Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser/Case/Shran

This editor, also known by other names, Category:Wikipedia:Suspected sockpuppets of Shran, appears to have some new usernames. [Note: inclusion on this list is not indicative of bad editing and includes some uncertain entries (hence the need for checking)].

• Ashton Coochter (talk · contribs)
• WhiskyWhiskers (talk · contribs)
• Fallshirmjager (talk · contribs)
• Reycount (talk · contribs)
• Peckerwood (talk · contribs)
• CarEater (talk · contribs)
• WolframSiever (talk · contribs)
• PatCheng (talk · contribs)
• Primetime (talk · contribs)
• Trekphiler (talk · contribs)

He normally uses 155.84.57.253 (talk · contribs) when not logged in, but insists that 24.0.91.81 (talk · contribs) is a different person, despite very similar editing patterns. Though the editor makes valuable contributions, his addiction to sock puppets, and his use of them to edit the same articles, appears abusive. -Will Beback 23:59, 17 January 2006 (UTC) [03:41, 20 January 2006 (UTC)][reply]

I have no relations with CantStandYa, I don't even know who he is. I'm not even American.--PatCheng 01:48, 20 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No offense intended. If you are right then the checkuser function will clear up the matter. Cheers, -Will Beback 01:51, 20 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Checkuser will be unhelpful here; 155.84.57.253 appears to be a proxy operated by the United States Army, serving a very large number of sites, and it's impossible for us to tell who's a sockpuppet and who's just two guys at the same, or even different, Army installations. I refuse to verify if any of the above users are using this proxy because it's an address owned by the military and even the allegation of misuse of military resources, whether or not founded, can badly damage a serviceman's career. Kelly Martin (talk) 18:00, 22 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I appreciate your concern and would not want to harm anyone's career. However, I don't think the "cehcuser" report would identity the name, rank or serioal number of the editor, especially if the IP potentially covers many locations. The aim is simply to determine if our own policies are being violated by the abuse of sock puppets. Further, 24.0.91.81 is not indicated as a military IP. -Will Beback

24.0.91.81 appears to be a problematic site, with lots of interesting users that need to be dealt with, but none of the above users appear to have ever edited from it. If you want me to pursue this issue further, provide specific diffs that you contend violate policy. Checkuser is not to be used to facilitate a witchhunt. Kelly Martin (talk) 02:16, 23 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The aim is not a witchhunt, the aim is to curb abusive sock puppetry, specifically instances where the same editor edits articles using different identities, giving the impression of a consensus where none exits. If the accounts were restricted to separate articles then it would not be sock puppetry. For example, take 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America.

• 22:09, January 9, 2006 155.84.57.253 [1]
• 06:15, January 14, 2006 24.0.91.81 [2] (identical edit to the above)
• 16:57, January 19, 2006 WolframSiever [3] (identical edit to the above)
• 17:46, January 17, 2006 CantStandYa [4]
• 02:43, January 18, 2006 24.0.91.81 [5]
• 18:32, January 19, 2006 CantStandYa [6]
• 17:50, January 19, 2006 WolframSiever [7] (similar to edit above)

This information is requested so that an RfC can be made calling on the editor to stick to one identity when editing individual articles. Various editors, including myself and user:Viriditas have been tracking these sock puppets for a year, and have blocked some. Your help in keeping Wikipedia honost is appreciated. Cheers, -Will Beback 08:44, 23 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On review of the above diffs, I see clear evidence that conservatives are editing Wikipedia, but I am unwilling to assume that all conservatives are the same person just because they make similar edits. The CheckUser evidence I've reviewed is proof of nothing, and no conclusion should be reached as to whether any of the abovementioned editors are engaged in sockpuppetry. Kelly Martin (talk) 09:04, 23 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]