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Welcome to Conflict of interest Noticeboard (COIN)

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This Conflict of interest/Noticeboard (COIN) page is for determining whether a specific editor has a conflict of interest (COI) for a specific article and whether an edit by a COIN-declared COI editor meets a requirement of the Conflict of Interest guideline. A conflict of interest may occur when an editor has a close personal or business connection with article topics. Post here if you are concerned that an editor has a COI, and is using Wikipedia to promote their own interests at the expense of neutrality. For content disputes, try proposing changes at the article talk page first and otherwise follow the Wikipedia:Dispute resolution procedural policy.

You must notify any editor who is the subject of a discussion. You may use {{subst:coin-notice}} ~~~~ to do so.

Additional notes:

This page should only be used when ordinary talk page discussion has been attempted and failed to resolve the issue, such as when an editor has repeatedly added problematic material over an extended period.
Do not post personal information about other editors here without their permission. Non-public evidence of a conflict of interest can be emailed to paid-en-wpwikipedia.org for review by a functionary. If in doubt, you can contact an individual functionary or the Arbitration Committee privately for advice.
The COI guideline does not absolutely prohibit people with a connection to a subject from editing articles on that subject. Editors who have such a connection can still comply with the COI guideline by discussing proposed article changes first, or by making uncontroversial edits. COI allegations should not be used as a "trump card" in disputes over article content. However, paid editing without disclosure is prohibited. Consider using the template series {{Uw-paid1}} through {{Uw-paid4}}.
Your report or advice request regarding COI incidents should include diff links and focus on one or more items in the COI guideline. In response, COIN may determine whether a specific editor has a COI for a specific article. There are three possible outcomes to your COIN request:

1. COIN consensus determines that an editor has a COI for a specific article. In response, the relevant article talk pages may be tagged with {{Connected contributor}}, the article page may be tagged with {{COI}}, and/or the user may be warned via {{subst:uw-coi|Article}}.

2. COIN consensus determines that an editor does not have a COI for a specific article. In response, editors should refrain from further accusing that editor of having a conflict of interest. Feel free to repost at COIN if additional COI evidence comes to light that was not previously addressed.

3. There is no COIN consensus. Here, Lowercase sigmabot III will automatically archive the thread when it is older than 14 days.

Once COIN declares that an editor has a COI for a specific article, COIN (or a variety of other noticeboards) may be used to determine whether an edit by a COIN-declared COI editor meets a requirement of the Wikipedia:Conflict of interest guideline.

To begin a new discussion, enter the name of the relevant article below:

Search the COI noticeboard archives

Help answer requested edits
Category:Wikipedia conflict of interest edit requests is where COI editors have placed the {{edit COI}} template: Wikipedia conflict of interest edit requests Talk:260 Collins Talk:American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Talk:Pamela Anderson Talk:AvePoint Talk:Moshe Bar (neuroscientist) Talk:BEE Japan Talk:Edi Birsan Talk:Adam Boehler Talk:Edouard Bugnion Talk:Bunq Talk:Captions (app) Talk:Casualty Actuarial Society Talk:Cofra Holding Talk:Cohen Milstein Talk:Commvault Talk:Chris Daniels (musician) Talk:DEGIRO Talk:Dell Technologies Talk:Michael Dell Talk:Etraveli Group Talk:Florida Power & Light Talk:Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (novel) Talk:Steven Grinspoon Talk:Grizzly Creek Fire Talk:Group-IB Talk:Henley & Partners Talk:Insight Meditation Society Talk:Daymond John Talk:Norma Kamali Talk:Khalili Foundation Talk:David Lalloo Talk:Dafna Lemish Talk:Gigi Levy-Weiss Talk:Alexa Meade Talk:Metro AG Talk:Alberto Musalem Talk:NAPA Auto Parts Talk:NextEra Energy Talk:Matthew Parish Talk:Barbara Parker (California politician) Talk:PetSmart Charities Talk:Sharp HealthCare Talk:Sharp Memorial Hospital Talk:Louise Showe Talk:Shuntarō Tanikawa Talk:Lorraine Twohill Talk:University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science Talk:Uppsala Monitoring Centre Talk:Zions Bancorporation

Paid editing agency

I found a page on the website of a paid editing agency, which lists the following articles as created by them:

The pages should be checked for policy violations. It should also be checked whether authors have declared being paid. Janhrach (talk) 16:05, 27 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Vishen Lakhiani: Created by Taniasafuan (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), a single purpose account, unsuccessfully nominated for AfD, suspected sock: Princesstowarrior (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) Janhrach (talk) 19:16, 27 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

They are already a known and globally banned entity, see Wikipedia:List_of_paid_editing_companies#Wikibusiness. It's not unusual for such agencies to list articles they did not actually have a hand in creating, none-the-less it is a good idea to check them. ~ ONUnicorn^{(Talk|Contribs)}problem solving 19:27, 27 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I will check them one-by-one. Even if they aren't created by Wikibusines, the circumstances of the creation of this one are very suspicious. I have nominated it for deletion. Janhrach (talk) 19:37, 27 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Andreas Umland: created by Stonepillar (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), large edits by Миша историк (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and Inkitrinky (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), COI edits by Andreumland (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). This article is ambiguous, I am leaving this to other editors. Janhrach (talk) 20:05, 27 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I Sent Qonto (neobank) and Adjarabet to Afd. scope_creep^Talk 13:26, 28 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Qonto (neobank) was created by Pcheetpcheet (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), a single-purpose account, clearly gamed the system to get the article out of userspace. Janhrach (talk) 20:10, 28 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The user has edits to other Wikimedia wikis, I will review this later. Janhrach (talk) 20:36, 28 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I have notified other wikis of this user. Janhrach (talk) 15:21, 29 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Adjarabet was created by Hubble (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) – a single-purpose account, gaming the system. Notable edits by Lemonisto (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). Janhrach (talk) 20:28, 28 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The latter is unlikely to be paid. The former has edits to Wikidata and kawiki (over 2000!). kawiki should be notified of this. Janhrach (talk) 20:35, 28 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

kawiki notified of Hubble. Wikidata edits look good-faith, though most are related to interwiki links to kawiki or labels in Georgian, so I am not sure. Janhrach (talk) 09:19, 29 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Coi Editor user:Andreumland who is clearly Andreas Umland is editing at the Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Andreas Umland Afd. scope_creep^Talk 13:35, 29 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
I have reported the IP who commented on several of the AfDs to ANI – they had no other contribs, though they demonstrated too much knowledge for a newcomer. It looks like we indeed found several articles that were paid for. Janhrach (talk) 15:04, 29 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Radmila Lolly was created by Darthvader2 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), notable contributions by Octopuspresents (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). It is possible that the former one is paid. They have nearly 40,000 contributions to eswiki, but were banned on Commons for sockpuppetry. Needs more investigation. We should, however, AGF of the editor until it is proven otherwise. Janhrach (talk) 07:50, 31 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

So far, I don't see any other evidence of Darthvader2 being paid, which means they probably aren't. The article itself is okay and shouldn't be deleted. Janhrach (talk) 15:18, 31 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

There was a previous, deleted version of Radmila Lolly, which was substantially different from the current one. This means that the current one was probably not created by Wikibusines. Janhrach (talk) 14:53, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Lege Kale – probable COI edits by Malikkeith96 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and Legekale1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). Edits by User858985 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) should be noted. Janhrach (talk) 16:13, 31 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Maineywhiles (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) also appears to have a COI. Janhrach (talk) 15:54, 1 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Udokan Copper: created by several IPs. Nominating for PROD based on logs. Janhrach (talk) 08:17, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Checking their supposed client list is pointless, since these are generally fake. This agency is well known (SPI, WP:PAIDLIST#Wikibusiness, meta). MarioGom (talk) 14:01, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@MarioGom: I am not that convinced that this is fake, but I of course know that some claims of the agency might be false. What leads me to continue this is investigation is this:
- Discovery of several single-purpose accounts and instances of gaming the system
- Sudden appearance of Andreumland (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and 2A05:87C7:9008:2C00:A839:6080:4248:D58B (talk · contribs · (/64) · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)
- Udokan Copper being listed on the meta link you mentioned.
Janhrach (talk) 14:49, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The articles might have COI edits, like many articles about companies and people, but it seems the accounts you are linking (like Andreumland) are completely unrelated to this sockfarm. MarioGom (talk) 14:55, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I am aware that Andreumland is probably not somebody from Wikibusines, but the fact that a non-wikipedian learned so quickly about an AfD nomination of the article about them might indicate that he paid somebody to "watch" the article, most probably a paid editing company. Janhrach (talk) 15:08, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Depositphotos: notable edits by Миша историк (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), created by Mallboro (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). From the edits of the latter, it is evident that they wanted to promote the company. The article itself is okay. Janhrach (talk) 15:45, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Candy Crush Saga: history full of vandalism, investigating paid edits is not worth it. Janhrach (talk) 15:55, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Luxair – I didn't find anything suspicious, except minor edits by a user named Gregori-luxair (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). Janhrach (talk) 13:53, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I forgot, there were many anonymous edits. Of course, I didn't check them all. Janhrach (talk) 13:57, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Derrick Rossi – important edits by Josephine1915 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), Magnovvig (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and 109.255.90.188 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log). From the first look, none of these seem to be from Wikibusines. Who I am more concerned about is the creator of the article, Granolalover (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), whose edits should be checked. Janhrach (talk) 10:28, 14 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Note: Two links were added to the Wikibusines website: Nuvei and Cabify. Janhrach (talk) 19:36, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Nuvei was created by Coffeeandcrumbs (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), who is extremely unlikely to be a paid editor. Notable contributions by LinesAlongACoast (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), a single-purpose account. Unusually high number of editors blocked for sockpuppetry have made edits to the article. Janhrach (talk) 20:54, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Cabify was created by a single purpose account S5J57 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), Fonsify (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) edited this article and disclosed COI. The former has been active cross-wiki and followed the same pattern as many accounts listed above. Janhrach (talk) 20:38, 27 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Blocked Миша историк (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki) as a Bodiadub sock. Confirmed Wikibusines articles: Depositphotos and Oleksandra Masiuk (deleted G5). MER-C 18:15, 6 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@MER-C: This is very surprising, considering the age of the account and its edit count. Is there further evidence? How did you come to know about the latter article being created by Wikibusines? Why isn't the account globally locked? Janhrach (talk) 20:15, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There was a specific historical behavioral indication on both of those articles I linked. MER-C 17:20, 8 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@MER-C: Thanks. I was also suspicious when I saw this user, who has just over 1000 edits, two times in the history of the above articles, but I let that be, because the creators (or substatial contributors) of the other articles listed above disappeared after creating their first article, unlike this user. I tried to assume good faith and (falsely) convinced myself they aren't paid.

Sorry for asking again, but my question still hasn't been answered. Should a global lock be requested, as the user has many contributions to other Wikipedias? Or was a global lock declined? Janhrach (talk) 08:04, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I've found it's harder to get an account locked blocking without an SPI. You're free to request one. MER-C 19:53, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

and wikibusiness are known for the attempts to buy accounts. so Миша историк account could be not theirs from the start but we prob never know for sure Anntinomy (talk) 18:19, 8 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The list of clients differs for the site version in Ukrainian. Adding English versions of those articles for closer look

Alina Pash
Chernobyl (miniseries)
Glovo
Silpo
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Bolt (company)
Nova Poshta
Gulliver (building)
Zhan Beleniuk
Nick Bilogorskiy (connects to Nova Ukraine, Ostap Korkuna)

--Anntinomy (talk) 19:08, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Anntinomy: Thanks! I will check them later, I didn't have much time recently and I won't have in the close future. Have you notified ukwiki? Janhrach (talk) 20:06, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If to speak about this list, topics are notable, with contributions from many editors, promotional edits in ukwiki were mostly reverted. Generally, Ukrainian community is aware about WB. It seems they've been oriented to work more in non-Ukrainian wikis in recent years. Anntinomy (talk) 20:27, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Alina Pash – nothing suspicious. Janhrach (talk) 08:43, 4 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Chernobyl (miniseries) has a large number of revisions (over 1500), I am not going to check this unless the other articles show a high level of paid editing. Janhrach (talk) 08:53, 4 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Glovo – like an ad, almost certainly created in COI, edited by multiple single-purpose accounts, e.g. Mapevi21cat (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and Lesterpremnoronha (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). Janhrach (talk) 10:43, 11 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Silpo – nothing suspicious. Janhrach (talk) 20:13, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – too many edits to be checked, and too visible for paid edits to survive, in my opinion. I am skipping this article. Janhrach (talk) 08:05, 25 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Bolt (company) – highly likely edited for pay, edited by a known WB sock. Other unbanned editors I suspect include anons and Dariastaverska, Ijustwanttoeditwiki and Whatwherehow. Janhrach (talk) 19:53, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Admin help needed

This request for help from administrators has been answered. If you need more help or have additional questions, please reapply the {{admin help}} template, or contact the responding user(s) directly on their own user talk page.

Logs indicate that Radmila Lolly was deleted previously. Please check if the current article isn't a re-creation of the deleted one. Thank you. Janhrach (talk) 08:01, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have restored the deleted revisions. The old version and the new version look pretty different to me. PhilKnight (talk) 13:38, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! Janhrach (talk) 14:42, 2 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Big Sur, California area touristy contents

Resolved

– At best very premature. CoI not demonstrated with substantive evidence, nor has there been an effort on the talk page; cultivating pet articles is not only normal behavior, but even encouraged by special awards. Our CoI policy exists to stop paid or self-related abuse, not to suppress editors' personal interests. Discussion looks pretty stale, so dismiss without prejudice.

RadioactiveBoulevardier (talk) 14:57, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Ventana Wilderness Alliance (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Btphelps (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

The user Btphelps created the article Ventana Wilderness Alliance. After I checked insource:https://www.ventanawild.org/, there are 22 articles sourced to it. I have not checked all 22, but they mostly appear to have been linked to by Btphelps. I've removed tourism guide like contents added by same user fom numerous Big Sur, California adjacent articles that were sourced to traveling resource sites. They've also used https:///plaskett.family source in numerous articles. I've since removed them, but no other users have added that link. I am seeing possible COI of promoting tourism activity in the area. Graywalls (talk) 03:38, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

At the top of this page is "This page should only be used when ordinary talk page discussion has been attempted and failed to resolve the issue...." Where did that happen? Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 12:34, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

While you have a valid point, I posted this here as "This Conflict of interest/Noticeboard (COIN) page is for determining whether a specific editor has a conflict of interest (COI)" is one of the things editors can consult here for. Graywalls (talk) 13:05, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Graywalls, you have not raised a COI issue on my talk page, merely disputed a source I used. You've invented a red herring when you suggest my contributions about Big Sur are a conflict of interest. That would assume I would somehow benefit from the articles I've written about the region, perhaps because I own a business there or as a member of an organization that would somehow benefit from mention on WP. Do you have ANY such evidence? Or are you just stirring up unnecessary trouble for me and admins? Please provide immediate concrete evidence of a COI. Otherwise this discussion should be immediately closed.

As far as the source you are referring to, the content was written by a member of a pioneer family who settled the Big Sur region in the late 1800s. These stories were written by Mabel Plaskett in a series of articles published in the King City Rustler in November of 1962 titled "History of Coast Schools" and reproduced on the website. If you weren't in such a rush to be the hero in removing content sourced from what you regard as a "blog", you might find some merit in the content. Her first person accounts of life there are analogous to a WWII soldier's stories about combat. Only the subject is much less studied. Her recollections are considered a reliable history of that area by California scholars.

FYI, her death notice describes Mabel as a "well-known county journalist." Mrs plaskett, Journalist, Poet, Dies in King City

I am meanwhile attempting to locate the newspaper and other sources. Please refrain from further preemptive, rogue edits and cease your attempts to smear my character, my many years of reliable contributions to WO, and attacks on my reputation. This unnecessary report of a COI and unfounded attack on me along with your rash deletion of content without discussion are in part why so many good editors leave WP. — btphelps ^{(talk to me) (what I've done)} 07:37, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Btphelps:, I acknowledge. I should have engaged you on your talk page first. Graywalls (talk) 08:20, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

While I accept that I didn't communicate to you as I should have, I would like to add that in addition to Plaskett.family link you added, the various resort and business links you've added and tourism advocacy type contents you've placed is a reasonable cause of concern for promotional or COI editing. Graywalls (talk) 17:33, 25 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@RadioactiveBoulevardier:, could you reopen it? Addition concerns were just found, involving UPE. Please see White Stag Leadership Development Program Graywalls (talk) 13:17, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Jodie Fisher

Jodie Fisher (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Loveinfo123 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

User keeps changing birth year from 1960 (which is listed in the sources) to 1969 on Jodie Fisher's article. The user's last edit on the article's talk page suggests that it's her doing the edits. Jaydoggmarco (talk) 22:56, 20 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User has ignored this discussion and has made at least one edit continuing their vandalism. Jaydoggmarco (talk) 23:10, 21 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Jaydoggmarco: Please see WP:NOTVANDAL. Also, where did you try to resolve this issue previously? Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 17:41, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Repeatedly changing the birth date from one supported by multiple sources to a date supported by no sources is not vandalism? -- Pemilligan (talk) 18:22, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Pemilligan: No. You, too, should see WP:NOTVANDAL. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 18:57, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I read it before I posted. Perhaps you could explain instead of condescending to everyone. -- Pemilligan (talk) 19:04, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I think it fits: Deliberately adding falsities to articles, particularly to biographies of living people, with hoax information is considered vandalism. Schazjmd (talk) 19:15, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Jaydoggmarco, the editor has never been informed of the COI guideline; I've added that notice to their talk page (although there's no indication that they ever read it). The editor has been attempting to change the year of birth from the sourced version since 2018.[1][2][3][4][5] They were blocked in 2018 for violating WP:BLP with their edits to that article. They only seem to pop in to edit when someone (often an IP) corrects the year of birth per the source. If they revert it again, I'd suggest taking this to WP:ANI. Schazjmd (talk) 18:45, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I think this counts as a conflict of interest given that the editor seemed to admit being her in this edit. https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Talk%3AJodie_Fisher&diff=1208780797&oldid=1204263023 Jaydoggmarco (talk) 03:05, 23 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Why has nothing been done? User:Loveinfo123 has identified herself as Jodie Fisher and changed the birth date in the article five times this week disregarding multiple sources and citing none. What are we waiting for?

21:41, 18 February 2024 diff
17:25, 20 February 2024 diff
18:30, 21 February 2024 diff
22:47, 22 February 2024 diff
01:04, 24 February 2024 diff

-- Pemilligan (talk) 01:44, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

And she did it for a sixth time while I was typing. -- Pemilligan (talk) 01:46, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I think the admins here are lazy. They just don't care. Jaydoggmarco (talk) 03:27, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you want admin attention, or action, use an admin notice board. Please do not disparage other editors like this. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 16:17, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Another edit was made by this IP which is a possible sock. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/2600:6C50:153F:B764:6CA1:EB79:5210:4593 Jaydoggmarco (talk) 00:11, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you want admin attention, or action, use an admin notice board. Which admin notice board would you suggest? I've had no previous issue getting admin response here when needed for COI issues. -- Pemilligan (talk) 15:29, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Pemilligan: What you should have done when reverting this vandalism is issued escalating warnings on their user talk page. I have since applied a level 3 warning regards this issue. From here, do not revert any other edits as you run the risk of edit warring. If there continues to be a problem report to WP:AIV. If the other editor makes another revision in less than 24hrs, report to WP:ANEW. I am sorry you didn't get the help you asked for here. Chris Troutman (talk) 15:42, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Mamun Al Mahtab

Mamun Al Mahtab (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Sunan 213 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This editor created this article in 2019, and clearly, they were either paid for it or are closely associated with the subject. They even uploaded various certificates' photos as references (unsure of the proper copyright management of those), indicating they have first-person access to the subject's personal belongings, they also added multiple pictures of the subject on commons, some of which were deleted. The article also has an overly promotional tone. Their account is one purpose, and they hibernated from 2019. Recently the subject of the article came under criticism, and the editor soon came back, and promptly removed those criticisms, including an Unpaid contribution template imposed by me early on. There are existing COI notices on their talk page. They should not be allowed to edit the page (or any pages, as it's a one-purpose promo account with some serious COI violations) any further as their intention is clear here.

Update: Since I posted this here, the editor has reverted edits on that page multiple times. They need to be blocked ASAP. X (talk) 09:42, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

For some reason the editor Sunan 213 created the article in a sandbox which was fine,copied into mainspace and then later added a whole bunch of non-rs landing page references after creating a relatively well written article on a notable subject, for some reason. scope_creep^Talk 18:40, 23 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Scope creep, Yes, I noticed the same weird thing about the refs. Also, they added a bunch of images of certificates, and portraits of the subject over multiple years. One or two have been deleted but I'm unsure about such images' copyright procedures. I'd hope someone with Commons experience would scrutinize their uploads. It's a DUCK case of a paid editor or someone very close to the subject. It surprises me how no one sniffed except one who left a COI warning on the talk page way back in 2019 stating not to edit further without answering, but they kept on editing, and no action was taken, despite vehement violations and whitewashing of the page. There's just multitudes of weirdness surrounding this page and the editor. X (talk) 19:42, 23 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Xkalponik: I did a copyedit to remove everything potentially coi including the non-standard reference images. scope_creep^Talk 09:45, 24 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Its been moved to WP:An. scope_creep^Talk 18:43, 23 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Scope creep, They reverted and removed the criticisms again. It doesn't make sense why aren't they blocked yet. I posted on two noticeboards about them. Admins are overlooking this mess. X (talk) 14:01, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The article subject is notable and the editors behaviour has not likely been egregious enough to be blocked, although I think you've taken the complaint to the wrong noticeboard. I've not really had the time the last 3-4 weeks to do anything of depth on this noticeboard or anywhere on-here really, but I'll look at it now and see if there is problem. If there is breaking WP:NPOV, it needs to be discussed on the talk page to come to a consensus.. If there is WP:TE, or distruptive editig or edit warring then I'll take the editor to the noticeboard directly. scope_creep^Talk 14:14, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Xkalponik: Right I understand why that content is removed from the lede. It is definitely WP:UNDUE in the lede. It seems to be series of allegations that have been added by yourself, which break WP:NPOV and WP:BLPCRIME, and don't add up to nil. As I'm unable to find sources in Bangladeshi the language, ie the results of the Ministers investigations into the event of the man dying who sufferering from sleep apnea, then nothing can be done right now. Allegations don't mean anything , only facts matter on here. Everybody makes allegations. They are meaningless. I would suggest waiting until the ministers report is out. If it is out already and says there was no negligance, then that controversy section will need to go. I plan to move it to the talk page of the article, in the mean because it is undue. I'm moving this discussion to the talk page. It is unsuitable for the coi noticeboard. scope_creep^Talk 14:36, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Scope creep, How's it unsuitable for COI noticeboard? Also, there was an edit warring, please check the history of the page. They reverted edits regularly and I stopped as I did not wish to edit war with them any further. Also, they were warned multiple times by multiple users on different occasions, but they kept on editing the page. They were explicitly asked multiple times not to edit further without complying with the PAID editing policies, which they did not, rather kept on whitewashing the page. And I did mention the COI concerns on the talk page but did not initiate any conversation. It's an obvious case of COI, as they uploaded multiple pictures of the subject, along with personal certificates. It's a one-purpose account. And their editing pattern is also a clear indication of that. I'd urge you to check their talk page. Thanks. X (talk) 14:40, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Because its a different problem still to be addressed. I've not looked at it. I've not had time. I'll look at it today. scope_creep^Talk 14:45, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Scope creep. Okay. That was my main concern anyway (policy violations by the user). Not the allegations against the subject. X (talk) 14:51, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@X: I'm going to take a look at this today. I've got time now. Things have freed up at home. scope_creep^Talk 08:53, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi @X: Sorry for the late reply. He seemed to left on the 26th Febuary, so the question is moot. I had a look about 3 days ago and today again. I think the editor does have a coi. He mentions the subjects primary school name. That information would be quite hard to find out. There is also other indications there. I don't think he should he should edit the article directly, but it is functionally complete, so may not be back. I think the editor is probably a WP:UPE. That combined with the zero communication is a blockable offence. Ping me if the editor returns. scope_creep^Talk 21:39, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Finally someone else had a a look at this. Thank you.

Btw I'm certain they'll return if there are any controversies or critiques on the subject. That's been their pattern from 2019. They return when there's negative information on the subject, they whitewash the page, also they at times added new images and awards, whatnot. X (talk) 09:41, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Possible COI

Draft:Christopher Ononukwe (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Nwachinazo1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

User Nwachinazo1 appears to have a conflict of interest. They created "draft:Christopher Ononukwe" that was declined multiple times and uploaded File:PhotoRoom-20230708 111353.jpg as their own work from a different account (Nwachinazo2). Despite my efforts, I couldn't locate the same image online. When I asked them about it, they declined to provide an explanation, stating, "...On this note, I can't answer whatever questions you may offer here." Since they are unwilling to address this issue or adhere to the policies, I am bringing it to the attention of this forum for further discussion. GSS ^💬 04:34, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Now, I know you are being selective in your quote of my words. I wish you could cull all words instead of few ones which you cited subtly to justify your witch-hunting mission. There is nowhere in Wikipedia policies that says a content creator should not disagree with a review and rejection, even politely. With all sense of respect, I have disagreed with rejections of my submission on the point of fact that the draft's references adequately support the subject based on the improvement I have made. I have also explained that I have no conflict of interest in the draft, and that the image is available on Google. A search on the name Christopher Ononukwe on Google is enough to say that the image is in the public domain. Yet GSS didn't do enough job but came up with a hasty accusation of CoI, after I have proved to him that I have added adequately reliable, third-party, independent, sources that significantly treat the subject. I simply told him that no amount of explanations will change his/her preconceived mindset. Wikipedia administrators should not be stereotype in views. I am of the view that GSS simply does not want beginners like me to make valuable contributions on Wikipedia, hence his block tag he placed on my user talk page. Does an accusation of conflict of interest warrant a block tag? His tag and hasty review has influenced multiple rejections of my content. On this and many more, I disagree with his hasty and unfounded accusation. Nwachinazo1 (talk) 06:51, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Once again, you have not addressed my question, which is the primary reason for this discussion. So, I'll ask it once more: Could you please explain how you obtained ownership of File:PhotoRoom-20230708 111353.jpg and where did you get this image from? GSS ^💬 07:11, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I rejected the draft after having declined it previously, to be fair I have reverted my rejection and will leave it for another reviewer to to take a look. Theroadislong (talk) 09:16, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I do believe I see your point, I went through it and the editor made the same mistakes I made in their language and using the source material wordings in Verbatim rather than maintaining a neutral point of view tone, however, the subject matter warrants an article page, because for those who are Nigerians currently, the subject matter is a driving force, post the 2020 protest in our country. While I understand your rejection of said draft, communication on the problem and actual conversation and not witness box/suspect questioning approach to resolve the matter would have gone a long way. In other words, guidance rather than punitive stance would have gone a long way to correct and make sure the editor doesn't do a repeat of the highlighted flaws in their future contributions. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 12:41, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This is the author of "A fundamental to Government....", I'm sorry quick question to editors involved here if the image is not properly sourced wouldn't it just be removed. I'm sorry being that I might be banned just like this editor here, it does kind of show a routine of banning accounts who bother on topics unique to our demographic and/or domestic country. I mean I have a COI as well and I am yet to be blocked, but it seems like that's the next step to happen. I will ask this, besides editors within the community what is the voice that makes sure that bias isn't the case; sorry to say but this is the 4th Nigerian based editor that has been banned since the four (4) months I've become a Wikipedia editor. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 12:35, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Milan Knežević (Montenegrin politician)

Milan Knežević (Montenegrin politician) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Jovanadnp (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Hello, I need some help from a more experienced editor. Please see the recent article history, and discussion on Jovanadnp's talk page. I am not well versed in conflicts of interest. Jovanadnp does not seem to understand that COI is a real problem, nor interested in editing the page in Wikipedia-acceptable ways. (Additionally, on top of COI, the recent edits have substantially worsened the article. Please correct me if this issue should be posted elsewhere.) Thank you, Jessicapierce (talk) 17:56, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Additionally, Jovanadnp is now threatening police action if their edits are changed... please let me know if this escalation means I should post elsewhere for help. Thank you, Jessicapierce (talk) 18:08, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have also posted this request on the incidents board, here. I'm leaving this request up as well, in case someone wants to help with the COI issue. Thank you, Jessicapierce (talk) 17:07, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The editor has been indefinitely blocked. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 05:39, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Toyota G Transmission

Toyota G Transmission (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Toyota C Transmission (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
12DionneJ (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

12Dionne had their drafts declined numerous times and finally rejected, as they just list technical data about Toyota products with no significant coverage from reliable sources. After I informed them that AFC is voluntary, they elected to move the drafts into the encyclopedia themselves. It then became clearer that the user has said they were a Toyota Master Tech for a Toyota dealership. Four editors (including me) have said this is a COI, but 12Dionne rejects that(and edit warred to remove the COI tag from the draft). The question is, is working for a Toyota dealership installing Toyota parts a COI with regards to Toyota parts? 331dot (talk) 20:51, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@331dot mind withdrawing this? Granted, they have not helped themselves but I think the WP:AFD process will handle it and to repeat in part what I said at Talk:Toyota C Transmission, they do have a COI but I think it is COI-lite. The bigger issue is they do not understand notability and exhibit strong WP:IDHT behaviour because it has been explained to them several times by several editors, yet they forged ahead with moving the drafts to mainspace. S0091 (talk) 21:59, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I would at least like to see them concede that they have a COI. 331dot (talk) 22:24, 26 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If this was a page about the dealership 12Dionne worked for, that would be a COI. But I'm not so convinced the interaction between tech and transmission rises to a financial or legal relationship. One might well put a COI tag on Wikipedia. Nominating the unsourcable articles for deletion is the best next step. P-Makoto (she/her) (talk) 02:54, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see any COI, any more than I'd have a COI editing ukulele because I teach and play ukulele. --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 19:21, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This isn't directly related to the purported COI issue, but on the content side, it might be worth noting that Toyota C transmission was previously deleted via AfD community consensus at WP:Articles for deletion/Toyota C transmission. The new version of the article Toyota C Transmission appears to be an alternate capitalization. Left guide (talk) 07:18, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Editor now block for various reasons. S0091 (talk) 20:54, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Tom McMakin - Conflict of interest report

Draft:Tom McMakin (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

A person claiming to be a Wikipedia administrator reached out claiming that he approves and publishes articles, and that for $1200, he would publish this Tom McMakin article. He reached out to the subject on LinkedIn then moved to email and sent a communication from what appears to be a spoofed address. The communication is posted below. If this is a real Wiki administrator, this behavior is unethical. If this is a fraudster, it should be reported and documented.

Mike Blas <mike.blas @ wikiadmin.org> Greetings from Mike Blas, part of the esteemed Wikipedia admin team!. I approve Wikipedia pages and publish them. Additionally, I offer a comprehensive six-month maintenance package to ensure your page remains pristine and up-to-date. I charge 1200$ for page publishing. To kickstart the process, a 50% advance is required and rest after publishing.

Here is a link of declined page: Draft:Tom_McMakin

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.166.51.106 (talk) 16:39, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

No evidence of CoI editing; more likely a scam. See WP:SCAM. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 20:58, 27 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It is definitely a scam. They are not admins. This is going on with various domains that look similar to wikipedia.org but are not affiliated to the project. Avoid any communication with them and do not pay anything. MarioGom (talk) 23:24, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Obvious COI, possible UPE, and some WP:CANVAS/MEATPUPPET thrown in for good measure, at Yinka Ash

Yinka Ash (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Yinka Ash was created by a possible UPE that went dormant after using an open proxy (and was blocked from editing from there). 5 days later, Anoghena Okoyomoh, a new account, took up the expansion of the very-promotional Yinka Ash article. After I tagged it with the UPE template, they edit warred to remove it, and eventually sought the help of another disruptive editor, Wiki-Helper, who is the same person (admitted) as Elijahtree. That canvassing has resulted in a meatpuppet (maybe sockpuppet situation?) campaign to continue to remove the tag. I have asked for them to discuss on talk multiple times, to no avail, so far. Need more eyes on this, thanks. Fred Zepelin (talk) 02:27, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

At Afd. scope_creep^Talk 05:26, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I disagree with the accusations of COI/UPE on the part of Anoghena Okoyomoh, but agree that the article has very dubious notability. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 05:38, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

You are attempting to get me banned, for no reason. Go to User:Elijahtree instead of blindly throwing "sockpuppet" around, and try your best to assume good fath which you haven't done since the beginning of our back and forth. Your tag for UPE was "possible", thus I editted the page and removed it, stop being so stubborn to have it your way, frankly its extremely childish. I also agree the sources are weak, and think the article should be deleted. Next time feel free to tag me instead of trying to claim sockpuppetry slyly without my response.

~ mohamed (wiki-helper) (talk) 06:34, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I just woke up and I'm just so perplexed at everything that has occurred in the span of 7 hours. While I still maintain and disagree that I am a UPE, I accept and appreciate that you chose to use this method of resolving the matter rather than what has been done in the past, because at least now there is an open dialogue. It should be noted that as I am African, the very over head digital banner on Wikipedia for the longest time was aimed at getting those who visited the website - probably with an African IP address - to contribute to Wikipedia and enhance African voices. When I joined I began with simple edit and then Wikipedia themselves gave me options on articles to contribute, one of which was the subject-matter article, I will be honest I chose his, because, it was easy. I gathered all press coverings I could find, arranged them the best I could and began adding to the 'stub' account. When the first UPE was added I reached to Treehouse and asked what I had done wrong, one editor removed the tag and asked that I reached out to @Fred Zepelin to sort the issue out, which I did, the topic of same can be found in his talk page; no reply. I continued adding and learning how to write with same article and the UPE tag added yet again; this time I was the one who removed it and went extra to ask other editors to give me any materials that would guide me in further writing any page going forward, they did same and I was grateful, yet @Fred Zepelin added the UPE yet again, he would ask one sentence questions, I would reply in paragraphs, even his tone was weird; it was annoying that I was having to explain that I was not a UPE. It was back and forth, I offered to supply him any details he might need, even went as far to offer my bank records to check, which was a bit extra, but I was okay with because I had nothing to hide and I'm not a UPE. One thing though was that he never gave me a reason, he just called me a UPE or a sockpuppet or that I was duplicitous, which aren't good things to say, if there's a problem with the article, correct it or discuss it with me, don't pick the extreme without even giving me a chance to be heard as fairly as possible. So I checked his contribution logs and I noticed a pattern of reverting edits and stoking flames of the idea that persons were bots, sockpuppets or whatever label, and that's when I came across @Wiki-heIper regarding an article where they had dissenting thoughts, I reached out to ask how he dealt with it, because, Fred's actions (permit me to say) feels biased, why me a newcomer however overzealous? why always the labels and no discernable reason for same? @Wiki-heIper edited the work and I was able to see the difference, @AirshipJungleman29 edited and gave reasons for whatever they did, so I could learn and I could note down the issue with my previous work; I used words that were less objective and neutral (to which they pointed out same). and that's fine.

I just find it ironic that Wikipedia asked that African voices be added and African contributions be highlighted and when same is done this is what happens; just so you know and this is me not placating to your heartstrings I was even more invested in this article is because the fashion sphere is the only space where expression is celebrated in this country, and during the End SARS movement of 2020 that led to deaths of many, very few people who weren't political, but artists etc, where those who fought and supported the movement. We the young ones.

The article I was so enthusiastic and so happy and eager to make, has been turned upside down and made into something completely different, stripped, tagged, labelled and become the focal point of debate. this is just disheartening. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 07:04, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Anoghena Okoyomoh: In reference to this reply, I would like to pose the same inquiry as I did to the previous user: If there is no affiliation between you and the subject matter, could you kindly provide an explanation regarding your ownership of File:OLAYINKA ASHOGBON.jpg? Missing sig: User:GSS 08:28, 1 March 2024 Sig added by scope_creep^Talk 09:03, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Anoghena Okoyomoh: I think there is relation. It is either a fidicuary relationship, or your a colleague or your the subjects mate? From this point forward, I would advise you not to edit the article further. The standard mechanism for coi editor is to use the WP:ER edit requests. ER requests are the standard way for Wikipedia to disassociate coi editors from the articles they wish to update, so there is a level of control maintained. That is assuming the article is kept after the Afd discussion. scope_creep^Talk 09:03, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, Okay, I had answered this in my response to Fred's inquisition, the only time ever that I reached out or had correlation with Yinka Ash, was when I contacted his assistance for a photo that was not copyrighted that I may use for the page, the initial photo I had used I had gotten from his website and then I was informed was in breach of copyright and was in breach of Non POV. other than that, I'm just a fan because he's an artist who also support queer artist so when I saw his page was him I enthusiastically jumped on it. While I agree that I should stop editing and leave it for others as I've been a major contributor, all these guidelines were unbeknownst to me and being called the equivalent of a liar and a fraud is not the best feeling when I have tried to prove time and time again that I have the best of intentions. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 09:44, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I am writing to address some concerns I've encountered during my time as an editor and contributor on Wikipedia. I apologize in advance for the length of this message, but I believe it's important to provide context for clarity.

I joined Wikipedia with the sincere intention of volunteering my efforts to contribute to knowledge, starting on October 25, 2023. One of my initial projects was improving the page of Olayinka Ashogbon, also known as Yinka Ash, which was classified as a "stub" in need of expansion. Despite being the primary contributor to this endeavor, I encountered challenges, particularly in my interactions with @Fred Zepelin

Fred labeled me as an Undisclosed Paid Editor early on, which caused confusion and led to back-and-forth exchanges. Despite my attempts to seek guidance and clarification through proper channels like the Tea House, Fred's approach remained adversarial. I reached out to Fred directly on his talk page for assistance, but unfortunately received no response.

Upon reflection and further research of his contribution and user page, I've observed a pattern of behavior from Fred that is concerning. Instead of fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration, he consistently resorts to accusations and derogatory labels such as "sockpuppet" "meat puppet" and "UPE." His communication lacks civility and respect, and he has shown a reluctance to engage in meaningful discussion or provide constructive feedback. He assumes multiple roles, acting as both police, arbitrator, CIA operative, Judge, Jury, and Executioner. While I understand his intentions may be to uphold standards, I genuinely believe this approach is problematic. Ironically, he may not realize that his behavior contributes to the very issue he seeks to address. As history has shown, innocent individuals often suffer the consequences in situations reminiscent of witch trials.

I'd like to highlight a few key points to support my concerns:

1. Lack of Communication: Fred has failed to provide substantive reasoning or engage in productive dialogue regarding his objections to my contributions. Instead of discussing potential revisions on talk pages, he repeatedly resorts to derogatory labeling without explanation or attempt at resolution.

2. Hostile Behavior: Fred's actions extend beyond mere disagreement to what appears to be a deliberate attempt to intimidate and discourage me. He consistently adds the UPE tag to my edits on the Yinka Ash page, even after I expressed willingness to compromise. His presence in unrelated discussions and his condescending tone further exacerbate the situation.

3. Failure to Follow Wikipedia Guidelines: Fred's insistence on using the UPE tag rather than engaging in constructive dialogue violates Wikipedia's principles of civility and collaboration. His behavior creates a hostile environment that undermines the community's commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive platform for all contributors.

Throughout this experience, I've encountered statements from Fred that lead me to believe he lacks respect for me and is not genuinely interested in constructive contributions. It feels as though I'm simply seen as the next "sockpuppet" trophy to be added to his collection. Despite my requests for guidance on Wikipedia guidelines, and having no knowledge of pre-existing guidelines such as WIKI:CANVASS and WIKI:OWN, Fred consistently follows me through talk pages and articles I'm involved which I believe is to undermine my efforts and belittle me (like letting me know they're watching), causing frustration and anxiety. His actions have made it difficult for me to participate on Wikipedia without constantly anticipating confrontation. This ongoing behavior has taken a toll on my mental and emotional well-being, to the point where I've considered deleting my account, I only stay because the people in my personal life tell me to keep going and not let him win.

On one very confusing occasion he explained that the UPE was for the initial author being CeCe GFI, and implied that the onus (burden) was on me to have figured that out, and I ask myself how I would have even known that, when all UPEs have been directed at me, when all his questioning, claims and insults have been directed at ME. I kindly ask how am I to have known or figured it out, and if that truly is his reasoning why am I being punished for for someone else's action; I engage Fred when he has a problem and try to reply to all his inquiries. It got even worse, I started to succumb to it, I started to think that if I just be uber polite and not adversarial, if I show that I'm good then he'll stop, I started to not stand my ground anymore and if I'm being honest, I genuinely thought he could get my account banned and deleted or just find more unique ways to mess with me, and so for the longest time I stopped contributing.

When I began my editing efforts to other Wikipedia pages, I noticed similar issues present in articles, such as promotional language and a non-encyclopedic tone. However, I observed that the tags applied to these articles were specific to the identified problems, unlike the recurring Undisclosed Paid Editor (UPE). This led me to suspect that Fred's actions were deliberate and possibly targeted towards me personally, rather than aimed at improving the articles. It seems he is convinced of my alleged misconduct without considering the possibility of error. This situation feels increasingly like a targeted pursuit, with me as the intended target, though I acknowledge this may sound dramatic but it's not unfounded.

I was previously unaware, but after conducting research, I've learned that intentionally harassing and discouraging editors who do not conform to certain viewpoints is a well-established tactic employed by editors on Wikipedia. This behavior is concerning and goes against the principle of fostering a welcoming environment for all contributors. I now understand that Wikipedia has established the policy of "Do not bite the Newcomers" to address this issue and there was an incident in time past where an Admin even when in the face of it was to the contrary, but all could surmise they were biased had to be banned. As a newcomer, this has been my initial experience, and it's disheartening to encounter such negativity. Additionally, I've noticed similar discussions on Quora and other online articles and discussion, where experienced editors targeting novices is mentioned as a common problem. This behavior not only undermines the collaborative nature of Wikipedia but also raises questions about its commitment to community contribution and objective, factual knowledge.

Fred's conduct has made my experience on Wikipedia incredibly harsh and emotionally taxing. His disregard of respect for fellow editors raise serious concerns about the integrity of the platform. While I understand that disagreements may arise among editors, but I firmly believe that communication should always be respectful and constructive. Fred's actions not only violate Wikipedia's policies but also detract from the platform's goal of fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge-sharing.

Forgive me for not being smooth, but please find attached links of interactions that I hope will show what I mean; as the Nigerian adage goes “It is the one who wears the shoes that knows where it hurts” and it’s becoming unbearable.

I could not capture everything, but I ask that people please ask him to stop, I don't know if this connotes as canvassing, but I'm at my wit's end here. I would appreciate an amicable resolution. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 09:35, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Apologies, as its been quite hard. Conflict of interest violations are a particularly nefarious problem on Wikipedia and folk get rightfully defensive about it as its a threat to the very existance of Wikipedia itself. As per above, I wouldn't edit the article again (assuming its kept). Administration will likely keep an eye on you for a while. scope_creep^Talk 11:21, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you write anything again approaching what your wrote for the Yinka Ash article, that promotional mess your left, I will taking you straight to WP:ANI to get you indef blocked. scope_creep^Talk 11:30, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I literally just complained that this wordings and statements are not cool. stop this, it's not fair, I try to be polite is it too much to ask that I get that in return. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 11:39, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I get that, honestly, I would have preferred they told me there was a conflict of interest rather than UPE, I'm editing other articles that have the same correlating problem and the problem is "promotional and non-encyclopedic tone" and I'm just like confused, it's just like a weird stereotype, of course the Nigerian who writes about another Nigerian is dubious and has bad intention. same ole african crook story, it's why it just feels biased, however, you put it, it is. And if Wikipedia insisted on us to be here and we are being run off then what's the point? I just really hate this feeling having to justify myself everytime in every space to foreigners. Anoghena Okoyomoh (talk) 11:35, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Paul Street (director)

Paul Street (director) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
Filmstreetster (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) aka SPbeth (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
47.154.26.140 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

I’m pretty sure that Filmstreetster is Paul Street, and oh boy have they made a mess of the article about them. It now reads like a press release, glorifying their work and talking about them using first names. I’m not willing to edit war over it, but if anyone else would like to revert (although it has been rubbish since Paulstreet1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) created it in 2009 so perhaps stubbification might be better) then please do. 81.187.192.168 (talk) 22:52, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, kind of a mess. I've cleaned up some of it, but there's a real lack of sourcing here, making me wonder if this person is notable. BubbaJoe123456 (talk) 17:01, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, the things they've worked on are notable (mainly commercials, so not enough to have Wikipedia articles about them) but notability isn't inheritable. The two films they claim to have directed don't have articles, which is a clue to how notable they are, but non-notability isn't inheritable either!

Basically, I reckon this would be turned down for CSD#A7, but I'd give positive odds on it being deleted at AfD. ~~With an active CoI editor, a PROD would last seconds, I'd reckon, but let's see.~~ 81.187.192.168 (talk) 18:35, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comment Looks like editor has been nursing that article for years in a way that is completely out of process. Clear WP:COI from the looks of it. scope_creep^Talk 18:44, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Nominated at AfD, though did not know about this discussion until now. Natg 19 (talk) 20:09, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Natg 19: I would perhaps advise opening an SPI since there seems to be several new editors who've came in the last couple days, to try and save it with atrocious non-rs refs, stonkingly bad. Also the main article, a WP:BLP described the fact he won a bafta which has not been able to be proven. That is problematic and points to a failure of validation for the originating author. Essentially it is a bald lie on a easily verifiable fact. Simple email to the outfit would have done it. scope_creep^Talk 08:52, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Can you help me file one? I have no experience with the SPI world. Natg 19 (talk) 16:38, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Twinkle has a very easy user interface for those reports. Otherwise, follow the directions at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Guide to filing cases. Chris Troutman (talk) 16:45, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I already did, without seeing this part of the thread – Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Filmstreetster – but the backlog at SPI is huge so I'm not expecting it to be got to for another week or so. 81.187.192.168 (talk) 17:20, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Per the above, SPbeth (talk · contribs) is Filmstreetster (talk · contribs), so I have added them to this report for bookkeeping purposes. 81.187.192.168 (talk) 18:22, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Daniel Wiffen (world champion swimmer)

Hello, I'd be grateful for any input to the issue of nationality and the short description here: Daniel_Wiffen

Many thanks Billsmith60 (talk) 13:01, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The Conflict of interest/Noticeboard (COIN) page is for determining whether a specific editor has a conflict of interest (COI) for a specific article and whether an edit by a COIN-declared COI editor meets a requirement of the Conflict of Interest guideline. For content disputes, after proposing changes at the article talk page, follow the Wikipedia:Dispute resolution procedural policy. -- Pemilligan (talk) 14:29, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

National Logistics Corporation

National Logistics Corporation (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Usamanaeem31 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Enough tolerated already, this is a single purpose account. 194.55.43.139 (talk) 17:29, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Please remember to follow the instruction at the top of this page, including

You must notify any editor who is the subject of a discussion. You may use {{subst:coin-notice}} ~~~~ to do so.

In this case, I've done this for you. -- Pemilligan (talk) 17:55, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Jackson State University

Jackson State University (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Jacksonstateu (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Apologies if this is the wrong board. User:Jacksonstateu was created today and began editing Jackson State University. I posted the COI and name warning, to no response. glman (talk) 18:17, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

They've been blocked. Secretlondon (talk) 17:34, 3 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Editors employed by Springer Nature adding their employer to articles

Bob Edenbach (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Rf-sn276 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Yesterday, I noticed that two editors - Bob Edenbach and Rf-sn276 - were editing many articles (e.g., University of Tokyo, UCLA Health, College and university rankings) solely to add information about and links to a new set of ranking tables published by Springer Nature. I reverted those edits and posted a message to both editors' Talk pages. Rf-sn276 responded promptly and courteously to let me know that they are indeed employed by that organization and they quickly complied with our paid editing disclosure policy. Bob Edenbach, on the other hand, has not complied and to the contrary has edit warred to maintain their material in University of Tokyo. Indeed, Rf-sn276 also appears to be puzzled by Bob Edenbach's behavior (they both say that Rf-sn276 works directly for Bob Edenbach on their respective User Talk pages). So right now we have an organization's employee editing Wikipedia solely to promote their employer who is not only unwilling to abide by our COI policies and practices but who is also willing to edit war to keep adding material about their employer. ElKevbo (talk) 02:06, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I am the product manager for the Nature Index and have been working on it since its launch in 2014. My affiliation with the Nature Index and my employment at Springer Nature are both stated in my user profile. I recently created an account on Wikipedia because the entry for Nature Index was old and incorrect. I use my real name as my user name and updated the Nature Index page where I saw errors. As I live and work in Japan, it is customary for me to check the University of Tokyo as an example institution. Given my familiarity with the Nature Index, I know the University of Tokyo has been ranked first in research output in Japan since the inception of the Index. I checked the University's profile and noticed the rank was not correct and fixed that. I also observed that the previous user who added the entry for the Nature Index was using the overall rank, whereas a better performance indicator would be to use its rank amongst other academic institutions globally and domestically. I edited the existing link to the ranking with University of Tokyo position as its in the public domain and be easily confirmed. The University of Tokyo, itself publishes many press releases and articles on its own website about its position in the Nature Index, as you can see here: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/search/index.html?q=Nature+Index&Submit=

If a view the edit history of the University of Tokyo page, you will see the Nature Index was mentioned and links added by another editor, that I have no connection with.

The Nature Index has greater awareness in the Asia-Pacific than it does in the United States, especially in Japan, where the release of the Annual Tables are covered by most major media outlets as you can see here:

Nikkei: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO72544320W3A700C2TJK000/
Mainichi Newspaper: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20230616/k00/00m/040/338000c
Yomiuri Newspaper: https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20230619-OYT1T50200/
AFP: https://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3468854
ReSeed: https://reseed.resemom.jp/article/2023/06/16/6598.html
Asahi Newspaper: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR6N6K11R6NULBH009.html
Current Awareness: https://current.ndl.go.jp/car/183890
JST STI Updates: https://jipsti.jst.go.jp/sti_updates/2023/06/14300.html
Kyodo News: https://www.47news.jp/9496392.html
University Journal Online: https://univ-journal.jp/230923/
Science Portal: https://spc.jst.go.jp/news/230604/topic_1_01.htm

The Index is also mentioned by name in a slide deck from the Japanese Cabinet office as a key performance indicator. The Nature Index is mentioned on slide 16.

Since the Index added 64 medical journals adding roughly 10,000 articles/year I thought the position of healthcare institutions would have greatly changed as they previously would have only been represented by journals in biological sciences. I asked a member of my team to check the top 100 healthcare institutions and edit if needed. I spot checked their first couple of edits but have not had the time to check further. ElKevbo messaged that staff and deleted their edits. The staff notified me yesterday morning and I asked him to stop editing.

I am not aware of any expertise or knowledge that ElKevbo has of Japanese academic institutions nor of the Nature Index to delete my edits, but I have provided links to everything that can be easily confirmed.

My intention was to update pages relevant to Nature Index and mentions of Nature Index with the most accurate content and data. Bob Edenbach (talk) 04:05, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, Bob Edenbach. As a Wikipedia community, we're certainly glad to have new editors who bring in familiarity with industries, fields, sources, etc. I hope you can recognize that what's at stake isn't who has certain expertise or knowledge. Wikipedia has policies about contributing information about one's employer that we expect all editors to follow, whatever their knowledge level.

My sense is that you're interested in Wikipedia articles presenting accurate information. That totally makes sense, and Wikipedia does value presenting verifiable information. What ElKevbo is bringing up here, however, is a behavioral concern. Because Wikipedia involves many people, in addition to content guidelines, there are also behavioral policies, designed to promote both quality content and collegial environment. As a community, we value editors being able to get along and collaborate, and we value transparency about potential conflicts of interest. Because you work for Springer Nature, I hope it's understandable that while on the one hand we value your familiarity with the Nature Index, on the other we also want to be cautious about whether or not adding information about this index to pages is a covert form of promotion on behalf of an employer, elevating the visibility of the Nature Index. To be clear, I don't think the point of this thread is to accuse you of doing that in this particular instance, and neither I or ElKevbo know what personally motivates you; I bring that up just to explain the reason the WP:COI policy exists.

So what's something we can do going forward? It looks like right now you do have a conflict of interest disclosure on your user page. That resolves that part of Elkevbo's OP ("original post" in this thread). That's great; thanks for complying with the conflict of interest policy by visibly posting that disclosure. As for the University of Tokyo article, the previous lack of disclosure has, I think, left ElKevbo concerned about the purpose and quality of the edit and has resulted in playing it safe by removing it from the article. Since you still want to contribute this content, a way to go about that less confrontationally, given the concerns expressed by ElKevbo about your initially confusing behavior, might be to make an edit request on the talk page for the University of Tokyo article.

In an edit request, you lay out a proposed edit, including the sources and reasons. Another editor who sees the request can choose to decline it or choose to add it to the article. When someone wants to contribute content about their own employer on Wikipedia, an edit request is a way to go about that without directly doing so themselves. Other editors who contribute to the University of Tokyo article will be able to see your requested edit and decide if they think the content is relevant to the article, and appropriate to add; and they may do so. This requires patience and might be disappointing if another editor declines the request. But requesting edits is suggested because it increases the number of editors participating in the edit, reducing the likelihood that a contribution could be undue and promotional in character.

I hope this helps explain things. P-Makoto (she/her) (talk) 04:36, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for your response that is very helpful. Since I just created an account I was not aware of user profile pages. Once I figured it out the next day I added my affiliation. To be honest I was reluctant to add much to my user profile as I have no intention to elevate my own reputation nor to do any form of self-promotion on Wikipedia. My intention was to make sure Nature Index data was reflected correctly and to cite my sources as verification.

I may try to suggest edits via the edit request in the future, thank you for the suggestion. Bob Edenbach (talk) 06:41, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, P-Makoto (she/her), I do have a follow up question that I am curious about as I am new to this. The user ElKevbo is employed by the University of Delaware and has edited the University of Delaware's page but he does not mention he is an employee of the university in his user profile. What edits can be made without disclosing your employer? Are some edits on your employer's page not considered paid editing? Bob Edenbach (talk) 09:05, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It is possible to have a COI for either paid editing or unpaid editing. It's possible (possibly likely) that ElKevbo was not paid by the University of Delaware specifically to contribute to Wikipedia. However, to the extent that ElKevbo is an employee of the University of Delaware, there is still a conflict of interest (because of the financial relationship that exists between an employee and employer). ElKevbo would not put a paid editing disclosure on his user page but still should disclose conflict of interest if he edits or contributes content pertaining to the University of Delaware.

It looks like the edits are of a relatively minor nature, ElKevbo, so I'm not terribly exercised about this, but to the extent you have a conflict of interest for the University of Delaware as an employee (as you make this publicly known by linking to it from your userpage (permanent link) (original voluntary linking), it falls under the person has voluntarily posted their own information, or links to such information, on Wikipedia [bolding added] clause of WP:PRIVACY), you still are obligated by policy to disclose this conflict of interest if you choose to edit or contribute content pertainint to it, such as the University of Delaware article example 1 example 2. ElKevbo, remember that If you become involved in an article where you have any COI, you should always let other editors know about it. Per WP:DCOI, you can do so on your user page, in a talk page edit summary, or on the talk page of the affected article—although you linked to information that mentions your employer, you did not actually make make a conflict of interest declaration on your userpage. As I said, I'm not terribly alarmed about these edits. Just in the future please be mindful and declare your COI using one of the three outlined methods. P-Makoto (she/her) (talk) 10:00, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm happy to more explicitly note my own employer on my User page. But this has nothing whatsoever to do with Bob Edenbach's persistent and willful edits to promote their employer across many different articles. ElKevbo (talk) 12:56, 1 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Only Bob Edenbach's behavior has to do with Bob Edenbach, that is true. WP:BOOMERANGs simply are what they are. I hope both you and Bob Edenbach are mindful of your own conflicts of interest in the future when you edit or contribute material pertaining to your employer. P-Makoto (she/her) (talk) 05:28, 3 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Gresha Schuilling

Gresha Schuilling (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Gresha Schuilling (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Per this edit summary they are the subject of the article. Warned back on February 23 about COI and initially used the article talk page but has returned to directly editing Gresha Schuilling in spite of COI. ThaddeusSholto (talk) 14:16, 2 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Oh I'm so sorry @ThaddeusSholto! I saw that the page was unlocked for me so I submitted small edits. I will resubmit in a COI. Thanks for your help! Gresha Schuilling (talk) 14:18, 2 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is zero evidence of the subject passing WP:GNG or WP:MUSICIAN so I have sent it to WP:AFD. Theroadislong (talk) 14:36, 2 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User Pcomon

Independent component analysis (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Pcomon (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

User has been warned about COI by at least two editors on his talk page. He appears to be persistently self-promoting his work, particularly in the lede. Limit-theorem (talk) 15:20, 2 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Other pages involved: Signal separation. Limit-theorem (talk) 22:59, 2 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is BIG misunderstanding. I am just adding an objective fact, justified by a book reference. Everybody in our community knows about this fact. There are many other references in the open literature mentioning this fact. I see that because of my pseudo, and probably because you do not know the subject in details, you persistently believe that I am making self-promotion, which is absurd and not needed at all. Hence, I suppose I must ask colleagues to correct this obvious bias? The conclusion is that when one is a specialist of a field, one cannot make all relevant corrections, because one has publications in the field. The way Wikipedia is moderated is very questionable and quite disappointing... Pcomon (talk) 16:23, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Pcomon: Your condescension does not befit your claimed expertise. Wikipedia has been online for twenty years and has maintained its Alexa rating while other websites of that era have faded. You are legally obliged to admit your CoI. It does not matter if what you post is true or supported by sources. If you exist in a niche field and no one cognizant of your work edits here, then articles about it will languish which is fine by us. Wikipedia only works when edited by disinterested third parties relying only upon reliable sources. Obviously, the public does not care about the subject because they haven't volunteered to write the content. Since you've come here, we're forced to ask what's in it for you. Chris Troutman (talk) 17:36, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Pcomon: The correct way to have gone about trying to resolve the dispute you mention on your talk page would have been to raise the issue on the talk pages of the articles concerned to try to build a consensus in your favour.

Simply editing the articles to present your own point of view, by quoting your own work, and doing so without building a consensus beforehand, was inevitably going to end up here.

(Incidentally I would advise you against 'ask[ing] colleagues to correct this obvious bias', as that is contrary to Wikipedia rules, see WP:meatpuppet.) Axad12 (talk) 17:51, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:Zenica87 (UPE)

Deemah AlYahya (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Digital Cooperation Organization (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
William Utomo (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
IDN Media (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Intisar Salem Al Ali Al Sabah (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Boss Creator (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Saweria (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Indonesia Creator Economy (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
IDN Pictures (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
IDN Times (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Yummy (company) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Fortune Indonesia (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
GGWP (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Popbela.com (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Popmama.com (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
SportsCastr (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
IDN Times (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Fiorenzo Manganiello (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Mohammad Al Duaij (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Elizabeth Waterman (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Ahanchian v. Xenon Pictures, Inc. (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Salman Al-Ansari (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Chamath Palihapitiya (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Zenica87 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This UPE has spammed all IDN Media products on English Wikipedia and they should go through AfD. Despite warnings they continue to edit without proper paid disclosure. 217.165.157.155 (talk) 09:24, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Note that this UPE has recreated Ahanchian v. Xenon Pictures, Inc. which was previously deleted under Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Ahanchian v Xenox Pictures Inc., et al and later the spammer, User:AmirahBreen, was blocked as UPE. 217.165.157.155 (talk) 09:27, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It is quite interesting that this IP user just came to Wikipedia to report me, especially since he/she is from UAE, while I created and participated in several UAE politics-related article, which were mainly translations from Arabic Wikipedia. I find this to be a clear case of WP:HARASS since this user came straight out of the blue sky and the first thing he/she does is make COI Noticeboard report without ever interacting with me before. All my articles are reviewed by reviewing editors and I was always cooperative when it comes to suggestions made by other users. Also, in several mentioned articles I did not make a single edit, which is ridiculous. --Zenica87 (talk) 13:37, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

R. Indira

R. Indira (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Indirasociology (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Indira Ramarao (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Usernames and content of edits suggest that this person is editing the article about her. Article has been put under extended confirmed protection but editor is continuing to edit as Indirasociology. Editor is not engaging on the Talk pages for either account. Recommended to bring it to CoIN by Daniel Case here.

Selection of diffs by Indirasociology:

And by Indira Ramarao:

Thanks. Tacyarg (talk) 10:37, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It's clear a sockpuppetry case. I reported it early in WP:AN. CSM269

(talk | contrib) 11:20, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is not much more to do here. The user was warned. Obviously they did not try to conceal their identity and the fact they are the same user. This usually does not lead to a block. Edits were disruptive regardless of COI, but the problem is likely gone now that R. Indira is protected. MarioGom (talk) 22:34, 5 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Draft:Tania Peitzker

Draft:Tania Peitzker (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
GreenJeans808 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This draft had a {{coi}} template, but GreenJeans808 removed it: https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Draft%3ATania_Peitzker&diff=1210076092&oldid=1210022268 It is my opinion that there is a conflict of interest. The draft has an infobox image and two images in the article. The infobox image is labeled as Own Work by GreenJeans808, which implies that he photographed Tania Peitzker. It is a close-up photograph that involved cooperation. The two article images are both labeled in their Commons description as selfies. That implies that they were taken by Peitzker and provided to GreenJeans808. This may be paid editing, and is almost certainly some association that is a conflict of interest. Robert McClenon (talk) 05:59, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

GreenJeans808 likely is Peitzker, given that her edits are in the same style as the old account User talk:Tania Peitzker. Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 11:01, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

GreenJeans808 has uploaded multiple images of Tania Peitzker that are identified simultaneously as "own work" and "selfie". DMacks (talk) 11:07, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:Curb Safe Charmer, User:DMacks - Thank you for calling my attention to the 2015 account. What I am saying is that GreenJeans808 either is Peitzker, in which case the draft is an autobiography, or that GreenJeans808 may be an associate or assistant of Peitzker, who has been given Peitzker's selfies. In either case, there is a conflict of interest. Robert McClenon (talk) 16:01, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed.

What outcome were you hoping for by bringing this to the COI noticeboard? In my mind, COI users must use draftspace which they are already doing, and the draft there has since been rejected. Either GreenJeans will give up, argue their case or move it to mainspace themselves. If they move it, one of us will take it to AfD. If they drop it, no action is needed. Their most likely action is to argue. We could have them come here to make their case - the other forum I can think of being the AfC helpdesk. Previously, Peitzker threatened to 'take it up with Wikipedia management', whoever they are. Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 16:15, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Just for the record/centralized discussion, they have also made edits to Dymphna Cusack that have an effect of promoting this person, and ES also NPOV touting them. But those edits have been undone. But unless they make any further edits, I agree that there is nothing further to do. If they do make further edits, easy enough to handle as appropriate at that time. DMacks (talk) 17:34, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:Curb Safe Charmer asked what outcome I hoped for by coming to this COI noticeboard. It was primarily to report the failure to declare an obvious conflict of interest. It is true that they are using draft space, which is what they should be doing, but the AFC reviewers want to see a conflict of interest declared, so that they know to look for non-neutral language, puffery, etc. Seeing that the draft has been rejected and the edits to Dymphna Cusack have been reverted, I agree that there is nothing further to do. Robert McClenon (talk) 02:06, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If they move it to main it will be G4'd. I think it is important to report coi editors wherever they are are editing. scope_creep^Talk 07:07, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Just for the record, I heard about what happened with the Dymphna Cusack edit. That contribution was a) fully sourced b) had credible references from established, academic, secondary sources c) had in-depth treatment of the subject by academics ie experts objectively qualified to write encylopedic entries about this famous author from Australia. I will be appealing the "deletion" and "reverting" of that contribution which corrected some of the false / insufficient / inadequate information currently published under the article titled "Dymphna Cusack". FeministGlobal (talk) 16:14, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

WP:NOTHERE and promotion only account. A long campaign of purely promotional edits for Tania Peitzker aka Tania Lingham and her busines ventures.
Tania Peitzker (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and her accounts before that as mentioned in afd creating promotion for Tania Peitzker and her company at Draft:Velmai.
2019 saw TaniaLingham (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) who created a Draft:Tania Peitzker and a Draft:AI Bots as a Service UG. Also added content to Dymphna Cusack that had an effect of promoting this person as did GreenJeans808 and multiple IPs before her.
Then there is Myownreporter (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) who was creating a draft for www.myownreporter.com (MOR) which was co-founded by Peitzker.
This sustained PR push with a major dose of WP:ICANTHEARYOU and dishonest misrepresentation is I think worthy of a promotion only block. duffbeerforme (talk) 12:07, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Dear Duffbeer,

There is no "dishonest misrepresentation" as I clearly stated in 2015 that I was writing about myself as the subject. That autobiographical contribution was accepted by other Wikipedia editors at the time. FYI I appealed to "Wiki management" as you call it and they found in my favour.

Wikipedia wanted to publish a "stub" about me and I declined their offer as I did not want to be included in this encylopedia back then. Now GreenJeans is writing and publishing about me in an extensive, neutral and fair way, I am happy to be made a subject of Wikipedia.

As to your wrongful assertions that I was "promoting" my tech ventures and doing a "sustained PR push", this is simply false. As many other Wikipedia articles can testify, there are 100s of tech ventures and entrepreneurs published in this tertiary source of information - content all very similar to me and my work in AI, except for the fact that I am a woman and they have been mostly men in tech.

I suggest you and your fellow eds here on this CoI page read up on what the wider world is thinking, scrutinising and analysing about Wikipedia, its methods and content: from 2015 when we first had our exchange as you rightly point out (when I was briefly a Wiki ed before discouraged by the gendered hostility towards me) https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/10/how-wikipedia-is-hostile-to-women/411619/

To the statistics today - not much has improved sadly

"As of the end of February, almost 20 per cent of biography articles on English-language Wikipedia were about women. That compares to around 15.5 per cent in 2014." https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/most-men-wikipedia-editors-push-for-women-b1065337.html

Happy reading and digesting the statistically based information/knowledge above,

best wishes,

Tania Peitzker FeministGlobal (talk) 16:03, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
And out comes the victim card. Oh no everyone is being mean to me because I am a woman. Oh woe is me. Always trying to see the bad in everything. duffbeerforme (talk) 13:05, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Dear Robert

I received an email notification from Wikipedia re a wrong assertions your colleague Duffbeer has made about me. I will respond to that separately. As to my distant associate GreenJeans, he told me he made a clear statement to Wikipedia when he first started writing this article about me (unpaid FYI) ie. he is not a "close connection" and he detailed how he knew (of) me and my work at the very beginning.

Thus you have a clear declaration about any possible Conflict of Interest. Other Wiki eds decided that there was none because they encouraged him to keep rewriting this article after he declared he knew me. That is how he got the selfie photos I gave him because he needed images that were my "own work" re the copyright and Creative Commons. It is my work/photos that I agreed to donate to Wiki Commons via GreenJeans. I hope that puts your concerns to rest.

FYI GreenJeans is new to Wikipedia editing which means there are several rewrites of this article about me. As all the drafts and your criticisms/rejections have been made public on WikiWand, I have been following this "process" and also shown it to many peers in my industry and academic fields (as I am a recognised expert - see the numerous neutral, secondary sources cited by GreenJeans). We are all wanting to see some actual, concrete evidence as to why a number of Wikipedia volunteers keep rejecting the draft for reasons of notability, sourced material, neutral style and encylopedic tone. Perhaps you care to give some specific examples to leaders in the fields of technology and academia, as well as myself and GreenJeans?

You should also be made aware that since this draft was submitted, I have been constantly contacted by scammers and fraudsters who are asking me to hire them to write a Wikipedia article about me. I am very curious to know a) how does this business know what is going on with this draft? b) why do I receive emails from them every time an editor rejects the draft?

Best wishes,

Tania Peitzker. FeministGlobal (talk) 15:49, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:FeministGlobal writes:

I have been constantly contacted by scammers and fraudsters who are asking me to hire them to write a Wikipedia article about me. I am very curious to know a) how does this business know what is going on with this draft? b) why do I receive emails from them every time an editor rejects the draft?

a. Because they have Wikipedia accounts, and the category system in Wikipedia supports a lot of types of queries, including on the status of drafts. b. Because they are scammers and fraudsters. Robert McClenon (talk) 17:01, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"I received an email notification from Wikipedia re a wrong assertions your colleague Duffbeer has made about me." Really? An encyclopedia sent you an email. Wow you must be special. So tell me, what "wrong assertions" did this encyclopedia say I had made? duffbeerforme (talk) 14:00, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Support NOTHERE block The editor says it all for themselves. Chris Troutman (talk) 16:31, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
A CU might help settle this... Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 17:33, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Paloma Aguirre

DianeCastaneda (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Paloma Aguirre (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Draft:Paloma Aguirre (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

The author has, in some edit summaries, referred to Paloma Aguirre as her client. The author created an article about her, which was moved to draft space due to the conflict of interest. It has been submitted for review three times and declined twice. The author has now created an article in article space, and did not declare her conflict of interest in the edit summary. Robert McClenon (talk) 08:55, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, yes had a look at the contribution history. Clear as day, conflict of interest. scope_creep^Talk 13:16, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have PROD'd the article in article space, and declined the draft. Robert McClenon (talk) 17:12, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Project Nimbus

Project Nimbus (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Orenelma (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Editor Orenelma claims to be removing political bias from Project Nimbus but introduces their own bias toward the project, with virtually no references, while doing so. Behavior suggests an external relationship with the subject. –Skywatcher68 (talk) 16:29, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In response to your message, it is important to underscore that my edit is entirely devoid of political content. My contribution focuses exclusively on supplying technical details concerning the project, with all information derived from official sources. I invite you to identify any segment within my edit that could be construed as politically biased. The intention behind my revision is to ensure that the article presents a factual, neutral perspective, centered on the project's technological aspects. This approach aligns with the objective standards of encyclopedic content, aiming to inform readers without swaying them towards any political viewpoint. Orenelma (talk) 16:35, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Orenelma, you appear to have a fundamental misapprehension regarding what Wikipedia is for, and how it works. We do not base articles (any articles) solely on 'official sources', but instead endeavour to describe a subject according to what secondary published reliable sources have to say about it. If such sources include significant amounts of political criticism (or any other negative commentary), our article must include this, to conform with our policies on neutrality. I would strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with relevant Wikipedia policies (WP:RS and WP:NPOV being a good starting point), and then raise any policy-based objections you have to the article on its talk page. AndyTheGrump (talk) 16:48, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In light of the concerns expressed, I would like to clarify that my contributions, including references from official sources, were intended to add substantive knowledge about the project, addressing a gap where the technological aspects and project data were notably absent. My effort was aimed at presenting a more comprehensive view of the project, beyond the scope of criticism, to enhance the article's informational value. Orenelma (talk) 17:03, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Your edits were clearly and unambiguously made in violation of multiple Wikipedia policies. I suggest you self-revert immediately, before you find yourself blocked from editing. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:12, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Given that the article in question clearly falls within the scope of the restrictions per Wikipedia:Contentious topics that cover the Israel Palestine conflict, Orenelma should not currently be editing the article at all. I have placed the appropriate notification on their talk page. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:24, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There appears to be a lack of professionalism if you prioritize political aspects over technical evaluations. Orenelma (talk) 21:30, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Orenelma additionally seems to be using some form of generative chat/large language model to reply, which is not a good sign. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 21:17, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Generative chat? Orenelma (talk) 21:31, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

You sound like ChatGPT - both in your wording choice and the way that ChatGPT responses typically do not engage with the substance of what other people are saying. MrOllie (talk) 21:57, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe they are a human passing the reverse Turing test. The Turing test is for a computer program to successfully imitate a human. The reverse Turing that is for a human to imitate a computer imitating a human. Robert McClenon (talk) 04:49, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:Firewall

Firewall (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This editor has admitted on Wikipedia that they are Robert C. Michelson, a leading American engineer. They have an extensive history of creating and editing articles with which they have a personal/financial COI with. They have subsequently ignored requests to tag either their userpage or the article talk pages per WP:DISCLOSE. The articles are as follows:

Robert C. Michelson (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored this page about himself
Entomopter (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored a page on an invention of his
International Aerial Robotics Competition (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored a page on a competition he founded
William Stuart Michelson (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored a page on his son
The Preserve at Sharp Mountain, Georgia (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored a page (recently deleted at AfD) on an organization he was on the board of directors for.
Pirelli Internetional Award (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs): created and largely authored a page on an award he received.
Numerous edits to pages such as Trail Life USA and Boy Scouts of America, which he/his son have been professionally connected to.

What are the next steps? ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 21:14, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comment The lack of user-page disclosure here is disturbing to me, after creating (and nursing to GA) an article about himself, then more recently creating a blatantly resume-like article about his son, just for starters. Pinging @Materialscientist: who passed the GA on his autobiography back in 2009 and has more expertise in this subject area to see if they have any comment. Thanks Melcous (talk) 22:24, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

IcemanCalvin (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) appears to be connected to William Stuart Michelson, which is now at AfD; they have admitted a connection with the article and yet are still attempting to add promotional content to the page. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 17:32, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I saw that. I was think of opening an SPI. The other editor turned up minutes after I left the message at Editor Firewall talk page, to !vote in the Afd. They are definitely connected. They seems to be upstanding academics who want want to support their mate. scope_creep^Talk 18:01, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Intensive interaction

Intensive interaction (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Intensive Interaction Leeds (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Warned back in November 2023 about COI, they continue to edit Intensive interaction and only that article adding blatanly promotional edits like this and this. ThaddeusSholto (talk) 21:25, 7 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi ThaddeusSholto, thanks for getting in touch. Over the previous few months I have been occasionally trying to 'blatantly' (your words) update the Intensive Interaction Wikipedia page to add both increased detail and accuracy to the current poor quality content - and also add supporting or verifying links/references to the current content (as you will see if you look at what I have done). I am a now retired special education teacher and clinician health specialist (in the UK) for people with intellectual disabilities - hence my interest in and knowledge about the Intensive Interaction approach; an approach I used successfully for over 25 years. As I am now retired, I do not think that I have a conflict of interest in this subject area. More than that, I believe that I am uniquely placed to improve on the current poor quality and outdated information that current makes up the Wikipedia entry on Intensive Interaction - and I now have the time to do so, hence my recent attempts at improving it.

As I said to your colleague previously (but got no reply), I am at a loss to know what I am doing wrong with this. I get messages thanking me for helping whilst at the same time getting messages telling to me desist from doing exactly the same thing. The current description of Intensive Interaction desperately needs updating to a more up-to-date description of the approach - which is what I keep trying to do e.g. Intensive Interaction is not a means of 'teaching', but more accurately a means of 'facilitating learning' - its the learner/participant who does the work! Things have moved on in the terminology used in this field - thank goodness - and I am trying to bring the Wikipedia entry up to date and include more accurate, detailed and useful information; surely you must want that?

I don't really know what to do next? Perhaps you can help me? Intensive Interaction Leeds (talk) 10:20, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

After reading the original notice above I looked at the article under discussion and also the website (linked from the article) of the Intensive Interaction Institute. I wonder if you could confirm a few points simply in terms of establishing some facts.

Under the name that you have given on your talk page you appear on the website of the institute as a trainer.

Much of the article here in its current form appears to be a light rewrite of material which can be found on the institute's website (primarily in the 'Find Out More' section).

The 'further reading'/'additional published literature' sections of the article appear to derive from (or, at the very least, they duplicate) the Bibliography section of the institute's website. A good number of the (30) specialist works cited in these sections of the article were co-written by yourself (and you have listed 12 of them on your talk page).

Are the above points a fair characterisation of the links between yourself, the institute and the article here? (I ask this question without prejudice, simply trying to establish some facts and your thoughts.)

Re: your questions above, personally I think...

(a) the article needs to be re-written so that it doesn't appear to have been cribbed from the institute website,

(b) it should probably be much shorter than at present,

(c) an encyclopaedia article isn't the place for a list of 30 specialist works, it should be replaced (maybe keep 2 or 3 key works) with a link to the institute bibliography,

and (d) the three references cited in the article are insufficient for an article of this length.

However, these sort of issues should properly be discussed at the article talk page.

Contributions from specialists are welcomed in Wikipedia, but there are pitfalls that need to be avoided (including WP:SELFCITE, which could be easily negotiated here by actioning point (c) above). Axad12 (talk) 12:32, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Mytona

Mytona (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Lana Seeker Parker (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Nadezhda Grigoreva (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
RavenhillHiddenMystery (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Rany Roy (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This company's page is edited mostly by employees it seems. Some of the page's editors have already been rightly banned, but there are some stragglers. Lana Seeker Parker is really Lana Parker, a (current/former) community rep for the company (Seeker is a reference to one of their games, Seekers Notes.) Nadezhda Grigoreva is/was also employed by the company. Ravenhill is one of Mytona's games. Also somewhat unrelated, Rany Roy is a crypto scammer that posted his site on the page. poketape (talk) 06:34, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:Faltu Katha (possible upe)

Sarsagun Patrika (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Draft:PetPair (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Faltu Katha (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

It appears that the user Faltu Katha may be an undisclosed paid editor. Initially, they created Sarsagun Patrika and subsequently attempted to remove the AfD tag multiple times. Moreover, they moved Draft:PetPair to the main namespace. Considering that Draft:PetPair was originally created by a user with a conflict of interest, it raises suspicion that user Faltu Katha might have been hired after the submission was declined. A paid warning was left on their user talk page; however, instead of responding, they removed all content from their talk page. Given their lack of response to warnings, it is necessary to address this issue here. Pinging @Wikishovel:, if they want to add anything. GSS ^💬 16:03, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I had the same concerns when I saw the move to main space of the draft, as well as the editor's abrupt blanking of GSS' polite requests for clarification at user talk. Wikishovel (talk) 16:16, 8 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

StandardAero

StandardAero (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
AmandaM2024 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
174.67.126.98 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Likely the same user as both have had identical copyright violations revdel'd. While both have been COI warned by multiple editors, 174.67.126.98 continues to edit StandardAero even after implicitly admitting COI. ThaddeusSholto (talk) 18:08, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Gavin Fields

Gavin Fields (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Brutal Season (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Gradock (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

New editor User:Gradock has explained here at Talk:Gavin Fields their rationale for creating this biography of Gavin Fields, along with a film article connected with Fields. Gradock has created both in apparent good faith, and is attempting to abide by WP:COI guidelines, but there are at least two outstanding problems: the first is that both articles should have been created in draft and submitted through WP:AFC; the second is that copyright permission for the photos mentioned in that talk page discussion above must be sorted out as outlined in WP:IOWN. I'd like to fix these problems in a non-WP:BITE-y way, as the new editor is clearly keen to do things correctly. Could I get some help with this please? Thanks. Wikishovel (talk) 18:44, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Ciner Group

Ciner Group (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
EastThermopolis (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

You say you do not have a conflict of interest but you have mainly edited articles about companies, and sometimes people such as https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Turgay_Ciner&diff=1168434614&oldid=1142808892 about the owner of the company. Also you removed without explaining why info I had added about the company greenhouse gas emissions. Chidgk1 (talk) 19:04, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Chidgk1 You will see I make many edits to articles relating to dozens of companies, all over the world - in various industry sectors. If you're saying: "mainly edited articles about companies", is the proof for your baseless allegation, then before you proceed with this, I would politely ask you provide this discussion with clear and incontrovertible evidence of a CoI on my part. Thank you. Natural justice EastThermopolis (talk) 19:20, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I don’t know anything about you outside of Wikipedia and I have not looked into your edits on other company articles, but the comment for https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ciner_Group&diff=1165795779&oldid=1165014025 merely mentioned adding info but removed a fact (being on the Global Coal Exit List) which might reflect badly on the company Chidgk1 (talk) 19:38, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

For background info - there was a discussion about another article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest/Noticeboard/Archive_188#Farkhad_Akhmedov Chidgk1 (talk) 19:29, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@EastThermopolis: Your edits to this article added press release material. I can see from your user talk page that multiple editors have questioned your apparent conflicts of interest. We do not have to present proof of your conflict, rather you are legally obligated to tell is of your conflicts of interest. The matter has been brought to this noticeboard to crowdsource investigation as you've been opaque on the subject. Chris Troutman (talk) 19:36, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Chris troutman I look forward to putting a robust defence against your baseless CoI allegations / hunches. Thanks for pointing out my legal "obligations". I'm sure therefore, you will want to adhere to the principles of Natural justice, when investigating this matter. Thank you. EastThermopolis (talk) 19:49, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Kevin Sullivan (journalist)

Kevin Sullivan (journalist) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Mary Jordan (journalist) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
Patrickmulholland (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Susanortiz (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Kennelis (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Lisakennedyy (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Both Kevin Sullivan (journalist) and Mary Jordan (journalist) were created by a SPA, Lindsey M Anderson, back in 2011. That account never edited again. Since that time, a series of SPAs only edit these two articles and only to add blatantly promotional material.

Today was the most recent instance when Kennelis made edits to each article. When I reverted them and gave a COI warning, Lisakennedyy was created and duplicated the same edits (compare this and this.)

I created a sockpuppet investigation but I could really use some extra eyes to see what needs to be removed from these two articles. Much of it is completely unsourced. ThaddeusSholto (talk) 20:17, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

After reporting this, Lisakennedyy returned to blank the COI tags on both articles. [6] [7] with an edit summary of "Resolved issues" even though they have done nothing of the kind. ThaddeusSholto (talk) 20:35, 11 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Is it time to make WP:COI a policy?

Just a straw poll at this stage, but it's apparent that the community is becoming increasingly irked by abuse of editing privileges in ways which run counter to the guidance in WP:COI. A recurrent "defense" is that WP:COI is "only" a guideline and this in turn wastes further time in lawyering. Is it time to upgrade to policy? To be clear: this means that abiding by WP:COI will become something the community expects from editors, not just something they "should attempt to follow". Bon courage (talk) 05:21, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

My worry with it being policy is that I feel it is still worded as optional. Wouldn't the same issues arise with an optional policy as arises with an optional guideline? I can still see editors simply saying that it doesn't say that they must disclose, and it says that they are only strongly discouraged from editing affected articles. Perhaps this needs to be in two steps: lock down the requirements and the consequences, and then make it a policy to enforce them? But I suspect that getting consensus on either or both will be a challenge. - Bilby (talk) 07:19, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Madame Tussauds COI

@PedroOReal, WP:COI declared at [8], has been editing several articles in this manner:[9]. Problems include WP:PROPORTION, WP:PUFFERY, WP:PROMO and in some cases [10] WP:ABOUTSELF. Latest edit was about a week ago after they talked with @Diannaa, but their edits [11] are several and should be looked at.

Mentioning a Madame Tussauds figure is not necessarily unreasonable, especially with decent secondary sources, but IMO PedroOReal is overdoing it. And you know, COI. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 09:23, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In response to the concerns raised by @Gråbergs Gråa Sång, I want to clearly state that my edits across Wikipedia have always been guided by a commitment to factual accuracy and adherence to Wikipedia's guidelines and policies. My intention has never been to engage in puffery, promotion, or any behavior that goes against Wikipedia's principles, such as WP:PROPORTION, WP:PUFFERY, and WP:PROMO.

Regarding the specific instance involving @Diannaa, I have taken the feedback seriously and made corrections to ensure that my contributions are in line with Wikipedia's standards. The initial response on my part was driven by a sense of being unfairly targeted, which may have led to a defensive stance. However, I recognize the importance of constructive dialogue and have made efforts to rectify any issues in my contributions accordingly and the information I provided.

The mention of a Madame Tussauds figure in my edits was based on the belief that it was relevant and supported by reliable secondary sources, aiming to enhance the articles' quality and informational value. I understand that the perception of overemphasis might arise, but please rest assured that my goal has been to contribute positively and informatively to Wikipedia.

It is disheartening to experience what feels like an unwarranted critique of my efforts to contribute to Wikipedia. I believe that the community's energy would be better spent fostering a supportive environment where contributors feel encouraged to add value and knowledge to this shared resource. Constructive feedback is always welcome, and I am open to discussions that can help improve the quality of my contributions. However, I also believe in the importance of focusing on collaboration and mutual respect among Wikipedia contributors to maintain the platform's integrity and usefulness. PedroOReal (talk) 09:35, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Your entire editing history has been devoted to adding essentially the same content to multiple articles, all of which is clearly and unambiguously promoting Madame Tussauds, rather than adding to understanding of the article subject. Biographies are about people, not waxworks models. That isn't "in line with Wikipedia's standards". It is entirely contrary to them. AndyTheGrump (talk) 09:49, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@PedroOReal: You to promoting Madame Tussauds at the expense of Wikipedia Terms of Use, which explicity disallows any promotional advertising on this site. You have admited you have WP:coi and your promoting your company. Administration will be along to have chat with you no doubt. Your a net negative to Wikipedia and costing us time and energy to fix it. It doesn't sit well with us. scope_creep^Talk 10:16, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It is disheartening to experience those glib AI-created clichés from PedroOReal above, and I see the same on Diannaa's page. Failure to speak in your own words is disrespectful in itself. I note that the promotion is currently on pause; if it resumes, I will block. Bishonen | tålk 10:27, 12 March 2024 (UTC).[reply]

Hello @AndyTheGrump, @Scope creep, and @Bishonen,

I’ve taken the time to review your comments and the concerns raised regarding my edits on Wikipedia. First, let me be clear: my intent has never been to undermine Wikipedia’s values or to engage in promotional activities. The interpretation that my contributions were solely for the benefit of Madame Tussauds or any other entity is a misunderstanding of my intentions. However, I recognize that perception is as impactful as intention, and for that, I am prepared to reassess my approach to editing.

To the point of my editing history focusing on content related to Madame Tussauds: My interest in these topics was driven by a genuine fascination with cultural landmarks and their influence on public perceptions of notable figures, not by any affiliation or compensation from Madame Tussauds or any other entity. That said, I understand the critical importance of maintaining Wikipedia's neutrality and the high standards expected of contributions to the platform.

Regarding accusations of employing "glib AI-created clichés" or failing to communicate in my own words, I want to clarify that my use of AI tools is solely to enhance my text, leveraging it as the valuable resource it is. My intention has always been to contribute high-quality content to Wikipedia, and incorporating technology is part of modernizing and enriching our shared knowledge base. If this approach has led to misunderstandings about the authenticity of my contributions, I offer my sincere apologies.

It's disheartening to witness the dynamics where individuals seem to rally together to harass or provoke others under the guise of safeguarding the integrity of Wikipedia. While having an IRC channel or any platform for communication can indeed foster camaraderie and facilitate important discussions among contributors, it's crucial that these spaces do not devolve into echo chambers for organizing targeted actions against individuals based on misunderstandings or disagreements. Wikipedia thrives on collaboration, diverse perspectives, and the mutual respect of its contributors. It's essential that we maintain a community spirit that is welcoming, constructive, and focused on the collective goal of enriching this invaluable resource, rather than allowing it to be marred by divisiveness.

Moving forward, I commit to a thorough review and adjustment of my contributions to ensure they align more closely with Wikipedia's standards and expectations. I will also engage more constructively in discussions on talk pages before making edits that could be perceived as contentious.

I appreciate your dedication to preserving the integrity and neutrality of Wikipedia.

I hope we can move past this with a mutual understanding and a shared goal of contributing positively to this invaluable resource. Let’s direct our energies towards enhancing Wikipedia together, rather than dwelling on past misunderstandings.

Thank you for your time and consideration. PedroOReal (talk) 10:51, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)Theroadislong (talk) 09:31, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Erinstewart-REEEP (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Paid editor is adding back promotional content [12] has been asked to suggest edits on talk page but there are WP:CIR issues. Article reads like marketing for the organisation. Theroadislong (talk) 09:31, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This is not correct - the content was there since 2016 and included facts about the organisation. This editor completely deleted the section which I wanted to suggest edits to on the talk page, so I restored it in order to be able to suggest the edits. Erinstewart-REEEP (talk) 10:08, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have added citations all over the page, deleted old text that was no longer correct and have suggested edits to the text to make it more neutral. This editor is now questioning my competence and is ignoring the comments I am leaving him and escalating it elsewhere. This is a case of bullying. Erinstewart-REEEP (talk) 10:16, 12 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@@ Line 662: / Line 662: @@
 :::{{ping|PedroOReal}} You to promoting Madame Tussauds at the expense of Wikipedia Terms of Use, which explicity disallows any promotional advertising on this site. You have admited you have [[WP:coi]] and your [[WP:PROMO|promoting]] your company. Administration will be along to have chat with you no doubt. Your a net negative to Wikipedia and costing us time and energy to fix it. It doesn't sit well with us.  '''<span style="text-shadow:7px 7px 8px black; font-family:Papyrus">[[User:scope_creep|<span style="color:#3399ff">scope_creep</span>]]<sup>[[User talk:scope_creep#top|Talk]]</sup></span>''' 10:16, 12 March 2024 (UTC)
 :::It is disheartening to experience those glib AI-created clichés from [[User:PedroOReal|PedroOReal]] above, and I see the same on Diannaa's page. Failure to speak in your own words is disrespectful in itself. I note that the promotion is currently on pause; if it resumes, I will block. [[User:Bishonen|Bishonen]] &#124; [[User talk:Bishonen|tålk]] 10:27, 12 March 2024 (UTC).
+::::Hello @[[User:AndyTheGrump|AndyTheGrump]], @[[User:Scope creep|Scope creep]], and @[[User:Bishonen|Bishonen]],
+::::I’ve taken the time to review your comments and the concerns raised regarding my edits on Wikipedia. First, let me be clear: my intent has never been to undermine Wikipedia’s values or to engage in promotional activities. The interpretation that my contributions were solely for the benefit of Madame Tussauds or any other entity is a misunderstanding of my intentions. However, I recognize that perception is as impactful as intention, and for that, I am prepared to reassess my approach to editing.
+::::To the point of my editing history focusing on content related to Madame Tussauds: My interest in these topics was driven by a genuine fascination with cultural landmarks and their influence on public perceptions of notable figures, not by any affiliation or compensation from Madame Tussauds or any other entity. That said, I understand the critical importance of maintaining Wikipedia's neutrality and the high standards expected of contributions to the platform.
+::::Regarding accusations of employing "glib AI-created clichés" or failing to communicate in my own words, I want to clarify that my use of AI tools is solely to enhance my text, leveraging it as the valuable resource it is. My intention has always been to contribute high-quality content to Wikipedia, and incorporating technology is part of modernizing and enriching our shared knowledge base. If this approach has led to misunderstandings about the authenticity of my contributions, I offer my sincere apologies.
+::::It's disheartening to witness the dynamics where individuals seem to rally together to harass or provoke others under the guise of safeguarding the integrity of Wikipedia. While having an IRC channel or any platform for communication can indeed foster camaraderie and facilitate important discussions among contributors, it's crucial that these spaces do not devolve into echo chambers for organizing targeted actions against individuals based on misunderstandings or disagreements. Wikipedia thrives on collaboration, diverse perspectives, and the mutual respect of its contributors. It's essential that we maintain a community spirit that is welcoming, constructive, and focused on the collective goal of enriching this invaluable resource, rather than allowing it to be marred by divisiveness.
+::::Moving forward, I commit to a thorough review and adjustment of my contributions to ensure they align more closely with Wikipedia's standards and expectations. I will also engage more constructively in discussions on talk pages before making edits that could be perceived as contentious.
+::::I appreciate your dedication to preserving the integrity and neutrality of Wikipedia.
+::::I hope we can move past this with a mutual understanding and a shared goal of contributing positively to this invaluable resource. Let’s direct our energies towards enhancing Wikipedia together, rather than dwelling on past misunderstandings.
+::::Thank you for your time and consideration. [[User:PedroOReal|PedroOReal]] ([[User talk:PedroOReal|talk]]) 10:51, 12 March 2024 (UTC)
 == Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership ==

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