How to correctly identify socks. 1.1 Introduction
1.2 Mission
2.1 What is a sock?
2.2 Why do people make socks?
2.3 What are some hints about socks?
2.4 How do I protect myself from them?
3.1 New Posters to Allakhazam.
3.2 Traits of a New Poster.
4.1 Key Difference between a Sock and a New Poster.
5.1 End Notes. 1.1 Introduction -This thread is about the identification of socks and how to handle them. Also, it will help you notice key differences between socks and new posters.
1.2 Mission -Too often I find people getting sand in their ******'s over socks. Also I see a problem with New Posters getting incorrectly labeled as socks. My mission is to help my fellow posters properly identify socks and handle them appropriately.
2.1 What is a Sock? -A Sock is short for "Sock Account" in which posters make a bogus account for various reasons.
2.2 Why do people make Socks? -Some posters make Socks for various reasons which may include but are not limited too:
To post in a "hot" topic to protect their Karma or Forum Reputation on their main account.To get a sock of a Karma average of at least 3.01 in order to rate their main account up.To protect their "in-game" reputation.To make an account for the sole purpose of trolling or flaming a forum, thread, post, and/or another poster. 2.3 What are some hints about Socks? -A sock account will always do certain things and have certain traits that make them obvious the the Experienced Poster.
Usually a low post count. Most socks will be below 100 posts though a few will have over 100. This is just a general rule of thumb.If the Sock has accumulated over 15 posts more than likely they will be sub-default.A sock account will make at least one of the following types of posts:
[li]A flaming post in order to turn a perfectly good thread into a huge ***** fight.An ignorant racist post or use racist words or theme's in their posts.An off-topic post. Which is usually combined with a flame or some inane information in order to derail a thread.If it is a rate-sock there will be multiple posts and the main account will rate up all the posts. These socks are most annoying because rarely do they post and are used to rate up and down a whole thread. These are the hardest to spot. However they always make a critical error. They will rate everyone down in a thread EXCEPT the main account and those that agree with the main account.Will make threads that are controversial for the sole purpose of getting people butthurt. These kinds of Socks are the most annoying as their threads will more than likely remain at the top because many posters feed into their bullshit.[/li]
2.4 How do I protect myself from Socks? -Though there is no sure fire plan to protecting yourself from socks here is some things you can do:
If you are a scholar, sage, or guru you can rate down the sock and set your filter at the default filter or higher. Those that can rate have sub-admin capabilities and rewarding shitty posts and posters with a bad Karma rating, and good posters and posts, with a good Karma rating is the whole idea behind the Karma System.
If you are not a scholar, sage, or guru you can just set your filter ad the default filter or higher.The obvious: Ignore them!Don't get upset by what they write.Don't respond to them, or even mention their name. They'll get bored eventually.If a sock is especially annoying and or ignorant then send a PM to an Allakhazam Administrator and they will deal with the sock accordingly. 3.1 New Posters to Allakhazam. -First and foremost, welcome to Allakhazam.com! That said, New Posters(Which I will shorten as NP) are often confused for socks.
3.2 Traits of a New Poster. -NP's will do things much more differently than Socks. A NP will usually do the following.
NP's tend to be polite, and/or unsure of what to do.Make errors with various site commands like links, quotes, and various other site commands.Have no idea how the karma system works.Makes threads in the wrong forums.Asks simple questions about forum commands, how to get hold of an administrator, questions about avatars, karma, etc.Low post count(duh!)Might be below the decent filter as they make off topic threads in forums and are thus rated down as a result. 4.1 Key difference between a Sock and a New Poster. Socks and NP's both have low post counts, however a Sock will generally know other posters posting history unlike NP's.Socks know how to use the various site commands, and use them well. NP's will probably not.Socks will flame, belittle, frustrate, and/or harass other posters a NP will more than likely not(unless they are a troll which is a different topic).Socks are persistent in offending people, NP's will more than likely apologize if they offend someone or will not continue with the thread.Both may have a low Karma Rating but for different reasons which are stated above.Socks will tend to use posters nicknames and/or character names as they have such knowledge, a NP has simply not been around long enough to know.Socks will link to old posts and threads, a NP will not.Socks will necropost old flame topics, a NP will necropost topic they found interesting or worth the information. 5.1 End Notes. -Now that I have helped you identify socks you might be able to correctly identify them and ignore them just as quickly.
Scholars, Sages, and Gurus please help the posting community by doing your part in sub-defaulting these socks with utter vindication.To everyone else, do not respond to them. These people are cowards at best. They are looking for attention and you only feed it by responding to them.Please do not confuse New Posters with Socks.If we work together we can defeat the internet terrorists known as Socks.
That is all. Edited, Dec 9th 2006 8:38pm by Rimesume
