BlindVenetian

A note

It is too late for me to add this to my main page, as I'm banned, but I'll add this here. I have edited Wikipedia, on and off, for some time, without disruption, as an anonymous IP. I figured I didn't need to establish a reputation to make common-sense edits. When I ran into User:IronDuke on the Portland Seven page, everything changed, and I was suddenly called a "sock" because my IP address changes (inevitable side-effect of DHCP). He called me this enough that I have been banned, though for no reason I can figure out. Some look at my history and say "Your first edits were to WP:ANI!" or whatever, but in fact, the reason I got an account was to fight the accusations of being a puppet. Perhaps independent observers can see the circular logic here: 1) edit anonymously -- get called a puppet; 2) complain about this -- get told to get an account; 3) get an account -- get banned! I have recently complained on WP:ANI about this, but I will probably just go back to quiet anonymous editing until it happens again -- but this aspect of Wikipedia's "anyone can edit" policy is definitely not as advertised. -- User:BlindVenetian 21:19, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

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"because my IP address changes (inevitable side-effect of DHCP." DHCP makes you hop from ISP to ISP? Hipocrite - «Talk» 14:11, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Help!

I edited for a while from a dial-up ISP account. I got yelled at to get a real account. Now that I have one, User:IronDuke has labelled me a "wikistalking sockpuppet" for editing Mike Hawash related pages, and is silently reverting every edit I make. Help! What do I do? -- BlindVenetian 09:43, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Just keep away from IronDuke, edit something else. Simple. Wikipedia has 1,000,000 articles - I'm sure you can find something.--Commander Keane 09:49, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

This is your first and final warning about editing things to do with User:IronDuke. Looking at your contributions, the vast majority are to articles also edited by User:IronDuke. It quite simple, before you edit a page check if IronDuke has. If he has, then don't edit it. If you do edit pages that IronDuke has, you will be indefinitely blocked. The reason being wikistalking. Find something else to edit, I can help find you something if you wish. Just think about this, it's not a big deal, I said before - there are 1,000,000 other articles to edit. The Wikipedia way is to build an encyclopedia.--Commander Keane 10:08, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

About the appeal: you can speak to me. I think you are missing the point though, you want to appeal this instead of getting on editing? (this is a rhetorical question, I do not want a response).--Commander Keane 10:26, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

What happened to the original talk page for the Portland Seven? Do you know why it is no longer available? -- Geo Swan 12:39, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

The situation seems resolved to me. I have given my instruction, and you are following it (with a slip-up at Alan Rickman, we all make mistakes). Anyway, when editing IronDuke-touched pages your changes were almost always reverted and you achieved nothing. I will get someone else to take a look at the situation, to put your mind at rest.--Commander Keane 10:44, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Do not edit war. It's really not your place to change comments on a talk page, I never do. Just leave the situation alone.--Commander Keane 15:53, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

Guantanamo detainees

Thanks. I replied on my talk page. Cheers. -- Geo Swan 15:57, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

Block

This account has been blocked indefinitely for sockpuppetry and harassment of User:IronDuke. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 15:53, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Unblock

I don't believe the block against me has been done with evidence -- I am not a sockpuppet or a stalker. An independent review of my edits should demonstrate this. -- [User:BlindVenetian]] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.94.178.217 (talk • contribs)

Your early edit's clearly indicate that you were not a newbie. How do explain this? Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 21:52, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

As I explained in my note above, I have edited for months as an anon. I thought this was OK in wikipedia. -- User:BlindVenetian 21:56, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

P.s. Now I've had an IP blocked for "evading a block"! How am I supposed to answer questions like this if admins keep blocking! It's not like I'm vandalizing anything!!

OK, I assumed blocked meant blocked -- I didn't know I could edit here. But I can't respond on WP:ANI -- that is where the real discussion is going on! -- BlindVenetian 22:02, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

No but i will point out that you have been asked to be unblocked and direct people to this page.So explain yourself, what other accounts have you used? Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 22:07, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

I've used a series of anon IPs -- I don't keep track of which ones they are, but (I suppose you'll just block all of these) they include 88.149.150.47, 83.211.48.173, 83.77.214.114, 84.162.18.6, 63.203.204.231, 24.57.143.66 and others. I've never used another named account. -- BlindVenetian 22:17, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

As long as you do not use them in the next 48 hours i will not block them. I've made a note on the AN for slimvirgin to see. I will not lift the block myself as i don't know the history and have to go to bed now:-(. I have always found slimvirgin to be sensible and reasonable. I expect that she will look at this unblock request when she comes online so here is the chance to leave her a message. I'll look back tomorrow to see how things are progressing but goodnight for now. Theresa Knott | Taste the Korn 22:25, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

BlindVenetian, the reason you were blocked is because of the situation with IronDuke, who has been the subject of harassment for a few months by one or two people using multiple accounts. Your very first edit with this account was to get involved in the situation with IronDuke at Mike Hawash, [1] so I'm assuming you were User:88.149.150.47, who posted the complaint. Would you mind explaining how you came to create Mike Hawash a year ago, [2] as you said you did above, and what brought you back to the article after a gap of a year? Also, could you say how you are able to edit from IP addresses all over the world? If you prefer, feel free to e-mail me using the link on my user page. I'm very willing to assume good faith with you, but I'm also certain that the situation with IronDuke has to stop, so your cooperation would be much appreciated. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 02:07, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

I can't seem to make Wikipedia email work, so I'll respond here. You asked "how [did I] come to create Mike Hawash ... and why ... come back to it a year later" -- not sure how to answer that - I must have either followed a red link or created it in response to some news item I saw. I came back to it later and added what appeared to be mostly uncontroversial information, until I was attacked -- I think the edit logs will show this. You also ask how I "can edit from IP addresses all over the world". Again, I do travel for my work now, but I have no knowledge of how the dial-up system I use (iPass) chooses where it logs into.

I don't see how any of this is relevant. Other than using a dynamic IP address, I don't see what I have done to deserve this treatment. P.s. - I noticed on Wikipedia Signpost that a case involving someone with dozens of sockpuppets just received probation -- how do you justify pre-emptory banning in this case? -- BlindVenetian 07:18, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

BV, if you can't get the WP email to work, you can contact me at slimvirgin at gmail.com. I'd like to discuss a few issues with you, including why, if you created Mike Hawash, you waited a year before making any further edits to it. Also, there are certain similiarities between your account and the others involved in this that I'd like to talk about, and I can do that more freely by e-mail. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 11:51, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Also, BV, if your email doesn't work, try sending yourself a confirmation email from your preferences. Problem is probably that. Glad to help. 24.145.222.85 13:03, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

OK, I sent email to SlimVirgin 2 days ago. I haven't heard anything. Now what? -- BlindVenetian 07:39, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

I e-mailed you yesterday, BV, and today. I'll resend. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 21:15, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

I have removed the block notice since it appears that discussion is going on with TK and SV to work through this matter to a resolution. ++Lar: t/c 13:43, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

I have not received any messages from SlimVirgin. Could youo post your questions here and I will try to answer them? -- BlindVenetian 15:39, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

BV, I've e-mailed you several times, then resent the last e-mail, plus a second e-mail asking you to acknowledge them. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 15:49, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

I just sent the last one again. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 15:50, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

BV, if you abuse this talk page, I'll protect it. Please cooperate with the e-mail request so that this can be sorted out. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 18:01, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Block

Any admin looking into this should e-mail me for further details. Many thanks, SlimVirgin ^(talk) 07:02, 17 August 2006 (UTC)