# in NZ the sock monster is real (sort of)! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2019, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396 "2019-02-12T09:06:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/1 "2019-02-12T09:06:43Z")
a lady in new Zealand catches a real life sock monster after years of missing socks and gets a big surprise [https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/a-womans-socks-kept-disappearing-then-she-had-a-brilliant-idea/ar-BBTm1fQ](https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/a-womans-socks-kept-disappearing-then-she-had-a-brilliant-idea/ar-BBTm1fQ) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/2 "2019-02-12T09:47:21Z")
I was about to respond that I too have a sock thief in the house, but I think I know who it is. Then I read the story. At least my sock thief can’t carry them outside (because I don’t let him outside), so the socks are usually found. Not always, and in some very odd places. I think he may be a distant cousin of this NZ sock thief. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/3 "2019-02-12T14:26:20Z")
Read the OP’s description, KNEW there was going to be a cat involved. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/4 "2019-02-12T14:30:51Z")
Look out Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster-- you’re next! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/5 "2019-02-12T22:45:07Z")
First thing that sprang to mind: _Slinky Malinki_ 🙂 NZ author (Dame) Lynley Dodd created a series of beautifully written and illustrated kid’s books featuring mostly dogs and cats, beginning with _[Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy_Maclary)_ back in 1983. We had quite a few of these when my son was small, and a favourite was Slinky Malinki, about a cat who at night turns into the neighbourhood sneak thief dragging home all sorts of clothing as well as various household items until he is undone by his criminal ways. Very cool books. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/6 "2019-02-12T23:29:08Z")
[New Zealand cats are apparently a criminal class in general](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-21/cat-burglar-stealing-mens-underwear-in-new-zealand/7262330). ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/7 "2019-02-13T02:32:57Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > First thing that sprang to mind: _Slinky Malinki_ 🙂 > > NZ author (Dame) Lynley Dodd created a series of beautifully written and illustrated kid’s books featuring mostly dogs and cats, beginning with _[Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy_Maclary)_ back in 1983. > > We had quite a few of these when my son was small, and a favourite was Slinky Malinki, about a cat who at night turns into the neighbourhood sneak thief dragging home all sorts of clothing as well as various household items until he is undone by his criminal ways. > > Very cool books. Same here. My daughter’s current bedtime reading list includes _Slinky Malinky_ (though she calls it _Stinky Malinky_ because that’s what we call her 1yo sister when she has disgraced herself). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/8 "2019-02-13T02:44:55Z")
I’m convinced there’s a black hole just full of socks. Close to my house. My cats would never touch a dirty sock, for love or money. Clean warm laundry in a basket is one of their favorite things, tho’. Now, there’s a bunch of cats in the world and a gazillion missing socks. I’m not sure the math works here. Hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/9 "2019-02-13T03:51:49Z")
Are they in cahoots with the Underpants Gnomes? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/10 "2019-02-13T10:19:52Z")
My mother and I used to joke about burning incense, or lighting a candle, to appease the sock god. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/11 "2019-02-13T19:32:00Z")
In addition to her investigative approach, I would like to commend the lady in the article on her cat-naming skills. Phantom and Squeak are a fine pair of family-use cat names. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/12 "2019-02-13T20:23:07Z")
We joke that the sock monster steals socks then dumps them into the nearest snowbank as we have found random socks in a snowmelt puddle in our side yard more than once =) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/13 "2019-02-13T22:04:45Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m convinced there’s a black hole just full of socks. “I read somewhere” that clothes dryers are wormholes into which single socks are pulled. The other end of these wormholes are navels, where the socks emerge as lint. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/14 "2019-02-14T15:07:28Z")
I learned a long time ago to only buy one type of socks (long and black). That way, the sock monster can take as many as it wants and the remainders still match up. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/15 "2019-02-14T15:21:39Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > “I read somewhere” that clothes dryers are wormholes into which single socks are pulled. The other end of these wormholes are navels, where the socks emerge as lint. I love this!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-nz-the-sock-monster-is-real-sort-of/829396/16 "2019-02-14T17:50:41Z")
At Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf art funhouse, there is a dryer that is indeed a [portal to another dimension](https://photos.app.goo.gl/KV6S2r6L3YjcWg359).