Wikipedia talk:Suspected sock puppets/Lancombz

Here are some anon ips that showed up just to make edits agreeing with Freddy on Ayn Rand: 68.52.74.130, 64.22.192.88, 70.90.61.237. Here are some anon ips that showed up just to make edits agreeing with FraiserB on Nathaniel Branden: 81.169.185.225, 85.192.55.166, 83.171.164.13. Also, the first place Freddy/Frasier became a problem was on the Laissez-faire, when they showed up to agree with Esmehwp. He might be a person of interest, as well. Endlessmike 888 17:37, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Esmehwp (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) was not named in the checkuser, and the edits overlap only on laissez-faire and Martha Stewart. Though this user might be a meat puppet, there's not enough to go on here.

Also, based on the edit history of Freddy/Frasier/Lancombz, the person seems to make his edits solely to disagree with SteveWolfer. Steve has been banned several times for reverting what now seems to be sock puppet vandalism. That needs to be rectified. Endlessmike 888 17:42, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Banned or blocked? There is a difference. His recent block was not due to reverting multiples of the puppets. However, the case against him was filed by the SSP puppeteer. But that does not invalidate the current block. Otheus 17:48, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, blocked. I think he's been blocked for reverting one or all of the three in the past, as well. Endlessmike 888 17:50, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Please check his past blocks -- see if they were caused by being an edit war with these puppets. If so, that would be very important toward restoring faith in his edits. It would also be clearer indication that these puppeteers have caused community damage and possibly deserving of a community ban, not just a slap on the wrist. Otheus 17:54, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I was wrong on Steve being blocked for reverting Freddy, though Freddy does have a history of antagonizing Steve. See here. Endlessmike 888 19:07, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

After all that posturing and claims of innocence, they were using the same computer. Pathetic. Thanks to the admins for clearing it up. Endlessmike 888 02:47, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Follow up[edit]

I filed this SSP case after learning that SteveWolfer (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) had filed for an RFCU on FreddyTris before beginning the edit was for which Steve was blocked. That RFCU case (documented on the project page) indicating three users were using the same IP. Further follow-up on my part showed these users were editing the same topics and pages. There were also curious correlations such as [1] when that particular user account had never edited the page he refers to. These facts clearly are sufficient grounds for filing an SSP, but not necessarily for being blocked as one. On the project page, I recommended these users be banned from editing the same articles and topics. Also, on Lancombz's page, I left this civil request:[2]

RFCU indicated you used the same IP as did FreddyTris (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and FraisierB (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). If you wish to continue editing on Wikipedia, I strongly urge you act proactively by (1) posting apologies on each of the talk-page of articles in which these accounts have overlapped, (2) agree not to use different accounts to edit the same or related topics (ie, Objectivism, Rand, etc). I am sure that once these have been done, faith will have been restored. Otheus 17:13, 22 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How did these users react? 217.132.4.62 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log), FreddyTris and FraisierB began removing User page and talk page suspected sock puppetry notices and talk page notifications to other involved users,[3][4] [5] [6] the latter two with increasingly hostile edit summaries, such as [7] [8] [9]. One of the edit summaries pointed to FraisierB's talk page, claiming this as a positive contra-indicator of sock puppetry. Well, that might be, that they are different users, but the revert in question was Lancombz's first and only edit to that article! Thus, one of these users has a split personality, or FraisierB is being wikistalked by someone in his own flat! Either way, the community should be warned about this situation.

The problem is, Wikipedia has no way of distinguishing same-IP users who edit the same articles, even if they disagree on occasion. The only viable solution is for users with knowingly the same IP to avoid editing the same articles or range of articles. --Otheus 05:56, 23 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Further follow up. On my wiki, a user was created named "FreddyTris" who refers to "lancombz" as "Lan".[10] One of FrasierB's edits mentions "Lan" [11], but also mentions that he doesn't know FreddyTris. They both know Lan, both are into Objectisim, but don't know each other. Hrm. While this still is not proof, it stretches credulity. Otheus 18:34, 23 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also see 24.44.99.211 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) and 217.132.4.62 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log), the latter of which resolves to an Israeli site which might be an open proxy. Otheus 20:12, 23 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]