Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/MaxBrowne/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets



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MaxBrowne has edited while logged out to make disputed changes to Peter Thiel, an article where their "Disruptive editing: BLP issues" led to a block in June 2017.

They "retired" in July 2017 after the block, returning in February of this year using the Auckland-based, Spark New Zealand address 222.153.254.63 to make a comment on the article's talk page. The comment complains about the New Zealand categories in the article, an issue they edit warred over in June 2017. (See the edits here: 1, 2, 3.) They also used that IP address to make edits (1, 2) to King's Gambit, an article which they have previously and subsequently edited with their account.

Also in February, they used another Auckland-based, Spark New Zealand address (125.236.165.185) to make an edit request on the article's talk page, complaining about the philanthropy section of the article. This edit request was not immediately responded to so they logged into their account and POV tagged the article (without discussing it on the talk page), describing it as "hagiographic" (222.153.254.63 had previously called the article a "hagiography") and complaining about the philanthropy section. There is more to be said about their edits after they began using their account again (they were blocked for 24 hours on 11 March for "Personal attacks or violations of the harassment policy" due to comments made on the article's talk page) but I think those events may be tangential here.

On 17 April, they created a RfC on the article's talk page about the philanthropy section. On 29 April, they logged out again and used another Auckland-based, Spark New Zealand address (122.57.121.28) to remove terms related to the RfC.

Note that I had asked them about editing while logged out back in March, and stated on the talk page that their editing while logged out was a violation of WP:ILLEGIT. Hrodvarsson (talk) 01:34, 3 May 2018 (UTC)


 * They are now editing as . Hrodvarsson (talk) 23:27, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

In response to the denial below: beyond the technical relation between the IP addresses, User:MaxBrowne when initiating the RfC said "Do the activities described in the section headed "philanthropy" ... fit within the conventional definition of the word "philanthropy"?" and 122.57.121.28 in their edit summary said "Removed the word "philanthropic". Thiel's activities do not fit the definition of this word." Hrodvarsson (talk) 23:44, 10 May 2018 (UTC)
 * They have not denied that 222.153.254.63 and 125.236.165.185 are IP addresses they used to edit while logged out, so there exists a history of editing the article while logged out. But even if this was not known, the similarity in the nature of 122.57.121.28's edit and edit summary to the RfC created while logged in is glaring.
 * Also, the locations are not that far apart. (It's a less than hour flight from Wellington to Nelson? Maybe 4–5 hours by car and ferry?) Their last edit on their account before 122.57.121.28's edit on 29 April was on 27 April and they returned to editing while logged in on 1 May, so there is a gap in activity to allow for traveling the short distance. (It is strange that someone would go to the trouble of editing while logged out an article they have a disruptive history of editing with their account, especially when on a work trip/vacation/etc, but there also is a history of going out of their way to edit the article: as mentioned above, they logged in after months of being "retired" just to POV tag the article, which was semi-protected at the time.) Hrodvarsson (talk) 13:20, 11 May 2018 (UTC)
 * I do not see any evidence to the contrary. The likelihood that User:MaxBrowne happened to travel a short distance from their usual place of residence and edit while logged out is far higher than the likelihood an unrelated person—using near identical wording in the edit summary—removed terms which User:MaxBrowne had started an RfC about less than two weeks prior. That hypothetical unrelated person would also have to coincidentally be from New Zealand and use an IP address geolocated a short distance away from the IP addresses User:MaxBrowne had previously used when editing the article while logged out. Hrodvarsson (talk) 23:43, 13 May 2018 (UTC)

Comments by other users
''Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.''

The edit by IP 122.57.121.28 was not made by me; this is just the latest example of this editor's constant assumptions of bad faith concerning me. I have already asked this editor several times, in no uncertain terms, to refrain from future interactions with me. Regarding the "please explain", could you be more specific please? MaxBrowne2 (talk) 23:58, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Spark is by far New Zealand's largest internet provider and the edit by 122.57.12.28 is geographically different. The initial SPI, and the recent accusation of lying, are based solely on the assumption of bad faith. This editor needs to be warned. MaxBrowne2 (talk) 03:42, 11 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Assumption of bad faith has been confirmed. He goes to absurd lengths to defend his position even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately this is all too typical of his behaviour. MaxBrowne2 (talk) 13:30, 11 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Hrodvarsson's evidence is based entirely on a supposition of bad faith. I categorically state that I did not make the edit in question. Not only is it geographically and technically distinct, altering the wording of the lead but not the body of an article is typical of an inexperienced editor and not the sort of edit I would make. I have never edited that article as an IP. I request that this SPI be closed quickly, and that Hrodvarsson be warned against accusing other editors of lying. I also think an IBAN should be considered as I am thoroughly fed up with this editor's constant attacks on my personal integrity. MaxBrowne2 (talk) 03:20, 14 May 2018 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments
— Berean Hunter   (talk)  21:16, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * , please explain.
 * The suspected logged-out editing happened last month. A block now wouldn't be justified since there is no ongoing disruption. Closing without action. Sro23 (talk) 01:44, 15 May 2018 (UTC)