# Question about socks **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032 "2003-11-02T21:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/1 "2003-11-02T21:21:38Z")
I didn’t want this in the Pit, since I’m interested in an actual discussion of the question and not a pitting of a member. In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=220926) we have a poster admitting to having and using a sock. A quick search shows that the particular sock was created during a period where the member wasn’t posting under their member name- that is, the member was using the sock in a similar manner to a name change. Prior to the posting of the above thread, the sock had been banned. However, we know from the member agreement that > [@](#): > > Only one screen name is permitted per user. If you wish to change screen names please email an administrator. Use of multiple screen names is grounds for revocation of your right to post under ANY screen name. I’ve seen in the past people admit to accidentally creating a sock, at a time where they lost their login information. But these individuals didn’t actually _use_ the sock- they created a new account and were going about posting (sometimes for years) until for some reason the sock issue came up. These individuals were allowed to email an admin, provide information for the sock account, and sent on their way with a swift rap to the knuckles. I’m assuming that because they could prove the sock wasn’t used, they were granted some leeway. Makes sense. But here we have a situation where apparently someone has been posting under a different name on purpose. And we know that > [@](#): > > We want people to be responsible for their posts. There is history and there are consequences to what you post. We do not permit “sock puppets” for exactly that reason – they are a way of not taking responsibility for what you post, and of trying to avoid consequences. That’s not acceptable here. One moderator and one administrator have posted to the thread, and yet the member remains a member. Which leads me to wonder: why? Is there a situation (and I don’t want to know exactly what that situation is, since then everyone will try it- a yes or no answer here will suffice) where **this type** of sock puppetry is acceptable? My only thought is that this particular poster has had one name change already, and instead of incurring the wrath of **Dex** > [@](#): > > Well, we’re happy to change your name once. Twice, you’d need a damn good reason. decided to circumvent the system. But isn’t that still a violation of board policy? Ack… my brain hurts. Thanks in advance for any insight. -BK ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/2 "2003-11-03T03:19:40Z")
I don’t see that you’re asking any particular question or asking for any particular discussion. You’ve found a situation where you think the Mods are not applying the rules even-handedly. That’s not a matter for “discussion” except in the Pit, so this is being moved. And it is possible to have discussions in the Pit. Bottom line: the rules are NO MULTIPLE SCREEN NAMES, and the enforcement is usually consistent. The wheels of justice sometimes grind slowly, but they do get the job done. Sometimes there are behind-the-scenes discussions amongst the Mods, that we do not want aired to protect the privacy of the members (or the former members.) Those discussions take time. So give us a little time, **bob** , before you start ranting. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/3 "2003-11-03T04:33:01Z")
That is hardly a rant, Dex. She very polietly (I thought) posted a question and several people have voiced elsewere ever since the poster in question admitted she had been posting under another name. When we see the Mighty Hammer of Justice fall swiftly on Sock after Sock, it does raise questions when one that openly admits it has no visible action taken against them. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/4 "2003-11-03T11:41:06Z")
I did that. I opened a 2nd account under a similar screen name and it was reported to the “people in charge” and they asked me what I was doing and I told them and they said one’s gotta go and I suggested which one and it went. Everybody that was involved was very professional about it (Of course Lynn wasn’t involved) ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/5 "2003-11-03T11:46:34Z")
It’s all rather academic, now. Poster and sock have both been banned. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by county_ > **Everybody that was involved was very professional about it (Of course Lynn wasn’t involved)** Are you really as big an asshole as you sound, **county**? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/6 "2003-11-03T19:26:23Z")
what little content I’ve seen, seems to scream out in anser: “Yes”, \*\*Desmos[/]b ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/7 "2003-11-03T19:35:28Z")
eventually we will all be banned. In a cruel twist, aldebaran will be the only guy left. Salaam, A. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/8 "2003-11-03T19:55:34Z")
I am my own sock. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/9 "2003-11-03T19:56:12Z")
What a childish thing for you to say, you ignorant 12 year old schoolchildren religious zealot. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/10 "2003-11-03T19:59:02Z")
As usual, **The Great Unwashed** is right, and all you naysayers don’t know nuffin’, alright? I \ **The Great Unwashed** , he’s a dish. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/11 "2003-11-03T20:04:10Z")
Yeah, what would that **Ilsa\_Lund** know anyway, even 12 year old schoolchildren religious zealots have feelings. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/12 "2003-11-03T20:07:03Z")
Psst! **The Great Unwashed** , **Ilsa\_Lund** ’s not talking about you. Jeesh! There is one thing about you that pisses me off, though, you’ll do anything to inflate your post count, you attention whore. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/13 "2003-11-03T20:07:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Great Unwashed \* > \*\*I \ **The Great Unwashed** , he’s a dish. \*\* A dish, eh? So, what, you’re Chinese? ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/14 "2003-11-03T21:56:40Z")
**The Great Unwashed Sock** would make a great username. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/15 "2003-11-03T23:02:09Z")
I’m just curious - how many people detected the sock in question? I emailed the mods suggesting they check it out, but I can’t have been the only one. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/16 "2003-11-03T23:13:55Z")
I did not know of its existance until after it had been banned, but I think I would have picked up on it. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/17 "2003-11-03T23:26:25Z")
I didn’t email the mods because I didn’t want to accuse someone unfairly. However after reading about three of her posts I was very suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/18 "2003-11-03T23:32:19Z")
I’m not a sock, perse. More of a panty-hoe… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/19 "2003-11-04T01:11:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ENugent \* > \*\*I’m just curious - how many people detected the sock in question? I emailed the mods suggesting they check it out, but I can’t have been the only one. \*\* Before I saw the thread linked to in the OP, I saw the thread about the MIL wanting to be present for the sonogram. Saw “banned” under the username, thought “hm” and emailed the mods with my question. Coldfire’s response: “Got it in one.” ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032/20 "2003-11-04T01:17:35Z")
Wasn’t a surprise to me. I kept getting **80’shairmetalmaven** and **IDBB** confused anyway. Now I know why. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-socks/211032.md?page=2)