Replies

Here’s EXACTLY what we are dealing with on NBC threads:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2594943/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.

Depending on the context, a concern troll may use a sockpuppet, a false account which conceals his or her real identity. In some particularly infamous cases, members of political campaigns have trolled the opposition using sockpuppet accounts with the goal of undermining grassroots support. When these cases are exposed, it can be quite embarrassing, as trolling is generally viewed as an underhanded and often questionable tactic.”

Sowing discord. Divide and conquer. Side-track. Yep, we see it all.

We have to major in the majors.

I believe there is such a thing as unintended consequences though. I think back to Ender Wiggins, for instance. He told a bunch of lies, thinking to cause troubles, but in the end his lies forced me to further document what I was saying and I ended up with a much more solid argument. He meant it for evil, but it was turned to good.

And that has happened in so many different ways that by now, when I get frustrated I just pray, “Where to now, Lord?” because I know that the obstacle cannot actually harm me or anything that God wants done. It can redirect me, and sometimes that redirection is the best thing that could ever happen.

So I think there’s a way that even what is intended to harm our effort can actually further it. So much depends on our willingness to be redirected in pursuit of the truth, or to meet the challenges or skeptics head-on.

Those who will not listen to reason at all blow their cover and everybody recognizes them as trolls.