Posted on 11/18/2009 9:43:43 AM PST by steve-b
I certainly understand why someone would want to post anonymously on The Times Argus Web site/message boards. A number of legitimate reasons have been provided in letters and subsequent on-line comments ranging from "I don't want my boss to know my politics" to "It's my right as an American to express my opinion." When one poster suggested that I would "die soon and nobody would care" and went on to describe what I was wearing, I even considered adopting a pseudonym for myself.
Most contributors make consistently reasonable points in mostly respectful ways. Coincidently, many of them are real people, posting under their real names. Although there are several anonymous posters with whom I disagree on most points, but we're still able to have a reasonable exchange of viewpoints.
But a core group of nameless, mostly conservative antagonists -- known collectively as "trolls" -- generally hijack every exchange, using The Times Argus space as a platform for hatred, viciously attacking anyone perceived left of Joseph McCarthy while remaining completely unaccountable themselves. Much of their commentary is strictly from the Sarah Palin-Glenn Beck lexicon of "dumb is good; irrational hatred is even better."
President Barack Obama, frequently called "Obammy," is a prime target, responsible for everything wrong on Earth. But so, too, are "socialists" and the ever-present "despicable Libs," locally this translates to shoppers at the Hunger Mountain Co-op. Gay-straight alliances become "Teen Homo Clubs"; teachers unions are "more dangerous than terrorism"; while the September demonstration in Montpelier, replete with "God hates queers" banners and vile rhetoric, somehow was justifiable....
Huh? You can't make this stuff up....
(Excerpt) Read more at timesargus.com ...
As if being easily triggered by all of this isn't embarrassing enough, believing what I said – if I said it rationally – would matter to anyone on the Teabag Express was not only building castles in the air, but expecting to turn them into condos. I've learned my lesson, however long it's taken.He pretentiously talks about his lofty high road and discourse, but can't help but refer to conservatives as being on the "Teabag Express".
Bizarre projection.
That article was like eavesdropping on a mental patient. I feel weirdly ashamed.
I bet most trolls are liberals trying to stir up trouble.
“That article was like eavesdropping on a mental patient.”
Particularly given that others posting in the comments section point out that Mr. Amses frequently engages in name-calling rather than rational discussion. lol
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