Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SelfStarter2/Archive

{{sock list|1=Givengo1|tools_link=yes}}

Similar edits to 2024 Mannheim stabbing and some other behavioral cues. Already blocked, would like to verify and check for further shenanigans. Thanks. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 18:27, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

Would also like to note that the areas of interest, contribs, and edit summaries are also extremely similar if not identical to this IP user, who was similarly blocked for ECR violations in May - may be another sock here. Only odd thing is that the IP was editing at the same time as SelfStarter, before the latter's indef. The Kip ^(contribs) 19:07, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

:Also, in addition to the Mannheim stabbing article, [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_New_Caledonia_unrest&diff=prev&oldid=1225821286 SelfStarter] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_New_Caledonia_unrest&diff=prev&oldid=1238046942 Givengo] made outright identical edits to 2024 New Caledonia unrest. The Kip ^(contribs) 19:15, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

• The named accounts are {{confirmed}}. {{ncip}}. I see no evidence of sleepers at this time. Vanamonde93 (talk) 19:17, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=Deadball1|2=76.175.20.202|3=76.53.254.138|tools_link=yes}}

Similar behavior/interests to named sockmaster as well as prior-identified sock Givengo1. Has openly made edits identical to the aforementioned accounts, so not even really trying to hide the sockpuppetry.

• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acid_attacks_on_women_in_Isfahan&diff=prev&oldid=1241961805 Deadball's edit] at Acid attacks on women in Isfahan vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acid_attacks_on_women_in_Isfahan&diff=prev&oldid=1238045850 Givengo's edit]
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Republic&diff=prev&oldid=1241966061 Deadball's edit] at United Arab Republic vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Republic&diff=prev&oldid=1225572121 SelfStarter's edit]
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anti-Islam&diff=prev&oldid=1241960197 Deadball's edit] at Anti-Islam vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anti-Islam&diff=prev&oldid=1238495273 Givengo's edit]
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spread_of_Islam&diff=prev&oldid=1241960936 Deadball's edit] at Spread of Islam vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spread_of_Islam&diff=prev&oldid=1238629575 Givengo's edit]
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Urban_II&diff=prev&oldid=1243408698 Deadball's edit] at Pope Urban II vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Urban_II&diff=prev&oldid=1238620205 Givengo's edit]

And so on. The first listed IP is likely the same sockmaster based on its [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Ezra_and_Nehemiah&diff=prev&oldid=1242128509 identical] [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Ezra_and_Nehemiah&diff=prev&oldid=1243236224 contribs] to the edit war on Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, while the second is more a clerking thing for me - it exhibited similar edits/behaviors to the sockmaster, which I noted previously at Givengo's AE thread. Both IPs geolocate to the greater Los Angeles area as well. The Kip ^(contribs) 07:14, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

:Courtesy ping @ScottishFinnishRadish as the original blocking admin for SelfStarter, Givengo, and the second listed IP. The Kip ^(contribs) 07:18, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

I've duck blocked Deadball1. Leaving this open for a CU check. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 12:40, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

• The sock is now blocked. One of the IPs hasn't edited in weeks, and the other not in several days, closing. Bbb23 (talk) 12:53, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=TheJackson10|tools_link=yes}}

Extremely similar (though not identical) edits to Siege of Avignon (737) and Hit-and-run tactics make me think the QUACKing is loud enough for an SPI.

• Siege of Avignon (737): [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siege_of_Avignon_(737)&diff=prev&oldid=1226978597 SelfStarter's edit] vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siege_of_Avignon_(737)&diff=prev&oldid=1245775221 TheJackson10's edit]
• Hit-and-run tactics: [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hit-and-run_tactics&diff=prev&oldid=1243570956 Sockpuppet Deadball1's edit] vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hit-and-run_tactics&diff=1245770022&oldid=1244525561 TheJackson10's edit]

They also seem to share the same interests in the Current Events portal, the ARBPIA area, and Iran. The Kip ^(contribs) 19:50, 18 September 2024 (UTC) The Kip ^(contribs) 19:50, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

:Courtesy ping @ScottishFinnishRadish as the blocking admin for prior SelfStarter socks. The Kip ^(contribs) 19:51, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• {{btc}} ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 20:13, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=Octoberise|2=76.175.20.202|tools_link=yes}}

Plowed right into EC-restricted topics. First edits were of templates, very unusual for new user. Similarity to SelfStarter2 puppets include edits of Portal:Current events, and similar wording. E.g., compare Special:Diff/1249275316 by Octoberise to Special:Diff/1225508520 by 76.53.254.138. Also frequent use of "neutral pov" in edit summaries. Also added 76.175.20.202 again as it appears to continue similar behavior. — rsjaffe 🗣️ 00:04, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• And {{checkuser|SenorQ}}. I've also blocked the IP since that's clearly the same behavior. Izno (talk) 05:23, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=TommyMaoz|tools_link=yes}}

DatGuy^Talk_Contribs 01:19, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• Pro forma. Weak {{likely}}, strong behavioural. Blocked as proven, requesting locks per archive. DatGuy^Talk_Contribs 01:19, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=Ohmyday|tools_link=yes}}

Created the day after their last sock (TommyMaoz) was bonked. Similar topic/interest areas in general (Iran, the Israel–Palestine conflict, association football, etc), though there's two specific "gotcha" items:

• Same use of the "Fine as it was" edit summary (2, 3) as TommyMaoz (2, 3, 4) and SelfStarter (2, 3, 4).
• Identical or near-identical edits to Occupation of Gaza (Selfstarter sock SenorQ's edit vs Ohmyday's) and Template:Gaza Strip (Likely sock 76.175.20.202's edit and SenorQ's edit vs Ohmyday's).

They also seem to be Wiki-stalking an (also somewhat disruptive) IP address that TommyMaoz recently engaged in an edit war with - see Ohmyday's talk page. Many of their edits are specifically reverting said IP's contribs.

The Kip ^(contribs) 08:01, 26 November 2024 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• Yep. {{bnt}} + {{glr}}. DatGuy^Talk_Contribs 12:05, 26 November 2024 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=76.53.254.138|tools_link=yes}}

Previously identified as a potential SelfStarter sock in past SPIs and has become active again, still WP:QUACKing loudly. Primary link is intensive focus on changing any Gulf of Eilat wikilinks to Gulf of Aqaba; specifically, they overlap on Dolphin Reef, with IP edit vs sock TheSenor1's edit. Here's another past sock diff showing the Eliat/Aqaba change; conversely, here's more of the IP's. They also made a very similar edit to Template:Gaza Strip as previous sock Ohmyday. The Kip ^(contribs) 07:39, 29 January 2025 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• Blocked for a bit. Closing. Girth Summit _(blether) 13:33, 29 January 2025 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=FireBreathMan|2=Breath1Fire|3=Compatrix|tools_link=yes}}

Technical request, given both accounts have already been blocked, but asking for the sake of accurate tagging/connecting.

• [https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=28436874#Global_lock_for_Breath1Fire Breath1Fire was confirmed] as a sock of FireBreathMan at Meta already.
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:FireBreathMan&oldid=1279634989 FireBreathMan]'s userpage is identical to (formerly) that of [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Ohmyday&oldid=1256889036 Ohmyday], a confirmed SelfStarter sock.
• [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Serbia-geo-stub&diff=prev&oldid=1279467152 FireBreathMan] used the same "Fine as it was" edit summary as SelfStarter and his socks have used many times. The Kip ^(contribs) 02:48, 31 March 2025 (UTC)

Filing separately from the other as this is an active request rather than a technical one. Same interest areas in the Middle East/international football/Kosovo, same [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Falcaorib/Israel_and_Palestine&diff=prev&oldid=1282555043 "Fine] [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collaboration_with_the_Islamic_State&diff=prev&oldid=1283047541 as it] [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Pakistan-painter-stub&diff=prev&oldid=1283181889 was"] edit summaries, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template%3AKosovo-bio-stub&diff=1283066481&oldid=1281572440 editing the same obscure Kosovo stub template] that Breath1Fire recently edited pre-block.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collaboration_with_the_Islamic_State&diff=1283047541&oldid=1282271260 Here's] the smoking-gun edit if needed - it's the [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collaboration_with_the_Islamic_State&diff=1281736923&oldid=1281506883 exact same edit] Breath1Fire made a week ago, carrying on an edit war. The Kip ^(contribs) 02:56, 31 March 2025 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• Merged cases because names popped out that were the same with a bonus. Likely to each other: {{sock list |OctoberSam|Compatrix|FireBreathMan|Breath1Fire}} and we'll call them proven to master. Izno (talk) 18:59, 5 April 2025 (UTC)

----

{{sock list|1=LaborMabor|tools_link=yes}}

As of filing, LaborMabor has made just seven edits and the [https://sigma.toolforge.org/editorinteract.py?users=Breath1Fire&users=LaborMabor&users=&startdate=&enddate=&ns=&server=enwiki editor interaction took shows that] all overlap with articles edited by User:Breath1Fire, one of SelfStarter2's socks. Considering that includes three edits to templates, it is highly unlikely to be a new editor. Richard Nevell (talk) 09:02, 12 April 2025 (UTC)

:Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

• {{confirmed}}, {{nosleepers}}, {{bnt}}, {{glr}}, closing. --Blablubbs (talk) 14:17, 12 April 2025 (UTC)

----