Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Stravin/Archive

Evidence submitted by Orderinchaos
Something very odd is going on here. A bunch of users with very similar viewpoints have been editing at a range of Australian articles. I'm actually prepared to extend good faith to Watchover (i.e. I think the result could be that he is OK but the others are mutual socks of an unknown sockmaster).

KAPITALIST88 (who should have been usernameblocked anyway - 88 is a Nazi reference) was blocked this morning over an image they had uploaded with false copyright to Tony Abbott (Australian opposition/Liberal Party leader). Within 17 minutes of KAPITALIST88 discovering he was blocked, Cantwejustbefriends, an account with only 3 previous edits (one of which was a major edit to Joe Hockey, Abbott's leadership challenger), roared into life. The history at over the past couple of hours, together with Cantwejustbefriends's user and talk pages which talk about "factionalism" and "pack mentality" in their first and second diffs, suggest to me that there is sockpuppetry going on. The issue over which one is backing up the other is a somewhat unrelated pet issue of Watchover's in adding tables to list articles (see e.g. from October).

(from earlier in December) is also of interest.

Watchover's and Kapitalist's edits are almost mutually exclusive to a scary degree - one edits for a few days, then stops, and the other one edits in the interval. Orderinchaos 05:56, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

CheckUser requests
Requested by Orderinchaos 05:56, 3 January 2010 (UTC)
 * NW ( Talk ) 18:33, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
✅

=

=

Conclusions

 * All blocked and tagged by various people. Nathan  T 14:44, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Evidence submitted by Orderinchaos
Since the Watchover SPI, it has been brought to my attention that another editor, Stravin, has participated in many of the same debates and edit wars as Watchover (eg List of leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)), edits from the same POV and, as with the last case, one user tends to be active when the other is not (although there are isolated cases - eg 21 Dec at around 11:50 UTC when edits neatly interleave). There is also wikistalk output. If looking at all three editors highlighted in the last SPI, all three have edited at Electoral district of Ku-ring-gai, a rather obscure article, while there is an overlap over NSW politics generally. Both Stravin and Watchover have a random habit of editing while logged out; this can be seen amply in the history of Davidson High School (New South Wales), a particular editing interest for the Stravin account. Kapitalist and Stravin overlap in an interest in the Warringah Council area of northern Sydney, while Watchover's lays further north in the Hunter Region.

I have listed this under Stravin as, if this one is correct, then Stravin, not Watchover, is the sockmaster (or at least fulcrum, if there is more than one person involved) for all of the accounts, as they have 1600 edits and an 18-month history, while Watchover has 700-odd, Kapitalist has 300-odd and Cantwejustbefriends has 5. (This is not counting around 200-300 IP edits I believe originate from this.)

Watchover is presently blocked following the last SPI; Kapitalist is indef-blocked for another reason. Orderinchaos 20:05, 6 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the clear indication re Kapitalist - that had been one of the unresolved questions on the Watchover one. (Would it be possible for a clerk or a checkuser to note this finding on that one?) Orderinchaos 00:15, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks to the clerks, checkusers and everyone involved for the prompt and efficient service :) It is genuinely appreciated and has helped to bring this situation to a solution. Orderinchaos 00:59, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I second Orderinchaos's thanks. The efforts of the SPI team to promptly clear this up and shed some light are very much appreciated. Sarah 02:09, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

CheckUser requests
Requested by Orderinchaos 20:05, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Per above. Orderinchaos 20:05, 6 January 2010 (UTC)


 * for CU attention. Nathan  T 20:14, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

 * The following accounts are ✅ as being socks of ;




 * is ❌ to the above accounts, although they share a common educational establishment and may know each other.

- A l is o n  ❤ 23:37, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Conclusions

 * Blocked and tagged appropriately. I untagged Kapitalist per Alison's post, but left him indefinitely blocked, as the block was for other reasons. NW ( Talk ) 00:31, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

Evidence submitted by Orderinchaos
The first two are obvious socks, but am not sure whether to put them under Stravin or. (After this CU I'll have a better idea and won't need to keep coming back to SPI for the obvious ones :)

The third one is not as obvious - has been editing since 2008, only has 150 or so edits, and is basically an SPA. A wikistalk suggests they have similar editing interests, and their times of editing (03:00 UTC and 15:00 UTC typically) are similar to the others. Orderinchaos 08:26, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
Requested by Orderinchaos 08:26, 10 January 2010 (UTC)


 * - Tiptoety  talk 08:30, 10 January 2010 (UTC)
 * ✅ that KAPITALIST88 = AusRight = SYDNEYres = Conservative in 2010. Observoz appears to be an ❌ account, possibly an experienced editor starting fresh. Dominic·t 05:23, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Report date March 4 2010, 11:32 (UTC)

 * Suspected sockpuppets

The account was created in February this year, on the same day the editor made six edits in five articles before becoming dormant until the 3rd of March. The editor has the same interests as the the meat and sock puppets.
 * Evidence submitted by Bidgee (talk)

Watchover and Cactus1974 have the very same camera but also are located within the same area (The photo of HMAS Newcastle was taken in Newcastle and the other photos where on the Central Coast).

The editor has also been vague on what the meeting was, I've searched for community meetings on the Central Coast and The Entrance on the 3rd of March but I've found nothing, the user also rather defensive and knows Wikipedia too well to be a newbie editor.

I'm also requesting a CheckUser, as just seems odd that they have the same interests, Stravin is known to sock (which infact shocked us all a few months ago). Bidgee (talk) 11:32, 4 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.


 * Comments by other users

Requested by Bidgee (talk) 11:32, 4 March 2010 (UTC)
 * CheckUser requests


 * Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments


 * ✅ - A l is o n  ❤ 13:13, 4 March 2010 (UTC)

Blocked, tagged. ~ Amory ( u •  t  •  c ) 13:58, 4 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Conclusions

Report date March 5 2010, 08:41 (UTC)

 * Suspected sockpuppets

Clearly the same editor using an IP this time. Bidgee (talk) 08:41, 5 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Evidence submitted by Bidgee (talk)


 * Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.

Well one picture is better than another, its not my fault an editor is emotionally attached to a picture that they have taken, even though the pictures they are opposed to are far better suited for the article. Just shows how far an unnamed person will go in spite against another just to big name themselves to a bias "community".

I should also mention that this morning I was contacted through email by fairfax media regarding left wing bias, ownership of articles, political gangs in Wikipedia [I am not threatining anyone] just thought I should let you know that people [journo's who will go to great lengths to find your identity] I gave my phone number and they informed me that Orderinchaos's real name was Andrew, how the hell did they find that out? I stopped them before they started on addresses etc. Just be carefull you guys are stepping on some big toes. 124.179.0.131 (talk) 09:39, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

Retaliation is just a waste of time. 124.179.0.131 (talk) 09:39, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

Sorry I own the same camera as another user, I have been proven guilty for buying a popular camera. Awww Orderinchaos it came up Ryan Casey for me, but this is all recorded so personally its all just shit to me I told the journo I didn't want anything to do with it only that she watch this space. I am not Stravin or Watchover, the joke is on you there ha, fuck all I wanted to do was add some pictures I took during the day to this shitty website, I should have listned to my freinds about wikipedia and its reputation [I suppose you all wouldn't know much about real friends as cyber buddies don't count] ha ha ha ha ha ha ha and you no hope wankers are most likely talking about this on MSN like little school girls LOL. No Bidgee you chose the path for users that disagreed with you. I will help all your depressed souls now by telling you all that you are just very intelligent people that lick ass for what, a barn star may god help you when your computer crashes because you can't edit your beloved wiki lol. Get a real job! [McDonalds at 16 doesn't count] What's that? you have the power or upper hand in this argument you are administrators on a website, do something with your lives. Im loving this, I might just stay and fuck about you lot. ha ha ha ha 124.179.0.131 (talk) 10:10, 5 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Comments by other users
 * LOL... I don't feel threatened at all, someone knows how to use Google. As with just about everything else concerning this individual, there are easy ways to disprove the Fairfax Media link ... like, for instance, a better Google search. Incidentally, they wouldn't need to track me down, they already have both of my mobile phone numbers and my email and are on my facebook. Unfortunately for you, however, I'm silent on the electoral roll and have an unlisted number - although I believe there's quite a colourful entry about me in the "Feedback" system if you still have anything to do with a certain Liberal MP's office. Orderinchaos 09:51, 5 March 2010 (UTC)


 * This is not "retaliation", this about you editing while blocked. The whole sock issue could have been address had you listened to the comments made on Watchover and Stravin talk pages but you chose the path you wanted to use. Bidgee (talk) 09:51, 5 March 2010 (UTC)


 * This says you are Stravin or Watchover... the camera was simply what raised the suspicion, someone with appropriate access has gone in and read the metadata on the edits. "Confirmed" is, as you already know, the highest level of certainty on a check. Orderinchaos 10:21, 5 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

IP blocked for 1 week by Orderinchaos, marking as closed SpitfireTally-ho! 10:34, 5 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Conclusions

Evidence submitted by Timeshift9
8 March 2010 account created, last report including blocks/tags on 4 March 2010, user exhibits similar writing style to User:Watchover, similar interest in Liberal Party topics and obsession with titles. Timeshift (talk) 20:30, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

Comments by other users
I'll actually be disappointed if it is the case as I had believed this to be a good faith new user who I was assisting with questions about formatting and other stuff (although I must admit something did seem strange early on). In the last 3 or 4 days, though, I've seen editing patterns and interests which do look rather like the previous user, and I'm certainly curious to see how the results turn out. Orderinchaos 18:07, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
Requested by Timeshift (talk) 20:23, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

, please explain why you believe these accounts are related under the "Evidence submitted by Timeshift9" section, SpitfireTally-ho! 20:27, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

seems to match the MO of Stravin and Co. fairly closely, in particular in undoing edits by other users without discussion and taking part in cleanup style editing, especially of infoboxes. I also find it strange that they ran across so soon. SpitfireTally-ho! 16:15, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

✅ that the following users are the same: Of course, even though it is suspicious to be creating accounts like this, none of these accounts have been misused with respect to WP:SOCK. However, due to technical details which cannot be disclosed, I am going to say that it is that Stravin is the same as Wikistar2. --Deskana (talk) 02:38, 16 April 2010 (UTC)
 * All accounts indefinitely blocked and tagged as socks of Stravin. Tim Song (talk) 11:49, 16 April 2010 (UTC)

Report date May 9 2010, 14:41 (UTC)

 * Suspected sockpuppets

Same editing interests and style. Bidgee (talk) 14:41, 9 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Evidence submitted by Bidgee (talk)


 * Comments by accused parties    See Defending yourself against claims.


 * Comments by other users

Blocked 1 month.  E lockid  ( Talk ) 14:44, 9 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

Evidence submitted by Orderinchaos
Is acting in an identical manner to previous incarnations, their userpage looks practically identical to an earlier diff of the last known sock's username, and they're intensely interested in New South Wales politics with a Liberal Party POV. GJ Gardner is a major home building company along the eastern seaboard of Australia with many offices in and around Sydney. Orderinchaos 03:57, 20 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Note that there may be additional accounts - during the period immediately before Stravin's block in January, they appeared to be operating three accounts at the same time. I'm presently minded to regard both Highvale and Siegfried Nugent as suspect - the latter particularly, due to very similar editing interests (in particular, NSW politics, northern Sydney and titles). Orderinchaos 15:08, 23 June 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
Please hurry this up, this is taking much longer than it should, even though it is being done in a very sneaky manner. GJGardner (talk) 06:02, 24 June 2010 (UTC)

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
Requested by Orderinchaos 03:57, 20 June 2010 (UTC)


 * - T. Canens (talk) 15:28, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Stavin is, do you have something else more recent that I could compare against? --Deskana (talk) 01:05, 24 June 2010 (UTC)
 * (In reply) Wikistar2 was the last confirmed. Orderinchaos 01:30, 24 June 2010 (UTC)

that the following accounts are the same: --Deskana (talk) 01:38, 25 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. T. Canens (talk) 02:54, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

File note
The user is presently editing under a new account, I am working with them and monitoring their progress. If other users feel a new sock check is warranted at some stage, please contact me first. Orderinchaos 04:05, 8 July 2010 (UTC)

Report date April 16 2011, 06:18 (UTC)
Please see Sockpuppet investigations/Enidblyton11 for the report submitted on 16 April 2011. -- Lear's Fool 02:30, 22 April 2011 (UTC)