199.7.159.25

A Barnstar for you!

		The Stub Barnstar
		Hi, just wanting to thank you for consistently making helpful edits which improve Wikipedia, particularly with edits like this. Your contributions are valuable and are always appreciated. Sean Stephens (talk) 07:23, 18 August 2020 (UTC)

@Sean Stephens: You just awarded a barnstar to a sockpuppet of Tbone49/Thatboi99. Ss112 07:20, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

Ss112, I fail to see the relevance here. Yes, the user in question is a sock (which I wasn't aware of until you mentioned it), but that doesn't negate the edits I was praising them for. This was unnecessary. Sean Stephens (talk) 08:32, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

@Sean Stephens: It wasn't "unnecessary". I was letting you know because you obviously didn't. It doesn't matter what edits sockpuppets make—they shouldn't be making them in the first place, and we should actively revert their edits per WP:DENY, which actually does negate their edits. If I'd awarded a barnstar to an IP editor I later discovered was a sockpuppet, I'd rescind the nomination; obviously you don't have the same qualms. That's pretty disappointing. If you find out an editor is a sockpuppet, try being a little less defensive of your retroactive thanks. I guess for that reason, nobody will ever see you reporting editors at WP:SPI and you'll let them carry on their merry way because "their edits were alright". Personally I wouldn't be awarding barnstars to anybody with 40 edits anyway. (Also, the category of barnstar you awarded them has nothing to do with any of their edits, because they didn't expand any or contribute to any stub articles, which is what the Stub Barnstar is intended for.) Ss112 09:42, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

I respectfully disagree, and refute your assertion that "[I] will [n]ever be seen reporting editors at WP:SPI". Don't mistake my praise for him as me condoning the socking allegations; if need be, I will happily provide evidence to support any such investigation. I suggest you be careful and don't try to turn this into something it's not, it's not a good look for you. This is the first time I've encountered a sock; I have never experienced such a thing before, thus I am somewhat unsure how to react.

Additionally, in regards to your statement "I wouldn't be awarding barnstars to anybody with 40 edits anyway", I feel it's important to note that how one editor spends his time on Wikipedia (within guidelines) is entirely up to them and thus I have no need to justify it. I expect that you respect any contributions I make, in the same way I do yours. Whilst I appreciate you letting me know that this IP was a sock, I don't, however, appreciate the tone in which your message was written – which is what I was refuting. My point was this:

Socking is bad, yes, and I can assure I will definitely call it out if I see it, but the edits made were in good faith, which is what I was praising. Tbone's contributions, IP or not, socking aside, I have almost always found to be helpful.

In regards to the incorrect barnstar use, I intended to copy a different barnstar template, but evidently copied the wrong one. Simple mistake to make I guess.

Regardless, this is not the correct place nor the correct context to have this discussion. If need be, discuss it further at my talk page, which you have visited numerous times before. (Note: I've given you the benefit of the doubt and striked the text out, I agree with certain parts of the point you made and came to the conclusion it was necessary. I wish to apologize for the long message also, it got away from me).

– Sean Stephens (talk) 10:52, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

@Sean Stephens: I suggest you be careful and don't try to turn this into something it's not, it's not a good look for you I don't know why you're attempting to issue veiled threats to me as if I've said something entirely remiss here and like I could face unforeseen consequences because of it. That's not a good look for anybody to say, and it's also not a good look to immediately jump to the defensive in cases like this either. You probably could have left that part out. It is a positive step that you struck out your comment and have said you wouldn't condone sockpuppet edits. I admit my tone hasn't been the nicest, but try to take some advice from editors more experienced than yourself in future without first lashing out at the editor trying to give it and issuing weird veiled threats. I'm done here, regardless of any further replies. I would not split a discussion on this topic between this talk page and yours even if I had any further things to say—threads like this should be kept in one place. Thank you. Ss112 11:52, 19 August 2020 (UTC)

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