User blog:BobbytheBlobby/What are Sock Puppets?

What is a sock puppet?
So, even though this moderate sized wikia rarely has sock puppets, it can come in handy to know what is one, so it can help you decide more wisely when making accounts, whether on ToS Wikia or any other wikia, and how to deal with them.

A simple definition of what a sock puppet is:

A alternative account used to create problems for the community, particularly using anonymity to its advantage.

Tradionally, a sock puppet is used to avoid a ban, but there are other cases of sock puppets too. Sometimes, users will make an alternative account to discuss or attempt to convince an administrator to unban their account.

First, before I clarify types of sock puppets, I will state what is not a sock puppet.


 * A testing account
 * A bot account
 * Any disclosed alternative account
 * An alternative account used for a different wikia

Sock Puppets can be used for different reasons as well, as putting a good impression on its Puppet Master (the original account). Sock Puppets could also try to convince an admin to unban its Puppet Master if banned. Sock Puppets would normally defend or recommend its Puppet Master to be promoted or rewarded or etc. Some people would also vandalize with their sock puppet, and have the Puppet Master clean the mess up. I could also secretly start criticizing people with a sock puppet. I will apply different examples for this:

Example #1
For instance, I have two different accounts, BobbytheBlobby (Puppet Master), and EpicPokemon8299 (Sock Puppet #1)

As BobbytheBlobby, I start vandalizing the wikia, by continuously putting up wrong information even though informed of the correct information multiple times. Yami riku soon blocks me.

On a different computer, as EpicPokemon8299, I type a message on Yami riku's message wall requesting BobbytheBlobby to be unbanned. My message is: "I really don't think you should of blocked BobbytheBlobby like that. It was kind of mean to do that, and totally unacceptable for an admin. I mean, he never had any intention of vandalism, he just didn't know the correct information. I think you were just raging and overreacting."

Example #2
This time, I used two sock puppets and a Puppet Master. They are BobbytheBlobby (Puppet Master), EpicPokemon8299 (Sock Puppet #1), and CookieMonster15 (Sock Puppet #2)

I type a message to Octometaknight saying I want a promotion to become a Moderator.

BobbytheBlobby: Octometaknight, can you please promote me to a moderator? I have 1900 edits, been fantastic, and I think I deserve a promotion

EpicPokemon8299: Yeah I agree, I think Bobby should definitely go up. Pls promote him

CookieMonster15: He helped me so many times and answer all my questions! He deserves the promotion.

So as a single person, I pretend to make it look so that I have 2 supporters.

Example #3
Or, I can make it like this. I have BobbytheBlobby (Puppet Master), and EpicPokemon8299.

With the sock puppet, I post a message on Ulithemuli's wall.

EpicPokemon8299: I don't like you so much as an admin. (No offense Uli)

BobbyTheBlobby: He was trusted well, and thats how he became an admin. It is not in your place to insult others.

I could use that to make a good impression on an administrator, or on the community. I can also make so that the Puppet does vandalism and the Master reverts it.

What happens if an Moderator or an Admin is caught Sock Puppeting?
The solution is simple. On most wikias, the local bereaucrats or admins or the global wikia staff will remove their local staff position.

Catching a Sock Puppet
There are little pieces of evidence to help you catch a sock puppet. the following are.

Sock Puppets cannot be Onmipresent Most of the time, the Master and the Puppet aren't on at the same time. If you see two editors making edits at the same times, that is evidence, but not really strong as it is likely to be a coincedence. However, on chat, your evidence is much more accurate. On chat, in order for the other to chat, the current speaker must leave. So you will see this: BobbyTheBlobby has left the chat. CookieMonster15 has joined the chat.

This is not as likely to be a coincedence.

Profile Pages, Edits, and Behavior Usually, a sock puppet's avatar and profile picture will tend to be less decorated then the Master's. The reason is because the sock puppet only serves the purpose for the Puppet Master. They really won't have many edits either, and most of them aren't mainspace and comments, but rather, strange edits or message to specific individuals. Sock Puppets will appear not really sociable and talkative, and probably won't many many helpful edits. Most of the edits would likely be supporting the Puppet Master.

A Sock Puppet may also tend in defending its Puppet Master at all costs. As shown in Example #1, he may try to get an admin to stop the ban. That is also evidence.

Suspecting a Sock Puppet
So if you do happen to suspect a sock puppet (do not suspect because of one or two coincedences!), then you can investigate more. You can contact CheckUsers, VSTF, or Wikia Staff, to confirm a sock puppet. They have the ability to check IP, and they can confirm if two accounts are made on the same computer.

More will be added soon

Conclusion
As a conclusion, a sock puppet is an anonymous user used to evade bans or cause trouble. But everything has a strength and a weakness. It's strength is the anonymity, but as the same time, it is the anonymity is its greatest weakness. Hopefully, this blog has helped you.