WHAT IS A SOCKPUPPET?

Defined in Wikipedia:

A sockpuppet, also commonly known as an alt, is an online identity used for purposes of deception within an Internet community. In its earliest usage, a sockpuppet was a false identity through which a member of an Internet community speaks while pretending not to, like a puppeteer manipulating a hand puppet.

I just read an article about Target encouraging its teen Rounders group to hide the fact that they are affiliated with the retail giant in order to seed the Facebook community. Yes, the hand (Target) is in your socky bum and you are a sockpuppet.

Megan Meier, a 13-year-old girl committed suicide a few weeks ago after a family down the street impersonated an internet love interest and left harassing messages in Meier's MySpace inbox. Yes, the hand (the cruel family) created a false identity to change Megan's attitudes, perceptions and beliefs. The family down the street sockpuppeted this kid to death.

WHAT IS NOT A SOCKPUPPET?
When you use your own name to support scientifically-backed evidence in a community, is this sockpuppeting? Ummm, no. That's called "the truth" or at least it is a truth and if you've got supporting citations it should at least be considered alongside say, Creationism.

I don't think sockpuppeting is the issue. Anyone whose been on the web for a while realizes that you can't be an exhibitionist while still having privacy and that you can't get twenty million unique viewers a month without at least 20 per cent of them being assholes.

The real issue with online communities is that the elite users gain so much ownership that they put up fences to keep others out. Sure, the fences are easy to circumnavigate, and sure this is the easiest medium to infiltrate as a content-producer, but why do we have to even deal with this?

WHAT I PROPOSE:
You don't have to worry about socks if you're naked. Make a full disclosure of your perceived conflicts of interest and from there, in most cases there is no confusion. Target would have avoided their PR nightmare, but Megan Meier would still be dead. Nevertheless, most sockpuppets while dishonest, are usually just trying to make money rather than mess with a little girl. (I'm sure Dateline NBC would have you think otherwise)

MY DISCLOSURE
ME: Mike from Slovenia you are my arch nemesis in Wikipedia and I want you to know that I care about chemical policy because I'm pretty sure there is scientific evidence that proves putting petroleum in or on your body causes cancer. (I'm not being paid to say this but you can check out my interests at my website)

MIKE: I'm a sad sad man and I just want people to fear me. (I'm a bot deployed by the American chemical industry)

ME: I still hate you.

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WHAT IS A SOCKPUPPET?

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