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Originally posted by ProtoplasmicTraveler
I am curious to know how many other people have encountered this problem where they feel organize forum gangs are in fact singling them or their posts out, or their threads out to primarily discredit and disrupt rather than add anything of substance.
Do they show up within short time periods of one another - do their posts get a similiar number of stars post after post no matter how unrelated, off topic or unsubtantiated and unfactual?
One of the early fixes was realizing the IP address of several players were coming from the same house. Probably three people side by side, all able to see the cards each one has on their screens. Seeing three full hands makes it easy to read the deck.
Originally posted by ProtoplasmicTraveler
reply to post by jackflap
The sad thing is we are seeing some posters early in this thread stating that they won't post for these reasons at all or post in certain threads at all and that is kind of sad.
Not only do they likely have some wonderful contributions to share but obviously they have been once bitten and twice shy by forum gang type behavior.
The synapses started firing and what not, it was awesome! I was like damn, I have been doing that to others. I am going to look back into my posts to see if I could find that whole exchange again but it was awesome. Ever since then, I think about that quote every day and I even taught my two older boys it so they don't get trapped in their little world and try to push it on people.
Originally posted by Ahabstar
So now you are saying that there may not be forces from within that have an agenda. Granted I am sure PT is not seeing the same inactive posters from years back suddenly springing to life. But you, yourself, had a very similar posting a while back.
Originally posted by silent thunder
First rule of the Silent Thunder ATS experience: You do NOT participate in Middle-east-themed threads.
Second rule of the Silent Thunder ATS experience: You do NOT participate in Middle-East-themed threads.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
I think the issue here is that people feel their opinions are validated and they feel like they're "one up" with the use of the star system. Almost like giving a star to a post adds to the "rightness" of their opinion. The more stars, the more people agree with me and the more it proves that I'm right.
It's when being right outweighs the facts that we get into trouble. I think humans are VERY attached to being right. Many times to the detriment of the truth.
But there is most definitely a pecking order there on the 9/11 forums and questioning or disputing evidence presented by more senior posters does cause a protection style reaction from what is best described as groupies. The star and flag practices in 9/11 threads follow a rather predictable pattern as well.
I have little doubt of PT's suspicions since I have seen similar things myself in other areas, but much like real life I tend to avoid the Middle East.
It's not often that someone posts an admission like that. I respect you for doing that. I have to admit as well that when I first started posting on Internet forums a couple of years ago, I probably came off arrogant many times. What I learned is that if you don't allow yourself some leeway in your opinions, someone may come along who knows more than you do and make you feel stupid.
Originally posted by Jenna
*Snipped for length*
People who share common interests are going to see each other more frequently in areas where those interests are discussed, whether they agree with each other on the specifics or not.