The last username left was taken

Question

Is there some reason you're creating additional accounts? Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 04:25, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

What? Additional accounts? The last username left was taken (talk) 07:31, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Yes, User:(Abuse of our Username policy) was created from your computer a few days ago. Wikipedia's policies don't allow users to operate more than one account except in very narrowly defined cases. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 17:09, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

According to what, CheckUser? The last username left was taken (talk) 12:55, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

Hello , The last username left was taken; I am not a checkuser but, the Checkuser you are addressing here left This link on your talk page to the policy page that explains the use of multiple accounts. Cheers. Mlpearc powwow 15:05, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

I am aware of the multiple account policy. However, I was confused about the existence of the account. The last username left was taken (talk) 22:38, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

Yes, according to technical evidence from checkuser. I'll ask again; why are you creating multiple accounts? Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 15:36, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

Several of the IP addresses that I edit from are shared between multiple people, it's possible that one of them created it. The last username left was taken (talk) 22:38, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

This was created from your computer; not just your IP address. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 00:35, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

I don't think so. Checkuser only determines IP addresses, so I don't see how you can assert that it was my computer anyway. The last username left was taken (talk) 12:46, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Without getting in to technical detail, you're incorrect about what a checkuser check does. If Hersfold says it came from your computer, it did. Shell ^babelfish 12:49, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Oh I see, a matching user-agent and XFF as well? All of these were the same? The last username left was taken (talk) 12:54, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Yes. This is what we call a  Confirmed result. Now I'm losing patience. Why are there additional accounts coming from your computer. Your evasiveness is making me extremely suspicious. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 16:07, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Hi, it's me again. Since you never replied to my previous question, you've been blocked indefinitely for abusing multiple accounts. If you'd like to explain what's going on, we can see about unblocking you. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 16:18, 25 November 2010 (UTC)

Could I please be provided with the evidence of my abuse? The last username left was taken (talk) 06:49, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Now I'm the one who's losing patience. Please provide reasonable evidence to support the idea that I am abusing sockpuppets. I can't be expected to help figure out where the other account came from if I can't see any of the information that makes you think I'm responsible for it. Please also explain how even if you don't believe that I was not responsible for the other account (User:(Abuse of our Username policy)) being created, I should be blocked. I have done nothing to harm Wikipedia, and have already been prevented from making several helpful edits as a result of this block. As far as I know, no other accounts have been created that you've attributed to me. Doesn't Wikipedia have a policy guideline of assuming good faith? The last username left was taken (talk) 05:52, 5 December 2010 (UTC)

Unblock Request

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

The last username left was taken (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

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Request reason:

I have no confirmed explanation for the other account from the same IP address (I don't even know which IP address it was), but every IP address that I have ever used, to the best of my knowledge, has been shared with at least three other people who could have created it. There was no evidence of abuse from the other account other than an unacceptable username, and as far as I can tell, it didn't even edit. To my knowledge, there have been no other accounts created from any IP address I used to edit from. I do not believe my block is fair, as neither I nor any accounts with which I share an IP address have shown any evidence of abuse, and I did not create the other account.

Decline reason:

It seems improbable that a stranger created an account from your computer with a username remarkably similar to your username, but that you did not do it, and have no knowledge of it. So improbable, in fact, that I don't feel that your claim gives me enough reason to override this block. FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 00:13, 16 December 2010 (UTC)

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If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

Checkuser determines IP address, X-Forwarded-For, and user agent. In order to "confirm" that it was from my computer, there would need to be a matching X-Forwarded-For data, or at least a matching user agent. I am telling you that I do not know who created the account, but I am confident that it was not from my computer. On all of the networks I've checked, there is no X-Forwarded-For information passed on, so I assume that Hersfold's conclusion is based on the user agent. There's just one problem: I have 10 different browsers installed, for compatibility testing of scripts and webpages. As such, the accusation that it was created from my computer is unfounded, since a user agent match is highly likely for any user agent.

I agree that the name does seem to be an odd coincidence, but I urge you to look at this reasonably. Why would I want a second account on Wikipedia? I rarely participate in discussions with this one, so a sockpuppet would be pointless.

There were no signs of abuse from either account. I ask that, even if you do not believe me, that you trust me enough to unblock me. If any abuse does occur, then you can block me. Please give me a chance. All I want to do is improve Wikipedia. The last username left was taken (talk) 01:10, 16 December 2010 (UTC)

CheckUser data won't be released publicly, so it may be a good idea to appeal directly to a CU who can review the info. I've pointed Hersfold here. /ƒETCHCOMMS/ 16:59, 16 December 2010 (UTC)

I blocked your account for the following reasons:

1. This account was editing from the same IP address with the same useragent as User:(Abuse of our Username policy). No XFF data is available on any of the IP addresses you have used; as is the case with most checkusers, when we say "same computer" there remains a small degree of chance that it is in fact two different yet identically configured computers on the same IP address; generally when this happens, however, it is a large educational institution, company, or library that has a department responsible for keeping public terminals maintained equally. Since you claim to be editing from your personal computer, and this IP address is not registered to such an institution, the likelihood that two or more computers are involved is slim to none.
2. The IP address you share with the other account is clearly a very static one; I just rechecked, and you're currently on the same IP address you were using back in September. User:(Abuse of our Username policy) was using this IP address on October 28th; three days later, you edited from this account on the same IP address with the same useragent.
3. There is a marked similarity between your usernames, and the username of the other account clearly demonstrates some familiarity and prior experience with Wikipedia. That last point raises an immediate red flag for sockpuppetry; the combination of checkuser evidence and your usernames points to you as the sockmaster.
4. Your claim that one of the other people who shares this IP address created this account seems unlikely. Where an IP address is shared, it is commonly frequented by multiple accounts unrelated to one another (or where a relation does appear, it is easily explained as in point 1). This is the case with your second IP address, however the one you share with User:(Abuse of our Username policy) has only been used by this and that account; no anonymous editing or other accounts have appeared since I came across this case. Secondly, I would assume you would have mentioned this block to the other people who use this IP address - if one of them created the account, why are you unsure of their identity?
5. As your block log indicates, this block was issued in part to get a reasonable explanation from you regarding all of this. When I was attempting to assume good faith and ask you about these concerns rather than block you outright, you evaded every question I asked. This raised my suspicions, and at this point I see no reason to grant you the trust you request. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 17:05, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

TLUL, as I know him edits the RuneScape Wiki (as I do). See his contributions here. He is well versed in the way of wikis, not specifically Wikipedia. In terms of the IP and useragent - there are millions of people in the English speaking world. There are very few commonly-used browsers and operating systems. While his IP may be pretty static, it is entirely possible that two people use the same IP at the same time - very possible, in fact. Look at his contributions here. There are no counts of vandalism. There are no signs of trolling. All that you are doing is preventing someone with good faith intentions from editing the encyclopedia. Ajraddatz (Talk) 17:13, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

1. To my knowledge, I have only ever edited from my laptop, but I have done so on my home network, the networks of several of my friends, public networks near areas I frequent, and the network of my school.
2. I use many browsers, but mainly Chrome (which automatically updates to the latest version available). If the creator of the other account was using Chrome, it would almost certainly have the same version number, and therefore, the same user agent.
3. You speak of "some familiarity and prior experience with Wikipedia". Why, then, do you accuse me of being the sockmaster, when I have relatively few edits on Wikipedia (although admittedly I am fairly familiar with other wikis, most notably the RuneScape Wiki).
4. See my response to point 1. Communicating with everyone who uses one of the connections is difficult. Since you say the IP address isn't registered to an institution, I don't expect that it is my school, but it could easily be any of the open networks, some of which I have no idea whom they are owned by.
5. My not having time to thoroughly investigate, and offering the first explanation that came to mind, is now considered a reason not to trust me? I don't have the time to devote hours (as I now unfortunately already have) to figuring out who created an account, especially when it looks as if no harm had come of it and nothing further would develop. If you're unwilling to accept that some people are too busy to spend much time discussing things on Wikipedia, then that's truly a shame. If every edit counts, then it really is a pity that mine won't be able to any more. The last username left was taken (talk) 07:19, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

Unblocked

After discussion with several users and other checkusers, it's my opinion that while the evidence appeared to be sound, there is a chance that this was a false positive. Hersfold acted correctly, if a little defensively - but my opinions on this differ from his. In the interests of assuming good faith, and because you're a constructive user with no history of disruption, I've unblocked you. I'm sorry this took so long to sort out. All the best - and welcome back - The Cavalry (Message me) 17:50, 18 February 2011 (UTC)