Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Current issues and requests archive 15

1709 Vandal

I have traced the 1709 vandal, using WHOIS, to an ISP that is, unfortunately, handing out dynamic IP addresses. Checking the contributions of 195.189.142.0/24, which includes all addresses listed in the WHOIS report, results in no constructive edits found. I am thinking of blocking the whole range for 2 weeks to stop the 1709 vandal (CIDR range: 195.189.142.0/23).

Any thoughts? Chenzw  Talk  02:01, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

The following changes have all been made from this range:

2008-05-19 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard (/* 1709 Vandal */)

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Axis Records (Replacing page with '1709') • 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Tickle

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) User:Chenzw

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Jeffrey Buttle

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Eleanor Roosevelt

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Hovercraft

• 2008-05-17 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Paramaribo (Replacing page with 'Paramaribo 1709')

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.78 changed (diff) Doncaster Rovers F.C. (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.253 changed (diff) Wikipedia:Simple talk (/* 1709 */ new section)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.253 changed (diff) Dachshund

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.253 changed (diff) User:Cassandra (Replacing page with 'I have sucked for1709 times')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.253 changed (diff) Protoceratops

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.253 changed (diff) Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.234 changed (diff) Defibrillation

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.234 changed (diff) User:Inclusive disjunction

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.231 changed (diff) NNDB

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.231 changed (diff) Gag reflex (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.229 changed (diff) Palm (unit)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.229 changed (diff) Chart

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.229 changed (diff) 767 Bondia

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.229 changed (diff) Emotion

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.229 changed (diff) Elliott Gould

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.227 changed (diff) Wallenfels (style)

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.210 changed (diff) Watershed (Replacing page with 'Watershed is 1709')

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.210 changed (diff) High Rhulain (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.210 changed (diff) Punjab region (style)

• 2008-05-16 195.189.142.206 changed (diff) Rachel Weisz (style)

• 2007-01-09 195.189.142.199 changed (diff) Wikipedia:Requests for deletion (/* Blocked */)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) Animal Farm

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) User:American Eagle

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) Leeds

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) Animal Farm (ххх)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) April 25

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) Hells Angels (ххххх)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.198 changed (diff) Homeostasis (ххх)

• 2008-03-28 195.189.142.188 changed (diff) List of Internet slang words (/* Leet speak */)

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) October 27 (Replacing page with '

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) Digital

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) Wind power in South Australia (Replacing page with '1709 Wind power in South Australia is a growing industry with 1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) Wikipedia:Vandalism in progress (Replacing page with ' This page is to report vandals, spammers and usernames in violation of the usernam...')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) Abu Dhabi (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) ABrowse (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) Aircraft

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.180 changed (diff) User talk:American Eagle (Replacing page with '1709')

• 2008-05-18 195.189.142.153 changed (diff) Template:Welcomeq

All of these contributions do indeed show that this range is definitely not trying to edit constructively and I believe that it never will. I would like to recommend that this range be blocked for 1 month if there is no collateral to any users in good standing that use this range. Cheers, Razorflame 15:10, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

The range is a little more problematic than just being dynamic. It is part of the official proxy network provided by Opera ASA for use as the translator for all Opera Mini using devices (cell phones/PDAs) to be able to function. There are a handful of other accounts created in the last few months through the proxy but none have any edits. Blocking it would result in blocking all Opera Minis although looking at the activity both vandalism (high) and productive (nil), there does not seem to be notable collateral damage from the block. -- Creol(talk) 02:15, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

How about tweaking the block settings so that account creation is enabled but anons are blocked? Chenzw  Talk  08:37, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

I am of seperate thoughts on that idea, and neither of which is exactly AGF in reguards to anyone who might be a potential user of that IP range. Leaving account creation open just means the vandal has to create an account before vandalising. And then he reconnects and creates another account to vandalise once he is blocked, and then he does it again. The entire time, someone requests multiple CU checks to find socks.. Blocking the account prevents anyone using a device using Opera Mini from making changes (if on the range set aside that this person is using, if the other ranges available serve the same purpose). While slowing the prime target, the others suffer.

Given that the few accounts created that have not vandalised have also not made any edits (good or bad), and apparently there is a low number of Opera Mini users who access this part of wikipedia at a level where they even bother to create an account they never use, my personal opinion is option B, "Sorry to the people who aren't editing but might do so later, but those people (person) who are editing are annoying enough that they cost you your right to be heard". Some guy in Ukraine (likely the Kiev are) wants to try and show he isn't lame (and fails) and this just leads to others suffering. Well, not exactly suffering as they likely will not even notice they are affected.

End result: One petty little script kiddie has to find a new way to fail at being a man and a host of other people lose the ability to do something they didn't even think about doing before this happened.. (and seriously, the extent is they can't edit here from their cell phones and PDAs.. Unless you are sitting at a curent event and need to update on something you just saw, it it realy that important that you can not wait till you get home to get the update? (and does this even realy apply to anything beyond who won the latest American Idol/Eurovision/WWE competition?} ) Is there realy a bad point to all of this? -- Creol(talk) 08:28, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Looks like the advantages (of the block) outweigh the disadvantages. I have blocked the range for 1 month. Let's hope this discourages him. Chenzw  Talk  08:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

64.191.50.17

64.191.50.17 is another proxy. Inclusive disjunction (talk) 14:51, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you, I extended the block. Cheers,--♠  Lights  talk  15:05, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

195.220.213.5

It appears that this IP is involved in the Gsthae with Tempo! trolling that happened earlier this year. I would like to notify all administrators of this new range that might be used for trolling Gsthae with tempo! Cheers, Razorflame 14:13, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

• Contributions
  • Contributions (Wildcard range)

Chenzw  Talk  13:22, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Look at that IP's deleted edits. Cheers, Razorflame 13:57, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

151.49.*

It appears as though this page blanking range of vandals is back. I would like to request an additional range block on this range as it appears as though they are going to continue to vandalize. Cheers, Razorflame 16:32, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

 Done - 151.49.0.0/18 blocked for six months.--♠  Lights  talk  12:31, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Something up at RFA

Just quick heads up. Regards MindTheGap (talk) 16:55, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Reverted. --Gwib ^-(talk)- 16:56, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

All could be blocked indefinitely for impersination, in addition to using sockpuppets to influence an RfA. Razorflame 19:29, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Dun. --Gwib ^-(talk)- 15:53, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

SUL conflict here for User:Masti - getting out of archive

As User:Masti has not responded, as I assume, can I now usurp my ID on this project as per Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Current issues and requests archive 11#SUL conflict here for User:Masti Masti tmp (talk) 18:07, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

I'd say send them a second mail, if they don't respond to that either, I£d say you can probably usurp that accound by the end of this month (in other words: end of the week). --Eptalon (talk) 18:52, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

OK. Mail sent. We'll see what happens. Masti tmp (talk) 13:19, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

No answer to second mail either. Can I usurp the account now? Masti tmp (talk) 13:52, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Done. I can't move User:Masti tmp to User:Masti though, as you've already started the account merge process. Archer7 - talk 14:04, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

I'll do it. Masti (talk) 14:11, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

SUL

Due to the SUL, we might be getting an influx of new users. Please keep an eye out for any impersonations, as this might be extremely possible. Cheers, Razorflame 19:33, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Hrm? I'm sure you can't get impersonations on an SUL account. mC⁸ 16:02, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

SUL Usurp request

User:Woodym555 --> User:Woody

Hi, I am the sysop Woody on the English Wikipedia. I would like to usurp Woody here which has 4 vandalism only edits. Is there a process for this here? See this en.wiki subpage for confirmation. Thanks and regards. Woodym555 (talk) 18:05, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

We just got one - see WP:CHU! Cassandra (talk) 23:14, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, just started.--  † ChristianMan16  23:16, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Thankyou. Woodym555 (talk) 23:34, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

You're Welcome.--  † ChristianMan16  00:18, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Gadgets

Can we add a few gadgets to Wikipedia?

• The top part of my monobook.js file is a UTC clock in the corner of the screen (copied from a gadget on EN-WP)
• The next section highlights all links to administrators' talk pages in cyan, which is useful on RC patrol, as well as on talk pages.
• The bottom section is a little grey line underneath the title of the current page, giving the last change in your watchlist, for ease of reference, and ensuring prompt action.

They're all from EN-WP somewhere, but I'm finding them useful. mC⁸ 17:24, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Speaking for those who don't follow the UTC clock, would it be possible to change the time of the clock? The cyan talk pages is a good idea as long as the change is subtle (not bright turquoise links). --Gwib ^-(talk)- 17:32, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

UTC is "Wikimedia Time" though, so I find it good for collaboration. As for the admin links, I'm not sure, but they're quite bright.mC⁸ 17:35, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

I think you can. Take a look at the .js file; it's in there somewhere as a hex. mC⁸ 17:37, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

 Done -- Creol(talk) 02:34, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

More gadgets

an "add a QD/CSD tab to the top of the screen that allows you to quickly add QD tags and one that makes it easier when making templates with complicated parser functions. Microchip 10:22, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

The one for the QD tags is present in Twinkle, which is currently being ported by User:Maxim. For the second one, I will start working on it. Chenzw  Talk  13:01, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

 Done - Can you give a template where the script will be very useful? I want to test it out. Oops, didn't read the explanation properly. Chenzw  Talk  13:08, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

You may as well do the other one as well; it will be useful, as I assume Twinkle is quite a way away. Microchip 15:26, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

User:Alan Liefting

In January 2008 User:Alan Liefting was created and then used to vandalise pages. The user is now blocked. I am w:User:Alan Liefting at the English WP. I cannot unify my name into this wiki because of the impersonation by User:Alan Liefting. At the same time this account was created I suffered abuse of my userpages on the English WP. See this edit for one of the many examples. Also an account was created in my name at Uncyclopedia. Perusing my edit history atWP will show that it is indeed an impersonator using my name here. I would like to usurp the name for myself to create a global username and not have the vandalism credited to me. 118.92.119.14 (talk) 05:19, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Make a request at WP:CHU for SUL usurptions. Cassandra (talk) 06:53, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

They will also want confirmation that you really want the change (as you could be anyone), so post under your name on enWP with something like "I am 118.92" or "I, Ala Liefting, am requesting usurption on Simple." Cassandra (talk) 06:54, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Oversight for Checkusers

The comments that were in this section have been moved to a different place at Wikipedia:Simple talk.

Over on the English Wikipedia, every check user that I could see had oversight power. This means that they could completely hide an edit to make it seem like it really isn't there. This can be a useful tool for checkusers to have here (like hiding things that were courtesy blanked, and userpages and user talk pages of banned users. I would like to recommend to the community that we enable checkusers on here to be able to do that so that they can better protect the Simple English Wikipedia from copycats and mimics (people who see a banned user and wants to mimic them because they think it would be fun). I need community consensus first before we can move on with this. Cheers, Razorflame 20:24, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Don't really think we need it. I thought it was only supposed to be used to hide personal information, death threats etc that really have to be removed, rather than just deleting revisions. Remember that admins can do selective restorations: deleting a page, then undeleting only the revisions they want. Oversight is (pretty much) permanent. so not really suitable for that. Archer7 - talk 20:43, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

That's is what I understood it to be. I just wanted to see if other users here thought that we really needed it on here. Guess not, so, cheers, Razorflame 20:44, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I would support such a move, on the Mimic basis alone, but also for privacy issues (ie if someone adds to John Smith John Smith's phone number is 02736538, it can be removed from history compleatly. --  Da Punk '95  talk  20:55, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Oversights are often needed here. Really bad revisions are removed by stewards. Checkusers should not necessarily be granted it though, if we do. They are two separate roles. Majorly ^talk 21:17, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I Support it for the mimic thing too, as I have recently gone through such a thing on enWP.--  † ChristianMan16  00:29, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

No! Oppose'!'. They are completely seperate roles, and anyway, I am a supporter of the "don't fix it if it 'ain't broken" philosophy. If you don't need it; don't change it... Oversight is not something that can be given out lightly. And shouldn't this be on WP:ST? Microchip 17:32, Friday, June 6 2008 Utc

Quite right. So I will be bold and move it over. Do not comment here anymore. Chenzw  Talk  03:28, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

automation

hi, i have been looking for information on automating en.wiki translation to simple.wikipedia. cant find anything. i'm sure its been considered, can someone point me to information about this? there is this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Eastman but it ruins links. thanks Spencerk (talk) 02:33, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

The comments that were in this section have been moved to a different place at Wikipedia:Simple talk.

User talk:QuotemeSilly

Maybe I am just being a little paranoid, but this user's editing style is reflective of IuseR's writing style. What do others think about this? Cheers, Razorflame 23:15, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Hmm? This user is not registered. Chenzw  Talk  01:04, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

I have fixed it. Chenzw  Talk  01:10, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Request for protection

Can I request that Template:Disclaimer-header becomes protected? It's used on each of the Disclaimers and so it's definitely a good idea to reduce the risk of vandalism so we can't get sued :D.

I'd probably go for just semi-protection, although I'd equally support full protection, as it is used on such a vital pages, and it's only a small part of it, which probably would need relatively few changes. On the other side, any of the individual disclaimer articles (e.g. Wikipedia:Risk disclaimer) could easily be changed by a registered editor to not include {{disclaimer-header}}, so it's up to you.

Many thanks, Drum guy (talk) 23:48, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

I semi-protected it for a month. Let's see how it goes. --Eptalon (talk) 23:52, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

I am unable to fix because of the protection

Please see the new thread by me here. --RyanCross (talk) 08:29, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Nevermind, it was fied by someone else. The problem was that I am not an autoconfirmed user so I couldn't edit it. --RyanCross (talk) 08:32, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Add Grawp to the blacklist?

Can any administrator add Grawp to the username blacklist? Cheers, Razorflame 09:45, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Not really feasible. According to enWP reports, Grawp doesn't really use the word "Grawp" in his socks. A blocking of his IP should be a better idea, which means we may have to bring this to WP:RFCU. Chenzw  Talk  10:28, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

It's actually even more difficult than that - Grawp appears to IP hop and can do so many times an hour. We just have to be vigilant. The Rambling Man (talk) 10:41, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

And Chenzw's right, when Grawp bothers to register accounts, the word Grawp is pretty much never there in plain English. The Rambling Man (talk) 10:45, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm sorry if a crat tries to rename him, they wouldn't be able to since I had to lock it, because he has attacked atleast 12 other wikis today, and even enwiki and since its unified, it can't be renamed unless deleted, and we can take the risk of deleting it, since last time we did, he created the same accounts and unified it... --Cometstyles 10:50, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

He seems to have some grudges against you... Chenzw  Talk  11:16, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

yeah he hates my guts :P ..--Cometstyles 11:29, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the responses. Several hours after I posted this, I realized that it would not be as good of an idea as I thought. The only reason why I suggested this was because I was unfamiliar with the whole Grawp incident over on the English Wikipedia, as it happened before I started editing there. Because I was unaware of the situation over on the English Wikipedia, I asked for the only possible solution to this problem that I thought would work. Apparently not. Cheers, Razorflame 20:21, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

No Dispute Resolution?

I've just noticed that Simple Wikipedia has absolutely no Dispute Resolution process, at all? Am I correct here? I'm a volunteer at the English Wikipedia Mediation Cabal], and I could help set up some sort of Dispute Resolution process here. I note that Simple is rather small right now, so I could possibly handle the disputes myself, until a time came where more were needed. I'm sure Simple needs some sort of process, though. Steve Crossin (talk) 10:28, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Looking through the pages and history of Simple, there really isn't that much disputes that happen here. On wikipedia, there is always activity which bounds to end up in a dispute. It's mostly quiet here. The most places where there is a dispute is usually WP:RFA and sometimes, but very rarely, Wikipedia:Editor review. -- RyanCross (talk) 10:32, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

We do not need a dispute resolution process here. Majorly ^talk 11:10, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

If Simple Wikipedia becomes as active as en-wikipedia, we may rethink that. But we really don't need one right now. --RyanCross (talk) 12:15, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm sure that in the case of any disputes they can be forwarded to WP:ST and we can try to see it my way, think of what you're saying, we can work it out, we can work it out. Cassandra 20:20, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

• Fair enough then, Steve Crossin (talk) 21:37, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Moving pages

Why can't regular editors move pages? It doesn't seem to make sense, since as I can see, there's more errors in titles that need to be fixed than there is vandalism. - A Link to the Past (talk) 01:05, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

I think you have to be autoconfirmed, which means a four-day wait. Cassandra 01:09, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Oh, I see. Disregard, then. - A Link to the Past (talk) 01:19, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Incidentally, are you referring to Clubhouse Games, or what other NA-EUR battles are about to erupt? Cassandra 01:21, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm talking about stuff like Soulcalibur. But I wouldn't mind seeing Clubhouse Games at 42-Games in One (especially considering how much more popular it appears to be in Europe ATM). - A Link to the Past (talk) 01:27, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

What about it? The en article is also titled Soulcalibur, so it should be – what? I could move it right now if I had a convincing reason to. And god, what a mess - this is why I prefer to write things from scratch than import from en. Cassandra 01:30, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

I see. I guess the title is right. Ugly name, though. Anyway, here's what articles I'd like to see moved:

1. Battlefield (video game series) to Battlefield (series) No other series that would conflict with a vaguer title.
2. Computer and video game genres to Video game genres Shorter and simpler, adheres with En.Wiki decision
3. Diablo (game) to Diablo (video game) Proper disambig title.
4. GameCube to Nintendo GameCube Full name.
5. Halo (video game series) to Halo (series) See Battlefield.
6. Heretic (game) to Heretic (video game) Proper disambig title.
7. Link (Legend of Zelda) to Link (The Legend of Zelda) Full name for the disambig.
8. The Legend of Zelda (game) to The Legend of Zelda (video game) Proper disambig title.
9. Tibia (game) to Tibia (video game) Proper disambig title.
10. Worms (Game) to Worms (video game) Proper disambig title.

If you would, thanks. - A Link to the Past (talk) 01:49, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Page moves all done. Thanks for your commitment to the Simple Wikipedia, A Link to the Past. Cassandra 02:24, 17 June 2008 (UTC)