The first time I heard the term "sock-puppet" I thought it was a new, improved condom. Ribbed for pleasure is old school. This baby vibrates and makes you see fireworks.

Sock puppets: The sleeper cell of Sesame Street.

Favorite sock puppet song: Dancing With Myself, by Billy Idol

But no. A sock-puppet is:

sock pup·pet
noun
noun: sockpuppet

1. a simple hand puppet made from a sock.
2. a false online identity, typically created by a person or group in order to promote their own opinions or views.

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Sounds like half the people on the Internet to me.

How do we know for sure the hot chat we're having with a centerfold is not really a couch potato with a Doritos problem?

Good writers put themselves in the readers place, imagining the conversation they are having in their heads from reading their words. Isn't that a bit like having a sock puppet in your head?

Sure, it's not the same as posting online under a false identity, but it does make for some good conversations.

As @luzcypher if I had a sock puppet I assume it would be @god. (Hmm, I wonder if @god is on Steemit) Hold on a minute. Let me check, I'll be right back.

OMG! @god is on Steemit! Of course, he hasn't posted anything yet. Just like in real life. I'm surprised his wallet is empty too. I'm sure he'll be passing the basket around soon and yes, he takes Steem Dollars and accepts BitCoin .

Anonyminity has it's value online and offline and many writers use a pen name for their works for a variety of reasons.

Brian A. Klems, the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine explains:

Authors write under pseudonyms, or pen names, for a variety of reasons. Established authors will do it to cross genres and keep from aggravating their fan bases. Wouldn’t you be a bit ticked off if you bought Stephen King’s next book expecting blood, guts and hair-raising intensity, only to find out it’s a weepy romance novel? King may choose to publish under a different name so he doesn’t disappoint his die-hard horror fans.

Another reason for using a pen name is to switch publishers. When an author is under contract, her publisher may own the rights to any upcoming work under her name. Often authors will take up a new name so they can shop around their work while avoiding legal problems (be sure to read your contract closely, though, because some prohibit this).

But one of the most common reasons authors write under aliases is because their earlier works bombed. If a writer didn’t make money for the publisher the first time, he’s not likely to get a second chance—publishers would prefer to give someone new a shot. Under a pen name, a writer can be reborn. credit

Recently there's been a great debate on Steemit about verifying people's profiles and I understand the need for it in some cases, but to insist everyone proves they are who they say they are is taking it a bit too far.

I get it. If you say you're Angelina Joile and earn some big rewards from your posts on Steemit, then we may want some verification and to resist proving it would raise some doubts. If you are Angelina, why would you not want to verify it. P.S. - Meet me in private on SteemitChat.

Everyone has sock puppets going on in their heads. Superman and Clark Kent is a prime example. I think Superman should see a shrink. At least Batman is billionaire Bruce Wayne on his days off.

We could add Mr. Rogers to the list too.

Look at yourself for example. Are you the same person at work as you are with your kids or your significant other? If you are then you need a shrink too.

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There are times however when the Steemit community should let this issue slide. Take the example of @honeyscribe.

The quality of her work speaks for itself and she's obviously a professional writer. Ideas she expresses here may put her at a disadvantage at her work and she has concerns about her safety from a stalker. What's the big deal? Why are some people obsessed with revealing her identity? Does it really matter who she calls herself if the quality of her contributions add to the Steemit platform?

If her payouts were pennies no one would even notice. It baffles me that someone would spend all their time and talent investigating her identity to such an extent when they could be writing an investigative piece that would add value to Steemit. Leave the girl alone and let her get back to writing. Some of us have work to do.

And @god, if you're out there on Steemit, we need to talk. Wake up, your followers are waiting to hear from you. To those of you looking to @god for answers, you can always count on @luzcypher to keep you company. Join me and @lordvader on the dark side. We'll have a some coffee. Black. No sugar. No cream.

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