To clarify one point, "sock puppet" accounts are an internet thing, they're not specific to HN. Usually a sock puppet discussion is one person controlling multiple accounts to make it look like there are people backing up and agreeing with their point.
Yeah, Wikipedia had a page about Wikipedia sockpuppets since 2004[1], 3 years before HN existed. Although I am quite partial to the MC Frontalot lyric about HN sockpuppets[2].
