Talk:Sockpuppet

In the definition section, shouldn't there be an "if" somewhere, i.e. that a "secondary online persona" is called a "sockpuppet" if its purpose is to deceive? What I mean is that some fans maintain different pseuds in different fandoms and only disclose their connection later or not at all, or they have different pseuds for their explicit and their general fanworks and so on. That practice is not ill regarded as far as I can tell, even if a fan uses both these pseuds at the same time. --RatCreature 08:01, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I wanted to include something there about how not every secondary or alternate pseud is a sockpuppet, but I couldn't quite think of how to phrase it. Maybe a better definition of sockpuppet would include the fact that it's a secondary persona used *for trolling purposes?* (ie, to make personal attacks, etc.) And then something about how "Some fans may use alternate pseuds in different fandoms or endeavors but this is not generally considered sockpuppeting as long as... what? as long as each pseud is legitmately a participant in fandom? or at least as long as each pseud is *not* used in personal attacks, lies, etc.? -- Liviapenn 08:18, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

I think the key difference between sockpuppets and "regular" second pseuds for different fandoms or degrees of explicitness is that it is a sockpuppet if it is used in the same fandom and discussions as the regular pseud and they fake "interact" and such, with the sockpuppet supporting the first indentity or fighting its battles in flamewars and such. Regular use of second pseuds keeps a distance between the two, because keeping parts separate is the main purpose, just like with having a first pseud to your RL name. I'm not sure how to phrase that though.--RatCreature 08:31, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

I meant that for me the trolling isn't essential. I'd still call it a sockpuppet even if the pseud is just there for "friendly support" or gives squeeing feedback to increase comment numbers to make the first seem more popular or recs the first. So I think "deceptive" is more fitting for a definition than limiting it to trolling purposes only.--RatCreature 08:36, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

Charlotte Lennox straddles the line on that one. I think it comes down to motive for the pseud/sockpuppet, to be honest. There's also psueds that change due to outing or fear of outing, or to hide something from an earlier fandom/period of time, or to do/participate in something that they can't under their regular name for legitimate, or at least non-trolly and non-destructive reasons. In general, a sockpuppet is supplementary to someone's normal pseud, not a replacement for it. --Seperis 08:39, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

That's a very good point. I'd agree with specifying that a sockpuppet is not a *truly* alternate persona/pseud... How about something like, "A sockpuppet is an alternate pseudonym created by a fan. Not every alternate pseud is a sockpuppet; some fans may change names when they change fandoms, or abandon an old pseud because of being outed in their real life. A sockpuppet does not legitimately participate in fandom; a sockpuppet is a mere prop or tool that a fan uses in order to benefit their main persona in fandom." -- Liviapenn 09:01, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

Sockpuppet == Fandom's answer to multiple personality disorder? *g* --Seperis 10:21, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

Liv--fantastic definition for what is and is not a sockpuppet. --Seperis 02:59, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Thanks! All the contributions on this page definitely helped. :) -- Liviapenn 04:11, 6 October 2008 (UTC)