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Something Interesting Alexa Showed Me Regarding Recent Trolling Activity

Posted on 12/05/2003 4:22:27 AM PST by I Am Not A Mod

Hi everyone.

One of the things I have noticed lately is that, at least from where I sit, trolling activity has increased greatly recently. Many relatively new accounts, or older accounts with previously little or no activity, suddenly coming on and posting negative comments about President Reagan, saying they are lifelong Republicans but no more, and a bunch of other things that could be legitimately held beliefs on their part but when taken in aggregate make it clear that there is quite a bit of trolling action going on.

I found the following to be quite illuminating. Alexa.com is a website which tracks web usage for those who voluntarily use their software (a browser toolbar extension). They accumulate the data and compile it into useful reports, such as traffic reports. They also report on related topics-- "People who visit this page also visit".

So, what sites do "People who visit" Free Republic also visit?



TOPICS: Free Republic
KEYWORDS: alexa; computers; dirtypolitics; dusrupters; fifthcolumn; fifthcolumnists; fr; freerepublic; greatthreads; ispy; leftists; spyware; trolls
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To: Lead Moderator
Will do! Thanks.

In fact, there's a new one (probably that same disruptor) on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1028540/posts

It goes by the name of "btown80". BTW, that's another frequently-seen characteristic of this particular troll: it will combine a word with numbers. (I know there are many legitimate posters who have done this also; just happens that the troll does it frequently.)

61 posted on 12/05/2003 6:51:52 AM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: I Am Not A Mod; VRWCmember; Zavien Doombringer; 4mycountry; jriemer; Constitution Day; harpseal; ...
Troll activity info ping

NOT FOR ZOT!
62 posted on 12/05/2003 6:52:09 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (Dakar rally starts Jan 1 2004!)
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To: I Am Not A Mod
Trolls will work to take this place down. The closer to an election, the worse it will get.

These are not all common citizen trolls. Many of them are professionals, paid to destroy our right to freely assemble.

Strikes me as a crime.

63 posted on 12/05/2003 6:56:55 AM PST by GOPJ
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To: I Am Not A Mod
"Well, I am a lifelong Republican ever since the Jurasic era, but unless President Bush campaigns for __( enter your favorite fringed johnny-one-note issue here )__ then this Republican will not be voting for him again!"
64 posted on 12/05/2003 7:01:56 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: I Am Not A Mod
I'm at a loss to see how this indicates anything concrete.

65 posted on 12/05/2003 7:02:07 AM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: FreedomPoster; Flyer
My grandson did some nifty work to disable RealPlayer's take over and left me the capacity to use when necessary(reluctantly!)
66 posted on 12/05/2003 7:12:54 AM PST by MEG33
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To: MEG33
I installed it to watch the Texas Senate during redistricting. My Zone Alarm doesn't let it access the Internet on it's own, though.
67 posted on 12/05/2003 7:16:56 AM PST by Flyer (FReep IS in the FreeRepublic dictionary! HOORAH!)
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To: Miss Marple; Dog
ping
68 posted on 12/05/2003 7:18:27 AM PST by kayak (The Vast, Right-Wing Conspiracy is truly Vast! [JohnHuang2])
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To: Flyer
I was to say the least limited until I asked him about it and he fixed RP and allowed access to other players he HATES Realplayer!
69 posted on 12/05/2003 7:21:37 AM PST by MEG33
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To: Devil_Anse
Gag..such a dummy,too!
70 posted on 12/05/2003 7:45:36 AM PST by MEG33
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To: I Am Not A Mod
My liberal/Green brother was here to visit for a week or two, and is leaving today. He was posting from my 'puter as "Brubricker" and got himself banned. Sorry 'bout that.
71 posted on 12/05/2003 7:48:15 AM PST by squidly
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To: I Am Not A Mod
I've noticed the same thing, with some accounts going back as far as 1999 suddenly coming to life with anti-conservative comments. Lots of weird games being played. Thanks for your research.
72 posted on 12/05/2003 7:54:18 AM PST by Bernard Marx (I have noted that persons with bad judgment are most insistent that we do what they think best.)
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To: I Am Not A Mod
You get paged instead of pinged? That would drive me nuts.
73 posted on 12/05/2003 7:54:51 AM PST by txhurl
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To: Flyer
Yeah; but I have never heard of most of those sites.
74 posted on 12/05/2003 7:56:34 AM PST by freekitty
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To: GOPJ
Many of them are professionals

Your point here is backed up by the fact that there is at least one of these creatures which seems able to re-register under NUMEROUS names, and to re-register at the drop of a hat.

to destroy our right to freely assemble

Puts it in a light that I never saw before. Very insightful.

75 posted on 12/05/2003 8:06:20 AM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: txflake
Just bookmark this, and it will notify you of new posts, mail, and state board messages (if you are signed up for a board)

Pager

76 posted on 12/05/2003 8:07:11 AM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: GOPJ; Bernard Marx
Also see Post 72 by Bernard Marx.

I, too, have noticed older accounts that seem to suddenly come to life. But in this case, they seem to come on (believe it or not) the threads about the Laci Peterson murder. One older account will make some sort of whiny, complaining remark, then a day or so later, a different older account will take up the very same argument made by the previous one. It's quite strange.

So they are definitely not confining the disruption to the overtly political threads.
77 posted on 12/05/2003 8:12:11 AM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta
Check out this thread. Some strange phenomena happening. The part I personally observed, I described in Post 38.

Freepmail to follow.
78 posted on 12/05/2003 8:14:27 AM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: William Terrell
It doesn't. It is just interesting.
79 posted on 12/05/2003 8:35:02 AM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Cultural Jihad
enter your favorite fringed johnny-one-note issue here

Do you consider the Assault Weapons ban to be a "fringed johnny-one note issue"?

80 posted on 12/05/2003 8:41:43 AM PST by jmc813 (Help save a life - www.marrow.org)
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