Sock Puppets

[Sapphire]

Could someone explain the "sock puppet" reference that was mentioned earlier?

[dodgehighforeve]

Originally Posted by Sapphire

Could someone explain the "sock puppet" reference that was mentioned earlier?

From http://www.dictionary.com
sock puppet

n. [Usenet: from the act of placing a sock over
your hand and talking to it and pretending it's talking back] In
Usenet parlance, a pseudo through which the puppeteer posts
follow-ups to their own original message to give the appearance that
a number of people support the views held in the original message.


Basically, one person, several accounts. Most people create them when they have no one on their side, and feel they have to push thier point to the whole board.

[Sapphire]

I am myself and no one else, I assure you...

[Tee]

There are clones and there are sockpuppets. Clones are members with more than one member ID. A clone becomes a sockpuppet when they engage in one or more threads or subjects as if to be two separate members, usually to bolster support for an idea or opinion.

There may be justified reasons for having a clone. For example, a member may wish to sell items in the trading post with a member ID that is not anonymous so that they can post contact information. They may also wish to debate hot topics without the fear of reprisal with an ID that is anonymous. Another reason may be a group or organization may have one ID to represent the organization (BBBS of Ford County), then members of those organizations have their own individual ID.

There are no justified reasons for sockpuppeting that I know of and most boards do not allow them.

[Sapphire]

I knew what sockpuppeting was in its general use, but not as applied to an online environment. Same can be said for clones. I really don't use many bulletin boards ever since I got burnt out with IRC in college...