![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Mugshot_Puppet_S.png/220px-Mugshot_Puppet_S.png)
Sock puppet (sometimes known also as a mule, or a glove puppet) is an additional account created by an existing member of an Internet community. This account allows them to pose as a completely different user, 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 trolls. This is often done on sites like eBay in order to bid on one's own auctions, although eBay forbids the practice. Although the "sock puppet" concept has been applied to the use of different sender names for the same e-mail account on different computers the use of such alternate IDs to identify a particular computer may not always be for the purpose of deception.
Characteristics
The user:
- has more knowledge than would be expected of a newcomer regarding the site's methods, rules, and community members;
- takes part in similar discussions and has mostly same opinions as the user's main account;
- may have the same IP address and/or Internet Service Provider;
- sometimes has an account name similar to those of other suspected sockpuppets: for example SollogSockPuppet, SollogSock, SollogHasAPuppet, etc.
Examples
While many examples abound, most are of nonpublic figures. Notable exceptions in recent years include:
- L.A. Times Columnist Michael Hiltzik, who was forced to give up his column and Times blog in April 2006 when it was revealed that he was anonymously posting under the "sock puppet" name of "Mikekoshi", and possibly "Nofanofcablecos", to attack those critical of his writings.[1] He did this both on the blogs of his critics, and even on his own blog in response to hostile commenters.
- John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime, who, between 2000 and 2003, posted under the "sock puppet" name of "Mary Rosh"[2], praising Lott's teaching, and arguing with Lott's critics on Usenet. The name was also used to post outstanding reviews of his books, and panning books of rivals on online book sites. Lott admitted he had frequently used the name "Mary Rosh" to defend himself, but claimed the book reviews by "Mary Rosh" were written by his son and wife.
Combatting Sock Puppets
Fighting sock puppetry has become more difficult in recent years due to the advent of several new technologies, two key ones being internet proxies and NAT (Network Address Translation).
Proxies
Proxies as they relate to sock puppetry are online services through which users can surf the Internet, making it appear to web servers that they have a different IP address, are located in a different city (even country), or are otherwise not the same person they were before they began using the proxy.
NAT
Network address translation has a similar, but reverse effect. Put simply, NAT allows many users, usually those behind corporate or home firewalls, to appear the same. If one person behind a NAT is banned on the basis of their IP address, then none of the individuals behind that NAT will be able to access the website. Since the use of NAT has grown by incredible proportions in recent years, the practice of banning by IP address is not only outdated, but it's actually harmful to the innocent users who're also behind a banned NAT device.
Straw man sock puppet
Another 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 in an unintelligent or uninformed manner, and 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.
Shills and Astroturfing
Another type of sock puppet is an account created by the manufacturer of a product or the author of a book for the sole purpose of recommending the product/book by posing as an enthusiastic consumer or reader (a crude attempt at do-it-yourself viral marketing). A single such sock puppet is a shill; creating large numbers of them to fake a "grass-roots" upswelling of support is known as astroturfing.
Meat puppet
A meat puppet is a variation of a sock puppet; a new internet community member account is created by another person at the request of a user solely for the purposes of influencing the community on a given issue or issues. While less overtly deceptive than sock puppetry, the effect of meat puppetry and sock puppetry on the community as a whole may be similar.
Cock Puppet
A cock puppet is another variation of a sock puppet; a new internet community member account is created to replace one that has been banned or blocked for inappropriate behaviour but the new account is also quickly blocked for repeating the inappropriate behaviour. There will generally be a whole series of cock puppets, each lasting a relatively short time.[citation needed]
Origin of the term
The term was perhaps first used on July 9, 1993 in a posting to bit.listserv.fnord-l, but was not in common usage in USENET groups until 1996. However, the precise reason the term "Sock Puppet" came to be used in this manner is likely lost to antiquity. At least two possibilites have been offered.
One is that the term "sock puppet" reflects what a real sock puppet is: a fake personality operated by an actual personality. A sock puppet also happens to be the cheapest and easiest puppet to make, alluding to the glibness of the technique.
Another is that it relates to the term "socket" as used in the computer industry.