The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, read this for detailed instructions.

User:Barryispuzzled[edit]

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Barryispuzzled (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Puzzledbarry (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
ProsperoX (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Sycorax13 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Bodleyman (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Felsommerfeld (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Tokomak1689 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Looneytune007 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
DigbyDaDog (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Anneharkey (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Picksauce (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
CoolDream (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

Xover (talk) 16:18, 8 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Evidence

User:Barryispuzzled is an adherent of the Baconian theory of Shakespeare Authorship and wrote most of the former article (he has also self-published a book on the subject). A while back he tried to nominate the article for GA using the User:Bodleyman account here, and then proceeded to use the User:Felsommerfeld and Bodleyman account to debate with himself and other editors in what I can only assume was an attempt to create disruption and discredit the opposing points of view (for instance, the account Felsommerfeld was used to take an extremist view opposed to Barryispuzzled's own goals). The GAN archive here gives a fairly good overview of what happened (there are other edits strewn over multiple pages, but those are mostly incidental). Several editors were caught up in the incident (myself included) and tried to work with the apparently separate accounts to reach consensus, with little luck.

The whole thing culminated with this (Barryispuzzled admitting to running Bodleyman, Felsommerfeld, and Tokomak1689 as Sockpuppets). At which point I filed an incident at WP:ANI here (where User:Edgar181 added the apparent sockpuppets: Looneytune007, DigbyDaDog, Anneharky, Picksauce). This was followed by this (invective, personal assault), and escalating to this and this (Barryispuzzled threatening physical violence against myself and another editor). The the threats combined with the sockpuppetry and other actions got him indef-blocked (by User:Nick) and as best I can tell (I may be wrong) the Barryispuzzled account is still blocked.

Today User:Puzzledbarry shows up, with an identical user page to what Barryispuzzled used to have (both pages identify the user as a specific named person), and makes this edit (Puzzledbarry admitting to being a sockpuppet of Barryispuzzled). The edit repeats outright an accusation previously only slightly veiled made by User:ProsperoX in this edit (see also: related edit). The ProsperoX account and User:Sycorax13 were created within 24 hours of eachother, both look like the previous sockpuppets of Barryispuzzled (same MO for the User page and User Talk page), same general pattern of comments on the relevant article talk pages.

Puzzeldbarry admits to being a sockpuppet of Barryispuzzled (doesn't even try to hide it). I'm pretty much convinced ProsperoX is too, but I only suspect Sycorax13 is (there's no clear evidence indicating it, a checkuser would probably be needed to determine for sure).

Comments

• I have blocked User:Puzzledbarry as an obvious sock of indefintely banned User:Barryispuzzled. Several of the others have already been blocked as well. Several remain to be checked though. -- Ed (Edgar181) 16:57, 8 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]
• I've added User:CoolDream, who is pretty obviously a Barryispuzzled sock: see here.
• I firmly believe all the accounts should be indef-blocked because they are all clearly the same account. Deny any requests for unblock.--Recoverer (talk) 19:44, 8 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • This one too. -- Ed (Edgar181) 20:17, 8 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]
    • User:Recoverer is a sock of User:Eithen confirmed by Checkuser according to this edit by User:Jpgordon, so I'm removing that name from the list of socks in this report. --Xover (talk) 16:24, 9 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]
• I have a question. If two users have two identical IP addresses how does that prove that they are the same person? It's possible that they could be related or frequent the same institution. Also, I can't believe how worked up you all get by sock puppets! This McCarthy-like indignation seems massively out of proportion to the act. I think that Wikipedia seems to be a magnet for people with empty lives who need to create a BAD GUY to release their frustration on. To me Barry is an extremely talented GOOD GUY that some of you lesser talents are trying to demonize. I am happy to be his friend and give him my support here. Lifetime ban? LOL! "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities." (Albert Einstein) GemmaVI (talk) 10:17, 10 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Conclusions

• Most of the socks already blocked. Barry can go to as many Internet cafes as he wants, he's just not bright enough to evade our very smart community. Good job guys. Scarian^{Call me Pat!} 22:01, 11 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]