# Accusations of Sockpuppetosity **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205 "2003-09-02T20:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/1 "2003-09-02T20:59:06Z")
There has been a froufrah recently in the Pit regarding whether it’s copacetic to suggest, ask, imply, or downright declare that another poster is a sock puppet. Although a mod said that such declarations were verboten, I couldn’t find anything in the FAQ or registration agreement saying so; since then, I’ve seen at least one other member make such an accusation, and apologize for his ignorance when another member told him not to do so. Is this something that should be added to the FAQ? I don’t think it’s an intuitive rule, and it’d be helpful for it to be spelled out so that other well-meaning posters don’t unintentionally piss off mods. Thanks! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/2 "2003-09-02T22:32:44Z")
J’accuse DanielWithrow! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/3 "2003-09-03T00:51:21Z")
Yeah, daddy, but I’m not asking about trolls; I’m asking about sock puppets. The only feature these two necessarily share is that they’re unwelcome on the boards. I’m not trying to split hairs here, either. Whether someone is a troll is very difficult to determine; ultimately, it comes down to telepathy, inasmuch as being a troll depends on possessing certain motives. Whether someone is a sock puppet, on the other hand, is not a judgement call. Either they are, or they aren’t; you don’t have to guess at their motives to figure it out. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/4 "2003-09-03T00:56:18Z")
Huh. Either that beer was a LOT stronger than I thought it was, or else a post from some recently-registered, 15-post schmoe named **Daddybee** (in which I was directed toward **Bibliophage’s** command not to point out trolls in General questions) just got deleted. It’s sure not showing up now, and it makes my most recent post rather mysterious. Probably it’ll reappear as soon as this post goes up. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/5 "2003-09-03T02:00:02Z")
No, it hasn’t… and it’s been slightly more than 70 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusations-of-sockpuppetosity/199205/6 "2003-09-03T03:52:18Z")
From the ATMB sticky thread [FAQ - guidelines for posting at the SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106617) thread > [@](#): > > Q: What should I do when I see a user “trolling” at the SDMB? > A: Do not publicly accuse someone of trolling at the SDMB. Use the “Report this post to a moderator” facility below the “trolling” post. Do not reply to the troll in any way in the thread, that will only encourage the troublemaker. I think it’s safe to assume the same rules apply to accusations of sock-puppetry, which can be thought of as a form of trolling.