# How do you spot socks? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 27, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054 "2020-01-27T16:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/41 "2020-01-27T23:17:09Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Incidentally, how are you reporting these suspicions? In thread reports, or by PMs or emails to mods? I don’t remember what I did in this instance for sure, but I assume I either clicked “report” or PM’d a mod. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/42 "2020-01-27T23:24:14Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Hell I don’t even recognize most posters, thread to thread. I don’t either, although there have been a few regular posters (Grude is the best example) whose stories didn’t quite add up. I’ve seen examples of this on other boards as well. Usually, they get caught pretty quickly, but some very creative writers can last a long time. ---
**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 28, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/43 "2020-01-28T01:02:51Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > And then there are sometimes slips where a person accidentally forgets to change accounts before posting something, giving themselves away. Such as having a prolonged argument with a person and they continue the argument as the wrong account (maybe even referencing something “they” said which the other account posted). Juggling identities can be mentally and technically challenging. [Thread on socks from 2009 with tons of hilarious examples of same](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=504156). ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/44 "2020-01-28T01:55:12Z")
Newb socks make newbie mistakes. When you see a new poster using all lower case and/or bad grammar, it’s probably a newbie sock. When a new member carefully points out that they read the board for years before posting (when nobody asked), newb sock. Any over-explaining about how they happen to know something unique to the board, newb sock. Then there are the more subtle tells as the dumbass sock gains confidence, but let’s not go there. Marley23 was a talented sock-hunter. I would imagine that he shared some knowledge with the current crew over the years. None of the current modes share his tenacity and focus, though. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/45 "2020-01-28T03:33:20Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > The Jackson Pollock technique. > You’d get some wild polka dot socks!. 😃 > > [Pollack](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Pollock) You mean pollock-dot socks, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/46 "2020-01-28T03:41:15Z")
Usually by spilling coffee when walking around the house. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/47 "2020-01-28T04:10:04Z")
I strongly suspect (though it is of course impossible to prove) that there are also a lot of socks that we never actually matched up to their other identities, but just banned on their own merits. If you were obnoxious enough to get banned once, and come back, then you’ll probably still be obnoxious enough to get banned. And some of us are definitely better at it than others. I think that right now, **Colibri** ’s probably the best sock-hunter among the mods. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/48 "2020-01-28T04:17:33Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Although I agree that’s usually a good tell, it’s not foolproof. I once lurked at a board for a couple of years before I started participating and I lurked at this one for several months. I’m not at all sure how common( or aberrant 😉 )that particular habit is, especially these days as message boards are slowly declining. But it is something to consider. You’d be easy to pick out because of your downright bizarre use of spacing. (And you probably don’t even know what I’m talking about.) The mods have two kinds of evidence (email addresses and IP addresses) and the rest is guesswork. Admittedly, the twentieth account in a row bizarrely obsessed with calling an established poster a pedophile or harboring a deep, irrational, frothing hatred for some political cause or another makes it pretty easy to guess, sometimes, but there have been long-term socks who more-or-less got away with it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/49 "2020-01-28T04:17:46Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Newb socks make newbie mistakes. When you see a new poster using all lower case and/or bad grammar, it’s probably a newbie sock. When a new member carefully points out that they read the board for years before posting (when nobody asked), newb sock. Any over-explaining about how they happen to know something unique to the board, newb sock. Then there are the more subtle tells as the dumbass sock gains confidence, but let’s not go there. > Marley23 was a talented sock-hunter. I would imagine that he shared some knowledge with the current crew over the years. None of the current modes share his tenacity and focus, though. posters who write in textese are obvious socks, because u and i know that u don’t speak that way on the dope. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/50 "2020-01-28T04:38:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think that right now, **Colibri** ’s probably the best sock-hunter among the mods. It’s a hobby of mine. It’s actually a lot like bird-watching. You have to take careful note of the small tics that socks of the same poster share in common, just like the field marks that distinguish one species of bird from another. Behavior, habitat, and activity times also provide clues. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/51 "2020-01-28T08:23:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > If it was so obvious, why did you never report it? I reported earlier susepcted socks, for example for **Pjen** and you guys did jack. So why bother. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/52 "2020-01-28T08:54:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I reported earlier susepcted socks, for example for **Pjen** and you guys did jack. So why bother. Taking your word for that, a modest proposal: Perhaps if the staff were to make a point of sending a PM to let the reporter know the results of any investigation triggered by the report (especially if it was inconclusive), **AK84** ’s complaint would not resonate with anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/53 "2020-01-28T11:28:57Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > You’d be easy to pick out because of your downright bizarre use of spacing. > > (And you probably don’t even know what I’m talking about.) Nah, it’s been pointed out before :D. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/54 "2020-01-28T12:33:51Z")
My feeling is that if someone has become a “sock” because he has turned over a new leaf and wants a second chance at being part of this community, then I don’t care because people deserve second chances. On the other hand, if someone has become a “sock” because he wants to perpetuate his nefarious behavior under the guise of a new identity, then he will soon give himself away and be dealt with accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/55 "2020-01-28T15:10:42Z")
At least these socks don’t masquerade as horny chicks wanting to meet hot nerds. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/56 "2020-01-28T15:35:03Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I reported earlier susepcted socks, for example for **Pjen** and you guys did jack. Your report was thoroughly investigated by **engineer\_comp\_geek** but no conclusive evidence of socking was found. If you were really concerned about it, you could have PMed a mod to follow up. I note that you also made a couple of public accusations of socking by that poster, which probably should have earned you a warning. Don’t do that again. We believe strongly in due process here. While we may be suspicious that a poster is a sock, we generally don’t ban without positive evidence. Fortunately most socks are pretty stupid, and foul up eventually, or else get banned for the same behavior that got them banned in the first place. If an occasional sock evades banning for a while, that’s a price we tolerate for not banning innocent posters without cause. > [@](#): > > So why bother. Now this is just a flat out stupid attitude. So your feelings were so hurt by the fact that one of your reports didn’t pan out that you decide to not make any further reports? If you don’t report a problem, then you lose the right to complain that “nothing was done” about it. We appreciate all reports, and if there seems to be definite evidence we will investigate them. Some suspicions may not be confirmed, but that’s not an excuse for making reports in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/57 "2020-01-28T15:36:28Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I reported earlier susepcted socks, for example for **Pjen** and you guys did jack. Your report was thoroughly investigated by **engineer\_comp\_geek** but no conclusive evidence of socking was found. If you were really concerned about it, you could have PMed a mod to follow up. I note that you also made a couple of public accusations of socking by that poster, which probably should have earned you a warning. Don’t do that again. We believe strongly in due process here. While we may be suspicious that a poster is a sock, we generally don’t ban without positive evidence. (Having the same general politics is not conclusive evidence.) Fortunately most socks are pretty stupid, and foul up eventually, or else get banned for the same behavior that got them banned in the first place. But if an occasional sock evades banning for a while, that’s a price we tolerate for not banning innocent posters without cause. > [@](#): > > So why bother. Now this is just a flat out stupid attitude. So your feelings were so hurt by the fact that one of your reports didn’t pan out that you decide to not make any further reports? If you don’t report a problem, then you lose the right to complain that “nothing was done” about it. We appreciate all reports, and if there seems to be definite evidence we will investigate them. Some suspicions may not be confirmed, but that’s not an excuse for not making reports in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/58 "2020-01-28T15:55:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Taking your word for that, a modest proposal: Perhaps if the staff were to make a point of sending a PM to let the reporter know the results of any investigation triggered by the report (especially if it was inconclusive), **AK84** ’s complaint would not resonate with anyone. We get a lot of reports. It’s not really practical to reply to all of them, especially since we can’t reply directly to reports. In general, if nothing is done the default assumption should be that the report couldn’t be be confirmed. Like I said, we appreciate all reports. You shouldn’t take it personally if action isn’t taken. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/59 "2020-01-28T16:10:20Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Your report was thoroughly investigated by **engineer\_comp\_geek** but no conclusive evidence of socking was found. If you were really concerned about it, you could have PMed a mod to follow up. I note that you also made a couple of public accusations of socking by that poster, which probably should have earned you a warning. Don’t do that again. I got a mod note if I recall, and fair enough thems the rules. Though I was hardly the only one in that thread to make the connection. > [@](#): > > We believe strongly in due process here. While we may be suspicious that a poster is a sock, we generally don’t ban without positive evidence. (Having the same general politics is not conclusive evidence.) Fortunately most socks are pretty stupid, and foul up eventually, or else get banned for the same behavior that got them banned in the first place. But if an occasional sock evades banning for a while, that’s a price we tolerate for not banning innocent posters without cause. It was not the “same politics”, it was literally the same posts.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054/60 "2020-01-28T16:14:47Z")
As an aside, if I made a Sock!AK84 (which as mods would know [I **have**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)😉 I can easily think of ways to ensure that I never raise suspicion. Log on in different places (work versus home or LTE), so surely there has to be more to a final decision than just “inconclusive”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spot-socks/847054.md?page=4)