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Beware of the Trolls
Myself-Vanity ^ | 8/5/2020 | Megan

Posted on 08/05/2020 10:01:32 AM PDT by MeganC

I've been a member here since 2009 and over the years I've made an observation of my own. It's not scientific and it's not anything other than my own personal anecdotal observation.

It seems that if we will see someone start to post negative comments about a conservative or conservatives in general these posters tend to have been on FR for more than a year but less than two years. There's the obvious trolls who sign up and get zotted in their first week or so.

But these folks are what I would call 'sleepers'.

They know how FR culture works and they get on here and establish credibility and then after about a year they start posting things that are contrary to the general spirit of FR.

In 2016 I observed the posters who had the most negative things to say about GOP policy and Donald Trump had signed up in 2015.

Ditto this year I am seeing people who signed up in 2019 now starting to post things that are not exactly what I'd expect on FR. And when I look at the user's posting history the new posts are not in line with how the poster had previously presented themselves.

I guess I'm just saying to use a little caution this year as we read what gets posted on FR. Anything that sounds like the party line from the left should merit scrutiny.

Megan


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: davidchase; freerepublic; meganc; sleepercells; stupidvanity; trolls; vanity
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1 posted on 08/05/2020 10:01:32 AM PDT by MeganC
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To: MeganC

2 posted on 08/05/2020 10:03:16 AM PDT by Red Badger (To a liberal, 9-11 was 'illegal fireworks activity'...........................)
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To: MeganC

3 posted on 08/05/2020 10:03:49 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: MeganC

So, if anyone writes something you don’t like they are an undercover democrat, is that it?

You need to see a behavioral health expert. Your mindset is not mentally healthy or stable.


4 posted on 08/05/2020 10:04:58 AM PDT by Okeydoker
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To: MeganC

What we do here is divide up at such times into teams.

One team plays the leftist dupes, the other team plays the staunch defenders.

Then, every once in a while, we change sides.


5 posted on 08/05/2020 10:06:13 AM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: MeganC

I see calling any person a troll as an ad-hominem attack.

If you don’t like what someone is saying or proposing, prove them wrong.


6 posted on 08/05/2020 10:06:17 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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To: MeganC

They always come out of the woodwork during elections. They have two or three posts on a year old account.


7 posted on 08/05/2020 10:06:51 AM PDT by rdl6989
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To: MeganC
I also look at the month of people joining...if they join in a presidential election yr and they're negative,and always negative, I figure they must be rat plants....

I also wonder when we get posters who claim to be conservative but attack pub candidates all the time, because they're not perfect.

8 posted on 08/05/2020 10:07:11 AM PDT by cherry
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To: lowbridge

European or African?


9 posted on 08/05/2020 10:07:28 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: MeganC

Nice observation, Megan. I don’t follow as closely as years past. Been here since ‘98. Back then, the type of news digest and discussion we were just wasn’t available anywhere. I have something like that now in a 10,000 member FB group. But I gotta check back regularly.


10 posted on 08/05/2020 10:07:59 AM PDT by jimfree (My19 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than an 8 year Obama.)
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To: MeganC
Pulling up a chair...gotta get comfortable for this...


11 posted on 08/05/2020 10:09:42 AM PDT by moovova
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To: cuban leaf

There was a vanity poster the other day from someone who had been a member since 2009 I think. They got thoroughly trashed. What surprised me was that I had never seen this poster’s tag name prior to a couple days ago.

Unlike yours or several others that I see all the time.
I figured they were a sleeper cell troll.


12 posted on 08/05/2020 10:11:23 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: MeganC

Well thank you for standing in the corner and pointing out the enemy.

I would note that one can be a conservative (fiscally and socially) support of our President and the Republican party and still not “like” them. There are a lot of things to like about the President—but he makes it difficult some times.

Just yesterday I was reading about how people are replacing their “religious” worship with politician “worship.” I see that a lot around here lately.

There is a lot of 100%’ers. And by that I mean, if you are not 100% then you are not “loyal” whatever that means.

By the way, this “troll” signed up in 1998. I have been a steadfast supporter of the Grand Ole Party—but it is not always easy.

Let yourself be open to all views of conservatism. Sometimes we have OK ideas.


13 posted on 08/05/2020 10:13:14 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: MeganC
They know how FR culture works and they get on here and establish credibility and then after about a year they start posting things that are contrary to the general spirit of FR.

Mega Boo! Think for yourself we don't need this baloney advice.

I seem to get called a sleeper troll maybe once or twice every couple of years. If you think for yourself and post enough, have anything resembling a sense of humor you bound to go against the grain sometimes. Moderators here are good at weeding this thing out we don't need uberbobecker Karens telling how to spot losers. I do believe you're vanity here makes you a concern troll.

I'm also a Cylon perhaps one of the final 5

14 posted on 08/05/2020 10:13:32 AM PDT by datricker (the war of 2024 will be fought at 2.4Ghz stock up on aluminium foil now!)
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To: woodbutcher1963

I’ve learned that nowadays, on some political sites, it’s important to have a lot of accounts in your back pocket because they will ban you for nothing. It’s happened to me lately. No rules broken. They just don’t like what I’m saying. That is pathetic.


15 posted on 08/05/2020 10:14:05 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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To: MeganC
Yeah, there are trolls, but the worse thing are blogpimps. Post-and-run types.

If they have something to contribute, and participate in the conversation, that's one thing.

But just posting here to get hits, that's unsat.

16 posted on 08/05/2020 10:16:00 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Masks are not about controlling a virus. Masks are about controlling people.)
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To: EEGator

Doesn’t the direction of the wind have something to do with it as well?


17 posted on 08/05/2020 10:16:02 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Okeydoker

Perhaps You missed what she was trying to explain. I’d like to add to her post.

One thing I’ve seen trolls do tho is use absolutes and/or over exaggerate a point. They also throw insults as an intimidation method. I think Alinsky offered guidance.

But, it’s easy to spot once you know what to look for.


18 posted on 08/05/2020 10:16:07 AM PDT by HollyB
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To: MeganC

I’ve noticed the change in atmosphere here myself.


19 posted on 08/05/2020 10:16:13 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: rdl6989

I have 14,964 replies since 2008 and I’ve been called a TROLL! (more than once)


20 posted on 08/05/2020 10:16:24 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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