He is feigning innocence - but one look at select articles, user page and way of writing will leave no doubt who it is. Can (should?) we do something? Druid.raul's user page was deleted (on his request), so I'm not sure if the history can be restored. However, there's too many things in common between Druid.raul and Marcosino (I'll use MPS for convenience). Both:
are Indian
are from Mumbai
are Hindu
are 21 years old
do not smoke
have apparently been editing for a long time though edit history shows otherwise
are short-sighted
are right-handed
are male
are heterosexual
use FireFox
and Facebook
speak English
and Hindi
and Oriya (a minor Indian language)
one decared he won't be editing asab/Muslim related articles ever again (though he failed to live up to that declaration) and the other has proclaimed he's opposed to Islamism
and so on...
See also the edit histories for NACIL and Air India. User Marcosino made the exact same edits/reverts that the previously blocked users and IPs had been making.
It is the third sock of a banned user, and clearly violates most of the established criteria around inappropriate uses of sockpuppetry. Jasepl (talk) 19:55, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Feel free to point me to the right place for this, but if it exists I sure as hell can't find it. Lontech (talk·contribs)'s signature (latest diff) doesn't contain a link to his user page or user talk page as required by WP:SIG. I notified him six days ago but no action has been taken. Thank you! *prepares to be harassed to move to a more appropriate location*... ninety:one21:13, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
(edit conflict) (Woops, entire section edit conflict - merging mine with the one above...) The meltdown of Linas (talk·contribs) continues. Fresh off his third block in a month for vicious tirades and personal attacks (see here and here), he has refactored his user page, basically ignored my request to take it down, and is now spamming his version of events at various noticeboards.[163][164][165] There is another user subpage calling certain admins "fuck-brained idiots". Can an uninvolved admin (if there are any left) please counsel Linas regarding WP:USER, WP:CANVAS, WP:NPA, and any other policies that he is ignoring? Thank you. Wknight94talk17:11, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
(e/c) I've removed or refactored the blatant personal attacks. Better than reaching for the block button, I think. Black Kite17:23, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Linas was right to raise the issue at Wikiproject physics. This is how I learned about his case. I think he raises a very serious issue that needs to be looked into. Count Iblis (talk) 17:21, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I've removed that section completely from his user page. If it gets reinserted then full protection of the user page is the next step. He has been warned not to reinsert it. Mjroots (talk) 17:26, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Sarek reinserted it (why? it's still in the page history). Count Iblis, why do you think it needs to be looked at on WikiProject Physics or via any other forumshopping? tedder (talk) 17:28, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
We have to separate the issue of Linas using inappropriate language here on wikipedia with the wider point he was making. I think Linas has the right to make the case he is making here and on the various wiki projects (but using decent language, of course). Count Iblis (talk) 17:31, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Here is why I think WikiProject Mathematics should be interested: If we can get a 1 week block just for getting a bit too angry about such an incredibly stupid edit (not sure if that's exactly what happened, but that's how it looks to me right now), then that's a problem that needs fixing. Hans Adler17:34, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I was hoping I could convince Linas to remove it himself. When it became clear that he wasn't interested in working with any of us, I re-removed it. Sorry, Mj, I was hoping that a demonstration of good faith would help matters, but no such luck. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 18:08, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
(Disclosure: I am also here because of Linas' message.) It appears that this whole situation was caused by this absolutely incredible edit by User:Aboutmovies. On first sight this looks like sneaky vandalism and an attempt to promote a new age publisher on a very technical mathematics page that is 100 % unrelated. I have never had any contact with User:Aboutmovies, but this seems to be a well-established user with a clear block log, so it's not hard to assume good faith. Which puts the edit into a different light: An extremely careless edit that happened to be one of the most stupid ones I have seen here. I am not commenting on what happened afterwards, because I am not familiar with it (yet). I would be grateful for links to all the relevant (archive) pages. I am particularly interested in reading Aboutmovies' explanation how this could happen innocently. Hans Adler17:34, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
He wrote the Beyond Words Publishing article and was simply looking for places to link it from. He found one that was wrong and was reverted. That's about it. If every time anyone made an honest mistake, they were called an idiot and an asshole and a dick weed, we wouldn't have a lot of people left. Wknight94talk17:39, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I agree with your last sentence in principle, although there is also the dimension of creating a climate in which experts don't feel overrun by Randies. I don't think this block was a positive contribution to that. Here is an important point that I got wrong at first, and I suspect that Linas also got it wrong, a miscommunication that may well have led to all of this:
Aboutmovies was reverted with a very clear edit summary that explained why he was wrong. He acknowledged this in his comment at [166]. Afterwards he reformatted the citation in question with a strange edit summary ("assist the citation challenged") that can easily be misunderstood as the edit summary of what would have been a revert. But it wasn't. This edit was followed by another that can be understood as a template attack on the article.
Most relevant pages seem to be linked from [167]. It seems that Aboutmovies made a silly edit to 3 pages, was correctly reverted, and then there were serious communication problems. I believe a member of WikiProject Mathematics could have deescalated these, and I am not convinced this was an occasion for blocking. (Blocking this troll who re-did one of Aboutmovies' mistakes and then immediately ran to ANI to boast about it would have made more sense.) It takes two sides to create a Michael Kohlhaas, and it appears both sides were very eager to do so. Hans Adler18:29, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
My explanation can be found at the ArbCom request under the "Statement by Aboutmovies". But for everyone here who somehow thinks this was vandalism or "sneaky vandalism" you really, really, really need to read WP:VANDALISM (we have a specific definition on Wikipedia), which is why I added that link to the original warning to this user. Secondly, since people have not apparently read the entire article on Beyond Words or the math (or physics?) article, a couple of points. First, with citations, under all the formats I know of, the pages come after the name of the publisher, which if you look at the article you will see "Beyond Words, pp. 123-456", thus why there was a mistake. As to the assertion about what the publishing company prints, the do not do New Age exclusively, they started out doing coffee table books, and they will print your own book for you for a fee (self-publishing) regardless of topic. So it is not exactly like they couldn't print this book in question, which in combination with the citation morass is why it got linked. Once it was reverted, there has never been any attempt by me to re-insert it (that would be vandalism). And (without reading whatever Linas has been writing since his original personal attack on me) I will say that expert editing is a noble concept, but then note I hope you math and science trained people would then never edit any article outside of your training, such as your local village or sports team or your local politician, etc. as you clearly would just be committing "sneaky vandalism", right? And as to eager to do so, note I never called anyone names, and I never asked anyone to block anyone. As to the anonIP, that is a long-term, sock puppetting, abusive editor that has been watching everything a certain set of editors does, and is not in anyway related to any of these discussion. Aboutmovies (talk) 18:47, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Aboutmovies, I should clarify that I would phrase some things differently now that I have understood that you didn't re-revert. By "both sides" in my last sentence I meant Linas and the admins dealing with the matter, not you at all. And I only mentioned the troll because I felt that it probably contributed to the last block, but wasn't blocked itself.
Personally I consider your explanation convincing. But I think I can understand how Linas got into his train of thought. The idea that a serious maths book is published by a publisher known mainly for new age stuff is ridiculous, especially in this case (I can't blame you for not seeing this). And Springer Verlag is the largest scientific publisher worldwide, so that to all science types it was totally obvious who the real publisher was. I guess this made your attempts to explain how it happened sound disingenuous to Linas. That's really Linas' problem: he must understand that he was wrong about this crucial point. Hans Adler19:15, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Does it help improve the encyclopedia to continue dogpiling on a constructive but testy editor? No? So why can't we just let him rant a little and stop helping him prove his point. —David Eppstein (talk) 20:29, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Personally, I'd like some assurance that if a brand new math genius editor makes an edit to one of Linas's articles, but misspells something, he won't be called a "fuck brained idiot" and consequently leave the site permanently. Maybe you can handle that, and so can many others, but we can't ascribe tolerance for such immaturity to every new editor. There's no reason for it. Wknight94talk21:32, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Having looked over the history of this meltdown, I disagree with David. Linas is too far gone at this point to simply give him his head. I admit I've thought a lot of things he has written -- not against the people he mentions, please note -- but when I get to that point of frustration & disillusion the only solution is to take a long break from this place. In his case, he needs either a voluntary or enforced WikiBreak until he decides to act civilly again. And even if Wikipedia has degraded into a corrupt system that is producing increasingly unreliable content, the problem will be solved by our users voting with their feet -- which is a more efficient solution than foul-mouthed rants & personal attacks. -- llywrch (talk) 18:30, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
What I find disturbing is the idea that there are "Linas's articles" on Wikipedia. Is he allowed to own them? (And if so, how much is the going rate for a nice stub?) -- Atama頭20:00, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Unfortunately, ownership of articles is unavoidable in some circumstances. For example, I find that I have become the owner -- against my expectations & best intents -- of a number of Ethiopia-related articles. If it were entirely possible, I would be quite happy to put those articles into a basket & leave them on the doorstep user page of someone with a Clue. -- llywrch (talk) 19:58, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I strongly disagree, unless you're using a definition of "ownership" that is different than what I understand ownership to mean in Wikipedia. Watching over an article that is frequently vandalized and reverting flagrantly poor edits isn't ownership (I have a number of articles that I watch over that way myself). Reverting edits made in good faith that go against your "vision" of the article would be what I consider ownership. But if you meant the former definition then I understand. -- Atama頭15:52, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
What I mean is that I'm the only person to make any substantial edits to these articles, & it appears to be the only one to even read them. (I've been embarrassed to discover typos & grammatical errors in them that I made & have gone unfixed for months.) You can decide which category these should go in. In any case, I'm happy to leave these little bundles of joy on someone's user page at any time. -- llywrch (talk) 17:31, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
A little Clue to those who are going to User talk:Linas and suggesting Citizendium: Citizendium policy in this area is unequivocal and clear. Had Linas made edits such as this, this, this, or this at Citizendium, xe would have been immediately and permanently banned from the project (even if Citizendium were giving second chances, since Linas made this edit back in 2007). Citizendium does not want this sort of thing. Yes, there's irony in someone who wants things done the way that they are at Citizendium acting in a way that at Citizendium would have xem thrown out on xyr ear in short order. Uncle G (talk) 02:43, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Yes, of course. However, at CZ this scandal would not start, since CZ people tend to be less bold than careful, and to first propose a change on the talk page (unless correcting an evident mistake). Boris Tsirelson (talk) 12:21, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
Nothing left to talk about; time to let the archive bot handle this
Asked to help Pr3st0n with copyright issues after his recent RfA (in which I did not participate), I discovered evidence of considerable copyright confusion in that he had copied content from many websites into the article Lostock Hall (see User_talk:Pr3st0n/Archived2#Copyright_problems.2C_Lostock_Hall). He addressed this, but yesterday I was made aware of some image issues. Some of these also arise from copyright confusion (he evidently believed if he purchased an image, he could license it), but I need review of one set of images that raise questions of intent.
On 18 September 2009, Pr3st0n uploaded this image, with the note that it was "A photo of Lostock Hall library which I took in 2008."
This image is identical in every respect that I can see to that at the official website. Note, please, that it seems to show a plain brick facade.
On 4 October 2009, he uploaded this one, with a note that it is "Lostock Hall Library as it looks in 2009 after some minor exterior paint work."
This image is identical (down to the vehicles in the parking lot and the reflections in the windows) to one published under full copyright by David Scott here on September 25, 2007. Note the paintwork, which would suggest the picture with what seems to be a plain brick facade may be older. (According to Pr3st0n,the paint may have peeled and been redone.)
The metadata of the image on wikipedia dates it to 13:36, 25 September 2007--the same date it was uploaded to the other site, but Pr3st0n says that this is just the way it is with his camera. According to him, the van is perpetually parked there.
He also uploaded File:Todd Hall-2009.jpg on Commons, with an indication that he is the photographer. This picture is identical down to the shadows to another by David Scott, also uploaded in 2007: [168]. His summary suggests he took the photo on 04 October 2009, but the metadata also dates to September 2007. Note that in spite of an evident difference of two years, even the flowers are the same.
Questioned about these images, Pr3st0n asserts that he is the photographer and that similarities are coincidental, possibly attributable to standing in the same place.
I do not work much with images, but these seem clearly to be the same pictures to me. I hope somebody can clear this up and prove that I am wrong. But, if they are the same, again, we would now be dealing with intentional copyright deception rather than plausible misunderstanding. Since I have worked somewhat extensively with this contributor, I would appreciate fresh admin eyes to determine what might be the best handling of this. --Moonriddengirl(talk)13:54, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
The Todd Hall image, and its counterpart on panoramio, have identical md5 sums; they are exactly the same file. It is utterly impossible that these these are anything other than exactly the same image. Even two images taken off a tripod a fraction of a second apart would have different md5sums. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk14:02, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
And the two library pictures are md5 identical too. There is no possible coincidence where these two pictures could be taken by different people. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk14:08, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Hmm, Seems that the first thing we need to do is to stop the problem getting any worse. Any other admins comfortable with an admin sanction being issued to Pr3st0n preventing the uploading of images to Wikipedia? (Can we sanction Commons uploads too, or would that need a Commons Admin?). Mjroots (talk) 14:10, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
(edit conflict) He has made unambiguous and deliberate statements that he took these pictures, statements that are clearly and willfully false. Given the thoroughness of Moonriddengirl's questioning of him, any claim that this is an accident or a misunderstanding of copyright isn't possible; he's done it on purpose. He should be immediately, and permanently, blocked. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk14:17, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
(e/c) Agreed that it is 100% impossible that those two sets of photos aren't identical. User:Pr3st0n needs to review what happened to another editor who made a similar mistake; lying, and then getting caught up in the coverup to the lie. The time to come clean and be honest about this is in his very next post to Wikipedia; an attempt to spin another lie should be met with an indef block. Intentional deceit is about the worst thing you can do in an encyclopedia, and there will be very serious consequences if he doesn't own up right now. (Also, it's a bit insulting that he thinks we're this stupid, but that's a separate issue I suppose). --Floquenbeam (talk) 14:14, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
(e/c)Oh, very comfortable. The pictures are identical down to the cloud positions. No way were those pictures taken at the same place at different times. His lying through his teeth might indicate a need for outright blocking, instead of just sanctioning. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 14:16, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Additionally, Pr3stOn states that File:Lostocks hall.JPG "was taken by myself; and although it looks identical to the photo shown on the website you supplied, I can indeed stipulate that it isn't." He stipulates that it is only coincidence. Yet a comparison with the website photo indicates they are indeed identical - down to the exact sticks and leaves in the foreground driveway. — CactusWriter |needles14:19, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I agree, this user is evidently now engaged not only in a series of copyright violations, but also in building up a large web of lies to cover it up. If there should be anything exceptionally valuable in his non-image contributions, we might do just a permanent ban on image uploads (including a ban on inserting images he uploaded on commons, and a notice to commons admins they should keep an eye out on him); if not, block for lengthy period of time. Fut.Perf.☼14:23, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Yes, I think preventing further damage must be the correct first response (not sure about commons), though I'd also support stronger measures if necessary. There's no question that the images are not merely coincidentally similar, but as Finlay says, the exact same file. Pr3st0n should be seriously considering their next move at this point. EyeSerenetalk14:25, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
As a first response, yes. I can't conceive of any mitigating explanation, but if there is one I'd like to hear it before we decide if a further response is necessary. EyeSerenetalk14:35, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
This is intentional deceit, as Floquenbeam stated above. I'm sorry, but a ban on image uploading isn't going to solve the problem. Deceit doesn't restrict itself to one category. Lies are lies, and these are out-and-out damn lies. I almost just did it myself, but decided to comment here instead. Block immediately.Tan | 3914:39, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Actually, so did I on first reading the thread; it wouldn't be the first editor I've indeffed for causing copyvio problems. I believe we may well end up there yet, but with this amount of attention they aren't likely to do any damage so I don't think there's any rush. They haven't edited for a few hours, so they probably aren't even onsite at the moment. However, what I think we mustn't do is allow this to drag on too long without resolution; perhaps after (say) 24 hours we should just indef and move on. EyeSerenetalk14:56, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Tan, let Pr3st0n at least have a chance to respond to this thread before we take any further action. Does the accused not have a right to be heard? Mjroots (talk) 14:49, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Well, certainly not because of anything I did. He says "AfD" on his talk page - I think maybe he should just try again. Tan | 3914:57, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I tried to and comment to this, and it wouldn't let me; I was being shown a "block" message - which was confusing to be honest. The image [File:Pleasant Retreat Inn, Lostock Hall.jpg] is of my own; I already informed that this image was part of a project to create a web-group for the pub which I was working at between December 2007 - December 2008; and image taken by myself, for my own purposes. So I cannot see why this is a problem. I would like to stipulate that I am not "digging holes to get out of lying". I am an honest person, and have been brought up by my parents to do so. So to make such accusations is out of order; I would never make such accusations to any user on matters like this. Treat others how you expect to be treated in return - that policy sound familiar to any of you? yes, right now I do feel a little angry at the statements made, and the fact that User:Moonriddengirl and myself were in the process of working this out; is shocking to find the same user "back-stabbing" me in such a humiliating manner - an action to which I would never do to any person, whether on the Internet or in reality. To back-stab someone is a shameful act, and one that should be dealt with cautiously. I can clarify that the Todd Hall image, despite their identicalness, are not the same. If it is to please people, I shall revisit the site and obtain a new photograph of this building, along with any other images that you state look "identical". That was one of the options I was about to put forward to User:Moonriddengirl in our disccusion about this matter... pending on her reply to my previous question (to which she hasn't replied to yet). So to ban myself from uploading images, is shameful on your behalves. I was working cooperatively with User:Moonriddengirl to come up with some resolution on this matter so that no such sanctions would ever take place. I am in the process of undergoing "adoption" assignments, and slowly but surely cover each policy step-by-step. I would appreciate that I am able to continue with my assignments, and also be allowed to rectify the images matter, by obtaining new ones (taken by myself I would like to add), so that a full and mutual resolution can take place. Pr3st0n (talk) 14:59, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Just to be clear: your stance is still that the Todd Hall images, despite having an identical md5 sums, are not the same? Tan | 3915:02, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Agree with block. Flagrant denial in the face of indisputable evidence. At least this guy came clean when we essentially caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. Tan | 3915:05, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Thank you, all, for feedback and assistance. :/ I would have hoped this wouldn't be necessary, but given what looks like copyright fraud, I don't know what else we can do. --Moonriddengirl(talk)15:07, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Concur. We simply can't trust any of the images he's uploaded; we should delete them all. Those that have compatible licences (or whose real owners we can reasonably approach), such as the geograph ones, we can re-upload with a fully compliant provenance. Much credit is owed Moonriddengirl for her level-headed tenacity in pursuing this. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk15:07, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Any Geograph images should be uploaded to Commons. Details on my user page for those who don't know about these Wiki-compatible images. Mjroots (talk) 15:18, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Hrm. So this user says he took the pic, which is of a place he used to work at. Is it possible that the Pub is actually the one who is using his image, and not the other way around? Left them copies once upon a time, perhaps? Tarc (talk) 15:25, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I considered that might be the case, but it's not just one place -- the images are claimed by several other photographers, none of whom match the name on Pr3st0n's userpage.--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 15:27, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
In addition, it's not up to us to create whatever implausible scenario might have happened. If there is a valid explanation, Pre3st0n can provide it. Tan | 3915:29, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I have deleted File:LostockHallLibrary.jpg and initiated discussion at the Commons administrators' noticeboard, with a link to this discussion. Awaiting input from the editor and colleagues at Commons before taking other actions there. Regarding en:wiki, recommend a preventive indefinite block unless he admits the problem and assists with cleanup. Durova32515:31, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
FYI, the md5 sum for File:Lostocks hall.JPG is identical to this, published here, as noted in the CSD tag for the image. (For posterity, the md5 sum is d14a6efe99fd863f9d53c69484ef611f.) I am avoiding deleting the image - even under CSD - due to past involvement with User:Pr3st0n. Frank | talk 16:11, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Pr3st0n has been given considerable help from MoonRiddenGirl. Frank also offered a lot of help, but was met with an odd reaction. Pr3ston is either acting maliciously, and thus needs to be blocked, or is never going to get it, and thus needs some kind of fierce restriction. All contribs (text and images) are suspect and will need checking. All comments from pr3ston about sources and licences are suspect, and need to be checked carefully for accuracy and truth. Certainly lying about sources of images which are in copyright should be blockable NotAnIP83:149:66:11 (talk) 16:52, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
He's just provided an explanation. This is no judgment as to whether it's a satisfactory explanation, just an explanation that finally addresses the question head-on, at least. Equazcion (talk) 16:58, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
The editor has been blocked indefinitely.[169] Although I've offered him one final chance at explanation, it's probably safe to say that this has entered cleanup phase. Suggest deletion of all locally hosted uploads by this user; there's just no way to guarantee that anything is legitimate. Looks like there will be a text copyvio cleanup too. Many thanks to Moonriddengirl for her exceptional diligence and patience (yet again--the latest of many). Durova32517:18, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Remaining images
Several images remain hosted at en:wiki that were uploaded by this user.[170] Would someone who has local sysop rights at en:wiki please review? Durova32517:55, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Although he states that permission should have been emailed to WP, without an OTRS ticket number we can't verify that so I've deleted File:WatkinLaneUMFC.jpg, File:Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Gerard Majella Church.jpg and File:StJames, lostock hall.jpg just to be on the safe side. I'm not sure about the remaining three (File:Lostock Hall 10D MPD 27-07-68.jpg, File:Disused site of LHMPD.jpg and File:Map of Lostock Hall, 1892.jpg). I've made a quick run through Google comparing the photos and can't find any indications of further copyvio, but you're more familiar with this stuff that I am. Your thoughts? EyeSerenetalk18:11, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
2nd one is on commons as well. Third one should be pd if the date is accurate. I can't read the map closely enough to tell. First one might be a copyvio, but I can't find a source online. Protonk (talk) 18:17, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Please double check before posting. That file has been deleted from Commons.[171] PD-1923 material originally published in the UK is not necessarily compliant with Commons hosting policy. At any rate, all of this particular user's uploads that were hosted at Commons have been deleted. We have no reason to trust this editor's assertions. Durova32518:39, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
No, there isn't. Just making statements about the remaining (at the time) pictures. I'm not declaring that they are pd or ok based on those statements. Protonk (talk) 21:16, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Actually I had completed nuking the Commons file and blocked the editor before starting the subthread (a first: I'd never blocked anyone before at other WMF projects). Durova32600:23, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
According to Pr3st0n, the first one belonged to his grandfather, but it is also at this website under the same title. Pr3st0n also claims on his talk page that File:47008, Lostock Hall MPD, 25th March 1964.jpg on commons belonged to his grandfather. Strangely, it was uploaded in 2006 by another contributor. I don't know what to make of that. It has also been tagged for speedy deletion as a copyvio, but not in connection to this. --Moonriddengirl(talk)18:24, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I was just looking at the dates for those two uploads; I believe the steamtube.ning.com upload precedes the WP one? EyeSerenetalk 18:35, 14 October 2009 (UTC) Just noticed you've removed it :)EyeSerenetalk18:36, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
The version on the website is the identical scan, but was uploaded earlier and is of higher resolution. Plus the version uploaded by Pr3st0n is identical to the one auto-generated by the website from the larger original. It seems a very safe bet that the version uploaded by Pr3st0n was downloaded from there. Whether or not it was originally at commons is a different question. - Bilby (talk) 18:40, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I have deleted the File:Disused site of LHMPD.jpg following its deletion at commons as a copyright violation. Given the obvious copyvios on the other photos, it is prudent to suspect all uploads by the editor. Unless they can be definitely identified as meeting copyright policy, they should be deleted. I don't think it is worth spending a whole lot more investigating each photo. — CactusWriter |needles18:58, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Fair enough, I've completed the set. Note that they provided an explanation ([172]) on their talkpage before leaving for work; I've suggested that, if they wish to request unblock, they do so in the normal way. EyeSerenetalk19:27, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
An offer
I have made the editor an offer [173]. It is my view that this is a valuable editor who we would do better to have editing than not - if they can get the hang of the place. Specifically I don't think we would want the editor to comment removed around the block. I've notified the blocking admin. Hopefully some recovery can be made from this mess. Pedro : Chat 19:49, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I think that's a very magnanimous offer, and one they'd do well to seriously consider. Depending on their response and them staying well away from image uploads for whatever time is thought suitable, you've got my backing :) EyeSerenetalk20:07, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
If they accept the offer and this results in an unblock, please ping me at user talk. Would reopen the parallel Commons discussion upon request. Durova32620:10, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Thanks both. SarekofVulcan has generously indicated on the user talk page he would also be happy, as have other respected editors including Moonriddengirl who started this thread. Durova, I will of course advise the outcome, although it is likely that it will likely be tommorow (UTC time). I have no full account on commons so can't add any input there Pedro : Chat 20:26, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Pinging on user talk at either project is fine. Am on Pacific time, so morning UTC would be nighttime here. Might mean a few hours' delay. Durova32621:27, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I unequivocally oppose this offer, or any move to unblock. We've assumed good faith in spades, and been rewarded with a torrent of deliberate and wholesale deceit. Fraudulent copyright claims place our users, and our downstream mirrors, at genuine legal risk; to accept further contributions from this individual, under any circumstances, weakens any faith they might have that we're actually serious about giving them a legal, freely-licensed product. Mentoring is also inappropriate; mentoring is right for people who've misunderstood the rules, standards, and mores of Wikipedia, not for the wilfully and systematically dishonest. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 22:57, 14 October 2009 (UTC) edit: that's "unequivocally"; d'oh -- Finlay McWalter • Talk23:12, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm not sure this is a good idea. We have multiple examples of both text and image copyvios. Moreover, when he had a chance to come clean he admitted it about some of the images but lied about the images he claimed belonged to his grandfather that seem based on the research here to be almost certainly copyvios also. I have trouble seeing it likely that this individual will be a net benefit to the project. JoshuaZ (talk) 03:39, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
With all due respect to Pedro, who I have at various times maligned and revered - mostly mistaken on either side ;-) - I oppose this "offer". Finlay McWalter says it well; there were so many chances given for Preston to come clean and there was an afternoon of obfuscation, evasion, deceit, and misdirection in the face of indisputable evidence. This issue was not simply a matter of false information on the wiki, as it was with the previous offender named above. This entailed legal risk. We simply cannot allow ourselves to knowingly accept contributions from an account that has a documented past of explicitly fabricating fraudulent copyright claims. I know that occasions like this will occur, but what if it happens again? What if the foundation is sued, and our users knew that this user had a proclivity to making false claims? I'm not Godwin; I don't know. But it seems the risk outweighs the benefits. Personally, I will never trust this user again. I don't think the community should, either. Tan | 3904:45, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm afraid I share the discomfort with unblocking him so soon - I guess with many eyes watching he won't get a chance to do it again, at least while they're watching, but I'm still nervous about someone who only admitted and apologized for the copyvios after been given multiple opportunities, in spite of definitive evidence, and who appears to still have only admitted to the ones he was caught out for. Second chances are great, and I think it speaks highly of the editors involved that one was offered, but I'd have been inclined to wait until there was real evidence that he understood what he'd done and why it was a mistake. That said, I think recalling the offer will do more damage, so I guess we watch and see if he accepts it, and, if so, how he goes after. - Bilby (talk) 10:24, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Conditions of unblock?
Certainly I understand reservations. This was a matter of copyright fraud, not error. Further, it wasn't just a question of a user lying when caught. He lied when he uploaded those images as well, when he explicitly claimed he was the photographer. This means that the deception didn't just happen when he panicked on being called out. He intended from the start to defraud that photographer as well, almost indisputably, as some others. However, there are other options than an outright block. I have one multiple article infringer who was given a second chance who has been submitting material to me before publishing it for more than six months. (I don't have time to do this for Pr3st0n as well. Copyright cleanup is more than a full time job.) If Pedro says he will keep an eye on him, I trust him. And obviously as a community we do have the option to ban certain activities, such as image uploads, if we feel that this demonstration of bad faith does not merit our assuming good faith from him again. And I think it should be a given that any future copyright violations should result in an immediate block, no discussion necessary. --Moonriddengirl(talk)10:55, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
There is not a particularly clear consensus to unblock at the moment with four editors arguing above not to lift the block, or at least not yet, but with support on his user talk from a number of others. I much appreciate your extension of trust to me Moonriddengirl, and I also understand the concerns in the section above about removing the block. I fully agree that any further "issues" in this regard from Pr3st0nwould be met with an immediate block if he is unblocked now. Either way, I guess it is all moot until he signs in again, if indeed he does. Should that happen we may need more discussion then. Pedro : Chat 11:07, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Yes, I see that there is opposition. It was actually my hope that setting conditions might help those who (understandably) oppose unblock feel more comfortable with the option. :) But you're quite right that it's all moot right now. --Moonriddengirl(talk)11:41, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I believe I bear more than a little responsibility for starting this, because in reviewing Gareth's contributions, which I've done frequently, I noted an updated photo upload and asked Moonriddengirl about it, and we were off to the races (again). Pr3st0n/Gareth first came to my attention at RfA, when he stood for adminship shortly after completing a bunch of work on Lostock Hall, which he also nominated for GA status. That RfA did not go well, being WP:SNOW-closed and re-opened at Gareth's request despite several recommendations to the contrary. He did not get it until oppose #26, which followed an entry of his own as oppose #25 (obviously not really an oppose of himself). Part of the reason that RfA didn't go well was that Lostock Hall contained copyright violations. After investigation, the originally-questioned text turned out to be public domain, but through the diligent work of Moonriddengirl, a great deal more actually copyright-violating text was found. Gareth defended that text in the same way as he defended these photos, not getting it until several people weighed in on the situation. Concurrently, there was his own GA review of an article, in which he failed it out of hand for lack of context and was questioned about it, and about which he asked for my comment, but did not receive it well. (The article was GA-passed with a minimum of effort shortly thereafter.) While failing the GA nomination, Gareth used a template from WP:AfC and despite being told so several times, did not get that the template in question was for a different process, and that he wasn't explaining suitably why the article should not be a GA. When I then tried to show him two more RfAs that weren't going well the week after his, he did not take it well and opened an ANI complaint about my response to the matter. Details are here, and when I was pinged about that thread, I put together some notes here. In particular, note the last comment in the ANI thread. Gareth posted his final comment after it had been archived, showing once again that he didn't get it in two ways this time: first, that the majority of responses to his complaint were not agreeing with him, and second, that the thread had already been archived and further discussion there wasn't going to happen. Skipping ahead to yesterday's discussion, in the middle of it all, when he was blocked, his concern was about being able to continue his adoption assignments, rather than displaying any hint that he was getting it regarding the newly discovered copyright violations.
I trust you all see the theme here. Gareth is trying to be a part of the community - evidently trying pretty hard - and does not easily get it when things are explained. He often takes things personally as if someone has walked up to him and slapped him across the face, when in fact what has been going on is that people have been gently nudging him in the direction of appropriate policies to read and people to contact. I understand the violations are violations, and in fact I think I am the one who first spotted the problem in both recent cases. (There was an early image problem as well; see File:Jade ewen.jpg (admins only) from January 2009.) I think after all of the recent activity, Gareth has begun to understand the seriousness of the problem. A lot of effort has been put into making that so - probably a dozen people have spent hours each in doing so. I am pretty sure Moonriddengirl must have spent literally days' worth of effort on the two copyright issues, and I know I've spent a full day or two all told.
So let me say this about all that: we aren't yet at the stage that we can't unblock Gareth. He can get it. Note that the image copyright question involves images that were uploaded before his RfA, and before the discussion about his text copyright issues. Yes, there was deceit, defiance, obfuscation, and general stonewalling along the way (in both cases). However, he has made honest efforts with his text, and he has made honest efforts with his adoption process. I haven't seen further evidence of text copyright violations, and we have already instituted upload sanction for images. The offer Pedro made is not an automatic unblock just for the asking. The blocking admin has signed on. At least two other editors who have spent considerable time examining Gareth's submissions have signed on to the offer. Gareth may or may not sign on himself. If he does, it will be a tight leash, especially considering the number of people who think he's already used up all his chances. The pattern is known and would be easily recognized if it started again, and Gareth must know that, or we can explicitly spell it out to make sure.
I respect the opinion of those who advocate for refusing to unblock. In many similar cases, I would even agree and say that we should all move on. However, I am very familiar with this case, and I think there is a reasonable chance Gareth can be turned into a productive contributor. There are enough people willing to adopt and mentor (forward-looking activities), and enough who are closely aware and will monitor and correct (project-protecting activities) that I think we can make this work - if Gareth agrees. If Gareth displays a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the problem, a lack of understanding of what is expected and required, or a general unwillingness to make continued effort, I would have to agree that keeping the block in place is appropriate. But if he is willing to adhere to community standards and requirements, I think we can unblock this time. Frank | talk 12:01, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
No longer moot. I personally am not comfortable with this attitude: "We all do mistakes, and cannot start pointing fingers at others when they make mistakes too. I would never do that to people, I would offer help and support, not pile on by bullying or making them feel worthless." Although he has admitted wrongdoing, this suggests to me that he still feels himself the aggrieved party (and he is still describing his copyright fraud as a mistake). IOW, I'm not sure there is any real understanding here. This does somewhat diminish my support of an unblock. It is an admission...of sorts. That said, I do still trust Pedro. :) I am lukewarm at best. --Moonriddengirl(talk)12:48, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
And neither am I. Given this posting and Frank's treatise above, WP:COMPETENCE comes repeatedly to mind. While I won't vehemently fight any mentoring or "deal" or whatever offer is given, I remain opposed to any unblocking. Tan | 3913:09, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Actually, having re-read Pr3st0n's statement, I now also oppose any unblocking. He says, "no deceit was intended, it is one thing I despise, and that is deceitful people." I cannot reconcile this with the fact that he actually said that he was the photographer of several of these images when uploading them. He said this was "A photo of Lostock Hall library which I took in 2008." He said in edit summary at Commons that he was the photographer of this. When he says, "Each time I stated one of those copied photos was mine, I was only trying to dig a way out" he is still lying. --Moonriddengirl(talk)13:27, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I think what he's trying to say in the response is in reference to his assertions yesterday as opposed to "every time" meaning every edit in the past. Speaking bluntly I do have a WP:BEANS footwear related concern and there is an argument that I'd prefer to keep Gareth on the straight and narrow under this name or one he renames too if you see where I'm coming from. Having said that, if the tide is turning and we feel that the effort / reward investment in this user is negative then that's the way it is and no unblock. Pedro : Chat 13:33, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Frankly, we should not use the possibility of beans as a reason to unblock. If they beans again, we'll catch it again with the same amount of effort that would be required if they were contributing as a regular editor and still uploading copyvios...except without the front end effort of mentoring. Syrthiss (talk) 13:40, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
(edit conflict) I really do understand your concern and have taken the same approach to others for that very reason. However, I don't think we can put him on the straight and narrow unless he is willing to fully admit culpability. I suppose it's possible he intends what you mean, but the "no deceit was intended, and it is one thing I despise, and that is deceitful people" is still just an astonishing statement for me given the deliberate deception on upload. Many of his images were--like other copyright violators--uploaded without such a false claim of authorship. This is typically what I see from people who are misunderstanding copyright--even those who use a "pd-self" tag don't always claim to be the photographer. The claim to have taken the picture is extraordinary, though, and represents (in my eyes) intent to deceive. Lacking clarification, I'm afraid that I still see intent to deceive. (Also, his persisting in his claims that these images belong to his grandfather is troubling, given conversation above. Note that one of these images was uploaded three years ago by another contributor and that, as pointed out above, the other one which was uploaded by Pr3st0n seems to be a copy of the lower resolution image at the website which previously published it. It isn't impossible that these were his grandfather's images, but, to be frank, it's implausible. And Pr3st0n's honesty is certainly in question.) --Moonriddengirl(talk)13:41, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Ah, I see now about that image that he claims was his grandfather's. My apologies, I'd missed that one in the mass of other issues. Hampered by the fact that I can't do anything with the commons stuff and th eimages are now mostly deleted I simply didn't notice that issue until now. Yes, I agree - implausible is the word. Hmm. Pedro : Chat 13:54, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
By the last count (and noting that of those who supported unblock last night only myself and Moonriddengirl have had a chance to review the above reply) the situation appears to be Myself, SarekOfVulcan, Malleus, Camaron, John, Frank and Eye Serene comfortable with unblock, Moonriddengirl luke warm to it, and Tan, Finlay and Joshuaz firmly opposed with Bilby opposed certainly at this time. That does not seem to be a real consensus. Suggestions anyone? Should we wait until others involved have had a chance to digest the response? I'm still leaning to unblock with strict understanding regarding mentorship but it's by no means a clear decision and I admit my bias. Pedro : Chat 13:20, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I was posting above as you wrote this. Sorry! After re-reading his apology and full explanation, I am now opposed to unblocking, as I believe he is still being deceptive. Though I trust you, I feel I have no hope of trusting him. That said, I do think we should allow others to digest his response as you suggest before reading consensus here. --Moonriddengirl(talk)13:31, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm also going to oppose. It sounds like we can unblock and have several editors devote time (which admittedly is theirs to devote) to mentoring, and have several other editors checking back in on the contributions because they don't wholly trust them...or we can leave him blocked and let all those other editors continue to be productive, non-lying-about-copyrighted-material editors. I 'feel bad' and he's probably a 'good kid really', but wikipedia is not a self help program. Syrthiss (talk) 13:36, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm swinging over to weak oppose here, in part because of the bit about setting up a photo sharing site and uploading to there first so he can source it. As above, it appears that he still doesn't get it. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 14:10, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I have to say lukewarm is my feeling as well. I won't argue against an unblock, and if an unblock occurs, I won't complain and I'll still keep an eye, but I still don't see much effort to get it as I explained above. And for a while I was really persona non grata for trying hard to help Gareth get it; that may still be the case. I'm not sure I'll be of much use to him going forward, which is why I've largely stayed off his talk page. Frank | talk 14:17, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Er, just to clarify, I'm more in the weak oppose than firm oppose category. Sorry if my earlier remark came across as a stronger stand than that. JoshuaZ (talk) 14:28, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
If it were my decision, I wouldn't unblock until it was clearer that he understands the full implications of his actions and statements, and until you (Pedro) were confident of a reasonable chance of success. In particular, I'm unnerved by the "people are picking on me" attitude that I think his latest response still displays. However, I have no problem whatsoever if you want to volunteer your time and try to salvage the situation. I don't mean to speak heresy here, I know we eat, sleep and breathe consensus and all, but I'd like to give you enough elbow room to use your own judgement a little. If you're willing to mentor/monitor, and almost everyone's opinion is weak oppose or weak support, I'm not convinced you really have to get a clear consensus in favor of this to follow through with your plan. Perhaps a better question to ask (rather than "do I have consensus") is "is anyone strongly opposed to me giving this a try?" Even though I fear this might be quixotic, I trust your judgement to shut things down if it goes pear shaped. --Floquenbeam (talk) 14:55, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I oppose any unblock. This is serious, and he really doesn't seem to understand, even though it appears that multiple editors have bent over backwards to explain it. The most recent apology/explanation was more a stream of excuses/finger-pointing and what appears to still be, at best, half-truths. He's been given a lot of opportunities to improve, and, as mentioned above, doesn't appear to get it. I'm also concerned with the reference to being suicidal over this - either that's a lie to get sympathy or a sign that this user may be very unable to deal with the pressures of editing disputes and other drama that frequently occurs on this website. Either way, it does not give me confidence in this user and his future performance. Karanacs (talk) 15:10, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
On a purely pragmatic level, would the cost-benefit be worth it? Although his interests are encyclopedic they aren't irreplaceable, and I don't have time to vet this on a regular basis--even purely on the image side at Commons. That would be time away from featured content work and training other editors in digital image restoration (which are rare skills). In all likelihood, the site would be better off if he remained blocked and an editor in good standing pledged to write articles about the things that interest him. Anyone who has already contributed GAs could do this faster than him, without the worries over copyvio. Perhaps if there's an ongoing correspondence, he'd come to understand the right way of doing these things during the interim. Durova32615:28, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm flip-flopping. For a block: The amount of time and effort that editors have spent on helping this editor while he's not getting it, and not getting it many times over. And then attacking the people who have spent very many hours helping him to understand. And it's not a simple case of asking which are or are not copy vios. NotAnIP83:149:66:11 (talk) 15:49, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
To clarify my position: on the plus side, I believe that Pr3st0n is capable of contributing good-quality work, and if closely supervised presents no further danger to Wikipedia. Since Pedro has offered such supervision and Pr3st0n would undoubtedly be watched like a hawk, in this respect I see no reason not to unblock. However... having read Pr3st0n's response, I can appreciate people's misgivings. It's concerning that Pr3st0n's first instinct when caught out was to try to cover up. It's concerning that he believes this is something anyone would do in the same situation. It's concerning that he thinks there's been an element of victimisation ("bullying" is the term he uses) in his treatment. It's concerning that he appears to be trying to occupy some form of moral high-ground in the face of his accusers. And it's concerning that he claims this has affected him so deeply. All this speaks to me of a worrying level of emotional fragility and cognitive dissonance that makes me wonder if we're doing more harm than good by providing Pr3st0n with a support mechanism, and we shouldn't instead be ushering him kindly and compassionately, but firmly, out of the door. If he's unblocked, we as a community need to accept that this is likely to be a high-maintenance investment, with no guarantee that the benefits will outweigh the costs. I'm not opposing, but that's more a decision based on Pedro's character and standing than it is on Pr3st0n's. EyeSerenetalk16:01, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Weighing in here from the bleachers: EyeSerene said it perfectly. Yes, there is a possibility that this editor can become a productive editor, but as ES points out, the cognitive dissonance is so extreme that this point it would require an life-altering epiphany to bring about. Soon. Reasonably, I don't see it happening. Auntie E.16:23, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
As I have been working with Pr3stOn and two others on an informal mediation case I discovered the extent of the issues with Gareth last night, having his talk page on my watchlist. I remain neutral leaning towards unblock because on the one hand I get the impression that he actually means well, but on the other does not, as has been stated by others, quite get it sometimes, and takes things a little bit too much to heart (e.g. when quoted policy after engaging in original research). I lean towards unblock mostly because of Pedro's generous offer of mentorship and the fact that Gareth will be watched like a hawk in the event of him being unblocked, and also because I have seen some helpful work at the Eurovision Song Contest articles. -- Александр Дмитрий (Alexandr Dmitri) (talk) 17:42, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
To clarify my position as has been mentioned above, I am leaning towards unblock though not without hesitancy. As Alexander has said he has done some good things including helped WikiProject Eurovision, which does always need new hands. I am however worried on if he has the emotional capacity for Wikipedia given his tendency to take things too personally, the talk of suicide does worry me in particular. He also, as said, does struggle to "get it" at times, and that will probably continue if unblocked as shown by his statement. If he could be well mentored and watched he could become a very productive editor, but as said that will require a lot of "investment". Camaron · Christopher ·talk18:02, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm not completely opposed to unblocking - I'm just of the opinion that it may need to wait until there's evidence that he really understands what is going on and is fully open about it. My concern was the ongoing attempt to deceive when faced with conclusive evidence, not just with images but with text as well. If he'd just said at the outset "Yes, I stuffed up. How do I fix it?" then I'd have felt better. That said, while he has added a lot of copyvios, under Moonriddengirl's guidance he seems to have worked to fix them, and with her help he's been learning how to do so - which speaks nicely in his (and Moonriddengirl's) favour. I'm not convinced that he won't be a productive editor, and there's even some evidence suggesting that he will be, but I'd like to see that he understands what he was doing wrong, and that he's willing to be honest about his actions, as otherwise I'd be concerned that he would return to these problems outside of mentorship or adoption. Yet if it is determined that he would learn better under mentorship as an active editor, then it may be worth a shot. - Bilby (talk) 19:57, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm only weighing in because there was a request above to get more opinions (pardon me if that request is now expired). I'm only slightly familiar with Pr3st0n due to his recent RfA, which I opposed with a suggestion to take up another role until he gained more experience. I saw him then as a well-meaning and enthusiastic but somewhat uninformed editor who was relatively new to the project (though fairly productive in his time here). But looking over this recent controversy I have to concur with others that he just doesn't get it, which when combined with his willingness to deceive others means that he may not be able to be a net-positive editor, and a block might have to be an unfortunate consequence. -- Atama頭20:24, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I am admittedly a bit biased on this issue, as I am Gareth's adopter. I know that copyright infringement is a serious issue and I know that it is indeed grounds for blocking. I would like to say that after his RFA he decided to get an adopter, so he does want to improve the encyclopedia to the best of his abilities. That being said, I have been impressed by his attempts to become better, and I have no doubt that if he should be given a second chance, he would continue to better himself as an editor. With the help of Pedro and myself to guide him, I think he could learn from his mistakes and become a true net positive to Wikipedia.--LAAFan02:09, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm not against an unblock if LAAFan is willing to mentor. Pr3st0n has expressed a desire for a name change and a new start. I'm OK with that but any change of name needs to be made known. For the moment, the ban of uploading images should stay. It may be relaxed a little at a later stage (say 1 image per week) once the community has had a chance to assess his contributions. Mjroots (talk) 12:33, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I remain uncomfortable about unblocking. Having recollection of the Rfa and the subsequent copyright discussions, I was not surprised when I saw Frank's initial question to Moonriddengirl that started this latest episode. It was the reason I didn't wait for Mrg but responded myself. There has been a persistent pattern of "not getting it" (as Frank described above). I remain uncertain whether Pr3st0n is purposely deceptive or simply disconnected from understanding his actions. Either way, I do not trust him. However, I do have complete confidence in Pedro to make a decision -- which ever way he chooses. As other's have stated, Pr3s0n will be watched very closely by many. — CactusWriter |needles13:12, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Is it not at least possible that it was a neighbor of his who enjoys seeing Pr3st0n in an uncomfortable position? Reading that edit, it never crossed my mind that it could be Pr3st0n himself. I'm sure that if it isn't Pr3st0n will be along eventually to straighten things out. All I am saying is that I don't think we should assume anything just yet. -- SoapTalk/Contributions15:45, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
That is taking AGF a bit too far. I've blocked the IP for 24 hours for block evasion. If this causes problems, any other administrator can feel free to reverse. Karanacs (talk) 15:47, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm sorry Soap, but that really is one extension of AGF to far. It's trolling crap by Gareth. I'm mighty pissed off with all of our investment in this to have it end this way. Thanks, by the way, to everyone who made those efforts and my apologies for the way you've been treated by this idiot. Pedro : Chat 15:50, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
Countryboyjohn
Resolved
– Account blocked indefinitely.
Countryboyjohn (talk·contribs) has some very questionable edits, to say the least. His first creation, Rascal Flatts Live, was speedied as G12. This is a legitimate album, but a fairly obscure one for which no secondary sources exist. After that came The Vault (Rascal Flatts album), a misrepresentation of an existing digital-only album with a different name (evidently, it was listed under the wrong title on Amazon). From there, he went into the straight-on hoax of The last rodeo (Brooks & Dunn album), receiving a level 4 warning for vandalism soon afterward. This was followed by two legitimate articles, Greatest Hits (Big & Rich album) and Due west (band). However, both were written without sources or categories, and entirely in run-on sentences with the first letter of every word capitalized (e.g. "Due West Are A New Country Music Band They Have A Brand New Single "I Get That All I The Time" The Music Video Has Been In Rotation On CMT And GAC And Is Currently On GAC's Top 20 Chart."). Another user cleaned up the former, and I moved the latter to Due West and added sources.
Later on, John created two more blatant hoaxes: Greatest Hits (Chris Cagle album) and Dear Mother, both of which were added to the artists' articles and 2009 in country music by 71.125.113.138 (talk ·contribs·WHOIS), who is most likely this editor logged out. This IP shows the same editing patterns: capitalizing the first letter of nearly every word (diff), rarely using punctuation, not using rowspans properly in tables (diff), and making several edits in a short period of time (usually to clean up the egregious typos). Both the IP and the editor made false claims of Jeff Bates having two new albums out in 2010, claims which fooled even a longtime editor of country music articles (not me).
Normally, I would say that an editor with both vandalism and good-faith edits should get only a short block. However, even this editor's good-faith edits are of such low quality that they're nearly unusable, so I'm not sure what should be done. A block is most certainly in order for the hoaxery, but for how long? I have already asked the admin who warned this user for his hoaxery, but said admin has been busy the last couple days so I'm taking it here. Ten Pound Hammer, his otters and a clue-bat • (Many otters • One bat • One hammer)21:28, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I can't see an editor's deleted contributions (as a regular ol' editor myself) but using this tool I see almost as many deleted edits as live edits. I also count up to 6 deleted articles based on the editor's talk page warnings. Combine this with absolutely no attempt to communicate with other editors (either via talk pages or edit summaries) and I can't see any potential for this person. I believe in rehabilitation as much as the next person but you have to have something to work with first. WP:COMPETENCE explains this pretty well. -- Atama頭22:24, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I've blocked indef. Where a user at least appears to be trying to do it right, we'll go a long way to help out. Where all they contribute is stuff requiring cleanup, they really need to be moved on. However, we'll see what an unblock request (if any) says. EyeSerenetalk16:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Banned user back again
The banned troll User:Barringa has reappeared at the Reference Desk, posting his usual leading questions on vaguely antisemitic themes from an address in the familiar IP range. See here [176] and here [177].
possible edit warring according to this and this. You are both good editors editing almost the same articles (Zain, Circuit ft). I suggest you both read wp:3RR. We are all good in what we think we are. if we meet other good people in our field, there is no guarantee that we shall agree on every subject. best to read wp:3rr. all the best mate. Ecoman24 (talk page)16:56, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I think somebody with more familiarity with the topic should review. Zen-in was told that he was mistaken in some of his assertions, but also that he could roll back all of CF's edits on Emitter-coupled logic. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 16:58, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
They seem to ve been in possible edit warring since FEBRUARY 2009. A good solution to need to be found. My suggestion still remains for both to understand WP:3RR. any fighting is not good and is not accepted at wiki. talk pages are not battle grounds. No one gets paid to contribute to wikipedia. we will never meet most editors we communicate to. They don't really matter in our day to day lives. Make peace for whatever the price, even lowering your integrity, do it. you will loose nothing. Ecoman24 (talk page)17:14, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
There has been a lot of discussion concerning CF's non-stop edits to electronics pages. Once CF starts editing a page he is like a pit bull and will not let go of it. If anyone tries to edit the same page he will revert the edits and/or complain to admin. After 50-150 edits, with no other contributions, he will move on to another page, to do the same. There are many editors who completely disagree with his way of presenting electronics because the result is confusing to read. A few months ago we went through all of this with Negative resistance. I and several other editors completely re-wrote this page. I believe that maintaining the quality of Wikipedia articles is more important than letting everyone's edits stand.Zen-in (talk) 17:27, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
If you scrutinize my contributions, you will see that all my insertions are accompanied with concrete summaries and comprehensive explanations on the according talk pages about the root of the matter. I have been inviting many times Zen-in and other wikipedians responsible to these pages to join discussions. Conversely, if you examine all Zen-in's contributions, you will see that, as a rule, his edits are not equipped with accompanying explanations on the talk pages. Instead, his comments on talk pages are full with personal attacks, insults (e.g., "pit bull":) and offensive characteristics directed mainly against me. I have not ever managed to discuss in essence the contents of these pages with Zen-in. So, I begin restoring sentence-by-sentence my edits (removed by Zen-in) commenting all my insertions on the according talk pages and inviting Zen-in to discuss them. Circuit-fantasist (talk) 18:53, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
CF you should not take the criticism of your edits as a personal attack. Several other editors have stated to you that your writing is unsuitable for publication on Wikipedia, as it relies heavily on your personal opinions and insights (i.e, it is original research). Unfortunately there is a noticeable degradation in the quality and readibility of pages you have extensively edit, at the exclusion of others. You should not take this observation as a personal insult and you should be used to hearing it by now.Zen-in (talk) 19:01, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
User talk:Zen-in, this statement (Once CF starts editing a page he is like a pit bull and will not let go of it) is/could be interpreted as a personal attack. please, avoid using such statement. they don't help to solve a problem. You both have valid points, defending your actions. You have both made some good contributions to wiki. best thing you can do both is to compromise, not fighting any more. one of you will need to step back. you will loose nothing. worse scenario is, one or both of you may be disciplined. I don't want to see that. you are both veteran editors. Hope you can both compromise. may some one add a section called compromise below. Thank you. This case may also be a content dispute. Ecoman24 (talk page)20:30, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Is this better? Once CF starts editing a page he will not let other's modify it. If you look at the history of the pages listed in CF's initial complaint you will see they all have long unbroken periods when CF edited them. The root of the problem is CF's use of Wikipedia to promote his university's alternative method of describing electronic circuits, as noted by Tarc. A good example of this can be found on the Negative differential resistance page. This is what CF's edits eventually become. CF's edits promote original, unverified research. I have had the good fortune to have studied electronics at a very good university and I have worked as an electronic and computer engineer for many years. I think every editor and administrator on Wikipedia owes it to the users of Wikipedia to maintain the highest quality and readibility of its technical pages. Sometimes that means rolling back one person's edits so that an earlier, well written article is restored. CF has been told in the past, by more experienced editors than I, that he should confine his alternative pedagogical method to his own personal pages because it is WP:OR and WP:POV. As much as I would like to compromise I cannot because to do so would be to participate in CF's conflict of interest.Zen-in (talk) 21:12, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Thank you zain. thank you also Tarc for that information. Zain and CF, You are both here to find a long lasting solution. I see, you have been warring since february. i see that you are not willing to compromise. would you suggest a solution to this problem, (up to five bullet points, if you don't mind). Circuit-fantasist, could you also do the same. consider your friend in drafting the solution. Thank you guys. Ecoman24 (talk page)21:28, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
We have not been edit warring since February. I, along with several other editors re-wrote Negative resistance page, against CF's objections. Since then I have not done much editing on Wikipedia, while CF has done a lot. Before any talk of compromise should occur action should be taken on CF's conflict of interest. My edits have been directed to restore articles to their original quality whereas CF's have done the opposite. If this is not apparent to you maybe someone who has a better understanding of electronics should weigh in. I can suggest SpinningSpark, Secret Squïrrel, Rogerbrent, and Timberframe since they have dealt with this issue in the past. That is my offer of a compromise. Zen-in (talk) 21:51, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
This is my offer of a compromise to end any so-called edit warring between Circuit-fantasist and myself, Zen-in
Circuit-fantasist to desist from editing any electronic articles on Wikipedia because of his long-standing WP:OR, WP:POV and WP:COI activities that have degraded the quality of many of these articles. He is welcome to edit other non-technical pages.
Both Zen-in and Circuit-fantasist to stop editing any disputed article, ADMIN to protect pages mentioned below.
In future, both Zen-in and Circuit-fantasist should not edit the same article more than twice in one week or revert the others contribution more than twice in two weeks. Any one doing so will be considered edit warring, and an initial 24hrs block may follow.
I hope this is a neutral solution to the problem that will satisfy both veteran editors, contributing in the area where more editors are needed. Ecoman24 (talk page)08:14, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I think you are painting the problem with an overly-broad brush. Zen-in needs to reign in the emotions a bit and adhere to WP:CIVIL, but I do not see a problem with his editing per se, as what he (and others) have been trying to do is keep Circuit-fantasist's self-published original research from weakening otherwise scientifically-valid articles. Again, I will point out www.circuit-fantasia.com as well as Circuit-fantasist; this person's general aim/goal is apparently to introduce science in "laymen's terms" for the Wikipedia, using his own diagrams and books. Circuit-fantasist is the one that should be kept away from scientific articles in general until he demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of basic editing policy. Perhaps WP:COIN would've been a better venue for this. Tarc (talk) 14:46, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I broadly agree with Tarc. Zen needs to rein in their frustration, but I see the real issue as being Circuit-fantasist's editing methods and philosophy. They may indeed have some WP:COI issues, and certainly need to listen to advice from other editors. There also seems to be some misapprehension about what we're trying to build here; I wonder if Wikiversity might be more what they're looking for?
One question - is there a clear consensus among our regular subject editors/experts in this area that the type of material Circuit-fantasist is introducing is unwelcome? EyeSerenetalk17:18, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I am willing to go along with Ecoman24's compromise to keep the peace. My concerns with Circuit-fantasist's edits over the past year are expressed well by Tarc. I will not go into more detail for obvious reasons. The WP:COI needs to be addressed or this dispute will re-surface later on. Circuit-fantasist's statement below "you will see that he does not understand even the most elementary circuit concepts" speaks for itself. I recommend that Tarc and/or EyeSerene, since they has have been until now uninvolved, present the facts on WP:COIN. It is better that I not get further uninvolved in this at this point.Zen-in (talk) 20:05, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Why would I want to make a report at COI/N? I'm responding as an admin here :) I acknowledge that there's a probable COI issue, but that can be resolved easily enough if Circuit-fantasist keeps inserting links to their website or other promotional material (a number of options exist, including blocking the editor and, in extreme cases, blacklisting the site). There is, however, a WP:USERNAME issue that demands immediate attention, about which I've left Circuit-fantasist a note on their talk-page. I hope this, and the clear advice I've left below, will resolve the problem. If it resurfaces, feel free to drop a note on my talk-page (or post back here of course)... and where there are genuine content disputes, remember WP:BRD, keep calm, and follow the advice on WP:DR ;) EyeSerenetalk20:51, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Ecoman24, I comply on the whole with your recommendations and will do the following to resolve or to soften the conflict:
I will revise my edits removed by Zen-in and will correct them if there is a need; then, I will place these texts first on the according talk pages to discuss them with wikipedians. I will invite Zen-in to discuss them and will await his answers. If he has adduced reasonable arguments, I will correct my edits again. Then, I will insert them in the main articles.
I will place all my future edits on the according talk pages to discuss them first with wikipedians and will urge specially Zen-in to comment my insertions.
I will equip my insertions with links to reputable sources if it is needed; but I won't do that if they are extremely clear, obvious and based on common sense.
Ecoman24, I would like to say some words as a conclusion. I understand you; you have to extinguish the conflict. But please do not place Zen-in's work on the same level as my work; you make me feel pained. I do not mean the number of edits (240 versus 3206); I mean the content of edits. I am a creative person that has managed to reveal the basic ideas behind circuits and to present them in an attractive manner to readers. I have been continuously trying to find reputable sources presenting the circuits in the same manner; when I manage, I place links to them. If there are not such sources, I use clear, obvious and based on common sense explanations that are not original research. As you can see, the greatest part of Zen-in's contributions consists of cosmetic edits and removing else's insertions as a reaction to these "interventions" (imagine he has even wrecked my attempt to tidy up our discussion here thus mutilating it!!!) What is more, his assertions are frequently wrong (for example, if you dig over the old discussions about negative resistance, you will see that he does not understand even the most elementary circuit concepts). As a conclusion, while my mission in Wikipedia is to create, Zen-in's mission is to destroy the creation... Circuit-fantasist (talk) 19:20, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Firstly, Zen-in wasn't the one who re-factored this section, I was, because there was no need for sub-sub-headings cluttering up the contents list.
Secondly, your undertaking to discuss edits before inserting them into articles is welcome. However, with all due respect for Ecoman24's well-intentioned intervention, I think what you need to take away from this is that your idea of what makes an attractive presentation to readers is not necessarily compatible with Wikipedia's mission as a serious encyclopedia, or the normal conventions of presenting such information, or the styles other editors have adopted over years of collaborative working in these areas. Your editing currently gives the impression that you're on a mission to advocate the www.circuit-fantasia.com approach. You should take a look at WP:NOT, particularly the sections on original thought and soapboxing. As I mentioned above, other websites, such as perhaps Wikiversity, might welcome your approach and your ideas... but please don't persist in using them here. EyeSerenetalk19:54, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Thank you for the response and for the advices. I have useful resources (circuit stories, pictures and flash movies) located on circuit-fantasia.com that can help understanding circuits; that is why I placed links to them a few years ago. Zen-in has removed all of them. Then I began creating Circuit idea wikibook and placed these links there. If they are the main problem, I will remove them from there as well. Circuit-fantasist (talk) 21:20, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Well, we have no involvement in wikibooks and what they allow or not. The problem seems to be with you putting links to there from articles here. Tarc (talk) 21:32, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Indeed - although Wikibooks is hosted on the Wikimedia Foundation servers, it's a completely separate site from Wikipedia with its own content inclusion criteria. I'm positive your work is a valuable addition to their corpus and very welcome there. However, it's important to understand that our mission on Wikipedia is to inform, not to instruct; it's a subtle difference, but I think all the difference in this case. Our guideline on external links is to keep them to a minimum of directly relevant material that wouldn't be found in the article text if the article was FA-standard. Since FA requires comprehensivity of its articles, this deliberately excludes almost everything :) It's true that many articles fall far short of this ideal and linkspam can sometimes get out of control, but the state of other articles isn't always a good guide to what is permissible. The sort of material that's ideal for an external link would be something like a copy of an important historical document that couldn't be reproduced in the article for reasons of space and perhaps copyright. An unsuitable link might be one that covers the same material as is in the article, even if from a different perspective. EyeSerenetalk16:59, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I was heavily involved in the cleanup of the negative resistance article and agree that much of what C-F writes is unacceptable for Wikipedia. I will come on to the problems with C-Fs editing in a moment, but first a few words about Zen-in whose attitude makes this problem ten times harder to deal with than it needs to be. Zen-in edit wars with C-F simply reverting him wholesale, a tactic that had so miserably failed to improve negative resistance over the preceding year that Zen-in resorted to creating a fork article and then left C-F to his "own" article. The first battle at negative resistance, consequently, was not with C-F, but with Zen-in persuading him that the fork had to go before any further progress could be made. Zen-in has shown his attitude above in his proposed "compormise", whose first point is that C-F should be forbidden from editing electronics articles. I do not believe C-F should be forbidden from editing, sometimes he makes a valid point, but because his style is not liked, inevitably the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater in a total revert.
I also do not think that C-F's edits fundamentally have a COI issue as has been suggested by several editors above. The links to Wikibooks and his own website are by and large substitutes for edits of his that have been deleted rather than an attempt to promote those sites. In C-F's eyes the links would not be necessary if he was allowed to write the articles as he wished. The problem is much more one of OR, C-F uses methodology and terminology that has no provenance in the sources, compounded by language difficulties. When challenged, C-Fs response is usually to post extremely long explanations and discussions on the talk page, often retrieving large chunks of text from the talk page archives from a previous round of the same discussion. He thinks that merely the logical force of his own arguments are enough to justify his edits and simply doesn't get the need for reliable sources. A further bone of contention with C-F has been the quality and style of his graphics, which appear to be photographs of lecturing whiteboards. Again, many of these have been reverted, not because of issues with their technical content (although that as well sometimes) but because they include childish "stick men". This is again throwing out the rubber ducks with the waste water.
I am not sure that I want to propose any community restrictions at all here. The essential issue to my mind is to persuade C-F that to write on Wikipedia he must use reliable sources (which does not include his own site or Wikibooks). However, if any restrictions are to be imposed, here is my recommendation for what it's worth;
Circuit-fantasist not to make any edit in article space, other than uncontroversial maintenance, without providing an inline citation to a reliable source.
Circuit-fantasist not to directly insert non-vector graphics into article space. He mus first have his graphics processed by WP:GL/I into svg format or some other format that other editors can easily correct and amend.
Zen-in is not to revert any edit by C-F. He may correct and amend such edit but he may not delete them in their entirety.
I have to agree with Spinningspark. I ran into CF about two years ago while editing the Virtual ground article, where I had a lot of the same problems as several of us here had with the negative resistance one, namely OR and unsuitable diagrams. The discussion (and my interest) eventually fizzled, so not as much progress was made as I would have liked. I do believable CF is quite knowledgeable and a valuable contributor, but his ideas are non-standard, often un-encyclopedic and likely OR. I do side with CF that Zen-in has not been as civil and patient as he perhaps should have been.
I think Spinningspark's suggestions are a good idea. With the addition that CF make all his talk page discussions shorter and more concise. -Roger (talk) 21:03, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
EyeSerene, Spinningspark, -Roger, thank you for the unprejudiced words! I was at the border of despair wondering what to do first - to change my user name (that sounds quite humiliatingly for me) or to remove the links from Circuit idea wikibook pointing to some useful resources located on circuit-fantasia.com....or just to cease my Wikipedia and even Wikibooks contributions and to retire to my site... Because I abandoned my site a few years ago and began contributing Wikipedia and lately Wikibooks with only one thought in my head - to say the truth about circuits to people. If you look at my site, you will see that I updated it for the last time on February 10, 2009! Imagine I have not time to change the date as I have been using every spare time to contribute Wikipedia and Wikibooks. As a result, I have only few subscribers since then! What conflict of interest can you see here? My interest should be to write (pseudo)scientific papers and articles, to make a PHD and then to habilitate. Instead, I have been contributing Wikipedia and Wikibooks and even involving my students to great Wikibooks idea. I have been continuously thinking about basic circuit ideas since (1986) I have been teaching analog circuits and now I know the truth about the most of them. And all I want is to say this truth to people. For example, I want if someone curious reader writes "negative resistance" in the Google window and then clicks on the leading Wikipedia page to really understand what negative resistance is... to learn that there are two kinds of negative resistances - absolute and differential... and to come to know the simple truth that the absolute negative resistor is actually not a resistor but a dynamic source and the differential negative resistor is actually a dynamic positive resistor. Unfortunately, reading the present article, our curious reader will not understand what negative resistance is.
I have been thinking and wondering about this psychological phenomenon: Why when (Wikipedia)people see that someone else (Wikipedian) has managed to find a simple, clear, obvious and powerful explanation of some never explained (circuit) phenomenon they do not admire his/her achievement and they do not help him/her? Why instead they do all the possible to destroy his/her work? Please, tell me why since as far as I know Wikipedia is based on a completely different principle - the mutual aid. An example: please, tell me why you (Zen-in and other English native speakers from these pages) having an exquisite style not once have corrected my imperfect grammatical constructions? Is this a typical behavior for Wikipedians?
I don't disagree, on a factual basis, with most of what Spinningspark and Roger have said. I am a newbie on Wikipedia and I get bit for trying to do what I think is right. My first impression of CF's work, a little more than a year ago, was that it appeared to promote his pedagogical style and that it didn't belong in an encyclopedia. Feb. 7 2009 is when I started editing Negative Impedance (renamed by CF earlier) but my edits were immediately reverted by CF. A negative impedance is a capacitive reactance, and not the right name for the quasi-DC effect seen with tunnel diodes.
I haven't yet learned how to word-by-word rewrite an article that a) has poor grammar, b) has a difficult to follow analysis, c) has diagrams with childish stickmen (Spinningspark's description). Especially when earlier versions of the same article were very well written. I will admit things did heat up in Feb, but not for over a year as stated above "so miserably failed to improve negative resistance over the preceding year". I encountered a lot of inertia in my quest to rehabilitate this one page and acknowledge playing hardball just to get some forward momentum. I think if I had not acted that way, it would have been a repeat of the Virtual ground article, which is still complained about. I worked with several editors on the Negative Resistance page, contributing to what you now see. negative differential resistance is what negative resistance looked like back then.
The agreement at the time (Feb '09) was that other pages, that had developed this same malaise, would be edited, and that CF would somehow change his editing style. Instead, from Aug through Oct. additional pages were significantly changed by CF, with links to his Circuit idea, etc. This was done after CF was told by others that his WP:OR and WP:POV were not welcome. It is these pages I reverted earlier this week. Most editors, when they looked at these pages, are not interested in trying to fix them with piece-wise edits, for the reasons I have stated.
CF initiated this complaint because of a recent tussle over links to wikibooks, e.g. b:Circuit Idea/Revealing the Mystery of Negative Impedance, my response to CF's impugning Bob Pease, and edits to several pages. I admire CF's enthusiasm about electronics and I think his work at his university introducing electronics to non-technical students is very good. However his oft-stated claim to "know the truth" about electronics doesn't help his cause. His viewpoint is counter to scientific analysis and commonly accepted methods for describing electronic concepts. Incremental analysis, and the use of accepted mathematical techniques are not agreeable to CF. Analogies and comparisons to common place physical effects are useful in an introductory setting, but are not part of mainstream network theory. I think almost everyone in this discussion will agree with this. Pasting banners on the tops of these electronics pages hasn't produced any result. No-one wants to edit them since they are all so far gone. I am the only editor who has done what's necessary to rehabilitate Negative resistance, Emitter-coupled logic, Transistor–transistor logic, CMOS, and Differential amplifier. Some are now being actively worked on by other editors, again. There remain several other pages with the same banners these ones had and similar comments in the discussion area. Most have been that way for a few years and no-one wants to touch them. Zen-in (talk) 05:47, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Zen-in, I have said many times and will say again: equations do not explain circuits; their place is not at the beginning of the article. At this initial stage we have to show the basic idea (the essence, the clever trick) behind circuit and only then to analyze it. To do that we need qualitative but not quantitative tools; we need imagination, intuition and even emotions than sterile logical reasoning. We have first to answer questions WHY and HOW and only then HOW MUCH. At this stage we must treat people as human beings not as computers. It is a big misconception to explain qualitative things by quantitative tools and v.v. Negative impedance converter is a good example of such a misconseption. Can someone understand what NIC is from this page? Can he/she see what the op-amp does in this circuit? Where and why currents flow? How and why the voltages change? Circuit-fantasist (talk) 10:10, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I'm not going to get into the conduct issues but the content issues seem fairly clearly, original research and promotional edits such as this should be reverted on sight. --Cameron Scott (talk) 10:14, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Further - and it seems to me, when taken in conjunction with his edits, his userpage is promotional in nature and needs dealing with. we aren't here to promote his teaching method. --Cameron Scott (talk) 10:16, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I do not agree that C-Fs editing can be characterised as promotional. If he were using his editing to try to sell a training course or a book for instance, that would be promotional, but he is not, everything from C-F is free, the same as any other Wikipedia editor. I am willing to take part in cleaning up articles C-F has been editing, but not if it starts turning into a war of extermination of everything C-F has ever written. If that's what's wanted, I'll leave it to those who are best at that sort of thing.
As I said above, the problem is more one of OR and C-Fs strange ideas, a situation neatly summed up in a quote above from C-F himself: Why when (Wikipedia)people see that someone else (Wikipedian) has managed to find a simple, clear, obvious and powerful explanation of some never explained (circuit) phenomenon they do not admire his/her achievement and they do not help him/her? Once again C-F, let me try to "reveal the mystery of Wikipedia" to you; Wikipedia is an encyclopedia summarising the knowledge of the world. It is not a platform for new ideas. Promotion of new, unpublished ideas on Wikipedia is called original research and is a bad thing. The reason the encylopedia does not help you with your "simple, clear, obvious and powerful explanation" is that Wikipedia does not know that that is what it is and no amount of explanation or persuasion from you will change that. We need first reliable sources to tell us that it is "a simple, clear, obvious and powerful explanation", then all editors are able to verify this by reading the source and everyone will be happy with the edit. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any mainstream publications you can refer to to back up your methods so you cannot use this approach on Wikipedia. You must either conform to conventional presentations or take the material elsewhere. SpinningSpark11:29, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
That seems a fair summary to me. The outcomes at this point as I see them are:
Circuit-fantasist has agreed to change their username, which is the first step towards getting away from the promotional allegations. The next step is, as I've noted on their talkpage, to accept that Wikipedia is not a teaching resource or a publisher of non-mainstream conceptual thought - while their innovative approach may indeed be very valuable in aiding understanding, until it's been adopted by textbooks and academic publications we can't reflect it here. They have also agreed to propose potentially controversial edits on the appropriate talk-pages before making them.
Zen-in has been reminded to follow WP:BRD, engage constructively on talk-pages, and follow WP:DR if necessary. Their attention has been drawn to WP:CIVIL, and they should also be very careful to ensure they have consensus before reverting anything that's not obvious vandalism; where feasible, improvement is better than reversion.
Obviously further breaches on either side will lead to sanctions, but I hope things are now moving in a more positive direction. Unless there's anything more to discuss, can we consider this closed? EyeSerenetalk12:53, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
No-ones stopping you (or anyone else) from editing them; you just need to be careful about unilateral wholesale reversions. If rolling an article back to a previous version demonstrably has consensus support, that's different. I've no idea if you've already done this, but it might be worth contacting WikiProject Electronics (or even WikiProject Physics) to see if you can get additional views on how to bring those articles back into compliance. EyeSerenetalk17:24, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
This discussion has helped me to realize what to do in the future. I will concentrate primarily on Wikibooks modules and circuit-fantasia.com where my heuristic approach is the most appropriate. I will contribute more episodically Wikipedia with small edits on the article pages and concise suggestions on the talk pages. Regarding the pages listed above, I won't impede them to be corrected according to Wikipedia requirements. Circuit-fantasist (talk) 21:10, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
After further reading I believe it's obvious that these are all the same person, and thus no CU is needed. Also, I think an entire SPI is a little excessive for this blatant single purpose account creation and vandalism. Should not the IP just be blocked and prevented from creating accounts? OrangeDog (talk • edits) 16:34, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I have reasion that User:70.249.216.19 is a sock puppet. He recalently gave me a false warning. I beleve he is a sock because he only has two contributions, giving me a warning, and talking to NoR, who I made a comment to (which I did not mean to offend anybody by it) I have two suspects of who the "puppet master" could be, but I don't want to make any false acutations. I thought I should bring this to the attition of the Sock puppet invistigation page. regards--Orangesodakid17:54, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Alternate, Occam's Razor explanation: an IP editor on a dynamic IP saw you being a bit of a jerk on NoR's page, commented to that effect on NoR's page, and then over-reacted and warned you too strongly about it. If this is the case, what you do about it is: Nothing. --Floquenbeam (talk) 18:05, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Today, I find he uploaded File:BillyUnger.jpg, which is a blatant theft from this blog. He didn't put a source or license tag on it, and he placed it on Billy Unger.
I've tried and tried to get our policies on copyrighted images through to this person, and he's just not getting it. Please, somebody block him. --Hammersoft (talk) 20:20, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
This user posted queries on my talk page and that of another editor asking how to become an admin. The user then answered an unblock request from User:Satan2012forever as though he/she were an admin, purportedly granting the unblock request. It's very likely that one is a sockpuppet for the other. Alan (talk) 22:12, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Someone needs to check User:Tohd8BohaithuGh1 rollback rights. They been reverting allot of good faith edits. I found the following edits just today. [185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198][199][200][201][202][203] They even reverted my edit to vandalism and post a warning on my talk page. This tells me that they are ether not paying attention on what there doing or there reverting everyone's edits. After looking over all there contributions I've noticed an unfortunate pattern with there reverts that you might want to block them. They seem to be reverting ALL anonymous user contributions without actually looking at these contributions and deciding weather they are constructive or not. I also seen the user reverting edits back to the previous vandalism. When other users go to repair the article User:Tohd8BohaithuGh1 reverts it back to the vandalism.--Zink Dawg -- 01:09, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Seems more like a huggle issue than a rollback issue; but rollback should probably be revoked too. Huggle should definitely be restricted for this user though. Equazcion (talk) 01:15, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I have removed rollback. This should not preclude any further actions, sanctions or warnings; I was merely taking the obvious action. This user does not understand what our definition of vandalism is. Tan | 3901:26, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I believe huggle can be used even without rollback. You may want to revoke huggle too (protect User:Tohd8BohaithuGh1/huggle.css and edit the 'enabled' line). Equazcion (talk) 01:28, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I found much more on the users contributions. It looks like this has been going on for around five months now. --Zink Dawg -- 01:47, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Hate to be a pain, but, rollback doesnt matter that much. All these reversions were made with huggle, which allows people to speed through reversions, with or without rollback. Huggle should be revoked. Equazcion (talk) 01:51, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Yes, huggle can't be used without rollback. This looks to me like a case of "getting to the vandalism first"—treating RCP as a race never helped wikipedia and it never helped you. Anyway, I agree with the rollback removal. This user is too hasty to check his reverts properly or he doesn't understand what vandalism is. In either case, he shouldn't be given access to the rollback tool until he has corrected himself. I'd suggest more careful recent changes patrolling for several weeks, and he can re-apply for rollback if he wants. ≈ Chamaltalk¤02:03, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Very strange, the link still shows he is a Rollbacker. I even cleared the cash and did a shift-reload. I do trust you, tho, and I'll chalk this up to technical glitch on my side. Basket of Puppies02:28, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
See, This page "18:24, October 15, 2009 Tanthalas39 (talk | contribs) changed rights for User:Tohd8BohaithuGh1 from Rollbackers to (none) (misuse of tool)"--Zink Dawg -- 02:31, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Not only that now that I re-read the previous issues in detail, his problem was new-page patrol. Trying to do it too fast and making bad edits. A year later he's still doing it. I'd recommend a block and don't forget his bot account too as its clear that even after a mentor and a year he doesn't want to take the care to edit properly.--Crossmr (talk) 07:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Not clear just what happened between Crossmr's post & a few hours ago, but this user has hung a "retired" notice on his Talk page, & apparently left Wikipedia. It appears any further action is moot at this point. -- llywrch (talk) 23:23, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Sad face. :( As Tohd's adopter I think this is sad as he does do some good work, but he doesn't seem to learn despite warnings etc, and I haven't been as active to be able to tell him off. StickyParkin23:55, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Which is unfortunate, but if Zink Dawg is correct and this has been going on for at least 5 months, how has no other new page or recent pages patroller noticed him doing this?--Crossmr (talk) 00:31, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
Back on September 20, 2009, Chao19 (talk·contribs) was blocked for removing article maintenence templates and incivility. He was removing {{fact}}, {{refimprove}}, and {{Unreferenced}} templates from assorted Creed articles... he was given fair warning, and his only replies the the warnings were that no references were needed and I was an asshole for restoring the templates. After the block, that user was inactive for a while, although there were one or two IPs (67.167.33.47 (talk·contribs) and possible others) that continued the pattern, even going so far as to continue the incivility on my user talk page (this and the following half dozen revisions)... within a minute of the IP's last comment, Chao19 had logged in, and replied to his own IP comment (Chao19's first edit since the block)... Since that edit, the IP has not made any further edits, and Chao19 has continued the incivility[205] and removal of maintenence templates without reason... I filed a report at AIV, and was going to file a report at SSP, but was told it would be better brought to ANI...
It is obvious that the IP is a sock of Chao19, and it is also obvious that Chao19's original block did nothing to change his editing habits... his counter-productive editing and harassment of other users has become more than an average bother to me, and I would like someone else to look into this... - Adolphus79 (talk) 22:50, 12 October 2009 (UTC)
Yes this behavior is pretty bad. Comments like "Why do you expect everything to be referenced? Jesus.." leave me with doubt that this person has the willingness to comply with Wikipedia's most basic editing rules. If this was a new editor I would suggest that a person have a talk with them about the necessity of verifiability but seeing that they've been an active editor for over 9 months with over 600 edits I'd consider any ignorance of rules at this point to be willful. -- Atama頭19:21, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
His being blocked a month ago for it, and coming back to continue harassing me isn't enough? Or the contsant and blatent template vandalism, which also continued after the last block? I can guarantee that the harassment and template removal will continue, it's not a matter of if... - Adolphus79 (talk) 05:08, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
User Yogesh Khande
The user Yogesh Khandke comments are in clear breach of Wikipedia NPOV policy.. his quote; "Dickens was a b****y, f*****g, r****t. A white chauvinist p*g. No offence ment to the later. This aspect of his personality is absent in this biographical article of him, and the void has been filled imho by my additions"
With his set agenda and extreme bias this user is contravening one of the five pillars of Wikipedia. He also has unfounded issue with Anglo-American POV on Wikipedia. He has repeatedly highlighted certain unqualified comments to fit his set agenda, whitewash. As a repeat offender i propose user ban from this article. BobSilverman (talk) 20:28, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I have used *** so that invectives are alluded to. I have been stone walled. I have written hundereds of lines which would not be possible to repeat here unless I go in for a huge copy paste exercise. Would the concerend authorities kindly refer to the discussion on talk:Charles Dickens, please? Yogesh Khandke (talk) 19:34, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
I am repeating my reply to BS's charges, they have appeared on talk:Charles Dickens.
Your clear breach of NPOV, no
self admitting set agenda, yes
swearing, no I have used ***, to remain civil.
racist slurs, no The system is biased, Wikipedia says so, I have not meant to make personal attacks, I have contested views, which I think is fair, freedom of speech
issue with Anglo-American POV yes, is that a reason to be banned???
repeated breach of one of the five pillars of wikipedia, no
i have no alternative but to contact administration. I do not know how to react to this.
Censoring yourself does not make your comments civil. You admit above that you were alluding to invectives. How is this any different from saying them outright? Hersfold(t/a/c)20:22, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
Also, interesting that he admits to having an agenda...combined with the incivility...I'm not really sure what to make of this user. A problem, for certain. --Smashvilletalk20:44, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
All of that nonsense should come out of the Talk page anyway, WP:NOTFORUM. The invective about a long-dead write who can't defend himself has nothing to do with the article. Who cares about US activity in Afghanistan, and what does that have to do with Charles Dickens? Who then was a gentleman? (talk) 00:25, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
I am sorry but you are jumping to conclusions, which is not appropriate, despite your disclaimer, that you have not looked into the matter in detail.
Please there must have been hundreds of lines written on the subject. Do not jump to conclusions. Go through the entire discussion before making comments.
Except for the disguised invectives all the other points above are unwarranted allegations. I merely used them to describe Dickens in everyday language, devoid of scholarly euphemisms. But I have alluded to invectives. I perhaps should have used the words, today Dickens would, using everyday language be called a *** *** etc. English is not my first language, and though I understand words and their meanings, I do not know what the fine line between colloquiallity and profanity is, in the Anglo-American cultural context. The discussion page is as far as I understand a little more informal than the article. The American movies that we watch are many times full of profanity, even when families with members of different ages and genders are shown interacting. I have seen atleast one instance of a Wikipedia policy article using a word like jerk which wikitionary marks as (US, slang, pejorative), and gives some synonyms as asshole and bastard. I have no idea what goes and what does not. However in my native tongue, and personally I abhor profanity, and if I come across as profane, I tender an unconditional apology, as I cannot expect others to be sensitive when I am not sensitive to their feelings.
There have been no edit wars, so your advice though generally sound is unwarranted in this case.
I have not synthesised, I have not indulged in original research, the charge of wp:undue is unwarranted and not based on evidence,also you have to prove that only a minority of reliable sources hold the view that Dickens held racist views. Please quote one non-white non-Christian source that exonerates Dickens of the charge of racism.
Please read the discussion carefully before making charges, though your disclaimer says that you have not arrived to indict anyone.
As far as I can judge the situation, the editors involved are comfortable with their differing views, and I have stated that I do not need arbitration, or rfc, but am prepared to wait, for other editors to come in. Please go through the entire discussion before forming opinions.
wp:FREEwhich says editing Wikipedia is a privilege granted to you by the permission of the Wikimedia Foundation, and can be revoked at any time for whatever reason that organization sees fit to do so. Have I abused my privilege as an editor, unless criticising imperialism and slavery and white supremacist ideology is construed as a violation of this privilege. In that case I am prepared to relinquish my editing privilege, not on this article but on Wikipedia as then Wikipedia would not be worth to be around imho.
I have written that I have contested views and not attacked individuals. I have supported my arguments even on the talk page with reliable sources. I have gone through wp:LEDE and have quoted it above. It seems to confirm my arguments, but if there is no consensus I will not indulge in edit wars, this was and is my stated position.
For context, I believe this is in reply to an attempt I made to mediate / intervene. For those who'd like to see the comments Yogesh is responding to, they're either here on the articles talkpage or in the box below (reproduced for convenience). --Bfigura(talk)04:19, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Comments that are responded to above
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Alright, I have no idea who the two of you are, or what started this dispute, so I consider myself uninvolved here. (So, this is based on a cursory review of the discussion, and is not an attempt to indict anyone in specific). So here goes:
There's no need (or excuse) for cursing out the subject of an article. Doesn't matter if they're dead or alive, or if you spell it out or use asterisks. See WP:TALK if you need clarification.
We work by consensus. Just because you think something doesn't mean it should be in the article. If you want to enact controversial changes, you need the support of others. To put it another way, we don't actually have free speech here. All edits need to follow WP:NPOV and WP:V, and that takes precedence over ones own opinion.
Any controversial statement needs to be backed up by sources. For example, if you feel that Dicken's is racist against the swiss because in one chapter he has a character shovel other swiss characters into a meatgrinder, that's not enough. It would be original research or synthesis to make that claim. You'd need to find reliable sources that analyze the material and make the claim themselves. (Ie, you can't cite his chapter and then cite another source saying that writing chapters about people getting put into meatgrinders is indicative of the author's racism, that's synthesis). And if you do find such sources, you need to be sure that they are not given undue weight. That is to say, if only a minority of people hold the view that Dickens was racist against the swiss, it should described as such in the article.Note:after reading through the article, it would appear that there are at least enough sources to justify the racism section at least in part.
The WP:LEDE should summarize the key points of the article. I don't currently see a justification for including the race issue there.
And lastly, Wikipedia is not a battleground. The viewpoint that prevails in the end will be the one with consensus, not the one that makes the most edits. If you make edits that are continually reverted, you need to build consensus for your views, or if consensus goes against you, recognize that. If you feel a wider viewpoint is needed, start a Request for Comments, don't repeat edits against consensus.
I have replied to charges of incivility, though incivility is usually used in the context of other editors, also I have an agenda: try to make wikipedia articles multidimensional, and not just a perpetuation of the Anglo-American world view and bias (which has been acknowledged by Wikipedia, while following all Wikipedia rules,) is that a problem?
The charge of Wikipedia:NOTFORUM#FORUM is unwarranted. A reliable source which is mentioned in the article has referred to Fagin and the Holocaust in the same breath, events which had a hundred year gap. Do you wish I come up with reliable sources that connect Dickens' white supremacist attitude with US actions in Afghanistan and Iraq?
I do not claim to be perfect. But I have no hidden agenda, all my cards are on the table, and I am pledged to play the game by its rules. Is that a problem? Yogesh Khandke (talk) 04:13, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
WP:CIVIL does not require you to be incivil to a specific editor. Claiming that articles show an "Anglo-American bias" is a loaded accusation so, yes, it is a problem.
Connecting Dickens to modern American wars would be original synthesis and against the rules.
This one is not first class, let other editors judge.[[206]] It can atleast prove that I am not a mad railer imagining things. Dickens was a white-supremacist and a racist and a imperialist. Remember more people died in the Bengal famine than all Romas, Romas, Slavs and others in the Holocaust. Imperialism was a seriously damaging ideology, based on white supremacy, whose supporter was Dickens. He was an active campaigner, Jamaica, Rae, 1857-India, he used his weight, to further its end. (Do you want wp:rs for this, check his article.) Yogesh Khandke (talk) 04:30, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
You're using what looks like a socialist blog to prove Dickens's imperialist racism. That's not only not "first class" but it would take a great deal of effort to find a less reliable source than that. You seem to be editing simply to make a point which I assure you is not going to be successful. -- Atama頭21:09, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Sorry, as you said previously, Wikipedia just may not be for you. We do not allow people to slant articles to fit a particular point of view, nor do we allow racism (regardless of which race it's against). — The Hand That Feeds You:Bite21:16, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
Yogesh Defends
It is amazing that people here just do not have the patience to read, but simply want to jump to conclusions and condemn. I will reply in the order of appearance above.
I am not claiming that articles show Anglo-American bias, Wikipedia acknowledges that English-Wikipedia shows an Anglo-American bias as a systemic limitation. (to see internal link, check talk page of Dickens) I am merely pointing out that the Dickens' article is one such.
Connecting Dickens' to American imperialism is not my fantasy, just as there is a connection between Fagin and the Holocaust, events 100 years apart. This replies to Atma too. The cited source is a site with 3.4 million hits, too bad it is socialist. Are socialists the new Untermensch? (Atma in Sanskrit is soul, just a randon musing). Atma (please read before rushing to accuse), I have not used the source to prove Dickens white supremacist ideology, there are other sources and they are there in the article. Please check. It is a pity that I started on a back foot about the source though, it is pretty sound. I did that because blogs are not considered good sources irrespective of the blog's ideology, or quality.
To play the game by its rules is a phrase, if you are not aware of its usage it is not my fault. Phrases to my knowledge (which is limited though, considering that English is not my first language) are not shredded to pieces. Just to help you here is one example of usage: [207]
I am editing Dickens' because I sincerely believe that Wikipedia should not be uni-dimensional, is that a crime? I repeat if Wikipedia is here to perpetute a certain vision, sweep the unpleasant under carpets, it is not worth any sane person to spend good time with it? What my views are and what my agenda is, is hardly important as long as I do not violate Wikipedia principles and practices. The Dickens' article was and remains slanted, to borrow your term, I'll give you one example, the Inuit-Franklin controversy was hidden between verbiage, even an editor who spent lots of time dueling (a figure of speech, don't take it literally) on the discussion page could not find it. How would a casual reader? The Dickens article was/is like the Tower at Pisa, I am merely putting/have placed counter weights to straighten it. I have not been the first one and hopefully not the last.
Theoretically racism can be in any direction, but have hundreds of thousands of white slaves ever been shipped to Africa? If they have it is equally reprehensible. Even if one has it is atrocious. For my other disclaimers and views on racism please see my user page, Dickens' talk page and my talk page. As I said my cards are on the table. Yogesh Khandke (talk) 07:39, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Yogesh, you're starting to exhaust the community's patience here. Your entire purpose seems to be to advocate a position ("Dickens was a racist") and your persistent single-mindedness on this topic is what's causing the friction here. Several members of the community have pointed out to you that your actions are not within Wikipedia's rules, and your attitude has been very confrontational. I suggest you let this matter drop. — The Hand That Feeds You:Bite14:43, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
A few members have alleged that I have broken rules, I have demonstrated above that such allegations are false, unwarranted and unfounded. There has been no heat generated on the Dickens' talk page. Yes my entire purpose for the moment with reference to the Dickens' article is to ensure that the said aspect of Dickens' personality is adequately represented in the article, such multi-dimensioned articles would enhance Wikipedia's worth. Aren't remarks such as "Yogesh, you're starting to exhaust the community's patience here." and "your attitude has been very confrontational" themselves examples of attempts to browbeat. I have not brought this matter up, I have been "put on the docks", I am merely defending myself. Yogesh Khandke (talk) 16:06, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Actually, my name is Atama, which is Japanese for "head" (which is also written in Kanji in my signature). Just to clarify that. You've engaged in advocacy on this very noticeboard, as well as on the article. That is how you've fallen afoul of the rules regarding the use of Wikipedia as a soapbox. You're pursuing an anti-imperialist agenda, which you even acknowledge. You're free to believe what you want, people of every viewpoint are not only allowed to edit in Wikipedia, but the project needs a variety of viewpoints to be an inclusive source of information. But while we all have our biases, those points of view are not supposed to appear in our editing, we have a neutral point of view policy that is core to the project. We should be especially careful when editing biographies of people, living or dead (although I admit that biographies of living people have stricter standards). -- Atama頭20:02, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
My class mate and friend works and lives in Tokyo. His children go to school there. His daughter and son once told me about hirakana, katakana and kanji (I hope my memory has not failed me). Thanks for the information about Atama. Wonder whether it has any relation to Sanskrit Atma, head and soul don't seem too far away.
A summary of NPOV is
I have a lot to learn and improve, no doubt, but please give me one instance where I have violated the above when editing the article.
Advocacy (as well as I can understand it) in simple words means to act and communicate on behalf of others or ideas, such as an advocate of free speech or prohibition or gun-control, or pro-life or the homeless or gays or white supremacists. Now cite one word of edit I have made related to Dickens' article which falls foul of above. I found a lot written about Dickens' and his white-supremacist views on the net, I checked his article, well some of this was there but was camouflaged to hide (well please don't raise the red flag, oh I should assume good faith,) scattered here and there, plus his in-famous remark "...exterminate the race (Indians), ... blot them off the face of the earth..."", was not there I put it there. Please check the article's history, there have been no edit wars. I wish you would tell me Yogesh xxxxx is what you wrote in the article but it should have rather been yyyy because of zzzzz reason, and that would make me a better editor, strengthening Wikipedia. If you check history, and see the talk page, I started with primary sources, an editor commented on it being inappropriate, he asked me to find wp:rs that called Dickens' racist, because I cannot write Dickens' was a white supremacist; this is what he wrote, that would be wp:or, so I found the sources, wrote is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ok, on the discusson page, there were a few iterations, after he was satisfied he wrote to the effect, "oh it is fine", then it was added to the article. Just one example. Yogesh Khandke (talk) 21:55, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
My Japanese is admittedly rusty (I haven't studied it in nearly 15 years, holy cow I feel old now) but what you remember about the different writing systems is correct. :)
Here are my problems with your arguments which I believe amount to soapboxing. Admitting to having an agenda, while good in the sense that it is admirable to come clean with regards to your intent, is in opposition to the goals of Wikipedia. If your agenda is anything but the genuine desire to improve Wikipedia, and not merely push a message, then you shouldn't be editing here. Declaring that you'll only accept a "non-white non-Christian" source is in violation of WP:RS. Your claim to have never participating in an edit war is shown to be false due to a brief look at the history of Charles Dickens, where you are seen to have reverted the same information many times. This is all in an attempt to use Wikipedia to get out your message, which is the definition of soapboxing. -- Atama頭22:45, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I wonder why allegations are repeated, now hypothetically, I find it like somebody is telling me if you murder you will be hanged. My desire is to be a positive contributor to Wikipedia. I am starting to learn the ropes. My opinion is that editors with varying backgrounds would enhance Wikipedia's worth, and make it less biased in favour of any particular view point, the way it is now, as it itself acknowledges, please check Dickens' talk page for links. I have been misunderstood or I should have been less ambiguous. My give me one... , is a figure of speech. A hyperbole. It is meant to convey the meaning that, imo there would not be many Jews who find Fagin any thing but rabidly anti-semitic. Reg. edit war, have I made many reverts? Any reverts for that matter? Here is revision history of Charles Dickens article.[208] Is there even one instance of the three reverts ban being invoked? Or even a see-saw of edits. Yogesh Khandke (talk) 19:21, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I think the issue raised by Atama is that you need to understand that certain types of edits are simply unacceptable, regardless of what beliefs you hold. I'm not sure if you're looking for examples, but one would be the RS issue mentioned by Atama. Another would be this [209] edit and summary. As you've said, you're new to Wikipedia, so there is bound to be some learning curve. However, I think the community is concerned that you understand that you should not repeat certain behaviors (not talking about edit warring, or POV pushing, just the things I listed here). There also seems to be a wider concern that you're only here to push a POV, which as others have said, isn't in alignment with Wikipedia's goals. Best, -- Bfigura(talk)20:22, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Happy Diwali
The wp:rs issue referred by Atama was about a source used on the talk page and not in the article, please be patient and check the context before commenting.
The edit you have linked, what is bad? is the source bad? That would be the only complaint, as the content is not my imagination but from the quoted source. Please prove source is bad.
I hope to keep learning, even when I would need adult diapers. Not just Wikipedia but in life.
Wikipedia's goal is a representation of all views, see wp:npov, within the framework of it editing principles. It even acknowledges that English Wikipedia suffers from a Anglo-American systemic bias. My actions are intended and would serve to further Wikipedia's goals.
I will not repeat profanity, which is an unlikely lapse from my side, which I myself abhor. I was trying to communicate in a language which I (erroneously) assumed was merely informal and not dirty.
I have learnt that I have to be double careful with rules when it comes with the prejudices of a certain race group and their holy cows, or my action would be no balled. Other editors At least one other editor (though this one is a anon so I don't know what action can be taken) can get away with a comment like "They (Muslims) worship the mofo as some kind of god.[210]
WolfJack45 (talk·contribs) was blocked for edit warring at Chinatown and making legal threats, claiming his edits were copyrighted and nobody could edit them (at least, that's what it seems to mean). He was unblocked on the grounds that he would retract his legal threat. Does this screed continue the legal threats? He also is apparently claiming that his brother works for Wikipedia. Who then was a gentleman? (talk) 20:51, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Hmm, interesting. Definitely smacks of legal threat. Though I suspect it's some kid screwing around, perhaps someone should contact the Foundation to determine if the most recent statement has any basis in fact? GlassCobra20:59, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
(edit conflict) Indefinitely blocked again. He was warned by myself (full disclosure: I unblocked him for retracting his previous legal threat) upon threat of another block not to do it. If any admin wants to take a second look at it, go ahead, but I think this is pretty clear. MuZemike21:02, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
We could use a checkuser here, as I strongly suspect socking as well as sleepers (that is, if WolfJack got through). After looking at the histories of Talk:Chinatown, Manhattan and Talk:Chinatown, San Francisco, the following accounts are pretty much guaranteed to be sock puppets of each other:
(Note that I have just also blocked DennisChow and SlopChop as obvious socks and for good measure, even though they're both stale for CU purposes, anyways.) Well, so much for assuming good faith. MuZemike01:32, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
The page Pirate Radio (US) http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pirate_Radio_%28US%29&redirect=no was redirected to The Boat That Rocked, the reason cited for the move was "more proper dab, considering movie is about uk." While it is true that the subject matter of the film is about the UK, the (US) in the title was in reference to the US release of the film. The Boat That Rocked was a previous release of the film, from which it was substantially changed and entirely re-branded in order to be released in the US. The Pirate Radio (US) page had different information including a different poster, synopsis, release date, links to trailers, etc. The redirect is very confusing to the US audience who know the film as Pirate Radio and are looking to Wikipedia to gain information about this film. While The Boat That Rocked was released first, it is in fact a different film than Pirate Radio which is why there were two Wikipedia pages created.
When attempting to undo the move, the message received was "The page could not be moved: a page of that name already exists, or the name you have chosen is not valid. Please choose another name, or use Requested moves to ask an administrator to help you with the move. Do not manually move the article by copying and pasting it; the page history must be moved along with the article text." We would greatly appreciate your help in reverting back to the original Pirate Radio (US) page and your assistance in regaining the entire article about the film. SOM123Wiki (talk) 20:27, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Don't bother. The material in question was at Pirate Radio (flim) which is now deleted as a possible copyright violation. The flim page was created 8 October but the copy and pasted material had been around for at least a week prior. Having looked at the material there was nothing there that couldn't have been merged with The Boat That Rocked and there was absolutely no indication that "The Boat That Rocked" was "substantially changed and entirely re-branded" or that "it is in fact a different film than Pirate Radio". Enter CambridgeBayWeather,waits for audience applause,not a sausage07:28, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
It's thai. Totally kosher. If you want you can ask the editor to say "interwiki" in the edit summary, that always helps me figure that out at a glance. Protonk (talk) 23:49, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Is there a "stuff in foreign language, please can someone translate so I know if anything needs to be done or not" noticeboard? It'd be handy for a bunch of stuff. NotAnIP83:149:66:11 (talk) 00:12, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
The format of the links should make it clear that they're interwiki links, [[xx:foreignname]] where xx is a wiki code (usually a language code). kmccoy(talk)00:22, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
Well no need to jump down his throat. :) He's probably just never seen interwiki links and didn't know what they were. Protonk (talk) 03:37, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
I have to admit: 99% of interwiki link additions that I see do not have any edit summary whatsoever - it's one of the most annoying things, like, ever. (talk→BWilkins←track) 09:44, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
[citation needed]. Most of the interwiki links I see on the articles I watch are always bot done and contain descriptive summaries.--Crossmr (talk) 09:59, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
We run in different article circles, although I have seen a handful of properly-summaried interwiki links, as I said, the majority that I have run into have not. (talk→BWilkins←track) 11:05, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
Thanks for the note MRG. I'd searched to try and find sources for the claims but couldn't find any I considered to be reliable. Ecoman has used Tahir Abbas's website as a source to state that he is a member of the Royal Society of Arts. I'm sure it is true but I can't find any third party sources saying it. I'd hardly say that this is worthy of an incident here.... Smartse (talk) 20:29, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
Just to let you know, we don't use "simple Google searches" to verify information in articles. We use proper references to do that. If you notice information that is challenged but unsourced, and you find reliable sources in a Google search, you should add those sources yourself to the article for verification. -- Atama頭21:24, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
I think he meant "I searched on google and found websites with the information he wanted", not that he's using a google search page as a source. Ironholds (talk) 01:33, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I assumed that myself, which is why I suggested that instead of finding sources using Google and telling other editors that he did, he could just add those sources himself. -- Atama頭16:00, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
further addition:* I am not sure this information he removed in the article List of largest UK law firms is spam.
on the article Trafigura, he removed the information which could be verified with web achieve, stated in the link
On the article Gang, he removed the information, claiming not appropriate, if facts are relevant they should be incorporated elsewhere. I wonder why he couldn't have put that information some where himself
he proposed the article Weidemann Company saying the author seem to have {{COI}}.
Comment.... This isn't about fighting smart. This is about helping him to understand. I find most of his deletion to be not well justified. He need to learn to use appropriate templates rather than listing an article for deletion cause of {{COI}}he could have added a conflict of interest templates. Instead of removing information he could not verify, he could have added an appropriate{{Unverifiable}} template. he need to access information well before deleting. I suggest that he calms down with the way he removes contents. He is a good editor though. He does some work well like he did to the article Carter-Ruck, and his talk page. I do hope that he will take these points into consideration. Thanks. Ecoman24 (talk page)06:49, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Wikipedia:HOUND springs to mind: "the disruption to another user's own enjoyment of editing, or to the project generally, for no overriding reason". As I'm being accused of something I'll defend myself, http://www.solicitors-online.com/ doesn't seem appropriate per WP:EL on List of largest UK law firms. I actually added the info to Trafigura and didn't remove it! Gang info was pretty crap e.g. "Are recruiting children at record rates" - the rest was already included elsewhere. Weidemann Company was created by User:WackerNeuson which seems to be a role account of Wacker Construction Equipment AG which lists Weidemann as a brand of that company. Can we stop random accusations and get on with improving wikipedia? Smartse (talk) 10:14, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
thank you User talk:Smartse for the responses. as i have already said, this was not about accusing you of doing wrong things. while RC patrol, i noticed the error pointed out above. I reverted it and corrected it, within few minutes, you were back and did the same. if you had done it the third time, it would have appeared to be edit warring which we are all trying to avoid. thanks. case closed with you now. Ecoman24 (talk page)10:34, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
We don't avoid it by escalating immediately to ANI. We avoid it by leaving the other contributor a note saying, "Hi. I noticed you were doing this, and I'm not entirely sure why. Can you explain?" A read through WP:DR might be helpful here. --Moonriddengirl(talk)11:47, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
(I have moved your comment; you placed it inside of Redvers' note.) The directions and or suggestions at the top of the page you did not follow: (1)You must notify any user that you discuss; (2) Before posting a grievance about a user here, it is advised that you discuss the issue with them on their user talk page. (3) This page is not part of our dispute resolution process for content issues." There was nothing in this situation that required administrative intervention, which suggests that you may not yet understand the purpose and function of this page. --Moonriddengirl(talk)10:47, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
fair rational, I left the msg here for some one to watch over the user to avoid edit warring. I appreciate your rationale which I have now taken into account in future comments on ANI. I withdrew all the further wrongs i pointed out in his edits. Thanks. Ecoman24 (talk page)10:53, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
This isn't just about the above thread. It's about every thread you have contributed to. Your talk page is littered with people asking you to stop such posts; you have people commenting on your posts asking if you're trolling them; and each time you promise to change, promise to get better, promise to be mentored... and then post here on ANI again with something else inappropriate. You've been asked not to post here. You didn't listen. So now I'm asking the community to formally restrict your posting here. ➜Redverstalk ❝It's bona to vada your dolly old eek❞10:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
(outdent) I'm hesitant to be that punitive towards Ecoman. It is clear that they do not understand the purpose or process of ANI. Rather than prevent access, perhaps Ecoman would be more willing to voluntarily refrain from posting in ANI threads for a period of time.
I highly recommend that they may continue to watch and read, as they will learn how some portions of Wikipedia actually work - however, I urge them to realize that the type of interaction that takes place in here is not the commonplace pattern. Wikipedia is built on community, and ANI is where anti-community violations come. Combativeness is not the norm.
One needs to have a good grasp of Wikipedia as a whole before jumping into ANI (or even WQA for that matter) - it took me thousands of edits before I even dipped my foot in the ANI water.
My honest suggestion for Ecoman: go out and edit articles. Join a project. Understand Wikipedia. Read policy. Become a respected editor. Then come back, start monitoring ANI without comment - start to understand how policy comes into play, and learn the "investigative techniques" used.
If your goal is to eventually become an admin, you'll need at least 5,000 edits to even be considered, and you'll need to have made a positive name for yourself.
I just got the talkpage message he left me, and generally agree with Bwilkins. I say "generally" because I'm not convinced a strictly voluntary restriction will work. How about this; Ecoman is prohibited from posting on AN/I. I take it upon myself to act as a mentor to him, and as part of that if he runs into any disputes he runs them past me. If I feel that yes, it is a valid dispute, I give him the go-ahead to post it here. I see this as killing "two birds with one stone"; we prevent the posting of "inappropriate and disruptive ANI posts" without preventing the posting of any real problems, and also offer him an avenue in which to, as BWilkins suggests, go out and edit articles. Ironholds (talk) 12:11, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Support I'm torn between out and out troll or well meaning but bumbling incompetent. Either way, his contributions here cause more problems than they solve, the edits listed above are non-problematic edits from an editor in more than good standing, he's been editing three years and never been blocked. 2 lines of K30314:02, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Support - I think Ironholds would be a great mentor, Ecoman seems to be well-meaning but putting his foot in it every time and some guidance might help. And I agree with Bwilkins, I stayed away from ANI for years because I didn't feel confident my input would be useful. And I'm sure I was right to do so because I was so clueless for a while (I cringe at some of the ignorant arguments I made as a newbie). Not that I suggest that Ecoman is that bad, but I at least knew enough to stay away where I would do more harm than good. Heck, even now sometimes I worry that my comments at ANI aren't all that helpful. -- Atama頭16:13, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Comment from Ecoman's Mentor Forgive me for not catching this myself, battling a bit of a cold and school work. I have advised him for now to stay away from ANI and focus on editing. If he still want's to help with dispute Resolution then he can try WP:WQA Where I frequent and could keep a better eye on him.-- |SKATER]]Speak.16:21, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think what we're getting at is that you've really had no reason to post on ANI in the first place, hell I even tend to avoid posting in this sea of drama (except the big stuff, If I recall last time I posted was the banning of dougstech). The post you made here shouldn't of occcured, you should have talked to the user directly and if that didn't work Wikiquette Alerts. ANI and AN are for administrative action.
Support formalizing this ban + arrangement (between Ironholds and Ecoman24) for an indefinite duration - until further sanctions are no longer necessary. Ncmvocalist (talk) 07:47, 17 October 2009 (UTC) However, if the arrangement does not work out for any reason, I support the original proposed ban. Ncmvocalist (talk) 06:17, 18 October 2009 (UTC)
I don't believe Ironholds has ever officially volunteered to Mentor Ecoman, shouldn't we know before we try to formalize such an arangement?--SKATERSpeak. 16:59, 17 October 2009 (UTC)--SKATERSpeak.16:59, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
I take his comment (at 12:11, 16 October 2009 (UTC)) to be sufficient to formalise an arrangement whereby Ironholds is his mentor, at least to the extent of giving him clearance on whether a dispute should be posted to ANI or not. But I'll clarify my vote in case that does not work out for any reason. Ncmvocalist (talk) 06:17, 18 October 2009 (UTC)
Closed (and deleted). FWIW, I gauged the consensus with a fresh eye, despite Joe Chill's attempt to interpret it here. Tan | 3915:29, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
"Is notable in (foreign country)" is not based on en.wiki policy. I felt the delete arguments had a stronger basis in policy. If you disagree enough, take it to WP:DRV, I suppose... Tan | 3915:48, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
Templates for Deletion is now Templates for Discussion
A sort of ‘low level’ edit warring
This Talk:History_of_Falun_Gong#Page_move_history recently led me to believe that HappyInGeneral is engaged in a sort of ‘low level’ edit war in topics involving Falun Gong. I've had some run-ins with him, I admit, and so I only wish to bring this up here, not pursue any action against him at this time (Id est, I would like other, uninvolved editors to take a look and see if what is going on here is wrong). I believe that his behaviour is disruptive. Despite consensus to rename a page, he insists that consensus does not exist, he appears to be very hard of hearing. Falun Gong related articles are a mess, but I think that this user is trying to pointedly disrupt and oppose a consensus that could seriously improve this article. I am sure that this user, and the other editors at the article, all have strong opinions about what is going on, and I sincerely hope that this does not escalate the issue (I hope to resolve, not exacerbate, this dispute.). Irbisgreif (talk) 06:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I would observe that the Falun Gong articles are subject to Arbcom probation, and that HappyInGeneral was a party to that Arbcom case. I have been in direct contact with him, and have been in more than occasional conflict with him for several weeks now. He exists in a very different paradigm to most people, and suggest that he be given a very stiff warning on his talk page. Ohconfucius¡digame!07:24, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Hello, you are certainly most welcome to review my edits, and while you are on it, I would love to if you could provide me feedback on how to improve and be more helpful for this encyclopedia.
Now regarding this nomination, let me add a bit of context, which is outside my edit history, but still perhaps helpful to evaluate it:
Regarding the 2007 Arbcom dispute, back then I was a junior editor, and the reverts, [213] I made where characterized, to quote one of the administrators, "Edits show restoration of well sourced image. Fred Bauder 11:41, 14 April 2007 (UTC)". Also the user who did the repeated removal was banned. Now the image is gone from the Persecution of Falun Gong page, most likely due to activities like where PRC apologists make sure to sanitize all the pages for anything that would document the persecution of Falun Gong. One such example of relation is here, but I agree that this might not be the most significant sample.
About my nomination here, Irbisgreif was previously involved in such attempts [214], like renaming the article to something other then persecution, like "Policies of the People's Republic of China concerning Falun Gong.", Then when Ohconfucius renamed the article, for which there was no consensus, only an outnumbered vote of the clan, Irbisgreif moved and requested a page protection move, to make sure that the name stays. See here: [215], [216]
About the consensus and the moving of the page. Consider that this new attempt to dilute the persecution page, this time started with saying that the persecution page is a subset of the history page. It is a subset and this fact alone is not disputed, however based on WP:N the persecution deserves it's own page. So nobody had anything against creating a history page, but the rename was just not justified, and this was pointed out first here. When I saw what is happening, I went to SilkTork's talk page, who did some WP:FA work on a related page, and tried to seek advice on how to proceed. After explaining the facts, and after he took some time to do his own research, he concluded thta the persecution page needs to be created again as a separate page. For now this is a rough copy/paste which will need to be worked up to be as encyclopedic as possible.
So far what I presented is only a tiny bit of context, and I'm sure if I where to do a bit of data mining, tons of things would surface. Still based on this little context, you might be able to see why "very stiff warning on his talk page.", to quote Ohconfucius, would be useful for some editors. --HappyInGeneral (talk) 12:24, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I do not dispute the previous rename attempts (Policies, &c.) and subsequent discussions. I do dispute that I moved the page to “History of Falun Gong”, as I did not. Also, I requested move-protection because there were several moves in quick succession (I still watch these pages.), and I wanted to head off a move-based edit war. Finally, I feel that calling people “PRC” apologists is a personal attack; I know that I'm insulted, at least. Irbisgreif (talk) 23:01, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Thank you for that civility. I may be a communist, and I may disagree with you, but it's not out of a love of the PRC. Irbisgreif (talk) 00:27, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
Hello. Anybody remember the discussion about Guitarherochristopher (talk·contribs) a few weeks ago? O, I would love to rake around in the archives looking for the discussion, but I don't have time right now. Maybe later. Well, Roux (talk·contribs) made a Wiki for him, and we thought he was gone. But he's back. He recieved a few warnings and even had his userpage locked. He responded to this by archiving it all, and making User talk:Guitarherochristopher/Revamp and User:Guitarherochristopher/Revamp. And his editing hasn't improved at all, just some a LOT of userspace edits and a little chatting to his wikibuddies. Although he has made about 5 article edits to Coldplay-related subjects. He doesn't seem to be here to do anything except violate WP:MYSPACE. And, judging by his archives, I think he's refusing to go back to his own wiki beacuse Roux wouldn't give him a cookie. I hate to do this, but I really think a block is in order, Lord Spongefrog(review)(I am Czar of all Russias!)09:29, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I"ve left him a strong warning, but if I had my admin bit I'd delete all of his subpages alongside that warning. Also, this thread belongs on ANI to where I've moved it.—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 09:36, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
He has over a 100 article space edits so I don't know why don't just ignore it unless it is affecting other users. And he is using his user space for article stuff. I don't know why this user is any different to all the other users which do it.--Otterathome (talk) 09:59, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
You're right. When he started out he had almost 100% article contribs (all about Coldplay stuff, but that isn't that bad). But recently he started making random unconstructive edits, and even more recently, he started focusing almost solely on his userspace and talking. If you look through his archives, you can see all his subpages that were deleted because of being games, on some he even ignored the warnings and recreated them. You can read all about it in the above links I provided. Just look at is recent 50 edits. About 0 of them are to articles, Lord Spongefrog(review)(I am Czar of all Russias!)11:10, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
From what I remember GHC has a disability of some kind (autism?). As long as he's not causing damage to the project itself it's probably best to leave him along in his user space. Mjroots (talk) 12:25, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Are we here working on an encyclopedia or are we here to provide a happy corner for special ed needs? Jesus, WP:NOTMYSPACE is policy, and WP:UP#NOT is a widely-accepted guideline. Why are we practicing selective enforcement? Tarc (talk) 12:49, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I deleted the /revamp page as an obvious violation of WP:NOTMYSPACE. Totally agree with Tarc; Wikipedia is not therapy. Saying he's "not hurting anyone" is completely invalid; no one who creates myspace-type subpages is ever really harming anyone. Yet we have a policy against it. This is not what users donate money for, it's not what our technology and resources are for, and there are a thousand other hosting sites where people can do this to their heart's content. Not here. Tan | 3913:53, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
FWIW, Guitarherochristopher has had his own Wiki made for him by Roux. He can do what he likes over there, just not here. But he seems to be refusing to go back unless Roux gives him a cookie. See here (scroll down on that same page to see an example of GHC's blogging). Given that Roux is retired, I think that may be a tad difficult, Lord Spongefrog(review)(I am Czar of all Russias!)14:46, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
It's clear GHC needs a friend, and WP is really only for making enemies. And an encyclopedia! I agree with Tan and Chat. Bandwidth is a precious commodity. Drmies (talk) 15:11, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Comment Uh... I accidentally made an unwelcome discovery. Since this ANI report was created, GHC hasn't made any edits to Wikipedia. He's been at the wiki Roux created, working on this. I don't know if it matters in this discussion, just thought I'd throw it out there. A little insignificantTalk to me!(I have candy!)16:42, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
I would agree with a block but only if his random editing continues. As ALI said, he hasnt done anything since this was made...--ColdplayExpert16:55, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
Agreed, does no harm doesn't mean "does good". If the statement about autism were not waved, would we say this was OK? Nope. Warning, warning, block. WLU(t)(c) Wikipedia's rules:simple/complex18:48, 16 October 2009 (UTC)
He obviously doesn't get the point everyone has been trying to get him to understand. I myself have attempted to use a software/friend tone with him in hopes of him realizing his errors. I agree that no exception should be made for him, but we should be tolerant in that as he has contributed in the past. Let's hope he resumes to contributing in a positive manner. And if would helplp if he removed the siren/strobe light from his user page... Netalarmtalk06:32, 17 October 2009 (UTC)