Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/HighKing

HighKing

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

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

16 October 2012

– An SPI clerk has declined a request for CheckUser, and the case is now awaiting a behavioural investigation.

Suspected sockpuppets

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

User HighKing has recently been engaged in further edit wars concerning the inclusion of the term British Isles in various articles. During a recent war on the Six Nations Championship article a new user, Laighinleo, suddenly appeared and supported HighKing's position with this edit - [1], which was made within a couple of hours of HighKing's revert. Of interest is the new user's name; Laighin seems to be Gaelic for Leinster, and the Leinster Rugby social club has a bar called 'The Laighin Out' or something similar. Further, it appears that HighKing is a supporter of Leinster Rugby - see here [2] (section called 'Negotiation tactics'). For a brand new editor to edit an article on rugby, to support HighKing's stance, and to be a supporter of the same team as HighKing, seems too much of a coincidence. This user is undoubtedly HighKing, but no doubt operating from a different device than normal. I should think the Duck test applies here.

The case agasint User Bastun is strange and somewhat inexplicable, since HighKing and Bastun normally exhibit opposing views on many Irish-related matters. However, compare this version of HighKing's user page:

[3]

with this version of Bastun's:

[4]

They are almost identical. Furthermore, while Bastun has actually edited the articles named as North Strand and Open adoption, HighKing has not, despite listing these obscure articles on this early version of his user page. There is a clear connection between these users. Scandal Bird (talk) 11:52, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

Comments by other users

Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

This is simply a reaction to the SPI I filed against Scandal Bird earlier this morning. See here. Also, I have not engaged in edit wars on this topic as this would be against WP:GS/BI - I note that no diffs were provided to back up this statement (nor would this be possible). This is a fishing expedition with no evidence, and a reaction my opening an SPI earlier. --HighKing (talk) 12:47, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

ZOMG I am also a Leinster fan!!1!1!! But, while I am certain I am not User:HighKing, I will nonetheless expect a cheque in the post for his use of my patented userpage design ;-) Bastun^{Ėġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ!} 13:05, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

Would you take a personal cheque :-) --HighKing (talk) 13:50, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

I had a look at those user pages and it looks to me that HighKing just copied a convenient user page with most of what he wanted to start up their own. The sort of thing I do rather than starting from scratch - plagiarize, let no one else's work evade your eyes. Certainly no evidence of sockpuppetry. Dmcq (talk) 16:43, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Yes, you could be right. Funny though, you'll allow, that someone should copy a page like that, change it, but leave those two items. Anyway, no matter. If Bastun and HighKing are a couple of meats the world won't stop going round, that's for sure. And another thing we can be sure of, HighKing is a sock. Be seeing you! Scandal Bird (talk) 21:31, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

They were removed shortly thereafter. Dmcq (talk) 21:59, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

•  Clerk declined - Evidence isn't convincing. The most "sockish" looking person on this page is the actual reporting party, if we are to be honest, since filing this SPI was done exactly after they became autoconfirmed. Dennis Brown - 2¢ © Join WER 14:20, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Well, HighKing is undoubtedly a sock. Even someone with an IQ of zero could see that he's Laighinleo. And he's got form. See the archive. Problem is, he's escaped justice again. And that's a problem for Wikipedia, not me especially. Just look at his "main interest". As for Bastun, my guess would be meat. Bastun's probably his wife or something. Be seeing you! Scandal Bird (talk) 15:49, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

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