# Why was g\_under\_p banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 28, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659 "2005-07-28T22:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/21 "2005-07-29T21:56:23Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I’m still curious how the administrators know someone is a sock. They act like a darned fool. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/22 "2005-07-29T22:11:35Z")
I like Cervaise’s idea too, or some variant thereof. I just :smack: myself cuz I omitted the word “satisfy” between “certainly” and “curiosities” and it’s been quoted a couple times, each one revealing my shame afresh. Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/23 "2005-07-29T22:44:44Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > They act like a darned fool. > Daniel Nonsense. I’ve acted like a darned fool, and they haven’t banned me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/24 "2005-07-29T22:55:58Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Nonsense. I’ve acted like a darned fool, and they haven’t banned me. Me, too. I got warned at least twice as a member. _Repetitive_ infractions are part of why someone gets banned. Someone who is an active Guest or Member, but not a _returning_ former poster. 99% of the time, “sock” refers to a returning poster. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/25 "2005-07-29T22:59:54Z")
I think it was a pun… ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/26 "2005-07-29T23:10:25Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I think it was a pun… You think what was a pun? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/27 "2005-07-29T23:19:10Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > You think what was a pun? It’s not important. In any case, when a sock is detected, it’s like sending a lamb to the chop. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/28 "2005-07-29T23:27:35Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > It’s not important. In any case, when a sock is detected, it’s like sending a lamb to the chop. Was lambchop made out of a sock? ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/29 "2005-07-30T00:27:37Z")
The only downside I see to the proposal to leave socks listed as “guest” or “member” after banning them is that the endless “Why was so and so banned?” OPs would be replaced by “HEY! How come so and so came right out and said he/she was a repeat guest and didn’t get banned?” OPs from people who didn’t know the policy. Can’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/30 "2005-07-30T01:17:20Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > One way is that the software logs the IP of the users, so if two usernames come from the same IP that’s a clue. Not proof of course, because several users live together. Two users don’t need to live together to have created usernames with the same IP address. For home users that don’t need the benefit of a fixed IP address, most ISPs dynamically assign an IP address. So, it’s entirely possible to create a username while using the same IP address that someone somewhere else used to create a username a week ago. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/31 "2005-07-30T01:33:40Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > They’re reticent to say exactly how they find them, because it might help people cheat the system. They may have other approaches besides IP logging, probably involving examining chicken entrails and performing séances. I hear it’s what they use the goats and hamsters for when they’re old and worn out. There’s jackboots in it too, I didn’t inquire too closely. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/32 "2005-07-30T02:54:33Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I hear it’s what they use the goats and hamsters for when they’re old and worn out. There’s jackboots in it too, I didn’t inquire too closely. :eek: Those who ask too many questions are never heard from ag :: muffled screams and dragging sounds ensue :: ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659/33 "2005-07-30T03:00:14Z")
“Suddenly, you were gone from all the posts you left your mark upon.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-g_under_p-banned/314659.md?page=1)