Editing SmashWiki talk:Sockpuppets

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==Fresh Start==
"Fresh start" sock puppets should be allowed, though strict rules have to be placed on it. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  13:24, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
"Fresh start" sock puppets should be allowed, though strict rules have to be placed on it. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  13:24, 28 October 2012 (EDT)


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::::I hate to break it to you but admins don’t really handle sensitive information.  The worst we deal with is people putting racist crap into pages that we delete.
::::I hate to break it to you but admins don’t really handle sensitive information.  The worst we deal with is people putting racist crap into pages that we delete.


::::No, it’s not.  Your signature and username is your constant ID.  If you have a variable IP then obviously your Up doesn’t have a 1-to-1 correlation with your identity, which is precisely ''why'' we use usernames and accounts.  In general, changing your username doesn’t happen for precisely that reason, but the fact is you can only change your username in your signature.  In the RCs your ID remains the same, so it’s not the same. SW:SIG is meant to make identification constant; this proposal does not do this.
::::No, it’s not.  Your signature and username is your constant ID.  If you have a variable IP then obviously your Up doesn’t have a 1-to-1 correlation with your identity, which is precisely ‘’why’’ we use usernames and accounts.  In general, changing your username doesn’t happen for precisely that reason, but the fact is you can only change your username in your signature.  In the RCs your ID remains the same, so it’s not the same. SW:SIG is meant to make identification constant; this proposal does not do this.


::::They don’t apply because it’s inherently obvious.  You are arbitrarily valuing some things over others; on what basis is “humor” less important than privacy? If even one of these doesn’t apply, your invocation of any of these is invalid. We aren’t Wikipedia, and I think that’s actually written into SmashWiki policy somewhere.
::::They don’t apply because it’s inherently obvious.  You are arbitrarily valuing some things over others; on what basis is “humor” less important than privacy? If even one of these doesn’t apply, your invocation of any of these is invalid. We aren’t Wikipedia, and I think that’s actually written into SmashWiki policy somewhere.


::::The fact stands that there is '''no''' reason to apply this caveat.  Why do we even want to let people get second identities? If people are crappy contributors, then they should be held accountable for these.  They can change their perceptions by changing the way they edit.  Giving them a blank slate doesn’t incentivize a change in behavior.  You can say that mods should screen this, but I don’t see why that should be the job of the administration more than it should be the responsibility of a person to improve their behavior if they’ve been a shitty contributor.[[User:Semicolon|Semicolon]] ([[User talk:Semicolon|talk]]) 16:33, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
::::The fact stands that there is ‘’’no’’’ reason to apply this caveat.  Why do we even want to let people get second identities? If people are crappy contributors, then they should be held accountable for these.  They can change their perceptions by changing the way they edit.  Giving them a blank slate doesn’t incentivize a change in behavior.  You can say that mods should screen this, but I don’t see why that should be the job of the administration more than it should be the responsibility of a person to improve their behavior if they’ve been a shitty contributor.[[User:Semicolon|Semicolon]] ([[User talk:Semicolon|talk]]) 16:33, 28 October 2012 (EDT)


:::::''"I hate to break it to you but admins don’t really handle sensitive information.  The worst we deal with is people putting racist crap into pages that we delete."''
:::::''"I hate to break it to you but admins don’t really handle sensitive information.  The worst we deal with is people putting racist crap into pages that we delete."''
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::::::If a user fucks up and says something on the wiki that compromises their privacy or security, they get to request that it be hidden from the majority of the viewerbase. If a user has fucked up enough that [[SW:YAV]] is practically ignored, and they are unable to have their opinions and edits viewed objectively, they should be allowed to request a start from the beginning, where their history is laid behind them and they can have a real shot at redeeming themselves. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  18:26, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::If a user fucks up and says something on the wiki that compromises their privacy or security, they get to request that it be hidden from the majority of the viewerbase. If a user has fucked up enough that [[SW:YAV]] is practically ignored, and they are unable to have their opinions and edits viewed objectively, they should be allowed to request a start from the beginning, where their history is laid behind them and they can have a real shot at redeeming themselves. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  18:26, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::::No no no, YAV is a crap policy if it means that we don't take into account prior behaviour.  What YAV means is that your opinions and mine are judged based on their merit, and not on some extra-rhetorical basis that I'm an admin/you've been more active in the last year.  When a user repeatedly vandalizes/trolls/is fucking stupid, that does impact their standing in discussions on this wiki, up to and including the weight that their personal opinion carries.
:::::::As I've talked about with Alex (Semi), yes we can now change usernames.  And this is what we should do in the situations where we decide that a user needs to go by a new name for some reason.  But we use change name, not a sock puppet, becuase that way in their contribution history there stuff stays.  If someone is actually hacked, I'll hide the stuff, and that is such a unique case, we can handle it on a per event basis.  But in terms of fucking stupid shit, that is on the user to prove that they are beyond it. Please don't tell me it can't happen; Semi and I are proof that it can.  Allowing sock-puppets is just plain dumb; have we forgotten SLZ so quickly?  [[User:Clarinet Hawk|Clarinet Hawk]] <small>([[User talk:Clarinet Hawk|talk]] · [[Special:Contributions/Clarinet Hawk|contributions]])</small> 22:52, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
:<small>(indent reset)</small> I am of the opinion that "fresh start" accounts are a poor idea in general. Once in a blue moon they may have merit, but I don't want to be advertising them as something for the common plankton to try, because they can and will be abused.
:Also, minor comment: SLZ predates pretty much the entire active userbase, so yes it's been almost completely forgotten. [[User:Toomai|Toomai]] [[User talk:Toomai|Glittershine]] [[Image:Toomai.png|20px|link=User:Toomai/Bin|???]] The Brass 00:15, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
This policy is basically already being enforced without even having a policy page. '''Support'''. [[User:ToastUltimatum|<font color="ff8c00">'''Toast'''</font>]] [[File:Wii U Logo Transparent.png|17px|link=Special:Contributions/ToastUltimatum]][[User talk:ToastUltimatum|<font color="01a3c4">'''ltimatum'''</font>]][[File:Transparent Swadloon.png|26px]] 20:42, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
I think I was the one who suggested this policy in the first place, and it will help a lot to deal with socks if it is accepted as a guideline, so... '''Extremely strong support.''' <span style="font-family:AR DESTINE">[[User:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:black">Air</span>]] [[User talk:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:orange">Conditioner</span>]]</span> [[File:AC.png|19px]] OH GOD A HURRICANE 09:08, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
::If adverbs were enough to make a case, then I '''powerfully intensely exceedingly utterly violently severely immoderately don't support'''.[[User:Semicolon|Semicolon]] ([[User talk:Semicolon|talk]]) 20:37, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
Since my amendment is going nowhere, I '''support''' this policy. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  20:28, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
'''Support'''. We should have a sockpuppets policy anyway. --[[User:RoyboyX|<font color="red">'''Roy'''</font><font color="gray">'''boy'''</font><font color="darkred">'''X'''</font>]] [[User talk:RoyboyX|''<span style="color:brown;">'''Talk'''</span>'']] 10:31, 4 November 2012 (EST)
'''Support''' Its always need to be enforced. [[User:Dots|Dots]] [[User talk:Dots|The]] [[Special:Contributions/Dots|Doom]] [[File:NintenNESsprite.png|19px]] 22:07, 12 November 2012 (EST)
This has been up for a while, I think it's ready to be closed. --[[User:RoyboyX|<font color="red">'''Roy'''</font><font color="gray">'''boy'''</font><font color="darkred">'''X'''</font>]] [[User talk:RoyboyX|''<span style="color:brown;">'''Talk'''</span>'']] 21:28, 20 November 2012 (EST)
== Meatpuppetry ==
== Meatpuppetry ==


The above debate aside, this policy should mention Meatpuppetry. Meatpuppetry is the practice of getting users from off-site to back you up in a debate in order to achieve consensus. While the guideline of [[SW:YAV]] is supposed to be followed, it is undeniable that many users, especially newer ones, can be swayed by the appearance of consensus. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  15:44, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
The above debate aside, this policy should mention Meatpuppetry. Meatpuppetry is the practice of getting users from off-site to back you up in a debate in order to achieve consensus. While the guideline of [[SW:YAV]] is supposed to be followed, it is undeniable that many users, especially newer ones, can be swayed by the appearance of consensus. [[User:Mr. Anon|<font color="grey">'''Mr. '''</font><font color="midnightblue">'''Anon'''</font>]][[File:Anon.png|23px|link=Special:Random]][[User talk:Mr. Anon|''<span style="color: black;">talk</span>'']]  15:44, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
:As long as we continue to adhere to the substance of the arguments, and remember quality > quantity (these meatpuppets will invariably be +1ing or just rehashing what the person they're supporting said), this is really just an annoyance rather than being a legitimate concern we have to address. <span style="font-family:Edwardian Script ITC; font-size:12pt">[[User:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Omega</span>]] [[User talk:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Tyrant</span>]]</span> [[Image: TyranitarMS.png ]] 16:03, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
:As long as we continue to adhere to the substance of the arguments, and remember quality > quantity (these meatpuppets will invariably be +1ing or just rehashing what the person they're supporting said), this is really just an annoyance rather than being a legitimate concern we have to address. <span style="font-family:Edwardian Script ITC; font-size:12pt">[[User:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Omega</span>]] [[User talk:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Tyrant</span>]]</span> [[Image: TyranitarMS.png ]] 16:03, 28 October 2012 (EDT)
::What about meatpuppetry in other contexts, such as the {{S|Forum|Smash Arena}}? <span style="font-family:AR DESTINE">[[User:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:black">Air</span>]] [[User talk:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:orange">Conditioner</span>]]</span> [[File:AC.png|19px]] OH GOD A HURRICANE 09:39, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
:::Smash Arena is the only place here where sheer vote count matters, and it's a sideshow for fun that has no impact on the Wiki. It's a ridiculous scenario for someone to care that much about their pick "winning" that they bother friends off the Wiki to vote for what they want to win, and it's more ridiculous for the friends to actually do that. Also, in the over 100 rounds of Smash Arena, this hasn't happened. And even if it does, does it really matter?
:::Nonetheless, if this is seen a problem that compromises Smash Arena somehow, Toomai can implement a rule about it there, rather than having a whole SmashWiki policy about it. <span style="font-family:Edwardian Script ITC; font-size:12pt">[[User:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Omega</span>]] [[User talk:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Tyrant</span>]]</span> [[Image: TyranitarMS.png ]] 09:54, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
::::I see your point, but it has happened- The Awesome admitted on IRC yesterday that he always tells {{S|User|The Cool}} to vote the same as he does, and it has influenced the outcome of one close match or so. It's not that big of a problem, but I just want to make sure everyone plays fair. <span style="font-family:AR DESTINE">[[User:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:black">Air</span>]] [[User talk:Air Conditioner|<span style="color:orange">Conditioner</span>]]</span> [[File:AC.png|19px]] OH GOD A HURRICANE 10:08, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::The only time it affected a match was the Screw Attack one (making it a tie rather than a victory for the Melee version it would of been without them both voting), and Cool is an onsite user (so this is just influencing someone else on the Wiki to vote for something you did, rather than being actual meatpuppeting). If Cool is legitimately not actually a sock puppet and lacks the brain cells to have his own opinions that aren't Awesome's, this can be dealt personally with them rather than bringing SmashWiki policies into it. <span style="font-family:Edwardian Script ITC; font-size:12pt">[[User:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Omega</span>]] [[User talk:Omega Tyrant|<span style="color:forestgreen">Tyrant</span>]]</span> [[Image: TyranitarMS.png ]] 10:26, 29 October 2012 (EDT)
== Some ideas ==
Since the policy is said to look incomplete, I'll throw some ideas on here for more rules. Yes, most of these are ripped from Wikipedia.
'''Illegitimate uses of socks:'''
*This is more of an extension of the idea that some may sock to sway a debate, arguing on the main account for whatever and then using a sock to argue for the other side, but do so irrationally to sway decision to the other side (for example, if there were a debate to get rid of all Smasher and Smasher-related articles, the main account would argue to keep, but a sock of the same person would argue irrationally to delete them in order to change pro-delete peoples' choice); also, posing as a neutral commentator when there's a discussion about a user
*Circumvension of policies like 1RR
*Avoiding scrutinization by others
*Misuse of a clean start, though I'm sure that concern's been taken care of above
*If you've had an account in the past and are running for admin, you must not conceal your past username
*Admins who come back under a different name have to sacrifice the priviliges of their old account if they run for admin again
*Editing while logged out to mislead
'''Legitimate uses of socks'''
*Creating an account on another computer if a public one has keyloggers or trojans, to avoid hijacking of the original account
*Privacy if there's a personal problem with editing an article (doubtful it could happen here, but still a possibility)
Just my ideas. --[[User:RoyboyX|<font color="red">'''Roy'''</font><font color="gray">'''boy'''</font><font color="darkred">'''X'''</font>]] [[User talk:RoyboyX|''<span style="color:brown;">'''Talk'''</span>'']] 22:00, 13 November 2012 (EST)
:Some of this is good, others seem superfluous. Adding. [[User:Toomai|Toomai]] [[User talk:Toomai|Glittershine]] [[Image:Toomai.png|20px|link=User:Toomai/Bin|???]] Le Grand Fromage 10:34, 17 November 2012 (EST)
== Name-change-keeping socks ==
A user is renamed from "XXX" to "YYY". The account "XXX" is now no longer registered, and may potentially be taken by a new user. I think that, if the first user made significant contributions under "XXX", they should have the right to register "XXX" again in order to prevent someone else taking it; this would be a legit usage of a sockpuppet, and be mentioned on this policy and/or [[SW:NAME]]. Discuss. [[User:Toomai|Toomai]] [[User talk:Toomai|Glittershine]] [[Image:Toomai.png|20px|link=User:Toomai/Bin|???]] The Free 12:26, 10 September 2014 (EDT)
:I agree with this. For example, if Toomai decided that he wanted to be "Cows are the best", someone might sign up as Toomai and may confuse users who associate Toomai with his old name, and the new user might impersonate him. {{s|user|PikaSamus}} ([[User talk:PikaSamus|talk]]) [[File:PikaSamusSig.png|12px|link=Special:Contributions/PikaSamus|PikaSamus]] 13:32, 10 September 2014 (EDT)
== I have another idea. ==
For the acceptable types of sockpuppets, döpplerganger accounts thats similar to your username, but you shouldn't set it up during a block and Shouldn't edit from it. That's just an idea. using the Döpplerganger template. [[File:AlbumArt-Dixie.png|20px]]  [[User:TabuuandMasterCore|TabuuandMasterCore]] 19:43, 10 July 2016 (EDT)
==Impersonating off-wiki personalities==
I've noticed that the Fawful's Minion user on this wiki hasn't been blocked yet, despite him being a [https://twitter.com/FawfulsMinion/status/772244216416043008 confirmed impersonation], who is falsely claiming to be the real deal on NIWA wikis. I can only guess that his account is still active because this policy page and [[SW:NAME]] make no mention of impersonating personalities. I would say it's a bannable offence - I'm no admin here but at the very least, it's something that should be discussed. What should we add in terms of rule + punishment? [[User:ToastUltimatum|<font color="darkorange">Toast</font>]] [[File:Wii U Logo Transparent.png|17px|link=Special:Contributions/ToastUltimatum]][[User talk:ToastUltimatum|<font color="seablue">'''ltimatum'''</font>]][[File:Transparent Swadloon.png|26px]] 00:07, 4 September 2016 (EDT)
:Nothing, unless he acts up. <span style="font-family:Monotype Corsiva;font-size:12pt">'''[[User:Serpent King|<span style="color:#083;text-shadow:0px 0px 3px #0b7">Serpent</span>]] [[File:SKSig.png|16px|link=]] [[User talk:Serpent King|<span style="color:#ed0;text-shadow:0px 0px 3px #fd0">King</span>]]'''</span> 01:22, 4 September 2016 (EDT)
::I would argue that trying to trick people into thinking you're a popular personality without consent from said person is acting up already, it's literal deception. A fan could try and have a conversation with the guy, thinking he was the real deal, and this nearly happened on Mario Wiki. I remember a time on SmashWiki that someone claimed to be Mew2King, people asked him with questions because they were keen to meet him. He never responded to any, but if it turned out that guy was an impersonation, the fans who tried to contact the account would've been duped and disappointed. [[User:ToastUltimatum|<font color="darkorange">Toast</font>]] [[File:Wii U Logo Transparent.png|17px|link=Special:Contributions/ToastUltimatum]][[User talk:ToastUltimatum|<font color="seablue">'''ltimatum'''</font>]][[File:Transparent Swadloon.png|26px]] 16:30, 4 September 2016 (EDT)
== Should edits made by banned sockpuppets be removed? ==
Some banned users (who I cannot name) have been trying to evade bans with anonymous/pseudonymous sockpuppets and then edit the exact same topics over and over again. Should these users' edits be removed, especially if their behavior seems highly suspicious or they have been verified to be sockpuppets? [[User:Zakawer2|Zakawer2]] ([[User talk:Zakawer2|talk]]) 13:43, September 23, 2021 (EDT)
:Even if it was a banned user, if the edits are legit I see no reason to revert it. For example, if there's a Drilly sock who cleaned up a messy page, we aren't just going to revert those edits just because the user is a sock. [[User:Cookies and Creme|<span style="font-family: Georgia;color: black;">Cookies</span>]][[File:CnC Signature.png|20px]][[User talk:Cookies and Creme|<span style="font-family: Georgia; color: black;">Creme</span>]] 13:48, September 23, 2021 (EDT)
::Also, pretty sure we already told you about this on the Discord the last time you mass reverted an alleged sockpuppet's edits. [[User:Cookies and Creme|<span style="font-family: Georgia;color: black;">Cookies</span>]][[File:CnC Signature.png|20px]][[User talk:Cookies and Creme|<span style="font-family: Georgia; color: black;">Creme</span>]] 13:49, September 23, 2021 (EDT)
:::Some users make a mixture of both legitimate and unacceptable edits. It may be perfectly fine to keep the legitimate parts but remove/reword the unacceptable parts. [[User:Zakawer2|Zakawer2]] ([[User talk:Zakawer2|talk]]) 14:15, September 23, 2021 (EDT)

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