The Sock Puppet & The Straw Man........

In a recent thread a member called someone a "Sock Puppet", and thankfully, someone defined the term a few posts later.
And I looked it up:

An Internet sock puppet is an additional account created by an existing member of an Internet community. This account allows them to pose as a completely different user, sometimes to manufacture the illusion of support in a vote or argument. Other reasons include a desire to support or vote on an issue coupled with a desire to have one's "main" account stay away from the issue. This behaviour is sometimes seen as being dishonest by online communities and as a result these individuals are often labeled as trolls.

Another type of sock puppet is sometimes referred to as a “straw man sock puppet.” They are created by users with one point of view, but act as though they have an opposing point of view, in order to make that point of view look bad. They will often make poor arguments which their “opponents” can then easily refute. This can allow them to essentially make straw man arguments. Such sock puppets thus become a personification of the straw man argument which their creators argue against. They often act unintelligent or uninformed, and may behave in an overtly bigoted manner. The effect is often to obfuscate the debate and prevent a serious discussion of the arguments from each side. Suspicion of such sock puppets is often harder to verify though, as there are often people who naturally behave in such a manner with the same effects.

en.wikipedia.org...



I have a few questions on this topic:

1. Is this a common practice???
2. Is this a forbidden practice on ATS boards???
3. Does ATS check for duplicated internet addresses???
(we have two accounts that use the same computers)
4. How do we know if we're talking to a sock puppet or straw man???

The whole topic makes me wonder who is who???????

If you need to argue with yourself on a discussion board, that's no discussion at all.
It's more like masterbation.
(Not that there's anything wrong with that) Party On........

Do Mods have "sock puppets" that they use to keep a thread running???????

Just curious about the policy on this....................

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
1. Is this a common practice???

I have one on almost every forum and site, I use one for posting and one to lurk and read without members knowing I am online. [To get away from the hassle of U2U's, etc.]

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
2. Is this a forbidden practice on ATS boards???

Not as far as I am aware, I have seen no rules on it. I do believe you would get a warning at least, if not a ban if you argue your point from two accounts or if you use your second membership to get around a posting ban.

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
3. Does ATS check for duplicated internet addresses???
(we have two accounts that use the same computers)

Last I checked, you can have one account per e-mail and a limited amount from a P.C. unless you get banned. It is unfair to restrict it, when more then one member of a family might want to visit and use the site.

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
4. How do we know if we're talking to a sock puppet or straw man???

You don't, but why worry?

You can be sure, many people type in "one way" and it is easy to spot them.

Hey! Look over there!

.........



*Makes an exit out the side door*

3. Does ATS check for duplicated internet addresses???
(we have two accounts that use the same computers)

My wife is a member on ATS and we use the same computer. Duplicate ip addys are not proof of a second account used by the same person.

Well this explains, at least to me, why the "Can China invade Taiwan" thread has been going on for so long...... Now I know that it is simply one guy having a long winded debate with himself.

Originally posted by benevolent tyrant
Now I know that it is simply one guy having a long winded debate with himself.

No, this is not allowed. We have taken action against people that try to play that game.

I have met plent of sock puppets...sadly... i use to know a guy that had 4 names in a chat room at the same time so he would agree with himself, or to attack people with other names so he could than defend them and pretend to be thier friends... its sad but it exhists..

Originally posted by kinglizard
No, this is not allowed. We have taken action against people that try to play that game.

What happens if said person has a legitimate medical condition like Multiple Personality Disorder?

Peace

Originally posted by Dr Love
[What happens if said person has a legitimate medical condition like Multiple Personality Disorder?

Then we require a note from the members doctor.

Originally posted by Amorymeltzer

Dismissed....eh Amory.

I will be anxietydisorder's sock puppet,
I can't wait to start telling myself where to go... (and how to get there...)

Originally posted by My Sock Puppet
I will be anxietydisorder's sock puppet,

I can't wait to start telling myself where to go... (and how to get there...)

Don't listen to him, he's always wrong....
I think My Sock Puppet has had way to much to drink tonight.

DARN you!!!!

Sorry had to say it..

Did you read about that other puppet?
The one where you talk someone into registering, to support your side off things?
Meat puppet

I thought that was a filibuster puppet, spacedoubt?





seekerof

It was!!!
Until Ted Kennedy tried to pronounce it!

Now I have to get my friends to be my Meat Puppets???

I don't think what I post on ATS needs that much support, but I guess I could vote myself up in ATSNN.......

(I should bail out of this thread before I get a slap.....)

Are sock Puppets Evil?

Originally posted by whaaa
Are sock Puppets Evil?

One Example

Others are benign, and some are downright helpful.

It's a mixed bag... Or sock in this case.