Columns, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Who’s Really Who on the Blogs?

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?

73 thoughts on “Who’s Really Who on the Blogs?”

  1. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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!

  6. 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

  7. 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!

  8. 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.

  10. Well (and diplomatically) said, rafflaw…

    “It’s a war out there guys…” -Blouise

    Is it ever…

  11. 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.

  12. Roco,

    Mike S. paranoid? Now that’s a joke… (…not that Mike S. ever needs anyone else to rise to his defense…)

  13. 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!

  14. 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?

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  19. 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?

  20. 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’…

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