Wikipedia talk:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerks

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

Clerks' Noticeboard

Trainee/clerking interest and discussion

Active requests

Bonadea

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

I don't know how pressing the need for more clerks is right now, but it is an area where I'd be interested in contributing more. I have created a bunch of SPI reports in the years I've been an editor, and I believe I have a fairly strong knack for evaluating behavioural evidence. Examples of reports I've created over the past year are here (the ones from 25 May, 22 Sep, 22 Dec, and 28 Dec), here, here (two reports), and here. --bonadea contributions talk 14:53, 30 June 2022 (UTC)

0xDeadbeef

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

I am interested in helping to reduce the backlog if any need arises. Here's one large case I dealt with. 0xDeadbeef 14:40, 20 July 2022 (UTC)

I'm concerned that much of your recent activity at SPI gives the impression of trying to build up a 'track record' for applying for clerkship rather than doing what is strictly helpful or necessary. While adding comments and evidence to SPIs is appreciated if it is pertinent, commenting for the sake of commenting is likely to result in comments that are not so pertinent, and if they are misguided, such as [1] and [2], it creates more work for clerks and admins. In my opinion, the post you linked above somewhat misses the point. Even with the additional information, the evidence is not strong enough to feel comfortable blocking without CU, and CU is not possible because all but one of the accounts are stale. This is not to discourage you from participating at SPI, but I am not sure that clerkship is the right idea at this point. Spicy (talk) 13:32, 22 July 2022 (UTC)

Spicy, Thanks for the comments. The diffs you have linked are comments I made when I didn't even know what SPI clerkship means, so no, I was not trying to build a 'track record'. My only intention was to help. I made those mistakes because I wanted to help and I learned a lot from making mistakes. In regards to the post I linked, that SPI case was more of an excuse for myself to write more code for my mediawiki library, and I agree isn't a good evidence for my involvement in SPI. If the kind of evidence I presented for that case does not contribute to the process, I will not bring them up again (if it makes more work for clerks and admins). With that said, if the clerks and checkusers feel that a clerkship might be too soon for me, I will not take the feedback as discouragement from SPI. 0xDeadbeef 13:56, 22 July 2022 (UTC)

tag-check.js broken, and fixed

Sometime yesterday, tag-check.js started to fail in mysterious ways, and the problem spread from case to case. To make a long story short, the problem was a change in Parsoid's behavior which turned out to be a legitimate change which my script couldn't handle. Individual user accounts became affected one by one (in a manner not unlike the zombie apocalypse) as various back-end caches timed out and the new parse output was exposed. Thank you to Izno and SSastry (WMF) to quickly figuring out what was going on and suggesting an effective fix. Said fix has now been deployed to User:RoySmith/tag-check.js. -- RoySmith (talk) 02:13, 14 July 2022 (UTC)

cuwiki link on Template:Sockpuppet category?

Template:Sockpuppet category, which is used on sock category pages, uses {{user21}}. Would it be possible to add a link to checkuserwiki, similar to what shows up on {{checkuser}}? Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 19:21, 3 August 2022 (UTC)

I don't see why not, but when I took a look at the source for {{user21}}, my head started to spin. I think all that has to be added is

[https://checkuser.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Search&search={{urlencode:{{{1|Example}}}}}&ns0=1&ns2=1&ns14=1 cuwiki]

but I'll leave it to somebody who speaks template better than I do to make the change. -- RoySmith (talk) 19:37, 3 August 2022 (UTC)

@L235 and RoySmith: I've added this to Template:User21/sandbox and hid it for non-CUs. I know that it works but I am not sure if it will need consensus to be added. 0xDeadbeef 04:30, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks. It's a shame we can't do this on Special:Contribs directly since that's MediaWiki hardcoded (see [3]) – unless a script could do that? Anyway, I started a brief discussion on the talk page and will implement the sandbox change in a few days if nobody objects. Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 07:22, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

@L235: You might be looking for Template:Sp-contributions-footer. 0xDeadbeef 12:38, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks. I was more referring to the header which is fixed. Best, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 23:20, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

MarioGom as clerk trainee

I am happy to announce that MarioGom has been accepted as a clerk trainee. Mario has been doing some SPI for for a while, and brings to the table a solid understanding of how proxies are used in the real world by people trying not to be seen, and how to detect them. -- RoySmith (talk) 01:16, 8 September 2022 (UTC)

Congrats on the clerk traineeship. Dreamy Jazz ^{talk to me | my contributions} 08:50, 8 September 2022 (UTC)

• Welcome to the team, MarioGom! "SPI if it were an IRL workplace" joke goes here. -- Tamzin^{[cetacean needed]} (she|they|xe) 22:15, 8 September 2022 (UTC)

• Thanks Roy, Dreamy Jazz, Tamzin! "Awkward workplace introduction" goes here. MarioGom (talk) 06:12, 9 September 2022 (UTC)

Welcome, MarioGom! Congratulations on the traineeship! --Jack Frost (talk) 03:55, 10 September 2022 (UTC)

UserCompare out, spi-tools in?

There was a previous discussion about removing UserCompare from the {{sock list}} template, and adding spi-tools [4]. Nobody disagreed but participation was fairly low. I think it's a cheap and useful change. Can we make it? MarioGom (talk) 16:49, 9 September 2022 (UTC)

Works for me :-) -- RoySmith (talk) 18:57, 9 September 2022 (UTC)

I'm going to be bold and do this now. Dreamy Jazz ^{talk to me | my contributions} 21:35, 9 September 2022 (UTC)

@Dreamy Jazz Actually, now that I think about it, it would make more sense on {{SPIarchive notice}}. It's per-case, not per-account. -- RoySmith (talk) 00:35, 10 September 2022 (UTC)

But this is fine too. Thanks! -- RoySmith (talk) 02:23, 10 September 2022 (UTC)

Thanks! MarioGom (talk) 17:48, 11 September 2022 (UTC)

SPIs by PravinGanechari

I have concerns about PravinGanechari's engagement at SPI. This editor has been very prolific at SPI recently - within their rather short editing history about 9% of their total edits have been made to SPI, which is one of the highest proportions of anyone who is not an admin or clerk. Many of their SPIs are lacking in evidence or are nearly incomprehensible. See e.g. WP:Sockpuppet investigations/Siddhartha sengupta2001 (G6'd), WP:Sockpuppet investigations/Mickeydkop/Archive#19_August_2022, WP:Sockpuppet_investigations/Yash_Prasad9/Archive, WP:Sockpuppet_investigations/Syed_amjad08/Archive#03_September_2022, WP:Sockpuppet_investigations/Aarshshahproduction/Archive, WP:Sockpuppet_investigations/Aditya_rao63877, WP:Sockpuppet_investigations/AtharvVaibhavMinase (G6d). There's also this inappropriate comment. I will grant that some of their SPIs are actionable (perhaps because finding socks in the Indian TV topic area is like shooting fish in a barrel). However, in my opinion, far too many of the SPIs from this editor are inappropriate fishing expeditions or confusing messes that place an undue burden on a process that is already backlogged. It's my understanding that per Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/SPI/Clerk_and_checkuser_procedures#Patrolling, any full clerk may ask a user to stop contributing to SPI, and in my opinion this would be appropriate. However, since I've been involved with many of these user's filings I would like input from other members of the SPI team before proceeding. I've pinged the editor so that they're aware of this post. Thank you, Spicy (talk) 15:58, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

I had also asked a question about this in the Tea house . Yes sir i have made some mistakes no problem you can take action. It would be best to block sir. Thank you PravinGanechari (talk) 16:16, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

Blocking is an unusual suggestion. You will lose access to the Wikipedia Library. You can just stop filing SPIs if there is a consensus for you to do so. 0xDeadbeef 16:25, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

It would be better to block me because my language is Kannada and Hindi. I can read and speak English perfectly, I find it difficult to write. There is a lot to learn in the SPI case. Yes, you allow me to take the help of a user for the language. So I promise I will not give you a chance to speak in SPI. PravinGanechari (talk) 16:42, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

If you want, stop me from creating the page, but give me a chance to do the SPI case. This is a sort of mess cleaning job. PravinGanechari (talk) 17:26, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

I have no idea what you're trying to say here, which is part of the problem. Spicy (talk) 17:34, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

Wait sir PravinGanechari (talk) 17:43, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

नमस्कार सर , मैंने SPI के बारे में Teahouse में भी सवाल पूछा था। हाँ सर मैंने कुछ गलतियाँ की हैं. यह गलतियां सिर्फ मेरी भाषा की वजह से हुआ है बाकी कुछ नहीं. मेरी भाषा कन्नड़ और हिंदी है। मैं पूरी तरह से अंग्रेजी पढ़ और बोल सकता हूं, मुझे लिखना मुश्किल लगता है। SPI case मामले में सीखने के लिए बहुत कुछ है। ( मैंने खुद Fact Check के लिए हिंदी और कन्नड़ के लिए 2 साल काम किया है ). आप मुझे भाषा के लिए एक उपयोगकर्ता की मदद लेने की अनुमति देते हैं तो मैं वादा करता हूं कि मैं आपको SPI case में बोलने का मौका नहीं दूंगा. मेरे लिए SPI case करना मतलब गंदगी साफ करने जैसा है. आप चाहे तो पेज क्रिएट करने में आप मुझे रोक दीजिए. नहीं तो आप मेरे ऊपर जो चाहे कार्रवाई कर सकते हैं. ( Please Languages Translate Cc: Ravensfire, usernamekiran ) PravinGanechari (talk) 18:05, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

@Spicy: I agree with your assessment, and have asked PravinGanechari to stop — TheresNoTime (talk • they/them) 18:28, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

Sorry, I'm unable to translate. PravinGanechari, I share some of the concerns raised above. In the Akshay Singh Rajput Thakur SPI (very overdue for cleark/cu review, hint hint hint), you added Satyamsinghsengar to the list, saying one edit shared a single word, Rajput. That's the sole connection you found. That's way, way too small of a connection to try and tie to a particular sock. It looks like you're just putting every account you find that's edited the same article as a sock. You need SOLID and SIGNIFICANT evidence. Right now, you've shown you don't understand what that means. Taking a break from SPI and just editing would be helpful. Ravensfire (talk) 18:31, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

Ok, After today I will not do any kind of SPI case PravinGanechari (talk) 19:22, 16 September 2022 (UTC)

Thank you moving to other activities. Nobody wants to block you, so we are very happy that you have found something else you enjoy doing on Wikipedia. Cheerio and happy editing! 🙂 Mako001 (C)  (T)  🇺🇦 13:57, 18 September 2022 (UTC)

Jack Frost promoted to full clerk

I am pleased to announce that Jack Frost has completed his training and has been promoted to full SPI clerk. Folks, please commence the ritual hazing at your earliest convenience. -- RoySmith (talk) 17:07, 19 September 2022 (UTC)

Merge cases?

I'm not sure if this is the right place to request merging of SPI archives, but anyways:

Shouldn't Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Tscdrwh be merged into Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Awolf58? Steel1943 (talk) 18:09, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Based on what evidence? -- RoySmith (talk) 18:42, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Tscdrwh was declared to be a sockpuppet of Awolf58. Steel1943 (talk) 19:26, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

All Sir / Mam Please Request

Hi Sir / Mam

I have a little language problem. Because of that I have made many mistakes while reporting on SPI. And I admit I have made a mistake but I need a chance to correct my mistake. All of you are requested to give me one more chance to report on SPI case. And I promise I won't waste your time