Spinhead's Sock Puppet Theater »
Posted By Spadecaller 4 months, 1 week ago in Arts & EntertainmentThis Spadecaller video entitled Spinhead’s Sock Puppet Theater
presents many of the peculiarities that come with the anonymous exchange of controversial topics online. Donovan's "Season of the Witch" sets the musical backdrop for this video about "sock puppets."
Read Full Story at youtube.com »
588 Views Share Story 289 Comments Report
Submitted By:
Spadecaller
Welcome to my profile. About me: I'm an artist of several kinds; from bull to painting. I don't spare too many words. Most ...
Other Related Articles:
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentComments So Far: 289 (view all)
-
100%
Spadecaller4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
On many social websites that provide forums for discussion about leading social, political, religious, and/or current news topics, guidelines for conduct are agreed upon at the time members enroll. Should members defy the terms of use, site managers sometimes are forced to discontinue a participant’s membership.
Reply
Generally these guidelines prohibit unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, and obscene conduct. Behavior that victimizes, harasses, degrades, or intimidates an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability constitute infractions that can lead to a member’s expulsion.
Many of these websites have difficulty upholding these guidelines because they simply do not want to pay for the monitoring that they require. Banned members often enroll again under new names with new IP addresses. These “sock puppets” infringe upon the rights of others and often register multiple accounts. Consequently, sites that cannot manage these sock puppets eventually lose those members that seek opportunities for civil discourse. And, by this process, extremist elements erode meaningful discussions and the quality of debate as the site turns to juvenile bouts of name-calling, personal attacks, and stereotypes. The value of sharing online can be constructive and bring understanding between people of different views and backgrounds; conversely, it also can become a destructive force that fosters intolerance and incites violence. In light of the recent increase in hate crimes and domestic violence in the United States, I thought this video might be of interest to some who are concerned members of various online forums.-
95%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I agree with most of what you've said here SC, however on Propeller, some of us try to do a little policing of the site ourselves due to lack of man power.. That said.. When a con complains that a banned libby has returned under another id, that person is immediately banned again.. I CAN NAME NAMES IF NEED BE! However when a libby points out that a con has returned under another id, there has to be a full scale investigation done before they can ban that person.. AND until that returnee breaks the TOU so severely that they have no recourse, those people are allowed to remain here indefinitely.. Again, i can name names, but i don't roll like that, and prefer not to!
Reply
-
-
-
100%
Goppy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
DEFINITION OF A SOCK PUPPET ...
Reply
A sockpuppet is an online identity used for purposes of deception within an online community.
I've been called a Sock Puppet because I used to post under the name Edinbug.
I do not consider myself a Sock Puppet because I'm the same person ... imagining the ideas that I use to counter the irrational and hypocritical posturing of the right.
I consider myself a Returning Member - after the punitive ... and I would say ... arbitrary enforcement of TOU.
There are numerous members like me.
For instance ... lovemylibs used to post as joeeddie ... he began posting as lovemylibs as a counterweight to the original 'Cracker-Barrel' stylings of Goppy. He was posting as two people for awhile. I didn't care.
luvmylibs was banned for gaming the system ... came back as AlphaGnosis (AlphaOmega ... LAST to know) .... was banned for gaming the system ... came back as redtomato .... banned for gaming the system .... .... and now .... .... after James Marcus has left ... is back AGAIN as lixbett.
I mean, EVERYONE knows lizbett is luvmyprez, AG, redtomato. And you know what? I don't care!
There's a lunatic insulter and obscenity flinger who's been banned something like 6 or 7 times. ... I'm talking about CALLISTO, DEADLYNIGHTSHADE, ATLAS-SHRUGGED, ellsworth-toohey, obama-watch, rally-monkey.
Some say he's returned as rouge something or other. And you know what? I DON'T CARE!
I see these people as RETURNING MEMBERS of Propeller.
Look, Propeller is a fairly small community. Don't we continue to run into each other ... each day turning into each week, turning into each month, turning into each year?
This is like a family. With the arguments and dysfunction of ANY family. Most of us are here because we have a vision of what Government represents ... and how it should be implemented.
After all ... government affects us every day ... it will affect our children .... and our grand-children (if we are so lucky). :-)
I say ... keep Propeller Propeller ... it's worked pretty ding dang well if you ask me. Except it's still slower than the previous, Netscape version.
. -
100%
Goppy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
BTW ... as all of you know, I used to post comments as Edinbug.
Reply
Here's the how and why I was banned.
I, that is to say ... (Edinbug) ... sent a story invitation to libsRfunny that included what I considered a humorous tweak to libsRfunny ... having no sense of humor ... libsRfunny digested this invitation ... and decided to regurgitate back to me with every imaginable insult and obscenity.
When I, that is to say ... (Edinbug) ... replied in kind ... given that I have this weakness for showing the ridiculousness of people's irrational behavior by showing it BACK to them .... However, libsRfunny replied with an even MORE elevated level of obscenities.
When I, that is to say ... (Edinbug) .... responded similarly ... (wondering how long this would go on before one of us burst out laughing) ... and exploring the depths to which libsRfunny would take this ridiculous exchange ... libsRfunny ran crying to James Marcus to have me banned.
After libsRfunny reported me, that is to say (Edinbug) ... libsRfunny replied to me with one last message ... taunting me that I was about to be banned ..... the message was very similar to what any 8 year old might hear .... like... na nana na nahhh ... you're going to be banned!
And indeed ... minutes later ... I WAS banned.
When I pled my case to James Marcus ... explaining that if libsRfunny complained about me using obscenities ... he should check libsRfunny's comments to me ... that is to say (Edinbug).
James Marcus reply was something to the effect of .... "The Conservative members already feel like they are being ganged up on ... if we let Edinbug back, (that is to say (me)) ... they would freak out."
If anyone thought that I was going to let some smarmy little whiner ... employing the EXACT SAME smarmy little whine about Liberal Media Bias ... was going to repress me .... they just don't know me.
I came back! And STRONGER THAN BEFORE ... because .... as Edinbug ... I tried to be humorous and conciliatory ... gracious ... (with some notable exceptions) ... and was given recognition by Right Wing (then) Netscape members.
But as GOPPY .... I'M RE-LOADED FOR BEAR .... and when Right Wing insults fly now ... I'm ready to RUB the Rights Noses in the BS they lay down.
That's why I say ... America is GREAT!
. -
100%
Goppy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Having said all that ... it would be nice if people didn't call me ass ... moron ... idiot ... libtard ... ...
Reply
Of course, it would also be nice if Commodore got back on his/her thorazine ... and if pc25 learned to love our country ... and if icantwait stopped posting from his cave in Tora Bora.
LOL!! -
-
-
94%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
That was spot on!
Reply
Funny (not HAHA) that Propeller management can immediately pick up on a liberal who has been banned if they try to come back and will re-ban them immediately.. NOT SO WITH THE CONS!! They are allowed to come back over and over, create sock puppets, and when it's pointed out, all the response we can get is.. It's under investigation! Our hands are tied.. lol..
I have just about stopped participating because of this unfair practice around here.. Who knows, maybe the powers that be at AOL wants this to be a conservative puke palace! That's what it's appearing to be, and i just don't feel like fighting them anymore! The cons on Prop have no morals, regardless of how many times they are banned, they will continue to come back and continue to wreak havoc, and AOL seems to approve and like it.. So Be It! -
-
100%
Mikunited4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Neat video with a great,(almost forgotten,by me)song as soundtrack.
Reply
It has become a fact of life,that name callers and bigots are using the"freedom of speech" argument,to further their extremist agenda.I think they believe it is irony,to use a "progressive's" tool/weapon against us.They should be pleased, that folk from a broader and more humanitarian mindset,fought many battles,often against reactionaries,to make freedom of speech available to all. -
83%
slate4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Yeah sock puppets are in both groups left and right. I was almost ecited about this thread, thinking it would be the beginning of a non-partisan discussion, where left and right could agree that sock puppets need to go. unfortunately I was wrong and it's turned into a one sided thing (as usual)
Reply
I don't know the number of how many of one side or the other has been kicked. I know of a couple prominent sock puppets on the left that have been around for a very long time with impunity. These people don't just come by and neg but openly participate. I also have a group that negs me and never posts.-
93%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Ok slate for the sake of debate, argument or whatever you want to call it.... HOW many liberals do you know that are banned and come back, and allowed to stay?? I can name you several cons that have been banned and allowed to come back and stay.. Do you really want me to go there?
Reply
-
-
100%
ameliog4 months, 1 week ago
-
-
100%
Spadecaller4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
thanks ameliog...
Reply
Sometimes it is best to make a statement with a song and picture. My voice has not come back yet since my surgery, so the only complex communication that I am doing is online at this point in time.
Btw, I really don't consider this a partisan attack as slate is framing it. What I mean is that if it were the left or right that was getting banned and being permitted to return as sock puppets, either way it is wrong and counterproductive for the best interests of this entire community.
Slate is being too sensitive about the politics of the people abusing this forum and undermining the quality of debate. There are people on both sides of the fence that have gone over the line and have been banned. I would like to see some straight shooting leadership from Propeller for a change and send back the sock puppets to the clothes line. If it happens to be 66% neocons and 32% liberals, and 2% sexual perverts doesn't matter to me.
It's the same thing with our national government; if we are all Americans, we should all be first loyal to the best interests of our nation and not to our party. If we care about this forum, we should care more about solving the problem rather than ascribing blame to one group or another. If there is a discrepancy and AOL is shirking their responsibilities in monitoring the right or left abusers, it would be best for Propeller's community to have this problem resolved as we will all benefit. The opportunity to engage in intelligent discussion on controversial subjects has nearly been obliterated on this site. Frankly, I am getting bored with the childish insults that several members (some of whom have been banned before) seem to enjoy. I am not just referring to the ones directed at me. LOL. Often entire threads are comprised of "You lefties and you neocons suck...bla bla bla. Most of us who have the capacity to be honest know who they are.
Even when posters on the left support ideas or similar opinions to my own, I still find it counterproductive and annoying that they cannot do it without using personal insults and attacks. It would be nice to stand together with other members of propeller regardless of their politics to show that we want and can do better as a social website. The benefits of meaningful discourse would be a far better source of solid entertainment than what we have presently.
Besides finding fulfillment through exchanges that are civil, we need to recognize a sad reality that is happening in this country. Difference is becoming the only excuse some people need for inciting others to react violently. We deserve better. Propeller needs to step up to the plate and get involved in fixing this issue before Propeller becomes a ghost town. -
100%
gamahuche4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
"Loved the video SC and grooved on the song!"
Reply
Hear hear to both !!
I was looking for somewhere to say this!
I missed many of SC's videos but of the ones that I was able to see this was the finest - the timing especially!
I also have a soft spot for Donovan!
-
-
100%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Perfect example.. The only person who has dropped this article is maroon_tide28, who has been a member all of 22 minutes and dropped 16 articles, no props and no comments! lol. Now wonder who that is who decided to return and drop a few of the liberal submissions??? Not hard for me to figure out, crimson tide.. Maroon tide!! Not rocket science!
Reply -
100%
Eagle_Eye4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I am so over the forces coming in and taking over our site....they post from their own blogs and in order to do this they have to post other stories so they create a bunch of sock puppet accounts to prop their stories to the front.
Reply
I am so over the hate filled stuff spewing from these people, yesterday after reading these two posts by the same person just made me sick over the fact that this stuff continues.
""spartafullthrottle15 hours, 41 minutes ago
You're some sick little internets ba*tards you know that?
46 Replies
""spartafullthrottle15 hours, 21 minutes ago
I have to say you prop plugs really keep outdoing yourselves in the lame comeback department. I will let you in on a little something, it's a standing joke in my internet circle (yes we all have them, well maybe not you guys b/c you seem to sit alone at the internets lunch table) but it's a standing joke that propeller is like the velveeta of internet social bookmarking sites (well the people that inhabit these un-hallowed walls are just a cut below ;D) So guys, yes step it the F up, please.""
Why do we put up with these people??? Just neg them don't engage them. I have also been doing research like n2n and am seeing a pattern of the props and am beginning to figure out who's sock puppets are who......
I have stopped commenting because I keep getting picked apart o n what I say and I am tired of being attacked.-
89%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
It's been reported, by several good, long term Propeller members.. The only response we can get is... It's being investigated, our hands are tied! Their hands wasn't tied when they banned PHB or Tess or any of the other Liberals they have banned... Then they allow cons to come back, knowing full well who they are, and let them stay until they are backed up against the wall with irrefutible evidence and have no choice but to ban them again.. lol..
Reply
When you saw sparta make that last comment yesterday, i wish you had told her that she keeps coming back so what's that say about her? Apparently Prop isn't the joke they pretend it is! But i'm about done with it! -
100%
Ciera-Marie4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
spartafullthrottle is nixie. I suspect this because all of her comments are similar to Nixie's. She. like lixbett haven't been members long, but sure do know which groups to join, how to spam other groups with their stories, make inciteful hateful comments, then know who to run to to get a member banned. While being able to stay after making hateful comments themselves.
Reply
Also one cannot forgot deadlynightshade (do not know who she was before that. But she has some serious f***ed up ones.)/atlasshrugged (remembered this time! Yes! I got atlas shrugged and alphagnosis/omega mixed up because they'd prop each others stuff. They also were gaining up on some members. And dropping all of their submissions.)/obamanation/rallymonkey.
You can bet against it if you want, but I guarantee she'll be back. The only she hasn't done is stalked male liberal/independent members and make comments on the threads about what she'd like to do. God that was awful. -
100%
fiftynine4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
"I have stopped commenting because I keep getting picked apart o n what I say and I am tired of being attacked.'...Don't let them win..Plenty of people on here appreciate what you have to say and have your back.When you get tired of the game players...block um..works for me..:-)
Reply -
-
-
-
94%
aceofspades14 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
vidman - automan- notalwaysilent- tadair- and (drum roll) wolfie are all part of everyone's gnat swarm here, so their negs negate themselves and negs from sock puppets are the rashes they leave behind.
Reply
Who gives a chit about them when the pos I get from rational people almost always out number them by four to one-
50%
slate4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
All sides get negs from other memebers,,,,, you should see my list of regulars and unknowns that neg me. I'm also sure those you mentioned could come up with a very large list of their own. Why do all of Spade's threads only discuss one side of an issue that is rampant on both sides?
Reply
Thoug the music was good some of the imagery was a bit rwisted by artful.
-
-
-
100%
Eagle_Eye4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
WHY does some one new come on this site and immediately can't hold a decent conversation and has to use a lot of profanities....?????
Reply
spartafullthrottle15 hours, 1 minute ago
^^^ Ok we will work through this together, jovial the correct colloquial term, is 'circle jerk', you guys are the velveeta, we are well idk maybe brie. We will keep coming in droves b/c this site is effin lame without us, you guys suck at this you really do. Bronx- what was that porn you directed me to? Das site is forboden.
spartafullthrottle5 hours, 49 minutes ago
Yes please enlighten me, b/c I have every f-tard and their brother calling me nixie. By all means ask propeller, we will indeed have different ips, b/c I AM NOT F*CKING NIXIE YOU MORONS.
spartafullthrottle4 hours, 58 minutes ago
If anything I would say I am notorious within the digg realm see (map, missamericanpie and wearesparta). Did nixie have a picture? I mean this is fricken ridiculous I am getting harassed all over the place, b/c you idiots think I am someone else, and it's really starting to **** me off.-
100%
not2needy4 months, 1 week ago
-
100%
Ciera-Marie4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
While she claims not to be nixie all of her comments are exactly what/how nixie would say them when she'd get fed up. Notice too nixie stuck mainly with alpha. Guess where this sparta person hangs out? On lizbett's submissions and threads.
Reply -
-
-
100%
Newperson4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I'm not sure I understand all this sockpuppet stuff. I think i have some friends here that are only one person. If any of the people here that really are my friend please send me a list of who is who if you will. Thanks The ONLY NP!
Reply
Maby I don't belong here? And that makes me sad.-
100%
Eagle_Eye4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
NP. you do belong here!!!! If you read my post above yours that contains comments made earlier on another post you may understand part of what we are talking about.
Reply
"Sock Puppets" are users multiple accounts used to prop up stories or drop stories, post comments to themselves or terrorize other members. They are also known as "Trolls"
People get banned and then come back here with new names/profiles but they still go after the same people and write with the same style. They are here just to create as much turmoil and stir the pot of hate as they can.
They attack posters who they don't agree with and some have really foul language and writing skills. They turn a post from great conversation into a hate fest, they post controversial stories from controversial sites just to cause disharmony, IMHO, they are misserable people who like to make others miserable, kind of like the school yard bully -
-
100%
deathray4 months, 1 week ago
-
100%
Ciera-Marie4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I'm the only Ciera Marie. You do belong here. I have a suggestion though. Please stop sending your music submits to groups that have nothing to do with music. Unless its a protest or political one go for it. Or somewhat humerus. Because it makes it really difficult for some of us to go to the groups when there is everything but the topic of the group. On the old Netscape that was also a definition of sockpuppet. One who would submit something but then send it to all of the channels. I'm saying this because I like music and humor and try to spend most of my time there rather than on the political threads because of all the sock puppets.
Reply
-
-
100%
Sageparadox4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Guilty of sock puppettering a while back. It was awhile back when I was stuck at home hooked up to oxygen. So I made up about a dozen sock puppets to hype up the pos on my stories summitted. So I was caught, had all of my puppets whiped out. I was getting kinda sick of competting for stories submitted anyways and created another account, KMFDM. After my lung transplant and propeller changed it format, propeller allowed me create my SageParadox handle again. I guees my sockpuppetting days were nothing to what some people are doing, but just wanted to amit to being a non-concervative that was guilty of sockpuppetting.
Reply -
-
100%
fsev414 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Unfortunately, it appears to me that there has been a meteoric rise in possible sock puppet activity since James Marcus left. It seems he was getting fairly adept at spotting styles of those that were banned and came back under new names.
Reply
The increase recently seems to be almost entirely right wing and many abusive or profane or vulgar at least. On the left there has been little recent change in the number of regular contributors and Psychohose was a recently banned leftie but has yet to reappear. I don't believe he would be able to post civil, clean comments that wouldn't be recognized. I'm not aware of a method of determining who the newest members are and how there posting but it certainly looks to me like it's the right that is swarming. Sorry Slate but if you look critically at recent postings you will probably come to the same conclusion.
That said, it's often the radicals from both sides that make the threads entertaining as well as educational. -
100%
Eagle_Eye4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Here is a really good example of a sock puppet...
Reply
http://www.propeller.com/member/trisionder/
only a member for 4 months yet is the top "Propeller Proper" with over 100,000 props...I spotted one trying last week by running a program and in fact I was IM with PHB about this person propping over 1,000 stories in an hour. I IM Tom about it and they did catch them and banned them, yet this Sock Puppet still remains on the boards. It isn't fair to those of us that post stories, prop stories, comment on stories for some one to come in with a computer program and prop themselves to the top.-
100%
slate4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I never said the right doesn't have them or that they haven't increased,,,,,,,, in the end i don't have a clue for sure who is or isn't a Sp,,,,,,, one poster admitted to doing this in the past and I had no clue,,,,, howver, if we are going to solve the problem then we need to get rid of them regardless of political side or their numbers,,,,, if more are from the right then they should go, if the numbers are largest on the left they need to go. Try to weigh out who the worse offenders isn't really the point here, but getting rid of ALL offenders.
Reply
-
-
-
100%
LumFan4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
SC, love the video (and the music), and your insight is spot on. I am not on here every day, so I have a harder time spotting those who were banned but returned.
Reply
And I am in the same position as Slate. If I were to be banned (not sure why they would bother with someone like me), I would be banned for good, as I am not that knowledgeable to figure out how to sneak back in. Then again, I have other sites where I tend to hang out. So no big deal. -
100%
CRYMTYPHON4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Anyone with anything worth saying,
Reply
wouldn't give it to a sock puppet.
Ergo: the best way to id a fake,
is if they never say anything worth hearing . Reply
CRYMTYPHON_SOCK 0%
1 minute ago
That is so true, Mr. Crymtyphon.
You are right; as always!-
100%
CRYMTYPHON4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Thank you!
Reply
Sock puppets are for losers.
Reply
CRYMTYPHON_SOCK 0%
1 minute ago
Very true, Mr. Crym!.
You are much smarter than everyone else here! -
-
-
100%
Spadecaller4 months, 1 week ago
-
100%
tdrapeau4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
We have not given up the fight against sock puppetry on Propeller. Yes, we have less staff than in times past, and I for one do miss the discerning eye of James Marcus. We don't get to reports immediately, but we do strive for decisive action once we have enough proof.
Reply
I have been forwarded a few lists of suspected sock puppets/reincarnations of former members, and we have people looking into them this weekend. We also do want to be sure we aren't banning scapegoats in place of those who are goading members into saying things they shouldn't in the heat of the moment.
We do strive for the utmost consistency in upholding the Terms of Use. Most cases are unique and for all those that I am involved with, I tend to share with multiple staff members to make sure we are making the right calls.
We are most likely looking at a 2-part solution to recent activity, one part is looking to see which (if any) members should be banned, and the other part is looking into whether or not new features in the product could help in easing the burden on the community to report wrongdoing. We have been discussing this already and will continue to do so.
I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July holiday.-
100%
Eagle_Eye4 months, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Hi Tom, I love how you do pay attention to the community and our concerns!!! You are always there when I have messaged and questioned. Now you have really big shoes to fill with out JM there with his discerning eye.
Reply
I think posts like this also helps you to understand where the community is at and the frustrations we feel and the things we think need addressing. We know you and the team are busy with a lot of other things to keep this site running and the recent additions to twitter and the editing on story submissions, etc. is really time consuming and is GREATLY appreciated by the community.
I am sure I can say for my fellow member friends on Propeller "Thank You" for your work and have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!!!!
-
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.