User talk:EPIC

Welcome to EPIC's talk page!

Post new topics at the bottom of the page. Don't forget to sign your posts with four tildes. (~~~~) It is fine to post criticism or in any other way criticise me. I like criticism as it is a wonderful way of knowing what I should improve, but be aware of the etiquette. Watch your language, and no personal attacks. If you are replying in an ongoing discussion, indent your comments with ":" If you post me a message here, most of the time I will answer you here and not on your own talk page. Therefore, a tip is to watch this talkpage until I have answered you. Regarding emails I will choose myself whether I should answer them. Most of them are answered on this page, unless it does not regard a more private nature. I have some understanding of other languages, but my knowledge of writing or speaking them are too low for me to be able to hold conversations in them. If you post a message in Swedish I will likely answer you in Swedish, but otherwise other than English I'm likely not going to answer you in a different language. ⇒ Click here to start a new discussion.

Archives 2019-2023 2024

Welcome to Meta!

Hello, EPIC. Welcome to the Wikimedia Meta-Wiki! This website is for coordinating and discussing all Wikimedia projects. You may find it useful to read our policy page. If you are interested in doing translations, visit Meta:Babylon. You can also leave a note on Meta:Babel or Wikimedia Forum if you need help with something (please read the instructions at the top of the page before posting there). Happy editing!

Removal of Permissions

I've contacted you before. We have a user at English WN (TUFKAAP) -- voted to have his sysop/admin. privs removed -- I am an Admin and Bureaucrat there. Can you take that action for us, please? Bddpaux (talk) 15:45, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

@Bddpaux: Hi, local bureaucrats on the English Wikinews are able to remove sysop rights. Have you tried contacting one of them first? EPIC (talk) 15:50, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Did you realise that @Bddpaux: is a bureaucrat himself - so he can remove it yourself via wikinews:Special:UserRights. Leaderboard (talk) 17:28, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

@Leaderboard: Bddpaux is actually not a bureaucrat at enwikinews anymore - they resigned that role in October last year [1]. That is why I directed them to one of the other three bureaucrats. EPIC (talk) 17:30, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Oh apologies; he said above that he was. Leaderboard (talk) 18:26, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Actually: You're right! I most certainly did! Brain cramp! How can I get Bureaucrat back?--Bddpaux (talk) 19:41, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

@Bddpaux: Hi, I do not know if this applies to the English Wikinews, but some wikis have a system where if you resigned your user rights uncontroversially and in good standing, you can request your rights back. If this is not the case at enwikinews, what you will have to do is submit a new candidacy for bureaucratship. EPIC (talk) 20:24, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

Yes. Right. Yes. Problem is: Our 3 'crats are pretty much in the wind at present. That is the sticky wicket. I am trying to put some kind of infrastructure back together again, if possible. I have been voted to become a CU (as we are hurting for CU's)... but I think I should get 'crat back and then worry about CU. See? And, for the record: there was no controversy -- I just retired, and now am trying to UNretire. So: Can you turn on a switch or two?--Bddpaux (talk) 22:44, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

@Bddpaux: Well, I also noted their inactivity, but to begin with, you should try contacting them. For example, Gryllida edited globally a little over a month ago, so that might be a hope. In the case a new bureaucrat candidacy will still be required, we would also leave that to local bureaucrats first, but it can be processed by us in the case that the local bureaucrats do not respond, as long as it meets the general voting criteria. So, yes, try to reach the crats first (and perhaps also send an email notification about it to one of them, which a lot of the time does give a quicker response time even if they are less active). EPIC (talk) 01:02, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

Check User at English WN

So: Can you take action on my CU nomination, please? Hopefully, my 'Crat nomination will move quickly.--Bddpaux (talk) 21:27, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Hi again! Well, as per the global CheckUser policy, the vote will need to reach at least 25 votes for us to be able to action on it (which can be a bit difficult, but, sadly, it is the policy). EPIC (talk) 21:30, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

For the love of Holy God -- there aren't 25 people within 700 miles of English WN on a yearly basis who would even comprehend voting! Again: Our are pretty much COMPLETELY in the wind. There has to be some kind of work around. 25 is ABSURD for a project our size.--Bddpaux (talk) 15:02, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

The policy has a high requirement since it's a sensitive right (and the same requirement is mentioned in the local policy for appointing CUs), but I too agree that 25 votes can be somewhat too high (which is why multiple wikis have had trouble being able to appoint local CUs :/). However, the two CU candidates in 2021 did manage to get 25 votes, so it's not completely hopeless either, and it might be easier now that it is in the sitenotice (and advertised at the water cooler too, I assume). EPIC (talk) 15:14, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Reasons

So, you are comfortably aware of the kerfuffle at English Wikinews. My words have absolutely been an incendiary component within that whole mess, no doubt. I am passionate about Citizen journalism and have given many years to that project. I've done some notable soul searching over the past 18 hours or so. This week, I've been accused of all manner on non-sensical stuff (novel news to me), including various forms of weirdness about some of my edit summaries (I write the most boring edit summaries to be found anywhere, when I actually write them); it is a sizable bunch of oddness. Since about December 1st, the vandalism at that project has been an exhausting tsunami (you may've worked some magic recently to help out with that, not sure) and have sought to encourage and maybe develop some reporters/Reviewers when/if/where I could. This has impacted my mood as far as interacting with others, and I suspect maybe even my blood pressure: that is utter madness for a volunteer wiki. I acted a bit too quickly on an RfP -- I did. Things could've been worked on/tweaked, but my action was utterly overruled. It takes hardly a light wind to run people away from that project, and I got a little too excited that someone wanted to hang out for longer that 2 hours.
A little time and a little distance can often be good medicine. I talk about how much I value Citizen journalism. My behavior needs to show that, or else I'm just a cheap hypocrite. There are some people there who show up, pot stir a wee bit, behave in an oppositional manner and then aren't seen again for 3 weeks. All these things lumped together, lead me to this: You guys huddle up(heck, you're a Steward -- you are essentially Darth Vader around here), and do whatever it is you deem appropriate. My current RfP's? Whatevs. Do as thou wilt. User George Ho has literally launched a counter-campaign on those -- I mean burning the midnight oil to work against me(I'm telling you: that dude breaks more than he fixes). I'm not retiring. I'm not quitting. I'm not vanishing. But: I am entering a period of self-exile. To that end:
*Between this moment, and the end of December, I may offer about 40 key strokes over there (aggregate) -- but no more. I need some distance to figure out where I am and where that project will land.
*During that time, as an Administrator, I might zap a few 'speedy delete' articles, but no other actions whatsoever. For 52 weeks from today, I will not push a single button (comments or otherwise) for one single RfP -- not a single one -- those will be a no-fly zone for me.
*For the remainder of this year, I will not offer a single word (vote, comment or otherwise) about policies, or attempt to bring in old users or anything like that; over here OR over there. I received some bizarre and strange criticisms in that department, let me tell you.
My mentoring as a new Administrator (quite some time back) spanned about 10 seconds. Generally, my interest in 'Crat or CU is just simply because they are so darned difficult to find over there -- nothing more. During my exile, people there can call me a vegetarian pirate and I will not respond. That is unusual for me. Generally I do NOT lie down when people disparage my words or actions -- and 2 users there have sprained their ankles this week to do that very thing: and I didn't leave it untouched. -- but I will for the rest of this year.
If you want to comment here -- please do so! I won't say anything ugly to you -- I won't. Heck, you're probably one of the most innocent parties involved in this! Thanks for your time. I'll see you down the road.--Bddpaux (talk) 15:28, 1 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi again - I did note what happened but I don't know this whole story. That is why I did not change my vote, but rather that I needed more time to think about it. EPIC (talk) 15:47, 1 June 2024 (UTC)

It is critical that I dont paint myself as an angel —- I wasn’t. But this has proven to me that, at WMF projects, one can be “mean and bad”, without being “wrong”. User George Ho is, with surgical precision, engaged in a counter campaign against my RfP’s. He tosses words like ‘civility’ around, while strolling about with 2 gallons of gasoline and a blowtorch. He most probably isn’t violating policy per se, but he has destruction in his eyes, I promise. I mean: I would bet he is the kind of guy who brings a handful of darts to a hanging. I see what defense lawyers mean when they use the term, “charge stacking”. It is largely wicked when one considers how little he HAS EVER DONE to push a broom or a mop around that project. The egalatarianism at WMF projects doubles as poison. It is demoralizing at a basic level.—Bddpaux (talk) 21:38, 1 June 2024 (UTC)

Retired user

Hi, I'm from Portuguese Wiki, and don't speak English...

Please, insert the {{Retired}} in user:Lcarsdata? Since 2009 this user don't edit, but informe he's "Commons administrator"...

Tks André Koehne (talk) 14:19, 2 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi - most of the time we leave placing retirement templates to the users themselves, if they want to make it clear they have retired. EPIC (talk) 14:21, 2 June 2024 (UTC)

I need help

I responded on Wikipedia Tiếng Việt but was banned, maybe by mistake. Please help me. Henrydat (talk) 14:37, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi - stewards do not have any special authority in other projects, and what would be the best thing would be to contact the administrators at viwiki about the issue. EPIC (talk) 14:39, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi EPIC

You locked global the User:AdmiralDonSchneider with the notice "Cross-wiki abuse: CommanderInDubio". Do you have please any concrete facts? In the German CU have been made some wrong conclusions, they write there "probably". "Probably" is no reason to ban or lock. By the way the user has no edits. As a bureaucrat on sourceswiki and formerly admin in some more projects I know the matter a bit. Cheers. Answer pls here or at sourceswiki. -jkb- 20:30, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi -jkb-, I locked AdmiralDonSchneider and DerWizzard after CommanderInDubio was locked, based on the CU results at dewiki which had indicated that both accounts were likely operated by CID. I had not seen any concerns about the results possibly being incorrect when I had locked, but in the case scenario they are not related I wouldn't have any problems with unlocking them. EPIC (talk) 20:48, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

There are no „wrong conclusions“ and they didn't write „probably“. They are certain (as certain as CU can be) that AdmiralDonSchneider and DerWizzard are related to each other. And they say it's "very likely" (not just „probable“) these accounts are sockpuppets of CID, based on the technical evidence, the abusive mails (which have been turned over to stewards as well) and the editing behaviour of DerWizzard, all of which leads to no other likely explanation rather than them being sockpuppets of CID. There is extensive documentation regarding the technical evidence on CU wiki, which dewiki CU and stewards have looked at.

And regarding AdmiralDonSchneider having no edits: The account was involved in an abusive mail + crosswiki sock puppetry and has already been blocked at dewiki -> more than enough reason for global locking. Johannnes89 (talk) 21:11, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi Johannnes89, I didn't ask you anything. -jkb- 21:15, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

As the responsible check user I can confirm that Johannes' remarks are correct. - Squasher (talk) 21:33, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi -jkb-, I'm a bit confused as to why you're standing up for CID here after he put you on CC in his harassing mails and you actually know exactly why the lock is appropriate here. --Icodense (talk) 22:03, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Hello

Good day, can I patrol epic ota, thank you in advance. @EPIC Selamiben (talk) 15:21, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Huh, what do you mean? EPIC (talk) 15:23, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Autopatrollers I meant it @EPIC Selamiben (talk) 15:25, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

It's still not too clear to me what you want to say. I assume you are requesting autopatrol rights? For the most part they are not given on request but rather mostly sua sponte by administrators. However, you can still try making a request at Meta:RfH. EPIC (talk) 15:37, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Yes, I request auto patrol, I made a request on the page. @EPIC Selamiben (talk) 15:48, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

@Selamiben: autopatroller only affects your ability to edit in a very marginal way and not in the way you probably think. What's your specific reason for requesting autopatroller rights? --SHB2000 (t • c) 12:43, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

I don't have any special reason @SHB2000 Selamiben (talk) 12:48, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Welp, you've explained for yourself why that request on RfH was declined. SHB2000 (t • c) 12:55, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

MidAtlanticBaby

Hey Epic, you blocked one of their socks, globally--I don't know if you're a CU, but it is probably a good idea to hardblock their IPv6 /64 range. Thanks! Drmies (talk) 15:23, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi, indeed I have CU at loginwiki but unfortunately most accounts I found were already staled there (they had used old sleepers). However I had gblocked one of the /64 ranges they used, which I assume is the same range that you are referring to here. EPIC (talk) 15:35, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Hey EPIC--this guy showed up again, but through the French wiki: User:IEditArticlesAboutMusic. I can't tell if your global block of that range was a hardblock--maybe they used a different IP? There was one regular IP in the list I saw, so maybe they do get out of the house sometimes. Would you mind having a look again? Thanks! Drmies (talk) 16:37, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Never mind--I see you already blocked a range. Thanks! Drmies (talk) 16:46, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

No problem. It was a softblock, yes (since it was a big range), but it expired today. Reblocked it and locked another sock I just found. EPIC (talk) 16:51, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Help

Hello, I applied for the Epic Global Blocking Exemption. Can you review? I can't edit this. Selamiben (talk) 11:19, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Your request will be soon be reviewed by a steward. EPIC (talk) 11:25, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

I don’t really know why my IP adress was blocked

Hello I am writing this because recently, when I wanted to see if I can edit articles, I noticed that I am globally IP blocked to 2025 for something called “Long-term abuse” (don’t really know what this means). Maybe I actually did something wrong, I don’t say I’m holy but the notification didn’t show me what did I write or what page did I edit that I’ve got banned. I just don’t know for what actual reason I am blocked. I just want to know that’s it. I really hope that You will reply to my question, thanks for taking time and reading this! MrPenguinzzz (talk) 15:40, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi, I don't know what IP or range you are editing from. In either case, please email us at stewardswikimediaorg with more information and we will assist you. EPIC (talk) 15:42, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Okay, thank you! MrPenguinzzz (talk) 17:43, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

FYI: ticket:2024062010009273 (currently pending customer). — xaosflux ^Talk 18:22, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

w:User_talk:POSSUM_chowg#June_2024

You may be interested in that discussion about your "unlock under ONESTRIKE". Liuxinyu970226 (talk) 01:11, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

Anyway, shouldn't you consider Steward_requests/Global#Global_lock_for_Genggi_Tetomu to be re-opened? There are potentially new evidences to support my "lock evasion" claim. Liuxinyu970226 (talk) 11:44, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

I've taken a second look, but I'm still not entirely sure whether this actually indicates lock evasion. EPIC (talk) 12:54, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

Again EPIC if my sock is locked can I contribute using my main account Exphainet? The policy is not clear at all. 14.170.194.78 14:47, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

Nope - if your account is locked you simply have to appeal by emailing us at stewards-appealswikimediaorg. Using another account to circumvent the lock is lock evasion. EPIC (talk) 14:49, 23 June 2024 (UTC)

aihi

Sorry, I added two while you were confirming :) --Mtarch11 (talk) 05:36, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

Thanks and no problem, just locked those as well. EPIC (talk) 05:40, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

I need help

Hello, @EPIC I am trying to apply for VRT but I cannot submit the application. Can you help me? Ben Selami 🌍🇹🇷 Vay canına 18:44, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

I would say it is still a bit too early, but when you want to try you will need to follow the instructions at Volunteer Response Team/Volunteering. EPIC (talk) 18:46, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

I can't post it here, I completed everything but it can't be posted. Ben Selami 🌍🇹🇷 Vay canına 18:48, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

I don't know what the error was so I can't really help you, but like I mentioned I would still advise you to wait. EPIC (talk) 19:01, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

Reply button

The reply suddenly disappeared and I need to manually source edit to reply. Could you please help me?--Cactus🌵 ^{spiky ouch} 12:13, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

Might have just been a regular glitch perhaps? But I don't know what to help you with if the reply was already posted. EPIC (talk) 12:18, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

No problem, an admin helped me. Thanks anyway Cactus🌵 ^{spiky ouch} 12:34, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

Global lock for Assifbus

Hello, EPIC, User:Assifbus was blocked by the sysop of Chinese Wikipedia, Chinese Wikinews as well as English Wikipedia due to long-term abuse, would you please lock the account? I am a new user(not autopatrolled) in Meta Wiki and don't really know how to submit a request, thank you!--Allervous（Talk） 08:04, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

I would generally say that TwinkleGlobal is the best to use for reporting to SRG, although regarding the specific user you are mentioning, given what has already been said on the last SRG requests for the same user I would recommend opening a request for a global ban instead. EPIC (talk) 09:37, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Special:AbuseFilter/345

This filter seems to have some false positives. Can you address this issue? Thanks. —MdsShakil (talk) 12:37, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Any help is always appreciated, this likely happened to a temporary measure of mine since this situation had been going overboard recently. It seems like they have mostly moved their bother to Discord instead, so I will go ahead and re-edit the filter shortly. EPIC (talk) 12:46, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

ChanComThemPho

After some investigation, I believe that - is ChanComThemPho's main IP range. You should do some checkuser on the IP range to catch sleeper accounts. I've blocked hundreds of his socks over many years. Thanks! Nguyentrongphu (talk) 00:52, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, just did, and locked the accounts where the UA matched since it's a big range. EPIC (talk) 01:01, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

What does UA stand for? Thanks! Nguyentrongphu (talk) 04:05, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Oh, sorry for being a little unclear, UA means user agent. EPIC (talk) 04:43, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Reminder to vote now to ratify the Wikimedia Movement Charter

You can find this message translated into additional languages on Meta-wiki. Please help translate to your language

Dear Wikimedian,

You are receiving this message because you previously voted in the 2021 Movement Charter Drafting Committee (MCDC) election.

This is a reminder that if you have not voted yet on the ratification of the final Wikimedia Movement Charter draft, please do so by July 9, 2024 at 23:59 UTC.

You can read the final text of the Wikimedia Movement Charter in your language. Following that, check on whether you are eligible to vote. If you are eligible, cast your vote on SecurePoll.

On behalf of the Charter Electoral Commission,

RamzyM (WMF) 15:24, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Your RfCU

Hello EPIC, your RfCU has been closed successful, welcome to the checkuser team. Processing of your access has been requested at at SRP. — xaosflux ^Talk 10:48, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for all the support, I hope to do my best! Assuming no further complimentary accesses are to be handled (since I'm already subscribed to checkuser-l). EPIC (talk) 10:53, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

That should be it, we don't have a local VRT queue or mailing list. You should watchlist Meta:Requests for CheckUser information (which is very low volume), and if you don't already you may want to patrol Category:Requests for unblock. Best regards, — xaosflux ^Talk 11:03, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, going ahead and adding that one to the watchlist. EPIC (talk) 11:27, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

Global blocking request

Hello, because the Steward requests/Global page is protected, I could not submit my request there, so I entered the conversation directly with you. Please globally block the following accounts that are user socks "S-M-T-AA (talk · contribs)". These accounts have been identified and closed in Persian Wikipedia.

• Haft Sabz (talk · contribs)
• Linclinc7373 (talk · contribs)

CaesarIran (talk) 11:18, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Done for Haft Sabz, pending with Linclinc7373 since that one doesn't seem to be blocked at fawiki. Note that you can place requests for global lock on Talk:Steward requests/Global, which will then be moved to Steward requests/Global. EPIC (talk) 11:41, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Please check your e-mail

Thank you very much for your attention. MathXplore (talk) 13:55, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, checked and replied. EPIC (talk) 13:58, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Potential Sock of Jefferyhhh

Hello EPIC,

Local user Jefferyqqq has recently submitted an unblock request. Some users have pointed out that their username is very similar to Jefferyhhh and Jefferymmm, both of which you have locked. Please perform a check if possible to determine the relationship between Jefferyhhh and the two users listed prior. As a local SPI clerk and admin, I recognize that this request is a bit informal, but I still think it deserves to be looked after. $\int$（☎） 22:13, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, I will look into it in a while. EPIC (talk) 22:14, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

@ATannedBurger: Just took a look through LWCU and they are  Confirmed to the two others, along with multiple sleepers. All related accounts locked, and the unblock request can be declined. EPIC (talk) 22:41, 12 July 2024 (UTC)