Internet

SOCKPUPPETING that is...

Sockpuppet (Internet)

This article is about the deceptive use of online identities. For cloth hand puppets, see sock puppet.

For Wikipedia's policy on sockpuppets, see Wikipedia:Sock puppetry.

A sockpuppet is an online identity used for purposes of deception. The term—a reference to the manipulation of a simple hand puppet made from a sock—originally referred to a false identity assumed by a member of an internet community who spoke to, or about, himself while pretending to be another person.[1] The term now includes other misleading uses of online identities, such as those created to praise, defend or support a person or organization,[2] or to circumvent a suspension or ban from a website. A significant difference between the use of a pseudonym[3] and the creation of a sockpuppet is that the sockpuppet poses as an independent third-party unaffiliated with the puppeteer. Many online communities attempt to block sockpuppets.

Ballot stuffing[edit]

Sockpuppets may be created during an online poll to submit multiple votes in favor of the puppeteer. A related usage is the creation of multiple identities, each supporting the puppeteer's views in an argument, attempting to position the puppeteer as representing majority opinion and sideline opposition voices. In the abstract theory of social networks and reputation systems, this is known as a sybil attack.

A sockpuppet-like use of deceptive fake identities is used in stealth marketing. The stealth marketer creates one or more pseudonymous accounts, each one claiming to be owned by a different enthusiastic supporter of the sponsor's product or book or ideology.[9][10]

Sockpuppet

Synonyms: sock puppet, sock
See also: Online Pseudonym, Wank, Pseuicide, Fandom Flounce
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.


A sockpuppet is a type of secondary online persona, created by a person who already has an online pseudonym and identity within a given community.

The defining characteristic of a sockpuppet is that they are not an independent persona. Sockpuppets do not legitimately participate in fandom on their own terms; a sockpuppet is a mere prop or tool that is often used to deceive others and benefit their creator. Under a strict definition, the term only applies when a person uses the second account to talk to themselves or about themselves while pretending to be a different person.

Some fans use the term for secondary accounts they set up on journal sites in order to keep some activities separate and not associated with their main identity, such as fic communities for types of fic they don't want people to know they read. They may also use "sock" accounts to comment on entries where their main account has been banned. In these cases, the name of the sockpuppet account is often a humorous or ironic admission that the account is a sock, and there is no chance that any savvy fan would be deceived[1].

Some sockpuppeteers have created multiple socks--Smallville sockpuppet SVmaria eventually created over thirty sockpuppets, and Rat Patrol fandom once suffered a sockpuppeter known as CatO or WolfWalker [2] who created over 600 sockpuppets in order to, among other things, dominate a fannish mailing list. [3]

Not every secondary or alternate persona is a sockpuppet. A fan may create a new pseud for many reasons: for a "fresh start" in a new fandom or area of fannish endeavor (like a fanfic writer who takes up vidding), to avoid being outed in RL, or to secretly write stories in a controversial genre [4]. People who do this are generally not considered "sockpuppets

http://fanlore.org/wiki/Sockpuppet

On thread deletions:

Posted by Sag89

Hahahaha

Why don't you post the original info, that you had on the threads that you claimed got deleted. Instead of showing pics of sock puppets? Nothing is given to you in this world, you have to fight for them. So give us the name of the threads that were deleted and on what board? Or post your original info again and fight for it to stay up. Any form of censorship is bad. Post what supposably got deleted again. After all you had pangel create a thread complaining, so here is your opportunity to repost your beliefs. Do it.