Posted on 09/21/2015 6:24:15 AM PDT by 1010RD
To some he was an Islamist extremist, to others a radical feminist, to others a neo-Nazi. These are all online identities that seem to have belonged to Joshua Goldberg - but in reality he was none of these things.
They were simply online aliases used to whip up ideological hatred, with seemingly dangerous and even violent real-world consequences. In reality he lives in Florida, spent huge amounts of time online - and has now been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
SNIP
It seems Goldberg wasn't just posing as a racist neo-Nazi. Earlier this year an Australian journalist, Elise Potaka, discovered that someone was impersonating her, and one of her sources, online. Potaka enlisted the help of another journalist, Luke McMahon, and together they started chatting with Goldberg's online personalities.
"It was immediately apparent to me that I was dealing with like a classic Internet troll, but one that was obviously quite sophisticated," McMahon says. "When I first started engaging with him… I thought I was dealing with a member of the far right. But as the conversation progressed and I worked out this wasn't about any kind of ideological crusade, but it was something much different."
One of Goldberg's alleged identities was called "Australi Witness" - a persona that claimed to be a supporter of the the so-called Islamic State, living in Australia. Improbably, "Australi Witness" also claimed to have worked for human rights organisations and to have links with liberal Muslim human rights activists.
Read more at link.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
“Does this not potentially explain many FReepers?”
Especially the intolerant ones who allege to support Cruz, yet post things like “Trump’s faker than a $3 Obama bill.”
RE “...How can a Nazi be a Leftist...”
Because “Nazi” is a the shortened acronym of the NSDAP - for “National Socialist German Workers Party”.
Nazism is and always has been a Left-wing socialist ideology, from the start.
I knew that. I was just listing various “perceptions” that we have of the left.
Approach an 18” column.
Extend your RIGHT hand around the column.
Extend your LEFT hand around the column.
RIGHT hand meets and shakes LEFT hand.
“I’d say there are many gods, doing the bidding of their master.”
If by “gods” you mean demons and the Father of Lies, then I agree.
Maybe Hillary or ValJar Stinks.
“Does this not potentially explain many FReepers?”
I’ve been here since 1998. In recent years I’ve seen a lot of posters with 1998 join dates whom I don’t remember and who pimp for the Satanic left.
My guess is that somebody knows how to hack join dates for trolls. Nobody else seems to think that likely, so I have to think I might be wrong.
How many 1997 Freepers do you encounter?
“...I knew that. I was just listing ...”
Sorry, brother. Wasn’t trying to correct you; only spelling it out for the benefit of the casual dropper-inner who’d eyeball it.
True that...
No Problem, FRiend.
(I’m a sister BTW..although people sometimes mistake me for a bro because I ride a Harley and play bass! LOL!)
“...I’m a sister BTW...”
<...embarrased, sheepish grin...> Oops...! :^)
“...and play bass...”
Lead guitar here. lates 70s American Stratocaster, through an 80s vintage Mesa Mark III for power/volume and a Marshall preamp for the scream.
Ooooo...LOVE it!
:-)
My old bandmates nicknamed that Amp “Pure Screaming Hell”... haha!
Between guns and guitars, I’m deaf in one ear.
Me too!
Old Rockers don’t die...they just go deaf!
I think you’re right. A lot of new old people who sure don’t hold very conservative views.
If they’d pull the entire state apparatus to close down the TEA Party groups, what would they do to manipulate FR?
hah!!
Iron Maiden’s new album “Book of Souls” came out two weeks ago.
Already figured out most of the songs on it. Old habits die hard...!
Nicko is an acquaintance of mine!
LOL!
Haha!!! Nice!
I miss the 80s. Discovered “Hair Nation” on Sirius XM satellite radio a while back. Yup... there IS a Heaven.
We had a little dispute about which cymbals are better (I said Zils, he said Paiste) and he gave me some chicken wings that were so hot they tasted like battery acid.
But I ate them! hahaha
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