Hey, given the number of potential sook puppets floating about the place (yeah, I know they are referred to as sock puppets, but hey, sook puppets seems far more apt doncha reckon?) I thought it might be appropriate to begin starting the accepted code of conduct. Hoping this will be helpful.

The obvious stand out first few "codes" I think would need to be;

Only develop a sook puppet if you;
a) have been banned and cannot accept any level of personal responsibility for your behaviour.
b) consistently get served your arse on a platter in debate and, therefore, not being equipped to accept responsibility for your behaviour, need to commence an attack with a  new "sook puppet"...
c) are rapid cycling through a multiple personality disorder and are unable or unprepared to seek appropriate medical support and, therefore, are not prepared to accept any level of responsibility for your actions and overall well being...


There is a starting point at least...

Carry on...

Some may simply feel like a change of 'nick' and make no effort whatsoever to
appear or pretend to be someone else, and in fact usually announce the change
and/or readily 'fess-up if asked. The change is usually not due to their being on
the losing end of arguments or to hide from the repercussions of inappropriate
posts or comments.

These ones tend to change 'nicks' very infrequently, and do not then alternate
between 'nicks' as a rule. I myself have done this, and I can (but won't) name
several other regulars who have done so.

I do not, however, regard this kind of nick-changing as 'using a sock' as there
is no intent to deceive as to the member's identity and the 'new' identity doesn't
usually announce itself with a series of troll posts. On the contrary, it is a quite
legitimate and reasonable change to the member's profile, nothing more.

Yeah, just making the point that a nick-change doesn't always mean a sock.

Funny when I started this thread I knew that it would be too challenging for some. They have not posted here...

El Gatto, I was in no way targeting people who change their nicks, and to be honest, even people with the odd sock puppet, cause sometimes that is just funny and not harmful.

Quite specifically, I use the term SOOK puppets. I think Sock puppet cops unfair negative slant, as I said, some are actually funny, however, the SOOK puppets are neither funny or appropriate.

I was firstly being somewhat flippant, however, upon reflection, realise that I was also being quite direct to those who are actually trying to circumvent a ban, or (as some of the guidelines indicate) simply unprepared to accept responsibility for the consequence of their choices to post, what they post and/or if they simply get their arses handed to them on the (debating) platter...

As it stands, this thread may well disappear into the dusty halls of the forum never to be seen again, because let's face it, the real SOOK puppets do not like guidelines, so they are certainly not going to participate in setting some up. Even if we seriously set some up, they would just set up new SOOKS in order to keep on sooking... And so it goes, around again and no one ever knows just who the real posters are (yeah, ripped Joe Jackson off a bit there...)

Phemanderac wrote on Jul 18^th, 2014 at 5:07pm:


No worries, and I didn't take it that way. As I said to Froggie, just saying was all.

And yeah, the absence of those for whom the thread was intended is somewhat noticeable, if not unsurprising.

hermoine wrote on Jul 18^th, 2014 at 6:40pm:

hermoine wrote on Jul 18^th, 2014 at 6:40pm:


Is that one of the rules is it? I missed that one.

I think though that there are a range of other issues articulated quite clearly in the rules that may result in a ban... Perhaps it is the banned who need a cup or two of cement. After all, the SOOK puppet issue is only relevant really to those banned after all (well, and those who consistently loose the plot in a discussion...).

hermoine wrote on Jul 19^th, 2014 at 1:53pm:


Nah, loosing is pretty much already well defined.

The architects of SOOK puppets though generally don't understand clear definitions though I have noticed.

Calling me names and circumventing the language filter will in no way diminish that reality though mate.