User talk:MER-C/archives/63

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Request
Hi, I added request here. Need help with fixing tags Anntinomy (talk) 19:04, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Done. MER-C 19:14, 3 July 2023 (UTC)

Amusing
Spotted Munir Khan on my watchlist and realised I had sent it to AfD in 2017. A new editor, Akash Mukherjee Edits did their 10 edits (overlinking in a film article), then recreated it. But it has quickly been transformed into a very different article. Edwardx (talk) 10:21, 4 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Be careful what you wish for... MER-C 17:19, 4 July 2023 (UTC)

Possible rev/del required
see https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swansea_City_A.F.C.&diff=prev&oldid=1163403055 ? Knitsey (talk) 17:53, 4 July 2023 (UTC)
 * This is plain vandalism and does not justify the use of revision deletion. MER-C 17:55, 4 July 2023 (UTC)
 * I wasn't sure tbh. The bit about 'set the stadium on fire' seemed a bit off. Thanks for taking a look though. Appreciated, Knitsey (talk) 18:06, 4 July 2023 (UTC)

copyvio/bottom
Hey, I noticed that you forgot to close the copyvio template at Draft:Chamaemelum fuscatum, Draft:Genetics and educational attainment and Draft:Kathryn Reid. Please use copyvio/bottom as without it there is a lint error on those pages. Gonnym (talk) 08:53, 26 July 2023 (UTC)

Expertwikiguy
Hi. Expertwikiguy's sock User:Accountinvalid (likely) recreated The Free Press, previously done by User:Pershkoviski. 2001:8F8:1735:212D:6036:AFB6:84A0:DD62 (talk) 15:30, 28 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Blocked. MER-C 16:17, 28 July 2023 (UTC)

Need your help at Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes
Hi @MER-C, since you dealt with this last time, could I ask you to deal with it again? Thanks Nobody  ( talk ) 08:57, 29 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Spammer blocked and PC1 applied. MER-C 10:08, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

A big thanks
Dear MER-C, this is maybe a bit different message than you usually get. I would like to express big thanks for your work on your Wikipedia tools, especially Linksearch. You're doing the world a faviour and without it, fighting spam would be harder for antivandal users. PS: Have you ever thought about expanding the tool to small wikis? Sincerely, A09 (talk) 19:06, 2 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Cross-wiki linksearch isn't my idea, I just rewrote and iterated on a long-broken tool by User:Nixeagle.
 * Due to hosting limitations, the tool can't search more than 40-50 wikis in a single request. I don't want to tie these tools to any particular cloud provider (Docker etc. is overkill). If you can compile and run Java on your local machine, there is an offline version that searches every wiki. MER-C 19:33, 2 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Oh thanks for the suggestion. Will install it on my machine :). Keep it up, man A09 (talk) 19:35, 2 August 2023 (UTC)

Deletion of Michigan logging wheels]
Hello, You created a lot of red links by deleting Michigan logging wheels. Please see talk:Michigan logging wheels Peter Horn User talk 22:45, 10 August 2023 (UTC)

block question
Hi MER-C, is there any on-enwiki info you can point me to regarding this block (ref 2023081410004546). Following up on a global lock. — xaosflux  Talk 13:22, 14 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes, this is a known Wikibusines article created by sockpuppets of Bodiadub on other wikis. The user's behavior is consistent with similar image uploading socks in this sockfarm. See m:Wikiproject:Antispam/Archives/2021/Wikibusiness. MER-C 17:52, 16 August 2023 (UTC)

Mail
CNMall41 (talk) 18:41, 14 August 2023 (UTC)

I sent a long-winded reply so I apologize in advance. Hope I spelled it out correctly.--CNMall41 (talk) 17:42, 17 August 2023 (UTC)
 * I have read it and did not find anything actionable, although some of the accounts were certainly suspicious. MER-C 18:30, 17 August 2023 (UTC)

Copyvio on K. M. Bhaskaran
Hey @MER-C, I raised an investigation here Copyright problems/2023 August 26 before tagging the article for copyvio using the tag. I do not see the template when I switch to the visual editor after using the subst: before the copyvio tag. Not sure what I am doing wrong here, can you help me on this? Jeraxmoira (talk) 11:50, 26 August 2023 (UTC)
 * You didn't place a copyvio tag, you placed a copypaste tag instead. MER-C 12:09, 26 August 2023 (UTC)
 * No, that was initially done on 18 July 2023‎. Today, when I try to add the, the template does not appear in the visual editor or in the edit preview view. It only appears as a text instead of the template message Jeraxmoira (talk) 12:26, 26 August 2023 (UTC)
 * I don't use the Visual Editor. I suggest you ask this, and similar questions, at the technical village pump. MER-C 12:57, 26 August 2023 (UTC)

Paid editing and such
You used to be a constant presence, but I don't see you around in paid editing matters. I checked your edit history and see you're mostly doing copyright stuff now. Did your field of interest shift? Graywalls (talk) 08:57, 30 August 2023 (UTC)
 * You're not looking hard enough. Try my deletion and block logs and on meta - nearly all of the socks I block are for UPE. MER-C 17:52, 30 August 2023 (UTC)

The Lobster (restaurant)
I tagged it as COI and short while later, someone left a comment in article's talk page to a Reddit post where they're soliciting for customers. Could you take a look? Talk:The Lobster (restaurant). I am not sure if the restaurant pages are actually paid pages or show examples for prospective customers. If someone hires them they might just do those articles under different accounts. I could post at COI/N but they might just delete the Reddit posts (since I'd have to notify them if I were to post there) before admins have a chance to check it out. Graywalls (talk) 15:51, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Please archive the Reddit post and any similar page, then send it to paid-en-wp at wikipedia.org. (I have already done this.) This page is also monitored by spammers. MER-C 16:43, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
 * It's been recreated. Their other article Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe too; and I'm getting told G4 can't be used for respawned G5'ed articles. Certain it's a sock/meat based on what else has been created by this user. They may end up paassing C/U technical check but there's smoking gun. Search of the other one they created: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Giorgio+Baldi%22+site%3Areddit.com Graywalls (talk) 02:17, 9 September 2023 (UTC)
 * This is enough to go to SPI: Sockpuppet investigations/ScienceAdvisor. MER-C 10:56, 9 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Just as a quick note, I made the same connection and was planning to send it to paid-en. If you feel it is enough to warrant an SPI I think that is a better course of action. - Bilby (talk) 11:01, 9 September 2023 (UTC)

Reference spam
Hi there. I see you are active in dealing with spam. I left a message at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Spam last month, but I'm not sure that board is active. I'm concerned about the refspam this editor has been adding. Also see Szilvia Molnar. If you could have a look I'd appreciate it. Thanks! Magnolia677 (talk) 21:40, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * What is the spammed website? MER-C 17:29, 15 September 2023 (UTC)
 * This editor adds multiple unnecessary sources to articles they are creating. Look at the reference for "The Nursery", at Szilvia Molnar.  When the excess references are removed, this editor angrily adds them back.  This editor creates BLPs about female authors, then loads them with excess references, which they revert when removed.  Why? Magnolia677 (talk) 18:22, 15 September 2023 (UTC)
 * That's not refspamming. There's a small probability this could be WP:UPE but there is not enough evidence to take action. MER-C 18:56, 15 September 2023 (UTC)

Undisclosed paid sock farm
Hi MER-C. I hope you are doing good. I came across these users and they look like a paid sock farm to me. If you look at their contributions they are working in the same area and one is preparing articles in their sandbox and others are copying and pasting in the main namespace. They are also using professional images that aren't availabel online or published on Flickr a few weeks before they publish the articles. If you have time can you please look at them? I don't have access to my laptop at the moment so filling SPI from a mobile is quite tough. Here are the users. User:Andre321678 blanked their sandbox on 24th April and user "Luxury Muxury" posted the same article the same day. Again User Andre321678 completed their another sandbox on 15 June and user Oschyrba posted the same copy in main namespace. Oschyrba also uploaded a professional photo claiming own work and later changed their claim. User Leobadboy also editing in the same area, making some talk page edits to increase their edit count and also made edits on pages created by these users. I asked currently active user "Oschyrba" if he knows these users and he said "To be honest, this is the first time I have heard of these persons." which clearly sound fishy when he has already copied an article created by Andre321678. Please let me know if you or someone can investigate it further. Thanks In2020 (talk) 17:43, 16 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Halyna Shabshai (Halyna Shabshai, גולדה שבשאי, Galina Shabshai)
 * File:Галина Шабшай 2.jpg
 * File:Галина Шабшай 1.jpg
 * Q99748604


 * Iefym Shabshai
 * File:Shabshai.jpg


 * Timur Fatkullin (Фаткуллин, Тимур Анварович WIKIBUSINES, Фаткуллін Тимур Анварович WIKIBUSINES)
 * File:Фаткуллін Т. А.jpg (WIKIBUSINES)
 * File:Фаткуллін та кронпринцеса Вікторія.jpg (WIKIBUSINES)
 * Q109428251


 * Petr Baron
 * File:Forbes Romania - TBI CEO Petr Baron.jpg - license laundered
 * File:TBI CEO Petr Baron.jpg - license laundered
 * Q4078452


 * Valerio Zamboni
 * File:Valerio Zamboni.jpg
 * File:Valerio Zamboni New Jet.jpg
 * Q118105522



Spam blocked socks:

Wikibusines socks:

This might not be Wikibusines, there is a year between the Wikibusines creations and the en.wp article.

P. S. whose sock are you? MER-C 14:40, 17 September 2023 (UTC)

Deleted politicians
I come across a lot of deleted politician articles. Many note you as deleter. I am trying to understand what happened. So many subjects are missing as a result of the deletions. I was wondering if the histories contain usable versions or the makings for usable version? No one appears to have filled the gaps since. FloridaArmy (talk) 20:00, 27 September 2023 (UTC)

For just one example Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician). FloridaArmy (talk) 20:03, 27 September 2023 (UTC)
 * No, there's nothing salvageable. MER-C 19:28, 28 September 2023 (UTC)

Cross-wiki SPA & ads
Hi, I hope you're doing fine. There's a SPA writing quite promotional contents on a German manufacturer. We blocked them on fr-wp, deleted their sh*t and protected the name. However, look who's here : m:Special:CentralAuth/Denise.1307. They also "worked" on NL-wp it seems, maybe with socks (a patroller came from :nl on :fr to warn us). Best regards, - Bédévore [knock knock] 13:57, 29 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Blocked. MER-C 14:45, 30 September 2023 (UTC)

Request for Guidance on Oatland Island page
Hello, I am wanting to create a page on the Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah, Georgia. I found that a page has been previously created and removed Draft:Oatland Island Wildlife Center and the page says that I should contact the editor which last interacted with it before attempting to create a new one. Would you mind providing some guidance on whether it is okay to create said page or if I could try to edit a copy that may be residing somewhere in the deleted files? It has the notation Copyright problems/2023 August 17 on it. Thank you. FlederMaus9 (talk) 21:07, 29 September 2023 (UTC)
 * You are free to create a new article as long as it complies with normal editorial guidelines and is written in your own words. MER-C 10:21, 30 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the response and clarification. FlederMaus9 (talk) 16:23, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

COI Bot poke not working
I've applied for and have been qualified to use it long time ago, yet one of my queries submitted weeks ago still haven't turned blue, which is narratively.com I asked Beestra but looks like they haven't been on Wiki in a long time. Do you know what might be going on? If you were wondering why I'm asking you of all, there's a button that has "MER-C" in it in the link generated by poke bot so I'm getting the idea you're really familiar in this field. Graywalls (talk) 21:42, 30 September 2023 (UTC)
 * That's because I own and operate the cross-wiki linksearch tool. I am not responsible for COIBot and the output generated by COIBot contains a template. MER-C 11:44, 1 October 2023 (UTC)

Featured picture scheduled for POTD
Hi MER-C,

This is to let you know that File:Yellow-bellied sapsucker_in_CP_(40484).jpg, a featured picture you nominated, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for October 3, 2023. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2023-10-03. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you! &mdash; Amakuru (talk) 10:22, 2 October 2023 (UTC)

New message from NotAGenious
NotAGenious (talk) 13:51, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

About Anandmurti Gurumaa
Hey MER-C! You deleted and salted this page back in 2018 after a disruptive recreation. I just reviewed a new draft at User:Gurumaa Vani/sandbox, which seems to be legit and shows through reliable sources that the subject is notable. Would you be willing to unprotect this page so the draft can be accepted? —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 02:41, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
 * This looks like yet another promo draft. No. MER-C 08:47, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Could you elaborate on what content you consider to be promotional? (Asking out of genuine curiosity, as this should help me better review AfC submissions in the future.) The draft was actually in a far worse state before, and I did some cleanup to remove puffery and unsourced nonsense. As far as I'm aware, all of the prose content is corroborated by a source, and I tried to make the language as neutral as possible. —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 14:18, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
 * The username of the author and the history are both giant red flags. For this subject, merely having an article is promotional. MER-C 17:06, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
 * I also noticed the page creator's username and have accordingly acted under the assumption that the editor has a conflict of interest. However, whether or not the draft should be accepted is a question of the content, not the editor. Like I said, I've done some work to make the language more neutral — feel free to point out any wording in particular if you think it needs improvement. I disagree that "merely having an article is promotional" as the sources in the draft clearly establish the subject's notability. Is your opinion any different with this information in mind? —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 19:02, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
 * No. MER-C 16:11, 9 October 2023 (UTC)

Gotta Get Some Tissue
Noticed that a previously G5'd Gotta Get Some Tissue! has been recreated minus the "!" Gotta Get Some Tissue. What's the SPI page?-KH-1 (talk) 11:36, 25 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Expertwikiguy. It's them, so I've blocked. Thanks for reporting. MER-C 18:57, 25 October 2023 (UTC)

Request
Help me to restore my wikipedia page there were many trusted fonts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Bugs Can you create the same page you, because you are not a banner user Thanks 5.90.156.211 (talk) 23:36, 28 October 2023 (UTC)


 * my wikipedia was perfect neutral with many trusted references..can you repost?
 * Thanks IMHERE1234 (talk) 00:10, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Can you help me? my page Fred Bugs was created by Sonali.K, the page has many trusted references, its not a spam 95.234.94.222 (talk) 06:38, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Can you restore my page? Im Fred Bugs the person who you have removed the page 95.234.94.222 (talk) 06:43, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * No. The person who created that page was very likely operating in violation of our Terms of Service and community policies - by abusing multiple accounts and failing to disclose that they were paid. Fred Bugs, like everyone else, is not entitled to have a Wikipedia article. This is an encyclopedia, not some social media site. MER-C 11:37, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * censured 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:07, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * censure my commenti please 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:10, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Censured website 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:07, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * perché mi censurate ho forse detto la verità? 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:09, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Censured 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:10, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Censure my anither comment please 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:11, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * I simply told the truth that is why my post was deleted and censored..you are the site of censorship not information 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:25, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Encyclopedia of censure 95.234.94.222 (talk) 12:31, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * I reverted your edit as it was abusive and uncivil towards MER-C. If you do it again I will request a block. Knitsey (talk) 12:50, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Repeatedly pinging me is also abusive and will not get the page restored. MER-C 13:22, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

AN mention
Hi, I mentioned you at WP:AN regarding an issue you were involved in.  nableezy  - 22:27, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

wiki
Hi MER-C, Since I've been back (post my blocking a few weeks ago by Diannaa), I have lost my "advanced permissions" which I had for many years. I asked Diannaa about this and they said it was yourself who did that. Any chance I could get these back? Thank you in advance Tobyjamesaus (talk) 04:23, 18 November 2023 (UTC)
 * I agree, it's still too early to restore them. MER-C 10:54, 18 November 2023 (UTC)

Suspected sock puppet and COI complaint
Hi, I am complaining about the freelancer continuously publishing spams in return of payments. She is from Dubai and below is her Upwork profile where you can find the evidence:

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfb4d3cfe85e7304

Below are the pages, she published in return of payments:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transkriptor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Penn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webz.io

Also, you can see the feedback on her profile which means she is continuously violating Wikipedia TOS. Also, she is created many accounts for publishing spams. 39.48.3.223 (talk) 21:18, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

ArbCom 2023 Elections voter message
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Featured picture candidates/delist/Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
See title. Wow (talk) 20:04, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Concern regarding Draft:Rain Man (DJ)
Hello, MER-C. This is a bot-delivered message letting you know that Draft:Rain Man (DJ), a page you created, has not been edited in at least 5 months. Drafts that have not been edited for six months may be deleted, so if you wish to retain the page, please edit it again&#32;or request that it be moved to your userspace.

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Thank you for your submission to Wikipedia. FireflyBot (talk) 16:05, 1 December 2023 (UTC)