Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive79

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Noticeboard archives
Administrators' (archives, search)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350
351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360
361
Incidents (archives, search)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350
351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360
361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370
371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380
381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390
391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400
401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410
411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420
421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430
431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440
441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450
451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460
461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470
471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480
481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490
491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500
501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510
511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520
521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530
531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540
541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550
551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560
561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570
571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580
581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590
591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600
601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610
611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620
621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630
631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640
641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650
651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660
661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670
671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680
681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690
691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700
701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710
711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720
721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730
731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740
741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750
751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760
761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770
771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780
781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790
791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800
801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810
811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820
821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830
831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840
841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850
851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860
861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870
871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880
881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890
891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900
901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910
911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920
921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930
931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940
941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950
951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960
961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970
971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980
981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990
991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000
1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010
1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020
1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030
1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040
1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050
1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060
1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070
1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080
1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090
1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100
1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110
1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120
1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130
1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140
1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150
1151 1152 1153 1154 1155
Edit-warring/3RR (archives, search)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350
351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360
361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370
371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380
381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390
391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400
401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410
411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420
421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430
431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440
441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450
451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460
461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470
471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480
481 482
Arbitration enforcement (archives)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
331
Other links

KDRGibby breaking parole with impunity[edit]

I wish to bring to your attention the recent activities of KDRGibby, who I'm sure you'll remember from this ArbCom case. Since the closure of his case (which resulted in him being put on parole and probation for personal attacks), Gibby has made the following comments on the talk pages of articles on my watchlist. Keep in mind that I have not covered all his contributions; many more personal attacks could exist. What I find amazing is that no admin has yet taken it upon himself to enforce the ArbCom decision and block Gibby (I believe the maximum punishment is in order for such blatant disregard not only for the community, but also for the ArbCom itself):

  • [1] "Bad bad bad electionwood!...you are making the socialist free market conflation mistake! free market limited government advocacy does not mean anarchy! Stop that fallacious assumption please."
  • [2] "the complaint is actually...stupid"
  • [3] "The neutrality complaint is stupid. [...] Nikodemos is simply on a communist hell bent anti libertarian tirade."
  • [4] "Ironically you make the same sophomoric arguement that you complain about. Free markets are only an impossibility if you don't understand what the word means."
  • [5] "I've got a word for you, its BULLSHIT. You are not allowed to do this. You guys make so much shit up all the time to get rid of stuff, its creative, but it really shows you guys are running out of intellectual steam, arguements, and freaking material."
  • [6] "You lefties are so gd amazing! ITS NOT MY POV that is expressed... The section of the article is REPORTING the views of Brink Lindsey of the CATO INSTITUTE. He has a published book which you can read!!! THIS IS NPOV. STOP ABUSING WIKI RULES TO CENSOR MATERIAL YOU DON"T LIKE!"
  • [7] "This is the problem with people like you. [...] Nothing is deleted because I reverted your vandalistic censorship like deletions."
  • Disrupting wikipedia to make a point: [8] (added "only because citing free market economists is obviously pov" in a NPOV tag).
  • [9] "There is no neutrality dispute you are simply ignorant of the meaning of NPOV and neutrality. Reporting what other people think does not violate this. Learn the rule!"
  • [10] "ANd it is, your own ignorance is no excuse however. Citing and reporting an author is not POV. Stop it. Stop the total bullshit!"
  • [11] "Nati, you are making up crap again. You are one of the worst editors here and you have a knack for deleting content you don't like for any reason you can think of."
  • Refusing to keep a NPOV tag on a disputed article: [12] "the tag is evidence once again that only left leaning views are acceptable here. Leftists hate information that contradicts their own poorly held views. The tag does not belong because the criticism section is already NPOV."
  • [13] "Niko just wants to delete Friedman because he conflates Friedman with libertarianism rather than understanding that Friedman is an economist who just so happens to scientifically prove that markets work better than any alternatives and that free markets are the best form of market economies. Thats it. He wants to delete this information because he disagrees with it. BUT REMEMBER NIKO...we are only reporting what Friedman says. But seriously, I think your scared people might start to see how rational his thoughts really are and just might start agreeing."
  • [14] "Don't bitch about cited Friedman and Hayek material you disagree with. You are starting to irritate me with your lazy deletion censorship-like methods."
  • [15] "Its the circus I refer to on my user page. Its also called BS." (referring to the actions of a number of users)
  • [16] "If you are in fact a leftist of some sort, it is very likely you would not understand or want to understand if Friedman himself explained it to you."

Collected by Nikodemos 06:19, 1 March 2006 (UTC).

This is from my talk page. Parole is enforced by administrators. Fred Bauder 13:54, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

User:KDRGibby[edit]

KDRGibby was blocked for supposed violations of his personal attacks parole. See Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/KDRGibby#Log_of_blocks_and_bans. His comments may have been angry, but, if they're in response to someone removing sourced edits without explanation, to a certain extent justified. If he's blocked, at least the people deleting valid info should be too. Please review this block.- Mgm|(talk) 17:49, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

  • Personal attacks are personal attacks, and KDRGibby knows full well what making personal attacks will cost him. To quote WP:NPA, "There is no excuse for personal attacks on other contributors." Incitement to riot is not an excuse for rioting. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 17:59, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
Then could you explain exactly what part of his edit was a personal attack. All I see is anger, but as far as I know that's not a blockable offense. - Mgm|(talk) 18:57, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
I'm pretty sure that when KDRGibby says, "You lefties are so gd amazing!" he's not referring to his fondness for southpaws. Lumping his opponents together using a term clearly meant to be pejorative, all wrapped up in a number of comments that certainly fall outside the bounds of civility, is a personal attack—and moreover is something that someone who knows he is on an attack parole should know not to do. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 19:43, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
Also, we don't block for "removing sourced edits without explanation". If an editor has violated WP:3RR, please feel free to list that at WP:AN/3RR. Jkelly 18:09, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
We should. Why wait for an edit war if it can be nipped in the but my simply requiring an explanation? - Mgm|(talk) 18:57, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
You might then propose a policy change. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 19:15, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
That was only one edit among 20 others — see the top of this page - see header 2 of this page. He's started similar behaviour again, after his block. Can someone please review his edits. Elle vécut heureuse à jamais (Be eudaimonic!) 01:13, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

I've decided to investigate Gibby's most recent behavior, since the expiry of the block instituted by Tom Harrison 22:23 on March 1. Since it expired he has made an incredible 60 edits,

Firstly looking at his edit summaries alone I see:

  • "the nuetrality dispute is because the leftists won't allow factual cited criticism to be present. stop abusing wiki rules for political purposes.)"
  • "that is not a legitimate reason to revert the text. You will do anythign to keep outstuff you don't like won't you. The other editors deletion excuse was it need sp corrects. I say fix it then"
  • "sorry you deleted cited credible material again, this is bordering on vandalism..."

In the arbitration case, it was found that KDRGibby has said things like (names etc removed):

  • "X is an immature communist brat from P who keeps deleting this and my other sections from Wiki, she has violated the 3rev policies multiple times and gets away with. Has no logical arguementation skills, and no ability to defend her deltions.
  • "Y you are an Fing MORON! You delete Hayek's interpretation as PROPOGANDA? What BS"
  • "rules mean nothing here, fuck the wikis the little bastards can't follow their own rules, and dont edit my own discussion page."

and that these were personal attacks. Okay maybe the edit summaries weren't in quite the same category. Accusing people of abusing the rules, activities bordering on vandalism, and being willing to "do anythign to keep outstuff you don't like" may all be legitimate criticisms, though the edit summary is hardly an appropriate place to make them.

Of those recent edit summaries, only calling someone a leftist could possibly be interpreted as an attack. What he said before his arbcom case is not relevant to a block one places now.

While he was blocked, KDRGibby said this on his talk page:

  • "I try civility, but its very hard when dealing with so many moronic logically inconsistant editors and biased lazy administrators who only follow the rules to suite their political prefrences against users they ideologically disagree with." [17]

Well that's a personal attack but it's a fairly diffuse one. The "moronic logically inconsistant editors and biased lazy administrators who only follow the rules to suite their political prefrences against users they ideologically disagree with" aren't actually named (though we could infer). And in any case it could be a legitimate complaint (has he filed an RfC?)

So let's see what else he's been up to:

Since being unblocked he has said:

  • "Oh and comparing classical liberals to "elitist republicans" not only shows your own bias, but extreme ignorance!!! They are nothing alike! Not to mention you have no citation for your little original research. Your entire edit is predicated on your own original research while erasing the publicated cited researched sources that say things you disagree with. YOU HAVE TO DO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS! (Gibby 23:58, 2 March 2006 (UTC))" [18]
    • Pretty angry stuff. And very strong criticism. But not perhaps in the realm of personal attack. Just not polite.
  • "I'm not calling you a vandal, i'm calling you a left wing censor." [19]

But the sheer weight of these edits must be crippling to dialog. He is permanently angry and he had made 60 edits to just 10 or so articles and their talk pages. The Committee found that he "consistently fails to assume good faith" and this seems to be what is at the bottom of his disruptive behavior.

While I don't think another block is necessarily merited (he's angry as hell, but not as bad as he has been), his behavior still falls far below an acceptable level and if it continues he *will* be repeatedly blocked for personal attacks. I do think this problem editor's activities on the following articles, amongst others, should be monitored, and if necessary we should consider banning him from those that he disrupts:

In the arbitration case, it was found that he had engaged in tendentious editing, edit warring, removal of large blocks of information, and acting immaturely (WP:POINT was cited). Remedies include an impressive array of probations for disruption. It would probably be a kind act to ban him from editing articles that obviously cause him great mental anguish, rather than letting him continue to get angrier and angrier until he lashes out again. --Tony Sidaway 02:59, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Well, Gibby has continued his behaviour and aggressive revert warring. Any action going to be taken? Elle vécut heureuse à jamais (Be eudaimonic!) 19:54, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

KDRGibby (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

A number of administrators are now trying to modify this editor's bad behavior. If he acts badly, he gets a very brief block (a few hours at most) and a note explaining precisely why he has been blocked. We can hope that he will quickly learn to stop doing the things that cause him to be blocked. --Tony Sidaway 01:59, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

He was just blocked a couple of minutes ago for three hours. I subsequently protected his userpage (warning removal vandalism), afterwhich he attacked me in email. I told him I wouldn't tolerate another outburst, because, and I believe strongly that, most of us want to see him become a conducive editor, and I was trying to be fair. I haven't listed the page on WP:PP (useless, since it's only three hours), though. NSLE (T+C) at 02:03 UTC (2006-03-07)

StrangerInParadise spambot spamming userpages[edit]

I've just blocked this user 31 hours for, as the block message puts it: "Personal attack spamming on userpages (apparently bot-assisted)". This [20] is a good example. He's been cranking these out at a steady pace. Mindspillage tried cluifying him [21], but it appears to have been clues to the clueless - he responded and kept going, somewhere past thirty or forty. I recall IZAK was strongly rapped by the AC for hitting ten or so userpages, and not even with personal attacks ... this sort of partisan spam attack is exactly why many people regard userboxes as blatant encouragement to factionalist attacks of this sort. And why they deserve immediate attention. Anyone severely upset by this block? - David Gerard 00:20, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Nope. Using Assisted-AutoBrowsers and what not for this use is dispicable.Voice-of-AllT|@|ESP 00:39, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
As mindspillage says: "Vote stacking. It's not good. This is the reason people are against userboxes in the first place. It's just not on to go rally people you think will support you and urge them to sway a discussion a certain way." (the emphasis by bolding is mindspillage's own)
Let's stop this now. It must be killed, dealt a blow from which it will never recover. We need a solid ruling from the arbitration committee against all vote stacking. Otherwise, I just cannot see our principles of making decisions on policy by consensus surviving. We cannot have decisions by consensus if some editors feel free to subvert every attempt to determine that consensus. --Tony Sidaway 00:45, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
The vote-stacking part of this is bad, of course, but it isn't the only concern. Would his actions have been any less reprehensible if he hadn't mentioned the ongoing policy discussions in his message? —Kirill Lokshin 00:50, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
What amazes me is the lack of comprehension that spamming is bad. Doesn't he have email? - David Gerard 00:54, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
He probably thinks it's acceptable if it's for a good cause. There are a number of people who have spammed various people with messages that essentially boil down to "DOWN WITH THE ADMIN CABAL!" recently; maybe we should just go ahead and create Wikipedia:No revolutions, to discourage such things. —Kirill Lokshin 00:57, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
He claims on his talk page that he did not use a bot. He does appear to have been using cut'n'paste or subst:ing a custom template. Not that I care deeply - it's odious behaviour and you will see from his talk page that he's utterly unrepentant. I noted that IZAK got ten days' ban for spamming talk pages with personal attacks, which suggests that 31 hours is so short as to be out of process; presumably StrangerInParadise should have the option of the longer penalty if he prefers - David Gerard 00:47, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
It's certainly possible to do this sort of thing just using Firefox with a large number of open tabs. —Kirill Lokshin 00:50, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Or javascript tabs.Voice-of-AllT|@|ESP 00:52, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, I've done something similar doing cleanups of double redirects in article space without a bot handy ;-) - David Gerard 00:54, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Tony people have been trying stop this now for quite a while. The only result is anger and the ocassional counter strike. It isn't a time for action any more. It is a time for talk. For negotation. The reasonable people on the various sides need to come to an argreement and freeze out the unreasonable ones. This is of course going to take time. However the is no other option that has any chance of working in the long term.Geni 02:03, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

I entirely support the block and agree with David Gerard that it's a relatively lenient one in all the circumstances. However it is in some ways fortunate that StrangerInParadise has come along to demonstrate exactly why Categories of Wikipedians by POV are wrong at just the point that it comes under discussion. For myself I would say that I would have much less hostile feelings toward Userboxes in general if none of them had included categories. Whatever process is used, we need to have a resolution of the Userbox problem which reminds everyone that Wikipedians are supposed to leave their POV behind, and Categories by POV are so far away from that that I really can't see why anyone can defend them. David | Talk 00:57, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Butting in here, I just want to note that, as far as I can determine, every proposed userbox policy, old and new, has included language to the effect that double categorization (by templates and categories) is unnecessary. I believe it's not far fetched to say that there already is a consensus for the position that, no matter what one may think about templatized userboxes, the inclusion of categories is at best redundant. Until SIP came along, nobody seemed to particularly mind the removal of categories from templatized userboxes. In the present case, insisting on having an advocacy category as part of an advocacy template is especially wrong. The usual disclaimers about "disclosing biases" etc. don't apply: the "pro-cannabis" template and category are advocacy for a cause that is completely external to Wikipedia (and the same would hold for a hypothetical "anti-cannabis" category, in case that wasn't obvious). The point is that no amount of editing Wikipedia can effect the changes advocated by the people who sign on to this template/category. As such, the advocacy is purely external, as opposed to Wikipedia-related advocacy (e.g. "school articles should be improved not deleted"). The way SIP went about this makes me question his motives and wonder whether a longer block (say, for the duration of UPP) may be more appropriate. --MarkSweep (call me collect) 01:39, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
In my opinion, it's becoming clear that internal WikiPolitical categorizations are an even greater problem that external political ones. —Kirill Lokshin 01:00, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I fear you may be right. David | Talk 01:01, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Yeah but the m:Association of Inclusionist Wikipedians has been around forever and even killing the more recent Wikipedia:WikiProject Inclusion is probably more trouble than it is worth.Geni 02:03, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
On the other hand, that particular group is rather less confrontational that some of what we've been seeing lately. —Kirill Lokshin 02:08, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Yeah. It's not a problem until it's a problem. Userboxes weren't a problem until (1) the Association of Catholic Wikipedians (2) the idiots who tried to vote copyright violations into force in userboxes in the face of Kelly Martin foolishly doing the sensible, legal and on-policy thing. When it is a problem, then treat it as a problem - David Gerard 02:23, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I don't recall much (other than complaining) being done about school watch back in the day. The on policy thing would have been to remove the images and leave the boxes. Unfortunetly Kelly Martin chose not to do this. A lot of stuff later here we are. No you can either try and continue the conflict or you can let people talk things out.Geni 02:45, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
This example seems on the face of it disingenuous - as you know, Schoolwatch actually did lots of work on improving articles in the face of people who wanted to delete almost all school articles. That is, it was directly for the encyclopedia - David Gerard 12:25, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I'm not sure where Schoolwatch fits in. It wasn't an organization, just a regularly updated wiki page. All Wikipedians were free to edit it and anyone could add the page to his watchlist. There was no spamming of user talk pages. --Tony Sidaway 15:27, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Yeah. The sensible and on-policy thing would have been to remove the images and leave the boxes themselves alone. (And I'm not at all convinced that this is a "legal" issue - I'm not aware of any cases where anyone has even been sent a C&D letter, much less actually sued, for using fair use images in this way. It's simply a matter of Foundation policy. No need for m:Copyright paranoia.) And I also don't see why every user on Wikipedia should have to pay for the sins of the "Association of Catholic Wikipedians". Crotalus horridus (TALKCONTRIBS) 02:49, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I have written up an idea that would take us out of the userbox wars while removing the ability to vote stack. I think this could make people on both sides of the userbox debate happy without resorting to any more mass deletions. Please tell if this would be possible. Wikipedia_talk:Proposed_policy_on_userboxes#Technical_Solution.--God Ω War 06:35, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I don't see it mentioned here, so I'll just note that Babajobu unblocked at 01:22, 5 March 2006. Rx StrangeLove 06:41, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Conversation with StrangerInParadise in IRC led me to believe that he does not see why his actions were inappropriate and that he would continue them, reducing the issue to the oversimplified "why can I not contact a list of people?" and not acknowledging his actions were any more than that. The thought that this is acceptable practice is more harmful than the placement or removal of any silly colored boxes. As such, if StrangerInParadise doesn't realize how his actions were harmful and plans to continue then, I'm fine with the block, and would like to know why Babajobu believes it should be undone; I'm inviting him to this thread. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 07:28, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Addendum to this: after a long conversation with SiP in private message, he's agreed that the mass of dissent this is attracted is cause to question his actions. He's also taken issue with my statement that I believed he would continue. I'll accept that he was done with that round of notifications, and in light of the reaction to it would seek clarification before undertaking other such actions, but I'm still not quite convinced he sees why I and others believe this was so wrong. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 23:29, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Just as you were writing this I put the block back on for 12 hours, I thinks it's a basic courtesy to make a note of it when someone reverts an action when there's an ongoing discussion. There seems to be a decent consensus for this block here. Rx StrangeLove 07:35, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I feel like I want to expand a little why I re-blocked, when Babajobu unblocked he mentioned in the summary that the block needed a discussion, but he didn't discuss or mention the unblock anywhere. I wouldn't have done this if he had said something here, on Davids page or even on StrangerInParadise's talk page. But I don't think it's right to do it and then not mention it to anyone. Rx StrangeLove 07:58, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

I've deleted three of this user's subpages, as they were only used to stack votes by spamming user talk pages. Note that the user encouraged other users to do the same using these user templates[22]. The pages in question are {{User:StrangerInParadise/PCI}}, {{User:StrangerInParadise/AbstainerMsg}}, and {{User:StrangerInParadise/VNOUPP}}. // Pathoschild (admin / talk) 08:07, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

WTF. That's an unrepentant spammer. When the block comes off, I hope admins will be watching this user extremely closely - David Gerard 13:01, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
hmm did we ever get an outright apology from Ram-Man? Should we be watching him to?Geni 15:18, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Hi, I'd like to apologize for unblocking Stranger last night without discussing it first. In fact, I wasn't even aware of this discussion, but my normal M.O. when I disagree with a block is to query the blocking admin (in this case David Gerard) rather than just unilaterally lifting the block. What I did was in very bad form. I had an overly pleasant Saturday evening out in Dublin with some friends, returned home on the Luas and then made the egregious error of WWD--Wikiing While Drunk. First time in over 7000 edits that I've done that, and it shan't happen again! After revisiting the issue, I must agree that Stranger's spamming of talkpages (though AWB isn't a bot, each post is still submitted by the editor) with uncivil vote jockeying was very much inappropriate, and that because an initial effort to discuss it with him didn't meet with any success, a short block was not inappropriate. I do think, though, that 31 hours was far too long, given that there are what I consider to be very real mitigating circumstances. Users like Stranger are being relentlessly provoked and antagonized by admins who continue to implement the proposed template and category space policy while the poll is still ongoing. I support the new userbox policy, and will implement it if it is passed. But it makes a mockery of the entire process, and is a slap in the face of those users who are participating in the poll in good faith, to go on ad hoc deletion binges while mocking the concerns of affected users, all while we are supposedly still going through the process of developing a protocol about how these issues should be handled. As a wise man has said, "admins wield a mop, not a sceptre". When we act as though we wield a sceptre, it shouldn't surprise us when an irritated user starts spamming about rogue admins and attempts to "rally the newbs" against us. Anyway, again, apologies for my rash and undiscussed unblocking last night, I should have raised these issues with you rather than lifting the block. Babajobu 15:37, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
So you're saying that you think administrators should sit on their hands until a new written policy is formed? Sorry, doesn't wash. Wikipedia doesn't have a written policy on a lot of matters, but administrators will take action to defend the encyclopedia. --Tony Sidaway 15:47, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
What I think is that the ad hoc deletion binges are sowing enormous resentment among ordinary users, and are controversial even among admins, many of whom (myself included) believe that these deletions have done more to distract the community from its task of encyclopedia-building than the existence of the userboxen ever did. Moreover, Jimbo has explicitly stated that his words should not be interpreted as support for these sorts of deletions. I've never doubted for a second that admins who continue to delete the userboxen are doing so because they genuinely believe that they are acting in the best interests in Wikipeda, but not only do I disagree with them, I also think they are exercising a degree of authority that no one has ever given them. I think they have made adminship an *enormous* deal, have chomped down on tons of newbies, have fomented a pointless and unnecessary wiki-class-war, and accomplished very little else in the process. That's how I see it, obviously I know you disagree. But why not just wait until the new policy is established, when the same thing can be accomplished with considerably less controversy? Babajobu 16:20, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Uh, what? Grossly non-encyclopedic categories in userboxes have been considered a bad thing since they first showed up. And notably, Mark (and others) has been removing such categories from userboxes for the last while now (particularly since the Catholic Alliance thing showed they were susceptible to gross abuse) with no objections whatsoever ... until SIP decided it was a great case with which to demonstrate just why such categories are a serious problem. Are you seriously saying Mark should have been continuously checking just in case someone had written a poll on a heretofore uncontroversially-accepted action? That really doesn't seem reasonable or workable. The problem here is not that Mark was deleting odious categories that were accepted to be a bad thing, but that a user then objected to the removal of an odious category by acting in a further odious manner - David Gerard 17:02, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I'm saying he shouldn't go on deletion binges of categories and templates that as yet meet no criterion for speedy deletion, and then wheel-war over those deletions. If you think his doing so is fabulous for Wikipedia, we'll just have to disagree. I think we'd all be better off if he spent that time working on articles. Babajobu 23:31, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
The unfortunate thing is that the new proposed userbox policy is slowly losing any consensus it once might have had and editors are pushing to have T1 removed and probably will do so over the next day or so as there hasn't been much opposition to it's removal. We'll be left with no real userbox policy at that point. Rx StrangeLove 18:06, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Oh I don't know. There will still be the wikiproject's standards and the copyvio rules.Geni 20:17, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I think there is an operational consensus for the new proposed policy, and that it or something similar will likely be declared our site policy before long. Straw polls are useful, but they're not definitive, and we can make allowances for the preponderance of oppose votes by editors who were alerted through the Anti-censorship WikiProject and those who were alerted through talk page spamming. --Tony Sidaway 21:00, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
What I also find very disruptive was the mass reversion of people's talk pages who did get this message. I got the message, and, well I have quite a few userboxes. Alot of them have been subst'ed via Pathoschilds list, which I think is a nice thing, but I also voted against the overall policy. But that is not what this is for. I agree, there could have been a better way of going about telling users about the new Userboxen policy vote, but it was effective. Mass spamming is bad, but so is mass reversion. --Admrb♉ltz (T | C) 18:46, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
As the talk page spamming was directed exclusively at those who possessed userboxes, it could never be effective in alerting people about the poll. A small minority of Wikipedians have any userboxes at all; an even smaller minority have userboxes that would be affected by this poll. Alerting only a selected subsection of Wikipedians on a site-wide policy is de facto vote rigging. --Tony Sidaway 21:05, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
That depends. Alterting those most likely to be affected is logical justifable.Geni 23:14, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
For a system-wide policy? Uh uh: vote-stacking is vote-stacking. --Calton | Talk 23:44, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
It isn't system wide. The new policy wont effect me in any way shape or form (unless Template:Userpage is declared a userbox). No userbox policy can or ever will.Geni 23:59, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
That's funny, I thought this policy applied to Wikipedia, being, you know, policy. And since StrangerInParadise himself calls it a "Wikipedia-wide poll", he's undercut your defense of him. --Calton | Talk 01:42, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Please explain how it applies to the article namespace. The rest of your edit is an appeal to authority logical fallacy.Geni 01:50, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Isn't this a bit like asking that notices about a policy forbidding smoking in elevators should be preferentially directed towards people who are likely to smoke in elevators, with the intention of ensuring that they would comprise a disproportionate number of those peple voting on the new policy? This is a system-wide policy in that it would affect you and me as much as anyone else--to observe that we don't want to do what would be covered by the policy is fatuous. Of course we don't! But some people do, and that is why a policy is needed. --Tony Sidaway 02:10, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
The alturnative is generaly refured to as the tyrany of the majority. Whatever is decided on needs some level of acceptance amoung the userbox users as well as the non userbox users. It looks like more talk is needed. If people would stop trying to finsh things by dramatic gestures in the meantime it would be much apeatated.Geni 03:00, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

At long last, Stranger is free to reply to his many detractors[edit]

I did intentionally place a notice urging an Oppose vote on WP:UPP on the talk pages of 43 United Nations Wikipedians, and intended do 12 more (completing Wikipedians S through Z), and call it a day. Apart from knowing them to have been subject to MarkSweep's mass blanking and category depopulation efforts, I had no personal connection that I can recollect with those 43 contacted.

I intended to be partisan, and although I felt a strict obligation to be accurate, I did not consider myself any more obliged to present both sides of this discussion than those who go about declaring Userboxes are evil in official proceedings. Therein, I characterized certain acts as those of a rogue admin, as I believe that to be an accurate description of a mass blanking campaign using admin tools to disrupt an established Wikipedia process of categorizing Wikipedians by perspective, as well as to thereby depopulate categories so as speciously to qualify them for CSD-C1 (empty). My note did not constitute a personal attack, but did reference the specific reprehensible acts of identifiable persons.

I was unaware of either any policy prohibiting this, or the degree of outrage on principle this act would provoke. I was unfamiliar with the ArbCom ruling cited, and do not see that it would necessarily apply to a Wikipedia-wide poll. I did not at any time receive notice that my actions were prohibited, though I was paused in discussions with Mindspillage over her express concerns about them at the time I was blocked. The reader should note that this is the first time in five years at Wikipedia that I have been blocked for anything.

As to charges of vote-stacking, it remains unclear to me how one can stack a vote in a Wikipedia-wide poll. As Avriette has pointed out, this is somewhat counter-intuitive. To DavidGerard's comment that my acquaintance with email should have clarified for me how this is odious spam, I would point out that (outside of the peculiar world of Wikipedia) spam is an unwanted message undesired by and of no relevance to the recipient. In DR's own experience of email, how often does spam receive positive action and thank you notes?

Contrary to statements by Mindspillage and others above, I did not at any time indicate that I would continue to place notices if told it was prohibited. I was unblocked by Babajobu within minutes of my block- and correctly, as there was no prior notice and the allegation of a spambot was patently false. Reblocking was unnecessary, and only allowed the above unfounded criticisms to go unanswered. My intention was- and is- to seek clarification on what appears to be an undocumented region of policy about which several Wikipedians nevertheless have strong feelings.

As previously discussed, I placed the notices by hand, using a subst'd page from my userspace. This and two others personal pages have been deleted, without sanction by policy. Though recreating them would be trivial, I will ask that at least the latter two be restored to me, especially as that it was done by a coauthor of WP:UPP to pages critical of it seems more than a bit improper. Only one was used in the UN campaign (User:StrangerInParadise/VNOUPP). Another (User:StrangerInParadise/PCI) was used to personal contacts and pages I frequent at Wikipedia and only said that there was a vote, but did not make a recommendation. The third (User:StrangerInParadise/AbstainerMsg) was not used, but the intended use was an alternative to the lobbying on the pollingspace itself, which I thought unseemly (JesseW, the Juggling Janitor comes to mind as having been prolific, though I and others did as well).

Finally, I note with that combination of dismay and amusement unique to Wikipedia the naked politicking above by coauthors and proponents of WP:UPP, calculating the political influence and how best to salvage their losing proposal. MarkSweep's suggestion that I be banned for the duration of WP:UPP was extra-special in this regard. Any charges of undue influence and corruption of process should be considered in this light.

StrangerInParadise 01:00, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

StrangerInParadise, I'd like to take this opportunity to repeat some of our founder's words and ideas: here, we're all Wikipedians. We strive to be as civil as possible, to respect each other as much as humanly possible, and to assume good faith to the greatest degree. Calling admins "rougue", regardless of what you thought of their actions, is simply uncalled for; if you disagree with their actions, simply say so, but characterizing them in a negative fashion is uncalled for. In addition, as Mindspillage (who is a she, by the way) told you earlier, we generally don't like people trying to influence other people by placing mass notices on user talk pages. Remember, we're all here to work on an encyclopedia; calling a certain proposal to attention for selected Wikipedians is generally frowned upon. There are other ways of getting your point across. Please, Stranger, take time to reflect upon Jimbo's plea for calm and unity, and act accordingly. Thank you. Flcelloguy (A note?) 01:11, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I've commented previously that the actions described as rogue were so far beyond either civility or sanction that no assumption of good faith is possible. The term indicates restraint on my part. As to consensus, influence, and policy formation, this is a different and evolving discussion. I point out in my defense only that the proposal is already before an audience of largely selected Wikipedians, and that it is likely that, should it close at a significant number, the policy will be slammed into effect without reprieve. StrangerInParadise 01:30, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
As to charges of vote-stacking, it remains unclear to me how one can stack a vote in a Wikipedia-wide poll. By notifying only a small subset of people who can be predicted to vote your way, duh. This is so obvious I can't imagine how he could type this and still keep a straight face. --Calton | Talk 01:42, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
The very dynamics of how people have became aware of the vote suggest vote-stacking of a sort. The pretense that this corrupts the poll assumes it was not corrupted to begin with. The fact is that I could choose pools of Wikipedians at random to notify in the most neutral fashion, and support would continue to drop because this only has minority support. Make no mistake, I sought to notify only a small group of affected Wikipedians. If you like, do the same: where is this pool of anti-userbox sentiment? If you polled those who have responded to the poll as to
  • how they learned of the poll
  • whether they were administrators
  • whether they were motivated by an experience of vote-stacking
  • whether they were motivated by POV issues generally
...you would see how self-selected the respondants were. There are all kinds of interesting possibilities for, say, randomly-selected juries and voire dire, but that is another discussion to which to look forward. This is more than a small straw poll, there is every indication that the policy would be slammed into effect without reprieve. StrangerInParadise 02:16, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
You claim that "The fact is that I could choose pools of Wikipedians at random to notify in the most neutral fashion, and support would continue to drop because this only has minority support" but that claim is very easily exploded. Within days of its inception, this poll was publicised on Wikipedia:Village Pump (Policy) and Wikipedia:Current surveys, and Template:Cent. I do recognise that you're on a very sticky wicket here, defending what even you must recognise is morally indefensible, but it really isn't on to pretend that we're all stupid. --Tony Sidaway 02:32, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I stand by what I have said, which is hardly exploded by your statement. Village Pump (Policy) is read mostly by policy wonks like us, and cycles to archive rapidly. Current surveys and Cent I have never heard of, a shortcoming on my part shared by most of the people affected by this proposal. It is not difficult to see that this is, again, a self-selected group- not a bad group, just not representative. As for morally reprehensible, don't get me started.... StrangerInParadise 03:00, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
To be fair, Template:Cent appears on a lot of pages ( there a lot of archived pages on that list but plenty of active ones). Anyone both interested in this issue and at all active will run into it. I don't know how you can assume that most people affected by this have not heard of it. Rx StrangeLove 03:58, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I can only say, Rx, that your grasp of demographics is fanciful at best. StrangerInParadise 05:16, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Why do you think you can be uncivil like that? Rx StrangeLove 05:40, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

I find get-out-the-vote efforts, however they're conducted, to be democratic rather than anti-democratic. I don't see what's wrong with informing people of a policy debate, as long as all sides have the same right to do so. And I have zero opinion on userboxes. moink 03:11, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

I don't suppose you saw the message itself? What I really took issue with was the loaded language and serious assumption of bad faith in it. Accusing those on the other side of "sabotage" and destroying things, and urging them to vote one way or another, doesn't sit very well with me. A neutral message on the Village Pump or something would be fine. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 04:53, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
The willful destruction and bad faith is a documented fact, a fact you find distasteful, but a fact. StrangerInParadise 05:16, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Good point. Each side of this debate can campaign for votes. Since consensus is suppossed to be from all of wikipedia then the side with the most side should win.--God Ω War 04:00, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

This and other issues are not votes, nor a count of the most supporters. Rx StrangeLove 04:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Quite. It doesn't matter, in the end, how many of these activities are engaged in. If as I am now certain is going to happen there is a clear and very solid consensus for the proposed Userbox policy, it will be adopted. Those who engage in "getting out the vote" have completely failed to understand how Wikipedia's decision-making process operates. --Tony Sidaway 04:22, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Oh, you say this now, Tony and Rx, but had the vote gone your way, it would be the most important thing. What evidence do you have of this consensus, which as we speak falls below 60%. StrangerInParadise 05:16, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
But my point is that things are going my way. That you've attempted to sabotage it doesn't alter that. Allowances can be made. My evidence? Until the sabotage attempts began, when the poll was gathering a more broadly representative subsection of opinion, support showed well over 70%. Make no mistake, that you have resortee to blatantly underhand techniques is a sign that you have failed. --Tony Sidaway 12:37, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Yes, I know things on Wikipedia are not straightforward counts (although they're often treated that way). But having more opinions, more arguments, more viewpoints represented in a policy discussion... is that really a bad thing? moink 04:49, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
That's not a bad thing. --Tony Sidaway 12:37, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I think it was Gandhi who said, We have but to spit and the British would drown. This is the issue with this userbox policy, once even a few of those affected learn of it, it's over. StrangerInParadise 05:19, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
"I can only say, Rx, that your grasp of demographics is fanciful at best" -StrangerInParadise. I'm growing tired of StrangerInParadise's tendancy to engage in personal attacks and incivility when discussing issues. I'll just leave it at this, drawing large numbers into a debate is good, but Mindspillage said it best and I don't feel like repeating it. When the abuse starts I tend to tune out. Rx StrangeLove 05:56, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I can only direct you to the spectrum of abuse, threats, condescension and insults directed at me in this very proceding, and ask who has been more the subject of personal attacks. Then I'd direct your attention to Special:Whatlinkshere/Template:Cent, and ask you to count the pages that remain after eliminating Log pages, other templates, obscure policy process pages and links to the template, and reassess the statement, Anyone both interested in this issue and at all active will run into it? The odds of an interested party seeing this are very small, indicating my original point, that the poll has been largely before a select audience. StrangerInParadise 06:31, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Two things: 1) two wrongs don't make a right; 2) advising you you that what you are doing, in the strong opinion of a large number of commentators, is wrong does not constitute "abuse, threats, condescension and insults". The martydom act doesn't look good on you, and certainly doesn't grant you a self-serving exception to the norms . --Calton | Talk 07:44, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
If you have a problem with an editor there are dispute resolution procedures available for you to use. Personal attacks are not allowed and WP:CIVIL is official policy here. Thanks. Rx StrangeLove 06:43, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
With people performing out-of-policy blocks (and reblocks), incivility towards me is the least of my concerns. My commenting on your argument is not uncivil, even with a clearly facitious judgement on your reasoning powers. Don't take it personally. StrangerInParadise 06:56, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
The "I was only joking" defense doesn't really work and I'd ask that you stop making personal attacks and violating WP:CIVIL. If you'd like to continue this on my talk page fine, this isn't really the place for it. Rx StrangeLove 16:14, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Deeceevoice once more[edit]

Deeceevoice, just back from a block: "...JFAS seems to believe only white academics can have any credibility..." User on probation for racially related incivility, among other things. [23] Justforasecond 17:02, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Well, you have to admit that this could have been taken the wrong way. I understand what you meant, but I do believe that it was that particular comment that deeceevoice was responding to, and she was, in fact, answering your question. Chick Bowen 17:11, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
I think its pretty obvious I was responding with Urthogie's language. There was no need for DCV to elevate this into a personal attack on me. If this were in isolation it should slide, but DCV has an extensive history of incivility and not assuming good faith. Justforasecond 17:42, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
And you have an extensive history of needling her. Given that and your direct involvement in the present example, I'm sure you can understand that I'm having difficulty with the mental gymnastics of casting a good faith view on you bringing this up here - David Gerard 17:56, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Reminder regarding core Wikipedia policies Deeceevoice is reminded of the need to follow Wikipedia:Neutral point of view, Wikipedia:No original research, Wikipedia:Verifiability. and Wikipedia:Reliable sources. In addition, her attention is directed to Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not#Wikipedia_is_not_a_soapbox [[24]]

Deeceevoice removes sourced [25] [26]references prior to the 1920/30 Jazz era [27] and [28] and [29], and eventhough Deeceevoice included the etymology of "hipi" into Cool (African philosophy) [30] she removes the etymology of Cool from Cool, [31] and changes the section header from "Origins" to "Origins in African-American culture" [32], After a 3RR warning she single-handedly moves the whole page [33] "This page should be deleted" [34] [35] and refuses to source her edits eventhough Urthogie asked her to provide sources:

DCV, since you posted those statements of fact, can I expect you to have a couple sources by 2 weeks from now?--Urthogie 16:00, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

And this is Deeceevoice's response:

No. deeceevoice 23:33, 4 March 2006 (UTC) [36]

CoYep 20:45, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Justforasecond, is there a particular reason why you feel the need to bird dog Deeceevoice? User:Zoe|(talk) 00:02, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Because the user is upset about his white-history.com link being removed, see documentation here. - FrancisTyers 15:19, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
For serious. The last thing you pointed out was block-worthy, but this just looks like Wiki-stalking. See also Alabamaboy's RfA statement Ashibaka tock 05:58, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
You guys wouldn't think it were uncivil to say that you considered only contributions of white academics credible? Justforasecond 15:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
We know Deecee has a temper, but she makes good edits too, and in this case she is in the middle of a discussion about an article. Come back if she is actually being disruptive. Ashibaka tock 20:25, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Images in the Kelly Clarkson article[edit]

I've left several messages on the talk page of HeyNow10029 (talk) concerning images that he/she uploaded. Each one lacks a fair use rationale, and despite being informed of the policies at Wikipedia:Fair use and Wikipedia:Images, the user continuously reinserts the removed images. On one occasion in the edit history of the Kelly Clarkson article, the user wrote: "Image is fair use screenshot and should not be removed for copyright reasons, if you think there's a copyright problem get an admin to sort it out". This is rather peculiar — are they stating that removing the image from the article would qualify as copyright infrigment? Unfortunately, I am not aware of all of the guidelines regarding images and screenshots, however, another user, WAS 4.250, explained to him/her that the images did not justify as fair use. HeyNow10029 has been repeatedly insisting that because numerous other articles include images lacking fair use rationale, the Kelly Clarkson article should as well. I cannot locate the logic in this mess that has been created, but could someone help me with the situation? The current discussion between myself and this user is taking place here.

Since this predicament began, there are now several IP addresses (presumably devoted Kelly Clarkson fans) who have started reverting the new images that directly relate to the article to the former ones, which currently include questionable fair use rationale (with only two concerns). I would really appreciate it if someone more familiar with the image criteria would participate in this incident, because I can't promote the article with the current state. It may also be notable that several IPs are including patent nonsense and restoring vandalism. Any help would be appreicated. —Eternal Equinox | talk 01:26, 6 March 200

Geni has stepped in to attempt removing the "fair use" images. However, IPs have once again been constantly reinserting them. Since I've nothing better to do, here is a run-down of the edits that have commenced in the last twenty minutes:
Geni, "rm "fair use" image not being used for "for identification and critical commentary on the station ID or program and its contents""
Geni, "rm "fair use" images that are not "for identification and critical commentary on the station ID or program and its contents""
Eternal Equinox, "Placed appropriate image"
205.188.116.136, "identification ... (of a) ... program and its contents". The contents of the programs being screengrabbed are Kelly Clarkson, who is being indetified in this article. Thus fair use"
Geni, "nice try but even if we accept that logic it fails on the "critical commentary" part"
Interesting, this situation is spiraling out of control. Seriously out of control. —Eternal Equinox | talk 03:01, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
First of all, you claim that each of the images lacks a fair use rational yet as you can see, this page [[37]]is full of hundreds of images, screenshots like the images I uploaded, the majority of them only have the screenshot tag very few of them go further then that in providing fair use rationale. I've asked you before in my talk page how it's possible that those images (many of which were uploaded months ago on heavily-visited pages) qualify as fair use, yet the ones that I uploaded do not. Yet you don't give me an answer and then you complain when I re-insert the image. You seem to think you're better then us 'devoted Kelly Clarkson fans', so much so that you can't even give me a reason for the changes you make. I guess I'm just supposed to accept the changes you make as gospel. You yourself say you are "not aware of all of the guidelines regarding images and screenshots", yet you could have fooled me with the way you police the page and constantly revert everyone else's changes as if we were foolish children that needed to be carefully watched over. I would love an admin to finally look at those pictures and give us an answer. HeyNow10029 03:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
HeyNow10029, I'm going to attempt to remain civil, but I am tired of you shoving words into my mouth. I didn't say that I was better than you, and I don't think that you are a foolish child. I would certainly appreciate an admin to step in because this edit warring has continued for far too long. —Eternal Equinox | talk 03:26, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Now you're the one putting words in my mouth. I never wrote you said you were better then anyone else, just that it was my opinion you thought you were better then everyone else from your patronizing attitude and hawkish control of the pages. And I stand by that, 100%. HeyNow10029 03:34, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
It may have been an opinion, however, you stated it: You seem to think you're better then us. Therefore, I accept it in terms that you believed so and did not solely hold it as an opinion. —Eternal Equinox | talk 20:51, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

There has recently been a growing feeling among admins that a project-wide effort to cut back on fair use images is necessary. Mostly this has been done in fits and starts so far, and as you point out, there are hundreds of images still being used without any kind of fair use rationale. However, I don't see this as a defense for any particular image--sooner or later we're going to get around to those hundreds, but yours happens to have come to our attention a little sooner. See Wikipedia:Fair use review for more information. Chick Bowen 03:15, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Yes, there should be a cut-back because there are many situations (including this one) that need to be sorted out. I'm positive that it would benefit Wikipedia. —Eternal Equinox | talk 03:26, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
64.12.116.6 states: "rmvd sice u been gone image it is not rock-influenced it is rock music". Does this qualify as an appropriate ground to remove an image including fair use rationale? —Eternal Equinox | talk 03:31, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Heja Helweda, Diyako, Aucaman[edit]

These users pass fake information as fact. Without verification at times. Diyako also invites other vandals such as user:Inanna, who has a track record of negativity and problems with the information to join in discussions knowing that they would distrupt order and the established wikipedia system. They are very underhanded and see themselves as the suprme authoritizes. They say something but act in another way. Many people have constantly argued with them and tried to fix articles, but they simply wait them out and then do what they want. Also user:Aucman has harassed and threatened me. 69.196.139.250 05:50, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

possible unauthorized bot?[edit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&target=Pschemp

I can't tell if this is a bot; if you don't think it is, let me know, and I'll try to resolve this with pschemp. Seems a lot of the recent edits have been moving pages from "<foo> U.S. <bar>" to "<foo> United States <bar>". I haven't investigated thoroughly, but there doesn't seem to be any discussion on the pages beforehand. Further, Wikipedia:Naming conventions (acronyms) seems to suggest that "U.S." is preferable, or at least acceptable. (This was recently discussed on Talk:United States Virgin Islands and a standard of "<foo>, U.S. Virgin Islands" was implemented for all of those articles.) --Gruepig 09:13, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

No, she isn't a bot. At all. NSLE (T+C) at 09:55 UTC (2006-03-06)
U.S. Virgin Islands is a pretty standard term for that possession. What was debated there doesn't necessarily apply to other usages of "U.S." --kingboyk 18:32, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Block Request[edit]

user 194.154.22.55 has been repeatedly vandalizing the Friday the 13th page. I noticed that he has been blocked before, a few times. I request that you permanently block that address, because it seems that these partial blocks are not doing the trick to curve his/her attempts at vandalism.Bignole 12:27, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

  • According to this page the IP is allocated to a network, meaning an indefinite blocking would also ban several innocent people along with the vandal. Blocking IP addresses is specifically against policy unless the are proven to be open proxies. I'll investigate and do a smaller block if appropriate. - Mgm|(talk) 12:42, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
  • I've blocked for 72 hours (24 added to the length of the last block) for ignoring all previous warnings. - Mgm|(talk) 12:48, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

User:205.213.5.250[edit]

205.213.5.250 (talk · contribs) is vandalizing again. Can an admin keep an eye on him/her? -- Donald Albury (Dalbury)(Talk) 18:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

I'll take a look. Next time, you might want to list at WP:AIV. KillerChihuahua?!? 18:12, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
OK. Thanks. I learn something new every day. -- Donald Albury (Dalbury)(Talk) 18:27, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

New Zephram Stark sockpuppet[edit]

Me-Calabi (talk · contribs). first edit responding to the IfD for an image uploaded by a previous sockpuppet (note personal attack against me in the edit summary). Also, this edit using an image that another one of his sockpuppets uploaded. --JW1805 (Talk) 19:45, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism IP's I have encountered so far today[edit]

By no means complete:

Thanks for the vandalism reports. In the future, these should go to WP:AIV or WP:VIP though. --Ryan Delaney talk 22:28, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Just to be clear, use WP:AIV for simple clear cut vandalism, and use WP:VIP for vandalism that is complex, and requires much investigation. If you are unsure, just go with WP:AIV :D --lightdarkness (talk) 01:39, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I have a suspicious feeling that Photosynthesis Man (talk) is a reincarnation of User:Harry Potter and the Gold Fires (talk). Their contributions are similar, and both added tags to the Kelly Clarkson article when unnecessary. Also, both accounts edited Girls Aloud.

Tags added without explanation: At Kelly Clarkson as Photosynthesis, At Kelly Clarkson as Harry Potter and the Gold Fries

Eternal Equinox | talk 23:08, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Blocked. All edits were vandalism. User:Zoe|(talk) 23:40, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

IP 65.3.250.153 / User:1liberator legal threats[edit]

From Talk:Kosovo Liberation Army: "Wikipedia is also a Florida not-for-profit corporation, so venue is proper in Florida courts. I never had a blog; I won many Judgments, however. The issue, is, therefore simple: do you agree to co-operate, do you agree not to delete my factual contributions, or do we need to take the dispute to a formal (Wikipedia) level immediatelly?" This seems a pretty obvious legal threat. The user in question is (yet another) POV-pushing nationalist whom I've been, probably rather optimistically, trying to educate in the ways of NPOV. He seems to have escalated to legal threats remarkably quickly. As I could be interpreted as being "in dispute" with this user, I'd be grateful if someone else could take the necessary action. -- ChrisO 01:01, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Note: User:1liberator and 65.3.250.153 are the same user - he seems to have forgotten to sign in for his latest contributions. -- ChrisO 01:05, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Assuming good faith, I have warned the editor against future comments that could be construed as threatening legal action and opted not to block at this time. If additional or more explicit threats are forthcoming, bring it back up and I'll issue a {{threatban}}. Essjay TalkContact 01:57, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism by 212.92.0.135[edit]

This user's edit summaries consist solely of "SQUIDWARD!" and deleting the entire article and replacing it with a single image. EASports 19:04, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

-Ril- (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) has been blocked again as a sock of CheeseDreams (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) by Michael_Snow (talk · contribs · blocks · protections · deletions · page moves · rights · RfA). This happened before and I believe ArbCom rejected the allegation: [38]. I am not going to get into a wheel war with another admin, especially since I think -Ril- has hardly made a great impression lately, but I have had an email from -Ril- protesting innocence and I am inclined to take it at face value. Just zis Guy you know? 23:31, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Just to say, I didn't reject it. I was merely bowing to the superior experience of my colleagues to CheeseDreams. I am still personally of the opinion that -Ril- may well be a sockpuppet of CD. All the evidence is circumstantial, but it all adds up to a fairly convincing picture. Sam Korn (smoddy) 23:35, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

I think there are several points to add here. One is that the Arbitration Committee rejected the case, not the allegation itself. Another is that there really wasn't any evidence to exonerate -Ril-, and the arguments that the two might be different people are extremely vague. If some people were unconvinced, I'd say they either haven't carefully studied the behavior of both accounts, or they are perhaps mistaking changes in tone for changes in character. There's also the additional evidence pointed out in the section above.

Finally, I've already discussed this issue with -Ril- personally. I think it's quite telling that through all this, and even in the face of direct questions, -Ril- still has not given anything more than a non-denial. --Michael Snow 23:54, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

CheeseDreams made a big impression on me. I doubt very much that -Ril- is connected with him. Fred Bauder 00:02, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
A number of us are quite convinced, based on the extent to which -Ril- and CheeseDreams share editing interests, opinions, tactics, and stylistic quirks. If there is reason for doubt, we'd like very much to know what those reasons are. --Michael Snow 00:16, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
I strongly oppose any block of -Ril- or any other user based on suspicion alone. Unless a user is engaged in repeated, blatant vandalism, an indefinite block should require more than just one admin's feelings. If Michael has strong evidence, he should take it to Arbcom. Wasn't that already done, and rejected before, though? In my opinion, -Ril- should be unblocked until and unless a much more convincing case is presented. Crotalus horridus (TALKCONTRIBS) 01:04, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
Again, the only thing the Arbitration Committee rejected was the case, not the evidence. And generally they've responded to requests about reincarnations of banned users by indicating it's not up to them to re-ban them every time it comes up. --Michael Snow 01:29, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
Also, what is supposed to happen to Ril's current arbitration case? This block seems like it's usurping Arbcom's jurisdiction. He should at least have an opportunity to speak in his own defense in the Arbcom case. Users guilty of much worse disruption have been granted that much. Crotalus horridus (TALKCONTRIBS) 01:08, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
This isn't usurping the Arbitration Committee's jurisdiction, it's implementing their ruling in the CheeseDreams case. Dealing with the newly opened case is easy enough, it can be closed with no further action taken. --Michael Snow 01:29, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
I've unblocked but I'm not going to wheel war. Secretlondon 09:44, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
Nor I, I'll simply have to submit the evidence as part of the newly opened case, so that the Arbitration Committee can actually decide the issue instead of avoiding it. --Michael Snow 17:31, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

The Arbitration Committe rejected the argument itself. Read the Epopt's statement for yourself - here is the entire Arbitration Request. When I emailed him to request being unblocked, Fred Bauder emailed back yesterday confirming that he believes the idea of me being CheeseDreams implausible. --Victim of signature fascism | There is no cabal 00:56, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Please follow the facts

See below for proof

-Ril- (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) is
81.156.177.21 (talk · contribs · block log) who is
CheeseDreams (talk · contribs · block log)

If you have any Questions please contact me. Dwho 04:18, 8 March 2006 (UTC)


Whatever the truth of the matter is, The Epopt and Fred Bauder, despite their many strengths, do not equal the Arbitration Committee. I am certainly keeping an open mind on the matter. Sam Korn (smoddy) 23:41, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


This has been going on for too long! When will it end? ~~~~ or User:-Ril- and their suspected Sock Puppets have:


  • Engaged in personal attacks through stalking and revenge reverts and edits against other users
  • Engaged in RfC certification fraud
  • Engaged in article vandalism by deleting (multiple times) an editor's statements
  • Engaged in disruption of Wiki
  • Used misleading and deceptive edit summaries
  • Attacked other users, particularly admins, who have corrected his actions
  • Attacked users who questioned his claims
  • Vandalism
  • Sockpuppetry

A large number of his edits are for the purpose of harassing/attacking other users or otherwise disrupting Wikipedia.


Misuse of Speedy Tags[edit]

I've been clearing up the speedy deletion backlog, and ran into this: first request, denied, same content, but he has another go, but I didn't fall for it. Whether something should be done with that page is a question for a more experienced admin, but even I (admin < 1 week) can tell he's trying to play the system. --kingboyk 22:45, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

User:Alibabs and the userboxes[edit]

I'm not sure if this was brought up anywhere else but It's really getting harder and harder to assume good faith with this editor. He has no clear intention on creating an encyclopedia. All of his edits are basically POV pushing on the userbox war which is now taken to a whole new level of WP:POINT violation.

Since February 14th all this user has been doing is creating more frustration and problems on Wikipedia. All his edits are now consistant tagging userboxes and voting for thier deletion on thier respective TFD which he makes. All his TFD nominations explanations were listed as "Divisive userbox". Most, if not all, of his nominations were not granted. He also previously tagged userboxes under T1 violations, but all were removed or overturned, and if any of the userboxes were deleted it's probably put up on WP:DRV/U now.

Today, earlier, is what really did it for me. Alibabs created both {{User_Nazi}} and {{User AntiPalestine}} and then listed, one of them, on WP:TFD as once again listing them as a "Divisive userbox". If anything this user should be blocked for blatently violating WP:POINT among other things. Moe ε 04:39, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

In this post to TFD he apologizes for offending anyone and admits to be making a point. I;m not sure we should block him now he stopped, but I do think we should put him on some informal probation to stop this from happening again. - Mgm|(talk) 12:56, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Agreed, this editor hade gotten away with to much to not even recieve a warning. Thanks Mgm. Moe ε 20:56, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
He had what can pass as a warning from me [43] when I bulk reverted his very first session. -Splashtalk 01:37, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I think this fellow probably deserves to be investigated with a view to blocking as a role account used for trolling. --Tony Sidaway 02:00, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

As has been stated by Mgm|(talk), I did apologise for any offence taken when I made a WP:POINT. Apart from the breach of WP:POINT, I do not acknowledge that I have been guilty of any other transgressions. I find it strange behaviour that some are looking for me to be banned for nominating POV userboxes for deletion under the guise of me POV pushing. Does this behaviour amount to a WP:ATTACK? This is probably not the place to discuss the userbox war. Alibabs 10:35, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

This was not a discussiona about the userbox wars, but about your conduct on Wikipedia. Moe ε 21:21, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Reading your initial complaint it is obvious that you are complaining about me tagging userboxes with tfd, but you mask the complaint with another complaint about my violation of WP:POINT. I consider your actions to be an WP:ATTACK. Alibabs 12:00, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
I suggest reading WP:ATTACK again. I have not made an attack against you but have stated what you have done, which are facts, not attacks. Also, I have not "masked" the original complaint. The complaint, as a whole, was your conduct and actions regarding the userboxes, including both your actions of tagging and your violation of WP:POINT. Moe ε 21:48, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Can anything be done about this person? His account seems to exist purely as a vehicle to abuse other editors and disrupt Wikipedia. --Ian Pitchford 16:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Not to mention pagemove vandalism. I blocked him for 1 week--let us know if he doesn't improve after that. Chick Bowen 16:11, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
See also Queeran (talk · contribs). The User name itself is problematic, the person's User page is racist, and the User's edits are racist. I will be warning him/her about their edits, but an indefinite block would not be out of line. User:Zoe|(talk) 16:32, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
I think there is the potential for some editors to be offended by the combination of the name "I am" and the capitalization, as it could be taken to reference the English "translation" of the tetragrammatron, YHWH. If it were God or G-d, we would block; if it were I am or I Am, we would probably let it slide. I'm unsure of whether or not this crosses the line. Essjay TalkContact 17:14, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Any permanent block imposed right now would be controversial in my mind...how about this? We leave a little message on the userpage saying that the username is potentially controversial, and we'd really appreciate it if the user would consider choosing another one instead. We say that it is to the benefit of the editor that they pick a more neutral name, one which does not have these potentially offending connotations. How about that? We have no other clear guidelines to follow, other than to express our feelings and reservations in this case. Of course, being overly diplomatic may not be too helpful - personally, I'm not too concerned with the username. There are plenty more out there which are active and are more controversial than that. --HappyCamper 17:18, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
This one is going to be fun; he posted the {{unblock}} template with a rant about racist admins. I've extended him to two weeks for being clueless in the face of a block for incivility, but the pagemove vandalism really should get him indefblocked just like any other pagemove vandal. Essjay TalkContact 17:38, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

You've now threatened me and continued harassing people, so I'm sure you won't behave in good faith. It's just as well I come here irregularly these days. Queeran

Queeran (talk · contribs · count)[edit]

I've blocked Queeran for vandalism (reverting a revert and using "rvv"), NPOV violation, and as a possible sockpuppet of Enviroknot. This is not confirmed, but on IRC it was brought up that there was a strong possibility it's the same user. I've indef blocked, pending review by other admins, and a possible RFCU. NSLE (T+C) at 01:37 UTC (2006-03-07)

I've blocked I AM (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) indef as a confirmed sockpuppet used for abusive editing, and added a note to User talk:Queeran that unblocking should not be granted (he has a history of abusing the {{unblock}} template). I've also protected both pages, as they were being used for further attacks. Essjay TalkContact 02:00, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
I AM has a different IP, but Enviroknot is known for his open proxy fondness. Queeran acted exactly the same on IRC too. Note also that using a name like "Queeran" on Islam-related pages IMO warrants a {{username block}} - David Gerard 11:16, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Why? What's wrong with that name? Not disagreeing, just wondering. Babajobu 11:26, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Queer and Koran. His user page makes reference to Islam too. I AM is apparently a negative reference to Judaism. Secretlondon 11:51, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Still not seeing it, why is Queer and Koran bad? Might it offend Muslims who hate gays? If so why should we care? Neither Queer nor Koran are offensive in themselves and combined they aren't offensive. If his name was TheFaggotAllah, I could understand but I see no problem with this. - FrancisTyers 12:32, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
I'm having trouble assuming good faith with it - it seems to have been created to troll Islam articles. Secretlondon 15:19, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Today both Queeran and I AM discovered the wonders of Tor, and both came in to #wikipedia on IRC from Tor proxies separately to complain about abusive Wikipedia admins. silsor 21:12, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I have blocked 129.7.35.92 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for block evasion; has admitted to being User:I AM. Chick Bowen 21:21, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Considering that this is the second IP block on him in the last half hour, (the other being 129.7.35.95 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)), this may not be over yet, :( - TexasAndroid 21:26, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

===Not even close to the truth=== + - ...not that it matters, since it's matter of course just to delete legitimate responses to lies.

extreme anti-Arab hate messages?[edit]

Someone posted to my talk page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Al-Khwarizmi&diff=42502059&oldid=42453735 This user(Iranian Patriot) has been sending out extreme anti-Arab hate messages like these, completely un-sourced, fabricated propaganda, and have nothing to do with the subject matter. He just put it to bait in users for a flame war...can something be done about this?...

I'm not really sure what consitutes hate messages, though it looks pretty unpleasant to me. Guidance? William M. Connolley 20:53, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Not very pleasant, but not vandalism, hate speech or even incivility in my opinion. I say keep an eye on him/her but do nothing now. Just stating, arguable, facts and making an argument. Just my OP.Gator (talk) 21:33, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

It's the usual racist crap. I'm going to try to asking this chap to stop it. --Tony Sidaway 00:06, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

See here. I hope he'll respond positively. --Tony Sidaway 00:39, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

He or someone using the same IP has been engaging in petty vandalism today, and has been blocked for 48 hours. --Tony Sidaway 20:29, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Severe vandalism on todays featured article[edit]

I've had to sprotect Barbara McClintock twice tonight due to severe vandalism from multiple sockpuppets. Please keep an eye.--File Éireann 21:59, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

I think we have strong policy not to sprotect articles linked from the main page. Secretlondon 22:06, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Yep. I rvv'ed a couple of times before. I will add to my watchlist and keep an eye. I will rm the sprotect ≈ jossi ≈ t@ 22:07, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
This is right. Please do not protect the front page featured article, ever. See User:Raul654/protection for an explanation. --Ryan Delaney talk 23:58, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
There have been occasions where the day's featured article has been hit by multiple dubious edits. I think a brief period of a few minutes' semiprotection while it is sorted out is probably the least worst option in practice. David | Talk 00:14, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

IP 65.96.160.248[edit]

"Wikistalking" by anonymous IP -- removes my edits on several unrelated articles. [44]

Justforasecond 00:04, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I'm looking into it. --kingboyk 00:17, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
There is clear incivility in the edit summaries and evidence of wiki-stalking. Seems to be an IP who has found their way round Wikipedia remarkably easy. As I am a new admin I have blocked for 1 hour and ask that a more experienced admin review my decision and consider extending (or removing) the block if need be. --kingboyk 00:28, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
He had stopped editing an hour before your block, so presumably the situation is over. If he returns, he can be slapped with 24-48hrs. -Splashtalk 01:34, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
1 hour is usually fine (if someone goes batshit at a 1 hr block, they're probably too unstable to edit Wikipedia at all), and noting here if you're unsure is a very sensible idea in general. If I'm unsure of a block, I hang around to make sure I can get collateral damage email - David Gerard 11:14, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Serial copyright violations / re-uploads / sockpuppeting[edit]

User:Nestore has repeatedly been uploading numerous copyvio images of the Yugo car, as I noted at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive76#User:Nestore. On investigating this, I found that some of the images in question have been through IFD and speedy deletion up to five times previously, over a period of four months, but have repeatedly been re-uploaded by Nestore despite repeated warnings not to do so. In view of this, I've blocked him indefinitely per WP:COPY#If you find a copyright infringement ("In extreme cases of contributors continuing to post copyrighted material after appropriate warnings, such users may be blocked from editing to protect the project.")

He has since used two sockpuppet accounts, User:NestorYugo and User:Yugo65efi, to evade the block and re-upload the copyvios yet again, along with fresh copyvios. I've indefinitely blocked both of the sockpuppet accounts as well as speedily deleting the images.

Unfortunately he's been up to the same tricks on the Serbian Wikipedia, which includes all of the copyvios in a gallery at the end of the Yugo article there - see sr:Југо (аутомобил). Does anyone have admin permissions on the Serbian Wikipedia to get rid of the images from there as well? -- ChrisO 02:15, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Does sr.wiki even have admins (many of the smaller ones don't)? You could ask a steward to help out if not--that's all I can think of. Chick Bowen 02:55, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Serbian wikipedia isn't that small - it has over 10,000 articles. Secretlondon 15:41, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
It has 37 admins[45].Geni 20:33, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Zurab Urushadze deletion[edit]

Just in case anyone notices and questions my deletion of this article, it was done upon special request of the originator of the article, who, after reviewing several users' additions to the article, got curious about some of them, and did some more searching...whereupon he found this. It's a google cache dump, contents:

Dear administrators of "Wikipedia", I inform you, that Professor Zurab Urushadze is a famous Georgian scientist, one of the founders of Quantum Biophysics and Bioelectrochemistry in Georgia. The article about Prof. Urushadze must be undeleted! With kind regards, Dr. Izolda Chkhetiani, Executive Secretary of the Georgian National Section of EUROSCIENCE. Mar 27, 2005
Comment CV at http://www.webhostcorp.com/members/zurab/ Dpbsmith 14:19, 28 Mar 2005
Comment VfD discussion at Wikipedia:Votes_for_deletion/Zurab_Urushadze.
Keep deleted. Properly deleted in process on 0:54, 27 Feb 2005. Two clear "keeps," six clear "deletes," plus nominator's implicit delete vote giving reason as "vanity" . Since then, article has been re-created once by an anon and twice by User:Levzur and properly speedy-deleted each time as re-creation of material voted for deletion. Further attempts to re-create the article in the English Wikipedia should be considered vandalism. The contributors might want to consider submitting this article to the Russian Wikipedia, ru.wikipedia.org. Dpbsmith 14:30, 28 Mar 2005
Keep deleted. Just an average professor. Wile E. Heresiarch 05:33, 29 Mar 2005
Does anyone here have sufficient expertise in Quantum Biophysics and Bioelectrochemistry to know whether or not this scientist is important in his field? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 06:07, 29 Mar 2005
Keep deleted. Valid VfD vote. Levzur's back? Oy. RickK 08:15, Mar 30, 2005
Keep deleted. Valid VfD. The repeated recreation of this article smells like vanity. Gamaliel 08:20, 30 Mar 2005
Undelete. No harm is being done including it, Wikipedia is not paper. The Prof has published papers; a writer of a book or some short stories would be included in Wikipedia, why not a scientific article. I missed the VfD, but if my vote were included, it would be 4 vs 6, not a consensus to delete. gracefool |☺ 10:26, 30 Mar 2005
If you had voted in the VfD it would have been three keeps and seven deletes. And if you and I had both voted in the VfD it would have been three keeps and eight deletes. And if you call a dog's tail a leg then a dog has five legs. But we didn't vote in the VfD and a dog's tail isn't called a leg, so what's your point? Are sysops acting on VfD's expected to take into account the opinions of people who didn't vote? Dpbsmith 13:31, 30 Mar 2005
You don't seem to grasp the purpose of VfU. It is not to revote on things that were properly deleted because of VfD votes. It is to get things restored that were improperly deleted. This article was not improperly deleted, therefore the votes to undelete are not valid. RickK 20:37, Mar 30, 2005
Keep deleted. First, this was properly deleted by vfd. Second, the person is not notable (a total of two references on Web of Science, as the first person on vfd discussion noted). Third, the page is being created by his relative , Levon Urushadze . Wikipedia is not for promoting relatives. Andris 00:21, Apr 2, 2005

If anyone feels it appropriate to do so, perhaps the article name should be protected. Tomertalk 03:13, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

User:Central banned from Jehovah's Witness pages[edit]

Because of persistent assumptions of poor faith that Central (talk · contribs) makes regarding the edits and actions of individuals involved in Jehovah's Witness-related articles, along with characterisation of edits this user disagrees with as "vandalism", insertions of misleading external links to critical sites within article body text and accusations of bias levelled at me after I tried to discuss the matter amicably with him I'm banning him from all JW articles. This is as per the arbcom probation ruling on his behaviour. I'd be most grateful if people would please watch his contribs and, if need be, implement blocks to enforce this ban, although I'll probably be able to handle any enforcement necessary. Best regards, --NicholasTurnbull | (talk) 03:51, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

NicholasTurnbull, You threatened and harassed Tommstein in your ever so pseudo-polite supercilious and condescending manner, then maliciously banned him for a minor petty reason last December (for the crime of daring to disagree with you) and now you are after my blood merely because I also dared to disagreed with you. Is no one here allowed to disagree with your unfounded opinions or they get banned (or shot as you may prefer?) as in a totalitarian dictatorship. Plus of course, not to forget (as you clearly never do) I objected as did other administrators to your unjust petty ban on Tommstein, banned just because he dared to disagreed with you on one of your unjust POV label accusations on a minor edit, and that was clearly an unforgivable sin in your eyes, as you are openly demonstrating now with me. Your POV accusations are false, but you refuse to discuss them, but obviously prefer the abuse tactic of just banning anyone who dares to not bow before your opinion. We had this abuse from a 15 year old child admin and now it from you a 17 year old child, are there no adults on this website to deal with adult matters in a mature and experienced way? How will you fend off many people's perceptions when they see how you are behaving, and they believe you are demonstrating what appears to many to be, not only false charges based on your own biases, prejudices and refusal to debate any issue, but a more worrying trend in rather malicious and vindictive desire for revenge against anyone who dares to disagrees with your subjective opinions? I will take this up with you in person if you don't remove your grossly unjust ban and open abuse of admin powers. Central 11:22, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
I have blocked Central for 24 hours for the above post as another violation of his personal attack parole. He will be pleased to know that I am a bona fide adult, and that I brought all my maturity and experience to bear on this issue. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 16:47, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
In the interest of full disclosure, Central has disagreed with my block on his User talk:Central:talk page. If another admin would like to review my block to determine whether or not I was just going after some 'cheap thrills' by participating in this 'persecution fest', feel free. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 20:46, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Dear Central: I am tempted to simply not reply to the above, based on its scurrilous and unacceptably poor faith character, but since you accuse me of "...refusal to debate any issue..." I shall reply to your points above. Incidentally, this charge begs the question: what am I refusing to debate? There is nothing to debate, as far as I can see, and debating would generally require at least a modicum of rationality and reasonably polite behaviour from you, which I feel the above does not demonstrate. You have not raised debate other than simply responding with your views that I am being biased. I attempted to raise the issue of NPOV with you politely on your talk page, to which you replied with animosity and assumptions of poor faith. You have persistently shown an anti-Jehovah's Witness POV editing stance, which is not acceptable for an encyclopaedia. As far as I can see, the matter is perfectly clear cut - POV editing is not tolerated on Wikipedia at all, and I see no reason why my action in banning you from Jehovah's Witness pages was not in defence of the neutral point of view on Wikipedia. You accuse me of bias, as Tommstein did, but on what basis? You say my view that you are pursuing a POV stance of editing are false, but yet you do not back up this conviction of yours by any evidence and indeed respond with animosity rather than politely indicating why this is not so. Does this strike you as reasonable behaviour for a Wikipedia editor on your part?

I feel that your judgement on my ability as a Wikipedia administrator on the basis of my age and beliefs is frankly also not within the bounds of decent behaviour, which reaffirms the purpose of banning you from the trouble areas that you have been involved in. If you make these kind of judgements towards everyone who disagrees with you, then I don't much want you editing at all, and I am not ashamed of stating so. Considering that I hold a job of some responsibility in my profession, and yet I would not consider myself above everyone who disagrees with me in the course of my work, I think you have a serious case of egocentricity with your assuming fault on the part of those who hold differing views. I held no personal fault with you to begin with, and indeed attempted to discuss with you amicably and in good faith. As for your threat to "take this up with you in person" - words escape me, they really do; I think you perhaps need to re-evaluate the perspective of what you are actually doing here. Regards, --NicholasTurnbull | (talk) 20:09, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Ril changes RFC process and no one noticed[edit]

Was there any discussion of this that I missed somewhere? I reverted this terrible terrible idea. [46] Hipocrite - «Talk» 04:59, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I sent the template to MfD. --cesarb 18:21, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

check license for deleted image on French wikipedia[edit]

Could someone check the license for the deleted image fr:Image:Muscade.jpg (bypassing the Commons redirect somehow--I don't know how). I copied this image to En some time ago and I thought I'd have used the same license (GFDL) on the English page that the French one used. The image is now at Commons but I see that version is currently tagged as public domain. So, either: 1) I slipped up when copying the image from fr to en (it was PD and I made it GFDL (not a copyvio but slightly antisocial)); 2) someone else slipped up when moving the image from fr to commons (it was GFDL and they made it PD, a copyvio); or 3) the image was originally GFDL and the photographer later released it to PD (OK but should add a note). I just noticed this when marking the local English copy en:Image:Muscade.jpg for deletion as a duplicate. Thanks. Phr 05:24, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

You are going to have to talk to a fr admin, as its going to be in the deleted history... Admrb♉ltz (T | C) 05:35, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
This is the second time today that someone has needed an admin at another wiki. I just found the master list; I don't know if others knew about this, but I didn't. What would also be useful would be a cross-reference for people who are admins at one but active on another. Chick Bowen 05:42, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. I'd guessed that admins were admins everywhere. I'll ask on fr. Phr 07:03, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Lightbringer again[edit]

USer:Lightbringer, banned by ArbCom from any article dealing with Freemasonry, apparently returned as User:Userdata. It's pretty obvious it's him, as he is the only one I know who insists that several works of fiction blaming the Jack the Ripper killings on Freemasons are actually nonfiction... in fact he even created Jack the Ripper non-fiction specifically to list a film featuring Sherlock Holmes versus Freemasons and a comic book as nonfiction, and no other works at all. He also removed a reference to author Stephen Knight having a brain tumor (he died of it, so verifiable, but the whacky anti-Masons like to believe he was killed to silence him) and other parts of that article to try to put an obvious slant on it. DreamGuy 09:17, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Note that I'm still theoretically off ill, though I've been theoretically watching the sockpuppet theatre on Freemasonry, so others will need to keep an eye on it for now. Request checkusers on WP:RFCU as appropriate, referring to my talk page for the messy tale. Lightbringer is the main sock, but there are others playing up and editors of good will on all sides are getting a bit jumpy - David Gerard 11:12, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Thank you, hadn't figured the Basil Rathbone connection before. --pgk(talk) 23:52, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

An anonymous user (presumably the blocked User:MutterErde) inserts a copy of a deleted article from dewiki. Since s/he uses permalinks it may be advisable to delete the affected versions.--gwaihir 10:48, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I deleted the revisions as you suggested. We should keep an eye on this, as it's been reinserted more than once. The article in question is de:Kekswichsen, which has been protected against recreation there. Getting around that by posting the same content here should not be permitted. By the way, what makes you think this is MutterErde (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)? Chick Bowen 18:36, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Typical behaviour, AOL-proxy IP address, several places on dewiki, e.g. de:Benutzer_Diskussion:Cascari/Januar#Kekswichsen.--gwaihir 19:36, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

User:132.33.132.19 is Travis Air Force Base[edit]

User:132.33.132.19 is a massively shared proxy for Travis Air Force Base - as I just discovered when wikien-l-owner got an email asking about the block :-) I've unblocked it as collateral damage and explained that short blocks may still be needed, but it shouldn't be blocked long-term. If someone from the base keeps being dickish, don't put a long block on, but do consider contacting the sysadmins with dates and times, because an air force base sysadmin will have a much bigger LART for his users than we ever could - David Gerard 11:12, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Not sure what to do here, but account seems dedicated to attacking an individual (named) and just seems interested in vandalism. I suggest the account be deleted and/or blocked idefinately.Gator (talk) 15:48, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Seems to be using the user page to make up for a deleted page he wanted to include that was deleted for being a personal attack. This one's got issues.Gator (talk) 15:51, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Deleted the user page as an attack on a named individual, also tweaked the section heading here to link properly. FreplySpang (talk) 16:13, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Block Request[edit]

User 207.30.17.114 has been repeatedly asked to stop vandalizing pages, but they wish not to comply. Bignole 17:19, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Has now been blocked. Please make reports of vandalism to Administrator Intervention against Vandalism and not here as you will get a speedier response there. David | Talk 17:24, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

On-going vandlaism by 72.1.206.94 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)[edit]

It would appear that this individual's sole contributions have been vandalism, and, despite repeated warnings, s/he has refused to play nice. Kindly block this IP. Cheers! --Sadhaka 20:02, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Not true. There are some good edits too. Reverse DNS shows it to be a school. Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 22:00, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

User:Central blocked indefinitely[edit]

He was put on 24 hour personal attack parole in the Tommstein case and he's continued to be as viciously abusive as he can. In addition, his actual article contribs have been the same level of rubbish over Jehovah's Witness articles. I was wondering whether to hit him with another 24 hours (even though he manifestly doesn't learn and doesn't want to) or just give up and block indefinitely as a hopeless source of disruption, trolling and vicious personal abuse. Then I saw that TenOfAllTrades had given him the 24 hours, and Alkivar the indefinite a few hours earlier. So I undid both blocks so as to hit him with the indefinite again. If anyone wants to review this block please do, but honestly, look through that recent contrib list, and his talk page, and you tell me if he's worth the trouble - David Gerard 20:46, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Note, by the way, that what really swung it for me was the viciousness of the abuse - he was targeting to be as actively nasty as possible. This wasn't just your typical brittle editor with poor impulse control - David Gerard 23:08, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Damn I hate when I forget to purge previous blocks to prevent that damn blocking time bug.  ALKIVAR 23:12, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Alkivar (or someone else who knows what Alkivar is talking about), could you either explain what you mean by "purge previous blocks" or point me to a discussion of this elsewhere? It sounds like something I should know about. Chick Bowen 16:44, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
At the moment (hopefully this will be changed eventually), if you blocked someone for say 8 hours and I came along 5 minutes later and blocked them for 48 hours only the shorter of the blocks will remain in place. So in the above, Central would have come off his block in 24 hours even with the indefinite block unless someone unblocks and then reblocks with the longer time. --Syrthiss 16:53, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
If there are multiple blocks in place then the block only lasts until the expiry of the shortest block. In this case Alkivar's indef block was undone when TenOfAllTrades' 24 hour block was completed. Alkivar meant he should have lifted the previous block before applying a longer one. That's my understanding, anyway. Leithp 16:51, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
OK, well I knew about the software preferring the shorter block, but it sounded like Alkivar was saying there was something he could have done to prevent TOAT's later block from undermining his. But I guess he just meant it in a general sense. Thanks, guys. Chick Bowen 17:02, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
If my understanding of the timeline above is correct, the 24 hour block was in place before the indef block was applied by Alkivar...so what Alkivar is commenting on is he didn't check the block log for standing blocks, or did and forgot to unblock/reblock. --Syrthiss 17:13, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Checking the logs, it seems that Alkivar blocked Central indefinitely about four hours before I placed my 24-hour block. When my 24-hour block expired (whether I placed it before or after Alkivar blocked) it would have lifted both blocks.
I should have checked the block log to see if Central had already been blocked...but Alkivar should have put a notice somewhere–in one of the threads here about Central, or on Central's talk page–letting the rest of us know about the block. Oh well. No cookie for either of us. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 23:27, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

New vandalbot in testing[edit]

See [47]. I've also alerted the CVU, time to stoke the bots! - David Gerard 23:07, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Oh great, more bot attacks </sarcasm> 155.43.145.84 14:34, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

User:Alex 101[edit]

I blocked User:Alex 101 a few days ago for repeat edit warring. I got an email from him saying that he would stop, so I unblocked him, but he keeps getting caught up in collateral damage blocks. Any ideas? User:Zoe|(talk) 00:47, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

  • Probably just isolated collateral incidents (esp. in huge ISPs like AOL. Did you ask which ISP is he on? - Mailer Diablo 01:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

User:Hall Monitor[edit]

blocking is one thing but User:Hall Monitor blocks people for months and then reverts anything they've done without even checking to see if it needs changing.

BTW some people can't use discussion if you block them. 132.241.245.23 00:55, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

It was long overdue in my opinion, Grazon. Many of your edits and edit summaries are intended only to provoke people. For some background, see Grazon (talk · contribs) and 132.241.245.49 (talk · contribs). Rhobite 01:08, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

NSW/Ozemail proxies[edit]

There's been a recent surge of vandalism coming from the range 203.166.99.224/27 (203.166.99.224 - 203.166.99.255), which contains several web proxies apparently used by New South Wales schools. I had to put a 1 hour range block on it before, and I just instituted another 1 hour range block. Here are the individual IPs:

A more permanent (and less collateral-damaging) solution would be welcome. Rhobite 00:55, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Blocked again, for two more hours. Rhobite 02:23, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Blocked for 6 hours. I don't see any other choice. Rhobite 22:34, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Possible sockpuppet[edit]

Bannanas (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) just left this on my userpage. Should this be taken as indication that this user is a sockpuppet of Nengli02 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), who uploaded the images in question, Image:Df34ty.jpg and Image:Entry.jpg? Advice appreciated. Thanks. Chick Bowen 03:39, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

  • 15:45, 4 March 2006 Chick Bowen deleted "Image:Df34ty.jpg" (tagged as unlicensed for more than 7 days). Also, Entry.jpg is legit. Also, "Wagga brothers?" I would agree with saying this is a sock of the uploader of the deleted image, although a checkuser would be nice. --ZsinjTalk 17:15, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
  • [48] -- Wagga Brothers history.
The current image at Image:Entry.jpg is a Commons image with the same title as the image I deleted. It was an image of Rugby players used at the Wagga Brothers page. Chick Bowen 17:21, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

205.188.116.5 has vandalized a tremendous amount of pages recently. It's an AOL IP, but they've been blocked 19 times, and it's probably time for a 20th. Most recent vandalism was on Stay Fly today. User added, "these guys have very little penises. They like little boys. Like Micheal Jackson. Ow!" --Descendall 11:50, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Just do what we have always done. Revert. Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 18:42, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I have concerns about this user. First, he has been blocked for abuse at the Rachel Marsden page several times, but none of them show up in his new block log. He changed his name yesterday from User: Mark Bourrie (his real name, apparently) to User:Ceraurus. When this was done, he got a fresh block log here, thereby removing from his history (here the three blocks for vandalism and 3RR to the Rachel Marsden page. Also, he has created a sock-puppet (see here here], by which he broke the 3RR rule yesterday (again, to revert the Rachel Marsden page, see here, blocked here). Second, he proposed deletion of the Rachel Marsden article on March 4, which resulted in a speedy keep (see here). On March 7, his sock puppet again proposed deleting the Rachel Marsden article, a proposal that he then logged in as himself=Ceraurus to support here. Later in the day here, he deleted his vote as Mark Bourrie/Ceraurus. Concern. My concern is not so much to punish him--I think there are times when he seems genuinely interested in making the article better and in finding compromises. But I think it is important that the details from earlier blocklogs find their way to his new block log. Bucketsofg 17:20, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Melissadolbeer socks[edit]

I've just noticed that yet another completely obvious sockpuppet of Melissadolbeer has been created:

Can someone please look over the (amazingly similar) contributions of the several sockpuppets of Melissadolbeer (Listed at Category:Wikipedia:Suspected sockpuppets of melissadolbeer and also User:Mikefar) and see if they might be able to spot who Melissadolbeer really is (Melissadolbeer is simply the main role-account).

The puppeteer is someone who keeps a close watch on WP:RFAR - Melissadolbeer's re-appearance was pretty quick as soon as her/his subject matter reappeared at RFAR. And its likely someone who has a strong dislike of me (or possibly Doc Glasgow) for reasons other than those that the Melissadolbeer sock shows issues with, but I don't know who.

Using "what links here" and "user contributions" on the user names that Melissadolbeer's sockpuppets constantly refer to I've come up with a few possibility (This isn't a definitive list of possibilities by any means):

  • Bacchiad (talk · contribs) - made no edits between october and 12th February. 12th February was around the time when an arbitration case involving me (as the "prosecution") began. October was when the prior one involving me occurred. The talk page suggests an interest in spurious theories about Christianity and Jesus topics (essentially Melissadolbeer's main contributions were spurious theories about Christianity/Jesus).
  • (I was hoping to find more, but that's the only one I can find so far, and its probably another sockpuppet, albeit more sophisticated than the others)

Thanks, --Victim of signature fascism | There is no cabal 21:48, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Suspected Sock Puppets of Ril[edit]

Doc glasgow (talk · contribs · block log)


User:TheFacts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Revision history

(Latest | Earliest) View (previous 50) (next 50) (20 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500).

Legend: (cur) = difference with current version, (last) = difference with preceding version, m = minor edit


(cur) (last) 19:18, 16 February 2006 Doc glasgow (indefblocked)

(cur) (last) 19:14, 16 February 2006 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 19:06, 16 February 2006 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 06:11, 16 February 2006 TheFacts (The Facts on -Ril-)




From one sock to another (cur) (last) 19:37, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→From one sock to another)

(cur) (last) 19:08, 14 July 2005 Doc glasgow (→From one sock to another - OK, but ....)

(cur) (last) 18:52, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→From one sock to another)

(cur) (last) 18:49, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→From one sock to another)

(cur) (last) 18:45, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→From one sock to another)

(cur) (last) 18:29, 14 July 2005 Doc glasgow (→From one sock to another - BTW)

(cur) (last) 17:40, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→My username)

(cur) (last) 17:39, 14 July 2005 -Ril- (→My username)

(cur) (last) 17:36, 14 July 2005 Doc glasgow (From one sock to another)



Authentic Matthew From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Revision history (Latest | Earliest) View (previous 50) (next 50) (20 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500). Legend: (cur) = difference with current version, (last) = difference with preceding version, m = minor edit

(cur) (last) 23:10, 4 August 2005 Doc glasgow m (redirecting Being bold - enough is enough)

(cur) (last) 08:46, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (→Modern theory of the origin of the canonical Gospel of Matthew - rewrite for accuracy)

(cur) (last) 08:42, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (→Modern theory of the origin of the canonical Gospel of Matthew --irrelevance)

(cur) (last) 08:40, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (→The development of the canonical Gospel of Matthew - rename section)

(cur) (last) 08:39, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (merge two paragraphs)

(cur) (last) 08:38, 31 July 2005 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 08:38, 31 July 2005 -Ril- m (→Matthew and Aramaic)

(cur) (last) 08:37, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (+sections)

(cur) (last) 08:35, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (merge two paragraphs together)

(cur) (last) 08:32, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (-duplication)

(cur) (last) 08:31, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (more tidying)

(cur) (last) 08:28, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (re-arrange a bit)

(cur) (last) 08:23, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (-duplication)

(cur) (last) 08:23, 31 July 2005 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 08:22, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (re-arrange)

(cur) (last) 08:18, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (better wording & minus links actually discussing the content of the article Gospel of the Hebrews rather than a Hebrew Gospel)

(cur) (last) 08:14, 31 July 2005 -Ril- (tidy up that sentence)

(cur) (last) 23:01, 30 July 2005 Doc glasgow (I give up - this is beyond redemption)

(cur) (last) 22:54, 30 July 2005 Doc glasgow (remove total speculation)

(cur) (last) 22:52, 30 July 2005 Doc glasgow (correct facts and misleading impressions)

(cur) (last) 22:51, 30 July 2005 Doc glasgow (correct facts and misleading impressions)

(cur) (last) 22:41, 30 July 2005 Doc glasgow (Matthew was certainly written way before Jerome)

(cur) (last) 13:34, 30 July 2005 Ta bu shi da yu (This VfD was only just closed. I'm sorry that this hasn't been accepted, but it was conducted properly. Removing VfD tag - I have deleted the new VfD Ril started. That is disruption.)

(cur) (last) 10:52, 30 July 2005 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 10:50, 30 July 2005 81.156.176.160

(cur) (last) 10:50, 30 July 2005 81.156.176.160

(cur) (last) 10:48, 30 July 2005 81.156.176.160

(cur) (last) 10:46, 30 July 2005 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 10:45, 30 July 2005 -Ril-

(cur) (last) 07:09, 30 July 2005 Dmcdevit (survived vfd, see talk)

(cur) (last) 21:57, 29 July 2005 Doc glasgow (rv pornovandalism WARNING vandal is impersonating another user)

(cur) (last) 21:49, 29 July 2005 --Ril--

(Latest | Earliest) View (previous 50) (next 50) (20 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500). Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentic_Matthew"



  • Well, there are so many things that make "Doc" look like -Ril-,
mostly based on interests,
location,
and User page,


It is certainly possible that Ril had fun and sacrificed one of his socks and wants to carefully live on under the radar as a user


81.156.177.176 (talk · contribs · block log)


It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence

-Ril- uses to avoid block.





81.156.177.21 (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence

-Ril- uses this sock to attack Authentic Matthew and defend other socks.


CheeseDreams (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For 81.156.177.21 (talk · contribs · block log) (-Ril-)

19:28, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration (→Statement by James F.)


19:24, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration (→CheeseDreams)


02:09, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Dr Zen


02:08, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) User:Dr Zen


02:06, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Now


02:05, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) 4


02:04, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Bye


02:03, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Saying


02:02, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Dream


02:02, 10 May 2005 (hist) (diff) Cheese

I have further concerns with the amount of accounts created. The accounts User:CheeseDreams, User:Cheesedreams, User:Cheese Dreams, User:Cheese dreams, User:Cheese-Dreams, User:Cheese-dreams and User:Cheese -dreamsand has the possible accounts User:CheeseyDreams, User:CheezDreams and User:CHEESEdreams though I can't be sure. User:Jayjg says that there are many more sockpuppets than that, including User:Acidmonkey, User:Neutra¦ity, User:Fish lizard, and User:To register select a username, though without a developer checking we can't be sure. My point here: I would like all verified sock-puppets blocked indefinitely. A good-fath editor should not normally need more than one account!

Lastly, I am extremely unimpressed by the fact that CheeseDreams tried to do editing by proxy via her friend User:Tigermoon. See Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive5#Tigermoon_and_CheeseDreams - many admins feel that this was done to bypass block.



Fish Supper (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For 81.156.177.21 (talk · contribs · block log) (-Ril-)


00:12, 20 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

00:10, 20 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

00:07, 20 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Dante Alighieri (→HELP)

00:07, 20 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

23:22, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

23:18, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Mirv/Archive 11 (→HELP)

23:17, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

23:16, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR (→User:Fish Supper)

23:15, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Mirv/Archive 11 (HELP)

23:15, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Lord Emsworth (HELP)

23:15, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Dante Alighieri (HELP)

23:15, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Angela (HELP)

23:11, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Brian0918 (HELP)

23:11, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:ClockworkSoul (HELP)

23:10, 19 April 2005 (hist) (diff) User talk:Fennec (HELP)

(Latest | Earliest) View (previous 50) (next 50) (20 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500).


Fish Supper (talk · contribs) and 81.156.92.196 (talk · contribs) are likely The Rev of Bru (talk · contribs), which would push the revert count much higher.

Note also the connection with User:The Rev of Bru [49], which would indicate even more reverts.



The Rev of Bru (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence

Fish Supper (talk · contribs) and 81.156.92.196 (talk · contribs) are likely The Rev of Bru (talk · contribs), which would push the revert count much higher.

Note also the connection with User:The Rev of Bru [50], which would indicate even more reverts.




81.156.92.196 (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence




81.156.93.48 (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence


This IP adress is known to have been used by User:-Ril- whilst banned from editing.



81.156.95.91 (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence


Latest | Earliest) View (previous 50) (next 50) (20 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500).

11:12, 20 August 2005 (hist) (diff) Authentic Matthew (r.v. to version by RussBot)




81.156.176.160 (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence


You have been named as one of the alledged "group" at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents#Ril Group-New Violation-Authentic Matthew --Ron. 14:00, 19 August 2005 (UTC)




-RonTaril- (talk · contribs · block log)


It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence.




-Ronny- (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence.



-Ronny-Taril- (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence.




-Taril- (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-. Please refer to user contributions for evidence.



Lir (talk · contribs · block log)

  • The Bible and history - Mel Etitis got involved purely because of a long term grudge against me (due to erroneously believing me to be a sockpuppet of User:Lir, which David Gerard has stated is unlikely, particularly as Lir's grammar isn't so good, and she lives in Ohio), as Mel Etitis has on other edit wars against POV pushers I have been involved
  1. ~~<nowiki>~~</nowiki> ( ! | ? | * ) 10:12, 13 August 2005 (UTC)




The Wife of -Ril- (talk · contribs · block log)

It is believed that this user may be a sockpuppet of User:-Ril-.

Please refer to user contributions for evidence

--Dwho 03:35, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Lir lives in Iowa, unless he's moved. User:Zoe|(talk) 01:03, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

This administrator has removed an included category from a series of templates (at least 53) with the apparent intention of emptying those categories of the user pages they contained. In doing so for the second time, he reverted the actions of another administrator, User:Guanaco, attempting to correct this out-of-policy edit en masse. He has also engaged in en masse edits of user pages without the owners' consent to subst-ing templates with the apparent intent to delete the templates without anyone knowing. He has already attempted to abuse CSD-C1 by using this very mechanism to empty a category, then list it for speedy deletion as empty.

The behaviour is at least disruptive, as it interferes with intentional large-scale action of other Wikipedians, most of whom do not know their user pages have been dropped from these categories. As the actions are a form of blanking to undo the intent of the hundreds of original participants, it borders on— and perhaps crosses into— vandalism.

Regardless of how certain administrators may feel about userboxes, or those using categories, the above-listed actions are entirely unsuported by policy, and clearly contrary to the express will of a significant part of the community. The clear administrative duty in this case is to restore the status quo ante, and to prevent a repeat.

I ask that the following templates be restored en masse to their previous state, that MarkSweep and any others subsequently found be barred from further such actions by whatever means necessary.

Template:User freemason Template:User Bayesian Template:User Elitist Template:User modelun
Template:User notchav Template:SAGE-AU Template:User libertarian socialist Template:User Deaf
Template:User childless Template:User RPCV User:UBX/Hattrick Template:User Catan
Template:User sjsu Template:User Starcraft Template:User Skidmore User:UBX/ITV1
User:UBX/deviantART Template:User libertarian socialist2 User:UBX/Utilitarian Template:User synaesthesia
Template:User AfD Template:User powerbookg4tiger Template:User Birthday2 Template:User nocturnal
Template:User MLB-Mets Template:User marxist Template:User world Template:User Social Democrat
Template:User moderate Template:User Socialist2 Template:User Trot Template:User green
Template:User liberty Template:User Confusedbypolitics Template:User Christian democrat Template:User conservative
Template:User Anarchosyndicalist Template:User ownideal User:One/Userboxes/User independent Template:User Anarchist
Template:User cynic Template:User Environmentalist Template:User apolitical Template:User AI
Template:User America fan Template:User Economic Liberal User:UBX/Communist Template:User Socialist
Template:User Catholic Worker Template:User Rate Your Music Template:User narutofan User:UBX/yes.com
Template:User sxe

StrangerInParadise 23:55, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

The above damaged templates were fixed by Guanaco, who was briefly blocked for doing his job. MarkSweep remains blocked, but just before, he managed to damage these templates as well.

Template:User nocturnal User:UBX/yes.com Template:User Rate Your Music
Template:User Chinese reunification User:Hexagon1/UN

Will an admin step forward to uphold policy and revert this damage, or has the fear of doing one's job been successfully instilled?

StrangerInParadise 08:03, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

MarkSweep has struck again, removing categories from these templates,

Template:User creationist Template:User evolution Template:User cannabis Template:User pope
Template:User humanist Template:User fsm2 Template:User fsm Template:User spiritual humanist
Template:User eastortho Template:User lennonist

This has been cleaned up by User:AdamJacobMuller. I ask, how many times does this has to happen before MarkSweep is significatly blocked? Why must non-admins step up to undo the damage of admins?

StrangerInParadise 19:14, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Category was also removed from my personal fave, Template:User:Scepia/bibliophile. *sigh* Her Pegship 22:21, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Comments[edit]

Placing this before anyone else's comments for an obvious reason. User:MarkSweep also blanked Template:user review (which is the one 'User has an account on Wikipedia Review') [51]. - File:Ottawa flag.png nathanrdotcom (TalkContribs) 00:53, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
Why is this here? Surely an RfC is warranted? This isn't the proper place to call for someone's head. This braying for blood is distasteful. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mackensen (talkcontribs) 2006-03-03 19:19:19
I have not called for anyone's head (please no temptations just now). This is an existing situation, with a specific request for action, in the correct venue. I have provided such background as is necessary to understand the context of the situation. But, since you raise the point, the egregious breach of policy here described is highly distasteful. StrangerInParadise 00:29, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Categories of Wikipedians by POV are evil and must die. David | Talk 00:34, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
No, they're not evil. Wikipedia user pages are about users. Users are POV. Therefore, there's nothing wrong with these userboxes. File:Ottawa flag.png nathanrdotcom (TalkContribs) 01:02, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
David, I am really sick of you saying things like this. Can you please try to be civil and respect that other people actually have differing opinions? THere is no reason to use terms "evil" and "must die" in reference to any discussion on Wikipedia. ... aa:talk 05:30, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
(ec) Please note that neither AN/ ANI are appropriate places for dispute resolution; what are you seeking to gain by this post? If you are seeking other users' input, dispute resolution would be more appropriate. Also note that no one here should simply go reverting back anyone else's contributions now; that would simply escalate this dispute and aggravate the situation. Thanks! Flcelloguy (A note?) 00:36, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Again, I have asked for specific action, I ask that the following templates be restored en masse to their previous state, that MarkSweep and any others subsequently found be barred from further such actions by whatever means necessary. This is the appropriate venue for this alert, and the request for action is also appropriate- MarkSweep's edits were clearly out-of-order and disruptive. This would require of an admin only a few minutes to correct, but it would require me many, whilst opening me (wrongly) to charges of edit-warring. Isn't this better?
Finally, with respect to Dbiv's comment, I hope he wasn't suggesting that this opinion about categories of Wikipedians should override a clear duty to correct an act of mass disruption. Isn't failing to end disruption of Wikipedia to make a point also a violation of WP:POINT? StrangerInParadise 00:50, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
This is not WP:POINT. MarkSweep is doing something he thinks should be done; and it may become policy. However, it would be gracious of him (at the least) to abstain from acting any further in this matter. If it really needs to be done, someone else will do it. He is being far more divisive than the userboxes he dislikes have yet been. I would find any redlinks in the table above particularly regrettable. Septentrionalis 01:19, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
What I am saying is that categories of Wikipedians by POV are fundamentally destructive and so inimical to the concept of Wikipedia that they must die. I do not care which process is used so long as they die. David | Talk 11:00, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Whether MarkSweep thinks it should be done is irrelevant, and certainly doesn't separate his acts from any number of disruptive actions- the perpetrators of which all think they "should be done". The speculation- far from certain- that some ban on userboxes will be ratified by the community obviates neither the need to enforce current policy nor the need to respect the community. MarkSweep's acts are certainly WP:POINT, though I was talking about the hypothetical refusal of admins to check and revert his actions. StrangerInParadise 01:27, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

I have rolled all of MarkSweep's edits to those templates back. —Guanaco 04:29, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Guanaco, that was enormously inappropriate. Rollback is for clear cases of vandalism or self-reverts. This kind of mass reversion is hostile and rude to say the least, and not the way to deal with good faith boldness: consensus is. This isn't the first time your misuse of rollback has been brought up. I'm becoming increasingly irritated by your pattern of disruption with regard to userboxes and policies concering them. Let me stress to everyone involved to act slowly and communicate, and always seek consensus. Doing otherwise, especially with the use of admin tools, serves only to inflame the situation, and does us no good. Dmcdevit·t 05:14, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
I disagree that they were hostile and rude. Mark's actions could possibly destroy any consensus (we all do remember what this word means, yes?) on the userbox policy we're working so hard to adopt. I'm inclined to pull out of it immediately. Guanaco appears to be trying to "keep the peace" and to force things to go through process. The above description of what happened is accurage. Mark, please, chill out until we reach some kind of agreement. There's no reason to "go nuclear" on things right now. ... aa:talk 06:39, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
That isn't my point at all. Using the administrative rollback in a non-vandalism situation is hostile and uncalled-for. Especially in an attempt to "keep the peace". Dmcdevit·t 06:45, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
It was a clear case of blanking vandalism: MarkSweep's actions deliberately dismantled mechanisms which disrupted the activities of hundreds of users, against their wishes, for no better reason than he did not approve. This is not to mention his subst-ing campaign on user pages, which effectively sought to hide his attempts to delete the underlying templates. How can you possibly call Guanaco's actions hostile, rude and uncalled-for in the face of MarkSweep's actions?! Guanaco rolled the templates back to the state prior to the disruption. Three months ago, no admin would have thought twice about it. The real question is, Dmcdevit, why didn't you as an admin step up and do the rollback yourself? Are you only an admin to fight destruction you dislike? Would you let blanking stand on articles you happen dislike? This userboxenkampf is showing just how weak administrative commitment to policy has become. StrangerInParadise 07:09, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
I agree. I do not think Guanaco was wrong in using administrative rollback. It was vandalism as blanking, it cannot be said to be in good faith (following the countless RFCs on the matter), and he was wrong to have blanked them. Throwing my voice in support of Guan's actions. NSLE (T+C) at 07:15 UTC (2006-03-04)
I too agree that Guanaco's reversions were reasonable. The one-click rollback is a handy tool, not a big deal. Undoing someone else's rash, controversial action when you disagree with it is generally OK. Friday (talk) 07:25, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Please, hold off on the dramatics for a bit, step back and consider this. Let's just say that Mark Sweep was hugely disruptive and even acting in bad faith. This is a controversial dispute, causing lots of hurt and ill feelings. Now consider the rollback: impersonal, and even implying that the rollbacker has determined bad faith. It seems likely only to further escalate, even if it was a disruptive edit. When a normal revert with an edit summary saying why would have accomplished the same, and not run that risk. I think the use of rollback was ill-considered, and that shouldn't be too controversial to say. I do, by the way, think the 12 hour cool down is probably for the best, for both parties. Dmcdevit·t 07:35, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Well, now I am looking for someone to lift EvilPhoenix's 12-Hour block of Guanaco. I've left a note on his talk page, but he has left a note claiming to be incommunicado, so no one should feel he has to be consulted before lifting the block. This is the second admin for whom I have had to arrange bail, simply because he did his job, see Babajobu's block. StrangerInParadise 07:23, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
What is the rush with unblocking? Everyone needs to take a step back and take a breather, regardless of whether one has done "right" or "wrong" here. Actions which are generating pages and pages of text mean that there is something not adequately addressed. Maybe it's about time we took some time aside to think and listen. --HappyCamper 07:27, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Rush with unblocking? The rush was the blocking in the first place; undoing it is not unreasonable. We can discuss this like civilized editors without having to resort to blocks. I have unblocked. Friday (talk) 07:35, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Indeed. There was no need for the block(s) in the first place - it just made a tense situation worse. I support the unblock. On the other hand, MarkSweep's block, IMO, was rightly applied (although for the wrong reason, reason given was edit warring), and should be left in place. NSLE (T+C) at 07:39 UTC (2006-03-04)
Well, I didn't have the context comment really. If that's what its best, then let it be. --HappyCamper 07:41, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

To borrow a phrase, this is disgraceful. Somewhere along the line, a lot of Wikipedians lost their respect for collaboration and each other. I said before, to no avail: "Let me stress to everyone involved to act slowly and communicate, and always seek consensus. Doing otherwise, especially with the use of admin tools, serves only to inflame the situation, and does us no good." If we have learned anything from the pedophila wheel war, it's use caution, communicate, and find consensus, especially when reversing another admin's action. That goes for both Mark Sweep and Guanaco, and Friday and Evilphoenix and NSLE as well. We make people admins for a reason, and give them discretion in situations like this to exercise that power. There is no excuse for not discussing a reversal beforehand. Everybody needs to slow down and Discuss. And take your fingers off those buttons. All of these actions are displays of disrespect toward other administrators. Please keep WP:AGF in mind at all times, and never forget the goodness of a real personal message to a talk page, or even a request for mediation, in place of an incident report. This has nothing to do with the individual merits of any of the admin actions, but for crying out loud, discuss it first. Dmcdevit·t 07:59, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

If undoing a wrongful block is disgraceful, I'll take disgrace. I don't see that I have disrespected anyone. I'm all in favor of slowing down and discussing, I just feel that Guanaco shouldn't be locked out of that disscussion. Friday (talk) 08:12, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
We are beyond that, Dmcdevit. Either policy is to be upheld, or not. How can you pretend that admins upholding policy are somehow on the same level with the vandals they are fighting, and those who support them? This was not a legitimate use of discretion by MarkSweep (mass blanking) or Evilphoenix (blocking and refusing communication). You do great harm by pretending there are two equal sides to this conflict— that is disgraceful. StrangerInParadise 08:10, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Please don't call editors in good standing vandals. You've done that twice in this section. Whatever the merits of this incident (and I respect all the opinions above) that's a personal attack and not civil. There's just no need for it, it just makes things worse. Rx StrangeLove 16:00, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
Well, MarkSweep was not in good standing at the time of my comment, he was blocked for mass blanking. Explain to me how mass blanking out-of-policy is not vandalism. StrangerInParadise 17:47, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

I warned all of you about Guanaco when his latest RfA came up that he is a loose cannon, but you wouldn't listen to me, and this is the result. Guanaco has lost his adminship once before, he should not have been trusted with the keys again. User:Zoe|(talk) 21:25, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

A little bit late to the discussion here, but I'd like to echo Dmcdevit's words that we act with prudence, caution, and with great respect for one another. Remember that we all are humans; we're all volunteers; we're all dedicated to this great project. If we should choose to act, act with the greatest assumption of good faith for each other, with the most civility as possible, and with the most wisdom as possible. I'm not going to comment on this specific situation (as I haven't reviewed everything fully), but I would like to point out that mass revertings of anything but blatant, clear-cut vandalism without general support usually does nothing but aggravate the situation further. Discussion never hurts, as communication is vital. Thanks! Flcelloguy (A note?) 02:12, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

1. I blocked because I saw an edit war in progress. If Guanaco was in the right and had consensus behind him, he should have asked someone else to make the reversion, intead of getting involved in an edit war. Edit warring = bad. 2. My Talk page message that was referred to was unclear. My apologies. I'm not refusing to communicate, I just happened to go to bed right after the block and therefore wasn't available to discuss it. 2a. But I'm also not watching AN/I. I refuse to. I'm disgusted lately. I came here because I involved myself in this one, so I felt I should at least see what was said. 3. Here's what I think a wheel war is: If an Admin A takes an Administrative action, Admin B reverts it, and Admin A undoes the reversion. A->B->A. If an Admin simply undoes another Admin's actions, I don't think that is itself a Wheel War. It's polite not to undo something without discussing it, or at least attempting to, but let's please all remember that Admins can revert each other for a reason. What courtesy dictates that we do is to not revert if we're reverted...If someone undoes my Admin action, it's wrong of me to re-do my action, and I have a real problem with anyone who does that. That is a wheel war, and that is what we need to be fighting against. But I don't think it's a wheel war if someone simply undoes a block or a protection or whatever. I don't think it's a wheel war if Admin A blocks, B unblocks, C blocks, and D unblocks. That's not a good situation, but it's not a wheel war. It's when you get into not respecting your fellow Admins enough to re-do something you've been reverted on that we get into problems. Wheel warring = bad. 4. We all need to remember the things that are important and worth fighting for. NPOV. Verifiability. Accuracy. Consensus. Avoiding edit wars...realizing that sometimes, your edits will get reverted, right or wrong, and sometimes, your Admin actions will get reverted, right or wrong, and that's ok. What's not ok is stubbornly insisting on your edit choice without deliberation, or stubbornly insisting on your Admin actions if you're reverted. I hope this makes sense y'all, because this is getting insane. Best regards, Ëvilphoenix Burn! 04:15, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

This has been discussed, and no consensus has been reached. MarkSweep clearly is not interested in consensus. I assumed good faith at first, but that assumption becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as he makes blatantly destructive edits and refuses to respond to complaints and RFCs.
This was not a wheel war; I would have reverted his edits manually if necessary. —Guanaco 05:01, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

This entire situation is ridiculious this is quite frankly, as I have already mentioned on Wikipedia:Userbox_policy_poll, based on the names and types of templates that are being removed (subst'ed) from my page that there is a clear bias going on against certian types of viewpoints. This is clearly censorship. I would like to congragulate Guan and every other wikipedia adminstrator who is taking the time to defend the community against such attacks. I should not have to wake up in the morning and find out that my userpage was vandalized, yes, i'm calling it vandalisim, by anyone, let alone find out that it was valdalized by an administrator, that's absolutely ridiculious and in my mind is grounds for Deadminship AdamJacobMuller 11:34, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

...of the use of userboxes and user categories in an attempt to influence a discussion can be found here, if anyone is curious. —Kirill Lokshin 23:53, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I just noticed that. The irony is delicious. Mackensen (talk) 23:59, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

It was not a discussion, but a Wikipedia-wide poll. See WP:AN/I#At long last, Stranger is free to reply to his many detractors. StrangerInParadise 06:51, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
A "Wikipedia-wide poll"... that I, and seemingly the majority, of administrators and users were both unaware of and uninvolved in. Hmm. --NicholasTurnbull | (talk) 00:26, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Hijoli Cribi! (talk · contribs)

This User has been creating tons of hoax articles and edits about nonexistant Myst games and concepts, and was not only edit warring and violating 3RR frequently, but deleting warnings from his Talk page and being uncivil in edits and edit summaries. I have blocked for 31 hours and warned that more will be forthcoming if he doesn't reform. User:Zoe|(talk) 22:47, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Druiken (talk · contribs) has been adding content relating to Hijoli Cribi's myst articles to existing myst articles. Every one of the user's contributions relate to the fictional myst game somehow. Sigh. -- Vary | Talk 02:09, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

It's very likely that this is the North Carolina/Regara vandal. He is known to have targeted Myst articles in the past, very often creates hoax articles, and see also [52]. Revert and indefinitely block all his sockpuppets. -- Curps 04:14, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

inappropriate Behavior by Postdlf?[edit]

In regards to this editsummary on MC Hammer "revert removals of unflattering facts--I'll block anyone who does it again" [53]

I'm under the impression that's considered unacceptable behavior by an admin, threatening blocks over edits that the admin is involved with. Is that correct? SWATJester Ready Aim Fire! 02:03, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

This was not a content dispute, as you seem to have assumed; I've never previously edited that article, so I was not "involved with" any "edits." I was reverting obvious blanking vandalism, after someone had posted a notice on the Village pump that the article had been subject to repeated deletions that only removed information that was unflattering to the subject. You've overreacted and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Postdlf 03:12, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
(copied from the talk page) It would seem that your reversion IS involvment in of itself. I've been watching the article, and the "obvious blanking vandalism" isn't obvious at all...I've never heard of the information, and on the surface it appears pretty highly suspect. Is it verified, cited? SWATJester Ready Aim Fire! 05:01, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Furthermore, my question is not about the reversion, it's about the threat. Of the several admins that I hold in high regard on wikipedia, I've never seen any of them make such an overt threat like that. Hell, even the arbcom appointed mentors in the Neuro-linguistic programming case don't just flat out say "go against what I say and you'll be blocked". That's the whole reason for having warnings isn't it? SWATJester Ready Aim Fire! 05:05, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Here's a hint: next time you see an admin do something "inappropriate", use their talk page to sort things out first. If you don't get an adequate response, then bring it here. android79 03:29, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

If you'll notice, I did bring this to his talk page first. And if you'll reread my above post I was asking if it was considered ok "I'm under the impression that's considered unacceptable behavior by an admin, threatening blocks over edits that the admin is involved with. Is that correct?" So here's a hint: I brought it up here to ask whether it was "inappropriate" or not. SWATJester Ready Aim Fire! 04:56, 8 March 2006 (UTC)


Firstly I don't believe Postdlf is involved in the page. His actions were in good faith. He readded material that he believed was deleted vandalistically (cool word!). His threat to block was made in the belief that some fan or promoter or even Hammer himself was trying to remove any and all critical material. Now you say the material that was added back in was suspect, so I think the best thing to do is add a disputed tag to the article and ask for references on the talk page. If none are forthcoming then I will revert myself. OK? Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 06:39, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I just fell out of my chair laughing over the thought of Hammer on wikipedia. Thanks, and sorry for the fiasco over this Postdlf. SWATJester Ready Aim Fire! 19:27, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

You know, as funny as this is, it could be true. A site we link to as his blog has a link on the sidebar to his article here. In any event, I just came here to say: Please Hammer, Don't Vandalize 'Em! Ral315 (talk) 00:04, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Image overwritten with another[edit]

The article Jamie_McCrimmon (a Doctor Who character) includes the image [[Image:Jamie.jpg]]. Unfortunately, due to the common name chosen for the file, this image was replaced yesterday with an image of an entirely different person. Can some admin kindly revert it to the version that existed before 6 March? (The 'revert' links are missing for me as I'm no admin).

thanks - MattHucke(t) 02:24, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

That's wierd. I tried once it didn't work. Reverted myself and tried again, it didn't work. I'm sure I'm do something wrong, so hopefully another admin will come in and fix it up. Canderson7 (talk) 02:33, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Done, purge the page, and it should be working --Admrb♉ltz (T | C) 02:43, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
It's good. Thanks! MattHucke(t) 02:46, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for getting that working! Canderson7 (talk) 03:47, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
No problem, as I said in my RFA, I am an images admin :-p Admrb♉ltz (T | C) 18:46, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Is it really necessary to point out that this "functionality" very, very, very, very, very urgently needs to be changed. -- Curps 04:02, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Nandesuka is disrupting an arbitration workshop page[edit]

Administrator Nandesuka (talk · contribs · blocks · protections · deletions · page moves · rights · RfA) has removed a lengthy table from the arbitration workshop page Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Depleted uranium/Workshop (he is not a party to the arbitration.) After I asked him to stop, he is now "refactoring" my comments there, moving them out of context. This is very disruptive to the arbitration in progress. Please ask him to refrain from editing the workshop page. I suggest that he edit the workshop's talk page for the time being. Thank you. --James S. 02:52, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I initially moved the table to the workshop talk page (and included a link on the workshop page, in context), as it made the workshop page unreadably verbose. I have indeed been moving James S's comments into the "comments by parties" sections of the page. In so doing I was probably being too lax -- I considered removing them to the talk page also, but I decided that it would be more appropriate to let a Clerk do that.
James's belief that only parties should be editing a workshop page is, to the best of my knowledge, simply incorrect. But if I'm wrong about that, I welcome an education. Nandesuka 03:00, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
Anyone is allowed to edit a workshop page. Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 06:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I opened the case yesterday, if I recall correctly, and I don't know whether any clerks have yet worked on it. I'll take a look and see if it needs any major surgery. --Tony Sidaway 02:25, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Possible threats bo User:Netoholic[edit]

Netoholc's comment to User:Avirette could be viewed as a threat: "You have a chance now to just say sorry, and let the page go back where it was... no harm, no foul.". [54] AzaToth 00:08, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Here is the actual link to my comment (on Avriette's talk page) ... and here's a follow-up. Clearly not a threat. Gimme a break. IHBT. -- Netoholic @ 00:12, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
You really, really need to calm down. —Locke Coletc 00:16, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Guns N' Roses[edit]

Can someone familiar with Guns N' Roses please have a look at the edits by The Blitzball Monster (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)? Edit one was a copy-paste copyvio, and edit three, to Domenico Allegri (an obscure Roman school composer of the early 17th century) was sneaky vandalism. The rest I don't know about; they might even be all right. Thanks, Antandrus (talk) 00:48, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Bizarre poetry vandalism[edit]

I'm new here, but I have noticed in the last 2 days the same phrase and then the same link, from many different users. Is this something that could be prevented automatically? The phrase is "I see the love that you suppress... come back to me when your journey is done", and the link: http://www.loveblender.com/1998february/heart/eyes1.html Sorry if this isn't the correct place. Just curious. Thanks! Frederick. Oh, is "reverting" something somebody new can do? Sorry if this isn't the correct way to add a comment here. So much to take in. (sigh). But fun! 63.153.203.187 01:28, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

  • I remember there's a script that's implemented to counter linkspamming, not sure if it's still there. Yes, anyone can revert, just make sure that you don't break the 3 revert rule (except simple vandalism). - Mailer Diablo 01:44, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Olympics articles vandalism[edit]

Recently, I've noticed that the Olympics pages, specifically 2006 Winter Olympics, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, and Olympic Games have been continuously vandalized by IPs. It only seems so be problemous with IP addresses, and it occurs fairly often; if someone could protect those pages from IP edits, that'd be great. Thanks for looking into this for me. --Jared [T]/[+] 02:18, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

In the future, such requests may be posted to WP:RFPP. I've posted this request there (it seems like you're asking for semi-protection). Crotalus horridus (TALKCONTRIBS) 03:19, 9 March 2006 (UTC)