# My cats want to join SDMB. If they talk but I type, is that considered a sock puppet? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 21, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990 "2010-12-21T19:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/1 "2010-12-21T19:18:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/2 "2010-12-21T19:22:58Z")
Yup. Socko McSockitty. One user account per human typist. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/3 "2010-12-21T19:27:28Z")
I have a feline this is a catastrophic breach of the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/4 "2010-12-21T19:35:50Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yup. Socko McSockitty. One user account per human typist. 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/5 "2010-12-21T19:45:12Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > I have a feline this is a catastrophic breach of the rules. You and I have gato have a nice chat. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/6 "2010-12-21T19:53:14Z")
I think it would cat-egorically be a feliny. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/7 "2010-12-21T19:56:58Z")
Kitty Katherine is of the opinion that GGsgyhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh678788888888888888888888888888888 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/8 "2010-12-21T20:11:33Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/9 "2010-12-21T20:49:19Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > This is discrimination against nonhuman sentient beings! I’m sorry, but we have enough trouble dealing with non-sentient human beings as it is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/10 "2010-12-22T01:22:54Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/11 "2010-12-22T01:46:45Z")
Please don’t literally use the cats as sock puppets. That’s gross. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/12 "2010-12-22T01:57:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yup. Socko McSockitty. One user account per human typist. So would one without arms not be able to join the SDMB? Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/13 "2010-12-22T02:03:21Z")
Teach your cats to type. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/14 "2010-12-22T02:04:14Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > So would one without arms not be able to join the SDMB? > > Just sayin’ They could, but their typist could not. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/15 "2010-12-22T02:05:33Z")
But on the Internet, nobody knows you’re a cat. Unless you tell them. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/16 "2010-12-22T02:05:54Z")
Is there a Dragon software solution for cats? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/17 "2010-12-22T02:07:09Z")
If you type for your cats, wouldn’t that be paw-puppetry? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/18 "2010-12-22T02:07:26Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > They could, but their typist could not. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/19 "2010-12-22T02:08:59Z")
According to the board rules, you’ve been pussy whipped. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990/20 "2010-12-22T02:52:33Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > But on the Internet, nobody knows you’re a cat. Unless you tell them. Can you imagine a cat putting aside its pride long enough to claim to be anything else? I can’t. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990.md?page=2)