Sock puppets.

[Beanieboy]

I couldn't have said it better.

-Cecil.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

I think people take message boards (and themselves) too seriously. Who cares if a person is a sock puppet? I don't.

 

[Lisa0315]

I think people take message boards (and themselves) too seriously. Who cares if a person is a sock puppet? I don't.

Well, internet "relationships" are tricky. There is an element of trust involved, and there is also an element of not really caring what people think. I think those who use the a puppet name are either purposefully misleading others or they want a fresh start. I don't mind the fresh start ones. I do mind the ones who are doing it to stir up trouble.

Lisa

 

[.Sabre.]

I've not used one. However, if I did make a plank of myself, chances are I might use another account in order to try change my ways.

I totally disagree with using them in debates or to gain access to things you cannot access with your main account.

 

[Brieuse]

I think people take message boards (and themselves) too seriously. Who cares if a person is a sock puppet? I don't.

it can really wreck a debate

 

[JustOneWay]

Doesn't the administrators have the capability to check an IP address to uncover sock puppets? It is also a violation of the rules to use a sock puppet when any one of the posters other accounts is banned.

 

[sister_maynard]

But isn't this what makes people authentic...especially Christians, and that is being who we are...good and the bad...the stuff that hopefully we are allowing God to change.

Having problems to go with our talents is part of what makes us Christian and what makes us human, but if the problem is deeply personal and using your main account might allow the information to leak into real life then using an alternate account might be safer. If someone was having sexual problems with a spouse, that information is safer if it remains unattached to an account that real-life friends know about. Another example of a good use of an alternate account would be an active debater asking for personal advice; if someone cared to track posts then residue from an unpleasant debate could turn a simple request for advice into a string of insults.

 

[Lisa0315]

Having problems to go with our talents is part of what makes us Christian and what makes us human, but if the problem is deeply personal and using your main account might allow the information to leak into real life then using an alternate account might be safer. If someone was having sexual problems with a spouse, that information is safer if it remains unattached to an account that real-life friends know about. Another example of a good use of an alternate account would be an active debater asking for personal advice; if someone cared to track posts then residue from an unpleasant debate could turn a simple request for advice into a string of insults.

Yep, I have had that happen to me. Very condescending, "Well, no wonder you feel that way about the man being the head of the house..." I don't think anything has made me more mad than that since I have been here. Please do not use my prayer requests against me, you know?

Lisa

 

[SallyNow]

I can understand having an alternate account to take part in a counseling or poetry section to avoid nasty spillover from debates, but using two accounts in one thread to create false support or bait people is dishonest and rude.

Exactly. It depends on the situation.

For instance, say someone writes two very different forms of fiction... serious poetry and silly fanfiction. On a site such as Livejournal they may want two accounts so that the the poetry lovers could take in the poetry without any silliness, and the fanfiction fans could enjoy the fanficition. I haven;t done it, but I know it is done, and I see nothing wrong with it.

Same goes for a site like Myspace... a person might have an account for their friends, and another, secret account for their writing.

However, that is much different from being annoying and using two accounts to start debates, flame or bait, or other just plain rude behavior.

I hadn't thought about using alt accounts to ask for very personal advice, but that may be the best use for them- it's harmless and allows people to keep their personal problems separate from their identity in other areas of the forums. The only potential ethical problem would be if someone was vocally condemning a problem on one account and asking for advice on the same problem with another.

Very true. If someone was dealing with their own problem with one account, and using a sockpuppet to go and be rude to others with the same problem, well, that's just rude.

 

[Steezie]

The News forum here has a particularly famous one.

I cant say who it is because its against the rules

These forums dont do well with policing trolls with multiple accounts

 

[suzybeezy]

I think they're stupid.

Besides, staff here doesn't have the best history regarding sock puppets...staff members having sock puppets so they can ignore the rules and bait people into getting warnings and stuff like that...

I personally do not have a sock puppet - I do not think its fair for staff to use them. That's my personal opinion.

There was a situation some time back with a staff using a sock for not nice reasons, but I believe we have addressed that situation. To my knowledge there is no staff member using a sock account to "cause trouble" in the debate section now. If there is, I wanna know about it, please report it so it can be taken care of or send me a pm directly.

Doesn't the administrators have the capability to check an IP address to uncover sock puppets? It is also a violation of the rules to use a sock puppet when any one of the posters other accounts is banned.

We can request IP checks. We do so when we have a hunch its a sock account trolling, or a sock account bypassing a account ban/suspension. Debate forums, for some reason, are like a magnet for this kinda stuff.

I can see some validity for using a sock, like mentioned if you need to discuss something personal and don't want anyone to know its you or sometimes for staff its so they can post without the "air" of being staff.

The News forum here has a particularly famous one.

I cant say who it is because its against the rules

These forums dont do well with policing trolls with multiple accounts

Sock accounts can be very time consuming and often rather tricky. Sock accounts are permitted on this site - its not a rule violation unless the sock is created to bypass a ban/suspension, or is trolling. That said, as I always say, if you feel someone is breaking the rules - report it and try to provide detailed explaination.

To answer the OP, I find the use of a sock account to be unethical as I find using them is deceitful - that is my personal opinion - and why I chose to not use one. There are times I wish I had a sock so I could jump in a heated debate, but I need to hold my tongue and remember that would conflict with my responsibilities as a mod.

 

[JustOneWay]

We can request IP checks. We do so when we have a hunch its a sock account trolling, or a sock account bypassing a account ban/suspension. Debate forums, for some reason, are like a magnet for this kinda stuff.

I can see some validity for using a sock, like mentioned if you need to discuss something personal and don't want anyone to know its you or sometimes for staff its so they can post without the "air" of being staff.

Thanks for the insight

 

[Lisa0315]

I personally think it is worse if staff does it. That is CERTAINLY an abuse of trust. That would be like a boss listening to a personal conversation about him or her.

Lisa

 

[Solaris]

They could have forgotten that they were on a thred as a different name.
They could have decided that their old name was too pretentious.

They could have forgotten their pass word.

Just trying to cut people some slack.