Posted on 09/23/2010 10:11:25 AM PDT by Scythian
Concern trolling is a form of Internet trolling in which someone enters a discussion with claims that he or she supports the view of the discussion, but has concerns. In fact, the concern troll is opposed to the view of the discussion, and he or she uses concern trolling to sow doubt and dissent in the community of commenters or posters. Although this practice originated on the Internet, it has since spread to the real world as well, with concern trolls popping up in a variety of places from network television to op-ed columns.
Artful concern trolling involves developing a believable persona as a supporter of a cause who has legitimate concerns. In an example of concern trolling, a group of people might be having a political discussion on a website about a candidate they support. The concern troll would log on and say “I'm concerned that this candidate might not be strong enough to beat the opposition,” or “I'm worried that the candidate's history in the legislature might be a problem in the election.”
Once a concern troll has sowed dissent or discord, often he or she can sit back and let the other commenters do the rest of the work. When a concern troll has done the job correctly, the discussion will split, factions will emerge, and support for the cause will have eroded. Concern trolling can also be highly distracting, as people band together to oppose the concern troll, rather than discussing serious issues, including valid concerns which should be addressed.
Depending on the context, a concern troll may use a sockpuppet, a false account which conceals his or her real identity. In some particularly infamous cases, members of political campaigns have trolled the opposition using sockpuppet accounts with the goal of undermining grassroots support. When these cases are exposed, it can be quite embarrassing, as trolling is generally viewed as an underhanded and often questionable tactic.
In the 2006 election, an aide to Congressman Charlie Bass (R-NH) was caught concern trolling the opposition on local blogs. While pretending to support Bass's opponent, Paul Hodes, the aide argued that Hodes couldn't win because Bass was an unbeatable candidate. Hodes won the election.
Fair enough. Thanks for explaining.
In keeping with this thread though - I was a bit concerned.
Me, I thought Rove was covering his ***, for the sake of his own livelihood, no doubt about it.
Christine has now raised around 2 million, and he was talking about all the smart moves she’s made, the experts she’s hired. I almost got the feeling he’d like to be on her payroll. I believe Christine is smarter than that.
You see the same once ALL the time popping up on NBC threads, never fails aka SPs!!!
We have to since you demonstrate every day a clear inability to think at all.
there is also the Birther Concern Troll.
This is a troll who continues to mock and or make light of serious constitutional issues which, if found to be correct, would rock our government and country to the very core. In a number of different ways.
Because this issue is so serious, it deserves investigation by SERIOUS people in order to disprove it. Or if it is proven correct to ADDRESS it rather than ignore it.
Ignoring it means we might not have a constitutional Government. Possibly every law, treaty, and order Obama has signed is legally invalid and void. This simple sounding uncertainty is something the Birther Concern Troll will 100% of the time ignore commenting on. Instead they always focus on irrelevant details, and or resort back to mocking again.
Of course! I’me very concerned.
“It’s not that liberals aren’t smart, it’s just that so much of what they know isn’t so.” -Ronald Reagan.”
Right on target!
He also said: “I can’t spend a dime, that’s up to Congress”!!
And then 30 yrs ago:!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loBe0WXtts8&feature=fvw
Thanks for the ping.
Are concern trolls "electable"?
Are they too "extreme"?
Will they alienate the more moderate voters?
Besides no one has heard of them, they don't get much media attention, and their hairline just doesn't look presidential, not to mention their waistline.
Et fricking cetera.
I don't think we've ever seen any of those around here, nope, not us. (/s, as if...)
Lots of my friends are “concern” trolls on DU and KOS. Once you get your 1000 posts it’s fairly easy. I love to watch them push their buttons. I need to learn to be a “concern” troll. I always get zotted over there, usually within a week.
The longer they have been on FR the easier it to spot a “concern” troll. Just take some time and read ALL of their past posts. They cannot post for years, or even months without outing themselves. They bank on the fact that people will be too lazy to go through all of their past posts. If you are a fast reader it doesn’t take that long.
Hmmm, that is one way to label somone with a broad brush when they don’t think O’Donnell is the next coming. I am all for the Tea Party. I have been to rallies. Donated hard earned money. I just don’t think O’Donnell is what we should be putting out there as our candidate.
If people actually have concerns they are labeled a troll? You do realize that this is our country you are talking about, right? It isn’t some TV show: Americas Got Tea Partiers. Shouldn’t we want to get the best person for the job in there? Someone who has the knowledge and understanding to actually govern? Can you explain to me O’Donnell’s platform and what she plans on bringing to the table?
Can we call you dismissive troll? If any one doesn’t toe your line they are automatically dismissed and called a troll or RINO. I really think Reagan would have been called a RINO by some of you.
“Wow, there’s a name for that? I’ve been doing it on DU for years.”
You too? LOL!
Freepers always wonder if others are trolls. If we weren’t doubters in the first place, we wouldn’t be here...
If members of the MSM REALLY thought we were self destructing over something they would quietly get out of the way. Someone needs to tell them to keep their phony concern or give their fake tears to dems in trouble. We don't believe them. We're onto the game.
You clearly do not know what a concern troll is. A concern troll is not someone posting an opinion, it is someone first lying to conceal their motives, and then posting in a way that is deliberately, purposely, destructive to the candidate the that they claim to actually support. It is a concealed, cowardly form of deliberate attack which is a huge turn off to honest freepers.
" I love x and I am his biggest fan, and can't wait to vote for him in the election, but I am concerned about the claims about him and his college days as a male hooker though-- oh you didn't hear about that?"
"I love x and hope he wins but, etc, etc, etc."
When someone does that in a way that raises your antennae, and then you check his posting history and see that he has been doing that on thread after thread, then you have caught a phony poster that is attacking the subject and trying to camouflage the attack as the concerns of a supporter, it is a way to attack a popular conservative here without drawing heat, unless someone catches on and outs you. It is a cowardly way of lying.
It is a common occurrence. I will be honest and cut to the chase, if anyone expresses that they would like to see the field of 2012 candidates before they support Palin or anyone else, they are a troll or a Mittbot or even from DU. There is nobody around here that is dumb enough to think that the attacks on them are sincere or reasonable. Truth is, most of the people here will end up supporting the candidate from our side that opposes Obama. If that is Palin, so be it, she will have people behind her. If not, I guarantee it, she will support whoever that is also. So what is the damn problem at this point?
EGGSACKLY! bttt
You seem determined to avoid the thread topic which is “concern trolls” and insist on talking about yourself and some slight that you feel here at FR. I’m not interested, I like the “concern troll” topic, I have outed a few, and seen a few get the zot.
Concern trolls are a real category of troll, it is one the most common paths that short lived trolls make.
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