Sockpuppets in Fandom

[caer]

(Yay, I finally get to use this icon.)

I recently read Dr. Merlin's article on sockpuppets, Sock It to Me, and I gotta say I had no idea people like this actually exist :/ I can understand the wanting attention thing - to an extent - but creating pseudo personae to praise yourself and your work? CREEPY. And downright sad

Comments

[caviarandmeths]

Oh god, from a psychological standpoint, the Ms. Scribe incident is FASCINATING. I actually reread that whole account from time to time and it never gets less riveting. The lengths to which some people will go to in order to garner sympathy or be the center of attention is just... I don't even know. I can't truly fathom it, but it's there. Gah.

[caer]

It's so hard to believe this actually happened. It's so bizarre! I feel like I'm reading a detective novel, lol. I'm mostly WTF right now (they're so many names to keep track of!), but I most definitely agree about it being riveting O_O

The lengths to which some people will go to in order to garner sympathy or be the center of attention

Situations like those, I'm kinda thankful for my social/emotional ineptitude, LOL.

[foibles_fables]

At first, I thought you were talking about actual sockpuppets. Like you had an interest in making them or something. *facepalm* I still need sleep.

I've never exerienced a sockpuppet before, but it seems to be at a Holy Shit level of craziness.

[caer]

LOL!! No, definitely not referring to actual sockpuppets! =D

It really is, isn't it?! I probably wouldn't even know if I was engaging with one :/

[foibles_fables]

OH! SHIT! The needing sleep strikes again...I *HAVE* dealt with a sockpuppet! In my old fandom. A couple, actually. It wasn't of the fic worshipping/flaming variety, though.

I'm reading the whole Ms.Scribe post. Jeeeesus Christ. This is why I'm glad the Grey's fandom doesn't come across wank very often.

[caer]

Wow, how did you know it was a sockpuppet?

Right?! I've been slowly going through it the last couple of days. Currently on chapter five, and HOLY SHIT! What I want to know is, how did she have so much time on her hands? o.O

[juno_chan]

The Msscribe thing was a whoooole lotta crazy! In the HP fandom in general, however, sockpuppets run wild. Luckily most incidents are fairly minor (unlike the Msscribe incident) and pretty small scale. The most common use I've seen has been in fights, usually over fic. When someone criticizes a fic in a way that the author deems 'unfair', it's not uncommon for screaming 'friends' to come out of the woodwork...mostly the author making up new s/ns so they can tell the critiquer to fuck off while still appearing to be the 'victim'.

[caer]

Are you involved with the HP fandom? I only ask because it sounds like you experienced it first-hand =)

Man, I don't understand people who can't take concrit (if it was a flame, I can understand why they'd be pissed). Regardless, use of sockpuppetry is pathetic (which sounds harsh, but well...).

[juno_chan]

I used to be, although not so much anymore. I was never really in the THICK of fandom but I definitely got the witness the batshit! The Harry Potter fandom is just so BIG. And I agree with you regarding concrit. The biggest use of sockpuppets I've seen has been in response to posting fics at FanFicRants or Deletrius, which...kinda often do err to the side of flaming rather than concrit (especially Deletrius). However the use of sockpuppets just blow it up into an even bigger mess.

Harry Potter Fandom: SRS BZNS YO.

[caer]

Wow. I can't even imagine something like that playing out in Grey's O_O

I'm...at a loss for words.

[escapismrocks]

I don't think I've ever really come across a hardcore sockpuppet, maybe one or two when I first ventured into the Grey's fandom at the actual ABC boards.

I do however know of a site whose moderators use sockpuppets to stir up discussions. It was certainly mind boggling when I discovered the 'real' identity of some of the usernames, and the conversations they were having with themselves.

P.S. I hope you don't mind me friending - or commenting. But you have the best discussions!

[caer]

WHAT. That *is* mind-boggling! Kinda smart to use that to get discussions going, though. But that could really blow up in their faces! :O

Oh, I don't mind at all =) I thought you friended to keep up with the Round Robin updates, so I wasn't sure whether to friend back...Feel free to pitch in anytime! =D

[citron_presse]

I do however know of a site whose moderators use sockpuppets to stir up discussions.

Oh, I hated that. I hated even worse that I had to get one (although, today is the first day I knew it was called a sock puppet) - although I only used it twice to comment, I think (there was a pro Mark/Callie drive on at the time and virtually no shippers lol!); and once to check the non-mod permissions on the challenge I ran! (Although - I could tell you some (probable) gossip about that, relating to another mod.)

I also felt kind of let down because one of the sock puppets (the outspoken one) had always left me really nice reviews and, when I entered mod-dom and found out she wasn't real, it was quite disappointing.

(labil sorry to enter discussion by the back door and then just indulge in private gossip &hearts)

[caer]

No worries =) Feel free to leave through the back door also, if you want ;)

one of the sock puppets (the outspoken one) had always left me really nice reviews

Oh, ouch! I would be devastated if I found that out about one of my readers =(

ETA: 'devastated' was the word I couldn't think of earlier, lol.

[waltzmatildah]

Oh. My. Goodness.

I'm just about to start Chapter Four. The whole thing is... enthralling! I mean, why? I don't... I'm speechless!

Imagine having that much time on your hands...

*disappears to keep reading*

[caer]

I just finished (including the afterwords!)! I'm speechless too!! Literally in shock. It seems so Did that really happen??. I'm *so* going back for a second read O_O

[waltzmatildah]

I just finished, too. Afterwords and all.

Holy, holy COW! I can't even make a coherent statement just yet... I'ma go think about it for a while and come back...

Just, wow.