# Clearly a Sock? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 27, 2016, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351 "2016-01-27T05:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/21 "2016-01-27T19:01:15Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Hmmmm… indeed. I’m getting the impression this board is like 7 people each with 20 socks. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/22 "2016-01-27T19:11:32Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I used to use ellipses a lot, but I don’t use them any more. > > … Or any less. If you use them more, it’s because you’re a sock who’s trying to throw folks off your scent of a sock. And if you use them the same, it’s because you’re a sock who doesn’t recognize his/her own tell. That’s the trouble with ellipses. They’re like beating your wife: you can’t quit even if you haven’t started. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/23 "2016-01-27T20:11:02Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > hmmmmmm I could never be as charming and intelligent as Eliahna. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/24 "2016-01-27T22:50:19Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > There are several things that give it away. > > 1. A new join date. Typically socks are relatively new members. > 2. A new user beating the same drum a recently banned user was beating. > 3. A familiarity with the board and the board rules that most new users don’t have. Or, back to breaking the same rules he was banned for. > 4. Similar writing styles. Like a lazy shift key,(example, TOm is over there) similar grammar errors, (i went there) etc. > 5. A hard on for a particular poster. Rare for a poster, with a week on the board, to have enough of an opinion of a regular member to pit him or wrestle with him in the pit. > 6. Familiarity with board memes. > 7. Douchbaggery similar to a recently banned poster. > 8. Generally, new members are reserved and non-confrontational and just quietly riding along watching and contributing where they can. . . . This (and all the other posts remarking on similar ideas) makes sense. Much of this is stylistic stuff I’m not very good at perceiving. (I never look at join dates; maybe I should learn to!) This is all indicating to me that others are much more perceptive than I am! Thank you! > [@swampspruce](#): > > Hey, I defend to the death the right to casual use of ellipses… Hear, hear… ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/25 "2016-01-27T23:02:15Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > Hmmmm… indeed. If anyone could solve this [mystery](http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/10/101942/1966576-batman_worlds_greatest_detective.jpg), it’d be you! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/26 "2016-01-27T23:55:35Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > This (and all the other posts remarking on similar ideas) makes sense. Much of this is stylistic stuff I’m not very good at perceiving. (I never look at join dates; maybe I should learn to!) This is all indicating to me that others are much more perceptive than I am! Thank you! There’s also a bit of confirmation bias going on by the people who think they can flawlessly identify socks. Poster: Dude’s a sock. _[not a sock]_ Poster: Oh, this one’s obviously a sock. _[not a sock]_ Poster: I can tell this one is a sock. _[banned for being a sock]_ Poster: Wham, [first try](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44-RsrF_V_w)! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/27 "2016-01-28T01:05:36Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > I could never be as charming and intelligent as Eliahna. …and for the win… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/28 "2016-01-28T07:29:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Various Posters who _might_ be socks > > … That’s not an ellipsis. That’s just some lint. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/29 "2016-01-28T08:05:58Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > There’s also a bit of confirmation bias going on by the people who think they can flawlessly identify socks. > > Poster: Dude’s a sock. > _[not a sock]_ > Poster: Oh, this one’s obviously a sock. > _[not a sock]_ > Poster: I can tell this one is a sock. > _[banned for being a sock]_ > Poster: Wham, [first try](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44-RsrF_V_w)! Sometimes it’s a little bit more like: Poster1: Dude’s a sock NotASock: What is a sock? Poster2: Clearly a sock? NotASock: What? No I’m not! Poster1: That’s what a sock would say NotASock: Fuck you, you fucking fuck! [Banned for personal insults] Poster1: Called it POster2: Back of the net! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/30 "2016-01-28T08:37:54Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > give aways: > writing style > forgetting to change socks Further giveaway: Being a tube of usually knitted fabric with a closed end, designed to be worn over one’s foot. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/31 "2016-01-28T15:10:18Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Hey, I defend to the death the right to casual use of ellipses… > > Band together, Bros and fight this injustice! You may one day take my ellipses, but you will never take my parentheses!! (because I use them so often, you see…) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/32 "2016-01-28T15:50:18Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I think I understand what a sock is: someone who registers more than once on the SDMB (or any discussion board) so as to pretend to be another poster. Just in case, here’s the explanation from the [SDMB FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6241129&postcount=1): > [@](#): > > **Sock** or **sock puppet** –- When a poster sets up an alternate username (in violation of SDMB rules), usually for nefarious reasons. The original use was when a person registered multiple times to debate with himself (or more likely, agree with himself in a debate.) It is now also used to refer to situations when a poster was banned but tries to sneak back in under a secret identity. Note that, under SDMB rules, a person may have only one user name; having multiple usernames is a bannable offense. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/33 "2016-01-28T16:59:48Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I’m getting the impression this board is like 7 people each with 20 socks. :dubious: No, I’m real. The rest of you are imaginary. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/34 "2016-01-28T18:53:31Z")
Being named _Lamb Chop_ or _Hush Puppy_ is a big clue, also. Lamb Chop is a three-star general in the USMC, whodathunk? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/35 "2016-01-29T04:48:58Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > There’s also a bit of confirmation bias going on by the people who think they can flawlessly identify socks. . . . That’s somewhat comforting, actually. The word “clearly” isn’t always true. Sometimes, but not always. > [@Princhester](#): > > . . . Being a tube of usually knitted fabric with a closed end, designed to be worn over one’s foot. Fortunately relatively rare here! > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > You may one day take my ellipses, but you will never take my parentheses!! (because I use them so often, you see…) I and my exclamation points agree with you wholly! > [@DrDeth](#): > > Being named _Lamb Chop_ or _Hush Puppy_ is a big clue, also. . . And Kermit the Frog is highly suspect! > [@](#): > > Lamb Chop is a three-star general in the USMC, whodathunk? Huh? Wozzis? Whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/36 "2016-01-29T05:32:11Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Huh? Wozzis? Whoosh? [Nope.](http://marker.to/Cn8AnL) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/37 "2016-01-29T06:54:54Z")
The differences in various message board cultures are interesting. Here, socks will register while the original handle is still active, and - as has been pointed out - indulge in self-flattery or other forms of “conversation.” On my other board, this is exceedingly rare. We get a few shills from time to time, but sock-enabled “conversations” don’t happen (as far as the mod team has been able to tell). What happens regularly is that someone gets banned and comes back under a new name. There are several repeat offenders who do this constantly. The moderators are always catching them, and one tends to assume that a few more might be getting away with it. The question for me is: why on earth would anyone bother? I mean, if you get banned from a message board under 5 names, doesn’t it seem pretty pointless to come back a 6th time when it is obvious your posting will eventually lead to yet another ban? That’s gotta be one of the most pathetic on-line behaviors I’ve seen. Anyone got any theories? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/38 "2016-01-29T07:06:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > [Nope.](http://marker.to/Cn8AnL) Li’l fluffy Lamb Chop – an officer in the Marines! Ooorah! > [@CairoCarol](#): > > . . . why on earth would anyone bother? I mean, if you get banned from a message board under 5 names, doesn’t it seem pretty pointless to come back a 6th time when it is obvious your posting will eventually lead to yet another ban? That’s gotta be one of the most pathetic on-line behaviors I’ve seen. Anyone got any theories? I can’t figure it. I can, at least, understand a flaming glorious suicide by mod. “Yer all a bunch o’ effing no good bewonks and poo on ya!” Blaze of glory. But creeping back in under the fence, to try to pretend to be a new chum, going through the act of learning the jargon and meeting everyone for the first time… Nuts! I don’t see any possible gratification there! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/39 "2016-01-29T11:40:00Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > The question for me is: why on earth would anyone bother? I mean, if you get banned from a message board under 5 names, doesn’t it seem pretty pointless to come back a 6th time when it is obvious your posting will eventually lead to yet another ban? That’s gotta be one of the most pathetic on-line behaviors I’ve seen. Anyone got any theories? I’ pretty sure that it varies from person to person. I feel certain that one type of repeat sock has such a limited social circle of friends that the SDMB is their life. They have no life in real life. Then we get the true mentally ill. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351/40 "2016-01-29T13:50:53Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > And Kermit the Frog is highly suspect! [That’s not Kermit.](http://www.screenrelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Muppets-Most-Wanted-Face-Off-poster-570x844.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearly-a-sock/744351.md?page=3)