User:NinjaRobotPirate/Identifying sock puppets

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Types of new users[edit]

New editors generally come in a few broad archetypes. Among others, these include sock puppets, overly enthusiastic younger editors, clueless newbies, spammers, college students, and nerds. Spammers and sock puppets should be indefinitely blocked. Overly enthusiastic younger editors should be coached or mentored if they become a pain. Clueless newbies should be assisted or perhaps directed to the Teahouse. College students should have institutional help but may need direction to on-wiki sources of help. Nerds come in many different varieties, including scientists, academics, and IT workers. They are generally the opposite of a clueless newbie and may draw suspicion because they don't act clueless enough.

Differentiating between various types of new editors
Action Sock Child Newbie Spammer Student Nerd
Acts like a bossy know-it-all Yes Maybe[a] No No No Maybe
Indignant at being treated like a newbie Yes No No No No Yes
Repeatedly requests advanced permissions Yes Yes Yes Maybe[b] Yes Yes
Installs user scripts and gadgets Yes Rarely[c] No Rarely[b] No Yes
Gaming autoconfirmed Yes Yes[a] Rarely Yes No No
Gaming extended confirmed Yes Rarely[a] Rarely Yes No No
Goes directly to a drama board Yes Yes Rarely[d] No No No
Instant drama with established editor Yes Yes Rarely[e] No No No
User page is a rant Yes Yes[f] No[g] No No Rarely[h]
Cluttered userpage with lots of userboxes Yes Yes Maybe No Rarely No
User page copies an established editor Yes Yes[a] Rarely No No No
Repeated clueless posts to project space Yes Yes Maybe No No No
Immediate barnstar from another newbie Yes Yes Maybe No Yes No
First edit is to vote at AfD Yes No Rarely[i] Yes No Yes
Votes at RFA or major RFCs Yes Maybe[j] Rarely[j] No Rarely[j] Rarely[j]
First edit is to declare, "I'm not a sock" Yes Yes[a] No No No No
Edits policy pages, complex templates, etc Yes Maybe No[k] No No Yes
Excessive interest in sock puppetry cases Yes Yes No No No Rarely[l]
Recreates deleted articles Yes Rarely[a] Rarely[m] Yes Yes[m] Yes[m]
Creates inappropriate articles Yes Maybe Yes Yes Yes Maybe
Moves bad articles out of draft space Yes Yes Rarely Yes No No
Promo or U5 content in sandbox Yes Yes Maybe Yes No No
Requests creation protection be removed Yes No Rarely[m] Yes Rarely[m] Rarely[m]
Complains about filters, blacklists, etc. Yes No Rarely[n] Yes Rarely[n] No
Confirmed to many accounts Yes Maybe[o] Maybe[p] Yes Yes Maybe[q]
Action Sock Child Newbie Spammer Student Nerd
  1. ^ a b c d e f children do random things for no discernible reason
  2. ^ a b mostly limited to creating articles, new page patrol, or AFC
  3. ^ the most enthusiastic ones will, but most won't
  4. ^ it does happen...
  5. ^ when very clueless newbies meet very irritable regulars
  6. ^ mostly limited to ranting about forums, parents, etc
  7. ^ only if they've been bitten
  8. ^ nerd rage...
  9. ^ generally indicative of having been canvassed off-site
  10. ^ a b c d remember, this stuff is advertised at WP:CENT
  11. ^ not intentionally, though some clueless editors may end up in the wrong namespace
  12. ^ mostly limited to computer security nerds
  13. ^ a b c d e f on legit topics
  14. ^ a b see Scunthorpe problem
  15. ^ siblings, classmates, alternate accounts, multiple clean starts, etc
  16. ^ especially if it's an editathon
  17. ^ if editing from work
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