The system automatically bans people who have too many sockpuppets.

We realize that there are fun things to do with sockpuppets, so they won't be restricted altogether, but they will be limited to no more than ten. You can use this tool to remove unused sockpuppets to stay within that range.

You may be able to create more than ten, but be aware that if/when the system picks up on the count being more than ten, it will ban you automatically.

This is all part of protecting the site from persistent trolls.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:33:08 AM by FastEddie

The relevant question for a lot of people, I think, would be "What qualifies as too many?"

Edit: Ok, good to know.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:55:26 AM by Meeble

Is there a chance for a lift?

What if you don't use most of them? What if most/all of them are harmless?

^ Possibly 5.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:32:52 AM by Edmania

Sorry, posted too early. See first post.

I have a bunch of sockpuppets (eight or so?) but they're all just for fun canon character sockpuppets that I only use in the RP threads, never for trolling.

I doubt a Haruhi sockpuppet would be particularly effective at trolling.

EDIT: Oh, okay.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:34:44 AM by Metalhead467

Metalhead467, you have 12, according to the system. Very easy to forget just how many you have, isn't it? You should zap a few with the tool linked in the first post.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:40:03 AM by FastEddie

If we remove an account using this tool, someone else will still be able to create an account with that name later, right?

Also, is there any way we can check how many we have, in case we don't remember?

edited 9th Dec '10 10:41:01 AM by DYRE

Okay, will do.

Thanks for the heads up.

We can't provide a tool to tell you how many sockpuppets the system thinks you have because using it will tell a troll how to conceal how many they have.

Recreate: Sure. If it is a recreation, though, the indicators of it being a possible sockpuppet go way up.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:51:58 AM by FastEddie

Ah. Fair enough. So I guess I should just be careful about making sockpuppets.

Well, regarding recreating an account, I was just thinking that it'd be a shame if people started deleting some of their extra roleplaying sockpuppets, and then nobody is able to use the name again.

Though, yeah, that would be easily abusable if people mean to use sockpuppets for trolling or whatever, now that I think about it.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:53:20 AM by DYRE

Question: I currently have more than ten sockpuppets, so I need to drop a few. Is it safe to log into them to delete them without triggering the ban?

edited 9th Dec '10 10:53:23 AM by CentralAvenue

(how many sockpuppets do I have?)

^^Yes.

edited 9th Dec '10 10:57:59 AM by FastEddie

I can't tell if i'm overloaded with socks or not...

According to the puppet-checker you have 5 accounts, Ed.

What about meeeeeeee? I think I should only have 7, but I could have created some earlier without remembering.

edited 9th Dec '10 11:08:10 AM by DYRE

...does Fast Edmania count? Cause that one wasn't made by me and wasn't only used by me.

@ DYRE: You have eight accounts, including your main one. So yes, seven socks.

@ Ed: No, Fast Edmania doesn't count. Or at least, I didn't count it, because the puppet-checker didn't display it.

edited 9th Dec '10 11:10:50 AM by BobbyG

How many do I have please?

Thirteen. Delete a few.

I deleted three, but I deleted some of them before your reply. Could you send me a PM with the list so I can see?

I'm concerned I have too many. How many do I have?

Should this be stickied?

Marioguy, you have 4 accounts.

Me next! Me next! How many do I have?

Unless I'm misremembering, I should have 5, including this one.

Puppet-checker says 6. Sending you the list.