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daedalus wrote:Ya know, assuming you don't have something periodically searching recent posts for duplicate IPs between multiple recent logins, perhaps something that could be done is listing the IP that a given post is being made from next to the time of post or something like that. I've seen that done on multiple forums and it should be relatively trivial to implement. This would increase the ability to self-monitor the situation and obvious violations would be easily identified by users, who could then report it. This would take some of the burden off from MODs and would generate more of a passive stigma against sockpuppeting.

As I wrote the above, I came up with a good, largely hypothetical question: Without going too much into what metrics you use to determine who's a sockpuppet, what if you have two dakkites who are roommates, sharing the same internet connection? They'd both show up as the same IP address, and at least, by the above metric, be the same person... perhaps this is why things SHOULDN'T be done my way.

Nope, we're not going to start publicly posting people's IP addresses...that's a one way to make sure people stop visiting your site!


Just to clarify a bit, there's no giant issue going on with sock puppet accounts, we've got the issue handled. The only thing is, someone was recently caught using multiple sock puppet accounts and claimed that he had no idea it was a problem because the site allowed him to do so.

Looking at the forum rules we noticed that indeed there are no formal rules against creating sock puppet accounts so until we can get the site rules updated it seemed like a thread formally stating that creating sock puppet accounts is not allowed wouldn't be a terrible idea.


The other thing to note is that simply having more than one account from the same IP is not necessarily a problem and won't immediately be considered a 'sock puppet' account. A 'sock puppet' account really means that someone intentionally creates additional accounts and then uses those accounts to break the forum rules in order to avoid the punishment on their original account (or conversely if their original account is suspended they create a sock puppet account in order to get around the disciplinary action levied against them).

There are many valid reasons that people can have multiple accounts from the same IP: roommates, families, even situations where someone wanted to change their forum name (and didn't realize we can do that for them) or they need to create a 2nd account in order to post up juicy rumors without tipping off who their source is, etc.

The only time this becomes an issue is when these multiple accounts are used to break the forum rules...bumping a thread for their other account (spam), harassing or insulting other users, etc. These are the issues that aren't allowed and will not be tolerated. In these situations all accounts from the same IP will be suspended and the IP blocked.

If you've got a roommate or brother who has a separate account from the same IP and he's being a jackass, you better talk to him quick about cutting it out because there just isn't any way we can verify when someone legitimately was wronged vs. someone who intentionally created sock puppet accounts to cause a ruckus.

Obviously we take each on a case by case basis, but in general if someone else using the same IP has a separate account from you on Dakka, you best make sure you're both always on your best behavior!

I think Triggerbaby found the work of one of my former colleagues. Scary.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Bunker wrote:Does this announcement mean that the MODs who have sockpuppet accounts are going to cease using them, or like usual are the ones who are supposed to enforce the rules here above them?

Oh geez! Sorry. I forgot Bunker, we're not allowed to say the word 'Stelek' any more. Damn how could we be so stupid...

C'mon everyone - let's all apologise to Bunker. We've got to stop butt-hurting his feelings like this.

Yeah, cause I said that. 0/10.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

yakface wrote:

Bunker wrote:Does this announcement mean that the MODs who have sockpuppet accounts are going to cease using them, or like usual are the ones who are supposed to enforce the rules here above them?

If you honestly believe there are moderators using sock puppet accounts to create havoc, feel free to PM me your suspicions and I can easily find out whether this has been occurring and put a stop to it.

Pass. The last time you and I spoke it resulted in a ban. I don't desire another one for simply trying to have a discussion. Besides, if you haven't done anything yet about the numerous MOD complaints that people have made, you aren't about to start now.

Deleted by Manchu.

I was reading something about sock puppets then I saw a picture of some hot girls in french maids outfits and... what was that about sock puppets? XD

Deleted by Manchu.

So will we ever find out who these devious self-bumping sock-puppeteers are?

Triggerbaby, just a hint, when your Red Triangle level gets high enough, Bad Things™ will happen every time a moderator blips you.

So it's a good idea not to spam threads too much.

So we've reached the point where even Triggerbaby, long-time member and general good guy who just wants to make jokes is getting public threats from the staff.

I feel somewhat hypocritical repeating Bunker's words from a few days ago, but:

Stay classy mods.

HBMC, when we come down on even people we like and who are funny, that's us trying to consistently enforce the rules.

All I'm going to say is that any time decision makers make their process opaque, people are naturally suspicious of the process, the deciders, and their results. The silence that surrounds sanctions, particularly with regard to complaints against mods, does nothing to engender any trust in the system.

Oh, and the "take it or leave it" attitude, coupled with the newer "if you hate it, why do you post here" attitudes (which frankly are ridiculous, given how much time we spend criticizing things we love on this sight) further alienate people that feel like they have a complaint.

Let's all hug it out and go paint tiny dolls!

Finally! An argument!

That's all I ever wanted, guys. Just a little hostility. Like old times. It's just so hard nowadays with you being all so... nice.. to each other.

What happened to us? We used to call each other fatty hambeasts and yell at MegaDave almost every evening. Now we're always working late or tired or busy. Poor MegaDave, ignored in the corner. Nobody's yelled at him in weeks.

I... I just want to rekindle that old spark. What do you say that you and I take a couple of days off and hit the road together... see if we can't rustle up some MangaMonkey or Col. Kage.

I'm just shocked no one has attacked me yet for whatever this thread is about...

MajorTom11 wrote:Let's all hug it out and go paint tiny dolls!

Triggerbaby wrote:Finally! An argument!

That's all I ever wanted, guys. Just a little hostility. Like old times. It's just so hard nowadays with you being all so... nice.. to each other.

What happened to us? We used to call each other fatty hambeasts and yell at MegaDave almost every evening. Now we're always working late or tired or busy. Poor MegaDave, ignored in the corner. Nobody's yelled at him in weeks.

I... I just want to rekindle that old spark. What do you say that you and I take a couple of days off and hit the road together... see if we can't rustle up some MangaMonkey or Col. Kage.

Triggerbaby you'll always be a fatty hambeast to us.

Frazzled wrote:I'm just shocked no one has attacked me yet for whatever this thread is about...

I'm pretty sure you're actually dogma.

This thread came so close to being awesomely de-railed.. Ah well, next time.

Frazzled wrote:

Triggerbaby wrote:Finally! An argument!

That's all I ever wanted, guys. Just a little hostility. Like old times. It's just so hard nowadays with you being all so... nice.. to each other.

Triggerbaby you'll always be a fatty hambeast to us.

I disagree! He'll always be a hammy fatbeast!

...what was that about this thread being derailed, again?

Triggerbaby wrote:What happened to us? We used to call each other fatty hambeasts and yell at MegaDave almost every evening. Now we're always working late or tired or busy. Poor MegaDave, ignored in the corner. Nobody's yelled at him in weeks.

I know right? No more "Poop banana", just a lame space marine face to look forward too.

I daresay that nobody has yelled at him in years. I miss verbally abusing him like a flog monkey.

Give him a prisoner's dilemma and he will be the first to conform nowadays.

Lint wrote:This thread came so close to being awesomely de-railed.. Ah well, next time.

My thoughts exactly

Our work here is done.