2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumConcern troll pretends to support but uses "concern" to hurt morale (GD16)
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by mcar (a host of the 2016 Postmortem forum).
In an argument (usually a political debate), a concern troll is someone who is on one side of the discussion, but pretends to be a supporter of the other side with "concerns". The idea behind this is that your opponents will take your arguments more seriously if they think you're an ally.
A concern troll will pretend to care (about the opponent's health, well being, political activism, lifestyle, choices, etc.) while in reality, he or she only wants to cause self doubt and fear. A concern troll tries to undermine that which he or she pretends to support.
http://concerntroll.tumblr.com/
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Urban Dictionary defines a concern troll as "someone who is on one side of the discussion, but pretends to be a supporter of the other side with 'concerns.'" In other words, it's someone who pretends to support you but couches their disagreements in the form of "concerns," which allows them to justify criticism as the result of worrying about you. "I'm on your side," they say, "but you shouldn't do X, Y, and Z. It looks bad to some people not that I agree, but I thought you should know."
http://www.bustle.com/articles/144447-what-is-concern-trolling-watch-out-for-this-subtle-form-of-shaming
A concern troll is a false flag pseudonym created by a user whose actual point of view is opposed to the one that the user's sockpuppet claims to hold. The concern troll posts in web forums devoted to its declared point of view and attempts to sway the group's actions or opinions while claiming to share their goals, but with professed "concerns". The goal is to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt within the group.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/1/632558/-
concern troll
A person who posts on a blog thread, in the guise of "concern," to disrupt dialogue or undermine morale by pointing out that posters and/or the site may be getting themselves in trouble, usually with an authority or power. They point out problems that don't really exist. The intent is to derail, stifle, control, the dialogue. It is viewed as insincere and condescending.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=concern%20troll
Enter the Concern Troll
But I think it touches on a larger trend in opinionating.
Enter The Concern Troll.
There are two ways of disagreeing with someone. One is to disagree openly. The other is to say, I support you, but youre doing it wrong.
The second is insidious.
The second is condescending, insincere, manipulative. It even says so in the Urban Dictionary definition.
The darkest moment is always just after the concern trolls start pouring in.
Im with you, the concern troll says. But surely you must see how this looks to people. Not me, of course. But other people. They might think horrible things of you. People might think you were self-centered, fat, slow, rude. Not me, of course. Im with you. I have your best interests at heart. Thats why I want to warn you. I, you see, know how this ought to be done.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2014/01/13/enter-the-concern-troll/
In the blog world we call this concern trolling offering a poisoned apple in the form of advice to political opponents that, if taken, would harm the recipient.
http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/markos-moulitas/24407-dems-ignore-concern-trolls
Here from Geek Feminism Wiki but we can apply to any topic/group !
A concern troll is a person who participates in a debate posing as an actual or potential ally who simply has some concerns they need answered before they will ally themselves with a cause. In reality they are a critic. Concern trolling in geek feminism communities can result in continual reversion to Feminism 101 discussions in attempts to appease the troll's concerns, frustrating attempts at more serious discussion. Concern trolls are not always self-aware; they may also view themselves as potential allies who have just, oddly, never met a feminist opinion they liked.
Concern trolls can be identified primarily because they will retreat from, rather than engage with or be convinced by, answers to the questions they pose. They may repeatedly ask a certain question in feminist discussions without ever absorbing or replying to answers from previous discussions. They will often back into typical anti-feminist arguments, such as expressing concern that an argument is too "extreme" or a feminist too "strident" or even "hysterical". Another common tactic is insisting that some subjects are more important than others, for example, that media depictions of women shouldn't be criticised while violence against women continues.
http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Concern_troll
How do you respond?
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BlueMTexpat
(15,387 posts)DU, I'm sorry to say.
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)Her Sister
(6,444 posts)Artful concern trolling involves developing a believable persona as a supporter of a cause who has legitimate concerns. In an example of concern trolling, a group of people might be having a political discussion on a website about a candidate they support. The concern troll would log on and say I'm concerned that this candidate might not be strong enough to beat the opposition, or I'm worried that the candidate's history in the legislature might be a problem in the election.
Once a concern troll has sowed dissent or discord, often he or she can sit back and let the other commenters do the rest of the work. When a concern troll has done the job correctly, the discussion will split, factions will emerge, and support for the cause will have eroded. Concern trolling can also be highly distracting, as people band together to oppose the concern troll, rather than discussing serious issues, including valid concerns which should be addressed
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-concern-trolling.htm
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the discussion will split, factions will emerge, and support for the cause will have eroded. Concern trolling can also be highly distracting, as people band together to oppose the concern troll, rather than discussing serious issues."
DU's has lots of fake concern.
apcalc
(4,465 posts)Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)For example, if I were to say that President Clinton's boarding of the AG's plane, uninvited, was a dumb move and cast an unneeded shadow over the email investigation, does that make me a "concern troll"?
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)People always always give themselves away!
Haha! You are concerned about concern trolls!
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)Thank you! I want the email thing to be wrapped up, once and for all, and I REALLY wish President Clinton hadn't done that. He handed the GOP a talking point on a silver platter.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)fallacy of the type "consider the source". It is frequently used to dismiss valid criticisms by saying "you don't really care about it".
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)We don't have to tell someone "you don't really care about it", ~ we just have to know it!
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)There's nothing more uncomfortable than when your opponent has a legitimate point, but simply dismissing them with clever labels is unreasonable.
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)Because there's something underhanded and icky when you're dealing with someone who is just trying to hurt morale and their concerns are not truthful. They are happy about what they appear to be concerned about. And because they're disguised they just waste your time and mind-energy.
I'm not a distrustful person but am a good bullshit catcher.
Hope you get what am trying to say...
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)If their concerns are not truthful, then they can be dismissed on that basis. But, if the concerns are truthful, then attempting to dismiss them by attacking the source is fallacious, and dishonest.
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)But it's still helpful to try to get where someone is coming from. If you are aware how their mind minds you can tell the chess options someone with that mindset is likely to play and not play- and of course whether they're acting like they are going to play it one way when they're not really.
I think "Morale" is a lot relevant, when you're trying to win an important election!
aikoaiko
(34,188 posts)Her Sister
(6,444 posts)grossproffit
(5,591 posts)Love this.
insta8er
(960 posts)Hekate
(91,559 posts)MaggieD
(7,393 posts).... but they are really just pathetic.
mcar
(42,625 posts)Violates the Statement of Purpose for this forum.