I'm pissed!! (political trolls and hacks)

Originally posted by woodwytch

Originally posted by iammonkey
How about a troll button next to each member’s user name similar to the flag system.

I think this is a great idea and should apply to all forums. It would certainly help to keep the site clean and present the true meaning of what ATS is all about ... besides encouraging the proper respect the site deserves.

Woody

Being able to create bots that can automatically activate the button means the system is vulnerable to HACKS.

Other systems that have implemented any kind of negative button, besides a plain alert button, have always be attacked and affected by this. A soon as anybody posts a message, they get slandered with multiple and automatic negative hits no matter how nice and well mannered your message is -- because hacks and bots don't care.

Already, some of those have used 'auto-ups' on here, where by use of multiple avatars, or friends lists, they auto-up stars. You can easily detect these by how fast they post and how fast they receive the stars/thumbs-up/etc. It makes it look like their post is more credible. It just creates noise among those that really deserve stars/thumbs-up

[edit on 26-2-2010 by dzonatas]

[edit on 26-2-2010 by dzonatas]

It's probably been said somewhere in the previous 13 pages, but I'd like to reiterate it anyway.

The trolling is in all sections of the forums. Some of the members try to raise awareness when others are insulting in their approach to people here. I think it's what you do when you value what you have.

The more members who address it as it happens, to speak about manners and decorum, then hopefully the message will get through quicker. In which case, the members who currently insult may mature with self-control and become long term members.


Good thread in the beginning Mr Overlord

[edit on 26-2-2010 by Tayesin]

www.urbandictionary.com...



troll, trolling= the explaination & example are understood here,

keep the link & learn a vocabulary word or two each day

i think i may have trolled with the 'Naught' pronunciation instead of the 'Oh' which is commonly used in saying Obama.

oh well, it can happen anytime, when you least expect it~
like candid camera (former TV show)

Thanks for trying.
Being the skeptic that I am I am afraid the number of people who gain validation through the use of inflammatory or derogatory or just plain ignorant speech won't go away.
What I am hoping that your post suggests is that ATS management will be quicker to react and push the folks who are promoting simple divisiveness 'off the airwaves' (and I understand that the definition will be a constant moving target).
But hope springs eternal and thanks for trying.

AMEN on the post !

I still have not figured out why we can not delete our account., I mean I know why, there is no option, I already wrote ATS twice..... I really want myself disassociated with this site people are so judgemental and so willing to be nasty before giving a helpful or friendly comment. Its very sad actually. I think people come here to try to connect and see eye to eye or at least be respected for their voice and over and over again I see people just smacked down. It really is a shame because the website holds some great topics. I just feel as I am getting older instead of seeing Humans evolving into better people they are just becoming bigger aholes...

I do know that there are people who make a living (such as it is) as "writers" being paid per post on national political forums, and that some of them are what NHL fans used to refer to as "goons". Like the goons of hockey, who make a living starting fights with skaters that are having a good night, so as to get them tossed in the penalty box for a while, forum goons are sent in to piss off a strong forum poster and try to get him/her to violate the board's forum rules enough to get suspended or even banned. The idea is to shut down an effective advocate for the opposing view.

I know this, because during the Obama/McCain campaign, I was a DNC goon on two political forums - it was a volunteer position, since I'm progressive by ideology, but I was approached by the McCain campaign during the summer of '08 to see if I wanted a paid position because I'm pretty good at gooning. I've also been approach by a marketing firm that "handles" the 9/11 Truther problem, and offered a pretty good deal to goon truthers off national boards. I turned that one down as well.

A board like this will have goons registered. Especially a board like this. Look for the forums with the most insults per thread and that's your controversy that has the corporate money the most concerned. Like checking the leaves in the trees to see which way the high breezes are blowing.

Now days, I generally hang out in the philosophical forums, but now and then, I slide in and watch the mayhem of the political and 9/11 threads. Yeah, you've got goons here. Lots of them. Good luck with that.


[edit on 26-2-2010 by NorEaster]

I have to laugh, at the attempts through the years to tone down political bickering, doesn't ATS get it, as long as is a political forum in this site, is no much that can be done, at the end banning half of the posters in the political pen for bickering will just do as well as getting the entire forum out of the side and minds with a temporary banning.

The growing sentiments against politics in this nation is reaching a very dangerous point, the bickering and trolling in the political forums is only a fraction of what is going on around and in the streets.

Perhaps banning the forum (temporarily) at the discretion of ATS administration will do more to get the point across than just, warning threads.

Just my opinion.

[edit on 26-2-2010 by marg6043]

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I enjoy the political discussions that happen on ATS, yet I believe politics generally never belongs on the front page. Politics and possibly another category or two should be banned from hitting the front page!

Edit - That includes the listing of political discussion under "New topics" and "Active" category too that appear on the front page... the posts should simply not be accessible except by clicking on those categories specifically.

[edit on 26-2-2010 by truthquest]

what about the people who swap ip addresses and still get in?.
I have notice people with the similar comments with new usernames

Originally posted by jumpingbeanz
what about the people who swap ip addresses and still get in?.
I have notice people with the similar comments with new usernames

This is a popular goon tactic. AOL is perfect for this, since it truncates IP addresses.

Well I suppose being a site head you'd deal more with these people but from my point of view I just ignore them. Pretty easy to do just don't give in.

reply to post by NorEaster


maybe they can ban ip close linked addresses too

While I understand the attitude of the Site Owner and OP, I must confess to no small amount of trepidation. I am a passionate individual. When people express political opinions which disgust me(nazi apologists, people who agree with the war on terror, people who think that being a westerner makes them better than everyone else, addicts of the capitalist machine, ignorant boneheads of every stripe) I tend to get aggitated, and flip out. I dont see why people who are moraly retarded shouldnt get flammed . Where do I stand with that?

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Thank you. Seems I picked a good time to visit this site again. I grew very tired of the bickering and name calling that was apearing in so many posts. Do what ever it takes to protect this site. It is vital to the continued education of the masses on so many levels I can't begin to elaborate...ATS....nuff said.

Originally posted by EMPIRE
reply to post by ohioriver

 

What if I want to tell them they're both idiots and provide proof as to why they are idiots? Am I trolling or explaining the conspiracy?

This is a perfect example of baiting/trolling.

I feel it not only applies to the political area but to EVERY area on this site. No matter what forum you visit be it Religion, Fragile Earth, UFO's; they are all filled with posters who can manage to derail an excellent discussion with two lines posts such as

"There's no such thing as God, you've all been duped."
"The Bible is made up."
"Left/Right, it doesn't matter they are all just controlling you."

I don't have a problem with those people's beliefs and statements, if they are posted WHERE THEY APPLY. When a post is discussing possible Greek/Hebrew translations of a passage of the Bible and 14 people come in and say the Bible is junk you're all stupid what do you think is going to happen? When a scandal is being discussed about the White House (Lord knows they are plenty of them over the years) posting that were all suckers and there's no difference between left or right doesn't add to the discussion.

In the past I have reported many many one line statements that are trolling an existing topic but it's just not worth it anymore. Heck usually that one line troll post has more stars than any of the actual topical posts in the thread!

And since I'm ranting here is another thing that really really pisses me off about this site: When posters skip over a very well written and intellectual response rebutting their post and choose to reply to a one liner or not so well written post that they can dissect in an attempt to look smarter.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

I've been a bit stunned to read some of the posts on ATS recently, the thread on the situation in the Falklands being a recent example. There are many others.

Sometimes ATS seems like it has been taken over by narrowmindedness and bigotted agendas.

Hope this changes in the near future!

I have often stood up for people who were being attacked for no reason. Ignoring a troll will only provoke the person to demand a reply. This is when a mod should step in with a warning.