Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
Many years now at this site there have been side debates raging about false identities, used by people who are being paid to disrupt our discussions by making comments aimed at sidetracking issues. OpEdNews, a site run by Rob Kall, which I subscribe to sends me daily updates of articles of interest. Yesterday I received this intriguing article from Thom Hartmann’s podcast. It is an interview with Lee Fong from ThinkProgress on just this subject. Check out this link and see what you think.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Caught-Fake-conservative-by-Thom-Hartmann-110820-341.html
Given my experience commenting here I think it is credible. The question is whether this is indeed happening here and what if anything can be done? I’m not sure how this should be handled, if true, at Professor Turley’s blog. This is because of his dedication to free speech and that same dedication held by most who comment here. The podcast is only four and a half minutes and I think well worth your time, but if you only read Hartmann’s short summary you’ll get the gist of it. Do you believe this is true and if you do what if anything should Professor Turley do about it?
I think you should say this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who gives 3 good ffs!!!! Because what matters is this ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the questions people were asked 1st question was,,,do you believe in a higher power?????Higher power wasnt a human being who shits pisses gets sick etc human being i mean Higher power t is God the almighty,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,as long as he is in charge blogging means crap!!! Just entertaining BS…..tho i do believe multiple sclerosis etc is a sexually transmitted disease,,,,,,random thought!!! Depending on illness u get from it……..then newname for disease,,,,,,,,,,,been telling this 4 10 years………………….Yes Randomness from old maggie may:)
Your link requires an “l” at the end, as in “.html”
Mike,
I clicked on the link and it stated that the article was not found…
If the summary of what you are getting at is are there people on here that are paid to disrupt….Of course we suffer them…What can the professor do about it….I am sure in the advocacy of free speech…let them speak what they have to say….Most of of here are not easily dissuaded of our personal beliefs….most if not all of us dance to a different drummer…I am one of those folks that will actually read the conservative view points while gritting my teeth most of the time and think to myself…yes, there are people who actually believe that dribble…
Many years ago…I read an article about Lee Atwater…whose skills I admire..but personally I think was a part of Satans Empire….said if you want to know what main steam american are thinking…read the scandal sheets…that way you can shape your political message to hit the greatest audience with little capital outlay….that is the pulse of most american thought process….
In conclusion….I think that they should be here…eve Kderosa….or any other person that I think is a shill….just because I think it, it does not necessarily make it so in their mind…. …
My mantra is to ignore the trolls, paid or otherwise. They can only disrupt if the other commenters allow it.
The link in the article has an “l” but when it appears in the URL bar, it’s gone. Curious.
Thanks Nal,
Sorry everyone about the link. It will work now.
nal,
The evil twin says…sometimes its fun to play with the mice….even if only to dissect them….figuratively of course….some people cannot recall what they said 5 seconds ago….they are the ones to play with….it sorta like someone straddling a fence with two ladders and slowly….lowering the ladder on both sides of the fence and watch them scream….there is some merriment in that style of debate…so long as I am not the one on the fence…lol
You’re welcome Mike…..
If you click on the “please click here” link it will take you to the home page of that website and the Hartman video is listed there. It does not surprise me that people try to disrupt progressive discussions, but it is upsetting to know that they might be paid to disrupt. However, I agree that ignoring the visitors who are attempting this disruption is the best medicine. It is hard to ignore it sometimes, but patience will win out in the end.
“Nal
1, August 21, 2011 at 12:14 pm
My mantra is to ignore the trolls, paid or otherwise. They can only disrupt if the other commenters allow it.”
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s see if the link will work if I post it in a comment:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Caught-Fake-conservative-by-Thom-Hartmann-110820-341.html
No, it’s still broken. You fixed the link text, but not the link.
The link in my previous comment will take you to the article.
Mike,
The greater danger is the military software which allows one soldier to simulate 500 bloggers. Link Here.
It is part of the propaganda phase of the current full-on global oil war happening in secret for the most part.
Fixed the link.
If you can’t resist the temptation to dissect mice, don’t complain about the mess.
Another testament to my internet skills. Thanks Nal and Elaine.
“Do you believe this is true and if you do what if anything should Professor Turley do about it?”
Yes, of course it’s true and our blog owner can do as he sees fit.
Our guest bloggers and many of the regulars out these idiots all the time and, quite frankly, I find the whole process entertaining and educational. It’s a war out there guys, so why not in here?
U MADE ME THINK OF PAMELA LINK LOL
I out them all the time on MSNBC’s blogs
They’re easy to spot because of their addiction to talking points and the auto generated long number sequences after their handle.
Bring ‘em on I say…I see them as grist to grind…to a point. When they get repetitive and reduced to ad hominems, into the fire with them I say.
OK cul,,,,,lol
I would note that on the video on the linked page, one person talks about “hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands” of identities on a single computer. What I recall hearing months ago was “up to 10″ identities. As there was no indication that this software generated content (i.e. a human would still have to write the posts), I doubt anyone’s capability of managing much more than 10 personae. Part of fighting against these tactics is knowing what is and isn’t possible (to aid in identifying paid agents). Just sayin’…
It’s not important…,
And just why is your handle not important? Could it be because you are just Slarti’s sock puppet? Just what does he think he’s up to? … wait a sec… aw, nuts.
Does anyone have HPGF’s phone number?
LOL…really
who cares ? a quien le importa?
There are several reasons to hide behind a nom de’ net. I do it because I work contract and can afford to have any trace anywhere that might give a potential employer a reason not to offer me a gig. But you will find “Frankly” everywhere I go as my one & only presence (well, I do keep a different sock puppet on FB but part of that is that it is only about 15 minutes work to expose a real name behind FB)
But we have seen it on this board, sock puppets obviously made to support bullshit spewed by other sock puppets. Even if they are a different person the only reason they exist is to support the party line. The difference is between a deluded crank like Tootie who is just sad & distilled evil like Klownderosa & gigi who can not be so stupid as to believe some of the garbage they leak and need others like them to pretend normal people think like that.
Mike Spindell:
arent you being just a little bit paranoid? I have not noticed one person who I think was paid on this blog. Maybe Buddha is Laughing but none others that I can think of.
You think people with different ideas must be paid, I think you have some bias.
There are many people who believe in fiscal responsibility and Constitutional government working to change the environment in Washington, DC through letters to the editor, volunteering in campaigns, fund raising, etc.
Frankly:
Normal people do think like that, many of them. There are 10′s of millions of us.
Ever thought that maybe you are the one who doesnt think normally? That your ideas are the ones which are bull hunkey? And that your ideas are the ones that have gotten us to this point?
THIS CALLS FOR A FRANKLY MY DEAR,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,IM GLAD I DONT THINK LIKE FARKAS DESIREE AND ALL THE MEDICARE SCAMMERS!!! WELL JUST TO NAME A FEW!!! OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE ZILLIONS OF ENEMIES:) AS MY DADDY USED TO SAY ANYONE CAN THINK LIALIKE WITH PAN CON TERROR!
Roco,
Mike S. paranoid? Now that’s a joke… (…not that Mike S. ever needs anyone else to rise to his defense…)
Roco,
with respect, right wing bloggers have already been found to have been paid to disrupt progressive sites. Whether there are any that frequent this site remains to be seen, but don’t act like the idea of paying bloggers to disrupt progressive sites is science fiction.
Well (and diplomatically) said, rafflaw…
“It’s a war out there guys…” -Blouise
Is it ever…
My first date was with a mike s we went to see beach party! Just saying wonder if he croaked?
rafflaw:
I am sure right wing blogs have never been disrupted by left wing organizations.
What does it matter either way? We all read different things and get our “talking” points from mostly the same sources. How many on this site read The Nation or New Republic or visit the Huffington Post or Daily Kos on a regular basis? We each have our “confirmation biases”.
The fish doesnt know that water is wet. Personally I like this site because it gives me a different perspective and the opposing views are interesting. I also hope that I have prompted some hmmm, I hadnt looked at it that way.
I think I am right, you think you are right. One of us is wrong or maybe even both of us are wrong and the answer is somewhere in the middle.
It doesnt matter to me if im wrong. I will always believe murder drugs and all thia mayhem is wrong and as you well know and have seen doesnt go buy unscathed one way or another. Im glad i was fortunate to have known a few amazing men as far as i knew they were good,,,they never showed me their mean side cept for the last pig i took care of with a bat. and the first pig i shood in a hurry:) well u know how i think anyways!
i totally agree with roco on this part “What does it matter either way? We all read different things and get our “talking” points from mostly the same sources. How many on this site read The Nation or New Republic or visit the Huffington Post or Daily Kos on a regular basis? We each have our “confirmation biases”.
The fish doesnt know that water is wet. Personally I like this site because it gives me a different perspective and the opposing views are interesting. I also hope that I have prompted some hmmm, I hadnt looked at it that way.
I think I am right, you think you are right. One of us is wrong or maybe even both of us are wrong and the answer is somewhere in the middle.
i only post once in a while on the boards but i make sure to read all the stories and comments to see who and what i agree with more. there are always going to be trouble makers its what makes the government and we the people go around. we can’t all agree all the time. that would make us the the boards boring… and robots
Regardless of whether it is taking place here or not, it is important to know that:
a) Anonymous and Glenn Greenwald did find HB Gary Federal involved in proposed schemes similar to this. IIRC, the emphasis is on *proposed*.
b) ThinkProgress has every incentive in the world to pretend and make up all sorts of bullshit — Sadly, though Robert Reich is a hero of mine, his creation, Think Progress, time and time again goes off the deep end into total crap
c) It is of course completely true that every comment website is filled with trolls of one sort or another. It would be naive to think this blog doesn’t have them.
d) I know no evidence as to why the right would have them and not the left. I have seen evidence that Israel has them as well as Palestinians.
Mike has given us a gift here.
Though our own arguments should be equally relevant and logical regardless of who we are speaking to, Mike has given us a powerful way to ignore, dismiss, and deprecate arguments that we do not wish to argue against, or concede any validity..
Mike is suggesting, calling us to action really, that from now on, difficult arguments should be met with the cry of “J’Accuse!” An an accusation that the person we are arguing against is a paid member of the political opposition.
It’s a bloody brilliant weapon that Mike has handed us, it really is, especially on how it draws from the very courageous and honorable Emile Zola. In fact, in the 70s, the science fiction writer, Philip Jose Farmer, wrote of a tactic very similar to Mike’s as a way of bringing down a corrupt regime.
Anyway, let me start.
J’Accuse (spins wheel) Nal! J’Accuse Nal of being a paid political operative and *concern* troll of (spins wheel) Catholic Industries International. Nal, we know who you are now, begone troll! Back to your masters!
Okay, the rest of you, begin!
Thanks Mike!
anon,
I respectfully disagree with you. Mike’s article doesn’t give an excuse to those who don’t have the facts behind their arguments to blow off their counterparts. It merely publicizes the fact that there may be those on this blog and other blogs who are there only to disrupt the discussion. Anon,
it was only a proposed scheme because they were exposed. Please provide evidence of paid disrupting visitors on the left. I have only seen evidence of the Right paying bloggers to disrupt the discussion, but I can’t be everywhere at once. Not like HB Gary Federal at least.
rafflaw, please restate that in the provided form: “J’Accuse!”
anon,
I don’t think Reich was the founder of Think Progress.
ThinkProgress founder Judd Legum launches campaign for the Maryland General Assembly.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2009/04/06/37350/judd-legum-campaign/
Judd Legum
http://thinkprogress.org/author/judd
Thanks Elaine, you prompted me to google it, and then to google (greplin) my email, because I know I’ve corresponded with Professor Reich, and you’re absolutely right.
Reich co-founded The American Prospect, not the Center for American Progress, and I was confusing the two.
This actually is a relief to find out. I’m not always thrilled with TAPPED, but I am very glad to find that it is not ThinkProgress.
The publication arms of both organizations often have a huge overlap of hacks that wander around writing inanely and in fact free manner in the name of progressive movements, but I often find their proposed policy is anything but progressive.
The whole HB Gary/Chamber of Commerce thing broke in February and Mikes right about it including bloggers. One of the sites I visit regularly, The Brad Blog was targeted specifically along with other websites and Velvet Revolution, an activist site/organization Brad helped found.
There have also been job recruiting ads publicized for the right-wing disinfo/disruption campaigns. Pay depends not only on quantity but quality of posting. (I posted an article including the recruiting ad elsewhere on this blawg.) This is a big money business and there’s no downside- it doesn’t seem to be illegal.
Then there are the bots, disruptive little postings generated by false persona’s reliant on key-word searches. Follow Maggie Simi’s postings on this blawg, notice where they appear. I’m convinced that Maggie is an automated bot.
I’m also convinced that the hit and run potty-mouth posters that show up here are bots, either completely automated or paid one-hit-wonder trolls.
There’s one sure defense against bots, trolls and paid operatives, even if they write well and in that regard Nal is correct: “My mantra is to ignore the trolls, paid or otherwise. They can only disrupt if the other commenters allow it.”
My motto is: the scroll wheel is my friend.
It’s Not Important,
chuckle, snort, chuckle
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8351
Commentator for hire.
Will do windows. (XP even).
References available on request. (Just ask Turley regulars, they already think I”m a professional disruptor/troll).
Send requests to: Lootie for Tootie @ Comments To Disrupt Leftist Pinheads With ADHD Inc.comm
Tootie:
Please send resume to andrew@breitbart.com.
A.
rafflaw “I have only seen evidence of the Right paying bloggers to disrupt the discussion…”
If you have seen “evidence”, why don’t you share it with the group. As a licensed attorney, I’m sure you know the difference between evidence and an accusation.
Nada:
I would like to see that evidence as well.
Company offers service to pose as liberals and assault progressive websites and blogs
http://accidentalpatriot.com/company-offers-service-to-pose-as-liberals-and-assault-progressive-websites-and-blogs/
*****
GOP Paying Trolls to “Blog Attack”
http://open.salon.com/blog/christopher_di_spirito/2009/08/10/gop_paying_trolls_to_blog_attack
Excerpt:
“Flood the zone?” “Blog warriors?” “Launch your attack?” “Blog warfare.” It certainly sounds to me like a well-orgainized rightwing has declared war on the reality-based community. So, you may be wondering, just who are these people? Who is Advantage Consultants? Turns out their president/leader is Doug Guetzloe, a right-wing radio host and anti-tax activist based in Florida.
Are Right-Wing Libertarian Internet Trolls Getting Paid to Dumb Down Online Conversations?
There are daily attempts to control and influence content in the interests of the state and corporations: attempts in which money talks.
December 15, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/media/149197/are_right-wing_libertarian_internet_trolls_getting_paid_to_dumb_down_online_conversations?page=1
Excerpt:
So what’s going on? I’m not suggesting that most of the people trying to derail these discussions are paid to do so, though I would be surprised if none were. I’m suggesting that some of the efforts to prevent intelligence from blooming seem to be organized, and that neither website hosts nor other commenters know how to respond.
For his film (Astro)Turf Wars, Taki Oldham secretly recorded a training session organized by a rightwing libertarian group called American Majority. The trainer, Austin James, was instructing Tea Party members on how to “manipulate the medium”. This is what he told them:
“Here’s what I do. I get on Amazon; I type in “Liberal Books”. I go through and I say “one star, one star, one star”. The flipside is you go to a conservative/ libertarian whatever, go to their products and give them five stars. … This is where your kids get information: Rotten Tomatoes, Flixster. These are places where you can rate movies. So when you type in “Movies on Healthcare”, I don’t want Michael Moore’s to come up, so I always give it bad ratings. I spend about 30 minutes a day, just click, click, click, click. … If there’s a place to comment, a place to rate, a place to share information, you have to do it. That’s how you control the online dialogue and give our ideas a fighting chance.”
Over 75% of the funding for American Majority, which hosted this training session, comes from the Sam Adams Alliance. In 2008, the year in which American Majority was founded, 88% of the alliance’s money came from a single donation, of $3.7m(13). A group which trains rightwing libertarians to distort online democratic processes, in other words, was set up with funding from a person or company with a very large wallet.
The internet is a remarkable gift, which has granted us one of the greatest democratic opportunities since universal suffrage. We’re in danger of losing this global commons as it comes under assault from an army of trolls and flacks, many of them covertly organised or trained. The question for all of us – the Guardian, other websites, everyone who benefits from this resource – is what we intend to do about it. It’s time we fought back and reclaimed the internet for what it does best: exploring issues, testing ideas, opening the debate.
Elaine,
Here’s a partial client list for Advantage Consultants:
Motorola Corporation
Boy Scouts of America
Girl Scouts of America
American Cancer Society
The Gathering/USA
Sheridan House
For Giving Foundation
Live the Dream Foundation
Sportsmen’s National Land Trust
Florida Hospice & Palliative Care
Mote Marine Laboratory
The Florida Bar
Friends of Florida’s Waterways
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Adopt A Pet
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Florida Division
While it still does not provide any evidence that can demonstrate implimentation of paid blogging, it is kind of funny that the American Cancer Society and the Florida Bar would be considered to be “Right Wing”.
Isn’t Mike Appleton a member of the Florida Bar?
Right-wing trolls strive to form labor union
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/williamkwolfrum/2009/11/right-wing-trolls-strive-to-fo.php
Excerpt:
TULSA, Okla — The blog poster known as “Slick Rick” was in a bad mood. A thin layer of Cheeto dust covered his desk and keyboard. He hadn’t bathed in days. His hands hurt from hours of trolling around progressive Web sites, desperately trying to engage left-leaning commentors to take his bait.
His most recent comment: “You know, if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about,” in a post about the U.S. government’s eavesdropping programs had gotten very little response, aside from a snide “Go away, troll” at the site Firedoglake.
“You know,” said Slick Rick via Skype. “Being a troll used to mean something. These days, it’s just work, all day, every day.”
Slick Rick isn’t alone. A full year ahead of the 2008 U.S. elections, the demands on right-wing trolls are higher than ever. Between questioning what law Scooter Libby broke, to assailing the patriotism of any and all that would question the long-running war in Iraq, to trying to get Cindy Sheehan’s name into any discussion about anything, the average troll has a busy, if completely unfulfilling existence.
Which is part of the reason why a loosely formed coalition of right-wing trolls are trying to band together to form a labor union that they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards.
Organizers hope a trolls’ labor group the importance of their roles in candidates’ campaigns.
“There are progressive blogs everywhere and the GOP needs us to do whatever it takes to get their message scrambled,” said Jocko, a troll who spends most of his days and nights monitoring the site OliverWillis.com. “I don’t see Dick Cheney out there on the front lines like us, saying anything to stem the tide.”
For the trolls, however, while they are much-hated and considered an outright drain on democracy by many, there have been signs of hope. The company Advantage Consulting has actively worked with trolls, sending out legions of them to “astro-turf” subjects ranging from stem-cell research to health care and the economy.
For many trolls, however, more needs to be done.
“When you create as many straw men per day as I do, It’s exhausting,” said Toad the Wet Sprocket, a right-wing troll who alternates between the sites Crooks & Liars and the Spacey Gracey Review. “We expect communists like John Kerry to flip-flop on issues. But we need to unionize.”
Nada,
Did I say the American Cancer Society and the Florida Bar were right-wing organizations? I’m sure Advantage Consultants provides a variety of services to many different clients.
Unionized Right-wing Trolls (see Irony)
Elaine M,
Look at your source “Wolfie”. Here are some of his other pieces of investigative journalism.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/williamkwolfrum/
When asked to provide evidence all you do is provide links to more stories. Do you think unsubstantiated stories, repeated enough times, become evidence? Advantage Consultants was and is a joke.
Here’s a quote from your source “Wolfie”
“Khalid Sheik Mohammed is evil incarnate, and he must be dealt with in a way that will protect our citizens,”said Obama. “Therefore, I will bi-partisanly blow his brains out myself.”
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the President thought long and hard about his decision.
“Being that Khalid Sheik Mohammed is not a human, shooting him in the head is not against the law,” said Gibbs.
Sigh, trolls have no sense of humor.
—-
Excellent work Elaine, as always.
I am shocked to read that right wing bloggers are being paid to disrupt progressive sites! Who could imagine such a devious plan? Can you spell Koch?
Nada,
I’m glad you read the piece. That’s why I provided a link to the article.
I always figure someone is only there to disrupt when they spew their skewed ‘facts’ but then are gone or reply with non sequiturs when asked to give proof of their positions via clicks/citations.
As I said, I am certain there are trolls, and even paid trolls — what I see is no reasoning as to why we should think the left wing would not have their own paid trolls.
1. The IWW brought us monkeywrenching.
2. Much as I dislike it however often the rightwing tosses in Saul Alinsky gratuitously as if Alinsky croutons made an argument of iceberg lettuce into a nutritious logical convincing argument meal, this is Alinsky’s wiki entry:
“According to Alinsky, the organizer — especially a paid organizer from outside — must first overcome suspicion and establish credibility. Next the organizer must begin the task of agitating: rubbing resentments, fanning hostilities, and searching out controversy. This is necessary to get people to participate. An organizer has to attack apathy and disturb the prevailing patterns of complacent community life where people have simply come to accept a situation. Alinsky would say, “The first step in community organization is community disorganization.”
Through a process combining hope and resentment, the organizer tries to create a “mass army” that brings in as many recruits as possible from local organizations, churches, services groups, labor unions, corner gangs, and individuals.
According to Alinsky, the main job of the organizer is to bait an opponent into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”[2]”
3. If you listen to the Terry Gross interview about ALEC, a lobbyist for the left can be heard talking about how ALEC organizes, guides, writes legislation for new congressman, and then says, that in many ways what ALEC is doing is admirable.
4. This is an excerpt from an article about labor organizing at Starbucks: “SWU members have engaged in a plethora of creative and provocative direct actions to win concessions from Starbucks. When a critical mass of Starbucks workers have formed a shop floor committee, workers (together with members from other stores and supporters) will march into the store at peak hours to give the boss a list of demands. Typically, the demands include a living wage, guaranteed work hours, appropriate staffing, respect, and an ergonomically sound environment. There may be militant picketing, and managers known to harass workers who are a minute late to work may find their pictures together with a list of their misdeeds on leaflets handed to customers. A favorite tactic (borrowed from the late Saul Alinsky) is for a group of unionists to enter the store at peak hours, buy drinks, and pay for them one penny at a time.” (http://www.pmpress.org/content/article.php/20080722202202555)
There are certainly UNPAID and UNORGANIZED but very motivated left wing participants trolling right wing blogs. Just read the comments at Kos, FDL, TPM, FARK, to see this. Why should we not think there are not organized, and not organized and paid leftwing trolls there?
Why should I think organized left wing “trolling” as shown above is limited to real world tactics, and only unpaid and unorganized on the net, and simply never paid and organized on the net?
Show me some evidence as to why this is a tactic only the right would use, and not the left?
And then again, WHY does this matter? How is paid right wing trolling at otherwise left wing sites important? What is its effect? Why should anyone care?
Also for 1/3rd of your grade, please discuss: Professor Jonathan Turley would prefer his site be a) known as a left wing site, b) known as a non-partisan site, c) known as a _____ site.
“There are certainly UNPAID and UNORGANIZED but very motivated left wing participants trolling right wing blogs. Just read the comments at Kos, FDL, TPM, FARK, to see this.”
The meaning of this sentence is that when you read Kos, FDL, TPM, TP, MoJo, Atrios, et. al., commenters admit all the time going over to right wing sites to troll. Left wing bloggers like those at Sadly No used to semi-regularly call for others to engage in comment fights at the blogs of their opponents.
Again, some evidence to show that the left would not engage in having paid trolls, when the real evidence clearly shows that the left does engage at the very least in organized unpaid trolling activities.
And also a discussion then, of why paid trolling is different and so much worse.
Roco and Anon,
I suggest that you reread just exactly what I wrote, which was a mere presentation of an article and my belief that it’s factual. I asked for responses and made no recommendations how to treat it. That their are people paid to comment is I think proven. Is it illegal? No. Should this blog take any action against those suspected of it I left open to response. In my own view I’m for calling them out when it is suspected, but giving them equal rights to comment, unless the comments are disruptive, or threatening. I would have a very narrow definition of both. My post was more to the point of what people think about this practice, than to what should be done about it. I’m sorry both of you so misconstrued my words.
The right wing sites for the most part do not allow trolls.
SwM, right wing sites like RedState not only ban anyone they consider a troll, but will ban people for asking a question, presented civilly, if it does not fit their view of the world, or the topic might be embarrassing to Republicans.
@At Mike,
I don’t think anyone is misconstruing your words except, perhaps, yourself.
“I’m not sure how this should be handled, if true, at Professor Turley’s blog. This is because of his dedication to free speech and that same dedication held by most who comment here. The podcast is only four and a half minutes and I think well worth your time, but if you only read Hartmann’s short summary you’ll get the gist of it. Do you believe this is true and if you do what if anything should Professor Turley do about it?”
Drat! Our blawging paradise has become OVERRUN with 2 or 3 people that I cannot stand! I would so banninate them! Darn Professor Turley and his background as First Amendment advocate! What a pickle we are in! What should we do!?!?!? Woes!!!!!!
In 2006, I tried to ask a question on the “free republic” and was promptly blocked. A hostile email was also sent by the moderator.
anon, it is true that some progressives and liberals go over to some of the right wing sites to stir up the conversation a bit. Thing is, they are alost always banned on the first comment (and comment deleted) on most of the right wing sites, even if the comment or question asked is only mildly critical. They do not tolerate their ideas being challenged. That is not the same as true trolling.
The converse is not true on most, or maybe all, the progressive sites. You really have to be a total jerk to get banned on Daily Kos, and then usually only after multiple comments or diaries proving bad intent. Of course, if you register with a username like, “fuckobamaandthehorseherodeinon,” you will not last long at all.
@OS, I’ve been banned by many many left wing and right wing sites, for comments not much different then the ones I have had in this forum. That includes for instance, Salon, Mother Jones as well as Pandagon. Michelle Malkin wisely never let me in the first place. But Ann Althouse did and I was banned there.
Again, I see little evidence that the left wing’s banning practice is much different than the right wing’s.
The freest speech site I’ve seen has been at FARK.com, where they state ban rules in advance, and those rules are for things like posting NSFW content, spam, threadjacking, and the bans are usually for hours, days, and weeks, rarely the permabans that blogs on all sides love to hand out, and you can always talk to the people who banned you about it, they actually answer emails about the ban, the cause, and the duration.
Is this really a progressive site…Is the ability to do what we “Americans” take as our birthright really progressive…I am puzzled with this nomenclature….Is doing something opposite of what one does progressive, overaggressive or defending what we know to be true in our hearts…Maybe I think outside of the box too often…or…do color outside of the lines a bit much…I wish there was another label for it….
@OS Ok, I admit to wondering who the hero deinon was.
@OS, Thought he was some cool centaur dude I should have known about.
“Darn Professor Turley and his background as First Amendment advocate! What a pickle we are in! What should we do!?!?!? Woes!!!!!!”
Anon,
As with your previous irony, your sarcasm also fails, simply because it is your interpretation, not my words. You can go on all you like, it will neither change the facts, nor disturb me. Good day.
anon:
I think a site which would ban someone for legitimate disagreement is a pretty lame site. I am sorry to hear some conservative sites engage in that.
But it doesnt necessarily surprise me, knowing some conservatives I know.
Writing an eye-catching blog title can be one of the most difficult steps to blogging. You’ll want to be sure that your title is intriguing enough to entice the reader to read your post, original, and relevant to what your blog post contains – because after all, the point of a title is to draw readers in. I have seen quite a few bloggers fail in this area, so here are some guidelines to follow so you don’t end up as one of them!
These trolls are everywhere, my blog, the pained life, 30 years and counting, you would think would not be controversial and yet, I had someone (think was one person though used a few names, come back a number of times commenting on how chronic pain is fake, the people who say they have are lazy malingerers living off the state, etc. I was willing to let one or 2 comments go but ultimately deleted his remarks (after I deleted one he wrote, “free speech, baloney.” ).
You usually know who trolls. Some times here the person has definitely arrived to disrupt or be an opposityional troll. Unless the effort to usurp the conversation overtakes all other posting or defaming someone etc, why bother to delete? I think that just gives them what they want.