allowed to remove personal attacks made against them? That's a first, as far as I'm concerned. And then a totally uninvolved person is not allowed to remove personal attacks made against somebody else? Since when? Everard Proudfoot (talk) 21:24, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

There was no personal attack. There was one or two words that two editors who were directly involved in the discussion thread construed as a personal attack - and deleted the entire otherwise useful comment as a result. And that has a rather a chilling effect on article discussions and isn't appropriate. Rklawton (talk) 22:25, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

If it feels like a personal attack and quacks like a personal attack...New user's comments were in no way valid or useful. Misconstrued and full of fallacious assumptions. As an admin, there should have been instruction to newbie, as I had requested, who had violated the 3RR by reverting what ended up being the final outcome, that I had done correctly in the first place. (clunky sentence, LOL) A 2 day newbie should not be editing locked articles. Mysterious to me. A deja vu nightmare, like SRQ was back.. I was totally surprised at the lack of support. Sigh...Fast forwardDocOfSoc (talk) 01:06, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

The only thing I didn't support was deleting comments from a talk page. It's a talk page - there's rarely any need to edit out other people's comments on a talk page - especially comments that are on topic. Instructing, advising, warning the newbie are all fine. Removing a whole comment because one part of it may be questionable is not appropriate, especially when that removal is done by people personally involved in that threat. But I said that already in the restore summaries. Rklawton (talk) 03:20, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Being called racist is not a personal attack? Everard Proudfoot (talk) 04:44, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• Do you want an administrator to do something here? Jehochman ^Talk 04:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

This might be a bit pedantic, but the comment was called racist, not the commentator. Hence the attack is on the comment, not the person.LeadSongDog come howl! 04:57, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree, it is a difference that is not essential. Calling somebody's comment racist is effectively calling them a racist. What admin action is requested here? Jehochman ^Talk 21:34, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't think anything is needed - it was a one off incident and the users involved ended up with various warnings. I redacted the racism remarks. It can probably be marked resolved --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:57, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

User:Zombie433

Resolved

 – User indef blocked after refusing to abide by policy.— Dædαlus ^Contribs 01:34, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Previous ANI discussions related to Zombie433: User:Zombie433 keeps on original research, Users User:Heritagesoccerpro and User:Zombie433

Further information: [[:Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Football/Archive 45#User:Zombie433|Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Football/Archive 45 § User:Zombie433]], and [[:Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive633#User:Donald Duck behavior|Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive633 § User:Donald Duck behavior]]

Again, is him. The guy never reply. Through out the days i OFTEN found his hoax content, from adding a content with cite, but the cite is irreverent to the content. to now i find his article Diego Aparecido Ferreira Oliveira contain half of the hoax career in Brazil. Seems he never want to correct, or he work for a company to write fake CV for the footballers. He made lots of edits, i did not count the percentage of hoax in his total edits, but did wikipedia want a people that not willing to correct his behavior to not adding hoax? Matthew_hk tc 20:22, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• I see you are concerned about some of the contributions that Zombie433 (talk · contribs) is making. Can you be more specific? It seems that English might not be your native language. Perhaps WP:Diffs would help illustrate the situation. Toddst1 (talk) 20:25, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
• Worth noting: Zombie433 is complained about at WT:FOOTBALL (see archives), with the most recent archived discussion being this. Erik (talk | contribs) 20:33, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I work not for any company over football, i only layman and football fan. I collect only football magazine like Extra Liga, A Bola, Liga Polska, Luxemburger Fussballmeisterschaft, Voetbal International etc. few stats based on the stats in this magazines. (Zombie433talk | contribs) 21:45, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• Many concerns about Zombie433, in my opinion, them being: 1 - his appalling grasp of English, even tough he gives himself a "level 4"; 2 - the fact that he NEVER replies to people, NEVER, unless they write to him in German and not even then always, removing messages, friendly or not, minutes before they arrive at his talkpage; 3 - his continuing overlinking in football articles, even tough it is not necessary (this is indeed a by-product of his struggles with the language); 4 - even though it has been stated that foreign sources are OK with the site, he has NEVER supplied one single source in English, even going as far as removing the English source and insert a foreign one (see here http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=On%C3%A9simo_S%C3%A1nchez&diff=354291436&oldid=354210835); 5 - the overcategorization in which in indulges, creating cats for 4th, sometimes 5th division clubs, and several expatriate ones, really not needed; 6 - i am not familiar with this one, but it seems he has begun inserting spam links to articles, which was the primary reason for which he was blocked.

Attentively (speaking of which, i WILL pay close attention to this!)- --Vasco Amaral (talk) 20:53, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Zombie often use fake stats. to claim the footballers were notable. Just like Diego Aparecido Ferreira Oliveira, Azian Innocent Tano (most recent?) Ergün Berisha (deleted and recreate after he truly turn notable). As i was not a reviewer of Zombie, i think there is some hoax still not yet discovered.

For Danilo Pereira da Silva, i can't find any source that he played for Chivas USA. (there is another Danilo da Silva in NLS for another team, not Danilo P. da Silva). AND Brazilian FA record did not said he moved to US.

And i asked again and again that please provide citation for the content he submit. He improved in new edits, but he either provide a irreverent one, or his cite did not sufficiently support his content.

Matthew_hk tc 20:55, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

This is one of those really difficult situations where it appears that an editor can't really communicate with us and address/understand concerns. Zombie seems to have been raised as an issue a number of times now and I think we really need someone to open a dialogue with him. Perhaps approach someone in one of the German Wikiprojects who is able to talk to this person and translate our issues. Not perfect - but perhaps an opening step? --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:05, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I've asked for volunteers to speak to this person here. I think it is in the best interests of WP to try and get this editor talking in some way --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:08, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• It was done here man (see here http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Zombie433&diff=374905578&oldid=374904428), what do you think happened? He removed the message, without answering the other user... - --Vasco Amaral (talk) 21:09, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Ergün Berisha is another case, i mixed up. Matthew_hk tc 21:13, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

• I think the problem people are having with Zombie is that he makes a lot of contributions (many of them are verifiable) but doesn't communicate well with other editors. I don't know what types of sources he is using for some of his edits (there were several edits he made to football players from the Ivory Coast that no one was able to verify, so we had to remove them), and it's troubling when information is added to BLPs that is not verifiable. If Zombie didn't make so many edits, it would be much easier to deal with verifying the unsupported additions and reverting the edits that are unverifiable or inaccurate. However, with the volume of edits he's made, it's an enormous task to go back through more than a years' worth of them. I'm sure he can help us verify many of those old edits, but I don't know how to explain it to him (or even get a reaction on his Talk page). Jogurney (talk) 21:35, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks to Vasco for the link. I think some action needs to be taken here. Perhaps a 24 hour block? Just to get the point across & try to get this person to communicate? --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:39, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

I briefly looked at contribs and usertalk history of de:Benutzer:Zombie433 on de and didn't see obvious problems of this magnitude, but a better German speaker than me might want to take a closer look. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 08:48, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, but be aware that de:Benutzer:Zombie433 has about 2000 contributions while User:Zombie433 has about 83000. The comments on his talk page are mostly warnings not to put unconfirmed information in articles, warnings about copyvios, advice about the need for sources, advice about grammar errors etc. It's also obvious that he mostly ignores the advice on this talk page; this was among others a reason why he got blocked [5]. I'm a native German speaker, so if you need a translation I think I can manage. --Jaellee (talk) 09:43, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Yow, I missed noticing that he was blocked 6 times on de. Is his German as bad as his English, even though he says he is a native German speaker? 67.119.3.248 (talk) 16:41, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm quite sure that he is a native German speaker, I checked some of de:Benutzer:Zombie433 edits. Sometimes they contain typos and the style could be improved, but I think it's not that bad overall (clearly better than his English). Other editors asked him repeatedly to use the present tense in articles like (these were the grammar advices), and his lack of reaction made people angry, especially if they were the ones who cleaned up after him. --Jaellee (talk) 15:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Think of the BLPs

Basically, the reason this is ANI-worthy is because we've got an editor who is relentlessly plugging away with the addition of material which is either dubious or outright false to hundreds or thousands of BLPs. This is not a good thing, and can't continue indefinitely. Chris Cunningham (user:thumperward: not at work) - talk 09:56, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Not really relevant but your subtitle reminds me of this :) --Ron Ritzman (talk) 12:26, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I think it's too late to get rid of his dubious edits completely. Even when all his contributions are deleted, there are edits by other users in the text of BLP's based on previous contributions by Zombie433 and many other language wiki's have copied the English page. You can even find his contributions on official club-sites now [6] Cattivi (talk) 14:27, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Let's shut off the faucet of dubious information, then, especially with what Chris said about BLP. This editor has popped up too many times to not take action. Considering the lack of dialogue, as the editor removes negative notifications from his own talk page, we should consider a preventative block to protect Wikipedia from further misinformation. Is there any criteria we need to follow to pursue this course of action? Erik (talk | contribs) 15:53, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Indef

Resolved

 – Final warning issued. Chris Cunningham (user:thumperward: not at work) - talk 19:59, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Based on Jaelee pointing out Zombie433's block log on de (6 blocks in 2000 edits) I think it's time for indefinite block per WP:COMPETENCE. We're not dealing solely with a language issue. Block notification should indicate that it's not a ban and that the block can be lifted if he discusses the situation and can work out an agreement to improve his editing with regard to sourcing, accuracy, communications, etc. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 16:46, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I kind of have to agree here, but I'm also commenting so more can review this before it gets archived without action.— Dædαlus ^Contribs 05:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

You would think he would be very carefull at the moment: this is what he added Saturday evening[7] Youthclubs Falu Bk 2003-05 (club founded in 2006!) signed from Falkirk on 16 march 2010 (he played for Falu in 2009) Shirtnumber 21 or 18? [8] You only have to follow the links he added. There is no expertise needed to see this guy is hopeless Cattivi (talk) 13:54, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Daedalus, it is clear that numerous people take issue with Zombie433's contributions. This is a pretty serious trend that has been overlooked for way too long, considering the number of times the editor has been discussed and the number of contributions that have been made. We need to end the proliferation of bad information on Wikipedia. Let's take action now when we should have taken it months or years ago. Erik (talk | contribs) 12:12, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I've got to go with everyone here on this one. Even when I've convinced Zombie to add citations to articles, as seen here, there's countless cites that do not say what they claim. I even saw him using this as a source. I've tried to discuss with him several times on his talk page with no help at all. I'm leaning towards an indefinite block sadly as well. Andrzejbanas (talk) 16:25, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I've issued a final warning. If Zombie433 adds any further material to any BLPs which is either false or dubious and unreferenced, ping me and I'll indef block the account. Chris Cunningham (user:thumperward: not at work) - talk 19:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

It's a shame that it's had to come to this, but unfortunately I too agree with the consensus to remove Zombie from our midst if he transgresses again. This is a collaborative project, and his lack of willingness to communicate with anyone combined with his wilful disregard of policy, and his terrible English skills has got to the point where enough is enough. --JonBroxton (talk) 20:12, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

And, lo and behold, he instantly moved Thumperward's warning to his archive with no acknowledgement whatsoever. --JonBroxton (talk) 20:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Can someone review Zombie433's ensuing edits to BLP articles after he removed the warning? See contributions; they're growing quickly. I'm not familiar enough with footballers and their articles to assess. This may just be the final straw. Erik (talk | contribs) 20:45, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

What about this one [9] Current club Al-Karamah Source? not the one Zombie added. Cattivi (talk) 00:28, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Indeed. The ref provided says he's still playing for a club in Lebanon. --JonBroxton (talk) 00:44, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• I really fail to see what is keeping the block so long, without wanting to tell anyone what to do, really...What he did to Thumperward's warning should be more than enough, what on earth is this?!?!!? He is basically saying "Lass mich im ruhe!", German for "Leave me alone!". Only one case do i know that is more frustrating than this one, User:Pararubbas: does not write ANY summaries as well (sorry, he wrote one, it said "MONTIJO" - please see here, making use of his endless anon IP array http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jos%C3%A9_Pedro&diff=290083488&oldid=282994313), does not engage in ANY conversations (in English, German or his mothertongue, Portuguese), and has already surpassed the 50-sock mark (F-I-F-T-Y yes, 50).

Why this reminder (and to top it, i have to tell you that the other "user" did not show signs of stopping - does not? - and has already a "fair share" of accounts)? That we know, Zombie433 is only in his first account, but he is also saying that WP is his personal website and he answers to NOONE. I have no proof (therefore will not present any) that he is working for some football agency or the sort, but it is evident to a blind person is that he does not wish to: 1 - comply with some policies of the site; 2 - interact with ANY of us.

Attentively - --Vasco Amaral (talk) 00:56, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Blocked

Due to this, I've followed through and indef blocked the account. I invite commentary from more experienced admins. Chris Cunningham (user:thumperward: not at work) - talk 01:25, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Triton Rocker violation of British Isles topic ban

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

As well as editing warring[10] at Terminology of the British Isles Triton Rocker has again violated his British Isles (Wikipedia:General sanctions/British Isles Probation Log) topic ban here. Bjmullan (talk) 13:08, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

This matter was being dealt with in other locations. BritishWatcher (talk) 13:41, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

This is the correct location - the Wikipedia talk:General sanctions/British Isles Probation Log is a log for recording sanctions not discussing them. This is the appropriate venue.--Cailil ^talk 15:07, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I suggest the text on that page be archived because thats what that page has been used for since its creation and it should clearly state that is not the place for such matters. Seems pointless bringing everything here when there is a separate page for the thing. BritishWatcher (talk) 15:14, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

• Considering the number of violations of the topic ban, the recent block for disruption, violation of 3RR this is a serious problem. I'd suggest an indefinite block with conditional unblock when and only when Triton_Rocker recognizes what they've done wrong, accepts site policy and agrees to edit within it. At that point the topic ban should be reset to the date of unblock as per normal practice for repeatedly disruptive editors serving topic bans--Cailil ^talk 15:16, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

An indef block is totally unfair compared to the treatment of certain other editors who have been involved in this dispute for many years. People here voted for sanctions to be applied to an editor, those sanctions were not imposed, he then went on to remove British Isles from another article with no punishment at all. BritishWatcher (talk) 15:22, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

That's an irrelevant discussion BW. And I'm now warning you not to bring up extraneous issues in this discussion it is disruptive and will be dealt with as such. We are assessing this matter on its merits not in relation to others. If you want to bring up other editors behaviour do so where appropriate (and you are genuinely invited to do so).
Triton Rocker is subject to a ban and violated 3 times previously - this is a 4th violation. They clearly aren't getting the message. It's time they did--Cailil ^talk 15:36, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

As you wish. BritishWatcher (talk) 15:47, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Its not just the failure to abide by the sanction or the 3RR its the persistent refusal to ever engage in discussing any edit and the abuse of any editor who opposes him/her. We had accusations of meat puppetry this morning (links on Triton's talk page) which just builds on a persistent pattern of AGF and NPA violations in the majority of edits. I agree that something needs to go in place which forces Triton to acknowledge that something needs to change. --Snowded ^TALK 15:59, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

The bloke has become a bore. GoodDay (talk) 16:02, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

We are all responsible for our own edits here, and trying to muddy the water by saying that other editors in the past have done similar doesn't hold any weight. A process was started to cease these type of edit wars and this editor has refused to accept that this is the case. So unfortunately I would support a topic ban, instead of an indef block. If they breach the topic ban and going by this editors previous ignoring of sanctions they will then indef block is what needs to happen. Mo ainm~Talk 16:37, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

• Support Mo's views, it's time for a topic-ban, folks. GoodDay (talk) 17:08, 28 August 2010 (UTC)
• Oppose A topic ban is totally inappropriate here. Triton's so-called transgression is absolutely minor; adding a relevant template to an article is just run-of-the-mill article improvement. Maybe it was a technical breach but it's clear to me that those with an anti-BI agenda are trying to capitalise on this technicality by attempting to force the removal of a knowledgeable editor whom they disagree with; it is quite scandalous behaviour on their part. BTW, any claimed incivility on the part of Triton is not relevant here. LevenBoy (talk) 17:41, 28 August 2010 (UTC)
  • I've no probs with TR arguing on the talkpages & even being uncivil. But, edit warring is unacceptable. GoodDay (talk) 17:43, 28 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Who was the other party to the edit war, just out of interest (and this debate is not actually about edit warring). LevenBoy (talk) 17:45, 28 August 2010 (UTC)
      • If one is outnumbered, one shouldn't get into an edit spat. GoodDay (talk) 17:47, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Note to Cailil, you seem to be suggesting that Triton Rocker is more than one person, if you've an accusation to make let's have it out in the open. Thanks. LevenBoy (talk) 17:44, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't see where Cailil suggests that; can you please substantiate how you came to the conclusion that Cailil made any such suggestion or accusation? Ncmvocalist (talk) 17:50, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

No I haven't. Strike that comment LevenBoy and stay on topic--Cailil ^talk 17:52, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

• Hello Triton Rocket IS topic banned[11] and has been blocked 3 times in the last month for violating that topic-ban.
  As a general warning to all the involved editors at the WP:BISE page - if you haven't got anything pertinent, on topic and policy based to say about this matter then stay away from it - disruption of enforcement threads will be prevented.
  LevenBoy you wont get another warning to assume good faith. This is a very simple matter using it to make a point is not a good idea--Cailil ^talk 17:51, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Well if he is topic banned then the next step is indef block. Mo ainm~Talk 18:37, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Cailhil, your veiled threats are out of place and verge on hilarity, but I'm getting increasingly annoyed by your carping and threatening others with sanctions that would be an abuse of your powers as an admin were you to impose them. This is not the first time you've waded in here issuing you ultimatums. Your warning to BW above is pathetic! Regarding my remark - quote "They [Triton Rocker and maybe et.al] clearly aren't getting the message. It's time they did". That sounds remarkably like you think there's more than one person operating that account. Now maybe your're not sure if the account holder is a man or woman, but that's a bloody strange way of putting it, that's all I can say. LevenBoy (talk) 19:10, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

LevenBoy you've been warned to stop disrupting this thread - these were not veiled threats but administrative warnings.
Perhaps you were confused by a gender neutral pronoun - then all you had do was say you were confused by 'they' but instead you responded with incivility and spurious inferences of admin misconduct. It is entirely within my duties and powers to block for disruption or impose topic bans as I amn't involved in any area of this dispute. Now, I've asked SarekOfVulcan to review my conduct here and unless they contradict me I will prevent this thread from further disruption by block if necessary--Cailil ^talk 19:50, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

For the record, LevenBoy, this was a case of Singular they. I don't like it either and think it's ungrammatical, but it's meant to mean just one person. Heimstern Läufer (talk) 23:24, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Triton Rocker's response

• NB: I was never entirely topic banned as the title suggests.

I apologise in advance to all the drama whores --- especially those attempting to use all this to the benefit of, and distraction from, their political campaign on the Wikipedia --- but I have very little time to respond to this today. Perhaps if you can just give me two or three days to put together a proper response, I would appreciate it.

• Is everyone REALLY blind to what is going on here?

And let's us just be clear,

• I did not break my sanction, which was not "to add or remove the term British Isles"

What I did was add five perfectly august academic references stating that the British Isles

"is a geographical term, arguably in use since the second century BC, and used widely in academia without reflecting the United Kingdom's hegemonic interests.

" In books published before 1920, this term relates to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Man, as Ireland was ruled directly from Westminster. From 1920 onwards, the term includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Eire)."

• That terrible sin is what this is all about.

Look, there is are a handful of Irish - or non-English - editors including the accuser Bjmullan (talk · contribs)‎, ‎Rannpháirtí anaithnid (talk · contribs), Ghmyrtle (talk · contribs) and ‎the principle character HighKing (talk · contribs) who are engaged in some kind of long term and widespread nationalistic campaign to replace the inclusive, accurate geographic term "British Isles" with the exclusive, political and inaccurate term "Britain and Ireland" and, where it cannot be done easily, to bog down any productive development. (For non-Brits admins, who may think "England" is the "UK", "Britain and Ireland" do not include all British Isles what are part of the same geographical group and people from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not happy about it).

Obviously, they are stalking my edits. I edit. One or more of them comes along and reverts provocatively, then Snowded (talk · contribs) --- whose user page is emblazoned with Welsh nationalism --- comes along to play mock admin. This happens time and time again.

• Now, ask the question, "is British Isles a geographical term widely used in academia without reflecting the United Kingdom's hegemonic interests"?

• Of course, yes. The references say so. So what is REALLY is the problem here? I can tell you.

First, please allow me to make this entirely clear. I do not have one drop of English blood in me (or on me). I do not support the UK's hegemonic interests in Ireland now or of the past. But, anyone with any academic background, could stand by and allow them to do what they are trying to do.

You would be fools, and making a mockery of the word "encyclopedia" if you cannot see this.

Now, tell me if you want to know what this is really all about. --Triton Rocker (talk) 01:26, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Triton Rocker. This is a breach of your topic ban. The above post which engages in inappropriate conduct, ie failure to AGF (as does this post today) is also a breach of that ban as explained clearly and cogently here. I am, and this thread is NOT evaluating the correctness or otherwise of the content but rather the fact that you have continually ignored an editing restriction as imposed by Black Kite.
I have warned all the others to stay on topic and not disrupt or attempt to derail this thread - and I'm warning you too. Don't disrupt wikipedia to make a point. Your personal, impressions of others are irrelevant all that is relevant are your actions. Claiming that this edit is not in breach of your ban is an attempt to game the system.
Also for the record, the above post uses excessive mark-up - please don't make posts that use so much mark-up in them any further please--Cailil ^talk 01:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Also the section title has been retitled for less drama. Again don't disrupt wikipedia to make a point Triton Rocker--Cailil ^talk 01:57, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• All right. As an uninvolved admin, I'd like to make sure I have the facts clear. Triton Rocker is under a ban from adding or removing the term "British Isles" from articles? And stands accused of having violated this ban by adding a link to British Isles from the article Terminology of the British Isles? I've got to say that enforcing in this case of a simple link that's not even part of the text and that, from what I can see, no one's even contested yet seems kind of Draconian to me. Though perhaps in an intractable dispute like this one, Draconian is the right way to go. Heimstern Läufer (talk) 09:03, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

  Triton should not be adding British Isles to any article and that would include the place he inserted it this time, although it is a minor alteration which has not been undone (like his changes were in the past when he added it) which suggests the change was justified. I think moving to some indef block or an extensive block under the sanctions is unfair in this case. He should be punished for the edit war which is totally unacceptable and that should cover it. Since Triton came off his last block, it was only yesterday that 1 edit war and the insertion of the BI link happened, he seems to be learning. He just now needs to accept never to get into an edit war again and completely avoid any insertion of British Isles, even if its a "Main article" link. BritishWatcher (talk) 09:37, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for explaining that so well BW. But just to say we don't punish people exactly with sanctions we just prevent further violations of policy / restrictions. Indeed if Triton Rocker could make such a promise to avoid edit wars and to abide by his ban completely that would help things--Cailil ^talk 13:35, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree Triton should agree to do both and i hope he does, people can only be given so many chances before there its too late. I can understand why he gets frustrated about the whole thing, but he needs to remember the best thing to do is stick to the talk page to argue a case for change or insertion, rather than doing anything himself that will probably get him into trouble. BritishWatcher (talk) 14:22, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• • That's basically my view, too, and, I suspect, why Triton Rocker isn't blocked right now. The edit was against both the spirit and letter of the topic ban, but I'm extremely reluctant to block someone for adding a Main Article link to "British Isles" in an article about... the "British Isles". A block would be draconian: particularly because Triton Rocker has burned through the short blocks (1 day, 1 week...) and is now into long block territory. I wouldn't be happy blocking on this occasion for a month or indefinitely under these circumstances, violation of topic ban or not. I'd regard this as a one-off, however: this isn't a precedent, it doesn't give Triton Rocker carte blanche to game the system. TFOWR 09:47, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
    • I'm thinking, though, that BritishWatcher may be right that a block for edit warring might well be merited. For that, we might want to dine at the edit warring noticeboard tonight, where dinner has already been served. Heimstern Läufer (talk) 10:04, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Agree - An indef would be way over the top, and a month is too much - but another week for the edit warring ("if" found culpable)? It would fall in line with previous blocks, and isn't unwarranted... Doc9871 (talk) 10:21, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
      • While I understand your views, as an outsider myself, this dispute has gone on too long the behaviour of all sides involved is in general falling into WP:BATTLE. Triton Rocker happens to be the first user under topic ban he also happens to be a repeat violator. AFAIK there is an unresolved 3RR[12] report against Triton Rocker, there is also the matter of his talk post to Snowded page (which as I've said violates his ban as well).
        I recognize your (and Black Kite's) very generous approach TFOWR and your expertise in dealing with group of the editors involved but frankly it is a mistake not to deal with the totality of Triton Rocker's problem when it is apparent that blocks of definite length aren't working. My suggestion above is that he be blocked until he recognizes the restriction, site policy and editing standards - not that he just get a perma-block indef. That said if you feel that 10-14 days is better then I'll support you in that--Cailil ^talk 13:28, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• So everyone else is to blame and a conspiracy against wikipedia by them bloody Irish and their supporters, nice way to accept responsibility for Your own actions. You are quick enough to go on about snitches but every opertunity you get, you role out a list of editors who are making you edit the way you do, catch yourself on. Also the validity or otherwise of the edits are irrelevant. Mo ainm~Talk 09:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

The 'wounded soldier' approach isn't working. A siege mentality is counter-productive. GoodDay (talk) 12:50, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Guys I've already warned everyone to stay on topic please stay away from ad hominem remarks--Cailil ^talk 13:39, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Fair enough & correct. GoodDay (talk) 13:40, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

By the way, I'd quite like Triton Rocker to withdraw the unfounded accusation that I am "engaged in some kind of long term and widespread nationalistic campaign... etc." Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:37, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Agreed, Ghmyrtle certainly is not involved in this and Triton should not make specific accusations against other editors, especially when they are innocent in this dispute. BritishWatcher (talk) 14:18, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

There is a simple option - ask Triton to formally agree to (i) respect the sanction, (ii) cease all attacks and allegations and accusations against other editors & (iii) accept a !RR restriction on BI related articles. Todate Triton has at no stage acknowledged any fault or the legitimacy of Wikipedia rules. If he can't bring himself to make those undertakings then I think its time for an topic ban on anything to do with the British Isles (he has done good work elsewhere so an indef is not appropriate) until such an undertaking is forthcoming, far too much time is being wasted on this.--Snowded ^TALK 20:42, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

As a previous complainant about Triton Rocker to this panel, I would agree with Snowded's suggestion above. Clearly Triton can't take the emotion involved in this debate and could do with taking a substantial break from it generally - I would suggest from anything Britain-, United Kingdom-, Ireland- or British/Irish- related. This would give all of us a much needed respite from the problems and abuse caused by this editor in an area of editing where space for calm discussion is essential. Jamesinderbyshire (talk) 21:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• Not for violating the ban on adding the term "British Isles", but for the (in my mind) more serious act of edit warring, I have blocked TritonRocker for one week. Heimstern Läufer (talk) 00:37, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Many thanks, Heimstern. Agree with the block. I would hope that Triton Rocker takes this on board: their topic ban is not the only policy/rule/sanction they need to respect. TFOWR 10:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
    • The block is far in excess of what is needed. In terms of so-called edit warring it was quite trival, and don't forget it takes two - or in this case three - to edit war. Why should one party get a hefty block and the other party not even a polite warning? And by the way, I've never read such a load of sanctimonious garbage as that appearing above from the majority of contributors (mostly admins). It makes me want to puke! LevenBoy (talk) 15:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
      • TFOWR, mm sai. LevenBoy, because Triton did far more reverting than other contributors. Feel free to warn any editors you think need warnings, though I suggest you be careful not to unnecessarily inflame any situations. As for puking, please, feel free. It's not like it'd be the first time that's happened on this board. Today. Heimstern Läufer (talk) 15:21, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I promised Triton Rocker I'd copy any comments they wished to make at ANI from their talk page. The comment below is so copied. TFOWR 09:19, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I'd rather be honestly blocked than be a snitch --- and running around trying to 'win' a wiki-war by snooping and snitching.

For at least HighKing (talk · contribs), RA, Bjmullan and few others not currently active --- this is all an expression of an obsession with the word British in British Isles.

Again, as with my first block, what you have here is an asymmetric block. And that is wrong.

We have to be very clear and honest that this small group of individuals are working in tandem with each other.

I do not believe they are what you call "meatpuppets". The POVs are different. Of course, they are not conspiring. But the dynamics are the same.

I edit --- and I use good references. One of them comes along to provoke immaturely by deleting my work. Of course, I replace it because the deletion is not sincere and generally the work is good. It is just provocation because they think they know they can trip me up. Another of them then puts in a complaint and Snowded comes along to play 'mock admin' policeman. This is exactly what has happened before. It is no surprise now to see Cailil flying the Ireland Tricolor.

Please people, open your eyes to what is going on here to this --- and all the stonewalling and ignorance and downplaying of of issues on the project pages. Snowded says, "you must discuss" but they do not want to discuss. Talk out perhaps but not face reality.

Yes, the main players are of Irish descent. They are engaged on an immature nationalistically campaign to 'make political' what academia considers 'non-political' for very good reasons on the Wikipedia.

My position is not nationalistic. It is clearly supported by academia.

So which is really the most acceptable, nationalism or academia? --Triton Rocker (talk) 00:50, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Einsteindonut/WPYellowStar/David Appletree is back despite a community ban,

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Please do a Block, User:DavidAppletree is Quacking very loudly! All the time using the same mantras of denial and rhetoric. He claims he is working through stuff with Arbcom but he does not need a user account for that. Pending any statement from arbcom its is time we enforce the community ban Weaponbb7 (talk) 17:00, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

This gives some context and an admission: [[13]]. Dougweller (talk) 17:09, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh i missed the admission! that is very handy! Weaponbb7 (talk) 17:16, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I never admitted to being Einsteindonut/WPYellowStar. I said that *some* of the accused sockpuppets *might* be me, as I have logged on from time to time from various IP's to make an edit here and there. There's currently a witch hunt on, falsely accusing me of being behind at least 56 suspected socks over the past couple years. I'm tired of being falsely accused, and constantly attacked on WP, so I have created this account to defend myself, and my organization, to answer general questions about my work, and to edit a few articles here and there as I do feel I can abide by the rules and contribute to this project in a meaningful way. It's a shame and unfortunate that anyone remotely pro-JIDF is automatically accused of being me and a sockpuppet. It's time that this stops. I can actually help put an end to at least some of the problems that might be coming from JIDF supporters, but I would hope that the witch hunt, false accusations, and personal attacks against me would end. As I have stated, one of my goals with the JIDF was to find and unify likeminded people. The JIDF has over 37,000 fans on Facebook and nearly 54,000 followers on Twitter. Don't you think some of them might come to Wikipedia from time to time to defend the JIDF from constant attacks? Yet anyone who does this is accused of being a sock of one of the most pro-JIDF accounts, who is then accused of being me. If you look at my website and my posts elsewhere, you'd see that I really don't have time to do all that I'm being accused of doing here. It's quite a witch hunt you have going on. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:44, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

If this user is claiming to be a living person of some note they need to identify and be verified through OTRS or get a new username. Off2riorob (talk) 17:54, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

My understanding is that they have been in touch with OTRS already. I have been in email contact with David and believe he is who he says he is. I emailed cary to check if OTRS had anything to contribute this afternoon as well Spartaz ^Humbug! 17:59, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

OK, great, thanks. Off2riorob (talk) 18:05, 28 August 2010 (UTC). Off2riorob (talk) 18:05, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

This situation prompted me to go get my OTRS access back after my vacation and I can confirm that DavidAppletrees has contected OTRS concerning this account and I am satisfied that he is one in the same. No action under the username policy is necessary. Spartaz ^Humbug! 09:15, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• I referred the matter to the arbitration committee this afternoon. Please let this be until they respond. David has agreed to avoid controversial edits while waiting for them and dragging this out before then is simply going to induce a dramafest. Spartaz ^Humbug! 17:59, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

This user has already been Soapboxing across Jimbo's user page, His SPI page, his own page among others and thats just his allegedly only account. Block him for now we can always unblock him later. He is here to promote his cause not to build and encyclopedia. The IP edits in the last thread were enough to prove he working under proxies. Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:04, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Patience, we also have a self identified person who is regularly mentioned on JIDF and wants to seek balance. This is a difficult issue because BLP requires us to be reasonable about that. While they are not currently causing major trauma, why not let them be while the committee consider this? I admit that the timing, shortly after a community ban on Einsteindonut is unhelpful but i suspect that if we don't bait David we may have a chance to put this long running problem to bed once and for all. Spartaz ^Humbug! 18:13, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I believe I am simply responding to various allegations and attacks. If I'm doing any soapboxing or anything against the rules, please notify me on my talk page, and I will revert, if necessary. Again, my goal here with this account is to fully adhere to the rules. However, I admit I am not a Wikipedia expert and do not know all of them. I could use a hand in learning the system, so I don't something against the rules, unknowingly. --DavidAppletree (talk) 18:15, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Spartaz, I will sideline myself for now, the BLP issue is an aspect of this issue I did not consider and you are absolutly right that this is no causing major trauma at the moment. I do think regaurdless of what we do not much will make him happy. Which judging his by Dialog with Ironhold, we have a true believer and dialog with him will be be as hopless as dialog with CoS was. Considering his Website goes to Great lengths to Out wikipedians I am not holding my breath Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:30, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

For the record, my website does not go to great lengths to out wikipedians. If any Wikipedians have any issue whatsoever about articles that were written about 2 years ago, they are free to contact me directly to discuss: david@thejidf.org. Being that privacy and security is of the utmost importance to me, personally, I fully try to respect the privacy and security of others. Despite getting to the root of the person behind the anonymous IP who attacked the JIDF article several times with swastikas and jihadist symbols, I never released his name, or the company he worked for. When the article about the JIDF first arrived, I admit I was hyper sensitive about it, and bothered, as I didn't know how Wikipedia worked, exactly and I felt a lot of unfair things were happening, such as repeated nominations for the article to be deleted. Despite over 2 years of decent media coverage, that's still happening, to this day! Those are just a couple examples of the abuse my organization and I have suffered on WP since the first article arrived. --DavidAppletree (talk) 18:51, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

What do you call this an Outing list [14] Which is why I have a little bit of a time AGF here. Weaponbb7 (talk) 20:33, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

That's not an outing list. Who is being outed there, exactly? That's a list of people we felt had an extreme anti-Israel bias at the time and we documented some of their edits and some of their other online activities which helped back our points. I think only one editor listed there ever bothered to contact us directly about any problems they had on our site, and if I remember correctly, we accommodated most of his requests out of respect to his privacy/security concerns. I believe most of the editors listed there voluntarily made their names available on WP itself. Either way, the list was not created to "out" people (unless they were trying to hide their anti-Israel bias), which, from their edits, they were not. --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:41, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

My two cents, I'm uninvolved but haven't looked into it that deeply so that's about what it's worth, but here goes anyway. If the identity of the user is established by OTRS he should be allowed to edit the talk page of the article in question provided he is using no other accounts and is not disruptive. I checked his contributions and it doesn't appear that he has directly edited the article in question. If he is disruptive he should be served the standard notices until he stops or is blocked. If he used socks in the past b/c he wanted to protect his identity it should be forgiven unless he has socked since the creation of this account. If that's proven, by all means let's shut him down. Again, I'm not familiar with all the aspects of the case, but I agree we should make some allowances due to the BLP issue. Yworo (talk) 18:35, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. This seems very fair minded. I have not engaged in any sock activity since the creation of this account, and do not intend to do so. I also plan on keeping main page editing, especially about my organization, to a bare minimum. However, at some point I may like to get involved in other articles, as I do have wide-ranging interests. I feel this will help the perception many WP editors have of me, and the JIDF, as this witch hunt and wide-ranging allegations and personal attacks against me and my work have troubled me. --DavidAppletree (talk) 18:51, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

David, was your account created..today?!? So you haven't socked...today?!? I guess its like AA, one day at a time :). Also, why would you want to have an article on Wikipedia? I am so glad I am not notable to have a page here with everything that goes on. Anyways, --Threeafterthree (talk) 19:01, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Heh. No comment. Who said I wanted to have an article on WP? It just happened and it's been a bit of a nightmare. I just think if there's going to be one, that it might as well be accurate. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:40, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Is there a real issue here? Nobody seems to be arguing that a specific item in the JIDF article is factually wrong, uncited, or violates WP:BLP. There's been considerable drama associated with this article over the last two years, but not over content. This looks like another attempt at attention-getting. The JIDF is no longer getting press; they've dropped out of Google News.[15] There's not much more to be said about them at this point. WP:DRAMA applies. --John Nagle (talk) 19:16, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Hi John. While I didn't raise this issue, or any of the issues others I've witnessed on this noticeboard, there's actually been plenty of edits throughout the history of the article and other areas of WP that I believe have been in violation of various rules. For example, there have been many claims as to my whereabouts, as well as my living conditions, as well as my political views. There have also been personal attacks against me and my organization and a wide variety of false allegations. I'm not seeking any drama, but I do believe I have a right to counter the problems I have been witnessing on this platform over the years. Despite your claims that I'm seeking attention, I've actually tried to keep myself not notable and have tried to keep personal details about myself to a bare minimum. I've even turned down huge media opportunities in order to protect my privacy and security. With regard to you the link you provided, and contrary to your claims, the media coverage of the JIDF has been fairly steady. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:40, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Look at the light side. DavidAppletree, to judge by the day and the way it's been spent, can't be him. Far too much melakha, sitting out there bashing away on a computer keyboard. Must have roped in a Shabbos goy. :)Nishidani (talk) 21:17, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

i don't see the humour here. this personal attack should be deleted. nishidani has had a fair share of action in the israel-arab conflict on wikipedia to know better than provoking other editors. 174.112.83.21 (talk) 22:00, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I have never claimed to be an observant Jew. I rest on Shabbos in my own way. I hope to be more observant again, one day. --DavidAppletree (talk) 21:30, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

So serious! Well, it's late here, so I must decline Ночь-мужик.Nishidani (talk) 21:43, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

I generally have a sense of humor, but considering the amount of hostility directed against me and my work that has been published here, as well as the volumes of misinformation about me personally, compounded by the hate directed at me by a wide variety of WP editors, I'm not here to joke around, especially about something as serious as my personal observance of the Jewish Sabbath. I fail to see how that is even relevant to this discussion. Hope you had a good night. --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:10, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• Comment - "Where advancing outside interests is more important to an editor than advancing the aims of Wikipedia, that editor stands in a conflict of interest." JIDF? A teeny little "blip" on WP. Huge media opportunities have been turned down: really? WP:ARTSPAM must have been brought up before. I'd say there's a pretty serious admitted COI issue here... Doc9871 (talk) 09:14, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Yes there is. But at lease we know about it and can monitor David's posting to control this. I have confirmation that arbcom have received my email. Spartaz ^Humbug! 09:18, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
• Comment - Excuse me, Doc, but I hardly need to advertise on Wikpedia. This site does not bring much traffic to my site whatsoever and it's not like the majority of the editors here would be interested in my work. I'm pretty happy with the size of my audience and I'm not looking for just anyone to be a part of it. I target pro-Israel Jews and others who are concerned about Islamic terrorism, who generally lean to the right, politically. Also, since the beginning of my work, I have purposely tried to weed people out. For example, during the election, I weeded out Obama fans. Since so many Jews supported Obama, would doing that help or hurt a "Jewish defense" effort? Would that lend credence to the idea that I'm just trying to reach as many people as possible? On another note, I think Glenn Beck makes the entire right wing look like lunatics, so I purposely weed out Glenn Beck fans, away from my effort. Those are just a couple points to prove that I actually target people in a very specific way and don't need Wikipedia whatsoever for "advertising" or "publicity" purposes, especially considering there is what I feel to be antisemitic, anti-Israel and extreme leftist bias here at Wikipedia. In short, this is hardly the proper demographic for me to advertise. I didn't create the article about my organization here, but I feel that since it is here (along with a lot of misinformation about me, and my organization), the least all this can be, is accurate. I can help set the record straight. And yes, again, due to privacy and security concerns, I have turned down several on-Camera interview opportunities, one with FOX news and another with a large network in Canada (I forget the name of it), and others. If I was all about the advertising and publicity, I would have done those no matter what. While I realize my work, security, and privacy is of little interest or importance to most WP editors, it is important to me and to fans/supporters of my work (who aren't on WP for the most part, as it seems most of them have been chased away due to false allegations, incivility, and other forms of harassment). Either way, and to get back to the main point, if there's going to be any information about me, and my work on this platform, I feel that I should have the opportunity to be here to help set the record straight and to give myself and my organization a more human face with whom WP editors can deal with directly. Obviously, there is a COI when it comes to the editing of the article about my organization, but I still feel I could be an important asset for it, and other articles on the site, but that doesn't mean I'm so interested in main page editing. I feel I can make most of my points in the talk areas. --DavidAppletree (talk) 11:20, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • I began and ended my comment with concerns about WP:COI - the spamming was a "side-note". If you edit articles about yourself and/or your organization, there are real potential problems concerning neutral point of view. I didn't make these rules, David... Doc9871 (talk) 11:32, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm aware of the COI, but at least now it is out in the open. I'm doing this to protect anonymous editors who might be pro-JIDF and who come in from time to time to edit something, or make a point, who always get accused of being me. Now, since I'm on WP with my name and fully disclosing my connection to my organization, I believe, or hope, the witch hunt for me in every corner of WP, ends. --DavidAppletree (talk) 11:38, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

"Please note, out of 56 "sockpuppet allegations" in the following case, only 4 have been confirmed." That's four too many, IMO. WP:Consensus will take care of "protecting" anonymous editors just fine, I think. No need for "extra" protection, is there? Best of luck to you :> Doc9871 (talk) 12:27, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Not confirmed to be me, but confirmed to be a sock of ED. --DavidAppletree (talk) 13:10, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Could an admin please wrap this up?

Per the SPI ([16]) he's recently used four different socks to evade scrutiny. Can an admin simply apply the recent community ban on the remaining two socks (User:DavidAppletree & User:WPYellowStars) so we can finish with this trivial drama? Any outstanding issues can, and I assume are, being dealt with via email thru arbcom etc. there is no need to continue discussing this here. Misarxist (talk) 13:45, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Please note actions like this and edits like this. --DavidAppletree (talk) 14:35, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

It is beyoned me why this SPI haven't been blocked long ago. By his own admission he is only here to protect his meatpuppets and/or sockpuppets. --Saddhiyama (talk) 16:28, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

That's one thing I said, completely taken out of context. If you considered the entire context of this situation (as I hope ArbCom is doing, and from what I hear, is doing), you'd have a different POV (if you are fair minded). --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:44, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

DavidAppletree your argument is.... because You and Misarxist have differences of political opinion.... We should ignore his statement? Weaponbb7 (talk) 16:34, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

No, that's not my argument. If that was my argument, I would have stated it as such. I provided those two links for context into the allegation made by someone who a) Just targeted a general JIDF source material page (which was only created to help editors and the project) for deletion and b) who removed sourced material from the project which was citing Jewish historical presence in Israel. In short, this is just another one of the many editors who is going to have a problem with me, being that I'm the founder of a pro-Israel organization, and that is the context of his comments, encouraging me to be banned from WP completely, despite the fact that most others are encouraging people to be patient and to allow ArbCom to make a decision. --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:44, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Your issues A) he found a page he found odd and nomed it for Deletion? i considered doing it myself until i saw that an Admin created it, B) someone doing routine BLP clean-up is a reason for them to be ignored? Weaponbb7 (talk) 17:32, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Where exactly did I say anyone should be ignored? --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:47, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• - I haven't examined this greatly but what I see now is a identified living person willing to use only one account and willing to discuss and stay within policy, as such I don't think such an offer should be rejected without consideration. Off2riorob (talk) 16:29, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Comment While the socks have been used in the past few days, there was no overlap. If User:DavidAppletree is willing to commit to that one account, not make any more, and, perhaps, let ArbCom know about older accounts, then I personally do not think a ban is in order. User:DavidAppletree will have to commit to editing within the bounds of wikipedia policy and guideline, of course, but if he does, and he can raise issues about his related articles within the rules, and not engage in disruptive sock/meatpuppetry, that should be a net positive. -- Avi (talk) 17:36, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

As I've mentioned, I'm willing to commit to using just this account and editing within the bounds of WP policy and guidelines. I'm wondering how long the ugly sockpuppet template has to stay up on my userpage? One of the problems, I think, is that different people were using different accounts and IP's. I'm not sure what ArbCom needs from me, but I'm available, should they need anything. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:51, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Now a veiled attempt at off wiki Meat Puppet organizing

at the JIDF Twitter page and Flaunting his actions here on a user page Weaponbb7 (talk) 19:04, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Hardly. I don't see how mentioning the work I'm doing on Wikipedia in front of approximately 54,000 people on Twitter is a "veiled" anything. If it's against the rules to Tweet that message, please show me where, and I will delete the Tweet, if absolutely necessary and apologize for breaking the rules somehow. With regard to what I wrote to HalfShadow, it was a followup on a previous conversation (see: here and here.) I realize you don't like me, or my work, but a little good faith wouldn't kill you. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Assume good faith is not a suicide pact, the more actions like this you display the less and less I am willing to AGF. Weaponbb7 (talk) 19:17, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Like what, exactly? Explain to me what you think I did wrong. Cite some rules, or something. And in the future, maybe try talking to me about it, before racing to this board to "tell" on me. This is precisely what I mean by me "defending" myself here on WP. I realize anything I do is going to annoy you, but if I thought I was doing anything against the rules through that Tweet or by following up on a conversation I was having w/ someone, I wouldn't have done it. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:24, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Ok here is why i have a hart time assuming good faith with you and why i doubt merely takling to you about thing is not gonna help from personal observation

• Several IPs (all proxies) start messing with JIDF
• The pages is Semi protected
• Several users show editing the page in similair matter
• SPI is began
• Peter Cohen defends the page from the onslaught of socks
• OTRS gets a compliant Flips out on peter lecturing him on his conduct (which was well deserved on some levels)
• ANI thread is started with suggestion of Community ban, Which at which time a user comparing us to nazis pops up and starts ranting on ANI
• Community ban is passed
• Within 24 hours of the ban you pop up causing a citing policy left and right
• You make a borderline admission of socking
• it is discovered that you have a whole page on your website devoted to attacking multiple wikipedians to discredit them
• You make mention you might be writing about this soon on your site
• Check user comes back inconclusive because all the Sock were using proxies
• You Tweet that you are defending your self on wikipedia, which looks like attempting to recruit off wikipedia peoples to join your fight here
• You then plead ignorance on massive scale hiding behind policy when you its convenient and pleading ignorance when its inconvenient

So i am Not too willling to AGF when or engage in dialogue when i see this scale of abuse Weaponbb7 (talk) 19:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

BTW the policy is WP:MEATWeaponbb7 (talk) 19:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, that's an interesting take on things and consistent with the attacks I face from people on WP who take issue with my work and views. I disagree w/ it. As per the rules you cited:

The term meatpuppet is derogatory and should be used with care. Wikipedia has processes in place to mitigate the disruption caused by meatpuppetry:

*Consensus in many debates and discussions should ideally not be based upon number of votes, but upon policy-related points made by editors.
* In votes or vote-like discussions, new users may be disregarded or given significantly less weight, especially if there are many of them expressing the same opinion.

* For the purposes of dispute resolution, the Arbitration Committee has decided that when there is uncertainty whether a party is one user with sock puppets, or several users acting as meatpuppets, they may be treated as one entity.

Which votes do you think I'm trying to impact w/ a Tweet that says: I've been a little busy defending myself and the JIDF on Wikipedia (with a link to my contributions), exactly? Have you seen anyone chime in anywhere which lend any validity to your allegations whatsoever? I haven't. It's cool that you're following me on Twitter, and all, but please stop creating drama and wasting everyone's time with baseless accusations. If someone who doesn't have a beef w/ me and my work would like to opine, and thinks I actually did something wrong, please do so. Thanks. --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:31, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

It certainly violates the spirit of conduct here --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 20:41, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Howso? The people on Twitter wonder where I am. I explain to them that I'm defending myself on Wikipedia all day long. Seems pretty cut and dry to me from baseless accusations of "meatpuppetry" and such, and a bunch of people who have issues with my views creating needless drama for me and clogging up this board. --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:49, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I waiting other opinions, Weaponbb7 (talk) 21:25, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

David, it's a jibe/taunt at us (the community) and violates the spirit of the community. *shrug* I don't know how else I can put it. Just saying that such actions are considered verging on dickish and you will find people a whole lot more receptive to your arguments if you stop. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 22:01, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Fair enough, and I appreciate your honesty, but my views about Wikipedia have been well-documented. So what actions are you talking about, exactly? Expressing my views about Wikipedia outside of Wikipedia? Where else can I do it, as I cannot do it here? I've seen terrible things happen here, and so I have an opinion, and I express it. I guess I don't understand how that Tweet violates anything. Perhaps more people can opine if they take issue w/ it as well. I'm an open person and communicate a lot. If I'm dealing w/ a lot here at Wikipedia and people wonder where I am on Twitter, I feel I should be able to tell them whatsup w/out it violating any sort of spirit of this community. Much of the time, I feel that the spirit of this community is dedicated to giving me a hard time about every little thing, but again, perhaps others can tell me if they feel this was so "wrong" - so far, it seems just 2 people. --DavidAppletree (talk) 22:31, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

David, all I am pointing out is that you and your group write provocatively and nastily about WP editors on your site. And your seems tweet just a little more of that. My point is simply that you shouldn't be surprised at a cold reception here. :) --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 22:41, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? As soon as the article about the JIDF appeared, there were a million calls for it to be deleted. Anyway, I understand your point. I'm also not surprised by the cold reception, but I'm concerned about anything I do which actually is against WP policy, not just some WP editors preferences. I'm a provocative type of person in general, but that doesn't mean I'm trying to cause any problems or drama here, nor does it mean I'm trying to break any actual rules. Hopefully people will, over time, be more accepting of my basic personality. I can't help that I have a strong POV and I need to express it. The fact that I have multiple outlets and am not really trying to insert my POV into any articles at this point, should be a relief (I'd think!) I guess if they have nothing on WP to get me on, they're going to try to find stuff outside of it. If there is WP policy about off wiki observations about WP, or specific Wiki-Twitter policy, please let me know. --DavidAppletree (talk) 22:49, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

It's cool; there are some pretty legitimate concerns being raised here - particularly linking you to previous socking and disruption. If you want to negate them I'd suggest contacting arbcom and securely disclosing all your previous accounts and activities; that way it removes all doubt. The only real issue I see is that you don't appear to hold a very high opinion of the editing on here (in a way that tars a lot of editors with the same brush) and such an attitude quickly becomes disruptive if not dialled back. I'm a pretty opinionated person - but deliberately leave all of that "at the door" when editing. It makes things a lot saner. That may be something to consider. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 22:58, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm not using any socks. There is no doubt. There is no such thing as "securely" disclosing anything which could put my privacy or security at risk. It's not anything I'm willing to do, especially considering my observations of how anti-Israel ArbCom member of the past dealt with antisemitic and jihadist vandalism of the JIDF article (which is all documented on my website). With regard to my attitude, I'd have a much better attitude of editing, if actually given the chance to edit w/out having to answer baseless allegations about my Tweets and other forms of harassment. I mean, according to WP policy, "meat puppet" is a derogatory term, but no one has come in to suggest a different header here. It should be, "is this Tweet problematic?" Or something. I imagine it's not, or else more people would have an opinion? --DavidAppletree (talk) 23:05, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Hmm, that sounds like misdirection - I'm not sure I can see how disclosing, in private, previous accounts/socks could be a privacy issue. :) --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 23:12, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I emailed you to quickly explain. --DavidAppletree (talk) 23:52, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

This seems to be meat-puppet day in general on this topic [17] cheers Deconstructhis (talk) 19:19, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

That's old news, FYI, and unrelated to this false allegation. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:40, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Suggested resolution

I'd suggest the following:

• User "DavidAppletree" needs to confirm via the ORTS ticket system that he is the same "David Appletree" who speaks for the JIDF.
• As an involved party, he should not edit the JIDF article, but can comment on the talk page. In general, discussions should address specific content issues in the article. Vague rants should be ignored, per WP:DRAMA.
• Whether or not "Einsteindonut" and his sock farm, and "DavidAppletree" are one and the same remains an open question. I'd leave that to the sockpuppet investigation people.
• If ArbCom is officially involved in this, someone from ArbCom needs to so state. Otherwise we assume no ArbCom involvement.
• There's too much forum shopping going on. Discussions should be centralized somewhere.
• Full protection can probably be dropped to semi-protection in a few weeks. It's worth keeping semi-protection, since there's a long history of anon edits from sockpuppets of somebody.
• There's no rush on any of this. The JIDF article was mostly stable for months, and little new information from WP:reliable sources is appearing.

This is a tempest in a teapot. As a columnist for the Toronto Star wrote about the JIDF in 2007: "Facebook was much more fun when it was about body shots"[18] --John Nagle (talk) 21:54, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

John, try emailing me through the WP system. It goes to davidthejidf.org. This is me. I run the JIDF. Check out my Tweets lately on the official JIDF Twitter account about my new Wikipedia experience. I'm not that interested in editing the JIDF article, but I feel I shouldn't be restricted, as it has been the victim of vandalism and attacks against me personally, and my organization. There are also discussions now happening on the talk page which suggest that people are interested in reducing it to a stub for some reason. I wouldn't appreciate that as there's a lot of reliable information there. The sockpuppet investigation revealed that I am a "likely" sock of Einsteindonut. Due to privacy and security concerns, I cannot confirm nor deny it. I have admitted that I have been involved in some sockpuppet activity, but since the creation of this DavidAppletree account, it has ceased and I imagine it will continue to cease. However, I'm hoping that anti-Israel or anti-JIDF editors don't make my life a living hell here, with baseless allegations and constant drama, trying to bait me. And lastly, the JIDF did not officially come into existence (by name) until May of 2008. So that article you cite from 2007 has nothing to do with the JIDF whatsoever and I'm not sure why you would cite it and claim that it does, but whatevs. It's a non-issue and irrelevant to this board. --DavidAppletree (talk) 22:23, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I see no need for the first bullet point if John emails David through the normal wiki route and David responds from that email address. Or, actually, if John just emails him normally. As for the sockpuppetry, David has indicated it has ceased. I see no reason not to very cautiously take him at his word for now, until and unless there is new evidence of sockpuppetry. The rest of it seems appropriate. Can we implement this and move on? I'm getting a little tired of the I-P meatpuppet allegation de jour.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:47, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

One point I think needs to be reiterated. WP:COI does not prevent involved parties from editing; just that they must exhibit extreme caution. The nutshell quote is "You may either submit proposed edits on the talkpage of the article, or, if deciding to directly edit, ensure you closely adhere to relevant policies and guidelines, especially neutral point of view, verifiability, and autobiography; and that you declare your interest on the talkpage." Yes, 90% of the time, edits that involved parties feel should be made should be handled on the talk page. However, certain non-controversial edits such as correcting date of founding, website, reversion of obvious vandalism, and, perhaps, even adding non-controversial background information that has proper sourcing, is not forbidden.

In this case, I believe that based on David's previous edits, he needs to be extremely careful to act within the bounds of wikipedia, and for the foreseeable future (a few months at least) should refrain from making any edits to the article. However, this does place a responsibility on people interested in JIDF and the I-P issue in general, to respond to reasonable requests and have the patience to explain why a requested edit is inappropriate in the cases where it is. If David does make the effort to toe the line, he is entitled to the same respect and courtesy that any other editor is. If David returns to violating wikipedia policies and guidelines, he will be blocked and lose the ability to help make and keep the article neutral.

I do not know if ArbCom is involved (I'm a functionary, not an ArbCom member). However, one other suggestion I would make is that David be assigned a mentor or three; people with whom he can run by potential edits, and people to whom he can point out what he believes are problems that have not been handled on the talk page for more than a reasonable amount of time. Similar (but not equivalent) to PalestineRemebered and Isarig, I'd suggest a group of three, one "ostensibly" from either side of the conflict and one uninvolved. This would be for the same period of a few to six months (a year is too hard on the mentors, I know this from experience) after which, if there are no other violations, David should be treated like any other editor with a COI (not just a POV). Thoughts? -- Avi (talk) 23:24, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

For the record, I can now confirm that the editor account User:DavidAppletree is tied to the e-mail address davidthejidf.org for what it is worth. -- Avi (talk) 00:06, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for all your help, Avi. I appreciate your suggestions and am open to them. --DavidAppletree (talk) 00:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Re point 1, I mentioned earlier on in the thread that he had done this and I think otherwise the approach is reasonable and allows DA to comment on BLP issues as well as managing any possible disruption. Given a while we can revisit the situation and consider either tightening or relaxing the restrictions as necessary Spartaz ^Humbug! 09:03, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• I volunteer to act as one member of the mentorship team, but real life responsibilities, and especially the upcoming High holy days and holidays, make imperative (IMO) that at least one, preferably two, other people (not necessarily admins--but editors who can be both firm and fair--and hopefully have the respect of the project) be actively involved as well. Volunteers welcome! -- Avi (talk) 12:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• I'm willing to act as mentor and provide advice etc. as required. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 12:51, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• - I would be willing to help, keep an eye on him, point him in the right direction. I do have my doubts about this and imo a short rope is required as is his ongoing willingness to accept and follow advice offered to him in respect to policy and guidelines. On wiki Soapboxing and off wiki postings are already issues that need toning down. Off2riorob (talk) 13:29, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment So long as advice is rooted in actual policy (which people can link to, so I can actually learn), and not just random preferences editors have with regard to my communication and style, I'm all ears. However, if people claim something is against policy, when it isn't, that's not helpful whatsoever. For example, one editor claimed that I could not change the headers on my user talk page. He claimed to do so was in violation of WP policy. Despite my immediate apology and changing back the headers (See here, here, and here)), it turns out the claim that I was in violation of WP policy was not actually true. --DavidAppletree (talk) 14:10, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes agreed, the best thing in that issue was your response to the request. Off2riorob (talk) 14:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Adding myself as another user willing to keep an eye on this and play referee, I should note that the feedback I have had off two individual arbs is that the community should be able to handle this, so I hope that we can agree to move forward on this basis. Spartaz ^Humbug! 15:30, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Given that Appletree is currently community-banned could those of you who disagree with that ban please propose an un-banning, with appropriate formalised restrictions, and let a discussion on that run its course. He would of course earn some cudos by observing his existing ban except to participate in the discussion. Otherwise the ban probably should be enforced as it stands, and he can appeal as appropriate. Misarxist (talk) 15:31, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I am, for the record, formally registering my opposition to the ban being ignored. Misarxist (talk) 15:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Damn I forgot about that. Ok, doing it. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 15:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

See below at #Request for clarification regarding community bans 1) there still is no direct connection between ED and DA. 2) Bans are preventative not punitive, and active mentorship beats bans almost any day, if it works. -- Avi (talk) 15:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Proposed lifting of community ban for DavidAppletree

As above; the SPI finding concluded a link between User:DavidAppletree and User:Einsteindonut, the latter of which is under an imposed community ban. Without directly making a statement about whether DavidAppletree is Einsteindonut or not I propose lifting the community ban specifically for User:DavidAppletree. This is on the following understanding:

• David will not sock
• David will take care to stay within policy and discuss his changes as much as possible
• David will submit to being mentored by a number of editors including myself, User:Off2riorob, User:Avraham and User:Spartaz

David has agreed to stay within the rules and be constructive and it appears there are editors who are willing to give him the chance to do this.

• Support as proposer :) --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 15:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Premature We have still no evidence that DA is ED. Please see below instead. -- Avi (talk) 15:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)Abstain, in retrospect, and reading the comments in this thread by David I withdraw my support and, indeed, withdraw from this issue. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:36, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

  I'm confused then because your SPI report is quite clear in making a technical relationship... surely we can just clear this up now without faffing around, because otherwise it will drag on, and, frankly, it is getting tedious :P I'd also argue that any such relationship is actually somewhat moot to the issue. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 15:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

  • Support Not being involved in these issues, I may have missed that. As I said, since bans are meant to be preventative, not punitive, I believe active mentorship trumps banning when it comes to preventing harm to the project. -- Avi (talk) 16:37, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Oppose keep the existing community ban which clearly applied to all JIDF sock/meatpuppets. Appletree has admitted he's the person responsible for the trollsite and Avi has confirmed this. On potential problems with mentorship, see my post on Avi's talk-page for a start on the trust issues with this individual. (Though please remember to discuss that angle here.) Also note one of the proposed mentor's (Avi) has effectively opted out at least in the short term. Misarxist (talk) 16:18, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I read that comment on Avi's page. In part I disagree; I can't say I like David's views at all, however, so long as he doesn't bring them here any more then it is not really an issue. I don't think we can ban someone for their views unless it is disruptive! If David becomes disruptive I will, as one of the mentors, take responsibility for that. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 16:24, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

My main point on that score is that we can't really trust such a hate-mongerer, so the basis of this proposal is completely undermined. That wikipedia could be seen to condone/turn a blind eye to it is only secondary, but us harbouring the owner or whatever he his the site is still a big problem. Then there's also the fact that the it's/his stated purpose is to disrupt other websites ... there's just too many problems with this course of action. Misarxist (talk) 16:45, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Oppose I also strongly object to this. As we know - quite apart from the socking issues, and subject to those the fact that a community ban would appear to be in place, which should not be overturned quite so quickly - this is an editor who runs the JIDF website, which, as noted, has for over two years contained a disparaging list of WP editors here, and carried posts claiming that WP is riddled with "anti-semites", relying on what would appear to be a very loose definition of that term. Other posts have featured videos and stills of masked Israeli commandos pointing guns. The quotes section on that site lists around 6 individual quotes from Meir Kahane, a noted racist and fascist whose movement is banned in Israel; while elsewhere, as pointed out by another user, the JIDF appears to have used Kach-style logos. I recall that one editor on his hitlist quit WP, partly as a result of what he felt to be intimidation. Another changed their username, and often had to ask for references to their old username to be removed from the records here when others mentioned it, again mainly because their name and further links to details about their identity on other websites had been included on that list. A third editor has suggested he has suffered off-WP attacks from the group. And now we assume good faith and let this guy edit here, despite all the above and despite all the evidence suggesting he has abused multiple accounts previously? He's still tweeting - even as this debate continues - that WP is full of anti-semites. Sure, some websites are. I'm really not sure Wikipedia is, and this is just plain abuse and slander from someone whose organisation has driven off and intimidated other users here in the past. What is he actually going to contribute here? N-HH talk/edits 16:20, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment Many people make many false claims, allegations, and exaggerations about me, and about my organization. It does not mean they are all true. Meanwhile, their attitudes toward me have helped shape my attitude toward them. As I have been on the receiving end of their harassment, directly, and have witnessed the types of material they post and comments they make, I do, in fact, believe that there are many antisemites, anti-Zionists, and extreme leftists on this site. However, I'm looking forward to dealing with more of those on WP who do not fit this description, and I'm not sure my personal or political views should have any bearing on this decision. I'm continuing to work hard to not be baited by the many editors on WP who feel a certain hostility toward me b/c of my work, and views. --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:48, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Feel free to provide any actual evidence that disproves, for example, that a) your website carries six Kahane quotes; b) that I am making stuff up about editors quitting WP and having to change their usernames due to posts on your website. Rather than just vaguely suggesting it's all some kind of smear campaign by extremists. You're playing nice now to get people onside, but you're not fooling anyone with knowledge of your history and the content of your website. N-HH talk/edits 16:54, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

My views on Kahane or anything controversial for that matter, are absolutely irrelevant to this discussion. As I've mentioned before, it's been a while, but I believe only one WP editor has ever contacted me directly about any problems they were having with regard to content on my site, and if I remember correctly, I promptly responded to their privacy/security concerns. If any editors have any concerns about any content on my site, they are free to contact me directly. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:17, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Kahane is more than simply "controversial", although in principle it wouldn't exclude you contributing here of course. We have people with all sorts of strange and even offensive political ideas editing here. However, I'm not sure saying that people concerned by you posting personal details about them can always email you - thus giving you more information about them - works for me. You say one did, and maybe so. But why should they have to? And the fact that others haven't doesn't mean it's fine to leave those details there. The editor I think you are referring to as contacting you is not the one who left WP. That person just left, citing intimidation, presumably not wanting to speak to the person who had posted details about them and/or their account on a website with militaristic stylings, funnily enough. N-HH talk/edits 17:31, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

No offense, but whether or not something on my site "works for you" is irrelevant. If people have a problem with anything on any website, the thing to do is to contact the operators of that website. If they don't wish to do that, they can take the legal route. It seems everything you're bringing up is a tangent to the real point at hand. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Oppose as explained below. RolandR (talk) 16:45, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Comment - not sure as to the relevance as regards this straw poll as the sock issues are not confirmed and as I see it what we had then was a disgruntled editor that wanted to correct what they saw as misrepresentations to an article they had knowledge about and that as I am aware didn't go well and resulted in a block which resulted in some socking and the wiki steamroller ended in a community ban of a user that is possibly linked to this account, and periphery additional socks. Whereas what we have now is an identified living person attempting to edit and contribute within policy and guidelines and accepting of assigned mentors willing to assist, of the two situations this is by far the better for the editor and for wikipedia. Off2riorob (talk) 16:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

NB "David Appletree" is a pseudonym. Still making random accusations of antisemitism against other users [19] so undermining any "basicly nice guy who copped a bit of flack" view of him. Also an attempt to guage consensus to overturn a community ban on ED and associated JIDF meatpuppets, not a random poll. Misarxist (talk) 17:30, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Actually, I'm not sure I've publicly confirmed, nor denied that. The name I use is publicly associated with the organization I run, and the "random accusation" you mention was no such thing. I have the facts to back it up and it was in response to the idea that I'd have to share personal, private details to ArbCom. I expressed my concerns about doing that, considering one of its members has promoted antisemitic material. I have documented it on my website and have written to Jimmy Wales about it directly. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Misarxist; I'm deliberately not trying to gain a consensus on overturning a community ban on ED - instead I'd like to see a mentored exclusion for DavidAppletree. I think there is a reasonable difference --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 18:00, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Oppose-Considering this users penchant for twittering and what not when he doesn't get his way, and his many web minions (KatWomanUSA and Jewdefence being the latest)coming here to do battle on his behalf ( whether at his specific request or not), do we really need the headache? Heiro 18:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• CommentI addressed this issue many times, please see here, here, here, here, here and even on Twitter, here. --DavidAppletree (talk) 18:22, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

It's the old "shouting fire in a crowded theatre" axiom. You like to keep off site "hitlists" and practice demogogery, and then feign total innocence when your offsite readers come here to do damage to this project. I say we don't need that. Heiro 19:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment Actually, I admit there are problems, that I could actually help to alleviate. If the project does not want my help in trying to put some of these fires out, I suppose that will be up to consensus. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:35, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

And implying that those vandals and POV warriors will go away if we just let you edit the way you want implies you have some sort of control over it and amounts to some sort of "protection racket". Extortion isn't the way to get back into good editor status. Heiro 19:47, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Heh. It's not extortion. It is what it is. I don't have to be here at all, but being here might have the ability to lesson problems for myself, my organization, and Wikipedia. It seems like a clear "win win" to me. If you think I'm always happy with self-appointed "defenders" of my work, you're wrong. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:59, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Oppose. There should be no lifting of the ban until the off-wiki attacks against editors are removed, and until David (or someone else) explains how his work would benefit Wikipedia. Activism is never helpful. If David's willing to be a Wikipedian and edit in other areas, and neutrally, that's a different matter, but he would need to commit to editing within the policies. SlimVirgin ^{talk|contribs} 19:18, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment According to WP policy, "Wikipedia cannot regulate behavior in media not under the control of the Wikimedia Foundation." As I have stated, about the content on my site, "those posts are from about two years ago and involved detailed, time consuming, research, that I'm unprepared just to censor because some people on WP who have problems with my views wish to censor me. However, if any editors who are actually mentioned anywhere on the JIDF site have legitimate concerns about anything posted on my site, they are always free to contact me about their direct concerns, and I'm willing to make changes, if necessary, and within reason, but I cannot just wipe out our hard work at the request of random WP editors, the majority of whom aren't even mentioned on the site, and have never bothered to write to me about it directly." --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

We may not be able to regulate offsite behavior, but we also don't have to have someone around whose offsite behavior drives vandals and POV warriors to the site to do damage. Heiro 19:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't see any vandals and POV warriors here being driven anywhere. Off2riorob (talk) 19:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

His twitter page brought these 2 here KatWomanUSA and Jewdefence. He may not have specifically asked them too, but his actions brought them here none the less. Heiro 19:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment Curious - Am I driving POV warriors and vandals with this off-site behavior?

• Comment I don't have a strong opinion either way, even though I'm on the JIDF's published "enemies list". The big issue is sockpuppets. The history of the JIDF article is full of sockpuppets, IP editors, and single-purpose editors. It's clear that the number of distinct real people behind all those accounts was small. The article is locked mostly because everyone got tired of dealing with all that. The sockpuppetry has to stay stopped. David Appletree editing only as DavidAppletree (talk · contribs) I can live with. --John Nagle (talk) 19:51, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Oppose - Frankly, I appreciate the fact that DavidAppletree has the decency to own up to having a point-of-view. It seems to me that a number of editors push the same kind of POVs that DavidAppletree is trying to push, without being as open and honest about it. That said, WP doesn't need any more extremists to WP:BATTLEGROUND. Additionaly, the sockpuppetting and off-wiki behavior is clearly not in-line with the spirit of WP. NickCT (talk) 20:20, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Oppose - (Reproducing comments from below) I don't think he should be granted the privilege of editing here unless he removes any potentially damaging or otherwise unsavory content about Wikipedia editors and agrees not to post that sort of thing anymore. — e. ripley\^talk 20:44, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Oppose - Having perused the "hit list" document, I'm shocked that anyone is even considering lifting the community ban. That document is dog-whistling of the lowest sort, and such antics from anyone are more than sufficient to constitute bad faith. Nandesuka (talk) 21:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
• Comment Next week will see the two year anniversary of the earliest comment I can find at the moment where I suggest that the JIDF use an id such as "David Appletree" to put their case forward on the article talk page in an open and above board manner. Unfortunately they have only chosen to take up this option once they have been covered by a community ban. Given that the JIDF's primary function is to use an assortment of methods to change the content of other websites, then discussion over whether individual accounts are sockpuppets or not is irrelevant. The overt purpose of the organisation is to use their website, twitter account and mailing lists to co-ordinate efforts to change the content of other websites. On Wikipedia this is called meatpuppetry. Unless their representative commits not to do so again, only edits JIDF-related pages through the overt account, deletes all attack content on Wikipedia editors from his websites and commits to never organising or supporting from the sidelines any form of coordinated attack on Wikipedia or its content, then he has no place on Wikipedia.--Peter cohen (talk) 23:19, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Request for clarification regarding community bans

There is a community ban on Einsteindonut and his sock/meat puppets. How does this affect the mentorship of DavidAppltree? Either one of the following two possibilities is true:

1. DavidAppletree is not Einsteindonut, and thus the ban is irrelevant
2. DavidAppletree is Einsteindonut, and thus the ban is relevant.

The CU logs on Einsteindonut back in 2008 are too old to make any connection to anyone now, so that cannot be of assistance. Personally, I think that even if #2 is true, the ban should be lifted solely for the DavidAppletree account to see if the user can rehabilitate himself back into wikipedia. If he can, then the initial reason for the ban is defunct, and we gain a productive, non-vandalistic user. If he cannot, it will be a simple manner for Off2 and myself to admit to failure and re-impose the ban on the Appletree account. Please remember, all of these sanctions are not meant to be punitive but protective, and an active mentorship, in my opinion, far better protects the project than a ban on a disgruntled editor with access to many followers. -- Avi (talk) 15:34, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• I object to this rush to rehabilitate an apparent sock of a user who was community banned just three days ago. The SPI has not yet concluded, and if it determines that DavidAppletree is not a sock of Einsteindonut, than we can discuss his admitted socks and his promise to use just one account from now on. However, if it is determined that he is indeed a sock of Einsteindonut, then the discussion which led to the banning must be re-opened; it is not up to two or three admins to overturn such a ban. So I object toi the above suggestion. I request that no further action is taken unbtil the long-overdue resolution of this SPI,m which I filed eight days ago. It should be remembered that one of DavidAppletree's admitted socks, Mreditguy, has been editing since October 2009, and was first reported as a suspected sock of Einsteindonut back in Martch. This abuse has been going on for long enough already, and the process should not be short-circuited. RolandR (talk) 15:37, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
  • I ran the CU on the SPI, Roland, and only found a connection to the four listed; that's what got me involved in the first place (the CU run). -- Avi (talk) 15:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
    • And, as I note above, one of these four has been editing since October 2009, and was reported as a suspected sockpuppet of Einsteindonut on 11 March 2010, together with dozens of IPs[20]. At the time, there appeared to be ahgreement that a;ll of these were indeed Einsteindonut's sockpuppets. Hoewever, since the JIDF article had been protected, no action was taken.
    • You now confirm that Mreditguy is indeed linked to DavidAppletree. There thus seems very strong circumstantial evidence, at least, that DavidAppletree is indeed Einsteindonut. RolandR (talk) 15:51, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Prevantative, not punitive, Roland. -- Avi (talk) 16:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment While I have admitted to using socks in the past, due to privacy and security concerns, I have not admitted to which ones. There are many "suspected socks" and "likely" socks of ED that have very little, if anything, to do with me. Of course, they are all "linked" to me in theory, as they have all taken an interest in the article about my organization. That does not mean that I was behind them. Had I not been concerned about my privacy and security from the beginning, I would have never been involved in any sock activity whatsoever. I don't feel my IP address is anyone's business, especially after I observed a member of ArbCom promote an antisemitic website and his anti-Israel views, but that is another issue. However, I bring it up because it has to do with my general trust of this project and my willingness to make certain admissions. If people wish to go ahead assume everything that has ever been done "pro-JIDF" is because of me, go ahead. It's not entirely true, but do whatever you gotta do. However, I'm stating that since the creation of this account, I'm finished with such activity, provided that the community continues to help me to be a constructive member, and continues to respect my privacy and security. --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:21, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Even now, Appletree is not willing to come clean and adnit which other accouints have been his socks, which is surely a prerequisite for being permitted to edit again. In particular since he is already voting in contentious discussions. Until we can establish with absolute certainty which accounts he is using or has used, we cannot permit him to participate in this way.

And, given his past behaviour, his harassment of me and other editors, and his general disparagement of Wikipedia and its editors, he has a chutzpah to refer to his trust in Wikipedia. He needs to show why we should trust him. RolandR (talk) 16:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Roland, I believe he does not have to admit that in public; he does have to admit that to ArbCom or his mentors. If the mentorship continues, as someone who has CU privs, I do expect a list of old sockpuppets which I will forward to ArbCom. -- Avi (talk) 16:48, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

If that's the case, then all of this is in vain. As I mentioned, I have witnessed a member of ArbCom promote an antisemitic website and express extremely hostile views toward Israel. I'm not willing to do anything that could potentially link to my real IP address and put my security at risk by people with such views, and to be honest, I'm not sure how much I can trust an ArbCom that would let someone of that nature get to that level. --DavidAppletree (talk) 16:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

David, all ArbCom members have CU privs. They can run the same checks I do. -- Avi (talk) 16:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I realize that, but having access to dozens of IP addresses is one thing. Me admitting which one(s) are definitely mine, is another. I'm fine if, for the sake of getting this over with, people wish to assume that every single suspected sock puppet is me. However, I cannot pin point for them which one's were for sure. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Ok I am skeptical about this claim consider your labeling wikipeida as who absolutely hate me, crack me up. The place is FULL of antisemites, anti-zionists, and extreme leftist editors. Considering all the people i have seen you intereact with here none have fallen into any of these IMHO. Name the Member and the alleged antisemite site so we can evalauate things claims. Particulary if you can provide a "Diff" Weaponbb7 (talk) 17:00, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't think sidetracking down such dark alleys will benefit this in any way. We have all sorts of editors here, left and right wing, wiki editors are also able to rise above nationalistic barriers and be more all encompassing and global. Off2riorob (talk) 17:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree, Off2riorob, this isn't the place for that. There's plenty of information on my website with regard to Weaponbb7's inquiries. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:10, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Rob, we are not talking about David or the JIDF's politics per se. We are talking about the continuing abuse of other editors - by labelling both individuals and WP editors as a whole as "antisemites" - and intimidation and outing of other editors on the JIDF website, such that at least one stopped editing here. As well as the sockpuppeting. The politics don't help, just as editors who espouse white power politics wouldn't be that great for the site, however polite they might be from time to time. N-HH talk/edits 17:23, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yet you just brought up my politics a moment ago, here, and here, actually. As I responded to you, above, I believe only one editor ever wrote me directly expressing any sort of a concern, and I responded to that concern and even accommodated some of his requests for changes to my content, despite having no real obligation whatsoever to do so. The fact that you'd compare me to those with "white power" views, is offensive, and shows that despite your lengthy qualms with your perception of my views, you actually don't know much about them. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yup, I did bring your politics up - as a relevant point, but not the key one. Entirely consistent with what I was saying just above, through the use of the phrases "per se" and "the politics don't help". And the white power observation was intended to be an extreme example of political and racist extremism. I was not saying your views are equivalent. Although Kahanism certainly is. Whether you would so define yourself is, indeed, something I do not know, nor have I claimed that you do. I just noted that he is the most quoted individual on the front page of your website. Now for the rest of my bank holiday Monday. N-HH talk/edits 17:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I have had a quick look at the website and only saw easily available details, David has said that he will consider all requests from users as regards any issues they have with anything on that site. Off2riorob (talk) 17:35, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

He is recrutiing meat puppet on twitter which violates policy. Especially because One threatened me the other outed me. Weaponbb7 (talk) 17:39, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment You're still bringing this up, despite the fact that I've already addressed it, here? Again, please note my response to these attacks here, here, here, here, here and even on Twitter, here. Again, despite ALL of this, you do not seem willing to assume good faith, whatsoever, as per this. It does not seem anything that I, or any remotely pro-JIDF Wikipedia editor does, will be trusted by Weaponbb7, who seems to have had some serious issues with me, and my organization for a while now, constantly making false accusations and derogatory statements, and creating needless drama at ANI (and I'm not attacking anyone here, I can easily provide all the diffs for all that, if needed, too). While I'm trying to show WP what type of editor I can be and the wide variety of ways I can encourage JIDF supporters to be more constructive here, it seems some wish to try to constantly bait me, and assume the worst faith. --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

And saying "I know where you live" is intimidation, even if you don't know. There were more details there in at least one case originally, and, as David says, he did take them down. But why should people have to ask? N-HH talk/edits 17:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Where exactly did I say to anyone "I know where you live?" What are you talking about? --DavidAppletree (talk) 17:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Thats what one your meatpuppets said the other one linked my Facebook and posted it here to ANI! Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:17, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As I have explained (over and over again) they aren't my meatpuppets. I addressed the issue many times. Last time I checked, according to WP policy, "meatpuppet" is a derogatory term and should be used with caution. Despite my widespread good faith efforts with regard to this attack here, here, here, here, here and even on Twitter, here, you continue to attack me and assume the worst faith. --DavidAppletree (talk) 18:22, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

WP:SPADE they came here to fight your fight becuase you advertised it on twitter! They are then by definition meatpuppets I am calling a spade: a Spade. YOu shouldnt rant about the Anti-zioinist and antisemetic wikipedians than act all surprised when they come here and start fighting under the JIDF banner. Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment They weren't meatpuppets and I didn't ask them to come here to fight my fight. That's part of the reason for this discussion, is that I don't need random self-appointed defenders of my work coming onto WP to "defend" me or the JIDF and I don't need to be accused of being them, or having anything to do with them. --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:28, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't have diffs to these comments but there has been no meat puppetry here at all in this thread. As I see it this is constructive progression. Gudelines support integration to good faith users in preference to exile as Avi pointed out.Off2riorob (talk) 17:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Rob we deleted meatpuppets comment's off ANI but they are in the history,(Accept the thread that out me was oversighted) Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:17, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Rob, have you seen this page? Or this one? RolandR (talk) 17:48, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes I had scanned one of them. Personally going forward although not a condition of editing privileges but on a good faith and on a personal level I would like to see David remove those comments about wiki editors and that would be beneficial to the whole situation imo.Off2riorob (talk) 17:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As long as those pages stay up, it looks, it's hard to see how he's going to encourage his supporters to be constructive here. Dougweller (talk) 18:34, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Hello? his Meat puppets came attacked and outed me after he Starting tweeting about his issues on wiki? Thats straight up meat puppetry! HE should be blocked for that alone!Weaponbb7 (talk) 18:54, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

There is no evidence of any meat puppetry at all. All users are able to tweet what they are doing as they like, that is also nothing to do with editing here.Off2riorob (talk) 19:12, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment Apparently, Weaponbb7 continues to not read anything I'm writing here. I have explained, many times, that they aren't my meatpuppets. Again, I have addressed the issue many times. Last time I checked, according to WP policy, "meatpuppet" is a derogatory term and should be used with caution. Despite my widespread good faith efforts with regard to attacks against him here, here, here, here, here and even on Twitter, here, he continues to attack me and assume the worst faith. Furthermore, according to WP policy, "Wikipedia cannot regulate behavior in media not under the control of the Wikimedia Foundation." As I have stated, about the content on my site, "those posts are from about two years ago and involved detailed, time consuming, research, that I'm unprepared just to censor because some people on WP who have problems with my views wish to censor me. However, if any editors who are actually mentioned anywhere on the JIDF site have legitimate concerns about anything posted on my site, they are always free to contact me about their direct concerns, and I'm willing to make changes, if necessary, and within reason, but I cannot just wipe out our hard work at the request of random WP editors, the majority of whom aren't even mentioned on the site, and have never bothered to write to me about it directly." --DavidAppletree (talk) 19:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't know why a lifting of a ban is even being discussed, or why you're being allowed to post here, David. This is very confusing. You've posted an attack list on a website you control that you're refusing to remove. It contains some completely unacceptable material, including a comment from someone that a certain Wikipedian lives near a Jewish school, as if he might burst forth from his home at any minute to start attacking the children. A lot of the stuff is really off the mark; even the stuff that's arguably accurate is lifted out of context. Asking people to contact you before it's removed isn't reasonable: someone has to email you to ask that you remove the implication that he's a danger to a Jewish school? Reasonable off-wiki criticism is not something you'd be banned for, but it has to be constructive and fair, and this is neither. Combined with the onwiki activism, I can't see a reason even to consider lifting a ban. SlimVirgin ^{talk|contribs} 19:39, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Again, if specific people mentioned have specific problems with things on my site, they can contact me to discuss. Beyond that, Wikipedia and its editors do not dictate to me what I can and cannot have on my site. Your opinion of the content of my site has nothing to do with this case. The posts are from years ago and to be honest, I have no clue what you're even talking about. There's nothing in WP policy that I know that says that off-wiki criticism has to be "reasonable" and "fair" and if there is, by whose standards? There's many anti-Israel advocates on WP who are obviously going to claim I'm not reasonable or fair and I've seen stuff on sites like Electronic Intifida that has made allegations against CAMERA which didn't seem reasonable and fair to me. Has anyone from WP tried to dictate to EI what content they should be allowed to have on their site? I don't think so! --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:16, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I would no more consider contacting David Appletree to remove defamatory comments about me than I would consider contacting Gilad Atzmon to remove similarly defamatory comment. Both of them are unhappy at my Wikipedia edits, and both have exploited their own sites to attack me for this. Their behaviour says more about them than about me, and it would be humiliating to humbly beg them to remove the comments. The very fact that Appletree even suggests that I should justify a request for such a deletion is an illustration of why he is unfitted to edit here. RolandR (talk) 20:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Right, the fact that I suggest that people contact me directly if they have a problem with content on my website from years ago is a clear illustration of why I'm not fit to edit here. Absolutely. (sarcasm). --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:16, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree with SlimVirgin here. If these pages aren't meant to encourage people to edit Wikipedia, what are they for? While they're there, we shouldn't consider lifting the ban. No one should have to write to anyone to get their names removed, the pages should be withdrawn. Rob, I just don't understand why you don't think these pages are meant to influence people to and in their editing here. Dougweller (talk) 20:19, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Personally, I don't think he should be granted the privilege of editing here unless he removes any potentially damaging or otherwise unsavory content about Wikipedia editors and agrees not to post that sort of thing anymore. — e. ripley\^talk 20:22, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment So, essentially, many of you seem to be saying, if I do not remove all posts (some posts? portions of posts??) about Wikipedia on the JIDF site, that I should not have any right to edit the project. This is a clear attempt of WP editors trying to control/censor off wiki content. I want to make one thing clear - people might be able to edit WP all day long, but no editors here are going to control anything on my website. The fact that people are suggesting this is bizarre to me. I said I would discuss reasonable requests with individuals who are named who have reasonable concerns. Everything I'm seeing here is requests for serious censorship of entire Wikipedia-related posts on my site. And if I don't do it? I don't deserve to be here. Very interesting. This is just...wow. If I don't end up able to edit here, this, in and of itself, could make for a very interesting post (not a threat, just sayin'....) --DavidAppletree (talk) 20:27, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

ec - If I look at this thread I don't see any meatpuppets or people coming to support David. Davids stated subject is the unbalanced reporting of issues on websites such as this one. He supports the balancing out of such information so that is a clear fact, unavoidable, that is what his whole website is about, he supports and encourages readers of his website to do that everywhere. To allow him to edit in line we policy we shouldn't demand he closes his website or removes his criticism of wikipedia, like wikipedia has biased editors, its hardly a lie is it. Off2riorob (talk) 20:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Criticism is fine, but this sort of thing [21], which is some sort of hit list, appears to exist in part to connect editors' activities on Wikipedia with their activities in other places and contains some possible outing elements -- the IP information gleaned from reading his website's hit logs is particularly egregious. Some of these entries even contain information gleaned from editors' Facebook accounts, which are often very much linked with the rest of someone's real life. Criticism is one thing, but some of the information on this page goes way too far and I think to that extent should be discouraged by the community here in the strongest terms. — e. ripley\^talk 20:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Can someone point me to edits to articles that David acknowledges having made? I see only four edits to articles from this account, but 260 to other pages. Are there article edits that show a pattern, even a brief one, of quality contributions? SlimVirgin ^{talk|contribs} 21:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Can somebody please also point me to the policy/guidelines about what "Off wiki" behavior is and is not acceptable before I comment further. I keep hearing that DavidAppltree(that can't be a real name :)) has crossed some line with his site, which I have never visited, nor wish to. I sort of believe there is nothing that should matter outside of here. What happens outside Wikipedia stays outside Wikipedia. If you bring it here, however, totally different story. --Threeafterthree (talk) 23:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• 67.231.254.41 just did a mass-blanking of all socks' pages, whom I just blocked. –MuZemike 04:24, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

DavidAppletree (re?)blocked

I have blocked this user indefinitely at this time. My reasons:

1. It is probably that this is a reincarnation of a community banned user. If so, then he should be blocked unless the community decides otherwise. If not, then see below.
2. The user is here with an obvious agenda - that agenda includes the use of off-site means of pursing content disputes. That is simply inconstant with engaging in a collaborative project.
3. His user page was clearly designed to have a "chilling effect" [22] on those who might disagree.
4. The user has not demonstrated anytyhing helpful. 4 article edits out of 263 posts [23]

It is always possible that this user will turn out to be a useful contributor. Anything is possible. But on the "balance of probabilities" that is clearly unlikely - it is more likely to cause drama and conflict. The user had (and still has) the possibility of creating a low-key account and proving that presumption wrong - but arriving here with trumpets blazing is not a good sign. The unacceptable response on RolandR's userpage tell us exactly what type of result and escalation allowing this to continue is likely to provoke.

If there emerges a consensus to "unban" fine (although I oppose it) until them, banned means banned.--Scott Mac 21:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

What's with the diff with RolandR's page? Not seeing what happened there... Thanks. Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 21:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

He's using the page to respond to Appletree's off-wiki postings. This type of conflict just doesn't help collaboration and NPOV.--Scott Mac 21:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

That is more reflective of Roland than David. Off2riorob (talk) 21:48, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

True. But it shows the issue.--Scott Mac 21:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I have not made any comment about David Appletree, nor responded to him in any way, on my homepage. Not now, not in the past, and I have no intention to do so in the future. RolandR (talk) 22:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, my mistake. However, Appletree's site references your page, and your page references other off-site attacks on you. It is, in my opinion, an illegitimate use of a wikipage, and the type of spill-over conflict that we need to nip in the bud. Take it off-wiki.--Scott Mac 22:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I have withdrawn my support for David above and withdraw my offer of mentoring in the unlikely event he be unblocked. My initial thinking here was that it could be a good solution to have David under a single account where he promised to follow the rules & with a number of mentors rather than just a load of socks and meat puppets and who knows. I was hopeful that he might be here with an agenda but still amenable to discussion rather than disruption. I am now no longer sure that is an option so withdraw my support for him. This guys has attacked WP editors off site in a really quite disgusting way and, actually, represents the kind of attitude I consider entirely deconstructive to WP, society, peace and the world. I was happy to defend his position here when he suggested that he would leave such vitriol to one side and try to present a constructive alternative view (which I would defend to the death) but I can no longer see that as an option. Sorry. I apologise for dragging this out. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 21:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

You were assuming good faith, Tom, no need to apologize. Scott's block is the best thing now that it's clear David's not cooperating. SlimVirgin ^{talk|contribs} 22:18, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Hi SlimV, my post above might have been missed. Could you please direct me to the policy/guideline about non acceptable off wiki activities? TIA --Threeafterthree (talk) 23:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment It seems according to this, this, this, this, this, this this, and this, that he was essentially blocked because a handful of WP editors didn't get their way with censoring the JIDF website. That's funny, I thought, according to according to WP policy, Wikipedia cannot regulate behavior in media not under the control of the Wikimedia Foundation. It would have been better to have him here as a constructive member of the community than doing G-d knows what outside of it. --BenHecht (talk) 00:01, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

And BenHechts relation to David Appletree is? --Saddhiyama (talk) 00:16, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

lol meat or sock Puppet? Who cares? block him!Weaponbb7 (talk) 00:19, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

My philosophy don (RIP) would have been very keen to point out that identity is not a relationship. The use of the names of dead people associated with Zionism and Israel, such as Ben Hecht, is a JIDF tradition. Whether David Appletree references Dawid Moryc Apfelbaum, David Applebaum or both is unclear to me. And, of course, the reference to "G-d knows what" action is the sort of threat which merits the sort of choice words that for some reason Jimbo dislikes more than people actually working actively to harm Wikipedia and demonstrates that the Appletree good cop was just the same as the Einsteindonut bad cop.--Peter cohen (talk) 00:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

(ec)Well, since this puppeteer has previously created a sock named after a prominent Revisionist Zionist, it seems reasonable to suspect that this one named after another, and created immediately after the puppeteer has been blocked, is indeed another of his socks. RolandR (talk) 00:34, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia cannot regulate behavior in media not under the control of the Wikimedia Foundation.(Which means it can't do anything about it however....) Posting personal attacks or defamation off-Wikipedia is harmful to the community and to an editor's relationship with it, especially when such attacks take the form of violating an editor's privacy.' Such attacks can be regarded as aggravating factors by administrators and are admissible evidence in the dispute-resolution process, including Arbitration cases.' Read the whole policy in contextWeaponbb7 (talk) 00:27, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment If he is a banned user, no question on the block, but we lack the tools to determine that. Regarding the others, I am somewhat confused. He is being blocked for coming here with an agenda and for having most edits in non article space? As I understand the policy, there is no objection to COI editors participating on talk, which is what he has done. I'm not sure I understand the policy basis for the block. As for the off wiki stuff, I think the precedent on that is the EEML case, and ArbCom made it clear that it had to be pretty severe misconduct off wiki to get you blocked here.--Wehwalt (talk) 00:20, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

No, that misdirection thats what he want to make the case for but its not Weaponbb7 (talk) 00:27, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Quoting from WP:EEML:

Off-wiki conduct 11) A user's conduct outside of Wikipedia, including participation in websites or mailing lists in which Wikipedia or its contributors are discussed, is generally not subject to Wikipedia policies or sanctions, except in extraordinary circumstances such as those involving grave acts of overt and persistent harassment or threats or other serious misconduct. The factors to be evaluated in deciding whether off-wiki conduct may be sanctioned on-wiki include whether the off-wiki conduct was intended to, and did, have a direct and foreseeable damaging effect on the encyclopedia or on members of the community.

That appears to be the standard.--Wehwalt (talk) 00:39, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

His action conform to that standard, look at the socks, look at the meat puppets, look at even now he is socking this is an extreme circumstance Weaponbb7 (talk) 00:46, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I think that threats is pretty much covered by this statement that JIDF shuts down "anti-Israel"-sites by applying an army of meat-puppets (or supporters), when it is taken into account that according to JIDF on Wikipedia Anti-Israel Bias Rages on Wikipedia. --Saddhiyama (talk) 00:52, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Is that a fact? And where is the damage on WP, the waves of sockpuppets overwhelming the defenders of truth and justice? If I read the ruling correctly, there must be intent, and there must be the damaging effect. I see no effect. All I see is a lot of hot air, frankly.--Wehwalt (talk) 01:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Possible mentorship/supervision proposal

After discussion with Scott, I would be prepared to mentor if David chose and the community was willing to agree, but on tight conditions. My main reasons for doing so are that DA may have useful content if he can learn to add it appropriately. I have no (or negligible) involvement in the I-P area so far.

If advocates can learn to edit reasonably when on Wikipedia, then Wikipedia gains by their contributions and they gain input into the process. If not then a reblock/reban is quick. Since DA may be EinsteinDonut, this proposal probably needs Community agreement.

• Aim - for DA to have a period to develop his skills of editing Wikipedia as a content editor and not as an advocate, to learn to reduce disputes where possible, to handle issues appropriately for our community, and to show a good and consistent understanding and application of our editing approach.
• Policies and norms - major site infringements are out (socking, recruitment adverts on websites and lists, harassment, attacks, warring, tendentious/disruptiveness). Good progress looked for in learning to work within Wikipedia's ways and norms, and accepting advice given. One or at most very few warnings for poor judgment or lapse.
• Restrictions - Non-content-building editing is a distraction at this point. DA is restricted to constructive useful content-related posts, in mainspace and article talk only. Other posts or posts on other pages are by agreement only.

Restrictions (detail)

Article edits in the restricted area (I-P, religion, politics, and related topics, broadly construed) - forbidden except for clearly non-contentious matters and edits that don't change the substance of the article, or unless agreed. Article talk edits in the restricted area - replies that are 100.0% non-disruptive, non-tendentious productive comment on actual content matters are allowed. To the extent that any talk page post speaks about a user themselves or slip into advocacy or non-content related postings, rather than content and evidence, they are not to be posted without checking first. All other articles and article talk edits - Unrestricted editing on clearly unrelated matters(WP:AGF) but at DA's own risk. If unsure ask; mistakes may result in restrictions on all articles. All other edits - any dispute handling or responses to talk page disputes or others' bad conduct (on any page and in any context) checked in email first. Mentor shutdown of breach or disruption - posts that breach his restrictions or appear disruptive may be struck through like this to prevent off-topic escalation, with explanation and discussion by email. Fairness - David is guaranteed fair handling as best I know Wiki norms and I will try to ensure that issues truly needing comment get a chance to be heard. If I'm likely to be away for more than 24 hours I will ask someone to step in on my behalf. Contribution to other pages and discussions will not be unreasonably prevented if DA's intentions are appropriate. Appeal - the proposal is conditional on a second uninvolved administrator of good standing and acceptable to DA and myself being willing to act as a final appeal if there is a disagreement over any matter, and that administrator's view being agreed to be final. Appeals will be by email (to prevent on-wiki advocacy and resolve the issue) with a short and fair summary posted at User talk:DavidAppletree/Mentorship.

• Duration - the community will be given an update for comment in 6-8 weeks and the case will be referred back to the community after no more than 6 months or upon unresolved concern or frustration by DA or mentor.

Without discussing his offsite activities, I would caution David he is treading very close indeed to the edge there. No hesitation in stating when I believe that edge is actually crossed. However we do keep on and offsite separate and that is to be respected. The aim is to give DA a mentored chance to meet the community's concern that he may unable or unwilling to edit appropriately. The rest would be up to him. The community knows I take a tight line on gaming of Wikipedia or use for advocacy and and I would do so in this case too. But equally anyone can learn and I'm not yet completely sure David would be unwilling to learn if mentored. The tightness of the conditions reflects this. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 00:23, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Dude, We gave him rope and he hung himself.Weaponbb7 (talk) 00:30, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I was open with Scott that I take no stance in the matter. It's an offer not a free pass. "Mentorship" does not equate to "licence to abuse the wiki". If he wishes to have a go he has a way to do so, and if he does so without issue it may change people's minds. That's completely his choice and if he wants it I'm okay helping, mainly because of doubts raised here and there in the discussion. If he doesn't want it then that's fine, "no thanks" is easy as well. If he accepts then games it, "sorry but fail" is also easy. On that basis I see it as low risk to give the option. At the least it resolves doubts that otherwise may have lingered. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 01:04, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• The likelihood is that this is a waste of time. However, I have agreed with FT2 that I will not oppose it. This for two reasons 1) it's FT2's time, and if he wishes to waste it... 2) the likelihood is that the individual will be as disruptive if banned (socking) as he might be if editing, hence it is perhaps worth the small chance of mentorship succeeding. Thus I am neutral but, if this is agreed, I wish both FT2 and David every success.--Scott Mac 00:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Any way he rejected it saying "I'd rather be editing anonymously, and underground, than deal with this, and it seems WP would rather that" So yeah he is going to continue his proactive behavior behind socks, Meat puppets, and his website. Weaponbb7 (talk) 01:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

BTW can we lock down his page in the mean time or limit his ability to edit it as i can not see it being used for anything but WP:SOAP for the for seeable future Weaponbb7 (talk) 01:14, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Not unless he violates policy regarding his use of that talk page. And it seems unlikely that he will, given his statements.--Wehwalt (talk) 01:29, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• Also noting "good luck next time". It's sad to see someone choosing that course but the choice of how to edit and whether to accept or reject guidance and trust, are personal ones. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 01:25, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• (ec) There is some interesting information in this diff. [24] I doubt that this person has the kind of personality for which a mentorship makes sense. Hans Adler 01:29, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• Can an uninvolved admin review the history of User talk:DavidAppletree and decide whether or not to revert or lock the page, or whether his edit is a fair one. My concern is that we order the posts on a talk page to highlight the flow of conversation to help users reviewing the matter to understand how things actually went, not to highlight any individual user's preferred perceptions on "the REAL reason" and the order they think showcases the matter as they see it [25]. Declining to breach 3RR even though technically, user apparently seems very likely to be community banned judging by the sense of the various threads, which (if so) would mean 3RR would not apply. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 02:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Community ban

DavidAppletree's response to the above was to try and forge an anti-Jewish racist rant as an apparent post from another user and to state in email as well that he was going to use enhanced deception ("deep undercover"). It seems unlikely he will be unblocked and given previous existing pessimism I have tagged his user page as community banned, protected his user pages, and brought the matter to AN for community review of the decision. See WP:AN#David Appletree tagged as community banned. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 08:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

InaMaka

I'm running into some trouble with User: InaMaka. He frequently makes edit summaries and comments which are rather uncivil, and has repeatedly bitten the newcomers:

Let's put this in perspective. StoneMason has decided that his goal in life is to follow me around and overturn my edits. He has an axe to grind and he is on a mission to "straighten me out." For example the StoneMason leaves out of his complaint below that I did compare Alveda King to Fred Phelps in the very limited way that both of them are Democrats and both of their articles on Wikipedia are constantly being edited to give the impression that they are Republicans. That's all. His claimed that I called Alveda King equal to Phelps is her hatred of homosexuality. I didn't. He just didn't like me pointing out a fact that both of them are Democrats. His mischaracterization of what I wrote is hogwash. Have a good day!--InaMaka (talk) 08:35, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• [26] Calling other editors' contributions "hogwash", even if you disagree with them, isn't good form.
• [27] (here he appears to compare Alveda King to Fred Phelps; I warned him about it here, and InaMaka replied angrily here)
• Here he accuses an IP user of adding "racist hate speech" to King's article: [28]. The thing is, while the edit the IP made was definitely vandalism at worst and POV at best, it had nothing to do with race: [29]. I removed that warning, added a more appropriate one, and then warned InaMaka not to bite the newcomers: [30], to which he once again replied angrily, [31].
• A violation of AGF, making a testy response to an innocent question: [32]. Here I explain why InaMaka's response was uncalled-for: [33]
• Accuses another IP of making a "racist" comment: [34]. In fact, while the IP's comment was definitely sexist, and vandalism, it wasn't racist. [35]
• Yet another case of accusing an IP of making a "racist" comment which, while obviously POV and inappropriate, had nothing to do with race: [36]. InaMaka's edits also implied that this IP vandalized King's article more than once, when the IP in fact made only one edit to King's article. [37].

Full disclosure: I've clashed with InaMaka before (I ran into him over at Mike Pompeo under two weeks ago and found him edit warring; he was blocked for 72 hours as a result. He doesn't appear to have learned his lesson, and still appears to view Wikipedia as a BATTLE. So I thought I'd ask for help. Stonemason89 (talk) 21:29, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

• Agree with Stonemason89 and his case against this user. I'm seeing some disappointing civility issues bordering on WP:TE and WP:NPA, and the biting and prior edit-warring is duly noted, but altogether probably not enough to block. Suggest perhaps a stern warning and a followup WP:WQA report. I do hope in the future InaMaka will be willing to edit alongside his fellow editors in a more collegial manner. -- œ^™ 06:46, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Who should be the one to deliver the "stern warning", then? Probably not me...are there any admins that would be willing to help? Stonemason89 (talk) 00:29, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree that his behavior is problematic, but it would be about as effective coming from me as it would from you. We had a rather contentious encounter at Carrie Prejean. I guess I'm chiming in because this isn't the first article he's behaved this way at. AniMate 06:52, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, if warning him would not be effective, maybe we should just block him then? If blocks are the only language he understands, then there's no reason not to. Stonemason89 (talk) 20:55, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Any thoughts? Stonemason89 (talk) 16:11, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Spam bombardment?

Resolved

 – Admin intervention not required; actions appear to have been made in good faith and there was no spamming involved. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 22:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Could someone please check out an apparent linkspam blitz by User:Aardvarkzz? Note that all of their recently added cites are essentially identical, and all point to Variety Obituaries, which is a set of books. That article was created by the same user and includes an external link to Amazon to buy the books. What caught my attention was that they are placing those pseudo-obituary cites at the beginning of the lead - totally out of place. They should all be reverted ASAP. --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 07:33, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

The references should probably be checked, but they don't appear to be spam; these are being used as references in all of the examples I checked on the user's contributions lists, to reference articles of dead people. The references could use a clean-up, but I see no reason to believe this is anything other than a good-faith contribution to the project. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 08:11, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Addendum: I notice the exact same pattern with many other, 1st-sentence in lead, cites, but these all pointing to Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews. That article was also created by the same user, and also includes an external link to the "Variety" books. The summary notes for those additions is shown as "HAR." --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 08:22, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

There isn't an external link to the Variety books in that article, only a wikilink. And all of the references I looked at on the user's contrib list showed wikilinks as well, though that is not ideal so the references should be cleaned up to provide an external link to an online version of the text being referenced, if possible. All in all I don't see an issue here; the user is adding what seems to be reliable citations to articles lacking citations for individuals' date of death. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 09:16, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. The user has a history of positive contributions to Wikipedia and there is no reason to believe that he is spamming. MER-C 13:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Re User:Giftiger wunsch's comment that "user is adding what seems to be reliable citations to articles lacking citations for individuals' date of death," is wrong on both points. A wikilink to an article about a set of books is not a valid citation; a high percentage of the articles already had a "death" section or relevant substance with proper citations. It takes seconds to find examples: i.e. Béla Lugosi, which had a "death" section, and a NY Times cite and real link. --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 17:47, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

He added citations which referenced previously unreferenced statements, in every case that I looked at. That's a fact. These were not external links; that's also a fact. Finally, the important part of the reference is providing enough information to identify the source; that's policy. In the cases I saw, that was listing a series of books, the date of publication, and a page number. That's enough information for the source to be identified and for the citation to be removed. I suggest familiarising yourself better with policy before flatly accusing me of being "wrong on both points". GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 17:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

By "unreferenced statements" as in Alfred Hitchcock's 1st sentence? --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 18:05, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I had noticed these being and had some of the concerns that Wikiwatcher1 has expressed. Now that I have examined things a little more deeply here are a few items to be aware of.

1. The cites are being added to the lead section and I have yet to find a "CN" tag that they are replacing. Thus to determine whether the item is unreferenced one needs to read the entire article.
2. The dates and page numbers are referring to the specific issue of Variety where the obit appeared and not a page number from the Variety Obituaries that the link currently leads to. Now that makes sense the the collections contain facsimile editions of the original obit. But, it could be argued that the link should go to the page for Variety and not the page for obit collections.
3. If you read this edit summary [38] you will see that the main reason that User:Aardvarkzz is adding the citations is so that his page about the obit collections won't be an orphaned article.

While I don't think that Aardvarkzz is intentionally spamming I also don't think that these "refs" add anything to an article - unless there was no confirmation of a death date in it previously. MarnetteD | Talk 20:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

First, this User: Wikiwatcher1 flagrantly violated the rule stated in boldface at the top of this page
Before posting a grievance about a user here, please discuss the issue with them on their user talk page.
User: Wikiwatcher1 initiated this totally unnecessary commotion without having the courtesy or decency to first discuss the matter with me. Furthermore,

The straightforward facts are these: I have some, but not all, of the Variety Obituaries reprints. I found the other reprint volumes at a library and created a page for this encyclopedic series of articles about notable people. For selected extremely famous people (less than 1% of all entries in the reprints), I have entered citations to those obituaries, including the original page in Variety newspaper, where known. In some cases, the Variety obituaries are the ONLY citation on a biographical page. Each citation can be used to find the article either in Variety newspaper or in the Variety Obituaries reprints. The practical decision was to link them to the reprints, which libraries are far more likely to have than the original newspaper.

Eventually I will place facts from those obituaries on the pages of deceased entertainment celebrities. At that time, the citations may be moved to a more relevant place on the biographical pages. In the meantime, the only issue should be whether the citations are accurate (if not, they can be corrected) or complete (if not, add the necessary information to them).Aardvarkzz (talk) 20:43, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

The notice, as you know, was posted as a subsection under the preexisting "Variety cites" in your talk page. The first questioner stated part of the issue, and your response was a weak rationalization. So the issue was noted and your response was made - the matter was discussed. Linkspam should be watched for more dilegently to avoid gaming the system - not just Wikipedia's, but the Internet itself! Apparently, few others agree that the added WL pseudo-cite, as in Alfred Hitchcock (plus 1,000 more!) was totally improper. --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 21:34, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I think it's pretty clear that regardless of whether or not the edits were actually constructive to the article, the user acted in good faith, and there was certainly no link spam (as defined by WP:LINKSPAM). There was no discussion of this matter prior to the issue being brought here, and there is no reason for admin intervention. Please continue this discussion on the user's talk page or take it to WP:RFC. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 22:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Citation spamming can be done in good faith. But allowing and excusing it, WP is creating a new precedent that any future editor can rely on. Imagine someone stating a doubtful fact, and citing it with a mere link to the book, Gone with the Wind, without even a page number. Then add the fact that the statement is placed in the top of an article's lead. That kind of sourcing is now given "tacit approval", i.e. Alfred Hitchcock. --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 22:37, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, I tried to fix up a tiny portion of these, but to no avail. Apparently, even Jean Harlow, who's article has 20(!) cites about her well-known early death, was not good enough. They still had to get that Wikilink at the very top of all the articles, and reverted my fixes anyway! Your "tacit approval" has been well received. --Wikiwatcher1 (talk) 18:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Wikiwatcher1's take on this situation Ardvarkzz knows enough to be able to come here and spout policy but doesn't know to not put those links in the article leads? I'm uncomfortable with spraying cites of a commercial book like this across so many 1000's of articles too. We can probably cite a lot of death dates to the Social Security Death Index if it's difficult to chase down obituaries. And as mentioned, plenty of the dates were already well-cited. The regularity makes me wonder, were any bots involved in this? 67.119.3.248 (talk) 03:03, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Misleading portrait of editors as "spokesman" and "committee members" on an article on the Independent

• Paul Bignell and Matthew Bell (2010-08-29). "Wikipedia springs 'Mousetrap' ending". The Independent.
• David Gerard (talk · contribs) 2007-06-09 13:18:35 edit
• Cyclopia (talk · contribs) 2009-11-13 13:40:29 edit
• 88.106.151.183 (talk · contribs) 2010-04-19 11:58:09 edit

(First of all: I don't know what is the correct venue for this, so if someone can point at the right one, thanks -ANI is the best approximation I know). Well, an article just appeared on The Independent about our WP:SPOILER guideline, in reference to the Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap: [39]. The only thing that makes me uneasy is that a comment of mine is reported as one of a "Wikipedia spokesman" and another comment as one of an "approved Wikipedia committee member". It is painfully obvious to us that both editors are nothing of this sort, but I don't know how should we react to correct such misrepresentation of the WP process. I was tempted to write them, but I am not sure it will help at all. What action course would you suggest? --Cyclopia^talk 11:40, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

• You should ask your 500 dollar an hour lawyer to write to them explaining that you have no official involvement with the project and that you speak only for yourself when you comment and are responsible and liable only for your own edits and additions to articles.Off2riorob (talk) 12:51, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Let's put up a charity to get me a lawyer then! --Cyclopia^talk 12:58, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Unless there has been a request from a legal source to the foundation to release your details I imagine you as yet have nothing to worry about. Off2riorob (talk) 13:02, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
      • That's pretty obvious. I am more concerned about the misrepresentation of the WP process than anything else. --Cyclopia^talk 13:05, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
        • Users should take care not to misrepresent their position here at wikipedia and not assert any authority they haven't got, often users refer to the wikipedia as we do this and we do that, this can be misleading to uninvolved readers. Perhaps you could add a disclaimer to your user page. This user has no official position of authority at Wikipedia and is legally responsible and liable only for his own contributions. Off2riorob (talk) 13:26, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
          • That's daft. Should we all add such disclaimers, for the benefits of journalists who don't take in Wikipedia:Press Kit, Wikipedia:Contact us, or foundation:Press/Contact/Regional/Language? Come now! It's not as if journalists don't know how large charity organizations run by volunteers work, and that a volunteer talking to another volunteer is not a press release from an official spokesperson. Wikipedia's model is not a first, and not unique. Journalists don't pop into their local Oxfam shops and report the conversations among the people staffing the checkout as "official committee member" statements. And Oxfam volunteers don't need to permanently wear "I don't speak for Oxfam, even when I use the word 'we'." badges for the edification of such journalists. This isn't about Cyclopia misrepresenting xyrself in the least, nor even about 88.106.151.183 mis-representing xyrself. This is just a digression. Cyclopia didn't even use the plural. Uncle G (talk) 14:10, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
            • Well User:Cyclopia did use the we word when he said this bold statement, "So it is spoiled. Why should we care? We are an encyclopedia. We report information. If you don't like spoilers, don't read encyclopedic articles about fiction works"...edit summary.. "why should we care?"... - As I see it there is nothing as such in regards to the article in need of any action, no wikipedia editor is named in the article. I see this as a highlighting opportunity for the bigger picture for individual users to remember to bear in mind their personal legal position as regards their contributions here at the wikipedia.Also for users to remember, if you want to be bold and authoritative and not give a damn then down the line your bold comments could come back to bite you. Off2riorob (talk) 14:30, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
              • Then you are completely missing the point in favour of some quite irrelevant agenda. Two people are specifically identified by their writing in the piece. The edits are listed at the top of this very section, complete with their timestamps for goodness' sake. This isn't about an "opportunity for individual users" of your invention. This is about journalists who have their facts about Cyclopia and 88.106.151.183 quite wrong, who have misrepresented their status and (in the case of 88.106.151.183) have rather selectively quoted what they wrote; and what Cyclopia (and 88.106.151.183) can do about that. Uncle G (talk) 16:04, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
              • The plural is accurate, since I spoke, in that edit, as a part of a community. We are, indeed, an encyclopedia: this encyclopedia is made from a community, and when reporting what is the working/opinion of the community, the plural is OK. But this doesn't make a "spokesman" of myself, unless everyone of us can be considered a spokesman. I don't care about me, I just find it the N-th amusing display of journalists' incompetency, but I don't think the Wikimedia foundation is happy to see random editors being considered spokespeople. I came here reporting the situation because the article encourages misunderstanding of our processes and our positions, and it would be nice if we can find a way to rectify. --Cyclopia^talk 14:51, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
                • You are an individual with no authority here at wikipedia at all, the idea that the plural is correct is a total fallacy in your imagination. You also seem to not give a damn about issues and not care about anything, which is not a position or reflection that I personally would not want to be associated with. so you don't speak for me and many other contributors when you assert your we. Personally I do care and I do give a damn about peoples good faith issues with content at wikipedia and I want to be part of a community that does give a damn. Off2riorob (talk) 14:59, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
                  • You are an individual with no authority here at wikipedia at all: Yes, correct.

                    the idea that the plural is correct is a total fallacy in your imagination.: It isn't. It reports what our WP:SPOILER guideline reports, and it reports what our core policies report. I said that we are an encyclopedia, that we report information, and that the fact it is spoiled doesn't tell us immediately why should we care about. If you, Off2riorob, disagree with us being an encyclopedia, perhaps you misunderstand what WP is for, not me. And no, I care about a whole lot of things: I don't see why should I care about that specific problem. And I give a damn about good faith issues, trust me, otherwise I wouldn't even bother answering. --Cyclopia^talk 15:37, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

                    • You shouldn't be suprised when people believe you don't give a damn when you say comments such as - "So it is spoiled. Why should we care? We are an encyclopedia. We report information. If you don't like spoilers, don't read encyclopedic articles about fiction works"...edit summary.. "why should we care?"..Off2riorob (talk) 15:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
• The irony here is that if journalists Paul Bignell and Matthew Bell had done their research and checked their facts, they would have found David Gerard, who not only is a (volunteer) press contact for the Wikimedia Foundation, but was actually one of the prime movers in the 2007 spoiler warning removal discussions too. Uncle G (talk) 12:44, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
• Writing to them will do no good. I'm sure the journalists know full well that you are not the Wikipedia spokesman. But referring to you as such makes things more palatable to their editor. Journalists do not let accuracy get in the way of telling a story. Deli nk (talk) 12:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • I see you are acquainted with Fox News and Canada's Sun Media... Resolute 14:50, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
    • You'd be a fool to think Fox News and Sun Media are worse than any other. Deli nk (talk) 15:12, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
• I think "committee member" refers to the m:Communications committee. I know that David Gerard is or was on it. I don't know about the others and don't feel like checking. I don't know whether calling them spokespeople is perfectly accurate but it's not completely bogus. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 14:53, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • You're missing the point that Bignell and Bell did not talk about David Gerard, or even mention him. They said that 88.106.151.183 was the "approved Wikipedia committee member". Uncle G (talk) 16:04, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
• Why should we care? If someone is unhappy with how they or one of their pseudonyms were mentioned in a newspaper article they should complain to the newspaper.Bali ultimate (talk) 15:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Perhaps because Cyclopia is here asking for help and advice on that very thing? Read this section from the top, again. Uncle G (talk) 16:04, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
    • I did. Allow me to provide unambiguous advice. Cyclopia or anyone else concerned with the content of an article in the Independent should contact the Independent. The easiest route is a letter to the editor. The one to have the most impact is direct contact with the reporter himself. I suggese if they care they write a letter to the reporter, explaining their error. Whatever they do, there's nothing to be done here.Bali ultimate (talk) 16:08, 29 August 2010 (UTC)
      • Thanks, but I am not unhappy about myself, I am more worried about the general misunderstanding of how WP works. I think that what's to be done "here" is that someone (this time for real) officially speaking for WP took the time to tap the Independent's shoulder and tell them that random editors are not "spokespeople". I think it's a problem for WP in its entirety if the basics of our workings are distorted so heavily in the press. --Cyclopia^talk 16:11, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Thats exactly the point, if a user speaks in such a way they have not the support of the foundation for those comments and should be prepared to defend themselves and not assume the wikipedia is like some kind of safety umbrella that will back them up, in his comment user Cyclopia speaks for himself alone.Off2riorob (talk) 16:13, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Again, this is a misunderstanding. I don't want to be backed up. I need no safety umbrella. I have no problem with the article, apart from the daily dose of facepalms. What I am trying to do is telling WP "hey, WP, you have a problem: newspapers are misrepresenting editors like they were your spokespeople. Shouldn't you take action to correct them?". I have no problem: WP has a problem, in my opinion, with that article. --Cyclopia^talk 16:19, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Some individual users don't give a damn and support publishing everything and being confrontational that is their individual position and they should individually be prepared to defend that position if they are involved in real life legal disputes and claims such as this.Off2riorob (talk) 16:22, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Ok, thanks, I already understood that. Now read what I posted above, and if you wish, reply to that. --Cyclopia^talk 16:27, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I was always taught to turn it around and not to put the blame out try it, don't ask how that newspaper misrepresented you but, how have you misrepresented wikipedia. Off2riorob (talk) 16:33, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Man bites dog, Off2riorob. I heavily doubt Cyclopia's misrepresented Wikipedia. —Jeremy ^{(v^_^v PC/SP is a show-trial!)} 20:02, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I see heavy usage of "we" and "our" throughout this discussion, starting from the first comment with "our WP:SPOILER guideline". Clearly there is no rule against such wording, nor should there be, because Wikipedia still contains at least some elements of democracy, and editors should think of it as a joint effort. There also is no reason to change WP:SPOILER. I would suggest the newspapers should improve their fact checking, lest further resistance arise generally toward treating them as reliable sources. Wnt (talk) 23:09, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Alternatively you could run with this, instead of complaining about it. A major national newspaper has described you - unfortunately without actually naming you - as one of Wikipedia's spokesmen, so there's at least one reliable citation in your favour. Phone them up and explain to them that you are, in fact, Wikipedia's European press relations officer, and offer them an interview. Don't forget to use your real name! Include a flattering photograph. You could parlay this into a career on television, articles for the Independent itself, the sky is your oyster. Some people will grumble that you don't actually have an official sanction; just ignore them, no-one in the press understands or ultimately cares how Wikipedia works. Think of the money. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 16:18, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I use "we" all the time when describing Wikipedia, because "we" are supposed to be a community. When I say "we", it means, "myself, yourself, and everyone else here". For example, if I say "we have to be careful to use reliable sources", I don't claim to represent the Wikimedia Foundation or claim authority of any kind (administrators don't have extra authority). The use of "we" in such circumstances is common parlance and completely appropriate. You can't help what ignorant journalists who don't do their homework may print. -- Atama頭 17:44, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

ADDED AFTER ARCHIVAL: Thread at Jimbo's page, has a list of press articles. --Enric Naval (talk) 15:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Incivility

Resolved

 – Blocked by User:Toddst1, later unblocked subject to restrictions recorded at User:Jerzeykydd/Restriction

Jerzeykydd (talk · contribs) personally insulted me in a number of different places, see this, in this edit summary and here.--TM 23:07, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Good call, Todd. After seeing the recent WQA thread, here, I was about to do the same. --Moonriddengirl ^(talk) 23:15, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

e/c Yup. Enough of that. Toddst1 (talk) 23:17, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. Totally unnecessary. Good block. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 23:28, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Three weeks for a first-time-for-NPA block? Really? Are we being a little harsh - or have things really changed around here in the last few years that I wasn't paying attention? There's almost never a reason to block someone for three weeks - either it's a day or two to cool them down, or it's pretty much indefinite for offenders who refuse to reform their behavior. What the hell is the point of blocking an editor for three weeks? -- Y not? 02:47, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

The PA's were unusually persistent and obnoxious. IMO the 3-week block is ok if there's reasonable understanding that it will be lifted earlier if the editor agrees to down the aggression in the future. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 10:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I would like to see his block commuted. This is not the American justice system where incarceration has a punitive goal (among others). A three-week block does not prevent future wrongdoing any more effectively than a 48 hour block. -- Y not? 14:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

The block length concerns me as well. This was an unambiguous personal attack, but not sustained or hugely vehement (not threatening violence, etc). It's disproportionately long for community standards and precedent, I think. I'd have thought 24-72 hrs range would apply. Toddst1, can you explain why you believe the length was justified? Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 22:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As I explained below, on user_talk:Jerzeykydd and to some extent on my talk page:

This was a case of compound and deliberate disruption. Jerseykydd knew full well what s/he was doing. The editor has had a recent WQA for civility issues, recent EW block, at least one edit war after the release of the block and continued civility issues as noted by TM above. All of this amounts to a pattern significant disruption and repeating problems over the past month.

Per policy, the duration of blocks should be related to the likelihood of a user repeating inappropriate behavior. Longer blocks for repeated and high levels of disruption is to reduce administrative burden; it is under presumption that such users are likely to cause frequent disruption or harm in future. Administrators should consider:

• the severity of the behavior;
• whether the user has engaged in that behavior before.

With this background, it's clear that repeat behavior is already present. I would expect that if another block is necessary in the near future, it would be indefinite. Toddst1 (talk) 23:18, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

The WQA had a total of three posts, and was resolved with a "warning" that wasn't actually left.

The edit war block was for 24 hrs and as far as I can tell, though they approached 3RR again they haven't broached it.

There were no warnings of note since then.

I'm all for treating severe abusers as preventively as we have to, but you still haven't made the case here well enough for me. The warnings given in this case are abyssmal. The personal attack is blockable without prior warnings, but lack of sufficient prior warnings is part of the context into how long the block should be. I don't know that anyone can rightly claim right now that this person was sufficiently notified not to do that and to calm down.

WP:BITE and WP:AGF say not to do this... Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 00:46, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

WP:BITE applies to newbies. You know that. WP:AGF should be applied for the first occurrence of disruption. Calling for it it in subsequent instances is naive. Calling for AGF when one editor calls another an asshole is profoundly bad judgment. Toddst1 (talk) 02:03, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Incivility of Y (was Double Standard subsection)

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

• note: I have changed this from a sub-heading of a resolved thread to a new section as per suggestion. I have not moved the discussion to the bottom for ease of those already involved in the issue.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 09:02, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Fascinating. Administrator Y calls someone an asshole and even threats the user to report him and all he gets is a warning. What's even more interesting is Y's edit was even reverted (as vandalism) by Toddst1 too. Hmmm. Double standard? Todd wasn't aware, ignore this. Tommy! [message] 23:54, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm not sure which edit you are referring to but Y (talk · contribs) is not an administrator, and was properly warned for WP:CIVIL. If there have been further issues, I am not aware of them. Jerseykydd has had a recent WQA, recent EW block, recent edit wars and continued civility issues - significant disruption, hence a block. Toddst1 (talk) 23:59, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Umm [40] —DoRD (talk) 00:03, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't like starting problems, but when I see stuff like this it makes me a little annoyed. See Y's talk page for warning. Tommy! [message] 00:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I stand corrected. I was not aware s/he was an admin. User rights does not show the change. I probably would have responded differently. In that case, perhaps further discussion about Y is in order. Toddst1 (talk) 00:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Well it seems like it's settled so I don't know if any further action is necessary. I was just pointing this out. Tommy! [message] 00:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Unless there's evidence of more than calling someone an asshole once, I don't see why this is worthy of more than a warning, admin or otherwise. The user above was not blocked for a single incident, and there was a good chance they would continue to be disruptive, hence the quite right block. It's a little more disappointing when an admin makes personal attacks perhaps, but there's no reason they should be blocked outright for something no other editor would be blocked for, especially given than blocks are preventative, not punitive, and the incident is unlikely to recur. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 00:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

What he said. I don't know the background with User:Y (though I agree that the language is unacceptable for anyone, no matter what was going on), but for me the clincher with User:Jerzeykydd was this recent evidence of similar behavior. A one off personal attack/violation of civility policy is bad; a habit of it is worse. --Moonriddengirl ^(talk) 00:36, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

All valid. Thanks Tommy! [message] 00:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Just to clarify, you're all discussing this edit by Y, correct? Silverseren^C 00:23, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes. Tommy! [message] 00:24, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

This seems concerning... And am I wrong but is there quite a bit of mis-use of rollback going on as well? [41] [42] [43] [44] [45].   Thorncrag  00:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I'd lean no. I've reverted vandal edits like that, particularly POV pushers who've been warned. Some of those users are blocked too and the last diff, he used an edit summary which is okay. Tommy! [message] 00:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I dunno...this one is concerning to me. Yes, the About linked to a page that hasn't been made yet and we often don't want to do such a thing, but it is certainly not something you would use the rollback tool for. That's not its use. Silverseren^C 00:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

None of the diffs I posted were blatant vandalism (the only acceptable use of rollback) and there was no edit summary justifying its use. Rollback is not permitted for POV-pushing either--at least not without a suitable edit summary.   Thorncrag  00:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, but I'd expand that with more along the lines: rollback should only be used on edits with bad intent (IAR)-- that's me, and it's worked out well. Anyways, Silverseren has a point with that one.. Although that is a red link. Rollback, no, but not constructive, although it was done in Good faith, I'd say. Tommy! [message] 00:55, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As has been pointed out before in terms of rollback, if you are using it to revert an edit, then it is automatically implied that the edit you are reverting was done in bad faith. Otherwise, you shouldn't be using rollback and should instead use a normal undo with an explanatory edit summary. Y's use of rollback in most, if not all, of the diffs given above are not on edits that have obvious bad faith. As Thorncrag said, POV pushing is, regardless, still not something you should be allowed to revert with rollback, as POV is inherently opinion based and not overt bad faith. Silverseren^C 02:09, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I'll alert Y of this thread so he can comment. Already done I guess. Tommy! [message] 02:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Hey you guys - I wasn't really going to participate, but it seems that Tommy wants me to comment. Responding to Thorncrag's five diffs, the answers are as follows: #1 is technically improper, but substantively meaningless; #2 is correctly characterized as improper use of rollback, and ## 3, 4, and 5 are reverts of edits obviously made in bad faith. -- Y not? 02:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

"Technically improper" does not a rollback make. And I do not see how #4 is made in bad faith, unless there is some hidden history going on there. Making an About link to another (as of yet unmade) article is not a bad faith edit. (I do see #3 and #5 as things that would be proper for rollback). Silverseren^C 02:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, #4 guy put up an attack bio of a competing candidate in the Florida Republican primary. He got deleted, rolled-back, and yelled at. -- Y not? 02:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

If a rollback has to be explained after-the-fact, then an edit summary should have been used to justify its use. Plain and simple. WP:ROLLBACK.   Thorncrag  03:01, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Please don't lecture me in this condescending a tone. -- Y not? 03:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

...how is he lecturing you in a condescending tone across the internet? There's no tone, it's just words. Silverseren^C 03:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't think you're really interested in my explanation. -- Y not? 03:21, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

@Y: Given one's propensity towards incivility, I would think that one would not want to escalate a simple AN/I thread into more than it need be.   Thorncrag  03:14, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

One wouldn't, would one? I came here to courteously answer the questions you posed, against my better judgment and in violation of my solemn oath never to participate in any ANI threads - why am I now being threatened with having this thread "escalated"? I'm at a loss. Good night. -- Y not? 03:21, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As an administrator, you cannot take a "solemn oath" not to participate in noticeboard discussions. You are answerable to the community for any actions you take in whatever valid venue they are brought up in. If you disagree with this, you should consider turning in the mop. Beyond My Ken (talk) 03:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I am deeply concerned that an administrator would not be capable of taking suggestions posted about them on an AN/I thread into consideration without interpreting it as a "condescending tone"—even if they are from lowly editors. I am also deeply concerned that an administrator would essentially bait another editor with what is clearly uncivil behavior, by any reasonable standard. It is also deeply concerning that an administrator would demonstrate—what I understand to be—a clear misunderstanding of the usage of rollbacks, one who is charged with enforcing its correct usage from others. I am sure that I speak for everyone in saying that we appreciate your civil contributions to Wikipedia, but in the complete absence of any acknowledgement of wrongdoing, but only further rationalization and terse quips, you are making it difficult for us lowly people to just drop the issue.   Thorncrag  04:19, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

raising concern for another related incident I am participating in an AfD for the article anti-laser which was proposed by Y. I am concerned over Y's treatment of the AfD and the user who created it. I have voiced my opinion in AfD that the article be speedy kept due to sources, but what raised a flag for me is Y's tone. In the AfD Y clearly says that he/she has spoken with the creating editor on their talk page User talk:Chrisrus/Anti-laser, but I find no evidence of this. What found when exploring this was that Y spoke one line of "Dude - I already created the userspace page for you! Develop there!" at the talk page of Anti-laser and what Y DID do was dump the complete article to the editor's talk page with no further explanation of the issues raised with the article. Beyond that, a user's TALK PAGE is NOT where user space articles are typically created in the first place. This has prompted me to examine Y's contribs where I found this discussion. Maybe Y needs a wiki break? Y seems ill-advised of some rather key policies and is exhibiting behavior I feel is unfit for an administrator. I have not discussed anything with or spoken directly to Y on any of these issues and have never interacted with Y outside of this evening (to my knowledge).--Torchwood Who? (talk) 08:11, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

This should be marked as resolved - admins are allowed to be incivil and can "technically" misuse their tools. Nothing more to see here. Choyoołʼįįhí:Seb az86556 ^{> haneʼ} 08:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Sarcasm is not helping. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 08:34, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Admins are allowed the same wiggle room of AGF as any editor, but incivility and misuse of tools should still be properly debated. With a picture forming of habitual misuse and incivility I would caution that such a debate not be closed before all points raised can be addressed as part of the whole.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 08:36, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I have to agree that some of the diffs here are somewhat concerning, including this one provided by Seb az86556 above. If an administrator's attitude is that it's acceptable to "deploy incivility from time to time", then that's certainly worth further discussion. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 08:40, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

In a way, sarcasm isn't helping the discussion, but it might help some of us who can foresee the conclusion to this discussion; that being said, yeah, it might not have been appropriate, but I don't think it's as bad as "asshole" with the subsequent justification and snoppiness. FWIW, I apologize. Haven't seen any apology from Y yet though. Choyoołʼįįhí:Seb az86556 ^{> haneʼ} 08:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps a new subsection should be created below. I think it's somewhat misleading now to be discussing this in a section entitled "double standard", when it's been established that there wasn't a double standard here, and this is really a separate issue. It may in fact be worth starting a new AN/I thread for this user since this discussion is really piggybacking off a resolved thread about another editor. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 08:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree that there is likely no action that will be taken, but I would like to see some hint that Y understands admin powers are not a license for incivility, POV pushing, or liberal use of rollback and that continuing this behavior and possibly escalating it can hurt the project and substantiate proceedings for action against him for abuse. I would be very satisfied with seeing a little reflection or understanding that the issues presented here are real and not to be taken lightly. --Torchwood Who? (talk) 08:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, I do understand that admin powers are not a license for incivility, and I do understand that I use rollback more liberally than most of you would like (though honestly a revert is a revert and should be judged as proper or improper independently of the mechanism used). I had nothing to do with POV pushing. I'm guilty of an improper revert on Jeannette Rankin and I did call that user an asshole while under the influence of anger on account of his pattern of behavior. Is this the acknowledgment you seek? Would this be as big a deal if I weren't a sysop? And where's the lynchmob calling for a block on Jojhutton (talk · contribs) for his six reverts on Jeannette Rankin? -- Y not? 14:39, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

• Comment - Speaking of the "other editor": if Jerzeykydd is blocked for three weeks for this[46] (the two other diffs are not "demonstrative" of anything as they are), and Y himself brings this up as "harsh"[47] - it becomes about Y? We know what Y said. His comment is why this thread has been "expanded", and it certainly should be moved to an unresolved thread... Doc9871 (talk) 08:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

  By suggesting that there is a "double standard", the section creator was suggesting that Toddst1 was at fault, which I believe has been disproved now. Any continued conversation about Y's actions, as opposed to Toddst1's actions, should take place in a new thread. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 09:00, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

  • If some diffs (rather than general accusations of misconduct) showing a "pattern of incivility" by Y aren't provided by the accusers, and a proposed outcome for this thread isn't put forth: I'll bet I can guess where this is going. This is still a "piggyback thread", IMO... Doc9871 (talk) 09:25, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Y should take everything in this thread under advisement and post a note saying s/he has done so. If that happens I don't think further action is needed unless the problem recurs. We're all supposed to be civil at all times but an occasional slip or a patch of bad judgment is pretty far down on the list of situations calling for protracted drama. Y, please try to do better in the future. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 09:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Redacted my previous statements. Y added to the user's talk space, but not talk page. I stand corrected, but still strongly disagree his/her stance on incivility and tool use.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 10:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Comment I really think this has been pushed too far. I belive in WP:IGNORE, which is a policy vs. WP:ROLLBACK, which is a guideline..Policy has more precedence than a guideline. For the love of god, Huggle's own interface allows users to revert and then choose a specified warning. The only revert I see a little, and only a little, troubling is Silvers's concerning diff he pointed out. But again, as a I said, it was a red link. I think we're making a bit much out of this, honestly. This is about Y's (outburst) of incivility. Tommy! [message] 12:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I recommend having this thread closed and I hope Y feels admonished for that comment; it was way out of line. As far as rollback use, see comment above. Tommy! [message] 12:55, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Ali Muratovic, yet again

I originally posted the following to WP:AIV, but since it is a long-time abuser, I thought that it deserved a bit wider awareness so I'm posting here. The blocked User:Ali Muratovic resurrects again as 138.130.86.158 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log). Characteristics: edits mostly Bosnia and Islam-related articles; removes all redlinks according to MoS; makes other changes contrary to MoS; alters Bosnian names (e.g. Muhamed) to Arabic spellings (Muhammed). There are productive fixes in and between, but it is hard to tell the chaff from grains, so please do a mass rollback. See Category:Wikipedia sockpuppets of Ali Muratovic and Category:Suspected Wikipedia sockpuppets of Ali Muratovic. I suggest adding to WP:LTA . Rangeblocks, anyone? No such user (talk) 06:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

IP notified - please note this is required. Exxolon (talk) 07:40, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

What is far more required is blocking of an obvious sock. Please. No such user (talk) 14:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Rangeblock needs to be enacted asap. Dude just won't stop vandalizing. 124.187.2.124 (talk) 11:13, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

User:Avala's abuse of rollback

Avala (talk · contribs) has a long history of using rollback on all edits he does not like. The last instance, which triggered me to write this report, is this revert on Boris Tadić, an article that Avala apparently owns. I have already patiently explained what the rollback is for to Avala at Talk:Boris Tadić#Blind_reversion quite a time ago, but to no avail, apparently. Combine that with total lack of edit summaries, and we get an editor who is quite hard to cooperate with, despite long time on the project. I propose that Avala's rollback rights are revoked for a while. No such user (talk) 08:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

A first run through their use of rollback concerns me, however, I'm willing to wait a short time for them to comment. (talk→ BWilkins ←track) 09:26, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I've been on Wikipedia for too long to "abuse" anything. If you look at the edit you will see that it wasn't an abuse (even though the roll back obviously did hurt feelings of the person that got rolled back but that is not an ANI matter). What was blind was insisting on adding those numbers that are 1) no longer used on Wikipedia except in very clear situations like the number of US Presidents but almost everywhere else from British PMs to even Russian Presidents these numbers are not used, and if the user is unwilling to accept that, then maybe I am too harsh, but I don't see any other option but to roll it back and especially when I see 2) that this person added numbers on two places, so according to his edit he is now apparently defending that, the person in question, Boris Tadic, served as the third President - twice? In my opinion persistent unwillingness to accept the MoS or removing referenced data or making persistent edits that counter the long established consensus without going to talk or participating in a non productive manner like chasing 3RR, I think that all of these situations are grounds for roll back, but of course we can discuss the matter.--Avala (talk) 10:52, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I agree that the edit should have been reverted: the problem, however, is that the edit was reverted using rollback. Rollback should only be used for obvious vandalism, and the edit you reverted (using rollback) was clearly a good-faith edit, albeit an edit you and I both disagree with. Use "undo" in situations like this: it allows you to provide a detailed edit summary, and doesn't imply "reverting vandalism" as the use of rollback does. TFOWR 11:00, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

"In my opinion persistent unwillingness to accept the MoS or removing referenced data or making persistent edits that counter the long established consensus without going to talk or participating in a non productive manner like chasing 3RR, I think that all of these situations are grounds for roll back, but of course we can discuss the matter." No, they aren't. Rollback is for vandalism, any other kind of edits should be "undone" or another method other than rollback. If you continue to use rollback in that manner, you'll lose it. Rollback is "easy come, easy go" and any admin can take it away from you right now, but I personally prefer leniency when there's a misunderstanding. Please remember this in the future. -- Atama頭 15:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Small point of order. The only difference between using rollback and undoing is the edit summary—the lack of explanation. There is communication on the page, but User:Dekidxb has made quite a few of these kind of changes (that Avala did not rollback). If it's clearly against style then rollback is fine if there's communication through another mechanism ("Provided that an explanation is supplied in an appropriate location, such as at the relevant talk page, rollback may also be used in circumstances where widely spread edits (by a misguided editor or malfunctioning bot) are judged to be unhelpful to the encyclopedia, since such edits would be tedious to revert manually.[1]"). In the same way, massive "undoing" is equally problematic if there's no explanation. I agree though in this case, there needs to be more explanation. Shadowjams (talk) 18:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

OK then. However I suggest that you take a look into the translations, because, unlike English, in Serbian version of Wikipedia interface that I am using there is no difference in names for these two actions, so what I have is (врати | врати) meaning that the same word is used for both, rollback and undo.--Avala (talk) 10:06, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

That would be a problem with whatever interface (software, I'm guessing?) you are using, not Wikipedia. Contact whoever wrote that program. In the meantime, you might want to be careful of which one you're choosing. — The Hand That Feeds You:^Bite 14:07, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

It's actually the MediaWiki interface itself. I've just set my language to sr-EC and I see what they are talking about. However, they can use "mouseover" prior to clicking. One of the URLs will have the word "rollback" in it and end in an alphanumeric token (the first one), the other will have the word "undo" in it and end in a revision ID (the latter one). If this doesn't help, rollback could also be removed to prevent the mistake from happening again. –xeno^talk 14:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

(трен | посл)   14:07, 31. август 2010. HandThatFeeds (trim) (→User:Avala's abuse of rollback:  Sounds like a software problem.) (врати  | врати) 

• Where are these translations set? The fr. interface has two different words: (révoquer | défaire) –xeno^talk 14:24, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

  Made a post at VPT on this. –xeno^talk 15:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

As already stated, it is not a third party software but the official interface translation. Anyway removing rollback altogether would be cutting the Gordian knot. The good solution would be for an example to use the same option as in Serbian Wikipedia - (врати | поништи) where врати is a rollback option and поништи is undo option.--Avala (talk) 18:13, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

User:Nivrem110694's sockpuppet, User:Iamervsz

• It seems like this blocked user created another sockpuppet and continuously did the actions that have blocked his previous account in the first place.

Passed ducking:

• Both users continuously uploads images that violates the copyright laws
• Main page structure obviously similar
• Images being uploaded often concerns TV shows from a television network know as GMA Network.

Update: Confirmed that it is User:Nivrem110694's sockpuppet. When Main Page is editted, tl:User:Nivrem110694 appears on the bottom of the page. Clearly the user doesn't seem to get the message. Please someone block the user before he continues to create more damage. It takes time to revert most of the user's edits. --TwelveOz (talk) 09:43, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I corrected the tag on Iamervsz, since Mervin 110694 = Nivrem110694 = Iamervsz. "Nivrem" is "Mervin" spelled backwards - but I'll wager I wasn't the only one to see this, right? It is very clever to switch names like this, I know... Doc9871 (talk) 09:59, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

He's been notified of this thread as well... Doc9871 (talk) 10:08, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Gotcha Cod  :-) (talk→ BWilkins ←track) 17:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the outing, B. "1789Cod, we hardly knew ye." Maybe Mirven should pick, "Mxyzptlk" next: 90 days in the 5th dimension would save some button-pushing. Seriously, though, folks: Iamervsz is most surely a sock of Mervin, and no SPI seems necessary for this. A block for this sock for evasion? Probably... yes? Cheers :> Doc9871 (talk) 04:34, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Images uploaded by sockpuppet of a blocked user

Can someone please delete these images uploaded by a sockpuppet of a user who was blocked before for conintuously violating the image copyright laws such as identifying sources and claiming images to be in low resolution when clearly they are in high deifinition. File:Jejemom.JPG, File:LoveniMisterLoveniMisis.JPG, File:SurvivorPhilippinesCelebrityShowdown.jpg, File:IluminaTitleScreen.JPG.--TwelveOz (talk) 09:52, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Confused, what's the copyright problem here? We don't delete images as copyvios if they claim fair use, and overly-large nonfree images are supposed to be tagged with {{Non-free reduce}}, rather than deleted. Nyttend (talk) 12:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Technically, the images could be deleted per G5 as the file was uploaded in defiance of a block, however if the images don't violate any specific image policies or guidelines and are useful, I don't see any reason not to let them stay. -- Atama頭 23:07, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Name-jumper re-creating wp:band spam

I'd like to offer my congratulations in advance to any admin who has the skills and patience follow this. It's a tough one.

accounts: RuskiiSun, SunHawken, BlackImperial, LIL LEGGITTE, maybe Inka 888, and one or more unknown account names

articles: Young Jonii, Lil Leggitte, perhaps other deleted or existing ones too

images: Lil_Leggitte.jpg

commons categories: Young Jonii

This one comprises one of the most convoluted edit histories I've ever seen, all over the course of a few days. Or maybe it's just so difficult for me to follow because it involves multiple accounts, and deleted user pages, deleted or blanked talk pages, and deleted mainspace pages that I can't really see in full. Well, then:

I'll begin by disclosing that the only involvement I've had so far with this user, apart from notifying him of this ANI post, was to ask admins to hold on re his request to be made a "Confirmed" user. I haven't interacted with him in any other way at all: no reverts, no common articles edited, no talk-page exchanges. But to move on to the substance of the matter...

This shows that a user initially operating under an account name unknown to me wanted really badly to create a page about a new, non-notable 18 year-old rapper going by the name "Young Jonii", recreating the page 5 or 6 times after it was speedily deleted. I suspect the subject himself created the article; Young Jonii is a pseudonym/stagename of Trent Williams. Things get complicated from here, because the user subsequently created a new account or accounts, and also used the official "simple renaming" process multiple (?) times on old ones, and had the pages for old ones deleted, and/or just blanked them himself. This has all happened within a few days, so it's hard to follow, not being privy to deleted pages.

I can't tell for sure who initially created the "Young Jonii" page. But I noticed before pages for SunHawken (talk · contribs) were deleted and redirected ( see contributions currently visible here ) that the SunHawken user account was created and almost immediately became involved with the "Young Jonii" article. The account was created after that article had been speedily deleted its first two times. SunHawken's first edit was to thank one of the admins who'd deleted "Young Jonii" for deleting some page, presumably "Young Jonii". I can't quite make out the sequence that follows; presumably the page had been recreated a third (?) time by some unknown account, because shortly thereafter SunHawken

• requested page protection for "Young Jonii",

• responded to a speedy notice – the third (?) for the article – that someone had placed on SunHawken's talk page

• evidently (see SunHawken's talk page) recreated both "Young Jonii" ...

• and also recreated an article about another 18 year-old rapper from "Young Jonii's" hometown, viz. "Lil Leggitte"

From a spam-coi report: 06:11:33, Fri Aug 27, 2010 - user:LIL LEGGITTE - user talk (contribs) on page Lil Leggitte (diff - undo) -> (overlap) Username overlaps with pagename: 'lil leggitte'-'lil leggitte' = 100% (100/100) - - Note there's also a currently-existing user named LIL LEGGITTE (talk · contribs) who appears to be involved somehow as well. )

• After the "Young Jonii" article had been speedily deleted a fifth time from mainspace – see multiple warnings on SunHawken's talk page – SunHawken recreated it under his talk page and also under his user page, and later – using a different account? – created a redirect from mainspace to his userspace version of the "Young Jonii" article. This was speedily deleted, too.

• At one point, SunHawken was blocked for 24 hours by user:Kuru for reasons I'm not fully aware of, although I imagine they have to do with the constant recreation of the "Young Jonii" article and perhaps the "Lil Leggitte" one as well.

( At some point he might have requested deletion of "Young Jonii" himself; the history is too garbled for me to understand fully. )

• User SunHawken also requested a whole bunch of privileges: AWB, Reviewer, Autopatrolled, a bot authorization, and in a subsequent incarnation, a request for "Confirmed" status.

• He also created a Commons category for Young Jonii, placed a help request for "Young Jonii" at WP:BLPN, and generally careened around without much evident care for what he was doing. SunHawken appears to be using Twinkle.

• Based on this diff user SunHawken also appears to have been involved in the creation of a now-deleted article about LIL LEGGITTE (talk · contribs), presumably a friend of his; also 18 years old, who also lives in Montgomery, Alabama, as is the case with Trent Williams, aka "Young Jonii".

• At some point in the process this person created user ID, "RuskiiSun" and used it to work for a while on the "Young Jonii" article. After a day or two he used the "simple renaming" process to have that account renamed to BlackImperial (talk · contribs).

• He added Trent Williams, the RL name of his non-notable "Young Jonii", to the List of people with surname Williams in a garbled edit that needs to be reverted. As user RuskiiSun, he had previously created an article named Trent Williams (entertainer), it would appear.

• At the top of this page I listed Inka 888 (talk · contribs) as a possible sock or alternate account for this user. That's based on this diff] in which the user signs himself as Sunhawken ⁸⁸⁸ at 03:27, 27 August 2010 (UTC). Note that this signature points to SunHawken in its main part, but to Inka 888's talk page in its superscript. Also, Inka 888 counsels a blocked user to create a sock, possibly not understanding the implications. But like user SunHawken's history of prematurely requesting additional privileges, user Inka 888, a non-admin, closed an RfA, was concerned about page protections, and asked about becoming an admin. I'm unsure about the possibility that Inka 888 might be an alternate account or sock for the other user accounts listed in this post, at top. I certainly admit I could be incorrect, and will apologize to Inka 888 if my perception of the facts has misled me.

• BlackImperial (aka RuskiiSun and SunHawken) has now created a move request on a userspace talk page that User:BlackImperial/Young_Jonii be moved to mainspace. The subject is still non-notable, and this seventh attempt to get the article into mainspace won't work, either. This guy's determined – I'll give him that – but he's really creating chaos, and consuming quite a lot of attention from other editors and admins, to no good purpose at all.

At this point I think SunHawken, BlackImperial, LIL LEGGITTE need to be blocked, and perhaps User:Inka 888 too if investigtion determines that they're the same. Maybe a topic ban on music or performer-related articles? I think it'd also be a good idea to salt the article "Young Jonii" since it's now on it's seventh attempt at re-creation in a week or so, the subject is unequivocally not notable, and the user who keeps re-creating it doesn't appear willing to give up. This whole mess does need further investigaton, though, since there are probably lots of reverts and perhaps other measures and accounts that also will need attentnon. I'd take it further, but my head is kind of spinning from all this, and I can't see deleted pages, either, to try to make sense of the history.

No SPI initiated, btw. I've never done one, and don't know whether it's necessary in this case. Sorry if I've made any mistakes in trying to document this mess – that's entirely possible, and sorry for the long post here, too. Thanks all,  – OhioStandard (talk) 10:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Page salted. Sunhawken is likely a duck sock of BlackImperial. RuskiiSun was a valid rename, so not really a sock at this point. Inka 888's sig "mishap" basically gave that part away. The only thing that confuses me is Inka's poor writing in comparison with BlackImperial's style--possibly faked, though. Page salted. SPI seems reasonable at this point. —fetch·comms 12:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

FWIW, Inka 888 is  Unlikely to be the same editor as the others, but may well be someone who knows them personally. — Coren ^(talk) 13:34, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

(e/c) Thanks for salting, Fetch, and for taking the time to wade through the above. Coren: understood, thanks very much for wading through it as well, and for your helpful information. Will line-through and formally withdraw suggestion of Inka 888 as a possible sock of the others, but will keep eyes on, just out of curiosity. Fetch, you might like to look at BlackImperial's reply to the ani notification I left on his talk page. No time to pursue this further just now, but will try to follow up with what might still need to be done later. Best,  – OhioStandard (talk) 14:04, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

(e/c) Still don't know who created the "Young Jonii" article in the first place, i.e. who created the first instance which was speedily deleted, at 13:35, 25 August 2010 (UTC). Perhaps I've missed something, but I'm not seeing how any of the so-far-named accounts could have done it, based on their contribution histories. Will be offline for a while, though.  – OhioStandard (talk) 14:28, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Sunhawken first created the Young Jonii article. —fetch·comms 14:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

File a SPI. Blatant socking, conflict of interest: and an incredible lack of notability (one demo doesn't cut it). According to this[48] unacceptable reference (none of the references are acceptable) to the very poorly-written User:BlackImperial/Young Jonii article, the "team" mentioned is "Team Leggitte". This article is not fit for this encyclopedia for many reasons. Seriously. Doc9871 (talk) 14:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, I've undertaken all the cleanup steps that I can re this mess, but there are still a couple of issues need admin attention before we can close this:

• BlackImperial writes below, "Sunhawken Account i had it deleted so i stopped it, the account... Why? I had "bad" negative warnings under this account i was new.
• The SunHawken account was not "deleted" insofar as I can tell; it appears to me to still be an active login. ( see below.)
• The edit history and the talk page history from the SunHawken account has not been merged into the edit history of the new BlackImperial account.

But I'm confused: Is it really okay for a user to just create a new account to expunge "bad negative warnings" and blocks that they don't want in their history? That's what's happened here: The user started with the SunHawken account, and took some heat and a block when he re-created his two band-spam pages, one page six times in a row, despite multiple warnings to stop. He then created the RuskiiSun account, used that for a day or so, and then took RuskiiSun through the "simple rename" process to get his current name of "BlackImperial". Then (I think) he got an admin to delete the SunHawken user page. Next he created this redirect from SunHawken to BlackImperial. The upshot of this process, then, unless I'm missing something, is the SunHawken account/login still exists, and the edit and talk-page history for the SunHawken account didn't get merged to the current BlackImperial account. Can someone double-check my facts here, and can an admin please take whatever corrective action is needed, e.g. to delete SunHawken and merge the history if that's the appropriate course? Thanks,  – OhioStandard (talk) 18:51, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Reply from Accused

Yes, we the team could say I'm smart :). False statements: I'm not LIL LEGGITTE, and Inka 888. Lil Leggitte i gave up on that project, used under Sunhawken Account i had it deleted so i stopped it, the account... Why? I had "bad" negative warnings under this account i was new. Note: Under Sunhawken (talk · contribs) this account created the article 5 times the fourth it was ACCEPTED but then the next day deleted.

• LIL LEGGITTE (talk · contribs) thats not me, that user had his own accords.

• Ruskiisun (talk · contribs) I had the name changed which was advised while working on my project.. but the move was requested and it was done by Nihonjoe (talk · contribs) To remove my "bad" new user alerts.

BlackImperial is my new account I creased to use all other to accounts. In this account i used all Wikipedia guidelines by requests and not by doing anything big with out consents of other Wikipedians. I quickly learned to ropes.

Quote from OhioStandard "but you've learned many of the skills needed to contribute productively to the biggest and most comprehensive encylopedia the world has ever known. That's pretty cool in itself, and I bet when you look around you won't find a lot of your friends can say the same." I'm kind of muti-talented/unique people tell me. :) So, please allow it to remain in my Userspace till the time comes! A admin (forget his name) said that now my only issue with the article was that i had no "good" references. convoluted indeed... (BlackImperial (talk) 13:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC))

You should disclose all names of accounts you have used on your current account's userpage. Young Jonii is not yet notable right now; I would expect to wait several months at the very least before he is notable. Please don't create new accounts without disclosing them on your userpage, or people will get confused like this instance. —fetch·comms 14:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

How do i go about disclosing them??? Fetchcomms, sorry about this whole mess i was not aware about the size/scope of this.(aka. Being investigated by federal B.I) I really tried my best on this article in a weeks time ,but seeing I'm new i can of put myself apart from the the other "newbies". Side Note: Thanks for the response #2note : Young Jonii is Unequivocal :). (BlackImperial (talk) 18:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC))

The FBI is not investigating anything. You disclose an account by, uh, writing it out on your userpage and basically saying you have used it before, you have stopped now, why, etc. —fetch·comms 21:26, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Done ; I have done very much so as you have asked in the manner and account. BlackImperial (talk) 22:51, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, that's good. I doubt anyone here saw the humor in the FBI remark, though. The fact is that your persistent refusal to attend to the warnings you received from multiple editors and admins has cost other volunteers here many hours of time to deal with the consequences and clean up the result. We'd all rather be writing good articles, after all. Please don't repeat the performance: I'm glad you want to contribute to Wikipedia, but you can't use it as a means to further your own music career or personal interests. And since you're still quite new here, please take the advice and warnings you receive from others seriously. If you feel you have some reason to doubt that another editor's advice is legitimate, you can always ask for a second opinion at the help desk.

Beyond that, please slow down enough to carefully read the instructions on the page you're using at any given time, and never create another account outside of the very few legitimate reasons for doing so. If you ever find yourself considering creating a new account, check with the help desk first, to see whether your reason is an allowed one before going ahead. Following these suggestions will save you, and the rest of us here, a lot of time and trouble... Oh; one last thing: You said you'd worked on "Lil Leggitte". Do you also have the password – don't give it out here, I'm just asking if you have it – for the LIL LEGGITTE account/login? Best,  – OhioStandard (talk) 18:51, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/delist/File:Crepuscular ray sunset from telstra tower edit.jpg

Posting here because I posted in the proper place and got little to no response. Could someone please close this delist nomination? The consensus was fairly clear (five in favour of delisting, two in favour of retention), but Papa Lima Whiskey (talk · contribs) has taken it upon himself to invent new rules (diff one) and edit war (diff two and diff three) to keep the nomination open, despite the fact it has been open for its allotted two weeks. Recently there was a very clear consensus in favour of having strict time limits and rejecting any vote made after the time-limit was over, and this has been followed to a tee, until now. No, I admit I didn't immediately notify the (retired) creator, but neither did anyone else, and that doesn't give people the right to change rules, especially when it conveniently means they can keep nominations for delisting open when they don't like the outcome they've reached. I really don't want to fight about this, but it's not fair that PLW's bringing it upon himself to do this. PLW has a strong history of making up his own rules and unilaterally enforcing them, this wouldn't be the first time he has caused upset. I'm not asking anyone to block him (though, if you want to help everyone...) I just want someone to close this bloody discussion. This does not need some kind of fancy "compromise", nor does it need "OMG IAR"- I can see about twenty things "helpful" people will try to do. Just close it and delist the picture, as that's what should have been done days ago. J Milburn (talk) 08:55, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Pulled out the archives as no one noticed... Anybody there? J Milburn (talk) 12:29, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I'll do it if no-one else will, what's the procedure though (can't seem to find a link). Black Kite (t) (c) 13:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Uninvolved non-admin opinion: An FPC delist discussion ran for ten days without the image's creator being notified. Once the notification was done, it was reasonable to restart the clock on discussion. Now that FPC editors are aware of this issue, it can easily be avoided in future, and this should not be a recurring problem. ReverendWayne (talk) 13:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I posted in haste this morning and failed to complete my thought. In my view, the nomination should be allowed to run until September 5, as currently scheduled, giving the image creator an opportunity to participate in the discussion. (I have no expertise in photography, and no opinion on the merits of the image.) ReverendWayne (talk) 20:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, that's a fair enough thought, but there are three major issues with this. Firstly, Fir has retired; that's quite clear. Notifying him was purely procedural- no one else felt the need to do it on my behalf, it's an excuse as much as anything else. Two; there was a very strong consensus that these time limits (which were only recently introduced to FPC with such strength- the big bold type and such) were absolute. If people didn't participate in that time, that was their problem- votes posted after the time limit had expired have been completely ignored until now. Three, it was PLW who decided to invent and enforce this rule, even edit-warring with me, after he had expressed his opinion in the debate- it's also significant that his opinion was contrary to the direction the debate was going at the time, meaning an extended debate was clearly in his interest. This is by no means the first time PLW has taken it upon himself to enforce rules he has invented, and I strongly feel it is not something we should tolerate. If we want the rules to change, we can have a discussion about it, but this is not the way to do it. J Milburn (talk) 23:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

For those interested, the closing procedure for delist nominations can be found here. J Milburn (talk) 23:42, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't understand why J Milburn is so worked up about what would seem to be a very low-urgency issue. This isn't some contentious AfD swarming with meatpuppets arriving from off-wiki causing drama bringing a need for expedited closure. Why is there such vehemence about this delisting stuff anyway? Even FA demotions don't get fought over as appears to happen with FP's. The delist procedure clearly says leave a talk message, that wasn't done, so there was an irregularity that got patched up. J Milburn, if you don't want that to happen again, just follow the procedure the way it says next time. Meanwhile, commenters who came by more recently seem more supportive of keeping the picture listed than earlier commenters, and J Milburn seems upset by that, which comes across as weird. Usually a larger group of participants means a more accurate consensus. J Milburn almost sounds to be wikilawyering to get a desired outcome. As for the "very strong consensus" about absolute time limits in big bold type, I have to wonder whether there is some kind of walled garden going on, a small group of editors that has managed to take ownership of a particular process because not many others really know or care about it. (WP:Vital articles is run by another small circle like that, and should probably be MfD'd since it is useless.)

The delist process actually looks broken to me. It speaks of "votes", and we usually don't do votes on Wikipedia: voting is evil, "afd is not a vote", etc. It says anonymous votes (it says "votes" again) are usually discarded, which goes against the principle of weighing the view of every editor. I've participated in many afd's and several FA/GA discussions (both promotions and demotions) from IP addresses and have generally felt that my comments were evaluated carefully, as is proper. So I think the FP delisting process isn't in keeping with wikipedia norms. Overall, as far as I know, FP designation doesn't carry a lot of significance, unlike FA. Is this another case of "the politics are more vicious because the stakes are so small"? Maybe there should be an RFC about this FP stuff.

J Milburn's complaints here make me feel a bit resistant to what s/he is requesting. I think s/he should just let PLW's edit slide, since if J Milburn is going to be so insistent on others following the letter of procedure, s/he should have followed the letter as well, and posted that user notice as specified. And if PLW wanted to be more insistent and wikilawyerish, s/he could have said "procedure not followed, nomination invalid, withdraw it and start over". What PLW did seems like a reasonable compromise. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 01:04, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Everything you just said is misinformed, in some places bordering on the idiotic. Someone has taken the rules into their own hands to swing a discussion the way they want. That alone should tell you there's a problem here. No, I did not inform Fir immediately, but I explained why. I'm certainly not the only person who has been a little surprised about the need to inform people who are clearly not here. The rest of what you said just shows a complete misunderstanding of how FPC works and the consensus that has built up there over time. There is no "walled garden"- there are regulars, as there are at any process. There are regulars here, too, but it seems most of them are terrified of anything that even sounds like content work, even when I wrap it up in a contributor behaving like a dick for them. The point is that it is not PLW's place to make a compromise that someone on AN who knows nothing of FPC thinks is nice- he loves making up his own rules, and we should not be allowing that. Like I said, I don't want this inane conversation, I want someone to close the bloody nom. And no, I'm not wikilawyering. I could wikilawyer if I wanted to, I'm certainly familiar enough with our processes, but it's PLW who is lawyering, finding some rule I haven't followed as an excuse to dole out "remedial action", keeping a nomination open completely contrary to practice so it has a chance of closing the way he wants it to. Would we be allowing administrators to relist AfD debates that are closing as delete when they want to keep an article? Of course we bloody wouldn't. J Milburn (talk) 09:03, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Discriminatory Speech

User:Destinero has a long history of abuses on English Wikipedia; please refer to his Talk Page. However, he has crossed an important line. He is now reverting edits not because of content but rather based on someone's religious upbringing.

Currently, there is a request for informal mediation about an FAQ he has posted on Talk:LGBT parenting (refer to FAQ section on the Talk page). Prior to reverting my edits to the FAQ, Destinero, first responded to the overall issue in the "edit warring section" of the Talk Page. Here he announced that my edits were without merit because I am called "a Catholic." diff: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:LGBT_parenting&curid=7466558&diff=381854425&oldid=381686223

Immediately after, Destinero reverted my edits to the FAQ because (as the history states), it was deemed "a catholic POV." http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:LGBT_parenting/FAQ&curid=28555328&diff=381855423&oldid=381685670

These incidents fall under the "Banned activites" section of Wikipedia:Discrimination.

I had thought this was a debate about statistics not religion, since there is nothing catholic about what I have said. Nevertheless, Destinero has reverted to discrimination rather than argument. People have encouraged him in the past (see last entry on his Talk Page from admin Ckatz) but to no avail. How can this behavior be acceptable on Wikipedia? Please help.Tobit2 (talk) 12:30, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Sorry for you feeling discriminated. But it is OK to point out you have self-evident religious POV and continuously still do not understand the difference between statistics and developmental psychology. LGBT parenting obvisously deal with developmental psychology. The methodologies used in the major studies of same-sex parenting meet the standards for research in the field of developmental psychology and psychology generally. Proper research methods and standards in social sciences are determined through a rigorous peer review process that is conducted by established scholars in individual disciplines and sub-fields. When scholarly papers are submitted for publication, the research methods used, the analyses conducted, and the findings drawn are critically reviewed. The studies specific to same-sex parenting were published in leading journals in the field of child and adolescent development, such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The journals Child Development, published by the Society for Research in Child Development, Developmental Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, and The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry are the flagship peer-review journals in the field of child development. Most of the studies appeared in these (or similar) rigorously peer-reviewed and highly selective journals, whose standards represent expert consensus on generally accepted social scientific standards for research on child and adolescent development. Prior to publication in these journals, these studies were required to go through a rigorous peer-review process, and as a result, they constitute the type of research that members of the respective professions consider reliable. The body of research on same-sex families is consistent with standards in the relevant fields and produces reliable conclusions.

Thus, you simply can not just come and change everything you do not like or you do not understand enough. We have Wikipedia policies here and this is a reason why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:LGBT_parenting/FAQ was created (the same reasons for why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Evolution/FAQ). Please stop destroying all efforts leading to improve the quality of article and do not push up your religion-based POV anymore. Wikipedia has to stick to the facts documented by most credible sources available (scientific and expert bodies). You can not change the content of LGBT parenting on objections of a Nock who has no experize in the relevant field and don't understand the difference between statistics and developmental psychology as is the same case with you. --Destinero (talk) 13:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Your attemt to discredit me on behalf of several mostly religious and ultraconservative individuals on my talk page with POV countering fundamental Wikipedia policies and recommendtions of scientific consensus, up-to-date evidence based on the most credible sources available where owerhelming majority of thousends my contributions to Wikipedia stay intacted for years in spite of dozens of active editors and thousands viewers a day is absolutely embarrassing. Of course the truth would out every time so far and the truth will out this time, too. My The Tireless Contributor Barnstar and two LGBT Barnstars on the Talk page speak for themselves just like thousands of edits http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&limit=500&target=Destinero helping to develop several key articles when owerhelming majority of these contributions remains undisputed and gently accepted for years as can everybody who is not much lazy to check. Your games are useless and waste of time. --Destinero (talk) 13:35, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Please try to comment about the content and not the editors. What you posted on the talk page appears to be unacceptable Destinero; I'd encourage you to avoid using similar rhetoric in the future. --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 13:38, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps User Destinero needs to edit some additional topics, he is editing in a very narrow topic field in which he appears to have own issues and strong personal beliefs. Off2riorob (talk) 14:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

There is no policy here which would prohibit editors to edit the topic they have deep knowledge about just because the majority of others maybe prefer to edits dozens of topics with limited knowledge. Nowhere is written that editor should edit certain number of topics to be useful for the project. It is just a nonsense. But I agree the discussion should be focused on the content and Wikipedia fundamental policies rather on the editors. --Destinero (talk) 15:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I have nominated the FAQ for deletion as it appears to have serious POV issues. Christopher Connor (talk) 16:02, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I would like to point out to Off2riorob that it IS indeed policy that we NEVER ban editors from editing a topic based on religion EVER.Camelbinky (talk) 19:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, wherever that is coming from I agree with you. Perhaps you misread something or misunderstood something. Off2riorob (talk) 19:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Meant to put Destinero's name, but was typing while I was reading your comment and hands went one way. I apologize for typing your name. Just realized it and came to fix it but you got here first and then two e-c's. Nope I didnt misread anything. I know what things you tend to write.Camelbinky (talk) 20:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

"[W]e NEVER ban editors from editing a topic based on religion EVER" - unless those editors are Scientologists and that topic is Scientology. Delicious carbuncle (talk) 21:13, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Not true, Scientologists aren't banned from Scientology pages. Only edits from computers owned by the church itself are banned from those topics. This is a distinction I've had to deal with a lot in various conflict of interest disputes, it's a COI because it's an organization promoting itself. Someone who professes to believe in the teachings of Scientology yet uses their own personal computer from their home and isn't employed or in any other way operating on behalf of the church itself isn't in violation of the ban. -- Atama頭 23:14, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As a previously ininvolved editor I would like to invite other editors and admins to monitor the MfD discussion closeley as there are some comments and responses that are bordering on the line of NPA and AGF violations. Hasteur (talk) 20:59, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Indeed. A nasty little discussion. Should have let someone else deal with it and take the flak. WP will never get over its POV problem though. Christopher Connor (talk) 02:16, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Concerns about userpage User:Ivan Ješík

The above user page contains detailed information that could conceivably be used for identity theft or fraud against the user. Does Wikipedia have regulations about this if the user voluntarily posts the info? Quasihuman (talk) 14:22, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Ouch. It looks like they tried to create an article on themselves and, when it was deleted, have simply bumped a hell of a lot of personal details into the user page. Given that we cannot confirm if this person is who he is claiming to be I think it should be deleted ASAP --Errant [tmorton166] ^(chat!) 14:35, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Cut n dried WP:NOTFACEBOOK, user has never touched a page other than his own. Toss it. Tarc (talk) 15:00, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Maybe, uh, ask him nicely to consider removing that sort of info from his userpage before taking it to ANI? I agree with Tarc, though, 1300 userspace edits and 0 mainspace means a lack of understanding about Wikipedia's purpose. —fetch·comms 15:02, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

He has been asked to remove it, see his talk page. Given the presence of bank account numbers and copies of personal documents such as birth cert etc., I think this should be deleted (along with the history). We simply cannot know whether he is who he claims to be. It is hard to conceive of someone being so careless as to post that kind of info. Quasihuman (talk)

I've left a note on Anthony Bradbury's talk page (who warned him on his talk page) asking for a clarification of WP:NOTMYSPACE, item 1. In my opinion, this gives us the license to remove that information. The user has made 1,306 edits, five of which are deleted (probably to Ivan Ješík), and the rest is all on his user page (well, 0.54% is to his talk page). The guy lists who he's borrowed money from, his car accidents--and the section User:Ivan_Ješík#Relax, is that about when he had sex? (That's what "relax" often means in the old world). Seriously, this is ridiculous and makes a mockery of the project. Drmies (talk) 15:23, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I've blanked the page and created a deletion discussion at Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/User:Ivan Ješík, which is a more appropriate venue than ANI for discussing the deletion of a userpage. --RL0919 (talk) 15:27, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As I've noted there, I've deleted the article and restored it without the history. I'm wondering if a block is in order, though. Every single one of his edits has been to his userpage, barring a tiny number to his talk page. All his deleted edits are from him move-warring with admins over trying to put his userpage in the mainspace. The guy is obviously not here to help the encyclopaedia. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 15:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I don't see justification for blocking a user over cluelessness that extends only to his own userspace, and the move problems are a week old, a bit stale for a block in the absence of any continuing disruption. If he was actively disrupting elsewhere, or if he becomes disruptive in the future, for example by repeatedly recreating the userpage that will almost certainly be deleted, then sure. But for now I think deletion of the page should suffice. --RL0919 (talk) 15:57, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I was trying to assume good faith; but on consideration, removing the page content is reasonable. A block would not be. --Anthony Bradbury^"talk" 16:16, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Could a checkuser please log any info connected with the account's editing? If the user is who he claims to be, then saving the IP address (etc) has almost zilch privacy impact compared to what was already in the userpage. If the page was a joe job then the checkuser info should be saved for law enforcement. Checking for socks also seems appropriate given the egregious abuse that might have been going on. Also, the old page contents (now deleted) should be oversighted. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 18:35, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

While we are discussing this nasty page, should File:Ivan_Ješík_30.jpg be deleted? — Train2104 (talk • contribs • count) 22:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Talk:Namoa

I came across the Talk:Namoa talk page. And, to me it looks like a some type of content fight with inclusion of personal attacks and uncivil behavior. Someone could take closer look at this. --Kslotte (talk) 19:51, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

User requested clarification / WikiSRW

Hello, clarification is needed into determining if WikiSRW can be unblocked. However, the articles he wants to edit have to do with the company that he works for, Vector Marketing. He is not banned for COI, but banned because his account is a sockpuppet of another account he created See here: [49].

Nearly everthing is here on the talk page: user talk:WikiSRW -- Phearson (talk) 20:02, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I've unblocked. It's obvious they didn't intend to deceptively use alternate accounts, and they have now been advised of the COI guidelines.. –xeno^talk 20:28, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Biography verification (Annette Gordon-Reed)

HDLRDB (talk · contribs · logs) has identified as being this person and has made several edits to "their" article. One change I am unhappy about is changing the subject's place of birth to one which doesn't match the references. Obviously if this really is the article's subject, we would expect them to know where they were born; but is it? Could someone sweet, kind and patient, and with a GSOH, please take this on? I have neither the time nor temperament to do this effectively today. Thanks a lot. --John (talk) 20:36, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I left a talk message asking them to contact OTRS. I actually couldn't see where the user self-identified as the article subject but I took your word for it. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 21:03, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Thank you. Here's where they self-identify. --John (talk) 21:25, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

No prob. I wonder if I went overboard a bit with the OTRS contact request, but I couldn't think of anything else to do, if you're expressing a real concern about the birthplace stuff. In another biography I worked on, the person came by and made some uncontroversial changes and I simply accepted them after a talkpage chat, without feeling any need to doubt the authenticity. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 01:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

That would normally be my attitude as well. The problem, as I know you realize already, is we need to be thoroughly convinced that we are not being hoaxed. This case worried me especially as the purported subject wanted to change the PoB to one that contradicted references and for which no reliable source could seemingly be found. If we can be convinced that this is really the subject, I would agree that she is a reliable source for her own PoB. --John (talk) 02:53, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

If we can be convinced that this is really the subject And there's the rub. We cannot, generally speaking, without OTRS involvement and some actual leg-work. Much better to just stick to RS'es in the absence of such proof. Jclemens (talk) 04:14, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

OK. I'm not convinced that this is the type of info a hoaxer would likely mess with, but I guess it's good to authenticate accounts of biography subjects in general, in case they need to bring up any other issues later. I changed the title and added the person's name to the header of this thread, so she and OTRS can find it. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 05:55, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Meantime, I have removed the PoB entirely from the article. I'd rather not have it there at all than take the risk we are being spoofed with a false one. --John (talk) 18:08, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

99.225.136.84 continues to edit war after returning from block

99.225.136.84 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) is a SPA who has returned to much of the same inappropriate behavior since being blocked on 26 Aug. A previous ANI was not completed, because he was blocked while the report was being written. To give him credit, his edit-summaries and comments are less combative. His edits since returning from the block consist of:

• Reintroducing an improper synthesis [50] [51] (two reverts). Credit again that he's not edit-warred over the tagging of this information, as he has done previously with other information.
• Continuing to remove sourced information [52] [53] (two reverts), most of which has been discussed previously on the article talk page
• Restored the claim of it being unaccredited [54] (one revert), despite this was the focus of him being blocked previously, we have sources to the contrary, and we have multiple lengthy discussions on the matter on the article talk page (almost everything since Talk:University_Canada_West#Accreditation).
• He's made a few comments on the article talk page [55] [56] and one to his talk [57]. While he's communicating, he's ignoring the past discussions and the sources that contradict his viewpoint.

All five edits to article space that he's made since returning from being blocked are reverts of information he was edit-warring over before being blocked. --Ronz (talk) 22:13, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Sounds like he's moving in the right direction, even if not as fast as we would like. Suggest he find or be assigned a mentor who can help. Jclemens (talk) 04:12, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Apparent socks

• 99.225.136.139 (talk · contribs)
• 99.225.138.205 (talk · contribs)
• 99.225.160.205 (talk · contribs)

--Ronz (talk) 16:25, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

His subsequent editing since notification of this report is much improved. Hopefully, this will be the last. --Ronz (talk) 18:56, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Flogging a dead horse?

Article

Only Girl (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

Issue

• I don't mean to sound crushing and i dont want to be seen to be rushing things along or to be influencing the outcome but isn't the current AfD a Snowball?
• Also the article is massive tangled mess because one wave of unreliable sources was added for the single in the first place and now a second wave has been added to say that the original sources were a rumour and infact a completely different song with a different release date will be released instead. -- Lil_℧niquℇ №1 | talk2me 23:04, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

So, why the rush? It's a music rumor which has been repudiated, with is part of the reason we have things like WP:HAMMER codified as expectations. It'll get deleted soon enough, whether or not someone SNOWs it closed. Jclemens (talk) 04:11, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

User: AllahLovesYou

Resolved

 – One month block on SyedNaqvi90 resumed as he is in violation of his edit restrictions. — Kralizec! (talk) 01:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

User:AllahLovesYou (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Hello, User:AllahLovesYou is continuously vandalizing all the information related to Islam in Pakistan, Religion in Pakistan, Sectarian violence in Pakistan, Shia Islam and Shia Islam in Pakistan. He has been repeatedly removing crucial cited information all this articles according to his perspectives on an account of a lame excuse of cleaning up several articles relating to religions in Pakistan, He has some serious issues regarding Shia Muslims being mentioned 10%-30% and argues that Shias only make up 10-20% of the Muslim population in Pakistan. With out reaching a wide consensus on the respective talk page of the articles he goes on reverting my edits completely over here, here while he is vandalizing pages related to Shia Islam or regarding their demographic issues. Including repeated removal of this neutral third-party source claiming Shia Muslims of being nearly 30% in Pakistan. Not only that, AllahLovesYou is being disrespectful towards me and Wikipedia policies by ignoring my warnings on his talk page. He has been using multiple citations in an article to point to two different formats of the exact same reference a work which is misleading. I find AllahLovesYou as an extreme vandal, a sectarian oriented user and an editor inciting religious hate by trying to impose his point of view on bases of bogus editing over here while disregarding others. Anyway, he disagrees with the above source and claims that this is an unreliable news article and that Shia are only 10%-20% and not 30%. This reflects his childish mentality. I have repeatedly told him that Wikipedia is all about giving readers a wider perspectives by showing them both sides of a coin, while he prefers it to be only and only what he thinks is right. I'll appreciate if you take an action against him and users like him. And instead of realizing his mistake he reported me to the un-block admin, for the very reason that i have been hindering him from being successful on his evil intentions. Regards! SyedMANaqvi (talk) 23:27, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Content disputes are not the same thing as vandalism. AllahLovesYou appears to be engaging in talk page discussion, does not seem to be edit warring or violating 3RR. I see no warnings on this user's talk page. I see you have accused him of blackmailing you in your ANI notice, and that he has reported you to the admin who blocked you previously. One solution is to request full protection of the articles in dispute on WP:RFPP so that nobody can edit them while you work out what the articles should contain. Be aware that if you make such a request, the version you want will likely not be the one that ends up getting protected. ~Amatulić (talk) 23:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Not using the discussion talk page, over here. Before editing Shia Islam in Pakistan i reached a consensus with User:Humaliwalay and User:Houn. While User:AllahLovesYou is not.SyedMANaqvi (talk) 23:50, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

But he is explaining his reasoning in the edit summaries. You, on the other hand, have violated WP:3RR, which makes you eligible for being blocked. ~Amatulić (talk) 00:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I didn't mean to voilate the 3RR 24-hour rule, guess i didn't realize it, hopefully will follow it in future. My apologies. SyedMANaqvi (talk) 00:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I know, that's why I didn't slap a warning on your talk page. In any case, be aware that it's unlikely any administrator will block an editor over a content dispute when there isn't really any disruption going on. Disputes are stressful, but unless there's edit warring going on that violates 3RR, there's no disruption taking place. There are several dispute resolution avenues that you can pursue. The simplest, if the dispute is between only two editors, is Wikipedia:Third opinion, but a third opinion should be requested only if discussion has reached an impasse. ~Amatulić (talk) 00:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I can't believe he reported me here when in fact he is the one falsifying all those articles that he mentioned at the top with links that don't even work. I mean just take a good look at his recent edits regarding these articles, he completely removes the top most trusted academic sources such as Pew Research Center, Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford University, CIA World Factbook, U.S. State Department, and others.[58] His behaviour is very disruptive and he has a long history for getting blocked but continues to edit-war and not only that but removes properly sourced content from articles that doesn't suit him. There is not a single source that states Shias in Pakistan being 30%. I already explained that the news article which User:SyedNaqvi90 keeps using in every article is an error made by the editor of that news article and under no circumstances can that be used in Wikipedia to claim Shias being 30%. I explained this to SayedNaqvi90 on his talk page [59] as well on on mines but he didn't reply anything to that.--AllahLovesYou (talk) 01:01, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

The multiple reverts SyedNaqvi90 (talk · contribs) performed on Islam-related articles this week clearly show he is in violation of the editing restrictions placed on him as a condition of the suspension of his previous block. As such, I have restored his one month block. — Kralizec! (talk) 01:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I've had a number of regular complaints about Syed on my talkpage ... as recently as yesterday. Funny, I told one of them to bring it to ANI ... and voila, the other person brought it here instead :-) The process does work (talk→ BWilkins ←track) 10:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Isn't this the point where Bugs says something about Plaxico? --Threeafterthree (talk) 16:43, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Nope, nope, nope, we don't talk about Plaxico anymore. We talk about stuff like boomerangs and petards these days. -- Atama頭 18:20, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Question regarding block oneself

This is tangential to the topic of this page (evading blocks, misusing administrator tools) but I'm curious enough to ask, and I'm not sure where else to ask: As an admin, I notice I can pull up a block form on myself. I haven't steeled up the nerve to submit it. What happens when I block myself, or if another admin blocks me? Do I retain the admin rights to unblock myself? I thought I'd ask here before conducting a test on my own account. :) ~Amatulić (talk) 23:34, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

AFAIK, admins have the ability to both block and unblock themselves; however, if an administrator is blocked by another administrator, they should not unblock themselves, per Wikipedia:BLOCK#Unblocking. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 23:41, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

As for conducting a test-block on oneself, I don't know how the community views that. I don't see how it should be a problem as long as you're just testing it out, but perhaps I'm wrong. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 23:44, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes you can block yourself, it is a technical violation of WP:UNBLOCK to unblock your own block. It is doubtful that Arbcom will get on your case about it, however, it is probably smarter to simply avoid the issue and instead block one of the accounts that are mentioned in the New Admin School pages as provided for that purpose. Don't ask me where, it's been almost two years now--Wehwalt (talk) 23:46, 30 August 2010 (UTC).

I did some digging; ThisIsaTest is the username in which admins can practice blocking on. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 23:49, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, I know about those practice accounts. I was wondering, rather, if me blocking myself would have any effect on my admin rights. I guess there would be no effect. ~Amatulić (talk) 23:53, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh, I see. No, a blocked admin can in theory continue to carry out adminly actions, such as blocking and protecting, and can unblock oneself, however unblocking yourself is very, very frowned upon, and the last one I saw got an immediate ArbCom case for his trouble. Not sure if he was desysopped or not.--Wehwalt (talk) 23:56, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

If you block and unblock yourself, there wouldn't be any community or ArbCom sanctions for that, I've seen it happen before. Now, if someone else blocks you and you unblock yourself, that's when you'll run into trouble. 174.52.141.138^{Also 67.136.117.132}00:13, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

IP is correct. For technical testing purposes, for example, self-block-self-unblock is merely gauche, not a serious offense anyone cares about. Make sure you label your block / unblock as a test, to avoid confusion.

Don't ever unblock yourself if someone else blocked you. That way lies desysops and the pit of despair. Even if the block of you was a horrible mistake, get another admin...

Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 00:49, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I would also be concerned about autoblocks if you have a dynamic IP address, or if you share an IP address with other users. --Rschen7754 00:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

That isn't an issue, because an admin account isn't normally affected by autoblocks unless it's been blocked directly. See Wikipedia:IP block exemption. Graham87 02:08, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, the concern is for other users who might happen to use that IP address. --Rschen7754 08:16, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I expect that all of your sockpuppets from the same IP, if you have any, would also get blocked, and that might cause additional drama. Not sure how that works. Edison (talk) 02:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

There's also several cases where admins have accidentally blocked themselves... [60][61][62][63][64] The Thing // Talk // Contribs 02:37, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

You know, if you want to worm your way into infamy, there are much more interesting things you can do as an admin, but WP:BEANS... ;-) Jclemens (talk) 04:06, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, considering I'm already in there, accidentally blocking myself would be a minor bruise to my ego. ;) The Thing // Talk // Contribs 14:23, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

When the Tan debacle went down there were plenty of examples wielded around of admins test blocking themselves. Only a crazed pedantic editor would object to something like that (unless it was just nuts for other reasons). Shadowjams (talk) 06:34, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Can this image be found

Once upon a time there was an image (probably of the Belvedere Fountain, certainly of Central Park) at File:Centralpark.jpg.

Three things happened:

- Someone overwrote it with an irrelevant image for which no license or source was actually provided. - Someone requested (and got) a move to Commons - The original image apparently went missing from the database (as I discovered when I went to undelete it).

I have deleted the irrelevant image from Commons, if only for lack of clear license. I'd love to restore the old image (and then move it to Commons) but have no idea if this is even possible under the circumstances.

FWIW, I'm an admin on both en.wp & Commons. - Jmabel | Talk 01:07, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I think we lost it in the images snafu of some time ago; I get this when I try to view the oldest version:

"Although this PHP script (/w/index.php) exists, the file requested for output (/mnt/upload6/private/archive/wikipedia/en/s/e/k/sekesku13r5b6k8lmrriyg6rtfcmwnk.jpg) does not."

If that's correct then it's probably gone for good. Anyone with more technical insight into the image loss incident want to comment on it? Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 01:19, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Move this to WP:VPT, perhaps? —DoRD (talk) 01:35, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Move it anywhere you like. Given George's answer, I'm going to move on to other matters, but if someone else can recover the image, of course please do. - Jmabel | Talk 01:42, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Masonic Temple (Lahore)/User:Doncram

Masonic Temple (Lahore)/User:Doncram

I prodded this for not showing any sort of notability. Doncram removed my prod, and did not address the issues in the prod. I then AfDed it. Don, in his search for sources, clearly stated on the talk page that there was copyvio [65]. I checked the date on the source (a personal webpage), and it was 2009. The article creation is dated 2010. I therefore rm'ed the copyvio [66], as I should have per policy, and Don reverted it [67] claiming that I was "gutting an article I AfDed" when he was the one who found the copyvio in the first place. Don then commented on Talk that we could perhaps use the page as a source[68], which we cannot as it is a personal site per RS. The copyvio restoration is blatant violation of policy, and the statement to use a clearly unusable source is indicative of a lack of understanding of fundamental WP policies, which may explain the sort of stubbing activity going on with Freemasons Lodge Building (Karachi). The pattern of behavior is now going from toeing the line to clearly violating fundamental policies, with no indication of understanding of said policies, or his own wrongdoing and disruption. Now can some administrator intervention occur, please? MSJapan (talk) 02:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Additionally, Don has resorted to PA in his AfD comment here. MSJapan (talk) 02:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

The building seems notable to me. The issue with copyvio and when or when you cant use a personal site (and yes there are instances in which you can use self-published websites) is not an issue for the AfD, articles are NOT deleted due to problems like references. Wikipedia is a work-in-progress. All that needs to be shown for it to survive AfD is for it to be notable. It is notable. Now can the drama end and work to improve that article begin?Camelbinky (talk) 02:22, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Could you show me where notability is asserted for the building (as opposed to the organization that last used it over 30 years ago), or where a reliable source indicates that the building is notable? MSJapan (talk) 02:30, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Umm, this is adding up to harassment. MSJapan seems enraged that I and others are developing articles on Masonic-associated buildings that are wikipedia-notable. I don't have a "lack of understanding of fundamental WP policies"; i noted a possible copyvio in the one case and was taking appropriate action by giving notice and asking other editors' views on the reliability of the Alberta source (see what I actually wrote at Talk:Masonic Temple (Lahore). I do object to his gutting an article while it is under AFD that he just started; he should leave the substantial editing to others IMHO. I object to MSJapan's kneejerk prods, AFDs, and ANI incident reports upon his noticing something he is not familiar with, did not invent, or whatever. --doncram (talk) 02:27, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Fine, I quit. Do what you want. MSJapan (talk) 02:31, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Copyright violations need to taken seriously, and notability does not override that as they directly violate the GFDL/CC-BY-SA; WP:PRESERVE cannot apply to copyright violations. If there is a possible copyright violation, the entire article needs to be flagged as such (via {{subst:copyvio | url=insert URL here}}) and reported to Wikipedia:Copyright problems. –MuZemike 03:40, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, copyvio is serious, but not an issue for ANI. Also, central reporting of copyvio is not required if dealt with by knowledgeable enough editors at a given article. What i objected to was MSJapan being the one to jump in and reduce the article, seizing upon a possible copyvio that i had identified, as if to make the case for the AFD he had opened. Indeed he argued in the AFD that his elimination of material about the building supported the article's deletion. It would be more appropriate for other editors to address the copyvio. Update: any copyvio has been removed well enough now i guess, though rebuilding of the article using an acceptable source is not complete. I interpret MSJapan's "do what you want" statement above as indicating there is no further issue here requiring ANI attention. Let me know if I should come back here and respond to anything further. Thanks. --doncram (talk) 13:43, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

No, you're right that it's probably not an ANI issue at this point, but since it was mentioned here (as I do watch this page), I might as well comment here about it :) Anyways, I compared both passages, and it looks like it was already addressed, but I haven't looked into that much detail so see if there is still any structual copying, plagiarism, etc. going on, and I don't feel like doing so. –MuZemike 16:00, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Talk:Christopher_Monckton,_3rd_Viscount_Monckton_of_Brenchley#stubbing_CC_section

Further information: [[:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard#Christopher Monckton, climate change BLP|Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard § Christopher Monckton, climate change BLP]]

Please could an uninvolved admin take a look here. I've just had a lengthy discussion Scott MacDonald about his decision to blank a section of the article, which is currently locked. There is no BLP concern with the material (Scott appears to agree with this) but there is a content dispute as to whether it conforms to NPOV. Hence the lock. However, once an article has been locked, should we all just accept that it may be the wrong version? Following the lock, Scott has deleted the material because of the NPOV concerns of some editors. He won't be drawn very much on his thinking, but isn't this an unusual way to deal with an NPOV dispute? It appears partial to me. --FormerIP (talk) 02:16, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Why not try this? Count Iblis (talk) 02:26, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Endorse Scott's actions. He has no dog in the CC fight but he is a good judge of how best to apply BLP policy and errs on the side of caution. As should we all. ++Lar: t/c 03:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

There is BLP concerns with the blanked material. As Scott MacDonald told you, we give the benefit of the doubt to BLP subjects. Cla68 (talk) 04:17, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Endorse Scott's stubbing of BLP content until consensus is reached or Arb case concludes. Disclosure: I have been involved in editing the article, and I am the one who posted the notice on the BLP noticeboard asking for uninvolved BLP editors to help with this article. edit to add -- it appears that Scott is a completely uninvolved editor and has no position on the content and is only enforcing BLP policy. Minor4th 05:14, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Seems to me that non-neutrality is a BLP concern in its own right. All our articles are required to be neutral. If a BLP section contains 18 reliably-sourced facts but all 18 of them are selected from a one-sided partisan perspective, the section needs to be made neutral or blanked. It's not ok to protect on the wrong version. I didn't check whether that's what's going on in this incident. 67.119.3.248 (talk) 08:21, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Some background here: this BLP has been locked several times due to editors warring over BLP material. Last month, a group of editors tried to force a link to an obscure professor's unpublished presentation, critical of Monckton, into Monckton's BLP. Monckton is an outspoken critic of climate change consensus, so that makes him open season here for attack -- editors who call themselves "pro-science" digging for every nugget of unsavory or inflammatory information they can find and arguing relentlessly to get it all into the article, regardless of whether it's out of context, non-notable, or even unpublished. This has been going on for years, and whenever an admin steps in and takes the slightest action to remove the offending material, they are immediately accused of bias or using their tools to advance their position, even if they've never edited in that domain before. This is the same script I've seen played out probably a dozen times in the last few years, and Scott MacDonald is the latest victim. ATren (talk) 11:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

• Endorse Scott blanking out the BLP material. GregJackP Boomer! 12:23, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Sanity review please

Resolved

 – Solid new admin double checking good work. Toddst1 (talk) 08:10, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I have just blocked Devastan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and 173.30.108.160 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) for 48 and 24 hours respectively. Both were involved in the insertion of personal attacks and generally inappropriate material into the now thrice-deleted Wikipedia:Dismemberment. As these are my second and third-ever blocks, including my first on an IP, I request review of my actions on this matter. Nikkimaria (talk) 04:55, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh, and I just noticed this bit of loveliness...Nikkimaria (talk) 04:58, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

I've upped the account's block to indef - attack page, no other productive edits. IP block is fine, I think, and can always be redone if the idiocy continues. Carry on! Bencherlite^Talk 05:09, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Also blocked LoculNostru (talk · contribs) for 2 weeks (some productive edits before today) for personal attacks, probably related. Feel free to revise up or down. Bencherlite^Talk 05:13, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

You've done fine, and for us admins this is like getting a hug. If your user page isn't getting attacked you're probably doing something wrong. :) -- Atama頭 05:25, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Okay, thanks guys, appreciated. Nikkimaria (talk) 13:19, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Harassment by User:Serenusaurelius

Resolved

 – Serenusaurelius warned about EW, CIVIL and ARBMAC. Anonimu blocked 1 month for repeat EW, ARBMAC sanction imposed Toddst1 (talk) 07:17, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Serenusaurelius (talk · contribs), an editor with just a bit over 100 edits in about 10 articles, keeps harassing me, using a block I got three years ago in an attempt to tarnish my reputation and win a content dispute. This has been going for a while, but is becoming increasingly uncivil, with summaries such as [69], [70], [71], [72] (note please the "smiley faces" after the malicious comments, further proving their only purpose is to aggravate me). Serenusaurelius attempt to portray me as a rogue editor, despite the fact that since my last (admittedly longer than usual) ban in 2007 I had a clean log, prevents external editors from discussing the disputed content. Serenusaurelius's behaviour seems even more serious, considering than a couple of members of the now demised WP:EEML were set on a campaign to harass me and block me for my supposed un-Romanian opinions. Serenusaurelius incidentally (or not) began editing during the scandal surrounding the publication of the EEML, still has no userpage 10 months after registering, has made less than 10 talk space edits, and only edits subjects about Moldova (note that User:Dc76, an editor who used to edit only Moldova topics, my main attacker in the EEML bunch, has stopped any editing some time before the EEML case has ended, despite the fact that he is only topic banned, and free to edit Wikipedia otherwise. His sudden stop in editing in 8 months ago makes it impossible to start a checkuser investigation). Hoping the community will help re-establish decorum, Anonimu (talk) 07:00, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Check, please.

Resolved, there is no need for a CU or for another ANI circus (see Gimmetoo/Gimmetrow); move along folks. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 12:07, 31 August 2010 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Would someone like to look at User talk:Timothymarskell? Timothymarskell (talk · contribs) posted to Serendipodous saying he was Marskell (talk · contribs), that he'd lost control of his password, and wanted them to nom for adminship. (Marskell has been on Wikibreak.) they did. TM has transcluded this 3x and been reverted. The last time after saying he was going to bed and would not answer further questions. He says he won't answer the emails piling up, so if it is Marskell, he still has control of his email and need simply reset his password. 4 users on the talk page have said they don't think it's Marskell. If it is Marskell, this is all very peculiar. I'm for blocking for disruption, but hesitate because Xeno and Rlevse did not. Will notify of this post after I make it. Dlohcierekim 09:40, 31 August 2010 (UTC) If CheckUser policy allows it I'd support a check on the IP range to see how likely this is. Shadowjams (talk) 09:54, 31 August 2010 (UTC) Non-admin comment: Timothymarskell's own email is not enabled. So if Timothymarskell really is Marskell, then by his own admission he has access to Marskell's email (he says the emails are piling up), and so he could request a password reset and carry on with his old account. If for some reason there is still something preventing that, he could have cooperated with the various attempts to help him establish his ID - quoting something from an old email from someone he has corresponded with in the past, for example. But all we see is evasion, refusal to engage with any constructive suggestions, refusal to accept that he can't have two admin accounts, and a blind insistence on re-transcluding his RfA multiple times. Also, a number of people who know him from the past Marskell have opined that there are stylistic differences between the writing of Marskell and Timothymarskell. To me, this all adds up to the possibility of a fraudulent attempt to usurp admin access by pretending to be someone who has recently taken a Wikibreak. -- Boing! said Zebedee (talk) 09:55, 31 August 2010 (UTC) What Dloh' said. There's a million ways this user could have verified his identity, but he has consistently refused to cooperate. His insistence that a pointless RfA should proceed, coupled with a grossly offensive edit to his own userpage and his behavior on the talk page is enough for me to conclude that this user is more deserving of a block than be (re)granted administrative rights. Support block for disruption / impersonation. decltype (talk) 09:57, 31 August 2010 (UTC) Agree with both of the above. A Check User might confirm these suspicions, but that's probably unnecessary. Shadowjams (talk) 09:59, 31 August 2010 (UTC) It is being looked into. Please do not take any action until the examination is complete. It would also be helpful to avoid making any further accusations or speculating for the sake of the party(s) involved. Thanks. KnightLago (talk) 10:39, 31 August 2010 (UTC) There is no need for a checkuser here; can we please avoid yet another unnecessary Gimmetoo/Gimmetrow ANI circus? There is no need for this thread. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 12:06, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

A suggestion

Admins, I've noticed that the noticeboard is under common attack from IP's who's edits are disruptive and are required to be redacted. Well why not just put the noticeboard under semi-protection to save anyone the trouble of doing the task of removing it from the history. The C of E. God Save The Queen! (talk) 13:48, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Because sometimes IPs make legitimate posts here. Although, I wonder about patrolled edits here. here's enough watchlists to ensure they are approved in seconds if the edit is legit.--Scott Mac 13:50, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Possibly a good idea but I thought PCP had finished it's trial? The C of E. God Save The Queen! (talk) 13:53, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

User:Charlelacroix

User:Charlelacroix (talk) has now received two "final" warnings regarding his persistent vandalism of the article on Tom Perriello. A few of the problematic and reverted edits can be found here: [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [81], [82], [83]. Can somebody look into this? Arbor832466 (talk) 14:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

The place for vandalism reports is WP:AIV. David Biddulph (talk) 15:05, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Reported it over there. Thanks! Arbor832466 (talk) 17:50, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Latin America

Would someone have a look at the slow-brewing revert war over at Latin America (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)? I was contacted yesterday by an editor requesting assistance, but I have a major potential conflict of interest and would rather avoid any accusations of bias. Frankly, I'm not even sure admin intervention is required at this point, but the issue could definitely use some fresh eyes. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 14:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Systematic and Arbitrary Edit Reversion by Crispincowan

I recently [reverted an edit] by Crispincowan for being original research and notified him of such. I recommended that if Crispin still felt his information was appropriate for inclusion that he should discuss it on the article's Talk page. [84] Since then Crispin has arbitrarily reverted edits that I've made. Examples- [85], [86], [87], [88], [89]. I would appreciate it if someone would speak with him regarding this behavior, or advise as to how I should proceed. Thank you very much for your time. Doniago (talk) 14:44, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Pinged Cowan at his talkpage. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 15:03, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Thank you for the prompt assistance! Doniago (talk) 15:08, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Help with images uploaded by promotional editor(s)

User:Jhillx01 seems like a run-of-the-mill promotional editor good-faith single purpose account (Steven G. Kaplan /Rainstorm Entertainment associated films and performers), but they have uploaded images to both Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Commons that seem likely to be copyright violations accidentally mis-attributed. The images are File:Rainstorm.jpg, File:Rainstorm1.jpg, and File:Stevekaplan2010.jpg.

User:JeffWolverton seems to share Jhillx01's interests and methods. They have uploaded images (File:JacquiHolland.jpg & File:Jacqui Holland.jpg) of a performer, Jacqui Holland, which appear both on IMDB and the performer's own website. See also similarly named User:Jwolverton, who may or not be related. Really, who can say? It may also be worthwhile looking at the Commons uploads of User:Campbellx01 who has uploaded images of a related performer.

Can someone who is an admin both here and on Commons please take a look at this? Thanks. Delicious carbuncle (talk) 16:27, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Just in case they are an official promoter I left a message on their talk page about releasing images via OTRS. Panyd^{The muffin is not subtle} 18:28, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Block review, please

Resolved

I blocked this user for 2 weeks. See block log and edit summary for details.] Any follow up needed? Dlohcierekim 18:32, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Why not indefinite? Since he claims to be a sock of Wikinger (talk · contribs).... CIreland (talk) 18:35, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

'Tis an IP. Looks like Zzuuzz (talk · contribs) just upgraded it to a five-year proxyblock... tagging resolved. –xeno^talk 18:37, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

See http://pingwinojad.blog.pl/xiega/index.php He archives all his posts at his blog. 81.200.4.107 (talk) 18:58, 31 August 2010 (UTC)