Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Joe routt/Archive

05 June 2010

 * Suspected sockpuppets

There's something strange going on at Articles for deletion/Manatee Palms Youth Services. The nomination was by, but the page was tagged and transcluded by the IP. I assume that this was simply editing logged out; nothing wrong with that.
 * Evidence submitted by ╟─ Treasury Tag ►  cabinet  ─╢

But is active in the deletion discussion, simultaneously with. According to DNSstuff.com both IPs are located in the same Flordia town. (Perhaps a Checkuser investigation would confirm the IP behind Joe's account?)

I suggest that all three users –, and  – are the same person, and are inapproriately multiple-!voting on the AfD page. ╟─ Treasury Tag ►  cabinet  ─╢ 16:11, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I simply find it rather hard to believe that two different people in the same town would both cast "delete" !votes within minutes of each other, on a relatively new AfD page. It just seems implausible to me... ╟─ Treasury Tag ►  Captain-Regent  ─╢ 16:28, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Ah, now the guy with the account has suggested that this is a case of WP:MEAT (either that or WP:BROTHER...!) ╟─ Treasury Tag ►  ballotbox  ─╢ 16:37, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.

96.228.200.80 is my home IP. I made my initial edits without realizing that I hadn't logged in. But I am not 97.67.16.26. Joe routt (talk) 16:26, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Comments by other users
 * 96.228.200.80 is operated by Verizon Internet Services, so is likely a dynamic IP which could be used by anyone on the Eastern seaboard. 97.67.16.26 is operated by the Salvation Army in Sarasota, Florida. ··· 日本穣 ? · 投稿  · Talk to Nihonjoe ·  Join WikiProject Japan ! 16:23, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Actually the Verizon IP, 96.228.200.80, specifically traces to Sarasota Florida as well. See . Voceditenore (talk) 16:35, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * The "accused" is a 4-year editor here with thousands of edits and no problems to date. They've already admitted that one of the IPs is them, forgetting to log in, and the other may be a "friend" they mentioned the article to.  A checkuser is not going to confirm any more than they've already confirmed, and giving an established user the benefit of the doubt, there is nothing particularly wrong with this behavior.  The closing admin here can be duly informed that the IP may be a "friend" of the nominator, and can make of it what they will.  Meatpuppetry is a serious charge - this looks like canvassing at worst, although on the boundary we don't want to forbid people from even talking to each other about Wikipedia subjects of interest.  It certainly makes sense that two people who live in the same city would mention to each other that there is a potential coatrack article about a local institution; we don't want to chill reasonable discussion.  Unless there's evidence that this has happened elsewhere with this editor, I suggest that this should be marked case closed, editor reminded of rules on canvassing, IP encouraged to create an account if they mean to contribute regularly, and leave the deletion discussion to its normal course.  - Wikidemon (talk) 17:01, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your support, Wikidemon. Joe routt (talk) 17:16, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

For what it's worth, a checkuser is not going to say that an account is related to an IP. J.delanoy gabs adds 16:15, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
 * Closing in line with Wikidemon's comments above. Joe routt is aware of the kerfuffle; has indicated he's taking it seriously; the AfD and article are obviously going to be watched quite closely; and the AfD closing admin will give the meat-like-comments appropriate weight. A preventative block, even if appropriate, would achieve little. Joe if that was you consider it a warning; if it wasn't, well, be careful who you speak to. We'll probably never know for sure either way, this time. Assuming good faith, nothing much to do here at this time. -- zzuuzz (talk) 17:43, 5 June 2010 (UTC)