→IPs concerned with this case: Why do you categorise me as "worried"? Should I be worried? |
rv edit by W Frank who now no longer seems to be editing as an IP |
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/84.13.156.208 84.13.156.208] anon but could be W Frank [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_checkuser/Case/W._Frank] |
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/84.13.156.208 84.13.156.208] anon but could be W Frank [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_checkuser/Case/W._Frank] |
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/84.13.10.123 84.13.10.123] 24 August 2007 Nervous edits to this talk page [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AGiano%2Fsome_thoughts&diff=153428848&oldid=153414574]. User has made frequent edits here [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nelson%2C_New_Zealand&action=history]. One may feel conclusions can be drawn. He edits again here [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:David_Lauder&diff=prev&oldid=153435898#User:Giano_II.27s_attack_page] and then does much further manic posting, presumably with a view to this page being deleted. Now why should an anon be so worried? |
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/84.13.10.123 84.13.10.123] 24 August 2007 Nervous edits to this talk page [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AGiano%2Fsome_thoughts&diff=153428848&oldid=153414574]. User has made frequent edits here [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nelson%2C_New_Zealand&action=history]. One may feel conclusions can be drawn. He edits again here [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:David_Lauder&diff=prev&oldid=153435898#User:Giano_II.27s_attack_page] and then does much further manic posting, presumably with a view to this page being deleted. Now why should an anon be so worried? |
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:Why do you categorise editing New Zealand article's and giving you some good advice on the discussion page as "manic". |
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:Why do you categorise me as "worried"? Should I be worried? |
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:And why do you categorise me as "anon"? With a clear IP address I am a lot less anonymous than you are, am I not? |
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:Non-anonymous users are the exception rather than the rule on Wikipedia. Please don't forget that when you write hurtful and untrue speculation about those few users who have voluntarily surrendered a degree of anonymity. [[User:W. Frank|W. '''Frank]]''' [[User talk:W._Frank|talk]] [[Special:Emailuser/W._Frank|✉]] 23:01, 24 August 2007 (UTC) |
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/80.169.129.163 80.169.129.163] Just 2 edits concerning VK. Nothing much probably just a passer by who edits on Irish subjects. |
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/80.169.129.163 80.169.129.163] Just 2 edits concerning VK. Nothing much probably just a passer by who edits on Irish subjects. |
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:You don't seem to have examined the contribution history and pattern very thoroughly. Not a logical deduction. Also examine the consistent (and rather unusual) spelling mistakes. [[User:W. Frank|W. '''Frank]]''' [[User talk:W._Frank|talk]] [[Special:Emailuser/W._Frank|✉]] 23:01, 24 August 2007 (UTC) |
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== Conclusions == |
== Conclusions == |
Revision as of 23:04, 24 August 2007
--Giano 09:38, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Regarding the "Vintagekits affair" I want to set some thoughts and diffs on paper so that I can be clear how I see this problem. I doing it here rather than on a processor file because it is easier and clearer with diffs etc. Some of these diffs may prove to be important many others a waste of time.
The case is very complicated indeed on first sight and appears to be all about a highly disruptive editor Vintagekits (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and another group of editors who claim their sole objective was to legitimately restrain him. We then have a variety of subjects from the Anglo-Irish problem, football, boxing and, at first, surprisingly the British baronets. However on closer inspection these subjects are not surprising, the first three are all common interests in Ireland and the British baronets at least on wikipedia has been seen as the British Establishment seen in Ireland as the common oppressor. This is because these baronets have been mostly written by a limted group of editors who also share an anti-Irish republican POV.
The problems defined in this case are in fact, at their hub, political and little different to the ongoing fights on Wikipedia between the former Soviet/Polish editors, or those on other Wikipedias between separatists and nationalists. This is a common and probably unsolvable wikipedia problem. The Anglo-Irish problem will always be festering somewhere on wikipedia as this very recent thread proves [2] Here is an earlier diff from Feb 07 [3] The whole crowd are fighting over an Irish page on WP ANI - Kittybrewster was blocked for insulting Vintagekits at the conclusion of this episode. There seems little to cjoose between them.
However, we are here so we have to examine this specific little case within the larger unsolvable problem. Let us forget for a moment the numerous allegations of sock puppetry and concentrate on the hub of the problem. We have two warring groups of editors for the sake of ease let us call them the "Irish" and the "Establishment".
Those involved
The Irish
These include good and sound editors who have never been in any form of wiki-trouble, however this group have become personified by one editor - Vinatgekits (VK). VK likes boxing and football and writing about the Irish troubles which not unnaturally he occasionally sees from an Irish viewpoint. VK's has a huge personal problem - he opens his mouth before engaging his brain. He is impetuous and volatile, quick to anger and easily provoked. He is also probably dyslexic, which has lead some, very wrongly, to think he is not that bright - as a result he is sometimes patronised - then caught up in his anger and inability to put proper words quickly on paper he lashes out. When he does so he uses the language of the gutter. While no excuse such words do not have the same shock value on the streets of Belfast as they do in some other places. Equally hard to understand is that VK threatened an editor in a real life situation. We need to examine why this happened, and while this is rightly a huge Wikipedia crime, are there any mitigating circumstances at all. Is there any remote reason why the usual sanctions for such a serious crime such not be levelled upon him and a lesser sanction imposed?
The Establishment
A group of editors whose leaders appear to be User: Kittybrewster, User: Major Bonkers, User: David Lauder and User: Counter-revolutionary They disclose a lot of personal information about themselves on wikipedia. We know in real life that Kittybrewster is a second generation baronet and the son of a conservative politician and brother of another. Hence he has deliberately portrayed himself as a member of what is known as the British establishment. Major Bonkers on his talk page tells us "I am an old mucker [1] of Kittybrewster" so we know they are known to each other in real life. We are also told Bonkers was educated at Harrow - one of Britain's most renowned and prestigious public school, known for educating many members of the British establishment (Kittybrewster went to Eton). Then we have David Lauder, he and Kittybrewster are the almost exclusive editors of Lauder Baronets. So what is wrong with establishment group so far? Nothing at all. They are a group or editors who write chiefly small stubs about little known baronets, there is also a detectable interest in the Anglo-Irish side of the British gentry. The prtray themselves as upper-class and educated. All of this is perfectly normal and acceptable wikipedia behaviour but they have deliberately portrayed themselves as Establishment figures - they have also deliberately blurred their true identities with their wiki-selves. We know so much about them - that accusations of POV are more easily levelled than is possible concerning more anonymous editors.
In addition to but not part of the group we have User:W. Frank. A different kettle of fish altogether. He has also been plagued by accusations of account abuse, a charge which User: Fred Bauder has absolved following a private phone call.
The problem
So where is the true problem? In both real life and in Wikipedia Vintagekits hates the Establishment, and the Establishment hate Vintagekits. It is not surprisingly very political. Vintagekits - like many many of his compatriots, with some justification, feels that Ireland has been oppressed by the British establishment. He sees then as having murdered freedom fighters, and being responsible for huge amounts of death, murder and civil unrest in his country. In turn the Establishment feel that VK symbolises a group who are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Britains - servicemen, women and children, and indeed the IRA was responsible for such actions. In my experience the Irish republican supporters so not hate the British people per se, but that section of society that has always, they feel, oppressed them, this is the Ango-Irish aristocracy and the more right wing British governments and their supporters. Wikipedia's "Establishment group" have deliberately and openly identified themselves with both these sections of society. They are allowed to be so. However there is a question to be answered have they been provocatively so? Have their edits been always been for the good of wikipedia or the good of their own agenda? Or has VK just decided - here are a bunch of British toffs, I'm going to give them a good kicking?
Is it fair for the Establishment to view Vintagekits in this light and is it fair for VK to view the Establishment in this way so we need to look at the diffs that have brought about this situation.
Diffs showing VK and Co provoking the Establishment
These are clever edits. Seemingly harmless, they infuriate and embaress the recipient as they are mostly justified.
- [4] 26 April 2007. Irish editors accuse the establishment of sockpuppetry.
- [5] and again accusations of sock puppetry and vote stacking. However unfortunatly for "The Establishment" their guilt is confirmed by a member of the arbcom User: Matthew Brown (T:C) 03:22, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
- [6] 23 May 207. VK planning to nominate one of Kittybrewsters Arbithnots for deletion. I don't think VK is that interested in the Arbuthnots but he new they were all being scutinised and many found lacking and being deleted, so I suspect he was just jumping on the bandwaggon. VK did nominate the page and it was subsequently deleted [7]. I and another highly respected admin were looking individually at the all the Arbithnot pages, and checking the references of all. Had VK not nominted that page it would certainly have neem nominated eventually as part of that procedure. However, by this time many others were nominating these pages completely unconnected with Kittybrewster or the Irish editors. The "Kittybrewster page" were seen as a Wikipedia problem.
- [8] 10 August 2007. VK edits one of David Lauder's pages. Asking for a cite, not a bad edit but probably made to irritate rather than a genuine thirst for knowledge. He had been asked by User: Rockpocket to stay away from them at the time
Diffs showing the Establishment provoking VK and co
- [9] 1 February 2007. Kittybrewster is banned for attacking Vintagekits. He claims it was a spelling error byt "T" and "K" are far apart on a keyboard. It seems VK is not the only one capable of crude behaviour. Kittybrewster cannot have the high moral ground and behave like this.
- [10] 12 March. David Lauder was blocked for this attack on Vintagekits.
- [11] Counter-revolutionary attacks an irish editor for voting delete on a page.
- [12] 13 March 2007 and here [13] 10 August VK asks a polite and reasonable question and is attacked in response by the Establishment editors.
- [14] 8 May 2007. This time Kittybrewster has made a template to denote editors he considered Irish Republican, it took the form of "[insert editor name] is a member of the Irish Republican Cabal" (ironically named the IRC Template) it had a link to the Irish Republicanism WikiProject, and it was added next to editor's names in an AfD debate.
- [15] 4 August 2007. Astrotrain who has been asked to stay away from VKs page
- [16] 5 August 2007. David Lauder making an attack on Vintagekits.
- [17] 20 August 2007 As the storm rages already David Lauder decided to instigate a conversation insulting VK
- [18] 20 August 2007. Kittybrewster arrives, with no reason, to gloat over VK and his latest block. Doubtless trying to provoke another outburst.
- [19] 22 August 2007. VK in deep trouble already, but still they cannot stay away.
- [20] 23 August 2007. A particularly foul and unpleasnt remark from Kittybrewster kicking VK when he is already down
General, but interesting, diffs and links
- [21] 11 April 2007. An anon claiming to be W Frank gives information on his true name following allegations that he is in fact the late Gaimhreadhan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log).
- [22] Gaimhreadhan's block log showing multiple blocks and accusations of sock puppetry
- [23] 26 July 2007. VK at his very worst. [2] Edits such as this VK needs to learn are totally unaceptable. He needs a very official warning that one more such edit from today onwards, whatever the provocation, and he is out with no return ticket.
- [24] 27 July 2007. and again this time to Rockpocket. He later appolagised.
- [25] 20th August 2007. VK calm and collected, as he can and often is, gives his view on the matter.
- [26] 22 August 2007. A more humble VK assuming the role in which the Establishment like to cast him
- [27] 21 August 2007. Edit by Aatomic1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) an editor whose edits seem to annoy the Irish.
- [28] A section from Aatomic's talk page. This is typical of an ongoing and probably perpetual wiki-battle between English and Irish editors.
- [29] 23 August 2007. BHG's assessment of the affair.
- [30] Gaimhreadhan's page. Not sure what this one is about, probably just Kittybrewster having a dig at me .Giano 14:21, 24 August 2007 (UTC)
My own interactions with both groups
Irish
Very little interaction with this group. I have written a few Irish pages, which include, Richard Cassels, Edward Lovett Pearce, James Gandon and Simon Byrne. During the writing of which I received help from the Irish editors - they don't seem to have ever objected to anything I have written concerned with Ireland but then I've never touched a controversial subject. I have though on a few occasions bollocked VK for some of his more outlandish edits and behaviour but so far have never received any abuse in return, in fact he is usually so contrite I regret being so blunt and it is me left feeling guilty.
- [31] 21 August 2007. I give VK some advice
- [32] 21 August. I tell VK to stop squabbling
- [33] 20 August 2007. Advice to all and my first comment on the current problem
Establishment
Kittybrewter
This group of editors I fist cam across when I was interested in a series of stubs written by Kittybrewster (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) concerning his own family. My initial thoughts were that this was an interesting subject which was being attacked by a group of editors unfairly. I offered to help Kitytybrewster and we exchanged two or three emails to that effect. It was clear that he felt beleaguered and in need of support. His pages were of poor quality and I was not surprised that they were being nominated for deletion I explained this too him and offered to help. Even after it was obvious that he was a problem editor [34]. In order to show him how stubs could be expanded I turned one if his stubs Harriet Arbuthnot into a mediocre featured article. Sadly it soon became clear to me that he did not want help improving his pages, in fact he wanted other people to improve them, while he wrote little more than the title. This is not a real problem, it happens all the time and "from little acorns mighty oaks do grow" The difference here was that Kittybrewster wanted his entire extended family represented on Wikipedia without deference to notability or indeed accurate references. This is a problem. He is also seemed to want power of veto over the way in which others expanded his stubs. Kittybrewster claimed all of this was personal, and accused miltiple editors who had been nominating the pages for deltion of harassment [35] VK had nominated one of Kittybrewster's pages for deletion, and it was sunsequently deleted [36]. When one of Kittybrester's accusations received a response he did not like then he always blanked his page.
It was about this time that I realised Kittybrewster was part of a wider group all with shared ,if limited, interests. None of them wrote pages to what I consider a decent standard, but again that is not a problem to anyone except me. I have very high standards and try to only apply them to myself. I became concerned however that some of Kittybrewster's facts and information did not stand up to too much verification and with many others I soon became caught up in the "Arbithnots for deletion" campaign which saw many of Kittybrewster's pages deleted for varying reasons, some pages started off looking credible, but slowly as the unsourced and dodgy facts were removed at times one was left with an almost blank page.
There were also many problem with his surviving pages, as I attempted to expand them, more and more became apparent, family houses were not just placed in the wrong county ut often the wrong country. One branch of the family were credited with living in well known castle, research showed they did not and so it went on. There are too many diffs to mention but a flavour of them can be found here [37]. When I did find obvious errors, it was always the same the whole Establishment crowd turned up to argue black was white in the face of growing evidence. Anyone who dared to point out an error was an enemy - and the enemy were always republicans, anti-monarchists, terrorists you name it out came the insults. Their behaviour brings out the worst in everyone.
What was most unpleasant was the accusations which were thrown by Kittybrewster's supporters at some of those who voted oppose. Some Irish editors turned up to vote oppose, admittedly probably happy to give a kick to am establishment figure. However these Irish opposers were there legitimately, they only opposed with sound argument but they were attacked with insults and accusations or belonging to terrorist organizations. The arbcom or a senior admin. should have stepped in there and then. As it was Kittybrewster was repeatedly blocked [38] for various misconduct throughout this affair. His insults though could often be on the crude level of that to which they relegate VK [39]. Perhaps most interestingly of all Kittybrewster admits to using multiple sockpuppets [40]
Major Bonkers
Of this group, perhaps the easiest is Major Bonkers (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) he was once blocked for being crude in the ongoing disputes, but basically he is harmless, and just turns up to support the others. However, he writes many stubs on Anglo-Irish baronets. Most notably the Stronge Baronets one of whom with his son was murdered by the IRA in the 1970s. So there is controversy between the two groups here also. His own views seem to be limited in the controversy to writing quite factually can be a little partisan as demonstrated here [41] but murder versus assassination or killed in battle will always prevail depending on what side one is on. It has been a vexatious subject between the two groups [42]
Counter-revolutionary
Counter-revolutionary (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) is totally in awe of the others. Here he comes across as a little buffoonish. Mackensen a member of the arbcom is asking why Kittybrewster's own biography should not be deleted, and receives an answer from Bonkers which probably surprised him
"Is anyone prepared to make a specific assertion of notability for Sir William as an individual, independent of his title?" Mackensen (talk) 16:07, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
"Prominent banker, charity worker and wikipedian!" --Counter-revolutionary 16:14, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
Like his friends though he too attacks the Irish editors at every opportunity here [43] [44] belittling User: Domer48 for voting delete on a page later found to be non-botable. He was blocked for these edits.
David Lauder
The final member of the quartette is David Lauder (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). He concerns me. Again he has his own little group of Baronet stubs, probably related to him Lauder Baronets all pretty harmless. However he has laid claim to educational qualifications which he may not possess [45]. In my book this is a wiki-crime above all others as it discredits the encyclopedia. He is accused here of using false qualifications to score a point [46] (8 June 2007 -"claimed to have received an MBA from Oxford University over thirty years ago, which, as has been pointed out, is impossible.")This debate rambled on and became more embarrassing to read as he squirmed and twisted as it became more and more obvious that it was impossible for him to have the degree he claimed from the College he claimed to attend [47]. He later emailed me claiming "age" as an excuse. It was all too embarrassing at the time to pursue. However his recent malice and undeserved hostility towards Vintagekits in all this has made me think again on all of this. His memory seems quite good when it suits him.
Lauder also attacks indiscriminately all who fail to agree with him as having Irish sympathies [48] [49]
W. Frank
W. Frank (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log): I have had no interaction with his editor at all. He was a close friend of the late Gaimhreadhan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) who too posted on irish related subjects which he felt were biased. Frank tells us on his user page that he is a German with the forename Frank and that he lives in Glasgow. Elsewhere he has given us his full name too. He also has said that he feels the many of Wikipedia Irish pages are one sided and biased against the British.
He has become wery quiet since the VK affair truly hit the fan. Franks has been the subject of:
- Multiple allegations of shared account with Gaimhreadhan and or being the sock of above. Both have received blocks regarding this subject.
- 1 May he is blocked indefinitely for being the sock of Gaimhreadhan. A personal phone call to User: Fred Bauder and he is unblocked.
- Has edited as 89.240.90.169
- [50] in which he gives his real name.
- And if ever there were an "Oh shit!" moment it is here [51] 4 December 2006
- [52] 11 April 2007 Here he gives his town of residence, and an explanation of how disgusted he is by the way he feels that IRA related pages have been POV's by the Irish. Also is an explanation of how he and his friend were both editing from the same computer, but his firend did not realise he was logged in a W. Frank when he signed his name.
- [53] 10 August 2007 check user report om W. Frank comparing him with edits by 84.13.156.208
Things I need to ponder
Astrotrain (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- [54] blocked for edit warring with the Irish group. VK has reported him!
- [55] 10 April 2007 blocked for branding [56] 4 editors and 4 admins as terrorist supporters. Tyrenius is again the blocking admin.
- [57] 19 August 2007. Blocked for edit warring om an Irish related page List of Northern Irish flags. Lauder feels this is unjust
Gaimhreadhan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Recently deceased Wikipedian
- Blocked for 7 hours at 20:04, 5 August 2007 for breaking 3r
- Final edit [58] 8 August 2007 to a page about the shooting of an IRA member. He seems to have set himself up as POV warrior on that page to protect British interests.
Socks
- [59] 10 August 2007. A sock (84.13.156.208) attacking Vintagekits. User:Rockpocket seems to know who it is. The same sock is here [60] accused by a respected admin of goading Vintagekits, and here is is blocked [61] again for further goading Vintagekits on 10th August. Here he accuses User: Tyrenius of being an Insurgent sympathiser [62] So who is this mysterious sock?
These accusations towards Tyrenius seem to be fairly frequent and varied why?
IPs concerned with this case
- 86.155.106.255 anon. made this edit [63] urging VK to be reported to the police for the current crime.
- 89.240.90.169 known to be W Frank.
- 84.13.156.208 anon but could be W Frank [64]
- 84.13.10.123 24 August 2007 Nervous edits to this talk page [65]. User has made frequent edits here [66]. One may feel conclusions can be drawn. He edits again here [67] and then does much further manic posting, presumably with a view to this page being deleted. Now why should an anon be so worried?
- 80.169.129.163 Just 2 edits concerning VK. Nothing much probably just a passer by who edits on Irish subjects.
Conclusions
Solutions
[68] 3 August. VK has one of his own.request "I am aloud back but not to edit on republican articles for a further six months". I would be much tougher on him than that. However, he does deserve to be protected from his protagonists so a few other blocks or at least bans from page may be called for.