User talk:David Gerard

Past talk: 2004 2005a 2005b 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

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Please put new stuff at the bottom, where I'll see it.

This user is one of the 400 most active English Wikipedians of all time.

Vs. Open Proxies

I don't need to introduce myself, do I? But for your information, I am asking here because you're one of the folks with root access to that server and can make a big change if need be. There's been a relentless wave of long-term abusers who have created sock after sock to continue their tenacious streak of trolling and harassment, mostly via VPNs and other open proxies. Wikipedia already has a no open proxies policy in place per WP:NOP, so what would it take to implement that policy over there as well? (Though I understand that here on Wikipedia, there's been some issues regarding managing open proxies, as there's a proposal regarding the abuse filter that is still in the works as of speaking but hasn't seen an update since last October. So no pressure.) TheEternalOutsider (talk) 20:58, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

RW already blocks at least some open proxies. I'll have a look what's up with that - David Gerard (talk) 21:53, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

More information Archived content ...

Archived content

UPDATE. We're having an LTA issue over there right now. The offender is relentlessly IP hopping, indicating use of a proxy service to evade bans. Requesting exporting TorBlock from Wikipedia to there as well as possibly updating MediaWiki. TheEternalOutsider (talk) 21:59, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

I believe there is no presently available person to upgrade MW on RW, especially not me. This has been a problem since 2012 and especially since 2017 and extremely now - David Gerard (talk) 22:16, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

I understand that. Also, doing some checks on Tor showed that there is a blocker. But we either need stronger tools to catch all those VPN abusers (Or at the very least, exporting Wikipedia's powerful plugins to handle the work when nobody is online.). TheEternalOutsider (talk) 22:28, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

Or at the very least, importing a barometer for admins to gauge the traffic. (The barometer should only be editable by techs, but it should gauge the state of the other wiki to outsiders. I am sensitive because I don't want any outsiders to get a bad first impression of that wiki.) TheEternalOutsider (talk) 19:12, 16 March 2026 (UTC)

UPDATE. Best to archive this conversation. I realized that spending time on RW negatively affected my mental health, so it's best for me to leave. TheEternalOutsider (talk) 22:50, 16 March 2026 (UTC) Updated 00:31, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

Happy First Edit Day!

Happy First Edit Day!
Hi David Gerard! On behalf of the Birthday Committee, I'd like to wish you a very happy anniversary of the day you made your first edit and became a Wikipedian! DaniloDaysOfOurLives (talk) 07:00, 4 January 2026 (UTC)

Happy First Edit Anniversary David Gerard 🎉

Hey @David Gerard. Your wiki edit anniversary is today, marking 22 years of dedicated contributions to English Wikipedia. Your passion for sharing knowledge and your remarkable contributions have not only enriched the project, but also inspired countless others to contribute. Thank you for your amazing contributions. Wishing you many more wonderful years ahead in the Wiki journey and a blessed New Year. :) -❙❚❚❙❙ GnOeee ❚❙❚❙❙ ✉ 15:17, 4 January 2026 (UTC)

Pivot to AI

David, I love your podcast. How come you aren't making seven figures at some Square Mile short trading desk like at IG, XTB, or City Index? Econ Geek 876 (talk) 23:32, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

Writing about crypto firmly demonstrated just how irrational the market can be longer that you can remain solvent. Especially when it's not market forces but a scam, and those go on as long as they possibly can - David Gerard (talk) 00:03, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

Surely there must be commercial and consumer demand from investors who want to short the bubble? Can't those big City trading firms get in to it all? Econ Geek 876 (talk) 22:23, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

They're certainly trying! Hard part is finding a hedge that isn't just uncorrelated right up to the moment you need it to be, at which point it crashes in lockstep with the rest of the market. I'm thinking of pivoting to small rocks and twigs - David Gerard (talk) 23:50, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

I continue to feel like there is a huge opportunity here. The moment is indeterminate but hedging against its inevitability seems like something big brokers can do. Econ Geek 876 (talk) 23:08, 10 March 2026 (UTC)

TomWikiAssist

In case you haven't come across this clawbot – first one identified and caught on enwp, I think. User talk:TomWikiAssist, Wikipedia:Village pump (WMF)#Blocked agent. ClaudineChionh (she/her · talk · email · global) 23:27, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

gawd. I'm sure there are many, but also lol - David Gerard (talk) 13:39, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

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