User talk:Ad Orientem

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Administrators' newsletter – December 2024

News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2024).

Administrator changes

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Following an RFC, the policy on restoration of adminship has been updated. All former administrators may now only regain the tools following a request at the Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard within 5 years of their most recent admin action. Previously this applied only to administrators deysopped for inactivity.
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The arbitration case Yasuke (formerly titled Backlash to diversity and inclusion) has been closed.
An arbitration case titled Palestine-Israel articles 5 has been opened. Evidence submissions in this case will close on 14 December.

Sent by MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 16:19, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Sockpuppets

I see some accounts are blocked because they are "suspected" sockpuppets. Under what conditions do you block an account if it is to be a "suspected" sockpuppet, but not proven to be one? Davidgoodheart (talk) 06:14, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Davidgoodheart There are two types of evidence we typically evaluate. The first is technical evidence which is usually done by admins with check user rights. The second is behavioral evidence. Often when someone is socking, their behavior clearly matches that of another editor/ip very closely to the point where it is fairly obvious. I don't have check user rights. However I have blocked quite a few accounts based on overwhelming behavioral evidence. My general standard is that the evidence has to be such that any reasonable person would conclude that the account was a sock. This also applies to ip editors evading blocks. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:44, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Regarding "piggybacking", if some editor asks you to make edits for them using their account, because they are unable to for some reason, is this allowed? Davidgoodheart (talk) 19:34, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Davidgoodheart No. -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:45, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Clarifying, you may not make edits on behalf of someone who is blocked or subject to a WP:BAN. If an editor in good standing is having trouble with their internet connection and they ask you to make a good faith edit, that's fine. Although in such cases you are responsible for the edit. -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:48, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Further clarification. Editors are not allowed to share their account. You can only make edits using your own account even if asked by another user in good standing. -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:52, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Why exactly are editors not allowed to share their accounts? Davidgoodheart (talk) 04:54, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Davidgoodheart I wasn't around when this was adopted. However one clear reason to my mind, is that it makes it difficult to hold a single user accountable for edits made with the account. -Ad Orientem (talk) 04:59, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Why is canvassing not allowed on Wikipedia as it is in political elections? Davidgoodheart (talk) 21:07, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Davidgoodheart Wikipedia operates on the basis of collegial discussion aimed at consensus. Not a campaign where the object is to "win" a contest. It would create a lot of problems if people were allowed to campaign to keep an article they liked at AfD or to ban an editor they didn't like at ANI. - Ad Orientem (talk) 23:26, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I was told that Wikipedia does not normally banish sockpuppets, if in rare cases sockpuppets are banished why would this occur? Davidgoodheart (talk) 05:18, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Davidgoodheart Banish is not a term we use. Sockpuppet accounts are routinely blocked. The master accounts are typically also blocked but exceptions are sometimes made if they were acting in good faith or honest ignorance. Sock blocks are almost always indefinite. Persistently evading a block via socking is considered extremely disruptive. It also shows contempt for the community's policies and guidelines. Persistent offenders are subject to a community ban. See WP:3X. Is there some reason for all of these questions? If you suspect someone of socking or evading a previous block you should either let myself or another admin know. Alternatively, you can file a report at WP:SPI. -Ad Orientem (talk) 05:33, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The only reason is just that I never fully understood or knew about these things, and that I thought that you would know the answers. The pages may tell you the guidelines, but it's also helps to know why they have them as well. Davidgoodheart (talk) 05:39, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Also often when I don't understand something it can be very hard for me, but when I get new insight into something and feel enlightened, I do feel a lot better now that I understand something that wasn't known before. Davidgoodheart (talk) 07:26, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks

This is a real problem, especially since the instructors is involved. I've asked Helaine to get in touch with them urgently. Ian (Wiki Ed) (talk) 19:57, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it was pretty clearly problematic. But I don't think it was malicious. -Ad Orientem (talk) 20:00, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

New discussion

Hello Ad Orientem, I noticed you recently participated in a discussion of a requested move for the article Brian Thompson (businessman). There is a new discussion open at Talk:Brian Thompson (businessman) § Killing of Brian Thompson, and I'd like to invite you to participate. Thank you. Barnt Toust 19:19, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Banning Khyan Jewel Cacapit on Wikipedia.

Hi Ad Orientem,

We have already suspected that Khyan Jewel Cacapit who typed and posted edits in Filipino language under the Wikipedia English article: History of vehicle registration plates of the Philippines as of now on the timeline.

Please banned and block the suspected user who annoyed the posted did not understand the guidelines on Wiki community.

Thank you. Jon2guevarra (talk) 00:47, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I've blocked them indefinitely. They have had numerous warnings and three previous blocks. No response from them at all. It's time to move on. -Ad Orientem (talk) 00:57, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

You've got mail

Hello, Ad Orientem. Please check your email; you've got mail!
It may take a few minutes from the time the email is sent for it to show up in your inbox. You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{You've got mail}} or {{ygm}} template. Gaismagorm (talk) 15:08, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Gaismagorm

Done -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:15, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! Gaismagorm (talk) 15:25, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Request protection level to be reduced

Hi can you reduce the protection in Module:Syrian Civil War detailed map because it is very outdated and impley that there the bashar government still control ares in syria i already changed all in the other template for bigger towns but for smaller towns and hills it was protected by you back in 2017 2605:B100:D4C:816A:C8C3:F58E:DEAD:8B8F (talk) 18:40, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Done This is being attempted on an experimental basis. There was a great deal of disruption over 2016-17. If it starts to resume, I will quickly reprotect the article. See the template I am leaving on your talk page. You should consider getting a WP:ACCOUNT. There are a lot of advantages and it is free. -Ad Orientem (talk) 18:54, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

BLP revdel request

Could you revdel this: [1] revision please. Traumnovelle (talk) 21:12, 14 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have done the revision deletion. In the future, please use non-public channels for such requests if possible. Ymblanter (talk) 21:26, 14 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Such as IRC? Traumnovelle (talk) 21:32, 14 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Or wikimail to a recently active admin. Ymblanter (talk) 21:34, 14 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Ymblanter Thanks. -Ad Orientem (talk) 00:23, 15 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Drama continues ...

Hi, as one of the pagewatchers, I just wanted to let you know that situation with a user you have warned recently, hasn't improved, but rather doubled down in their edit summary when removing your warning and subsequent discussion (see Special:Diff/1263284616). Just wanted to point it out in case you have missed this one, but I don't want to escalate it to an appropriate venue myself. Best regards, A09|(talk) 11:34, 16 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That edit summary was not appropriate, but I'm not disposed to press the matter. Users are allowed some latitude on their talk pages and that thread was probably due for archiving. I've already had one disagreeable experience with a hyper-political editor that ended with my having to take them to ANI recently and am inclined to let this go for now. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:34, 16 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Sure, that works. Just wanted to let you know :) Best regards, A09|(talk) 19:36, 16 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@A09 It appears that Tamzin has taken the matter in hand. FWIW, I think the (as of this comment) proposed TBan is a good solution. -Ad Orientem (talk) 03:01, 17 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I second your conclusion, thanks for the ping. I'm happy it resolved the way it did - peacefully. A09|(talk) 18:25, 17 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Io Saturnalia!

		Io, Saturnalia!
		Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season, from the horse and bishop person. May the year ahead be productive and distraction-free. Ealdgyth (talk) 14:56, 17 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

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