# Need help defining a moral dilemma. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222 "2001-09-07T13:31:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![as\_if](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@as\_if](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_if)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/1 "2001-09-07T13:31:11Z")
We all know it is wrong on this board to have two screen names. Against the rules. But is there more to it than that? Is it irrational? Immoral? A sin? A crime? Breaking a rule in itself is not necessarily any of those. As MEBuckner noted recently, the rules also disallow “inaccurate” posts. [Are “profane” and “vulgar” messages really against the rules of the SDMB?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=85400) The problem is defining what is at stake: Is it your soul? Your reputation? Your manliness/femininity? Is it a disservice to your intellect? ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/2 "2001-09-07T13:41:15Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] Discussions of the rules of this message board belong in either ATMB or the Pit. In my judgment, this thread will probably end up in the Pit anyhow sooner or later, so that’s where I’m sending it. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![as\_if](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@as\_if](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_if)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/3 "2001-09-07T13:50:40Z")
Sigh… I suppose you have a point, but I was hoping to keep this one clean. Comments are truly requested, but flamers, please restrain yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/4 "2001-09-07T14:00:23Z")
Well, the question comes up as to why someone would need a second name. Generally, we’ve found that sock puppets are used for one of three things: 1.) Humor. Bringing out the poster “Dead Equine” to shout “stop beating me!” in long threads, or having “Santa Claus” show up around Christmas, can be quite amusing. 2.) Ego boosting. Having someone- even if it’s just yourself- praising your own name and supporting your own arguments is something that some people really need. 3.) Security. "_I_ don’t want to broach this topic, because it might get me banned/lose me friends; I’ll just make up a sock to say what I _really_ think, and let someone else take the blame. Reason #1 I wouldn’t call immoral; but it is still against the rules, and will get a person banned. Reason #2 I would call pathetic. Reason #3 I would call cowardly _and_ pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/5 "2001-09-07T14:54:04Z")
John, you forgot Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple-personality disorder), where each identity needs it’s own screenname. 😉 1 is perfectly acceptable on some boards, so I wouldn’t call it immoral or a sin. Just something we don’t allow here, primarily because of 2 and 3. It’s just a casualty of previous troll behavior. The history of this place, rules get invented and privileges lost for all when there’s too much abuse. No html, no images, no multiple registrations, etc all victims of trolls. 2 is irrational and pathetic. What is at stake is your sanity. I would say your reputation, but the usual people who resort to sock puppets are spouting nonsense, that’s why nobody else will back them up, so their reputation is usually pretty shot already. 3 is a little grayer to me. Maybe someone wants to discuss a topic anonymously, but has already shared enough personal information or met people IRL and would be embarrassed. I disagree with John on this one, as I can understand how someone might not be fully comfortable with a topic about himself, and might use this as a method to gain that comfort. But the flipside of that is someone who uses the second identity to be a rude jackass and keep their main identity Mr. Friendly. That is pathetic. But the religious among us will have to answer if that is a sin. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/6 "2001-09-07T14:59:10Z")
> [@](#): > > 1.) Humor. Bringing out the poster “Dead Equine” to shout “stop beating me!” in long threads, or having “Santa Claus” show up around Christmas, can be quite amusing. Just so people are aware- Santa was my second screen name, and I got that name before the rule was made or enforced about no second screen names. I’ve not posted with that name in a long time and I don’t intend to. I personally think that’s a shame, because it was fun at Christmas when people would talk to “Santa”. Zette ---
**Author:** ![missdavis102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@missdavis102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missdavis102)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/7 "2001-09-07T15:16:20Z")
I always liked Santa, except when he accidentally posted as Zette. It’s a real shame he won’t be back. But I know, if you make an exception for Santa, you’ll have to start making exceptions for the Easter Bunny, Great Pumpkin, Thanksgiving Turkey Guy, Summer Solstice Sunhead Woman, Tooth Fairy, Slug Fairy, Chicken of Bristol, and the whole lot of them. It’s a slippery slope. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/8 "2001-09-07T15:26:58Z")
What ever happened to the mass murderer we had a while back? We were really having alot of fun with that until they slipped up. (even tho I was bumped off fairly early) And darn it all I sure am sorry that I missed Santa! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/9 "2001-09-07T16:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by as if \* > \*\* > The problem is defining what is at stake: Is it your soul? Your reputation? Your manliness/femininity? Is it a disservice to your intellect? \*\* Well, what’s at stake if you have two screen names is your ability to continue posting on the message board. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/10 "2001-09-07T16:34:26Z")
Well, Santa was outed when I posted to a thread with the screen name Santa and signed it “Zette”. What a dumbfuck! Again, this was prior to the rule against double screen names. Maybe I’ll just kill the Zette name and dress up as Santa permanently! Zanta ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/11 "2001-09-07T16:40:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > \*\* dress up as Santa permanently! > \*\* That probably wasn’t supposed to turn me on, was it? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/12 "2001-09-07T16:42:59Z")
Cripes, Manny, how many cold showers do you need to take in one day? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/13 "2001-09-07T16:46:38Z")
At least as many times as I think about **Zette** in a sexy Santa suit. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/14 "2001-09-07T17:04:03Z")
Got that waterproof keyboard and monitor now, do ya, manny? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/15 "2001-09-07T17:20:10Z")
You guys better be careful, or the moderators will warn you about flirting threads in the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/16 "2001-09-07T17:25:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*Got that waterproof keyboard and monitor now, do ya, manny? \*\* Well, I can’t speak for manhattan, but _I_ have the new one handed keyboard with an anti-bacterial finish. And yes, **as if** , posting in sockpuppet form here is a sin. In fact, posting to this message board in any form is a sin. We’re all going to Hell in a Handbasket with Cecil playing the part of Little Red Ridinghood. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/17 "2001-09-07T17:34:38Z")
Shucks, that just makes me want to break out the Santa suit, the whipped cream and the digital camera! Whoopie! My first mod flirt 🙂 So manny- how YOU doin’? Zette ---
**Author:** ![Pink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@Pink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pink)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/18 "2001-09-07T19:34:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Well, what’s at stake if you have two screen names is your ability to continue posting on the message board. \*\* That seems to be the main reason people do it, so they can say something risky, that might get them banned, and still have the ability to continue posting on the message board. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/19 "2001-09-07T19:43:58Z")
Would not the best course of action then be to refrain from engaging in risky behavior? Whether it’s a comment, or getting a second name? How illogical can you be? ---
**Author:** ![Poirot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@Poirot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poirot)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222/20 "2001-09-07T20:01:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Corrado \* > **Generally, we’ve found that sock puppets are used for one of three things…** Sometimes it seems that no one does a search anymore. Just a couple of days ago I identified a few more classes: **[About This Message Board \> What is a “sock puppet” and why is it bad?](http://secure.surfola.com/surfola?p=bd&c=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fforumdisplay.php%3Fforumid%3D2)** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Poirot [sup]edited slightly to fit your screen and remove UncleBeer’s prior objection[/sup]_ > \*\*The last legit one is Cecil posting as Ed when he has to make announcements. (Or is it Ed posting as Cecil when he responds to the teeming millions? Either way…). This is the Master’s way of “changing hats”. > > There used to be other legit ones, like Dead Equine, which would enter a thread to comment that it had started to repeat itself. Also a Secret Santa or two. > > Those haven’t been allowed in over a year. The cause of their demise was a Holy War with a fundamentalist board, where our members tried to overwhelm their topics and we theirs. After mutual bannings had failed to produce results for either side, since new names (the sock puppets) were freely available, a truce was arrived at. The proscription on second names remains, however. > > Then there is the Come-Back-From-The-Grave socks, that often had theme names, such as the metallic series and the British series. These were banned people who came back multiple times, usually trying not to conceal their connection to the prior name. > > ## A not uncommon use seems to be when a member has some board heresy that s/he just has to get posted. A new name is created for the purpose, a post or three are made, the new name is blocked from posting, banned, or perhaps even deleted, and all parties revert to their prior positions on the chessboard. > > But they have more motives than that single one. Some of the motives are noble, such as keeping Cecil out the administrative announcement business. Some are lighthearted, such as the Santas. Some are more of a bitchy nature, such as Dead Equine. Some are mischievous, such as the Alphabet group. Some are defiant, such as Mark Serlin’s incarnations. Some are cries for attention, like the Concrete series. Some reflect religious fervor. And some socks are created pre-need, as defense mechanisms, for all categories above. What? you don’t believe that a single soul who was banned realized, while they were getting that second name, that they might as well get a third at the same time, one to use for non-controversial posts? Well that is certainly your prerogative. Oh, yes, and there’s also additional types which we have seen people suspect, such as the pouter who stalks off the board in a huff because of some chat room remarks, and then is suspected of posting under an alias to defend herself.\*\* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-defining-a-moral-dilemma/80222.md?page=2)