tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post8339286045171267911..comments2024-02-24T00:37:43.087-05:00Comments on The Other McCain: A Quick Guide to Blog TrollsRobert Stacy McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084541621503669804noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-9131311561488118042009-04-26T02:44:00.000-04:002009-04-26T02:44:00.000-04:00Great post. I was just discussing blog trolls with...Great post. I was just discussing blog trolls with my kids. I'm an editor of a rural town paper in New Zealand. Our farm blog now and then gets them. I had a classic from some idiot in the UK over Craig Busch aka the Lion Man of the TV Series if anyone has heard of it. I guess so. An obsessed fan probably. IQ less than their ideal shoe size.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05100812038496671783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-23184539305371359982009-04-13T22:00:00.000-04:002009-04-13T22:00:00.000-04:00Hey, Mac, you forgot one: The Traffic Whore. Thi...Hey, Mac, you forgot one: The Traffic Whore. This troll posts links to posts on other blogs (generally their own or one they frequent), sometimes accompanied by excerpts of the posts, in an attempt to get someone, anyone to click them, even intending to go deride that blog, and send traffic to the other blog. The detour links occasionally have some germane topic, but the posts they appear in almost never include original material. I would opine that this class of trolls, especially the sort that post links with absolutely no relevance, are the lowest class of trolls since even the standard bomb-thrower has to have the intelligence to identify what statements will provoke a response.<br /><br />As for the "The premise of "trolling" [being] flawed", I heartily disagree. There are thoughtful, respectful posters with contrary viewpoints, and then there are trolls. The difference is mostly in intent: While worthy posters seek to express their own opinions and/or provoke consideration and discussion on a subject, trolls exclusively desire to cause disruption. They add nothing to a debate and serve only to waste time, space, and bandwidth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-45257127618700963072009-04-13T18:44:00.000-04:002009-04-13T18:44:00.000-04:00Bobby Baby, keep the lines of attack consistent at...Bobby Baby, keep the lines of attack consistent at least - either I'm a toiling cubicle worker under David Brock's iron fist, or I'm the online coordinator of the Sorosnet Anti-Tea Party Crusade (tm). It can't be both! I look forward to more from the journalistic mavens at the (lol) American Spectator for further details.Oliver Willishttp://www.oliverwillis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-78579519227679498772009-04-13T14:39:00.000-04:002009-04-13T14:39:00.000-04:00@Y4E,The premise of "trolling" is flawed. An open ...@Y4E,<BR/><I>The premise of "trolling" is flawed. An open forum is an open forum and not a private discussion.</I><BR/>Ah, but for a public discussion to exist as such implies a two-way exchange of ideas with an attempt to persuade.<BR/>Trolls are either peddling contradiction or abuse, neither of which is welcome.<BR/>Those seeking enlightenment enjoy having the tires of their ideas kicked by people with actual questions or additional information.smitty1ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06559464300318848169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-76539861323294777592009-04-13T13:32:00.000-04:002009-04-13T13:32:00.000-04:00A couple of years back I tried to post some commen...A couple of years back I tried to post some comments on the DailyKos and was attacked by most as a troll. A couple of folks there defended my post and tried to clarify it to no avail. Needless to say I never went back.The fucking idiots over there are unbearable.<BR/><BR/>Recently I've noticed a backlash over at C4P against HotAir.Palin freaks are disappointed that opposing views concerning Sarah are allowed at all.<BR/>The premise of "trolling" is flawed. An open forum is an open forum and not a private discussion. If you seek to engage each other in an echo chamber then you should set up a private chat room.<BR/><BR/>I like the mano-a-mano that I encounter on blogs like RSM.<BR/>Blogs like C4P seem flustered at having to defend their positions and frankly seem incapable of defending their POV's. I remember some time back when RSM himself was attacked by C4P goons for giving us his honest opinion about Bristol.<BR/>Contrary to conspiratorial speculation, there is no organized effort to demoralize or disrupt. Suggestions of such activity is as ludicrous as suggestions that the Tea Parties are corporate funded publicity gimmicks.<BR/>It makes sense that no matter what kind of troll you encounter, convictions in your ideas and your ability to defend them is sufficient enough ammunition.<BR/>Talk of silencing dissenting voices is...un-American.Young 4-Eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04159195318322896154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-6363354662206550152009-04-13T13:05:00.000-04:002009-04-13T13:05:00.000-04:00I don't doubt every one of these tactics dates bac...I don't doubt every one of these tactics dates back to the 30's and the CPUSA, like the "diamond" tactic for meetings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-50905740386091325942009-04-13T12:16:00.000-04:002009-04-13T12:16:00.000-04:00Philip, if you've spent enough time here you'd kno...Philip, if you've spent enough time here you'd know that Stacy doesn't mind disagreement. It gives him a good reason to address the topic again. <BR/><BR/>A solid, well-argued disagreement will get an even better presentation of the subject from him. And on his happy day an excuse to whack someone like a pinata. Yes, he enjoys that. If you were clever and pithy he'd answer you in that way and get you some traffic.<BR/><BR/>What's objectionable are the dishonest posts. The lefty bigots posting to conservative blogs and forums to get some racism in there where there was none before. This is a reasonable objection, doncha think?Ronsonichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03084095209525920755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-25377614583454272432009-04-13T12:10:00.000-04:002009-04-13T12:10:00.000-04:00As a lifelong committed conservative troll, I'm co...As a lifelong committed conservative troll, I'm concerned that I've checked your site this morning, knowing that Easter is over and you have finished observing Lent, and there is STILL no post bashing the holy dogshit out of Ross Douthat. Don't make us wait too much longer, it's killing us.thirteen28noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-1189281760185305542009-04-13T10:31:00.000-04:002009-04-13T10:31:00.000-04:00A notation on nomenclature: The typical shorthand...A notation on nomenclature: The typical shorthand for "Agent Provocateur Troll" is "Moby", in honor of the highest-profile proponent of this particular technique for smearing political opponents.PCachuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484360868811949360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-49227523325910889032009-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:002009-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:00I have to take issue with AP at Hot Air..any troll...I have to take issue with AP at Hot Air..<BR/><BR/>any troll on a Sarah Palin thread is warned repeatedly (When AP gets enough email to put him on notice).. but the threat is never carried through..<BR/><BR/>I think it's the only way he can achieve an erection is to get a flame war going on.Dave Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13779153708960447630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-36822149278877441062009-04-13T09:33:00.000-04:002009-04-13T09:33:00.000-04:00Over the short life of my blog (8 months) I've had...Over the short life of my blog (8 months) I've had a couple of trolls; what I'm noticing about mine is that they always come in under "Anonymous". <BR/><BR/>I've got to change my registration policy! Of course, then they just make up a name.<BR/><BR/>I wasted a lot of time arguing with them and defending myself at first and now I just ignore them. Sometimes their attacks get personal and they attack ME rather than my position and this REALLY pisses me off, but for the most part, I stand back and ignore them.<BR/><BR/>I've only deleted one troll-comment.<BR/><BR/>If I had more time, I'd punk-smack them, just for fun. <BR/><BR/>I actually have a wonderful commenter now who punk-smacks them for me.Pat Austin Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767059128758168960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-456364149100775342009-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:002009-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:00Robert Stacy McCain grows more narrow minded and p...Robert Stacy McCain grows more narrow minded and paranoid by the day. Here he is spouting a short but chagrining rant about the horrors of . . . wait for it . . . PEOPLE WHO DON’T AGREE WITH HIM.<BR/><BR/>...<BR/><BR/>Once again, McCain manages to sum up in one post everything that's wrong with today's conservative movement: Knee-jerk suspicion of debate, reflexive hatred of difference, zero tolerance for those who stray from the party line.<BR/><BR/>Up in the Good Place, conservative icons—gracious conversationalists like WFB and Russell Kirk—must be pulling their hair out. <BR/><BR/><BR/>http://who-whom.blogspot.com/2009/04/robert-stacy-mccain-grows-more-narrow.htmlPhiliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06848258189459651937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-17829658424998151842009-04-13T01:02:00.000-04:002009-04-13T01:02:00.000-04:00This post was full of great information. Great st...This post was full of great information. Great stuff.<BR/><BR/>A week ago I wasted some time fighting with a troll, to the tune of 33 posts, until I finally blocked him from further commenting. Yes, if they can waste your bandwidth and your time, they have won. Don't let them do it.Stogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05852841950131130696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-36188881525442023332009-04-13T00:44:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:44:00.000-04:00I have noticed that the flag trolls are starting t...I have noticed that the flag trolls are starting to creep into my beloved Lucianne.com (damn that open registration). Thanks to your quick lesson, I am going to start calling them out!Clifton Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273941007555823028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-20828278069253617592009-04-13T00:43:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:43:00.000-04:00Then there's the commenter who decides to classify...Then there's the commenter who decides to classify all the other commenters.prairiemainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-20673200308919180042009-04-13T00:14:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:14:00.000-04:00I've noticed over the last couple of months that t...I've noticed over the last couple of months that the first comment on a lot of righty posts will tend to be a forward, pushy comment by someone who shows up and disappears. I don't know if that's part of the plan or not--but those comments sure show up quickly.Chaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387249548750458757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-5023632676764057302009-04-13T00:11:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:11:00.000-04:00Yeah, we deal with these idiots all the time on Re...Yeah, we deal with these idiots all the time on RedState. Luckily, 90% of them are obvious on first viewing; they lack the ability to identify with their target that is the hallmark of a really good deceiver.Moe Lanehttp://www.moelane.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-49970749981431171242009-04-13T00:07:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:07:00.000-04:00As a lifelong reader of your blog...er, at least a...As a lifelong reader of your blog...<BR/>er, at least a devoted devourer of all prurient rule #5 posts, I...<BR/><BR/>That's gotta be a brand new category of troll, no?Steve Burrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11532569085171327991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-21950503770608668032009-04-13T00:03:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:03:00.000-04:00Is it just my imagination or was there a lesson in...Is it just my imagination or was there a lesson in there for me? Sounds like good advice that I should take but the truth is, despite my good girl, southern genteel upbringing, I'm a bit of a barroom brawler at heart. Trolls, aka weasels, should be called out at every opportunity, for many reasons but most of all because its fun. Anyway, I'll try to behave.Carolhttp://carolyntackettscloset.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223398383609158624.post-7766603983261477452009-04-12T23:45:00.000-04:002009-04-12T23:45:00.000-04:00Being I'm fairly new to this blogging thing I appr...Being I'm fairly new to this blogging thing I appreciate this crash course in Trolls!!!!T. LaDukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896733944500453408noreply@blogger.com