But some may well be engaged in an insidious practice to which all web forums are subject: A single individual who signs on with multiple screen names, and holds a conversation with himself in order to pretend several people agree with his (or her) point of view -- usually one at odds with most of the people who post on the forum. Sometimes the single individual might have one or two accomplices. Together, they can make it seem as though the legitimate posters are the ones out of step with prevailing opinion on the forum being targeted by the disruptors.
I learned about this practice some time ago on another forum, and mentioned it to Peach recently. She and I discussed how one person can log on with two or more screen names at the same time. She then did further research on her own and obtained the following information from another FReeper:
As far methods, yes, there are lot's of ways to appear with 'multiple personalities', like some of the ways you mentioned.You could use two different browsers such as Microsoft IE and FireFox which keep their cookies (where/how your Freeper ID is stored locally) in different places. So, you would not have to log in each time. In this method, the IP address would be the same though.
You could use anonymous redirecting servers to appear to be coming from different computers with IP addresses. Pre-911, there were several networks/companies where a computer savvy type could choose a route where it looked like he was coming from Hong Kong, London, Ghana, India, Kansas, whereever. These were shut down quietly after 9-11, and I would bet the reason is so the powers that be could track the bad guys easier.
You could also just disconnect from your ISP and then pick up the next random/available IP address and post. Although with this method, a savvy operator like Jimbo would see you always coming from the same ISP and city.
Now understand that if you are coming from a local LAN, with all computers going through one router, the world (such as the FR website) will see all of the local LAN PC's as coming from the router WAN IP address.
Peach and I discussed the fact that publishing this information on the Dose can help all of us better understand that at least some segment of the "hostiles" we've seen all over FR the last couple of years may, in fact, be lone individuals talking to themselves.
Some of the methods used to do this are easily detected by the web site's management. Some are undetectable. This is just something to keep in mind if you find yourself seemingly surrounded by "hostiles" on any given thread. The possibility exists that they are all really one tech savvy person, or at most a handful.
Peach pinging you specifically to my #1 today. Re one person signing on with multiple ID's as we discussed awhile back.
Yes, we sure have had some doozies recently.
yo mamma
I had wondered that sometimes especially when almost immediately the same set of people arrive on a thread without any noticeable ping unless it was done in Freepmail.
Thanks for the dose by the way :0)
Very interesting hypothesis about the tech savvy multiple personalities, Wolfstar. I've often thought some of the disruptors participate in tag-teaming, but multiple personalities (multi-ID's) hadn't really occured to me.
I'm not tech savvy, so that probably 'splains it.
:^)
Drat! Not even close to a toaster.
Nice pictures--THANKS!
How have you been?
mr.h's 40th b-day party was last night and we had a great time! Lots of people and the last guests did not leave until after 3 AM. It's been a looonnngggg time since I've been up that late/early, but it was a good b-day party (his b-day isn't till the 6th)for hubby and that's what matters.
TC
LOVE the photos tonight, particularly the "Photo of the Day"!
. . . Also enjoyed your insights concerning FR's resident trolls! [We can expect MUCH MORE "trolling" from the DUmmies and Third Party nuts as we get closer to November! 'Egged on' by various left/right bloggers, they're already hitting talk radio hard!
MUST READS . . .
WELCOMING PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
This WhiteHouse website provides interesting details concerning PM Koizumi's visit, including menu and guest lists (righthand sidebar):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/visit/japan/
READER IN CHIEF:
The ultimate Washington reader has eclectic taste.
[President Bush is probably the most well-read president in recent memory, yet the MSM continues to dismiss him as an illiterate rube -- which makes it all the more delicious when our "rube" destroys them at election time!!!
You can review the President's recent reading list at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001309.html
TOP STORY, LATEST VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY:
I encourage you to visit the RNC website and view today's
top story (The Fourth of July), latest video ("Running with the President"), and photo gallery (great stuff)!
http://rnc.org/
Wow! I had no idea that stuff like that could be going on. I guess I am naive when it comes to FR. I just think everyone thinks as I do. Guess we can't be too careful, huh!
Thanks for the Dose tonight...Sanity Island is the place to be!
Thanks for the ping - looking forward to the dose.
Good grief. If one person goes to all that trouble, that person is a mental mess and truly needs immediate help!
Interesting. What are PAID opinion shapers and who pays them? You mentioned that the dims have paid opinion shapers paid by the party, does the RNC have paid OS as well?
Good grief I can barely handle my one person posts :) let alone argue with myself LOL. I guess one would have to be computer savvy to be able to have several browsers, ISP's,etc.
Thank you Wolfstar for your troll analysis. Other threads are plagued routinely by disruptors, that's why I pinged you folks. I thought that the admin here didn't tolerate multiple screen names, but I guess I was wrong.
Btw, great pics of W, Laura, and Dick.