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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.

This is the version from 1 Jun 11, 2:00 AM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.

ICcode for "Internet sock puppet"

A [b]sock puppet[/b] describes an additional account created by an
existing member of an [about=Internet]Internet[/about] community,
sometimes to manufacture the illusion of support in a vote or argument.
Other reasons include a desire to support or vote on an issue coupled
with a desire to have one's "main" account stay away from the issue. 
This behaviour is sometimes seen as being dishonest by online
communities and as a result these individuals are often labeled as
[about=Internet troll]trolls[/about].

One type of sock puppet is sometimes referred to as a 'straw man sock
puppet'. They are created by users with one point of view, but act as
though they have an opposing point of view, in order to make that point
of view look bad.  They will often make poor arguments which their
'opponents' can then easily refute.  This can allow them to essentially
make straw man arguments.  Such sock puppets thus become a
personification of the straw man argument which their creators argue
against.  They often act unintelligent or uninformed, and/or may behave
in an overtly bigoted manner.  The effect is often to obfuscate the
debate and prevent a serious discussion of the arguments from each side.
Suspicion of such sock puppets is often harder to verify though, as
there are often people who naturally behave in such a manner with the
same effects.


[heading]See Also



[item] [about=Usenet]Usenet[/about]

[item] [about=Newsgroup]Newsgroup[/about]

[item] [about=Internet troll]Internet troll[/about]

[item] [about=Hilberting]Hilberting[/about]

[item] [about=Godwin.s_Law]Godwin's Law[/about]





[heading]External links


[item][url=http://camassia.notfrisco2.com/archives/002659.html]"Talking
to yourself"[/url]

[item][url=http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2005/04/danked.html]"Danked!!"[/url]

(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the
[url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Internet_sock_puppet]Internet
sock puppet[/url] article in Wipipedia.)

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