Allow me to butt in here? I don't know either of you but the subject caught my attention. How does one show their sincerity when suspected of being a troll? One thread I have posted to has been pestered by trolls in the past. Therefore, when a new screen name appears, it apparently triggers immediate suspicion.
The alienation by some sends a message: "No newcomers welcome."
I decided that I don't need that c__p and in a very civil way, I bowed out.
That was followed by some of the FReepers on the thread asking me to stay...trolls have been attracted to the thread...in effect, they are leery, but now know I am not a troll.
The humorous side of this is, I didn't even KNOW what "troll" meant until I joined Free Republic. I posted to a topic, one which I had been following in the news.
I didn't need the written assaults and meanness I encountered by a few egomaniacs so I gave it up. They won.
I have been on the board for over five years now, have voted for every Republican in a general election whose name was on the ballot {except for one state senate candidate who endorse abortion "rights" and I sat out that contest, did not vote for the winning Democrat}, and my loyalty to the GOP is still questioned by some. Why? because I analyze the situation independent of what the party "leadership" dictates
We are on a bit of a troll alert for good reason, but welcome you and your input. As you notice, we are a special target of the trolls as they hate what we are doing and that we just don't go away.
Trolls usually have very predictable patterns, not much imagination. They suddenly appear out of nowhere, usually brand new, and immediately post taunting, old mantras, attempts to sound intellectual, and heavy sarcasm.
They come frequently in pairs and we can find parallels to their posts on the anti-freerepublic forums. They usually target one of us more frequent posters.
They are here with a mission the death merchants support, and are as transparent as a freshly windexed window.
In short, they stand out like sore thumbs and are about as pleasant.
8mm