Attack of the Nazi Trolls: A Lesson for Message Board Moderators

Richardpoe.com ^ | 10-27-03 | Richard Poe

[SJackson]

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 13:41

Attack of the Nazi Trolls: A Lesson for Message Board Moderators

In a recent blog entry titled, "I've Been Red-Baited!", I wrote, "I'm not familiar with LibertyForum.org, but it appears to be an anti-Bush, anti-war message board with a distinctly anti-Jewish undertone."

A member of LibertyForum.org named Max Soldo (aka "thoughtcriminal") has responded by e-mail and provided further clarification of LibertyForum's political orientation. He writes:

This forum is a libertarian forum, and is devoted to the libertarian concept of unabashed free speech. With that principle in mind, most posters aren't libertarian as many fringe types have taken advantage of this policy (which includes a no-banning policy) to run amok...hence the preponderance of anti-Jewish posts on this forum.

All of this raises interesting questions for any message board moderator -- such as myself -- who has tried his best to allow a relatively high level of free expression. Inevitably, Nazi trolls find your forum and begin probing your defenses. If you allow them to post messages, they immediately spread the word to other Nazi trolls and soon your message board is infested.

At that point, all the normal people stop posting. It's a bit like when a fight breaks out in a bar and everyone stops talking and turns to watch the fight, transfixed. Suddenly, your message board becomes an arena for Nazi trolls and people arguing with Nazi trolls.

This is called "free speech."

I decided long ago that allowing Nazi trolls to occupy my message board and drive off everyone who does not share their idiosyncratic obsessions is a very poor method for encouraging "free speech." Therefore, I make frequent and forceful use of such allegedly un-libertarian methods as censoring and, when necessary, banning troublemakers, brownshirted or otherwise.

Apparently, the decision-makers at LibertyForum.org have adopted a different approach. As a result, their self-styled "libertarian" message board has become, by Mr. Soldo's description, a playground for non-libertarian "fringe types" to "run amok."

"It does get quite ugly at times, but that's the price one pays for sticking to one's principles," writes Mr. Soldo in a subsequent e-mail.

Well, if that's the price, I don't think I'm willing to pay it. I will add the sad fate of LibertyForum.org to my growing list of reasons for rethinking whether or not I wish to continue calling myself a "libertarian."

 

[Pistias]

And if you heard three people say on the street that each didn't like one of the three, what would you think of each of the three people?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Shhhhhh! I think someone is trying to make a point. We should be respectful... ;0)

[bvw]

That was a cut and paste from remarks made in 1829 by Robert Brown.

[Chad Fairbanks]

For any of them, I'd have to say it is their god-given constitutional right to say they like or don't like someone or something - and it is ALSO their right to refuse to associate with any of those.

Just like it's MY right to refuse to associate with THEM for saying so...

Welcome to America, man.

[Pistias]

"The French" aren't "a whole National group?"

How about this, then:

1) I don't like turkey. 2) I don't like the French. 3) I don't like the Israelis.

Why is it the order of the day to bash the French, but if one were to bash Israel Abraham Foxman and the Wiesenthal Center would be on one like stink on sh!t?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I for one am VERY concerned with the growing influence of the Bidet Society... very scary, indeed.

[Cultural Jihad]

For starters the French are not in a fight for the life of their very nation against a people determined to exterminate them. All the French are fighting for is the World Class Arrogance title.

[Pistias]

Just like it's MY right to refuse to associate with THEM for saying so.. I agree. One is not only deprived of the right of association in modern America via institutionalized racism, though--one may not even criticize or approve of certain nations without incurring social and legal penalty. That's not my idea of freedom.

[rmlew]

1. "Turkey" should be capitalized if you mean the Republic of Turkey, not the idiot bird.
2. I believe that hatred for French policies has degenerated into Francophobia.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I can agree with that statement. I think, however, that "social" penalty is fine - provided it's not government doing so. Legal penalties, on the other hand, I have a problem with...

[Chad Fairbanks]

I believe that hatred for French policies has degenerated into Francophobia

Oh, come on. Who the heck is afraid of the French? LOL

[Pistias]

For starters the French are not in a fight for the life of their very nation against a people determined to exterminate them.

What, the French are not part of the Western world that must defend itself against the Muslim horde by funnelling arms, equipment, and money to the last "outpost of democracy in a troubled part of the world?"

If you're not with us, you're against us...I always wondered about that "jihad" in your handle!

[Pistias]

No, I mean the delicious Thanksgiving feast bird.

[Chad Fairbanks]

What, the French are not part of the Western world that must defend itself against the Muslim horde by funnelling arms, equipment, and money to the last "outpost of democracy in a troubled part of the world"

Actually, I think the French are a part of the western world that is funnelling arms, equipment, and money to the Muslim horde in a troubled part of the world?

But maybe that's just me...

[Cultural Jihad]

Nonsense. The French have historically exhibited moral-cowardice by allowing safe passage through their country for known terrorists in the hope that they will knife and shoot and bomb innocents in other countries. Call it the Rockwellian-Browneshirt Mindset.

[Pistias]

Somebody's got to keep the opposition armed, otherwise how's an honest arms dealer to make a profit?

[Cultural Jihad]

otherwise how's an honest arms dealer to make a profit?

Ah, so profit is the big bugaboo in your ideology, eh?