Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Alexikoua/Archive

30 November 2010

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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User:Alexikoua had a 1RR restriction applied to him by ARBCOM, which was topic based on all Balkans based subjects. His 1RR has expired, and he is now editing Greeks in Albania, doing precisely the thing which the 1RR was applied for. When reverted earlier by myself for vandalism, another "user", User:A Macedonian entered the fray, reverted me, making the exact same edit as Alexikoua, who was at 2 reverts by that point. My request is for CU and confirmation, since the editing pattern suggests that User:A Macedonian is an SPA and may have been used while Alexikoua was under 1RR from the ARBCOM.  Barking Fish  21:14, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

Comments by other users
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I doubt it. If you examine both their editing history today around 19:30 pm and both made edits within minutes apart on totally different subjects. If it does turn out to be his sock I'd be very surprised.♦ Dr. Blofeld  21:18, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I doubt it too mainly because of technical issues like geolocation. They've been sanctioned for similar issues and they have similar ideology, but they're not the same user.-- — ZjarriRrethues — talk 21:22, 30 November 2010 (UTC)


 * There is absolutely no case here, the investigation should be dismissed as frivolous and closed speedily. I have known both these users for a very long time, and they are certainly not the same person. The evidence presented is very flimsy. If every two users who occasionally agreed with each other were accused of being socks of each other, there would be an infinity of SPIs.   Moreover, a cursory examination of the the users' contribs would have been more than enough to allay any suspicions of sockpuppetry. I expect BarkingFish to issue an apology to the two users involved once the case is closed, as well as for wasting the community's time and filing an SPI carelessly.  Athenean (talk) 21:38, 30 November 2010 (UTC)


 * Athenean, I will do no such thing. The evidence is far from flimsy, with both users having been sanctioned before for similar things, both making the same edits, one taking over when the other is heading for 3RR, the arbcom's previous ruling against Alexikoua for the same thing and the subsequent 1RR topic block on Balkans... I was well within my rights and suspicions to file this case, and an apology will NOT be forthcoming under any circumstances.  Barking  Fish  21:46, 30 November 2010 (UTC)


 * BarkingFish was advised by me on IRC to file this request. I had not taken a close look at what he had before he did so, but from what he was saying it sounded as though he legitimately thought there was sockpuppetry going on. Filing an SPI even in cases where sockpuppetry is going on is not a problem so long as it is done in good faith. Hers fold  (t/a/c) 21:41, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments
Just a note that doesn't appear to be a SPA - they've been here since 2006. has been registered since 2008. Do you have more evidence that these two accounts are operated by the same person? TN X Man 21:18, 30 November 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm also finding a good number of timing conflicts - times where both users made an edit within the same minute. Sometimes this is a reasonable occurrence even for socks, but a high number of these overlaps greatly reduce the likelihood that they're related. Hers fold  (t/a/c) 21:25, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the response. The thing which concerns me regarding the two accounts is that one has already been 1RR'd for this stuff, and then as soon as that person got reverted, another account mysteriously turns up to help them do the exact same thing. Also, the 2 edits comment by Dr. Blofeld doesn't prove anything. 2 different accounts logged in on a PC and a laptop can give the exact same effect.  If I had more evidence to file, I would, but as it is, my primary concern is the apparent "one backing up the other" which has set my sock alarm off.  Barking  Fish  21:24, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Believe it or not some people occasionally have similar views on wikipedia. I see a high number of timing conflicts often on totally different subjects so I'd be at least 95% sure it is not a sock puppet.. ♦ Dr. Blofeld  21:34, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Fine. I'll withdraw the SPI. FWIW, I've seen users on here seemingly make 40 brand new articles in 2 minutes. Timing is nothing as I said, 2 or more computers logged in with different accounts can have the same effect, but I guess if no-one thinks its right, I must be wrong. Not that I have been much in the past.  Barking  Fish  21:39, 30 November 2010 (UTC)