If two different accounts have the exact same IP address, that means that they're the same computer, right?

RPGPundit

Most likely.  There are a few other possible explanations, but generally on a forum if you see 2 users with the same IP they're the same person -- or at least sharing the same computer.

Pretty much. It may also mean they are on different computers on the same network using the same router.

- Q

Please let us know if there are accounts that are really sock puppets for other users.

Ah, right, in that case:

Quote from: Johnny

Quote from: RPGPunditOk, look... it seems pretty obvious that you're Anthrobot. Are you going to deny it?

Is there any good justification for why you made this sockpuppet?

More importantly, what are we going to do about it?

RPGPundit

Sir, if I'm Anthrobot then who am I going to kick about the dojo today?Besides Anthrobot is a windbag prone to prolixity.
Am I a friend of Anthrobot? Sure.
Do I like JimBobOz distorting the words of others to look good? No.
If you like JimBobOz trolling on your site at least let him be open to some of his own medicine.

Ok, see, my issue with this is that you've got the exact same IP address as the Anthrobot, which means that unless you're lovers who've taken the relationship to the next level and are now shacking up, you're the same dude.

Not to mention that you pretty well only come out to post whenever someone disagrees with Anthrobot, so that you can go on to back up his statement.  That's pretty sad.

Now, I don't want Anthrobot to stop posting, but if you don't want this to go further, well, the first step would be owning up here.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditAh, right, in that case:



Ok, see, my issue with this is that you've got the exact same IP address as the Anthrobot, which means that unless you're lovers who've taken the relationship to the next level and are now shacking up, you're the same dude.

Not to mention that you pretty well only come out to post whenever someone disagrees with Anthrobot, so that you can go on to back up his statement.  That's pretty sad.

Now, I don't want Anthrobot to stop posting, but if you don't want this to go further, well, the first step would be owning up here.

RPGPundit

Easiest explanation: They are roommates or share a computer. If they were roommates then they could be on a internet connection, sharing that connection, then they would have the same IP. If one takes his laptop over to the others house they can share the connection that way. Most cable networks now supply routers with multiple ports allowing a household to share.

That said, if it walks like a duck...

Bill

Edit: For instance, I have three computers I nirmally post from at my house and they all would seem to have the same IP. I could switch this (I have a block of five IPs) by switching to a different router/subnet. My wife who does not post here, would appear to have my same IP.

I would think, if they were roomies, that he would already have said so as his first answer.

Plus, if he's Anthro's roomie, its pretty fucking obvious that Anthro is just using him, getting him to post anytime that someone is disagreeing with Anthro and Anthro wants to make it appear that someone (who is not him) is backing him up.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditI would think, if they were roomies, that he would already have said so as his first answer.

Plus, if he's Anthro's roomie, its pretty fucking obvious that Anthro is just using him, getting him to post anytime that someone is disagreeing with Anthro and Anthro wants to make it appear that someone (who is not him) is backing him up.

RPGPundit

Not saying otherwise, just trying to give possible scenarios for a "same IP, different people" situation.

Bill

Edit: Another would be if they work at the same place and post from work...or if they post from an internet cafe where they meet for secret trists...

It could be a proxy server.
In laymans terms, the proxy server connects to the Internet. You connect to the proxy server. Lots of other folks might also be connected to the same proxy. So although they are seperate computers at their end, all you see at this end is the IP address of the proxy. Some proxy servers forward on the IP address of the originating PC, most don't.

Most business or education facilities with internet connection do so via a proxy server. Some ISPs also connect their users to the net via a proxy, or a variant thereof called a webcache (which cache's popular data to try and reduce the strain on the ISPs upstream network).
Last time I looked, AOL used a lot of proxies, which made hunting people down a right pain as AOL are f*cking useless when it comes to dealing with spam generators on their system.

Proxy, shmoxy. Of course it's a sock puppet. You only have to look at the posting styles of the two accounts, the witty repartee exchanged between them, and how by some strange chance they're never logged on at the same time - it's the same guy. You don't need IPs to figure that out, but the identical IPs confirm it.

People should have only one account at a forum. If only because otherwise the next time RPGPundit boasts of how many active members we have, some cocksmock will say, "yeah, but half of them are sockpuppets of the other half."

Also they're lame and wussy, especially so on a forum where there exists no banning... It's not like the guy can't attack me directly from a single account for fear of being bannzorzed. He's only got a sockpuppet to make his opinions look more popular. Which shows appalling laziness - it's not like there's no-one else on this site who thinks I'm a prick. All he has to do is email and PM them, and they can tag-team me! But tag-teamed with a sock? That's lame! Do you think Hulk Hogan would stagger off to the edge of the ring and tag a limp smelly old sock? No! He'd bring in Sergeant Slaughter, damnit! Or The Rock!

Just tell him he can only have the one account, to choose which one should perish.

This is funny. I don't know the guy yet, but the idea of some fellow geek beating himself up at the dojo is hilarious.

I did think about posting about proxy servers but I see it has already been covered.

Generally speaking, I agree with Jimbob. I'd like for Anthro to get a chance to have his say, but I'd really like to see him fess up and then we get this behind us. Its not like I'm going to ban him or anything, but we can't have sockpuppets.

RPGPundit

I'd say ban the sockpuppet account.

anthrobot can still post then. If another sockpuppet spouts off from the same IP. Ban the IP.

Quote from: RPGPunditIf two different accounts have the exact same IP address, that means that they're the same computer, right?

RPGPundit

No, it can be from the same network.

Quote from: RPGPunditAh, right, in that case:



Ok, see, my issue with this is that you've got the exact same IP address as the Anthrobot, which means that unless you're lovers who've taken the relationship to the next level and are now shacking up, you're the same dude.

Not to mention that you pretty well only come out to post whenever someone disagrees with Anthrobot, so that you can go on to back up his statement.  That's pretty sad.

Now, I don't want Anthrobot to stop posting, but if you don't want this to go further, well, the first step would be owning up here.

RPGPundit

You should know about sadness RPG Pundit you spill it from your forum like blood from a slit throat.