Clean Up

[plumtreeblossom]

I unfriended a few LJs that appeared to have been abandoned for at least a year. Not that I don't like you, its just that I don't think you're here anymore. If I made a mistake and you want to be added back to my friends list, just say the word. I didn't unfriend any known sock puppets (people with LJ accounts who read but don't post entries). But again, if I made a mistake, I'll be glad to add you back.

Comments

[ron_newman]

That's not the way I normally hear the term "sock puppet" used. Usually it means a second LJ (or other online) identity, used to avoid associating a posting with the primary identity.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I've always used "sock puppet" to mean someone with an account who doesn't use their LJ for posting, but does read other LJs/communities and responds if they want, and that LJ is their primary identity. Kind of like you (although you posted the other day!)

Per the other kind you describe, I have one of those second LJs, which I basically used to lurk silently on the conservative political communities during the election. I haven't done much of that since the election, so I'll probably delete it at some point.

[rozasharn.livejournal.com]

Then you've been using it wrong. Sock puppet means a false identity, used to create the illusion of independent third parties agreeing with the primary identity. It derives from the pretense that the sock on your hand is a separate person, and therefore the things it says shouldn't be blamed on you. Sockpuppetry has nothing to do with whether someone posts in their journal, or even having more than one journal per se; it's defined by the dishonesty of faking a different identity.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

I'm grateful, bot for your continued friendage, and your open-mindedness towards creatures of sock (which is the more politically correct term)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

SOCK MONKEY PRIDE!

[dajt.livejournal.com]

I would call those folks "lurkers", but that's just me.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I use "lurk" to mean reading sillently without ever posting replies. If you do, then you're not lurking anymore. But, that's just me. :-)