Difference between revisions of "Sock puppet"
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| − | A [[Sock puppet]] is an | + | A [[Sock puppet]] is an online identity assumed in order to manage perceptions. The term— referring to a simple hand puppet made from a sock—originally referred to a false identity assumed by a participant in an internet community who addressed or wrote about her/himself while pretending to be another person.<ref name="wordspy">[http://www.wordspy.com/words/sockpuppet.asp Definition of ''sockpuppet''] WordSpy.com, accessed 15 August 2012</ref> The term now includes other uses of misleading online identities, such as those created to praise, defend, support or criticise, attack or oppose a third party or organization,<ref name="NYTimes">Brad Stone [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/technology/16blog.html?ex=1342238400&en=9a3424961f9d2163&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss The Hand That Controls the Sock Puppet Could Get Slapped] ''New York Times'' July 16, 2007, accessed 15 August 2012.</ref> or to circumvent a suspension or ban from a website or other online space. A significant difference between the use of a pseudonym and the creation of a sockpuppet is that the sockpuppet poses as an independent or partially independent third-party unaffiliated with the puppeteer. |
Revision as of 08:51, 15 August 2012
A Sock puppet is an online identity assumed in order to manage perceptions. The term— referring to a simple hand puppet made from a sock—originally referred to a false identity assumed by a participant in an internet community who addressed or wrote about her/himself while pretending to be another person.[1] The term now includes other uses of misleading online identities, such as those created to praise, defend, support or criticise, attack or oppose a third party or organization,[2] or to circumvent a suspension or ban from a website or other online space. A significant difference between the use of a pseudonym and the creation of a sockpuppet is that the sockpuppet poses as an independent or partially independent third-party unaffiliated with the puppeteer.
Resources
- For Wikipedia policy on sockpuppets, see Wikipedia:Sock puppetry
Notes
- ↑ Definition of sockpuppet WordSpy.com, accessed 15 August 2012
- ↑ Brad Stone The Hand That Controls the Sock Puppet Could Get Slapped New York Times July 16, 2007, accessed 15 August 2012.
