Here’s a troll dropping we caught in the spam filter today. Read it, and see if you can identify the tell-tale trolls signs found therein, and try to determine what the goal of this troll was in attempting to post this. After the jump, see our take on what’s going on.
As an IL voter I’m pretty disgusted with both of the choices for Senate — both are equally repugnant in different and similar ways, and I don’t feel that either would best represent the interests of the majority of the people (their pet special interest groups and “people” are another story). So I’m completely at a loss as to what to do — I can see myself campaigning energetically against both of them.
It’s a real conundrum, and I’m also having issues, as a person who usually identifies as an independent, with voting “for a party”. I really don’t like that alternative either.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this, so I got to thinking: what about campaigning for a “no” vote for both of them? I don’t think either is well liked, nor well respected, and they both stink as senatorial canidates. What if the people of IL just didn’t vote for either of them?
Perhaps not the best answer to the problem, but right now I’m at a loss — and getting increasingly disgusted with the cheerleading from each side, proclaiming their guy as so great…when it only boils down to party politics at best and just wanting to win at worst (those don’t seem like considered options to me).
Would love some feedback.
*************************
Okay, let’s run through this line by line.
(1) As an IL voter I’m pretty disgusted with both of the choices for Senate — both are equally repugnant in different and similar ways, and I don’t feel that either would best represent the interests of the majority of the people (their pet special interest groups and “people” are another story). So I’m completely at a loss as to what to do — I can see myself campaigning energetically against both of them.
Setting off our Troll-dar immediately is the “As an IL voter” bit. To us, this reads like an intern or college student writing this, using a script given to them by David Axelrod, Organizing for America, the DNC, Saatchi & Saatchi, or any number of DNC-backed front companies in service to The Lightbringer. Remember, trolls are instructed to establish an identity with their audience in as few sentences as possible. The first point on their checklist is to say something that makes readers believe they have some authority on the topic at hand. Telling the gullible that the troll is “an IL voter’ achieves that. “Oh, I need to listen, because this person is an IL voter, so she must know what she is talking about”.
Next up, because the DNC realizes it has a terrible candidate in Giannoulias, the troll recognizes just how bad Giannoulias is, without naming him.
That’s important, because the DNC has a mission to make people talk about just how bad BOTH candidates are in Illinois for Senate, so that it becomes a “hold your nose and default vote Democrat like always situation”. The DNC won’t do any more damage to Giannoulias by having their trolls use his name…instead, they will just trot out more of the old “lesser of two evils” chestnuts the gullible parrot back so effectively time and time again.
Notice the totally random and generic line in there about “special interest groups and “people”. That makes no sense whatsoever. What special interest groups? When have we ever talked about special interest groups on this site? That’s not a phrase we use. To our knowledge, the only special interest group Giannoulias has is the Mob. And we call it “the Mob”. So, clearly, this comment was written by someone in the troll organizing department, and it was copy and pasted as a remark here on HillBuzz.
Notice, there’s no attempt at all to try to claim any sort of readership of this site. There’s no reference to HillBuzz at all…no reference to other commenters…no h/t to anything said previously. So, this tells us the troll who posted this is low-ranking and amateur. It might be her first week on the job, and all she is doing is cutting and pasting things at random, without bothering to try to create any sort of a tie to the site she’s posting on. At all.
Look at the last line. She says she is completely at a loss as to what to do. Do you see how these troll remarks read like bad logic puzzles or story problems in a freshman year debate or philosophy class? It feels like the trolls are setting up “if/then statements” that are trying to lead you to the conclusion that you should either just not vote (so Giannoulias can win) or default vote Democrat like always because, in the end, Giannoulias will be proved to be the lesser of two evils.
Without ever mentioning Giannoulias’ name, of course.
(2) It’s a real conundrum, and I’m also having issues, as a person who usually identifies as an independent, with voting “for a party”. I really don’t like that alternative either.
This part is interesting because it seems we’ve been flagged by the DNC as a site where a lot of independents go…so, hence the appeal to people who “identify as independent”. The troll is trying to establish the fact she is “independent” and does not vote with either party. “See, she’s just like me! Me need listen now. She big thinker!”.
(3) Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this, so I got to thinking: what about campaigning for a “no” vote for both of them? I don’t think either is well liked, nor well respected, and they both stink as senatorial canidates. What if the people of IL just didn’t vote for either of them?
We’re pretty sure this, right here, is the DNC strategy in Illinois: to convince as many people as possible to either stay home or throw their votes away on a third party, so that Giannoulias wins with the Cook County machine vote.
Republicans should see this strategy telegraphed a million miles away. We have been warning the GOP in Illinois about this for months now: Kirk, with his Cap & Tax and other vulnerabilities, is the ideal candidate for the DNC to pull this crap with…and Republicans in Illinois love sitting their butts home on election day “to teach them a lesson!”. Idiots.
The DNC clearly knows how bad a candidate Giannoulias is, so watch for a big push of DNC money behind some nutjob third party spoiler who will snap votes away from Kirk…combined with the usual push to convince idiot Republicans to sit their butts home to “teach lessons” some more.
That is Giannoulias’ campaign strategy in a nutshell.
(3) Perhaps not the best answer to the problem, but right now I’m at a loss — and getting increasingly disgusted with the cheerleading from each side, proclaiming their guy as so great…when it only boils down to party politics at best and just wanting to win at worst (those don’t seem like considered options to me).
This last bit is just standard troll boilerplate.
Look how it could have been written about ANY race, with any candidates. No names used. Random references to unspecific “cheerleading”. “Their guy” instead of naming either Kirk or Giannoulias, which makes us think this bit was focus-group tested at the national level for us in any race, long before Kirk and Giannoulias were selected as the nominees in the Illinois Senate race.
Notice the weird word choices that pop up that don’t fit with the rest of the syntax and spelling errors in the piece. “Considered options” sure sounds focus-group tested and Madison Avenue approved. A person who spelled candidates as “canidates” just a sentence before doesn’t seem likely to say something as professional-sounding as “considered options”. That’s an interesting adjective, “considered”. It’s pregnant with meaning on so many levels, and seems levels above a Can I Date? mistake.
(4) Would love some feedback.
The whole thing ends with another tell-tale troll closer: would love some feedback.
This, we believe, is intended by the trolls to hijack a thread and trick gullible people into going on for many posts about whatever the troll wanted talked about. It’s the same thing they do when trolls say, “I just had this question” or “I’d really like your opinion on this because you are so knowledgeable”.
People, you realize overweight, highly unattractive, Mountain Dew drinking, Cheetos eating Liberal interns and college students are writing this stuff…laughing every time they post it, most likely with World of Warcraft minimized in another window on their screens.
“Tee-hee! Me fool them! They think me girl, and they read what me post and then they think me big thinker, and they listen am ME! Tee-hee. Did good trolling. Good troll! More Cheetos!”.
The sad thing is this really and truly does work. Much, much more than it should.
February 5, 2010 at 1:41 pm
“People, you realize overweight, highly unattractive, Mountain Dew drinking, Cheetos eating Liberal interns and college students are writing this stuff…laughing every time they post it, most likely with World of Warcraft minimized in another window on their screens.”
LMAO!!!
February 5, 2010 at 1:44 pm
People, you realize overweight, highly unattractive, Mountain Dew drinking, Cheetos eating Liberal interns and college students are writing this stuff…laughing every time they post it, most likely with World of Warcraft minimized in another window on their screens.
LOL … the image.
And these are probably the same people who selfishly ninja my loot after I’ve spent ten minutes clearing mobs and finally get to the Boss.
February 5, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I hear ya. The need roll on the frost orb, bastards. Ruin an othewise good run!
February 5, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Gotta be Horde.
Here’s how you handle them:
February 5, 2010 at 3:45 pm
LOL … good one.
My main is Alliance human paladin.
Name: Syrapalyn
That has earned me a few mohawks.
February 5, 2010 at 4:38 pm
I’ll bet! LOL
(But better than a pumpkin.)
February 5, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I never DID like Mountain Dew… but this sure soured me on Cheetos! ROFLOL…
It’s hard to pull one over on the HillBuzz Boyzz! Thanks for watching out for us. We are getting quite an anti-troll education here! THANK YOU!! You are “saving our butts”!
February 5, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Hey, we Taurans are offended! ;)
February 5, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Say it isn’t so!
Grumbly grumble, horde…
(hee hee)
LOL
February 5, 2010 at 4:17 pm
NOAMS!!!!
I will be forever sad that there is no such thing as a gnome paladin — a noamadin, if you will.
/nerd
February 5, 2010 at 1:58 pm
i’m embarassed. i don’t think i would have spotted that as a troll post. however, the dissection makes perfect sense.
keep these coming! i’m learning more with every one you post…
and thanks again…
February 5, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I’m with indiegirl, I could never have spotted this, most especially since I could see myself writing it with a situation right here in Mass for congress. The only thing that would distinguish me at all is that I would NEVER propose to not vote, or rather, say no to both as the writer proposes because it simply makes no sense. That would be the only distinction in something I would have written = (
February 5, 2010 at 2:08 pm
What’s odd to me, when I see “troll” comments like this is they seem to have their mind made up, yet they claim to desire feedback and help with making a decision which is either don’t vote at all, or vote none of the above.
I see completely the breakdown you Boyz are making. & I’ve been sick for years of the meme that “all candidates are the same and equally bad”. REgarding local issues, that meme doesn’t make any sense! Most likely a voter can agree that at the minimum ONE of the candidate’s positions resonates more strongly than the other candidates’ .. so they just need to prioritize what issues are of most import to them.
These types of comments were increasingly made on AAR radio about all Dems in power and the evils of Hillary Clinton in particular, and why someone with less experience in politics (Obama) would actually be a fresh start for this country, despite his background. So instead of looking at his record, they got away with citing his books as evidence for his leadership.
You can smell this stuff a mile away.
February 5, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Notice the weird word choices that pop up that don’t fit with the rest of the syntax and spelling errors in the piece.
Don’t forget the use of conundrum. It is used correctly, but it’s still one of those $5 words to show off how smart you are. And it really doesn’t go with informal US english. Calling it a pickle or a bind would have been more acceptible.
Of course the As an IL voter pegs it right off the bat. Game over, man! I don’t know how many concerned conservative Christians I saw posting in the 2008 election cycle, but it was a lot.
February 5, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I’ve noticed an uptick in program callers or trolls on radio talk shows. The meme is always the same. Strangely the ones I’ve heard have all been women. It goes something like this:
“Yes, I just wanted to tell you that I think you are a bully and you’re being unfair to the President.”
“To criticize him?”
“Yes. You haven’t even given him a chance. He inherited this mess from George Bush, and it just takes time to fix these kinds of things.”
It feels to me like getting your mom to go to school to plead your case on why you’ve missed 62 days this year because you were too lazy to get out of bed. “You just can’t do this to Johnny. He’s really a good kid if you would just give him a chance…”
BLEH! To Johnny, get off your butt, take some responsibility for your life cause I want no part of paying your way. To iObama, man-up already. If I took over a failing company or a struggling company, the actions I took would decide whether I’m successful (and the company is successful) or not. NOT my predecessor.
February 5, 2010 at 2:49 pm
If I house is on fire, and the fire department comes and starts spraying it with gasoline, you react. Which is what we’re doing with BO.
Also, how long will it take to ‘fix the mess’ Obvious more than one, clearly more than two….So I guess we’re supposed to sit down and shut up for 4 years until the house is nothing but ashes?
February 5, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I really like this analogy. Excellent comparsion, IMHO. I hope you don’t mind my using it. Thanks!
February 5, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Also, just once I want one of the talk show hosts to say this to these kinds of callers:
“So, you liked George Bush then?”
“Huh?”
“You agreed with him on everything and never once said you didn’t if you didn’t.”
I don’t know why these callers bother me so much, but I just… They hack me off because they are so phony and whiny! We’re the United States of America, Ma’am. We’re the leader of the free world! Stop making excuses for the leader who cannot lead.
February 5, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I met some of these middle-aged dewy-eyed women when in the States. They reacted just like those radio callers, convinced that everything will change “you will see”. They do not think for themselves.
February 5, 2010 at 4:33 pm
They absolutely sound pathetic. Hello. Have you looked at the numbers for this administration… not just listened to the LSM? Have you taken your head out of People long enough to look at what the Health Care Bill SAYS? (I could go on, but I think it’s probably pointless.)
February 5, 2010 at 5:06 pm
GROUNDSWELL – ORGANIZING FOR OBAMERIKA
http://groundswell.barackobama.com/campaigns/1
Thousands of OFA supporters calling talk radio shows with a [PRO-OBAMA] …message could have a big impact…
But to make it happen, we need active volunteers to help identify which radio shows talk about politics and accept calls.
Can you spare a few minutes to help?
We’ll give you all the resources you need…
February 5, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Benaiah, did you sign up with the Obama Fighting Americans (OFA) to get their resources and training tips?
GRIN
February 5, 2010 at 5:55 pm
There was one on Rush today, she called him Rush Limbully.
Ick.
February 5, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Yes it has been obvious that the brainless and soul-less O-Bought Trolls have been given marching orders to call into radio talk shows.
February 5, 2010 at 2:45 pm
As gullible as I am – that read as a definite troller to me.
Hey gang -whadoyasay we all gather together and campaign for a “no” vote for both of these animals, and then we’ll all gather together, hold hands and sing “Mmm Mmmm Mmmm Barack Hussein Obama”. Oops I mean we’ll sing “We Shall Overcome”.
February 5, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I have to also tell you that real-time Obama supporters (not oBots, but people who really thought he was the “answer”) are getting seriously discouraged and frustrated. My aunt who is the consummate Obama supporter (from Chicago and everything) called my dad to complain that “nobody is giving Obama a chance.” Just last year, she was calling to say how great it all was and how Obama was going to change everything. The poor were no longer going to be poor, everyone would have houses. Well, something has changed because suddenly, he can’t just wave a magic wand and have everyone follow him down the yellow brick road! That is a great sign to me that he is indeed FAILING, which sure feels like a step in the right direction to me!
February 5, 2010 at 4:11 pm
He was “failed” from the start by design – all the better for his masters to get their way and steal our money!
February 5, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Cloward-Piven. I still think that’s the strategy.
February 5, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Rush calls them “seminar callers”.
Call this one a “seminar poster”.
February 5, 2010 at 3:03 pm
What does he mean by “seminar caller”?
February 5, 2010 at 3:13 pm
“Seminar caller” suggests that the person has had training on how to get on talk shows and give the talking points of a given organization’s agenda. A seminar caller is equivalent to site troll. Site trolls often have to be coached a bit or have some canned script to use with a few blanks to fill in.
February 5, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I wonder if anyone (such as those talk show hosts and their staff) have info that could ID those people and organizations?
Would be good info to compare with the web site trolls!
February 5, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Bet if you compared written transcripts of those “seminar” callers you would find may standard phrases mouthed exactly as their given script had them typed out!
All we need to do is document, compile, compare, and incriminate!
February 5, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Sean calls them Program Callers. But I noticed the last two he had on, he didn’t call them out. He tried to argue with them, and man, did they sound dumber than a box of rocks.
“No, Sean. I just think you’re being too hard on the President. I think you are being mean to him. I think you should give him a chance. He’s not been that bad.”
BLEH!
February 5, 2010 at 5:59 pm
They almost always claim to be a republican/conservative BUT…and go on to make the same kinds of points the trolls make. He has been on to them for years. One thing he does is ask them what they believe that makes them conservative. They stammer through that. He doesn’t have much patience for them anymore.
February 5, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Oh, and as a PA voter, if I voted in IL, I’d vote against the mobbed-up guy.
February 5, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I wouldn’t have identified that person as a troll so much as just an idiot. Thanks for pointing the signs out, Boyz! You are seriously performing a much- needed public service!
Mwah!
February 5, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Just learned a lot – the analysis of key words helps tons. I’m not that adept at the troll identification, not yet anyway. Love the accompaniment – love Grieg.
February 5, 2010 at 3:18 pm
When I read this troll’s posting, the use of the abbreviation “IL” seemed strange to me. Of course, I know what it means and I know it is shorthand. But if you are going to use words like “conundrum,” why do you use shorthand on “Illinois”? It made me think the person was filling in blanks-perhaps from a list-as if the same message could be used on other senate races in other states.
Perhaps it is just me, however, but when I talk about Pennsylvania, I often say “PA.” I used to work for a company based in PA–the best company in the world, IMHO–and that’s why. Maybe I am an odd duck on this one.
February 5, 2010 at 3:25 pm
It would be FASCINATING to see if we could find the same message published elsewhere, but where PA or OH or whatever was inserted for IL in the message.
It would have to be wherevere Dems know their candidate is awful, and are trying to make the “lesser of two evils” appeal to just blind vote Dem anyway, even if the Dem on the ballot is terrible.
Sounds like the Claire McCaskill re-election campaign strategy.
February 5, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I agree the use of the word conundrum was way too big a word for the overall style of this piece. Going out hunting now for that conundrum rabbit. LOL
February 6, 2010 at 12:39 am
I bet one of those sites where professors go to check for plagiarism of term papers may work. If it will allow you to copy and paste the comment, it should come back with any areas on the web it has been lifted from. I will try to look into it.
February 6, 2010 at 11:41 pm
That would be wonderful! I’d be happy to pay for it…then I’d be able to use as a guide to give classes to my friends and family.
DO IT, PLEASE!
February 5, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Thank you Hill Buzz Men.
We need more of this type of analysis and these should be sent to friends.
How about publishing a
“TROLL-SPOTTING GUIDE FOR AMATEURS.”
February 5, 2010 at 3:23 pm
If people think that would be helpful, we’ll do it.
A Field Guide to Liberal Trolls of All Stripes…or something along those lines.
It could be a collection of these troll comments, broken down and explained, in textbook form.
February 5, 2010 at 4:00 pm
It would certainly be useful for 2010 and 2012 .. I’m sure the Palin folks would welcome it, and as all of the R campaign committees. Let’s hope.
February 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm
And maybe sell it for profit!
February 5, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I would buy it.
February 5, 2010 at 4:04 pm
This info definitely needs to get out to the voters so we can de-fang the vampires!
February 6, 2010 at 3:04 am
Excellent!
February 6, 2010 at 10:39 am
Thanks guys. I’ve learnt something tonight about trolling. And it’s appreciated by this Aussie. We have the same problems over here…
February 6, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Whoops…put my comment on the previous comment.
But, PLEASE DO IT!!
February 5, 2010 at 3:21 pm
You guys have such class!!! In the Hall of the Mountain King!! Perfect background music for troll sleuthing – and catching! LOL.
I was reading lots of posts on conservative blogs yesterday [heretofore "Scottie" day in our house] and it seemed there were anti-Hottie McAwesome trolls everywhere spouting what they considered scary to conservatives – i.e. “He just said he’d vote with the democrats if the bill was good for Massachusetts and not harmful to the country – Ha! Wouldn’t that be a RINO?” Or “Wake me when Massachusetts actually sends a REAL conservative to the Senate.” Or “Didn’t he sound more ‘on our side’ when he was campaigning?” Most times the troll would be ignored – occasionally a grownup would tell the ugly gnome to blink off and go back to grandma’s basement. Several called “Troll Alert”.
Amazing how many people you have affected throughout the last year with your gentle lessons and your funny rants. Keep up the good work. And you are proving to me that I am/we are NEVER too old to learn how to defend ourselves.
February 5, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I’m seeing the same types of comments about Sarah Palin–i.e., “I will never support her again after she agreed to (1) campaign for that RINO McCain, (2) speak at the bogus tea party convention,” etc. Do you think those are trolls too?
February 5, 2010 at 4:04 pm
The one I hear the most is “I supported her when she ran for VP; but I’d never do that again. She quit her job, and I just can’t ever vote for a quitter.” I heard that line again last week from a neighbor. Honestly I am REALLY getting tired of hearing it- it’s repeated over and over.
February 5, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Probably. Most of her supporters are pretty loyal, and it would take alot more than campaigning for McCain to desert her. Most of them are intelligent and politically pragmatic, and understand that she promised to campaign for McCain ages ago. This is the mistake of most liberals: extreme hubris: they think people who don’t agree with them are all stupid. So, they employ these obvious tactics.
February 5, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Yeah, I think they are trolls because in my opinion,you can’t have gotten so excited enough by Palin to begin with to vote for her as VP and then suddenly decide to “never support her again” because she’s campaign for “that RINO” McCain [which presumably he/she voted for as president!]. And if he/she was a fan to begin with, he/she would have read or heard Sarah Palin’s reasoning as to why she is speaking at that “bogus tea party convention” and admired her for not backing out and for using her “fee” to promote other tea party functions.
February 5, 2010 at 4:35 pm
that is why I suggested “In the Hall of the Mountain King” – it is really about trolls ROFL
February 5, 2010 at 3:24 pm
1) the bugger is probably spamming trade chat.
2) I think our ’60′s vintage take-down-the establishment dorks will find the “just ignore all this dirty politicas stuff, surely you have more important concerns” meme is definitely old news. So 60′s. Their wrinkles are showing.
February 5, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Hahah – but they are still hanging on to the now white and thinning long hair pony-tails [the men that is].
February 5, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Wrinkles?
I thought those were flakes from their cremation ceremony.
February 5, 2010 at 3:28 pm
By the way, I’d recommend against a troll-spotting guide for amateurs. We are not the only ones who can learn. I’m absolutely for not encouraging the brain-dead to figure out that they might have to think instead of just “plug-and-ply” this election cycle.
February 5, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Good point. In fact, while reading the dissection of the troll post, at one point I found myself wondering how many troll-trainers might be also reading it….
February 5, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I had thought of that.
But if you cut off one avenue, that leaves fewer Troll tools, and when they develop new tools voters should be more questioning and still better able to spot trolls.
You know it is like raising children.
Some of those old tricks that your first and second child may have scammed you with, just won’t fly by the time your third or fourth child tries to slip one over on you.
February 5, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Just the sole fact the troll is attempting to convince anyone to throw away their vote is a big tell. They don’t want you to realize just how horrible the Dem. candidate is and vote against them.
You guys must have laughed when you read this troll post. What an embarrassing display they came up with. It seems the trolls are getting dumber. They must be losing the groupies that have an IQ over 50. It’s kind of insulting to HB that they are troting out the bottom of the barrel trolls to your site.
February 5, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Like we said, we think it was a new troll.
Someone who did not know to add the little details and personalize the trolling to this site. It was strictly an amateur cut and paste job this time.
A troll with training wheels, toddling in the cave for the first time on her own.
February 5, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Man, I just love you guys! Laughing, laughing, terrific visual.
February 6, 2010 at 11:51 pm
HB provides me with my humor-quotient every day. Love it!
I’ve started to keep a list of some of your sayings/comparisons that you use. They are priceless!
I’ve already used some of your stuff in my letters to the editor as well as the comments feature in the local so-called newspaper. So I’m attempting to do my part at the local level whenever possible.
Thanks Boyz.
February 5, 2010 at 4:33 pm
HillBuzz…you have a captive audience…;0)
February 5, 2010 at 4:50 pm
OK, it is good to learn how to recognize trolling. But what about responding? One has to decide between letting something stand (ignoring the troll) or responding and thereby assisting the troll in getting more attention.
February 5, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Please do not feed the Trolls.
February 6, 2010 at 3:14 am
Reply with this:
February 6, 2010 at 3:18 am
LOL! OMG that’s frightening! haha Love that….
February 5, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Good point. I would love some tips on responding. When to and when not to. Because sometimes I just like to be “right” even though it is not really the best thing to do…D
February 5, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Denise,
Just tell the person you think she is a troll. Then do what we did and break the comment down so others can see it is a troll. Be more concise than we are in a comment…we have the luxury of unlimited space in a post, but you should keep comments short. Just hit the three top reasons the comment is a troll comment. Direct people here for more info on trolls.
February 5, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Not long ago, someone posted on Hillbuzz that Sue Lowden and Tarkanian were RINOs, so I discarded the idea to donate a few bucks to either one. Then I read that at NRO, there is a guy who vouches for Lowden and I wondered if my previous “advisor” was a troll. Here’s the link. I thought I’d send moulah to Lowden. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NmZkYmMxYTA5Y2IxODk1OTc4YTZhYmJlMTcyMzdhYTg=
February 5, 2010 at 7:16 pm
I enjoy reading the opinions of commentors on this site as much as anyone, but, good grief, don’t let a comment by any one person completely sway YOUR opinion one way or the other. Inform yourself. The opinions of people you respect can certainly help to shape your personal opinion, but don’t be so hasty about changing your mind without a little research. What was the commentor’s basis for calling Lowden and Tarkanian RINOs? And who cares, anyway? Look at Lowden and Tarkanian yourself, listen to what they are saying, what they have said and done in the past, THEN ask for the opinions of others to help make your final decision. Frankly, I think Hapless Harry has done so much to damage his standing with Nevada voters over the past year or so that if Sue or Danny or any of the other Republican contenders launch a competent, relatively clean campaign they could win handily (especially if Dr. Utopia keeps dissing Vegas.)
February 5, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Why are liberals so condescending?: A Very good read
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/04/AR2010020403698.html
February 5, 2010 at 7:27 pm
I guess these days, trolling on influential blogs is the cyber version of canvassing the neighborhood, or cold-calling individual homes? But it’s much more underhanded and sneaky because at least when someone knocks on your door, or calls asking for money for the DNC (yes this actually happened to me and I’m sure I burst the poor volunteer’s eardrum with my laughter), you know who they represent.
Anyway, I would totally buy a Field Guide to Liberal Trolls of All Stripes.
Why?
Because I’m just trying to understand.
and..would love some feedback. LOL.
Keep uncovering all those rocks, guys!
February 5, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I would have been suspicious of that troll comment but wouldn’t have known why. Just something not right here. I probably would have avoided replying, but wouldn’t have known it was a deliberate troll comment. If I had known I’m sure I would have had to say something to expose her. Or if I had suspected trolling I would have had to at least question her.
I see I have a lot to learn!
Hey, is there going to be a test?
February 5, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Hillbuzz,
You didn’t indicate what the poster used for their “name”.
I think trolls often use names that make you think they are “anti” the same thing you are against. For instance, they could use “governmentstinks” or something along those lines. And then they let loose with their restrained, nuanced, thought-provoking nonsense about how both parties are the same.
February 5, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I spotted TROLL right at IL. As everyone knows Mordor is not spelled with an I or an L…duh!
February 5, 2010 at 11:53 pm
I would have to agree, definitely spoon fed troll gruel.
February 6, 2010 at 3:31 am
I think it’s also interesting to check for other posts by the same person at the same website. For example, here at HillBuzz you can read pretty quickly through each article for the day to see if the person is really a consistent poster.
Usually trolls seem to post only on certain topics, not like the usual fans, who comment/post frequently. And trolls don’t seem to have the feel or the rhythm of the site.
February 6, 2010 at 7:28 pm
My quick take on the commenters remarks is 2 words: VOTER SUPPRESSION
What got my attention & raised my eyebrow was the mentioning of: “campaigning for a “no” vote for both of them”.
1. “Both” means TWO. I’m wonder who are these 2 individuals? I want names.
2. No doubt, the commenter is a political animal, who went further 2 engage readers by advocating that folks need 2 CAMPAIGN for a “no vote”. A get out the “NO vote” campaign that he/she is suggesting, is the same as suppressing voter turnout. In other words, he is saying: STAY AT HOME.. Dont bother showing up at the polls. Do NOT vote for EITHER candidate.
Even if we make mistake in voting for wrong person, we still have a responsibility to vote. Its a PRECIOUS right. And for anyone to suppress that right, is an act that is highly suspect.