If you don't think there is a strong concerted effort to Troll liberal sites like DU.....

[trumad]

then think again.

Yet sometimes paranoia turns up in the oddest of places, like the comments sections of blog posts. As Media Matters for America reports, based on NPR media reporter David Folkenflik’s new book Murdoch’s World, Fox News’s PR agents fanned out to create dummy accounts in order to rebut critical material in the comments sections of blog posts regarding Fox News. Folkenflik, via Media Matters:

On the blogs, the fight was particularly fierce. Fox PR staffers were expected to counter not just negative and even neutral blog postings but the anti-Fox comments beneath them. One former staffer recalled using twenty different aliases to post pro-Fox rants. Another had one hundred. Several employees had to acquire a cell phone thumb drive to provide a wireless broadband connection that could not be traced back to a Fox News or News Corp account. Another used an AOL dial-up connection, even in the age of widespread broadband access, on the rationale it would be harder to pinpoint its origins. Old laptops were distributed for these cyber operations. Even blogs with minor followings were reviewed to ensure no claim went unchecked. [Murdoch's World, pg. 67]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/10/21/fox-newss-anonymous-pr-rants-classic-roger-ailes-paranoia/?hpid=z3

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I mentioned this in another thread

and quoted a line from the article, which stated that no site or blog was too small for these sockweasels to infest. I can assert with great confidence that a site as large as DU attracted a shitload of these trolls. This revelation serves as vindication for all those accused derisively of being 'troll hunters.'

[trumad]

2. 208,859 user registrations and 63,853,352 posts since 2001

Possibly one of the biggest Lib sites on the net

[Decaffeinated]

82. They should get a uniform...

... or symbol for easy recognition.

Maybe a cap of some sort...

[BluegrassStateBlues]

3. There have been obvious attempts on several websites and in the media

to destroy the unity the Democratic Party has shown during this GOP-led crisis.

Trying to pit one Dem against another, alarmist articles based on false premises that try to rile up the Democratic base to cannibalize their own, etc.

It's so obvious.

[AverageJoe90]

32. This may be the case with other subjects as well.....Fukushima and global warming for starters.

I mean, what better way to get people to stop thinking straight about problems with the nuclear industry or climate change, than to just spew out semi-random garbage about how doomed we all are, that things can never get better and will always get worse(and always getting more and more worse than predicted), that there is no hope, that anyone who expresses hope is an imbecile, moron, etc.("hopium", anyone?)?

Believe me, I've seen this firsthand. Granted, I think a lot of these people in general are just dupes or unthinking dopes(even if operating under the veil of intellectual discourse), but there's undoubtedly a few trolls out there deliberately trying to start shit.

[RobertEarl]

39. There you go again, Joe

Instead of posting ANY science, you post something that only makes posters look bad.

You wrote: "..undoubtedly a few trolls out there deliberately trying to start shit."

I think you are projecting, is all.

DU is a Truth Squad.

[AverageJoe90]

52. Just calling things as I see them.

And frankly, yes, I do see climate doomers as making the other 95% of climate activists, myself included, look bad, regardless of intent. Because you know what? That's how the rightists in the MSM have been able to frame us; as kooks, as nuts, etc.(the same goes for those of us involved in pro-Democratic Party activism, too, sadly: Most of us are solid, intelligent and thinking people but there's always a few more unbalanced people who make it in and manage to ruin things for the rest of us)

Now, thankfully, it would appear that many people are beginning to see thru the bullshit, but the assault continues, as well as the use of pawns, unwilling or otherwise, whether directly or not, by people like the Kochs, etc.

I think you are projecting, is all.

That's your opinion and you're welcome to it.....even if that opinion happens to be totally wrong.....(which it is)

[RobertEarl]

57. Nah, not wrong

Dead on. I see right thru your bullshit.

And there you go again.... talking about how the "MSM has been able to frame us". They are liars, Joe. Bought and paid for. And you repeat it here? I see that as you trying to make us look bad, using the MSM.

I dunno, Joe, maybe you are just a kid, feeling his oats? If so, you may be forgiven.

[AverageJoe90]

63. Clearly, you fail to see my point.

And yes, the mainstream media, or at least the right-wing factions of said entity, have indeed been able to make us look bad. Is that really so hard to point out?

I'd also point out that many of the Hamsher/Greenwald type progressives haven't exactly helpful to political progressivism & progressives, myself included, as a whole, either. And again, I don't think that most of the H/G types are covert trolls. I think 95% of *them*, like their counterparts in the environmentalist movement(the doomers), truly don't mean any harm, but have indeed bought into things that aren't exactly helping us progressives, or even the Democratic Party as a whole. They can be forgiven for their foul-ups. But there are always those shit-stirrers who HAVE to bash Obama for every little mistake, perceived or actual. And those are the people that need to be slammed, just like the small minority (about 5%, again, I would say) of climate doomsters who spew out "we're all inevitably doomed" and "tool monkeys! tool monkeys!" comments just to be jerks; again, you can forgive the 95% of uninformed dupes for just being naive, but not the deliberate disruptors(unless they repent, or whatever).....

[LondonReign2]

137. Ah yes, the "Hamsher/Greenwald" bash again

Off to ignore

[Caretha]

44. Undoubtably Joe

it is so obvious. We are all supposed to act stupid. Time to use a new handle...heh

And we are so stupid we won't notice.

[AverageJoe90]

58. I suppose you're not a fan of mine.....

But, as I pointed out, I just call out what I see. Most of these climate doomers, Fukushima ultra-worrywarts, Obama supercritics, etc., really are just out of the loop and naive about certain things, depending on the person. But I don't doubt that there are trolls lurking among us, and frankly, it's not easy being one of those people who exposes this kinda stuff for what it really is.

[Caretha]

66. Fan???

You have fans? K, I just didn't know, and that is so sweet.

Btw, I hate being "out of the loop and naive about certain things", so could you inform me, or as my 98 yr old gram used to say (btw, she was born in 1886) could you teach me to suck eggs too?

You fool no one fool, but "proceed", if it makes you feel better.

[SidDithers]

85. "Time to use a new handle"...

Nailed it.

Sid

[AverageJoe90]

90. Not sure I see the problem here, Sid. You and I usually see eye to eye on most things.

I really don't think that most Obama supercritics(i.e., those who tend to be overly critical of the President, over pretty much anything) or climate doomsayers, etc. really are deliberate disruptors. But my point is, there are a few that are, and some of *these* may very well be Freepers or Cavers in disguise.

[SidDithers]

104. Sorry, I wasn't clear...

I was referring to RobertEarl, who used to post as BeFree, but abandoned that handle in 2012.

My apologies.

Sid

[AverageJoe90]

106. No problem. Thanks for clarifying. =) eom

[hunter]

71. You've spawned a very special subthread...

[AverageJoe90]

89. Well, obviously, there were a few who took issue with what I said.

But, honestly, that isn't my problem. I was just stating my views and making my observations known. Hell, I even gave the benefit of the doubt to most of the small group of people I was referring to! Because I don't think most of them ARE disruptors. But there are a few who are, and those are the people I have the majority of the issue with.

Peace out.

[Th1onein]

107. I've seen you disrupt, Joe. That's the problem here.

I think most of us have, as well.

[AverageJoe90]

119. Mm-hmm....sure you have.....

So I guess you don't have a problem with all the random crappy "we're so totally irrevocably doomed", "humans are tool monkeys", "Hopium&quot basically, poking cruel fun at people who are *relatively* optimistic compared to the person making the comment), etc. comments being shunted around nearly every time someone posts a climate change article around here? If at least a small part of that isn't the work of trolls, including possibly even a few actual disruptors, then I dunno what else to think.

And not to mention that, sometimes, some people do in fact have trouble distinguishing a hard-hitting, and/or unpopular opinion from trolling and/or disrupting. Unfortunately, I kinda hate to say this, but I'm afraid this reply of yours right here is a good example of what I mean.

[Th1onein]

155. Why you make that inference from my comment is your business, of course.

And, of course, you are completely incorrect in that inference.

I'm just stating a fact. Deal with it.

[AverageJoe90]

158. "I'm just stating a fact. Deal with it." LOL. As if.....

Seriously, dude, you ARE wrong. Whether or not you choose to accept the fact that I've pointed out, is your business. ultimately. I just happen to be right this time, that's all.

[Th1onein]

161. I'll leave you believing that you are right. Welcome to my ignore list.

[D23MIURG23]

115. Just read what the actual scientists are saying.

"The fifth assessment report on the physical science of climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that humanity is on course over the next few decades to raise global temperatures by more than 2C compared with pre-industrial levels. Such a rise could trigger the release of plumes of the greenhouse gas methane from the thawing Arctic tundra, while the polar ice caps, which reflect solar radiation back into space, could disappear.

Although the report does not say so, Earth would probably then be facing a runaway greenhouse effect."


http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/21/climate-change-ipcc-global-warming


We need to get off oil or there won't be any year-round ice on this planet in 100 years. I get it that some people are going to refuse to believe the science on climate change because it is too uncomfortable for them, but accusing people who are worried about climate of being right wing trolls is absurd. You'd be accusing a plurality of the scientists studying the climate of secretly being freepers.

[AverageJoe90]

120. You really missed the point with this one, I'm sorry.

As you may have noticed, there is a MAJOR difference between just being more worried than the average DUer about climate change, and going off and spouting nonsensical B.S. about how we're all doomed to extinction, that AGW cannot be stopped now, etc.

The LATTER is the group I have the most issues with, not the former. Those who most often have seen me talk about climate change, and haven't formed inaccurate conclusions about me, will understand such, even if they may disagree with me on a few things.

[muriel_volestrangler]

133. Ironically, you end with a quote that doesn't come from a scientist

"Although the report does not say so, Earth would probably then be facing a runaway greenhouse effect."

The person saying that is a journalist, not a scientist. And if you want to 'read what the actual scientists are saying' - none of them think the Antarctic ice cap will not be there, year-round, in 100 years. You're rather making the point about exaggeration not helping things.

[CreekDog]

151. Yes, DU is often trolled by "climate change concern trolls"

they post worry after worry that we are overly pessimistic about climate change.

they say it won't be so bad, we don't need to overreact.

they post that when we take climate change seriously that we hurt the cause of fighting climate change because we sound like Chicken Littles.

Climate Change concern trolling.

Coming to a liberal discussion board near you.

[AverageJoe90]

160. Typical of you, unfortunately.

You seem to be pretty ignorant of your own guilt in this matter, CD. Can you say, "projection", anyone?

If you're truly against concern trolling, go after the real culprits and try not to resist the urge to pick on those people exposing such themselves just because you may disagree with their approach or some opinions they may have........if you can manage to be that mature, anyhow.

[Union Scribe]

135. You mean like, oh I don't know, trashing unions?

http://sync.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3895958

"Trying to pit one Dem against another" indeed

[Squinch]

4. Ahhhhh... So much makes sense now!!!

[dkf]

5. Read through the conservative cave site and it was eye opening

[Kingofalldems]

29. Really?

[dkf]

34. They knew more about people on this site than I did.

I found it disconcerting.

[Caretha]

46. Yes it is

but it is obvious too. Listen. I know who to kick out of my "fox hole" and so do you.

[GreenPartyVoter]

129. Stalkers. That's what they are.

[RKP5637]

61. Yep, I do that from time to time. We must all be really important and a grave threat for

cc to spend so much time drooling over our posts. What a bunch of losers over there.

[AverageJoe90]

64. It truly is *that* screwed up. They could give Free Republic a run for their money.....nt

[Warpy]

108. Ugh, you made me look.

I might never forgive you for that.

If this site didn't exist, I have no idea what those people would do with their time.

[dkf]

110. Lol. Wasn't that amazingly dedicated of them?

I'm still astonished.

[TroglodyteScholar]

6. The idiot using dialup to avoid detection...

Is proud to be such a REMARKABLE idiot....

[Bolo Boffin]

7. Who here is defending Fox News?

That's the stated reason the Fox News trolls were fanning out. They were defending the "accuracy" of Fox News.

Who's been doing that here? I don't think I've seen anyone do that here. Well, not and have an account here for long.

[ThoughtCriminal]

33. That's my reaction

Even though I show up most days, I only see a tiny sliver of all the posts. I've seen trollish stuff on occasion, but I can't remember any posts that reflect what Fox was attempting in this report- defend their coverage. If any one did try that here, the ROFL smilies would die of exhaustion.

[Coyotl]

117. I know who.

[leftstreet]

8. GOP talking points don't get much play here

I'm not sure the article applies to places like DU

[Whisp]

19. yes, they do get play here.

They are worded carefully of course but ends up as the same message --> Obama is worse than useless and Bush.

You only need eyes.

[okaawhatever]

59. Thank you and Amen. They're also going after Hillary. Does anyone remember the video of the class

being taught by the tea party Republican types where they were training people on being trolls? We need the administrators here to call out more folks. One of the terms of service is voting Democrat, this isn't a free speech issue or website this is a website for those who vote Democrat.

[leftstreet]

73. It's 'voting DemocratIC' not 'voting Democrat' n/t

[Decaffeinated]

83. You are moving into "No true scotsman " territory there...

[okaawhatever]

86. Perhaps I should say, "going after Hillary in a manner inconsistent with a member of the

Democratic Party." I don't believe that a "true" democrat wouldn't oppose Hillary. There are a few here who are clearly trolls who have been seen on Ron Paul websites and such who are clearly not members of the Democratic Party and don't have good intentions. Their modus operandi is obvious to those who are here enough. It's not about supporting or not supporting her and I should have made that clear.

[Th1onein]

111. I'm sorry, but I consider myself a "true" Democrat, and I won't vote for Hillary.

I have never, ever voted for anyone BUT a Democrat, for ANY office, but I am not happy with the right wing movement of my party these days, and Hillary is a prime example of that movement. I will not vote for her.

[Number23]

68. You got it. And they usually come from folks that howl the loudest when compared to the Tea Party

Not that I blame them. I'd howl knowing that my tactics (openly despise moderates, tear down members of my own party more than the other, and demand that everyone kowtow to my demands and blissfully ignore everyone else's, no matter how reasonable) were being shared by such a group of colossally dangerous know nothings too.

[okaawhatever]

75. +100 nt

[uponit7771]

70. +1

[MADem]

81. I look askance at anyone who insists that "Obama sucks" particularly after his stellar performance

quite recently....yet, still, we see these kinds of stupid posts.

Same deal with the "Harridan Hillary" theme-sters.

We know them by their works.

Good thing about election years--they can't help themselves so they reveal their wingnut biases.

Bad news about election years--they come back as zombie sox, and keep the same crap up....

[Bobbie Jo]

109. Absolutely

....and their tactics are nearly indistinguishable.

[Blue_Tires]

9. I refuse to believe anyone still denies this

Highly skilled, coordinated disruptors and trolls (and I'm not talking about the five-post-flameout) have been around as long as I've been here...DU was discussing it even back then...

I know I can't accuse or call anyone out, but I can spot them instantly, including the ones on sock accounts...

[Caretha]

48. I Grok you

you know it is all about money, greed etc. They are such low level suckers, they don't even know they are being used..what a shame, there are days I even feel sorry for them.

[Rex]

10. Of course there is, I watch it happen daily on this site!

Sad that so many get away with it. Thankfully a lot don't.

[Ohio Joe]

11. Being on MIRT has been a real eye opener

There are a huge number of trolls that come to DU... I bet fully 50% of new people are banned very quickly. The actual political trolls don't bother me very much. I don't think they fool anyone here and are, for the most part, spotted and taken out very quickly. I find the ones that obsessively sign up over and over just to stir up shit to be far more disturbing... There are ones that sign up several times a day, every day... And have done so for years... Yes, years. I can't imagine how one could function in life with such a compulsion nagging at them like that all the time.

[NYC_SKP]

14. It's easy to identify the 8-10 new trolls/day who get banned right away.

But a bit harder to nail the stealthy ones who get past 100, then 1,000 posts, and even go on to have several highly recommended concerned posts.

They, too, are here and they do a lot of damage by their presence.

You better believe it.

[SunSeeker]

30. +1

[RKP5637]

65. +1, n/t

[Hekate]

99. +1

[Ohio Joe]

116. It is true, there are some that get through

Some that stick around for a long time as well... I think the move to DU3 has cleared a good number of these out and the Admins have continued to make changes to see that DU is as clear as can be of the trolls. It is not very likely that any site as large and broad as DU will ever be able to be troll free to the satisfaction of everyone but this is one of the best sites (at least in terms of big sites) at doing it.

One of the issues with it is that 'who' is a troll can vary based on what each of us thinks DU 'should be'. I know there are a few that IMO, are such obvious trolls that I'm shocked they are still here... But I have come to terms with the issue being that it is simply 'Ohio Joe's' opinion, that these individuals are trolls and that their opinions are allowed here. I suspect many DU'ers have their own ideas on other posters they disagree with that they feel are the trolls... Oh well. There are tools the Admins have made available to all of us to correct this situation should we choose to do so.

Overall, I have to say that the Admins have developed a pretty amazing system that, between MIRT and the Juries, allows us to do a lot of very effective self-policing while also now giving themselves a better ability to take out many of the less obvious trolls. Perfect... No... But I am not aware of any comparable site that does a better job.

[Bobbie Jo]

112. +1

Truly bizarre behavior.

[deutsey]

131. I just can't imagine being like that

Life's too short. What a pathetic waste.

[blm]

12. As expected from an Australian extortionist who tag teamed with a Korean cult leader

to create anti-American, pro-fascist media empires skilled in propagandizing the RW mindset.

[okaawhatever]

113. What Korean cult leader? Reverend Moon? I have to learn my tea bag history. nt

[blm]

134. Rev Moon, mind control asset for CIA, using theology for political goals.

He had a longtime alliance with Poppy Bush that dated back to the 60s. In the late 70s early 80s Moon developed a team of propagandists at Washington Times, HumanEvents, FrontPage, and other RW publications, and also funded propagandists at Heritage Foundation and CNP. Murdoch came in later to cover broadcast media using Moon's 'journalists' and publications as their chief source for 'news' and GOP talking points.

Moon also funded Tim LaHaye and his Left Behind series of books.

GOP voters don't even realize they were targeted long ago by global fascists and they are nothing more than moonies now.

[okaawhatever]

146. Wow, I had no idea Rev Moon was one of the architects of the current oppressive economic state. I am

fully aware of the machinations that began with Reagan, but I need to go back in time and learn about the earlier movement. I knew Moon had many followers, but I was a kid and knew little more than a bunch of people followed him and he married them. Other than that just the Rolls Royces. Thanks for the info.

[Rex]

148. Rev Moon crowd the second coming of Jesus by Congress critters.

http://www.salon.com/2004/06/21/moon_7/

And that was in 2004!

[rbrnmw]

13. I believe it trumad

certain people skirt the line and somehow keep from getting banned

[efhmc]

47. I have been here for 11 years and remember when every new person was given a personal

greeting and getting to 10,000 people was a big deal. I searched and searched for somewhere to go to connect with like minded folks after coming back to this small central Texas town. I rode on a bus forever to protest bush's nonelection and inauguration. When I got home I needed someone somewhere to talk to. DU seemed like and was the only place to fit that need. It wasn't always smooth going. I remember getting upset because I didn't have 100 posts so could not be informed where a meetup in Austin was. Many times I would get so angry at the regular Texas bashing and the complete lack of understanding of how degrading the use of certain words for and about women was that I wanted to leave the site forever. Actually many feminists did leave and started or went to other sites. Well I'm still here as engaged and informed and incensed as ever. With success comes responsibility and I am glad we stir up the opposition and am also happy someone else guards the gate. Thanks DU!

(Wonder if anyone remembers the regular who reveal himself as a repug after Kerry's loss. That troll had been here quite a while, I think.)

[StrayKat]

15. I've often wondered

if this was the reason for the Washington Post comment section sometimes looking like a teabagger chattering clutch and at other times a conservative lynch mob.

Interesting that at least one researcher found that right wing trolling had less effect than left wing trolling:

it was expected that liberals/Democrats would move to the left (e.g., opposing the sequester and supporting Obama), and that conservatives/Republicans would move to the right (e.g., supporting the sequester and opposing Obama), in response to incivility from the left and right. However, when the results from the interactive models were graphed, we only saw polarization among those on the right.

[Cha]

16. It's only logical.

[cali]

17. trumad thinks I'm a troll

which frankly makes his judgment just a wee bit questionable.

[trumad]

21. ahh Cali

But you are lovable.

[WillyT]

22. And Therein Lies The Problem... Take A Principled Stance Against A Dem Proposal...

And you are accused of being a troll.

NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE EVER POSTED.



Just imagine what this place will be like if the "Grand Bargain" gets passed.

[leftstreet]

24. omg

It'll be worse than any primary

[onlyadream]

40. I believe I was recently accused of being a troll

Because I shared my poor results on the healthcare exchange, and I appear new here, even tho I've been here since the bush second "election" ( although I had started another account five years ago). It really made me start to doubt DU since I was being truthful about a very big problem that should be fixed or the ACA will be in trouble.

[WillyT]

42. All I Can Say Is... Stay Strong... There Is A Knee-Jerk Contingent That Swarms Anything...

that has even the appearance of negativity towards President Obama.

Other Democrats... not so much.



Be true to your beliefs, state your case, and stand proud.

[questionseverything]

141. were your poor results tech problems

or cost problems?

[onlyadream]

154. Cost problems

My family makes more than $95k, so no credits.
We're in NY, which has their own website, which totally worked (not a single glitch).
Premiums were $800 to $1700 a month
Deductibles were $3000 individual, $6000 family
Copays were 50% for bronze. I didn't even look at silver or platinum since the monthly premiums were outrageous, - huge percent of our income, more than our mortgage!

Today I verified all this with an insurance agent that was set up at a local store, however, he told me to call him, since there's a lot more info that the website doesn't give. I just may do that.

I'm very upset because our current insurance is $425 a month, which covers hospital and well visits, however, we can't keep it since the ACA requires more.
I did a search on this, and there are a lot of people like me. People who are shocked, people who canvassed for Obama and now this. It was very disappointing, to say the least. Us liberals are hoping that this will be a temporary cost and will level out. Honestly, I'm seeing people getting quotes at $80 a month with very low copays and deductibles. These people list their earnings, and although our premiums ar over ten times more, our pay certainly isn't even close. This will become a major problem when things get rolling (and the deadline hits).

[questionseverything]

157. my household is in a similar boat

one big difference is we were uninsured before (pre existing conditions)but still the premiums and out of pocket will be over 26% of income,as you said ,more than our house payment

my spouse is on an expensive med that is not available in generic so i am pretty sure we will hit the out of pocket

the price goes up way too quickly with modest gains in income....you are not alone

[Cali_Democrat]

28. He does?

Well I'm sure he's not alone.

[cali]

122. and I'm not alone in what I think of you.

[LondonReign2]

138. ^This^

[Caretha]

49. I know

[hunter]

80. *sigh* nobody ever calls me a troll.

Bloody hell, not even a Communist!

I work hard for these labels and everyone ignores me.

[AverageJoe90]

92. Lulz. Lulz.

In all seriousness, you may be one lucky little sob.....I seem to have the exact opposite problem; it's easier to deal with these days, usually, but sometimes I feel awfully tempted to just start slapping names on my "Ignore" list......

[Eleanors38]

103. Jesus, hardly a week goes by when I'm not called one.

[CreekDog]

152. that's because you post that gun control is Jim Crow

it seems to be the only time you post on the subject of racial discrimination.

rather than protecting racial minorities, it seems as though you're really concerned with the poor, victimized firearms who might not be able to get homes as quickly as before.

[Eleanors38]

163. Well, gun-control is based in the laws prevalent in the South after...

the Civil War, more commonly known as Jim [large raucous black bird] laws. A position taken by most historians, if not a few censorial keyboard activists here.

[scheming daemons]

130. I dont think you are a troll.. I just think you're wrong more than you're right

And you lack the ability to see the big picture sometimes.

But I think your heart is in the right place.

[TeamPooka]

23. just volunteer for the MIRT team like I did last spring and you will be shocked...

at the number of trolls and malicious intruders attacking and working this site all day and night.
And they are very persistent.
Volunteer for a tour of MIRT duty and help the cause folks.
We protect this site together as a community.
It takes a digital village....

[GoCubsGo]

25. It doesn't surprise me at all.

The like to troll the left-leaning talk radio shows, too. One can spot them by their talking points. They're the same shit that gets spewed on Fox "News", etc.

[RKP5637]

72. Yep, they all read pretty much from the same script, even ones you meet locally in person. n/t

[Hutzpa]

26. A thorough SysAdmin

will be able to lock on to their scheme and shut it down in a second.

[dballance]

31. MIRT does a good job of axing them here on DU

I served two terms on MIRT and I reccomend the experience to everyone.


Between juries and MIRT most don't last too long here. Some do manage escape notice though. No system is perfect.

[iandhr]

35. Some people seem to think...

... that anyone who disagrees with them is a troll.

[Fumesucker]

37. And then there are those of us who think anyone who agrees us is a troll

"I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member." -Groucho

[Curmudgeoness]

43. I agree with you.

[TygrBright]

56. YEAH!! n/t

[LanternWaste]

145. I imagine the OP implied that it''s not policy disagreements that are being referred to...

I imagine the OP implied (rather obviously to me) that it''s not policy disagreements that are being referred to, but rather simple and actual trolling...

However, I do understand the necessary convenience of conflating the two, wholly separate concepts in order to better validate one's own personal biases (for "some people" anyways)...

[JEFF9K]

36. Some political forum sites ...

... screen-out cuss words. I'd like to see sites screen-out bad logic and intellectual dishonesty. This would deal with pro-Fox comments and the people who make them.

[Fumesucker]

38. DU would be a much quieter place indeed if such a system were instigated

Just eliminating Ad Hominems alone would make GD a ghost town.

[kentauros]

41. That might screen out me, too.

I can't say that I always post logical thought-forms, especially on the weekends, when I've usually been awake for more than 20-hours and can't stop posting

[jeff47]

143. Not sure that's a good plan

One of the major benefits from discussing issues on a forum like this is finding the holes in your logic and beliefs. It's very helpful for others to spot these holes or point out other edge cases to mature our political thoughts.

For example, "No guns allowed anywhere for any reason" may be a lovely starting point. But there are legitimate cases where that is not a good idea. And until someone else points out these holes and edge cases, one can't mature politically.

[JEFF9K]

156. Bad logic would be screened out ...

And an explanation from the moderator would be shown.

[jeff47]

159. Still not worth the trade

Sometimes it's an utterly outrageous post that makes you realize there's a small hole in your thinking. The post is overall garbage, but there's one good sentence.

[colbertforpresident]

45. Trolls

Hell the are even trolling the fansite of Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh over at the Philzone.com. They have a politics folder there that has a couple of these trolls that are only there to dominate the political discussion. They never comment on music or anything else.

[hrmjustin]

50. Being on MIRT I have seen many trolls that might have been apart of this.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. A lot of these clowns are on YouTube....

That's why it feels like you are dealing with the same people over and over.

[AverageJoe90]

55. You wouldn't *believe* just how *many* of these jokers, morons, and assholes I've had to deal with..

on YT over the past few years. Probably in the hundreds now.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

87. On the bright side it's probably the same 12 guys.

[AverageJoe90]

100. Sometimes, yeah, but not always, though......you'd be surprised. nt

[madrchsod]

96. i noticed that too...

but they are so obvious they get trampled on immediately. i want to watch and listen to music not some bullshit political or racist shit.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

98. They're so desperate to fake their majority status that these assholes show up in cooking forums.

[nolabear]

53. FOX NEWS LIES LIKE THE DOGS THEY ARE!!!!

Hi Guys!

[Berlum]

54. "We did not - smirk - have sockpuppet sex with that blog, Mr. & Ms. DU. Smirk." - Fox Propaganda (R)

[orpupilofnature57]

60. I've been juror on quite a few 1st post and last time ' Hide it '

I've never trolled a teabagger site but I hope we're better at it than them .

[gopiscrap]

62. I agree I have seen trolls on here

[AverageJoe90]

95. They're on MotherJones, too.

I'm sure you may remember me talking about this wacko lady that went all bonkers on me after I debunked her pet "all polar ice will totally cease to exist @ just ~400 ppm".....I think "CB" was her username.....yeah, it was(you were the only respondent, I think). Boy, it really *was* like talking to a brick wall, with her non-stop broken record routine.....not to mention her tendency to badly misinterpret data that *she herself* posted, and to actually *reject* facts that just happened not to jive with her pet theory......so yeah, not much else to say there.

[madinmaryland]

67. I should be worried by this, WHY???

I realize the Phins are causing you to gin up conspiracy theories, but lighten up dude!

[regnaD kciN]

69. It seems the characters in this story were all about defending Faux Noise…

…as opposed to general right-wing trolling.

Not to deny we've had more of our share of the latter, too, but I doubt they were the Faux employees covered in this story. If these were to make an appearance here, it probably would have been in the context of a thread specifically about Faux…and I suspect anyone posting something that purported to back up an FNC story would have had a very short lifespan here.

[Coyotl]

74. We just tombstoned a new one that had to criticize Obama for helping a fainting woman.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023895148#post113

[LondonReign2]

140. Ha Ha

So that person admitted to being opposed to helping people? Well at least that one was honest, heh.

[Pisces]

76. There are definitely trolls and stink bugs on this site.

[AverageJoe90]

91. And I betcha at least a few of these are self-proclaimed anti-BOGers.....

Wouldn't surprise me, TBH. Many ConservaTrolls, including Paulite LieBertAryans eventually do let the mask slip in some fashion, usually with some sorta guns or taxes rant, or about how bad Obama supposedly is, that he's a "poor leader", that he's "Bush Lite&quot mainly the province of the Paulites), etc. I've seen some examples of this shit myself, including even on this site on occasion.

[Elwood P Dowd]

77. Even sports message boards are sometimes infested with this scum.

I visit several college and NFL football sites. Many of these also have a general discussion or politics forum to go along with the regular football forum. There are almost always one or more right wing turds who have hundreds or thousands of posts on the message board, and about 90% of their posts are from the political board. They rarely post about sports or football unless something about Obama or politics gets mixed in with a sports post. Its obvious they are there just pushing a right wing and Fox News agenda and care almost nothing about that sports team.

[Enthusiast]

123. The O-Zone off topic forum.

It's the worst. Don't even go there and express a liberal idea.

[Vashta Nerada]

78. Those people seriously need to get a life.

[Nye Bevan]

79. I have certainly seen a *lot* of anti-Hillary posts here.

But I'm pretty sure that only a minority of these, if any, are the product of trolls.

[madrchsod]

84. no shit....

[brooklynite]

88. explain why...

..."they" would feel the need to sway opinions on a political blog site that has (with all due respect to Skinner and his efforts) limited influence outside of those dedicated Democrats who choose to participate here.

[Enthusiast]

124. Because it is their job.

One they are paid to do.

[jeff47]

144. Because they can't predict which one will grow to major importance.

MoveOn started as a rather small concern about a single issue. It's much larger now, and thus much harder to disrupt.

There's no way to predict which place will spawn the next giant wave of activists. So disrupt them all.

[Silent3]

93. I'm sure there are trolls, paid and unpaid, but suspicion of trolls has created a siege mentality...

...among some people where they're jumping at shadows, eager to pounce on anything that strikes them as just a bit off, shoot first and don't even bother asking questions later, as if there's a prize for spotting the alleged troll and showing them that "you've got their number!", that "you've got them pegged!", and no good reason at all to, oh, do something wild like trying to be courteous, giving a person a chance, and not being so smugly certain that you've "pegged" someone based on very little actual solid evidence.

[AverageJoe90]

97. Very true, sadly.....it *has* happened. Even I've fallen for it a few times.....=(

[Eleanors38]

105. THAT is the main objective, and it is nothing new..

To paraphrase an FBI informant who spread misinformation to disrupt anti-war groups in the late 60s: These guys are so paranoid of being infiltrated, we should them a reason to be paranoid.

[madrchsod]

94. shit we have seen a lot of them come and go

i just went back to 04... ductapefatwa and a few others were mentioned as confirmed trolls. if i remember ducttapefatwa announced he was a troll on his 10,000th post. there`s been others i remember including the guy who was supposed to be a huge hillary fan who posted really nasty stuff about obama. i guess the right wing money people have figured out how to spread the money to their get their shit to every comment section on the net.

the grand democratic underground... people come and go but nothing ever changes

[Mojorabbit]

118. I remember that poster. It was a great handle though wasn't it?

Cracked me up whenever I saw it. Too bad. Really, someone must have a crappy life if they spend hours of it trolling like that. You can't get that time back.

[factsarenotfair]

101. Well, if the Koch Brothers are giving away FREE BEER to be anti-ACA...

just kidding.

[NBachers]

102. What I like are the thread hijack tag teams

They'll start a back-and-forth argue and response all the way down the thread, and completely obfuscate the original intention of the thread. Sometimes it's multiple people; sometimes I think it's the same guy arguing with himself.

They try to drag other people into their sub-thread, and divide them up between themselves.

[winter is coming]

114. LOL, if you doubt we have trolls then just scan back over the past couple of weeks.

There was a lot of unity at DU during most of the shutdown fight, but towards the end, when the media started talking a lot about the Republican party fracturing, we suddenly had a huge upswing in the number of divisive/provocative OPs.

[AverageJoe90]

121. And how many of these disruptors claimed to be anti-BOG? Frankly, I'd suspect a LOT of 'em. nt

(BOG stands for the Barack Obama group, btw)

[Bobbie Jo]

126. There were also a number

of posters who were conspicuously absent during the shutdown fight (and the subsequent period of unity)who reappeared when it was over to pick up the divisiveness gig right where they left off.

Yes, I would encourage a review of recent activity for those who have doubts about this pattern of behavior.

[Warren DeMontague]

125. There are different kinds of trolls, as anyone who has hung out here for a while can attest.

There are the obvious crash-and-burn RW trolls, the concern trolls, the deliberate divisive trolls, the snark-asm personal attack trolls, the okay quite possibly paid by the word to post by certain industry or interest group trolls...

then there are the sock farmers, the zombies, the woopublicans, the stealth and not-so-stealthy culture hand-wringers and thinly concealed religious right types, often in combinations of the above.

just as some people here are pretending to be 5, or 10, or more, there are some "people" here who are actually accounts passed around among a number of folks. Seen that too.

Then of course you have the folks wound tight around a particular issue or two. Or the folks who have some readily apparent mental illness.

And certainly there's more than a decent share of run of the mill cranks, drunks, complainers and general misanthropes, like me.




It's not so different from the subway at 2:30 AM on a Sunday morning.

[ananda]

127. It's been clear to me for awhile..

.. that DU has been invaded by trolls.

It's not as good a site as it used to be but
I can still find good info here.

[muriel_volestrangler]

128. The blog doesn't say what you think it says

It doesn't say they're trolling liberal sites; it says they're trolling blogs, with no particular political affiliation. And, as other point out above, people defending Fox News here don't last long. You can't call it a 'strong' effort. The blog also points out that even on the blogs it's pretty much a waste of time and money for Fox:

Not to mention idiocy. Think about the cost-benefit calculus here. Comments sections on blog posts relating to Fox News are commonly very busy places, where the ideologically pugnacious go to vent, and then vent some more. Also to beat up on other people. Of all places on earth, comments sections are perhaps the least amenable to PR work, given how full they are of people who are already convinced they’re right. So: What Fox News ever hoped to gain from doing combat in the comments is hard to ascertain, or to imagine. The Erik Wemple Blog has requested comment from Fox News on that very matter.

DUers are not persuadable that Fox News does a good job, ever. I don't see arguments here that it does.

[LWolf]

132. I've thought enough about it.

I'm sure there are some; I don't think rw "trolls" are a big problem. The trolls that are a problem are...

never mind.

[reddread]

136. a Big Tent Democratic Party is not in the interest of the Conservative agenda

they win when progressive political viewpoints get savaged by the real trolls.
easy peasy.
Democratic voters either stand together or fall apart.
Ready, Fire, Aim!

[AverageJoe90]

147. I would make the same argument myself. Gobama! =) eom

[reddread]

149. plenty of irony in your diet I see

Should help keep the blood flowing.

[AverageJoe90]

150. WTF is this about? eom

[LaydeeBug]

142. There may be an effort, but that paranoia thing runs right here to be sure.

As someone who has been on the receiving end of it, I know first hand what it's like to be accused of being a troll, without them actually saying it.

It got to the point that I was pretty sure the trolls were the ones making the accusations.

[AverageJoe90]

162. I feel your pain, LaydeeBug. It's happened to me as well.....as you might be able to see here. nt

But all we can do is stick to our guns, when needed.....and be there for each other when necessary. And if it helps.....

[Skip Intro]

153. I remember when DU was overrun with new Kerry supporters

during the Dem primaries of 03/04. Dozens if not more. All attacking Dean. All praising Kerry.

Then they disappeared.