Attack of the Nazi Trolls: A Lesson for Message Board Moderators

Richardpoe.com ^ | 10-27-03 | Richard Poe

[SJackson]

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 13:41

Attack of the Nazi Trolls: A Lesson for Message Board Moderators

In a recent blog entry titled, "I've Been Red-Baited!", I wrote, "I'm not familiar with LibertyForum.org, but it appears to be an anti-Bush, anti-war message board with a distinctly anti-Jewish undertone."

A member of LibertyForum.org named Max Soldo (aka "thoughtcriminal") has responded by e-mail and provided further clarification of LibertyForum's political orientation. He writes:

This forum is a libertarian forum, and is devoted to the libertarian concept of unabashed free speech. With that principle in mind, most posters aren't libertarian as many fringe types have taken advantage of this policy (which includes a no-banning policy) to run amok...hence the preponderance of anti-Jewish posts on this forum.

All of this raises interesting questions for any message board moderator -- such as myself -- who has tried his best to allow a relatively high level of free expression. Inevitably, Nazi trolls find your forum and begin probing your defenses. If you allow them to post messages, they immediately spread the word to other Nazi trolls and soon your message board is infested.

At that point, all the normal people stop posting. It's a bit like when a fight breaks out in a bar and everyone stops talking and turns to watch the fight, transfixed. Suddenly, your message board becomes an arena for Nazi trolls and people arguing with Nazi trolls.

This is called "free speech."

I decided long ago that allowing Nazi trolls to occupy my message board and drive off everyone who does not share their idiosyncratic obsessions is a very poor method for encouraging "free speech." Therefore, I make frequent and forceful use of such allegedly un-libertarian methods as censoring and, when necessary, banning troublemakers, brownshirted or otherwise.

Apparently, the decision-makers at LibertyForum.org have adopted a different approach. As a result, their self-styled "libertarian" message board has become, by Mr. Soldo's description, a playground for non-libertarian "fringe types" to "run amok."

"It does get quite ugly at times, but that's the price one pays for sticking to one's principles," writes Mr. Soldo in a subsequent e-mail.

Well, if that's the price, I don't think I'm willing to pay it. I will add the sad fate of LibertyForum.org to my growing list of reasons for rethinking whether or not I wish to continue calling myself a "libertarian."

 

[Publius6961]

Your clock is ticking.

Thank you. I think.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Well, I don't like it when anyone hates anyone there based on their religion or skin color, I stay the hell away from them.

Like I said, its not everyone's cup of tea, it can be a tough place to post, but its a good experiment. I only wish there was a bozo filter, which would allow every individual posting the luxury of censoring who they wish not to read.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Truce? I didn't even know we were fighting LOL... Next thing you know, the Beacer Wars will be refought here on FR as often as the Civil War (or, War of Northern Aggression, depending on your view) ;0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

I design cardiology-related medical devices. Why do you ask? :)

[Cultural Jihad]

... which would allow every individual posting the luxury of censoring who they wish not to read.

Based on their server stats it looks like there's a lot of censorship happening.

[Pistias]

Bozo filter is a damn fine idea IMO.

[rmlew]

It isn't just Libertyforum.org
Libertypost.org is being hijaaked.
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=26080&Disp

[rmlew]

I don't support those laws.
I do support use of libel and slander laws and lawsuits.

[Cultural Jihad]

Libertypost.org is being hijaaked.

The liberty to hijack is a gift, BUT GOOD!

[Central Scrutiniser]

Go over and post whatever the hell you want, argue any point you want, most likely you will get bored after all the flaming, but put your money where your mouth is and do it, or just jabber on over here.

[WaterDragon]

When the antisemites start taking over a board I'm outta there.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Well, it never really ended that I recall. I think you just got tired of chasing us. ;)

Any time you want to re-fight it just give me a holler.

It would make a nice change of pace. And we can bash the french and the dutch while doing it.

[Chad Fairbanks]

And we can bash the french and the dutch while doing it.

As if we need an excuse to do that ;0)

[Pistias]

Here's an experiment for you, Chad, courtesy of a rock of a Pollack--

Evaluate your reaction to the following:
1) I hate turkey.
2) I hate the French.
3) I hate Jews.

Did you notice anything? Why is it OK to say that you hate the French, but not to say that you hate Jews?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I don't hate any of those groups - Turkey, French, Jews, or even French-Turkish Jews... I PITY the French, and what their culture has become, but I don't hate them. I like to poke fun of them, but I don't hate them. I think their attitudes suck, but I don't hate them.

So, that being said, use someone else to make your point ;0)

[Pistias]

Have it your way.

Evaluate your reaction to the following:
1) I don't like turkey.
2) I don't like the French.
3) I don't like the Jews.

Did you notice anything? Why is it OK to say that you don't like the French, but not to say that you don't like the Jews?

[rmlew]

It isn't OK to hate a whole ethnic/National group.
I like a lot about French culture. I used to be fluent in it. However, thier political culture is suicidal.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Nice try, but it still isn't accurate. I belive I used the term "Pity", not "Like"...

So, to have it my way, it would be more accurate thusly:

Evaluate your reaction to the following:
1.) I pity turkey.
2.) I pity the French.
3.) I pity the Jews.

Did you notice anything? Why is it OK to say that you pity the French, but not to say that you pity the Jews?

It just doesn't work for me, ya know?