Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Middayexpress

Middayexpress

Middayexpress (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)

Populated account categories: confirmed · suspected

For archived investigations, see Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Middayexpress/Archive.

12 November 2021

– This SPI case is open.

Suspected sockpuppets

• Apaugasma (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)

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These sock farms came to my attention when I was accused of being one. The farms were maintaining bias in the horn of africa section in articles which I have improved somewhat now. Observing this new account there's an uptick in this editors interest in the field of Horn of Africa all of a sudden, their editing pattern derail from their usual Arab/middle east section of wiki identical to the Soupforone case. [1]. Its similar to characteristics of the sock Soupforone, this sock tried to have an article related to Isaaq (a marginalized group) deleted [2]. Apaugasma similarly targets editors who edit Isaaq related pages, their main objective here may be combating what they perceive as Isaaq bias like the other sock. They claim on the enforcement page that the user is "intent on puffing up the Isaaq clan numbers and misrepresenting their proportion in relation to other clans". [3]

Usage of soapbox in edit summaries [4] [5]. The second diff is revealing in terms of connections between these two accounts. The editing continue to revolve around Isaaq numbers and "puffery", Soupforone made a revert edit labeling it "soap", then altering the page to state only "Habar Magādle clan of the Isaaq were involved in the war and removed lines to Arap and other Isaaq clans. [6]. In Apaugasma's edit summary they too go out of their way to make this point about other Isaaq clans such as Arap not being involved. [7]. I have a hunch this is a long standing dispute between the various socks and their combating of Isaaq bias.

The problem with these socks is not that they're just socking but are highly disruptive, they do not accept reliable sources and find ways to have them removed. When asked by a user about why they're opposing reliable sources, Apaugasma replies they're "Harar-centric", this is a bizarre response to an article that was solely about the Harar region [8] but a signature move by these socks. Veto of sources on grounds they were "Afrocentric" was what the socks used previously as indicated by User:cordlesslarry]] in the archived case. See sock Soupforone usage here [9] or Middayexpress themselves [10]. Interestingly Apaugasma uses term "parameter" which was picked up previously in the case against Soupforone. [11] [12]

Writing style here is shared between Soupforone and Apaugasma, they quote texts to policies as well as linking them. Soupforone does this in the SPI case archived. "As per WP:UNINVOLVED, they are therefore not neutral administrators in this case and should not act as such-- "In general, editors should not act as administrators in disputed cases in which they have been involved." [13]. Apaugasma in an AFD discussion, " WP:MERGE notes under Step 5: Perform the merger: The main reason that the merger backlog includes thousands of articles is because the people who support the merger neglect to undertake this final step" [14]

Soupforone and Apaugasma have interests in ancient Greek etymology and topic areas. See [15] [16] Apaugasma claims they're not familiar with this topic area but their actions reveals the opposite. [17] Looks like an elaborate TBAN violation. Magherbin (talk) 18:45, 12 November 2021 (UTC)

Comments by other users

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