My cats want to join SDMB. If they talk but I type, is that considered a sock puppet?

I hope I don’t get an infraction but based on the premise of the question, I think this would technically be the correct sub-forum.

Of course whether the premise is reasonable, or even rational, is another issue entirely. And I would like to point out that I have never had delusions of sanity or represented myself as sane, so that has to earn me at least a couple of pity points . . . right?

Anyway, the cats think that if I’m going to write about them on SDMB then they should get equal time. But this is where it gets a little tricky. I already know to an absolute certainty that they are aliens and could easily post here if they really wanted to. But being consummate professionals, they refuse to act out of character in any way. The only exception is that they were so bored at one point a couple of years ago that they decided they could communicate with me telepathically and still appear to all the world as “cats.” Also, since having what they generously characterize as a “conversation” with me requires only slightly more effort than sleeping on their part, it in now way impairs their effectiveness. I still don’t know exactly what it is that they need to be effective regarding, but I have to say that the first thing you notice when meeting them is this overwhelming sense of focus and purpose.

Although I realize that I would only be acting as an intermediary of sorts, technically I wouldn’t be engaging in sock puppetry. However, others may not be convinced of my thesis and therefore will simply label me insane and insist that my alternate identities be purged - for my own good, or some other such nonsense most likely.

A compromise would be for me to simply relay what they’ve told me, but since they don’t have a very high regard for my ability to appreciate the nuances of their oratory, that is something they would find wholly unacceptable. Considering the fact that they are always ragging on me I’m not sure why they stay, but I suppose I should try to be grateful.

They have said that they will abide by the staff’s decision since they are only marginally interested in human affairs anyway.

Yup. Socko McSockitty. One user account per human typist.

I have a feline this is a catastrophic breach of the rules.

This is discrimination against nonhuman sentient beings!

(However, I would like to see a video of dzero’s cat, to make sure that really is dictating.)

You and I have gato have a nice chat.

I think it would cat-egorically be a feliny.

Kitty Katherine is of the opinion that GGsgyhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh678788888888888888888888888888888

But if you will be acting as an intermediary in either case, typing for them, then I fail to see the distinction between typing in an account named “Kitty McCat” and typing in an account named “dzero” that begins “Kitty McCat says:…”

Except, of course, the question of sockpuppetry, which is avoided by the latter.

I’m sorry, but we have enough trouble dealing with non-sentient human beings as it is. :smiley:

The distinction would be the difference between dictation and advocacy. They would be horrified by the idea that there is any chance whatsoever that I could fathom their thought processes or even do a passable job of paraphrasing their ideas. No. Not only would that not work but they would be deeply offended just by the suggestion. They do however believe I am more or less capable of repeating what they say verbatim - well, type verbatim in this case.

Please don’t literally use the cats as sock puppets. That’s gross.

So would one without arms not be able to join the SDMB?

Just sayin’

Teach your cats to type.

They could, but their typist could not.

But on the Internet, nobody knows you’re a cat. Unless you tell them.

Is there a Dragon software solution for cats?

If you type for your cats, wouldn’t that be paw-puppetry?

Has the idea of an ‘anti-sock puppet’ ever been discussed here? I’m not sure it actually makes any sense, but I don’t regard that as a fatal flaw.

According to the board rules, you’ve been pussy whipped.

Can you imagine a cat putting aside its pride long enough to claim to be anything else?
I can’t.