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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: I Am Not A Mod
Billboard Liberation Front, where have you been all my life?
81 posted on 12/05/2003 9:07:13 AM PST by thoughtomator (The U.N. is a terrorist organization)
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To: Devil_Anse
Thought you might be interested in this, posted on one of the Rush threads.

"nothing in particular-I read FR everyday-rarely post because i don't usually have the time to wait out responses-I just happen to like Randi's showGlenn beck's too.(esp. haiku brittany bit0I think FRpers should examine why they always have to either physically demean or ascribe "Oral" activites to anyone that they disagree with.this is ah...christian???"

Run on sentences, minor Christian bashing,long in active account (one post 8/03, the rest in 02) ...seems to fit the same MO.

Here's the thread... Link

82 posted on 12/05/2003 9:15:17 AM PST by retrokitten ("I like your ideas and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter." -Homer Simpson)
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To: I Am Not A Mod
Not just about Reagan.
83 posted on 12/05/2003 9:16:33 AM PST by Saundra Duffy (For victory & freedom!!!)
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To: I Am Not A Mod; MJY1288; SierraWasp; Coop; dighton; BOBTHENAILER; Miss Marple
Thanks for the data interpretation:

You posted: "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 have often seen the opposite of some who hate GW 24/7. They claim to have voted for Reagan twice, and the Republican party abandoned them. Now they hate GW with a passion. Many of these posers have been on FR for years claiming to be a conservative. Some even use the old seminar caller routine, "I voted for GW and never again!"

Often the above group will try to turn every thread into a bashing of Mexican illegal aliens to again bash GW.

Another trick of these deep planted pseudo conservatives, is to post every AFP, Reuters, AP article that bashes GW and our military. Then when challenged, they say they are just posting the news. When you do a search on what they have posted, it looks like an organized hit list against our president and republicans.

There is another group that waits until good economic news is posted. Then they rally together to attack the good news and try to make it not important. Come to any post re good financial/economy news and watch the same ones bash the economy and our president like they are on the payroll of George $oreA$$.

Thanks again for your data interpretation.
84 posted on 12/05/2003 9:28:22 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Sore@US, the Evil Daddy War bucks, has owned the Demonic Rats for decades!)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
Will the real wackos please stand up?

Problem is how do you figure out who they are and get rid of them.

85 posted on 12/05/2003 9:34:02 AM PST by EuroFrog (Taglines - right under your nose.)
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To: Flyer
Wow, this is going to be my 502'nd reply.
86 posted on 12/05/2003 9:36:48 AM PST by EuroFrog (Taglines - right under your nose.)
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To: Cultural Jihad; Miss Marple; Howlin; Mo1; glock rocks; EdReform; BOBTHENAILER; ...
You posted ""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!"

If Jim charged 1$ for everytime a phoney conservative posted the above or some version of it, we would never have to have a Freepathon again.

87 posted on 12/05/2003 9:42:19 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Sore@US, the Evil Daddy War bucks, has owned the Demonic Rats for decades!)
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To: Devil_Anse
Thanks for the ping to this thread!
Bookmarked.
88 posted on 12/05/2003 9:55:54 AM PST by Jackie-O ("The horror...the horror"- Col. Kurtz)
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To: Grampa Dave
Agreed! Thanks for the ping, Dave!
89 posted on 12/05/2003 9:59:09 AM PST by EdReform (Support Free Republic - Become a Monthly Donor)
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To: Grampa Dave
Right-on Brother Dave ~ you've nailed it!

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!
90 posted on 12/05/2003 10:03:59 AM PST by blackie
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To: I Am Not A Mod
The Left will always troll for the left are a bunch of trolls. Ohhhhh I hope I upset a few trolls with that one =^D
91 posted on 12/05/2003 10:06:07 AM PST by Tempest
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To: PokeyJoe; jimrob
Viking tiger... the trolls are getting onry and slick. Maybe a FR troll pig to sniff them out, the way pigs sniff out truffles.
92 posted on 12/05/2003 10:09:20 AM PST by cyborg (mutt-american)
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To: I Am Not A Mod
Some of these people who post anti-Reagan or anti-Bush stuff could be using FR to express their concerns and discuss issues- IMO this is OK, is this not why we are here? And if all they post is anti-conservative stuff, are we not all able to handle discussion on any topic? Or to ignore stupid comments?

Also, if liberals want to post and discuss issues, why not, if they stick to the rules (and wear Kevlar underwear).

Organized disruptors or individuals whose sole motive is to disrupt are bad and should go, but I do not want to see all "dissenters" immediately banned. I have been banned from DU many times and I do not think we should go the same route.
93 posted on 12/05/2003 11:32:49 AM PST by DBrow
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To: retrokitten
Why, thank you!

"bothsidesnow" added to the list.

Now, "bothsidesnow" had signed up last year. But bothsidesnow only made one post or so back then, I think. Then the account lay dormant for, what? Several months?

Now bothsidesnow is in here doing exactly what the other troll (see my list of 20+ names) does. Because bothsidesnow IS that same troll!

But I just hope that the mods will think about this: A person could sign up under multiple names, and make his/her "identities" make one or two posts--polite, nice posts. Then they could leave all their identities lying out there, dormant, and THEN all at once they could bring them all to life at will--perhaps during a busy traffic time. Gak.

Most of the names I listed in my Post 38 list (to which bothsidesnow has been added) are NOT banned names.
94 posted on 12/05/2003 11:33:47 AM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: Devil_Anse
That's the weird thing. They aren't typical trolls who post obviously inflammatory statements. Maybe we just don't understand because we are too "judgemental". ;-)
95 posted on 12/05/2003 11:49:21 AM PST by retrokitten ("I like your ideas and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter." -Homer Simpson)
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To: I Am Not A Mod
It has been amazing to see how many accounts dating as far back as '98 suddenly come alive with a leftist troll. Someone on the dark side registered a whole bank of them for future use.
96 posted on 12/05/2003 12:11:01 PM PST by TigersEye ("Where there is life there is hope!" - Terri Schiavo)
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To: Flyer
You also have to consider that many of us visit the Leftists' sites to know the enemy.

One of the reasons I come here is for one stop shopping. Everything gets posted here from all kinds of sources, left and right. Occasionally a left wing hit piece gets zotted, but if there is something negative out there about conservatives, we do not get blindsided.

97 posted on 12/05/2003 12:16:05 PM PST by js1138
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To: retrokitten
It says to me that they are not just cranks who want to vent on us. This is planned subterfuge. Appearing to be 'reasonable' and generally 'conservative' they plant seeds of doubt and enter little barbs to disrupt discussion.
98 posted on 12/05/2003 12:16:14 PM PST by TigersEye ("Where there is life there is hope!" - Terri Schiavo)
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To: retrokitten
Oh, trust me, they (it) can get quite inflammatory at times. It also sends freepmails at times, and those can get rough.

I think it is trying not to do anything TOO overtly illegal, trying not to do anything that will bring the mods down on it and get it banned.

But when you go to threads about a crime in Kentucky, then a crime in Maryland, then a rape/murder in Minnesota, then Rush Limbaugh and some Palm Beach Co., Florida, local talk host, and ON EVERY THREAD you see this SAME exact writing style, and the person is ALWAYS claiming to know someone in the news article PERSONALLY, it can get annoying. And the troll KNOWS this!
99 posted on 12/05/2003 12:17:43 PM PST by Devil_Anse
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To: TigersEye
Exactly!!
100 posted on 12/05/2003 12:18:53 PM PST by Devil_Anse
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