TECHNIQUE #7 — Thread Trashing (made famous on FR)
Again involves fake accounts and a small cadre of rabid, but “arms length posters” who post angry and usually mild profanity filled towards the original poster, or worse yet, gang up on any “loyal opposition” postings. These escalate with the intent of getting the thread moved first to chat, then smokey backroom, and finally pulled by the mods, just to make sure no one see that the original post flew in from the “lunatic fringe”.
You were saying — “... who post angry and usually mild profanity filled towards the original poster, or worse yet, gang up on any ‘loyal opposition’ postings. These escalate with the intent of getting the thread moved first to chat, then smokey backroom, and finally pulled by the mods, just to make sure no one see that the original post flew in from the ‘lunatic fringe’.”
Yep, I’ve seen those things happen. I may post something that is what I may call “loyal opposition” (in being a good conservative but not agreeing with certain individuals) and then, I see all sorts of posts back, name-calling, sometimes very crude and possible cussing (disguised, of course... LOL...) and all of a sudden, when I’m posting a “clean and nice response back” — and I push “post” — the thread is *gone*!!
It happens...
[ I better hurry and push “post” before this thread disappears... LOL... ]
but “arms length posters” who post angry and usually mild profanity filled
~~~
Those of us who’ve been through more than 3 election cycles here know the troll gig well .. there’s been quite a few lately I’d put in that category:
*n00bs with a mission*
Luckily, we have search, so you can get a Rorschach of their angle and patterns.
Ignoring them does work.
Just generally, there’s an increase in the profane, vulgar, abusive or obscene posters. They may or may not be part of a personal attack post.
Can those be dealt with ?
And I’m not saying those posts are in the majority from n00bs .. there are oldtimers who seem to have adopted less than civil posting habits.
We want good n00bs, we want our base to increase and FR to keep growing, but I notice the fall off of many familiar posters since that type of post seems to have increased, and the posters are not being reined in.
More than a few FReepers have told me they’re staying away more and more because of the discomfort created by those guys. They create a very uncomfortable, uncivil environment.
Just my 2-12 cents .. flame away ... ;)
~~~
Thank you, Mods!
It is important to also be harvesting and continually maneuvering for a forum moderator position. Once this position is obtained, the forum can then be effectively and quietly controlled by deleting unfavorable postings - and one can eventually steer the forum into complete failure and lack of interest...