A sock puppet among us?

[Lance Payette]

Yes, "Tom Sorensen," I'm looking at you. Yes, "Martin Weidmann," I'm looking at you.

I was treated this morning to an ad hominem attack that seemed (1) weirdly out of place on the thread, yet (2) oddly familiar.

This is basically about how badly you crave attention, and it's bad. As high as eight ramblings a day at one time, now roughly five. It's the ego thing, case closed.

"Tom" has scarcely acknowledged my posts at all over the past three months. What provoked this fury?

Being a lawyerly sort, I scrolled through "Tom's" 138 posts since he joined on February 22, 2025, a couple of weeks after I did. On February 24, two days after joining, he first responded to one of my posts in this genial fashion:

"This OP is easily the dumbest I've seen in a while; let's hope this dude doesn't practice law anymore."

At the same time, "Martin" - who apparently admits he uses a fake name - was questioning whether I was a lawyer at all. Hmmm.

Somewhat oddly, despite my numerous snippy exchanges with "Martin," brother "Tom" has scarcely commented on anything I've said.

He did suggest on March 13 that I might be suffering from "some kind of split personality disorder." Oh, the irony - eh, "Tom" and "Martin"?

But wait, there's more: "Tom" has responded to "Martin" precisely once: a one-liner agreeing with him.

One other time, he prefaced a post with "As Martin pointed out ...." (I always say, agreeing with yourself is the highest form of flattery.) Indeed, that post was distinctly Martin-esque: "As Martin pointed out, you have blind faith in anything that supports your preferred narrative, not so much if it doesn't fit your fantasy—Nutter Trait Classic."

But wait, there's more: "Tom's" posts are weirdly similar to "Martin's" in format, content and sheer unadulterated nastiness. Someone once pointed out to me that there are certain hard-to-disguise "tells" that identify an internet forum sock puppet - and I would suggest that "Tom's" and "Martin's" identity of format, style, content and sheer unadulterated nastiness are very "telling."

Indeed, "Tom" has seemingly dropped any pretense in his more recent posts. I reproduce one below. No, that isn't "Martin" - well, yeah, I guess it is, sort of.

Although I didn't do a full meta-analysis, it would appear that "Tom" and "Martin" post from the same time zone as well.

John Mytton recognized "Tom" as "Martin's" sock puppet on March 6:

"Is this some type of Twisted Tag Team Wrestling? You joined up on the 22nd and even though Martin was posting virtually every waking hour he suddenly stopped on virtually the same day that you started posting? Then Martin started posting 10 days later and you started drastically slowing down? Hahahaaha!"

"Tom" vehemently denied this, insisting he'd "joined an earlier incarnation of the forum in 2013" and that this should explain his odd familiarity - and, apparently, his foaming-at-the-mouth hostility - toward many longtime regulars like John, Richard and Steven. Should I flatter myself that Lance brought him out of woodwork after 12 years of lurking (during which "Martin," who joined in 2016, posted roughly 7,500 times)?

I suppose sock puppets can be kind of fun if used creatively. If I were going to create one, I'd have him argue with ME incessantly! Watching Lance and equally witty Little Bo Peep (LBP being my actual initials) go at each other could be a hoot, no?

What concerns me here is that, on one of my recent CE-399 threads, I offered "Martin" the olive branch that I would tone down my snarkiness toward him and henceforth deal with him in a manner worthy of my seminary training. And I did. And he even responded in a fairly restrained manner.

Alas, "Martin" is seemingly incapable of living without sheer, unadulterated, gratuitous nastiness. Hence, "Tom" takes up the cudgel.

I will not attempt an armchair psychoanalysis of the "Martin and Tom" show, merely suggest that I find it even weirder than the "Harvey and Lee" show and am fascinated as to why someone would play this bizarre game. Isn't hiding behind a "Martin" mask sufficient?

Enquiring minds want to know: Who else on here are you, "Martin" and "Tom"? Surely one fake name and one sock puppet are not enough?

Oh, here is one of "Tom's" recent posts. Look and sound familiar, "Martin"?

I have "blind faith"

Common
when the person who was present at the event with no apparent reason to lie about an innocuous event
 among MAGA xxxxxxx.

Apparent.

(i.e. he asked Oswald whether he carried his lunch that day and Oswald said no) confirms this happened.

Classic Richard Smith misuse of "confirmed". There is no other account of what took place inside that car.

How exactly could this be proven to your subjective satisfaction absent a time machine? 

It couldn't, even objectively, and you're still struggling to understand this. Wow!

The real knee slapper is that you are relying on this same witness

False, I'm not relying on Frazier.

- who you appear to be suggesting lied about asking if Oswald had his lunch -

False, it may appear so to you for whatever reason.

for his estimate of the length of a bag that he hardly saw. 

I haven't referred to his estimate—DOH.

Riddle me this Batman, if Frazier was willing to lie about Oswald not carrying his lunch - again as you suggest he did -

Again, I haven't suggested that.

then why wouldn't he also confirm the more important fact that the bag was long enough to carry the rifle?

Because the curtain rods would fit the shorter bag, cupped in Oswald's hand, as claimed by Frazier.

HA HA HA. 

Certainly, you failed again.

I know logic and common sense are not among your strong points but this is actually embarrassing.

Knowing how MAGA logic works, I wouldn't be too concerned about your opinion.

[Martin Weidmann]

Yes, "Tom Sorensen," I'm looking at you. Yes, "Martin Weidmann," I'm looking at you.

I was treated this morning to an ad hominem attack that seemed (1) weirdly out of place on the thread, yet (2) oddly familiar.

"Tom" has scarcely acknowledged my posts at all over the past three months. What provoked this fury?

Being a lawyerly sort, I scrolled through "Tom's" 138 posts since he joined on February 22, 2025, a couple of weeks after I did. On February 24, two days after joining, he first responded to one of my posts in this genial fashion:

"This OP is easily the dumbest I've seen in a while; let's hope this dude doesn't practice law anymore."

At the same time, "Martin" - who apparently admits he uses a fake name - was questioning whether I was a lawyer at all. Hmmm.

Somewhat oddly, despite my numerous snippy exchanges with "Martin," brother "Tom" has scarcely commented on anything I've said.

He did suggest on March 13 that I might be suffering from "some kind of split personality disorder." Oh, the irony - eh, "Tom" and "Martin"?

But wait, there's more: "Tom" has responded to "Martin" precisely once: a one-liner agreeing with him.

One other time, he prefaced a post with "As Martin pointed out ...." (I always say, agreeing with yourself is the highest form of flattery.) Indeed, that post was distinctly Martin-esque: "As Martin pointed out, you have blind faith in anything that supports your preferred narrative, not so much if it doesn't fit your fantasy—Nutter Trait Classic."

But wait, there's more: "Tom's" posts are weirdly similar to "Martin's" in format, content and sheer unadulterated nastiness. Someone once pointed out to me that there are certain hard-to-disguise "tells" that identify an internet forum sock puppet - and I would suggest that "Tom's" and "Martin's" identity of format, style, content and sheer unadulterated nastiness are very "telling."

Indeed, "Tom" has seemingly dropped any pretense in his more recent posts. I reproduce one below. No, that isn't "Martin" - well, yeah, I guess it is, sort of.

Although I didn't do a full meta-analysis, it would appear that "Tom" and "Martin" post from the same time zone as well.

John Mytton recognized "Tom" as "Martin's" sock puppet on March 6:

"Is this some type of Twisted Tag Team Wrestling? You joined up on the 22nd and even though Martin was posting virtually every waking hour he suddenly stopped on virtually the same day that you started posting? Then Martin started posting 10 days later and you started drastically slowing down? Hahahaaha!"

"Tom" vehemently denied this, insisting he'd "joined an earlier incarnation of the forum in 2013" and that this should explain his odd familiarity - and, apparently, his foaming-at-the-mouth hostility - toward many longtime regulars like John, Richard and Steven. Should I flatter myself that Lance brought him out of woodwork after 12 years of lurking (during which "Martin," who joined in 2016, posted roughly 7,500 times)?

I suppose sock puppets can be kind of fun if used creatively. If I were going to create one, I'd have him argue with ME incessantly! Watching Lance and equally witty Little Bo Peep (LBP being my actual initials) go at each other could be a hoot, no?

What concerns me here is that, on one of my recent CE-399 threads, I offered "Martin" the olive branch that I would tone down my snarkiness toward him and henceforth deal with him in a manner worthy of my seminary training. And I did. And he even responded in a fairly restrained manner.

Alas, "Martin" is seemingly incapable of living without sheer, unadulterated, gratuitous nastiness. Hence, "Tom" takes up the cudgel.

I will not attempt an armchair psychoanalysis of the "Martin and Tom" show, merely suggest that I find it even weirder than the "Harvey and Lee" show and am fascinated as to why someone would play this bizarre game. Isn't hiding behind a "Martin" mask sufficient?

Enquiring minds want to know: Who else on here are you, "Martin" and "Tom"? Surely one fake name and one sock puppet are not enough?

Oh, here is one of "Tom's" recent posts. Look and sound familiar, "Martin"?

Oh boy, another paranoid crackpot. That's just what we needed. You wouldn't be related to "John Mytton" (who, unlike me has admitted to using a fake name) by any chance, would you?
He could have written your post verbatim..... or perhaps he has? 

Maybe you should get in touch with "Richard Smith", because he constantly goes on about me being a guy called Roger Collins, who apparently used to be a member many years ago.

Here's a suggestion.... do you full meta-analysis and find out just how big of a fool you are! Have fun   

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Mr. Sorensen once called me, if I can remember, a poofter? Or a pollywag? A bubbledypeg? It's hard to take a personal attack from a Brit seriously (he is British, right?)

I wanted to return favor and call him a spotted dick. But I looked that up beforehand and learned it's actually a pudding. So it doesn't work. Unless if you hate pudding I guess. But it sounds tough. I mean, "I may be a poofter but you sir are a spotted dick!" Who wins that round?

Warning: If you look the phrase up make sure your filter is on. Otherwise you won't be getting any pudding, that's for sure.

[Lance Payette]

Oh boy, another paranoid crackpot. That's just what we needed. You wouldn't be related to "John Mytton" (who, unlike me has admitted to using a fake name) by any chance, would you?
He could have written your post verbatim..... or perhaps he has? 

Maybe you should get in touch with "Richard Smith", because he constantly goes on about me being a guy called Roger Collins, who apparently used to be a member many years ago.

Here's a suggestion.... do you full meta-analysis and find out just how big of a fool you are! Have fun   

Now don't go all huffy on me, "Martin." Although what I have described might reasonably be described as an astonishing coincidence, I remain open-minded and sincerely hope "Tom" will weigh in soon. We note that in your umbrage you do not actually deny that you are in fact "Tom" - or the lovely and talented "Roger Collins," for that matter. If you can establish with anything resembling certainty that "Martin" and "Tom" are separate individuals, I will send you six Happy Meal coupons and wear a Paranoid Crackpot t-shirt the rest of the month.

Here, let's just go this route. Get this filled out and post a PDF, and those Happy Meal coupons will be in the mail.

County of Yorkshire             )
                                         ) ss.
Village of North Pudding      )

On _________________, 2025, personally appeared before me, in the same room at the same time, one Thomas P. Sorenson, MBE, and one Martin F, Wiedmann III, OBE, and, after having been duly sworn, established to my eternal satisfaction, each producing authenticated birth certificates and current driver’s licenses, that they are in fact separate and distinct individuals holding remarkably similar views on the assassination of one John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whoever he was. Coincidentally, before leaving, Mr. Sorenson and Mr. Wiedmann both referred to me as a “hopeless old Lone Nut whack job,” whatever that might be, and asked if I were related to that "effing John Mytton," whoever that might be.

Further your affiant sayeth naught.

Pip-pip, cheerio, carry on, whatnot.

                                                                      ______________________________
                                                                      Notary Public
My commission expires:

___________________
               

[Martin Weidmann]

Now don't go all huffy on me, "Martin." Although what I have described might reasonably be described as an astonishing coincidence, I remain open-minded and sincerely hope "Tom" will weigh in soon. We note that in your umbrage you do not actually deny that you are in fact "Tom" - or the lovely and talented "Roger Collins," for that matter. If you can establish with anything resembling certainty that "Martin" and "Tom" are separate individuals, I will send you six Happy Meal coupons and wear a Paranoid Crackpot t-shirt the rest of the month.

Here, let's just go this route. Get this filled out and post a PDF, and those Happy Meal coupons will be in the mail.

County of Yorkshire             )
                                         ) ss.
Village of North Pudding      )

On _________________, 2025, personally appeared before me, in the same room at the same time, one Thomas P. Sorenson, MBE, and one Martin F, Wiedmann III, OBE, and, after having been duly sworn, established to my eternal satisfaction, each producing authenticated birth certificates and current driver’s licenses, that they are in fact separate and distinct individuals holding remarkably similar views on the assassination of one John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whoever he was. Coincidentally, before leaving, Mr. Sorenson and Mr. Wiedmann both referred to me as a “hopeless old Lone Nut whack job,” whatever that might be, and asked if I were related to that "effing John Mytton," whoever that might be.

Further your affiant sayeth naught.

Pip-pip, cheerio, carry on, whatnot.

                                                                      ______________________________
                                                                      Notary Public
My commission expires:

___________________

Now you're trying to be a comedian?

And what's in Yorkshire?

that they are in fact separate and distinct individuals holding remarkably similar views on the assassination of one John Fitzgerald Kennedy,

Wait a second.... LNs all hold the same similar views on the assssination of JFK. You're not telling me that they are all the same person, are you?

[Lance Payette]

Here's a suggestion.... do you full meta-analysis and find out just how big of a fool you are! Have fun   

Current time for Lance on Lance's profile: 12:38:09 PM - that would be Arizona.

Current time for "Tom": 8:38:09 PM - that would be England.

Current time for "Martin": 8:38:09 PM - that would be the same as "Tom"

I note further that in "Martin's" rants he repeatedly refers to "the U.S." in a way that would be rather odd for an American.

Just my observations, you understand. I concede it is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that two distinct individuals just happen to share identical views on the JFKA, use identical formatting in their posts, use the same emojis, share the same time zone, exhibit the same over-the-top anger again and again and again, never respond to each other, have a pattern where one posts on days the other doesn't, etc., etc.

I mean, it COULD happen - couldn't it? Well, couldn't it?

[Lance Payette]

Now you're trying to be a comedian?

And what's in Yorkshire?

that they are in fact separate and distinct individuals holding remarkably similar views on the assassination of one John Fitzgerald Kennedy,

Wait a second.... LNs all hold the same similar views on the assssination of JFK. You're not telling me that they are all the same person, are you?

Come on, "Martin." I think you've been pretty decisively outed. Maybe just put "Tom" back in his cabinet and get on with your "Martin" thing?

I rest my case and now return to statesmanlike ex-seminarian mode, although I don't think "Martin" or "Tom" will be hearing much more from me, statesmanlike or otherwise, because I find this all just so weird as to be almost scary.

[Martin Weidmann]

Current time for Lance on Lance's profile: 12:38:09 PM - that would be Arizona.

Current time for "Tom": 8:38:09 PM - that would be England.

Current time for "Martin": 8:38:09 PM - that would be the same as "Tom"

I note further that in "Martin's" rants he repeatedly refers to "the U.S." in a way that would be rather odd for an American.

Just my observations, you understand. I concede it is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that two distinct individuals just happen to share identical views on the JFKA, use identical formatting in their posts, use the same emojis, share the same time zone, exhibit the same over-the-top anger again and again and again, never respond to each other, have a pattern where one posts on days the other doesn't, etc., etc.

I mean, it COULD happen - couldn't it? Well, couldn't it?

Current time for "Martin": 8:38:09 PM - that would be the same as "Tom"

I humbly apologize for never bothering to look at the settings of my profile. The mistake has been corrected.

Don't tell "Richard Smith" because he doesn't believe I'm in Europe.

I note further that in "Martin's" rants he repeatedly refers to "the U.S." in a way that would be rather odd for an American.

How about an American with a dual nationality for whom English isn't his native tongue? Would that work for you?