Pharyngula Wiki
Register
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
===You're Not Helping===
 
===You're Not Helping===
   
In 2010, a particular nasty and dishonest blog, aimed at the New Atheists, made its debut. The blog always referred to itself in the plural, and seemingly attracted a loyal following. It attracted [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2010/cue-twilight-zone-music speculation from Ophelia Benson] that many of the posters were sockpuppets, but nothing could be proven. Unfortunately, Benson made the mistake of attributing the site to a commenter known as Kees, who although a nasty little weirdo in his own right, was completely unconnected.
+
In 2010, a particular nasty and dishonest blog, aimed at the New [[Atheist]]s, made its debut. The blog always referred to itself in the plural, and seemingly attracted a loyal following. It attracted [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2010/cue-twilight-zone-music speculation from Ophelia Benson] that many of the posters were sockpuppets, but nothing could be proven. Unfortunately, Benson made the mistake of attributing the site to a commenter known as Kees, who (although a nasty little weirdo in his own right) was completely unconnected.
   
 
===Downfall===
 
===Downfall===
   
In May, the blogger Oedipus Maximus, who was somewhat sympathetic to YNH's aims, [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/poor-bitter-ophelia-benson-is-forever-the-victim/#comment-1016 criticised a personal attack] on Ophelia Benson. Predictably, his posts were subjected to a storm of derision by the sockpuppet army, and he was quickly banned. In June, he wrote an [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/ article describing this encounter]. This article became the focal point of the saga, and eventually saw 17 updates and 873 comments.
+
In May, the blogger Oedipus Maximus, who was somewhat sympathetic to YNH's aims, [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/poor-bitter-ophelia-benson-is-forever-the-victim/#comment-1016 criticised a personal attack] on Ophelia Benson. Predictably, his posts were subjected to a storm of derision by the sockpuppet army, and he was quickly banned. In June, he wrote an [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/ article describing this encounter]. This article became the stage for YNH's downfall, during which it received 17 updates and 873 comments.
   
To start with, Wally responded by [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/whats-up-with-oedipus-maximus/ by falsely accusing Oedipus Maximus] of various crimes, including sockpuppetry and "spamming several other blogs". This second accusation was suspiciously similar to [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/the-new-martyrs/#comment-1547 a comment made by the user Milton C.], effectively outing him as a sockpuppet. A far more revealing mistake occurred six days later, when Wally [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/sins-of-omission-and-begging-the-conspiracy-question/ muddled up the sockpuppets Polly-O! and Brandon]. Eventually, Wally replaced the blog with a [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/ynh_closet.html whiny blame-avoiding pseudoapology], and then removed it entirely.
+
To start with, Wally [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/whats-up-with-oedipus-maximus/ falsely accused Oedipus Maximus] of various crimes, including sockpuppetry and "spamming several other blogs". This second accusation was suspiciously similar to [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/the-new-martyrs/#comment-1547 a comment made by the user Milton C.], effectively outing him as a sockpuppet. A far more revealing mistake occurred six days later, when Wally [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/sins-of-omission-and-begging-the-conspiracy-question/ muddled up the sockpuppets Polly-O! and Brandon]. He attempted to control the damage, by getting Polly-O! to declare that the suspicious comments were posted by an imposter. When this failed, YNH announced that Brandon and Polly-O! were indeed aliases of the single user, and "banned" them. This also failed to convince anyone.
   
  +
Eventually, Wally replaced the blog with a [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/ynh_closet.html whiny blame-avoiding pseudoapology]. Using the name "William", he admitted to being both Brandon and Polly-O!, and also admitted to posting under the name "Patricia". Shortly afterwards, he removed the site entirely, and offered a [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-374 seemingly contrite apology]. This apology, together with [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-480 a second post], revealed the names of many more (but far from all) of Wally's sockpuppets.
===Tom Johnson===
 
   
 
===Tom Johnson===
As Wally's sockpuppet network unravelled, [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/07/holy_crap_we_were_all_played.php it was revealed] that he was also behind the [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/10/22/exhibit/ "Tom Johnson" story], as trumpeted by the ever-gullible pseudojournalist Chris Mooney on his [[The Intersection|Intersection]] blog. According to his story, Christians at a nature conservation event were mocked and ridiculed by the wicked New Atheists. Although this never happened, the lies were based around a real conservation event, which Wally had attended in a professional capacity. This got Wally into trouble with his graduate advisor, and so using the alias "William", he offered a [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-374 seemingly contrite apology].
 
  +
    ''See also [[The Intersection]]''
   
It was also revealed that Wally's sockpuppets were producing a substantial fraction of the Intersection comments. This included [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/10/26/my-thanks-to-tom-johnson/ attacks on people] who dared to point out how ridiculous the Tom Johnson story was.
+
As You're Not Helping unravelled, [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/07/holy_crap_we_were_all_played.php it was revealed] that Wally was also behind the [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/10/22/exhibit/ "Tom Johnson" story], as trumpeted by the ever-gullible pseudojournalist Chris Mooney on his [[The Intersection|Intersection]] blog. According to this story, religious people at a nature conservation event were mocked and ridiculed by the wicked [[New Atheists]]. Although this never happened, the lies were based around a real conservation event, which Wally had attended in a professional capacity. This apparently got Wally into trouble with his graduate advisor. It also became apparent that these sockpuppets had been producing a substantial fraction of the Intersection's comments, including [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/10/26/my-thanks-to-tom-johnson/ attacks on people] who dared to point out how ridiculous the Tom Johnson story was.
   
===Outing===
+
===Return and outing===
   
After You're Not Helping collapsed, Wally's identity was largely kept secret, in return for him ceasing his activities. <ref>Hypothesis: Wally looks like the type of person who is addicted to a type of Internet activity and can't easily stop himself.</ref>
+
After You're Not Helping collapsed, Wally's identity was largely kept secret, in return for him ceasing his activities. For some time, this deal appeared to be holding, but then Ophelia Benson [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/and-then-a-stranger-rode-into-town/ started to become suspicious] of a poster named "Hammill", who would follow her and Jerry Coyne around the internet, posting malicious lies. A month later, [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/the-prodigal-returns/ she obtained proof] that "Hammill" was indeed Wally, and [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/hammill-the-prodigal/ outed him].
For some time, this deal appeared to be holding, but then Ophelia Benson [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/and-then-a-stranger-rode-into-town/ started to become suspicious] of a poster named "Hammill", who would follow her and Jerry Coyne around the internet, posting malicious lies. A month later, [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/the-prodigal-returns/ she obtained proof] that "Hammill" was indeed Wally, and [http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/hammill-the-prodigal/ outed him].
 
   
 
==List of sockpuppets==
 
==List of sockpuppets==
Line 32: Line 32:
 
===Directly Admitted===
 
===Directly Admitted===
   
(Confessions made [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-480 here] and [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-526 here].)
+
(Confessions made [http://mirror.elsewhere.org/yourenothelping.wordpress.com/ynh_closet.html here], [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-480 here] and [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-526 here].)
 
* Bilbo (One of several people to use this name on [[Pharyngula]].)
 
* Bilbo (One of several people to use this name on [[Pharyngula]].)
  +
* Brandon
 
* Milton C.
 
* Milton C.
 
* Patricia
 
* Patricia
Line 45: Line 46:
 
===Confirmed===
 
===Confirmed===
   
* Brandon (Observed to be [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-122 using the same IP address] as admitted sockpuppet "Polly-O!".)
 
 
* Hammill ([http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/the-prodigal-returns/ Caught out] by Ophelia Benson.)
 
* Hammill ([http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/the-prodigal-returns/ Caught out] by Ophelia Benson.)
 
* Michael L. Thomas (A post under the name of admitted sockpuppet "Milton C." [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-290 was five weeks later edited] to give it this name.)
 
* Michael L. Thomas (A post under the name of admitted sockpuppet "Milton C." [http://thebuddhaisnotserious.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-curious-case-of-the-youre-not-helping-blog/#comment-290 was five weeks later edited] to give it this name.)

Latest revision as of 09:05, 9 September 2012

You're Not Helping was a group blog (mirror available here) which largely consisted of people whinging and whining and wailing about how disgusting and repulsive the New Atheists were. Their declared enemies included PZ Myers, Jerry Coyne, Greg Laden and Ophelia Benson. The words "group", "people" and "their" should not be taken literally, as in June 2010 it emerged that the entire membership was in fact a network of sockpuppets operated by a lone individual, later outed as Walter "Wally" Smith.

Wally Smith

At the time of the You're Not Helping debacle, Walter Smith was a graduate student at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He is now an instructor of biology at The University of Virginia's College at Wise. He once had a fairly substantial web presence, but nuked most of it after being outed. Remnants include a conservation blog and fragments of his painfully bad poetry.

The saga

You're Not Helping

In 2010, a particular nasty and dishonest blog, aimed at the New Atheists, made its debut. The blog always referred to itself in the plural, and seemingly attracted a loyal following. It attracted speculation from Ophelia Benson that many of the posters were sockpuppets, but nothing could be proven. Unfortunately, Benson made the mistake of attributing the site to a commenter known as Kees, who (although a nasty little weirdo in his own right) was completely unconnected.

Downfall

In May, the blogger Oedipus Maximus, who was somewhat sympathetic to YNH's aims, criticised a personal attack on Ophelia Benson. Predictably, his posts were subjected to a storm of derision by the sockpuppet army, and he was quickly banned. In June, he wrote an article describing this encounter. This article became the stage for YNH's downfall, during which it received 17 updates and 873 comments.

To start with, Wally falsely accused Oedipus Maximus of various crimes, including sockpuppetry and "spamming several other blogs". This second accusation was suspiciously similar to a comment made by the user Milton C., effectively outing him as a sockpuppet. A far more revealing mistake occurred six days later, when Wally muddled up the sockpuppets Polly-O! and Brandon. He attempted to control the damage, by getting Polly-O! to declare that the suspicious comments were posted by an imposter. When this failed, YNH announced that Brandon and Polly-O! were indeed aliases of the single user, and "banned" them. This also failed to convince anyone.

Eventually, Wally replaced the blog with a whiny blame-avoiding pseudoapology. Using the name "William", he admitted to being both Brandon and Polly-O!, and also admitted to posting under the name "Patricia". Shortly afterwards, he removed the site entirely, and offered a seemingly contrite apology. This apology, together with a second post, revealed the names of many more (but far from all) of Wally's sockpuppets.

Tom Johnson

    See also The Intersection

As You're Not Helping unravelled, it was revealed that Wally was also behind the "Tom Johnson" story, as trumpeted by the ever-gullible pseudojournalist Chris Mooney on his Intersection blog. According to this story, religious people at a nature conservation event were mocked and ridiculed by the wicked New Atheists. Although this never happened, the lies were based around a real conservation event, which Wally had attended in a professional capacity. This apparently got Wally into trouble with his graduate advisor. It also became apparent that these sockpuppets had been producing a substantial fraction of the Intersection's comments, including attacks on people who dared to point out how ridiculous the Tom Johnson story was.

Return and outing

After You're Not Helping collapsed, Wally's identity was largely kept secret, in return for him ceasing his activities. For some time, this deal appeared to be holding, but then Ophelia Benson started to become suspicious of a poster named "Hammill", who would follow her and Jerry Coyne around the internet, posting malicious lies. A month later, she obtained proof that "Hammill" was indeed Wally, and outed him.

List of sockpuppets

Directly Admitted

(Confessions made here, here and here.)

  • Bilbo (One of several people to use this name on Pharyngula.)
  • Brandon
  • Milton C.
  • Patricia
  • Petra
  • Philip Jr.
  • Polly-O!
  • Seminatrix
  • Tom Johnson
  • William (False name used in pseudoapology.)

Confirmed

Suspected

The YNH comment section absolutely swarmed with "individuals" who did little else but echo the original post, and attack any dissent. While some of these could be traced to real people, it is probable that the majority were sock puppets. The most suspicious of these included:

  • The Accuser
  • Bad Monkey
  • Bill S.
  • EDK
  • Julie
  • PJ
  • Vindrisi
  • Vyspyr

Footnotes