Why Is Everyone Hiding Behind Puppets?

[The Honest Defender (Ancient II)]

Basically lack of courage to put their neck on the line. They wish to spew their opinions without anyone knowing who they are really rebutting.

I am less a puppet than you; I have more posts. It is my neck on the line; I am putting out when fighting darkspawn.

[Reploid Productions]

The worst thing about it is I have to bite my tongue because "Mildly annoying use of puppets in GP" does not fall under the category of "situations where it is acceptable and allowed for a mod to out puppetmasters."

[Ever-Wandering Souls]

The worst thing about it is I have to bite my tongue because "Mildly annoying use of puppets in GP" does not fall under the category of "situations where it is acceptable and allowed for a mod to out puppetmasters."

At what point is it just trolling though?

[Valerius the Whisperer]

Well, from the standpoint of people using the puppets to give them some anonymity (at least with the broader NS public), I don't think it is automatically a bad thing. While anonymity can be and is used for nefarious purposes in plenty of instances, it can just as well be used to provide protection to the author of the posts for a variety of legitimate reasons, such as voicing a deeply unpopular opinion that they want to air and discuss but know that they will incur potential social stigma for doing so, someone coming forth to expose certain actions without blowing their cover, someone concerned that who they are will drown out the actual substance of what they are saying, etc. We can attack someone for not being brave enough to tie their words to their own face, and in plenty of instances this may well be a fair charge to lay against them, but even cowards can make legitimate and valuable contributions, especially when they can bypass the hurdles such a nature places before a person.

This isn't to discount the obvious and already mentioned reality that this is often abused, and a lot of the examples cited could quite arguably be classed as such, but I do think it is worth stressing that the practice on its own isn't inherently a negative thing and, while it does obfuscates motives by its very nature, determining its legitimacy is really something that should be contextual (at least by my reckoning).

[Reploid Productions]

The worst thing about it is I have to bite my tongue because "Mildly annoying use of puppets in GP" does not fall under the category of "situations where it is acceptable and allowed for a mod to out puppetmasters."

At what point is it just trolling though?

Probably if it becomes enough of an actual problem that we have to throw some chairs at one another discussing it in the sekrit lair. If it does become enough of a problem, the team could end up determining that it's become enough of a Situation where puppet-outing becomes permissible, since one of the situations where we are allowed to out is when puppets are being used to break the rules.

Basically, anonypups reading this, don't go breaking the rules and making it a situation where we gotta start outing people, got it?

[The Honest Defender (Ancient II)]

I will bring this to defender high command for you; anonymous puppets are one of our favourite tactics; so this would be a major blow to defending if we; lost it.

[Reploid Productions]

I will bring this to defender high command for you; anonymous puppets are one of our favourite tactics; so this would be a major blow to defending if we; lost it.

Adorable.

[Jakker]

If a player thinks that in-character exists in gameplay, then they should also be fine with this trend because essentially they are in-character.

[The Honest Defender (Ancient II)]

Also; there is duality. Players can have; many personas in the game; each having different ideologies which has happened in the past.

[Roavin]

The worst thing about it is I have to bite my tongue because "Mildly annoying use of puppets in GP" does not fall under the category of "situations where it is acceptable and allowed for a mod to out puppetmasters."

When encountering a puppet post, do you see who it is as you read it, or do you have to explicitly look for who the puppetmaster is?

I imagine the latter being much more fun for the GP-aware mods

[Reploid Productions]

The worst thing about it is I have to bite my tongue because "Mildly annoying use of puppets in GP" does not fall under the category of "situations where it is acceptable and allowed for a mod to out puppetmasters."

When encountering a puppet post, do you see who it is as you read it, or do you have to explicitly look for who the puppetmaster is?

I imagine the latter being much more fun for the GP-aware mods

A quick check on the post info can usually reveal the answer.

[The NAtion OF Froggy]

When encountering a puppet post, do you see who it is as you read it, or do you have to explicitly look for who the puppetmaster is?

I imagine the latter being much more fun for the GP-aware mods

A quick check on the post info can usually reveal the answer.

Is there a make toads a mod for a day program I can sign up for?

or a mod ride along?

Its for science!

[Warwick Z Codger]

At what point is it just trolling though?

Probably if it becomes enough of an actual problem that we have to throw some chairs at one another discussing it in the sekrit lair. If it does become enough of a problem, the team could end up determining that it's become enough of a Situation where puppet-outing becomes permissible, since one of the situations where we are allowed to out is when puppets are being used to break the rules.

Basically, anonypups reading this, don't go breaking the rules and making it a situation where we gotta start outing people, got it?

When is it troll naming through? If it hasn't crossed the line for trolling, then on the flipside all the posts that call someone a troll are troll naming?

[Lazarus Free Press (Ancient)]

There is more than one writer on the staff for Lazarus Free Press and managing this account. By all means, feel free to get in touch if you want to contribute.

[Escade]

If a player thinks that in-character exists in gameplay, then they should also be fine with this trend because essentially they are in-character.

We can play more than one character? And one of those characters can be a highly annoying parody that responds after pretty much every poster with the same drivel?

Okies, then. Good to know Expect my forthcoming puppets to all link back to my main through these clues I put in various places.

[The NAtion OF Froggy]

If a player thinks that in-character exists in gameplay, then they should also be fine with this trend because essentially they are in-character.

We can play more than one character? And one of those characters can be a highly annoying parody that responds after pretty much every poster with the same drivel?

Okies, then. Good to know Expect my forthcoming puppets to all link back to my main through these clues I put in various places.

Oh lordie, please no. Do we not have enough already?

[Jakker]

If a player thinks that in-character exists in gameplay, then they should also be fine with this trend because essentially they are in-character.

We can play more than one character? And one of those characters can be a highly annoying parody that responds after pretty much every poster with the same drivel?

I'm sure one could say that many players already do that so nothing new.

[Nifidium]

At what point is it just trolling though?

Probably if it becomes enough of an actual problem that we have to throw some chairs at one another discussing it in the sekrit lair. If it does become enough of a problem, the team could end up determining that it's become enough of a Situation where puppet-outing becomes permissible, since one of the situations where we are allowed to out is when puppets are being used to break the rules.

Basically, anonypups reading this, don't go breaking the rules and making it a situation where we gotta start outing people, got it?

Would Mods possibly assess some it as griefing? By definition, a griefer is a player in a game who deliberately irritates and angers other players within the game, using aspects of the game in unintended ways. From what I understand, this is different from trolling (make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them).

To me, the annoypups aren't here to troll, but to grief others by playing pretendafenda. I could be totally wrong... I usually am when trying to play "guess the offense".

[Some Thoughts]

Some thoughts are better left to be authored anonymously.

I have some more thoughts, though I'd post them as Some Thoughts since it's simply less uncontroversial and allows its readers to focus on the writing itself, not the author.

[Warwick Z Codger]

If a player thinks that in-character exists in gameplay, then they should also be fine with this trend because essentially they are in-character.

The trick is to develop a reputation as a character master first. Then you don't even have to hide your main with your puppets. I think most people associate me with 'slightly odd experimenter' first, allowing me to get away with the sorts of positions/characters I play in my puppets.

Also; there is duality. Players can have; many personas in the game; each having different ideologies which has happened in the past.

The problem is most people are unable to get a ultra clean reputation and be trusted that they won't abuse duality for personal gain. You need to get the karma first.

[Todd McCloud]

Anyone remember that Pinocchio spinoff movie they made in the 1980's with Puppetino, the great puppet master, and such? I always got a kind of creepy vibe from it. That being said, I guess I understand why folks are hiding behind them, but I think they'd get more clout if they revealed who they were so we can put a name to a face, so to speak.

[Nifidium]

Some thoughts are better left to be authored anonymously.

I have some more thoughts, though I'd post them as Some Thoughts since it's simply less uncontroversial and allows its readers to focus on the writing itself, not the author.

Nonsense. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Own your words.

I take Shiz's words just as seriously as I take Souls'. I see them both as competent gameplayers. I listen to their assessments, even when I disagree with what they've said or their stance on a topic.

If we habitually contribute nothing of value, people are not going to put much stock in our words. If we habitually fill our posts with nasty commentary, people aren't going to want to read more toxicity from us - even when we're departing from the norm in order to make a valid point. Those that have to resort to puppets to "allow readers to focus on the writing" have failed, miserably.

The puppets have no credibility. We can not associate them with their owner's tenure in Gameplay. Instead, they come across as trifling noobs eager to get people to notice them.

[Kalinin K-8]

The puppets have no credibility. We can not associate them with their owner's tenure in Gameplay. Instead, they come across as trifling noobs eager to get people to notice them.

I think they'd get more clout if they revealed who they were so we can put a name to a face, so to speak.

The problem is, would you even trust a noob giving a post on what they think about gameplay, or an anonymous player who's made a relatively good post?

I respect anonymity in that there are a number of forum lookers that might not even think of posting unless they did it behind a puppet.

[The Sygian]

We can play more than one character? And one of those characters can be a highly annoying parody that responds after pretty much every poster with the same drivel?

Someone skipped out on history class.

[Nifidium]

The problem is, would you even trust a noob giving a post on what they think about gameplay, or an anonymous player who's made a relatively good post?

I respect anonymity in that there are a number of forum lookers that might not even think of posting unless they did it behind a puppet.

It depends on how it's presented. For example, few have ever seen my gameplay puppet post. "Nifidium who?" However, I am not anonymous. I make no secret about who I am, and I've weighed into gameplay matters under my roleplay account in the past. (My pro-defender days, essentially.)

Our presentation itself also carries weight. A relatively new account crafting an insightful post is an indication of someone wanting to contribute meaningful opinion to the discussion, regardless of their tenure or stance. In contrast, puppets like THD convey nothing but a sense of self-congratulatory back-patting which bears a striking resemblance to the little poot sounds barking spiders emit in the dead of night. That may not be their intention but that's how it comes across to me. I'm sure the person is capable of expressing things more intelligently under their main.

In other words, some people think anonymous puppets are an excuse to tear into people, organizations, ideas, or other things without the negative backlash affecting their known persona. We have no idea who they are. They could be part of TGW and feel slighted by leadership, thus they seek to make fendas look trifling. They could be a raider seizing upon the opportunity to make fendas look trifling. They might be a native with a grudge. Without proof of who is behind these puppets, we can't assess where they come from. We can only judge them at face value.