Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Bullofconfusion/Archive

Report date September 10 2009, 05:54 (UTC)

 * Suspected sockpuppets


 * Evidence submitted by Ks0stm

This is my first time filing one of these, so please correct me if I get something wrong. User:Bullofconfusion (account created by User:Numberwangchung) started this AfD, and arguing the delete side until his last edit at 17:09 September 9. Fourteen minutes later, the account User:ObjectiveThinker was created, and within an hour made its first edit, to the AfD arguing for deletion, using the same arguments as User:Bullofconfusion, and showing a knowledge of policy dispite having been created less than an hour before. Ks0stm (T•C•G) 05:54, 10 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Follow up with more behavioral evidence: note Bullofconfusion and ObjectiveThinker's contributions, for they seem to be alternating periods of editing. Ks0stm (T•C•G) 22:02, 10 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.

I have no idea who User:ObjectiveThinker is. I am not him and I have had no communication with him outside of what's public on the talk pages linked here. His viewpoints do not match up with mine and I am sure an IP check will show that we are not posting from the same place, since I know that I am the only person who has used Wikipedia from my computer today. This seems to be an extension of suspicion raised on the AFD page in question as to how new users could possibly understand Wikipedia policies. If the policies really are so arcane that recently registered accounts cast suspicion upon themselves just for following the rules, then perhaps the policies need to be rewritten rather than become the breeding-ground for ideologically motivated accusations.Bullofconfusion (talk) 06:25, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

I have no idea who User:Bullofconfusion is. I am not him and I have had no communication with him other than what is public on the QuizBowl page. As for the recent genesis of my account, I was doing some Google research on Quiz Bowl (uncovering a great deal of distasteful nonsense) and noticed that the Wikipedia article had been tagged for deletion. I actually created my account so that I could register my support for User:Bullofconfusion's arguments, which are compelling, especially in the wider context of ongoing conflict among the various Quiz Bowl companies and their adherents. An IP check will show that our accounts have no relationship to one another. I also have no affiliation with any of the Quiz Bowl companies. As for my understanding of Wikipedia policies, I am capable of reading and writing. I suspect that the sockpuppetry accusation arises from persons having extensive WP:COI issues - just another argument for deletion of this page. I think I will now go check to see whether Wikipedia has a policy against raising specious accusations against contributors who disagree with one's point of view. If there is not, there should be. —Preceding unsigned comment added by ObjectiveThinker (talk • contribs) 17:38, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

While User:Numberwangchung is another member of my household, that account has never posted on the same article as me, has had nothing to do with any quizbowl-related article, and has no vote or presence on the AFD we're discussing. There is nothing close to sockpuppetry there. Bullofconfusion (talk) 20:45, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

I'm not User:Mensa1960 either. Although she is a friend and colleague, we have differing viewpoints (I don't think the people involved in Quiz Bowl have the discipline to abstain from trying to jockey for position even in a neutral setting such as Wikipedia). I've never worked for a quiz bowl company or officiated at tournaments. I briefly coached a team before retiring from teaching to do something that pays better with fewer headaches. ObjectiveThinker (talk) 23:33, 11 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Comments by other users


 * Chiming in here, its true that Numberwangchang hasn't edited any quiz show related articles, though the defense of "another member of my household" sounds WP:BROTHERish. Like "Bullofconfusion", which is likely a clever play on the song Ball Of Confusion (and maybe Bowl of Confusion, quiz Bowl, haha?), "Numberwangchang" is a combined reference to the 80s band and Numberwang, which is a game show parody skit.  In any event, if ObjectiveThinker and BullofConfusion are not the same person, as they attest, that's the end of things in my view.--Milowent (talk) 21:45, 10 September 2009 (UTC)
 * They are not, no. Brandon (talk) 21:47, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

Requested by Ks0stm (T•C•G) 05:54, 10 September 2009 (UTC)
 * CheckUser requests

under "C" for attempted vote stacking on an AFD. MuZemike 14:43, 10 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
 * is on the same IP as:
 * as:
 * Brandon (talk) 21:38, 10 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Brandon (talk) 21:38, 10 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Conclusions
 * Behavioral evidence suggests that it is unlikely that there is any abusive sockpuppetry going on. Closing as no action taken. NW ( Talk ) 17:58, 12 September 2009 (UTC)