Sock puppeting.

[ScarahStratton]

Can I ask how MNHQ are going to deal with this, given that technology now means that it is perfectly possible to post simultaneously, from 2 different devices, showing 2 different IP addresses?

Is it going to be ignored? Or do you have plans afoot to deal with this?

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

It's.alwYs been possible surely

[GrimAndHumourless]

prob best that HQ don't reveal their processes, or it'll be a Troll 101 lesson IYSWIM

as always, report if you have concerns

(GOOD LORD when did I become the Voice of Reason - sob)

[Whooooosualsuspect]

You can voice concerns, but if there's no way of proving it then I dunno what the answer is.

[Tee2072]

It's always been possible with dynamic IP addresses.

And Also TSSDNCOP

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I'd kind of like to know if they are as anti-people calling people sock puppets as they are about calling people trolls.

just as a side issue. And not just regarding myself!

what stealth says though - surely it's always been possible, if it is now?

[Tee2072]

Dud you just call me "stealth"?

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

Sorry Tee, no, I didn't click on your link as I still don't know what tssncld]pojet or whatever it is means. I was talking about Shriek's post (she is normally stealthpolarbear)

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

But yes, what Tee says too.

[Tee2072]

It means The Secret Service Does Not Comment On Procedure.

Ah, I see. I didn't realize her non-Hallowe'en name I guess. Or something.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

Oh thankyou! I like that.

[ScarahStratton]

That's what concerns me usual. How the hell can you prove someone's NQU when you'd need half of MI5 to decipher what's going on.

You'd have to be a massive idiot to get caught as a sock puppet or troll now, I just want to know if there's plans afoot, not what those plans are.

[IamtheZombie]

May Zombie add namechanging to goad to this thread please, Stratters.

[ScarahStratton]

Absolutely Zombie.

[Northernlurkerisbehindyouboo]

I think it's probably time to stop instant name changes tbh. If you want to namechange for privacy then you should have to wait an hour or two before posting again. Sort of cooling off period - like with buying a gun.

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

Oh Hooray. Another thread complaining about how MN manage the site. There's been a lot of these recently.

The problem with sock puppets when there's no evidence that they are sock puppets is that you can't expect MNHQ to use ESP to know who they are. There are ways to identify if someone is a SP, but they take time and aren't an exact science.

[Whooooosualsuspect]

Good plan, Northern. I've never been on a forum before where it's so easy to NC as it is on MN.

[ScarahStratton]

Nobody's complaining.

I asked if there were plans afoot to cope with this sort of thing. Nothing wrong with that. And I think Northern's idea is excellent, it is far, far too easy to nc on here. Chose your name, stick with it.

[Tee2072]

I have always said the name change ability is crazy. No other forum that I have ever been on has allowed it so openly.

[SuePurblybilt]

How about if they didn't let ANYONE NC (apart from via MNHQ, in case of outing or similar) but had one area like OTBT where everyone was anonymous. A place to post the Qs about your itchy piles. You'd be cloaked automatically

I don't think asking a question/making a request is anything like the breathtaking rudeness to and criticism of MNHQ I've seen today, for eg. Seems fair enough to me.

[ScarahStratton]

Nope, DD1 goes on a few beauty forums, that sort of thing. There's no name changing on any of them, it's simply not an option.

Perhaps it would be better if people were more aware of what they put on the boards. In the last couple of weeks alone, I've seen people gaily answering threads asking who's famous birthdays they were born on, and what their pets are called.

Those 2 threads alone, if people answer with RL info, have given someone dates of birth and pet names. Two of the biggest security checks used. Yet it seems to pass so many people by that they're giving out stuff like that.

The lack of awareness that this is an open forum is quite simply frightening sometimes.

[Northernlurkerisbehindyouboo]

Scarah - I agree with that. Not too long ago I did some googling because I was convinced a poster was spinning a tale. I had maybe two pieces of information on them. Using that I found out a scarily large amount about them - including, obviously, the fact that they were absolutely genuine. Come to that I am quite sure that you could identify me if you trawled through my posts.

[ScarahStratton]

Frightening isn't it. :(

Yet still it seems that people think it's the responsibility of MNHQ and other posters to safeguard them, and their sensibilities. Bit of personal responsibility and the use of the little red x wouldn't go amiss sometimes.

[SuePurblybilt]

YY. In the last few weeks I've seen threads asking for birthdays, home town, pet's names and age, inc age of family members.
Scarily big threads too, people just love giving out that sort of information.

[ScarahStratton]

Well, that's more than enough information to hack a Facebook account, or a bank account. Sometimes I think that Nanny State has got the right idea, and we should be absolved of all responsibility for anything.

[Tee2072]

Personally, I am open and out there but I always have been.

But not on the important stuff. I never give my full date of birth if asked on a forum. Or my mother's maiden name. Or my specific place of birth.

You can participate without giving it all away.

On the other hand, I have no problem telling people my real name and the general area where I live.

Anonymity is dead at worst and an illusion at best.