# What is the meta-meaning of "sock puppet" on the SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 16, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836 "2012-10-16T01:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/1 "2012-10-16T01:10:58Z")
Someone was cautioned on a thread by a mod re this term. I don’t know what it means, except literally. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/2 "2012-10-16T01:16:17Z")
[Number one hit on Google.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_(Internet)) ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/3 "2012-10-16T01:20:28Z")
A [sock puppet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_%28Internet%29) is when a person makes another account, often for nefarious purposes; e.g. impersonation, trolling, or circumventing a ban or suspension. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/4 "2012-10-16T01:23:43Z")
Interestingly, it seem the first known usage is documented. [Posted by Dana Rollins](https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!msg/bit.listserv.fnord-l/D_wlg9YXFA0/n0aWLZwctdEJ) who goes by the very cool username Merciful Lee Dickins. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/5 "2012-10-16T01:24:48Z")
The classic internet “sock puppet” is a second username that someone creates in order to support them or take their side in an on-line discussion. A typical example appeared[in a recent GQ thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15547687&postcount=1001). More commonly around here we use it to refer 1) to previously banned posters who try to come back unnoticed under a new name, or to 2) second usernames that may be used to troll or make other statements that the poster doesn’t want to be associated with. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/6 "2012-10-16T01:27:35Z")
Ok. I didn’t realize it wasn’t unique to SDMB. I don’t get out much. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/7 "2012-10-16T03:57:08Z")
What happens to the original account? Is that too banned? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/8 "2012-10-16T04:05:23Z")
> [@manila](#): > > What happens to the original account? Is that too banned? Usually, yes. We’ll make exceptions for people who are new to the board, and created a second account for an innocent reason, like they wanted to use a different screen name, or they forgot their original password. In those cases, we merge the two accounts under whichever SN the poster prefers, and sternly shake a finger at him not to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/9 "2012-10-16T11:05:47Z")
Haha! yes exceptions, I think you made one for me 7 years ago when I forgot my SmoginManila account password! My face was red! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/10 "2012-10-16T13:21:32Z")
I remember that day. The sky fairly lit up. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meta-meaning-of-sock-puppet-on-the-sdmb/637836/11 "2012-10-16T20:49:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Ok. I didn’t realize it wasn’t unique to SDMB. I don’t get out much. Thanks. On other boards I’ve been to the term we used was “multi”, since the user had multiple accounts. Maybe you’ve encountered that term, maybe not.