Any rules against sock puppets here? (It is dang hard to find the rules here, period.) If so, I will PM a moderator regarding one. If not, I will keep my mouth shut.
It depends largely on intent - how they are used. In general, they are discouraged. When used to evade a ban, our usual practice is to ban both the sock puppet and the original identity, permanently.
how do you ascertain the use of a sock puppet? Many people have similar styles to another user especially on a big board. If it's by IP address then I have a LAN with 3 comps on (soon to be 4) and 3 people post from same IP address (2 created accounts from same connection). Do you take multiple factors into account when banning sock puppets?
My opinion is that, if any user is found, one way or another, to be using more than one user name, they should be banned. Example with reply . Otherwise it would be mayhem!
Actually I have got two that I never use. I bet you haven't ever even seen them post. I thought you were just joking when you said that in the other thread Kremmen, bit sad that you actually are that paranoid.. :shrug:
It's not just based upon IP. We could divulge our methods however doing so potentially means that certain people will look for a way around it. What I can say however is if multiple people are using the same IP there shouldn't be any problems with them posting as long as they don't make themselves a problem. The site TOS (Terms of Service, which currently is AWOL.) needs updating to explain that; I'm sure that in the very near future the TOS will be made publically available for all to see. As to whether the above will be in it, well that's up to the Admin.
It is nice to have "secret" laws, so we can not know how to behave. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I am sure any court would throw out such an argument: we had a TOS but hidden.
Well it's not so much we have a hidden TOS, but more like currently the site lacks one. This is a real problem as technically it doesn't leave much of a legal leg to stand on. (You have to note that TOS's really occur with large sites, while this one is now, it wasn't back in the days of it's infancy which is why it never had one.) Obviously the implementation of a TOS will have a public notification as with any other companies or sites that use TOS's. Any updates there on will also require a notification of change.
You have two sock puppets that you never use? Well I have ten that I never use. In fact I don't use them so much that I haven't even registered them. Beat that. Have you ever seen Captain Pugwash Captain Kirk Captain Kaftan Captain Snot Captain Captain Captain Gorilla captain Gorilla II Captain Courageous Captain Kaleidoscope Captain Queeg No. Thought not.
Apparently it's the only way you can be convinced that the entire member list isn't made up of my sock puppets. Unless you think Stryder is another one of my socks.. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!