# Sock puppet question **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 28, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733 "2004-10-28T21:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733/1 "2004-10-28T21:23:40Z")
Several times I’ve seen someone post saying something like : Oops, that was me posting, not my flatmate. I take that as meaning that there are two dopers sharing a computer, with two seperate usernames. sometimes one accidently logs on as the other. I’ve also seen a few **MrUsername** & **MrsUsername** pairs, and a father & daughter. Moderators, do you ever mistake such arrangements as being sock puppets? I imagine that two users at the same IP Address would set up a red flag. How do you avoid such errors? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733/2 "2004-10-28T22:33:01Z")
I mistook a father & son for a pair of sock puppets once. I was most embarrassed. Generally, we don’t check IP addresses unless we have a valid reason to. I know that _I_ certainly don’t do it for fun, it’s quite boring…and takes a lot of time, and strains the server, too. Mostly we look for patterns of behavior first, and THEN check IPs and other resources (which I won’t go into here) if we suspect sock puppetry. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733/3 "2004-10-28T22:59:56Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > I mistook a father & son for a pair of sock puppets once. I was most embarrassed. > > Generally, we don’t check IP addresses unless we have a valid reason to. I know that _I_ certainly don’t do it for fun, it’s quite boring…and takes a lot of time, and strains the server, too. Mostly we look for patterns of behavior first, and THEN check IPs and other resources (which I won’t go into here) if we suspect sock puppetry. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope Really. Then may I kindly ask you to read this thread and finally explain your actions? And also explain in detail the reason behind repetitiveness you speak of in your post? Thank you. > **[Privacy rules don't count for moderators](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268206)** > > I tried to get clarification about this incident by mail, yet there came no reply at all So I am sorry, but since there came no answer to my mails I ask for clarification by use of this forum. And I think this issue is a concern for several... Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733/4 "2004-10-28T23:30:10Z")
Dude, give it a rest. Please. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sock-puppet-question/271733/5 "2004-10-29T11:43:43Z")
**Aldebaran** , this is not the forum for such posts, as you well know. And there is no forum for raking up business that was settled months ago. You were investigated for exactly the reasons that **Lynn** mentioned in her post above: your behaviour. If by this recent post, you are saying that sock puppetry applies to you, then you will be investigated again. Meanwhile, take it to the Pit if you want to take it anywhere, but you would be well-advised not to re-open an issue that was settled long ago. Meanwhile, **Peter** , I’m considering that your question has been answered (it has happened on occasion, and we usually get it resolved fairly quickly)… and since this thread was hijacked in an unacceptable direction, I’m closing it.