Should Paid Trolls be Perma Banned From Ron Paul Forums?* POLL

[Swordsmyth]

There is a lot of truth in that post. But Trump borrows quite a bit more than the average republican politican from the socialist pool. There was a primary ad put out that listed every socilist policy he supported. Massive taxation, spending, partial birth abortion, universal healthcare etc etc but he was welcome with open arms by a loud minority in the forum.

The ironic thing about this sort of purity bans is that in time the hardcore Trump supporters will go after the middling Trump supporters on this forum. And before you know it, the face on top of the site would be that of DJT. The treatment they want for people like me would be used against them by the people who consider them not pure enough for a Trump supporter dominated forum.

It isn't a slippery slope, core principles are core principles.

[juleswin]

It isn't a slippery slope, core principles are core principles.

The point is this, you get another rounds of bans once the population changes. Trump maybe the next it thing, the Trump supporters who would take up space after the ban
and could decide that other member (not you) are not sufficiently pro Trump and with the precedent already set, start another round of ban that would purify the site one more time.

A lot of if, maybes and could in that statment but its more likely to happen once u take the first step.

[Stratovarious]

The point is this, you get another rounds of bans once the population changes. Trump maybe the next it thing, the Trump supporters who would take up space after the ban
and could decide that other member (not you) are not sufficiently pro Trump and with the precedent already set, start another round of ban that would purify the site one more time.

A lot of if, maybes and could in that statment but its more likely to happen once u take the first step.

Are you typing on a toaster or a 3 key blender?

[Swordsmyth]

The point is this, you get another rounds of bans once the population changes. Trump maybe the next it thing, the Trump supporters who would take up space after the ban
and could decide that other member (not you) are not sufficiently pro Trump and with the precedent already set, start another round of ban that would purify the site one more time.

A lot of if, maybes and could in that statment but its more likely to happen once u take the first step.

You are talking about a system where votes are held on who to ban, I already told you that was stupid and now you are proving me right.

The site staff should summarily ban anyone who opposes the core values of the movement, the core values don't change.

[juleswin]

Are you typing on a toaster or a 3 key blender?

A 4 ky blender.

[AuH20]

Do we have any hard evidence they are trolls? Any info from the dark webs?

[Swordsmyth]

Do we have any hard evidence they are trolls? Any info from the dark webs?

Anyone who comes here to oppose the core values of the movement is a troll and should be banned.
Anyone who doesn't oppose the core values shouldn't be banned.

[AuH20]

Anyone who comes here to oppose the core values of the movement is a troll and should be banned.
Anyone who doesn't oppose the core values shouldn't be banned.

There are trolls and then there are paid trolls. I don't think they should ban the former.

[Swordsmyth]

There are trolls and then there are paid trolls. I don't think they ban the former.

That is the problem.

[oyarde]

Only two people have voted No .

[Swordsmyth]

Only two people have voted No .

Give it a few days, team troll and the troll huggers will have a clear majority for NO.

This shouldn't be an issue that is decided by voting.
The trolls have nearly killed the site.

[RonZeplin]

Paid professional trolls should be tightly controlled by the Mod Squad, with Tariffs, Sanctions and Regime Change as deemed necessary. The nuclear option should always be, On The Table.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

From a forum owner's point of view who put in a lot of sweat and risk--I am banning. I am not going to be a cuck and let some dipshits laugh all the way to the bank on my dime. Duh.

For unpaid trolls--I couldn't care less.

[Swordsmyth]

From a forum owner's point of view who put in a lot of sweat and risk--I am banning. I am not going to be a cuck and let some dipshits laugh all the way to the bank on my dime. Duh.

For unpaid trolls--I couldn't care less.

The unpaid trolls who oppose the site mission drive away as many or more people than the paid trolls.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

The unpaid trolls who oppose the site mission drive away as many or more people than the paid trolls.

For the most part, I don't see that. I actually don't see that many here. They don't have a lot of incentive to stay around. Most last no more than a few weeks. RPF has some very sharp people, so the unpaid trolls get their asses handed to them pretty quick.

[Swordsmyth]

For the most part, I don't see that. I actually don't see that many here. They don't have a lot of incentive to stay around. Most last no more than a few weeks. RPF has some very sharp people, so the unpaid trolls get their asses handed to them pretty quick.

I guess it depends on who is paid and who isn't.

It's easier to just ban people who oppose the core values of the movement repeatedly than to try and find out who is paid.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I guess it depends on who is paid and who isn't.

It's easier to just ban people who oppose the core values of the movement repeatedly than to try and find out who is paid.

I could be the consultant!

But yeah, I see what you're saying. Were you around with the user named Pessimist? He's the longest running unpaid troll I can remember. A real progressive. He thought he was going to come in here and bury people with his debating, but he ended up getting frustrated and mad. He lasted all of 3 months.

[Swordsmyth]

I could be the consultant!

I like it!

But yeah, I see what you're saying. Were you around with the user named Pessimist? He's the longest running unpaid troll I can remember. A real progressive. He thought he was going to come in here and bury people with his debating, but he ended up getting frustrated and mad. He lasted all of 3 months.

That was before my time.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

That was before my time.

He was arrogant at the start, but I sort of felt for him later. After awhile, he just seemed like some displaced nerd. I don't however, feel the same way about these paid people. They're slick, and shrewd, and part of a calculated effort. They need to be crushed like a nasty sidewalk cigarette.

The paid trolls are sort of a combination of cockroach and cigarette butt!

[Swordsmyth]

He was arrogant at the start, but I sort of felt for him later. After awhile, he just seemed like some displaced nerd. I don't however, feel the same way about these paid people. They're slick, and shrewd, and part of a calculated effort. They need to be crushed like a nasty sidewalk cigarette.

The paid trolls are sort of a combination of cockroach and cigarette butt!

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Also, I think sometimes you have a mixed bag. Check this list of the most negged RPFers of alltime.. Zip leads the list, but then you have this assortment of motley characters:


I'm guessing Republican Guy (British) gets a check, but he mostly sounds like some incoherent drunk.

User econ4every1 was just some guy with a Jootube channel that really did just want to debate.

User Christopher A Brown used to send me these bizarre PMs all the time, but I never knew what the hell he was talking about. Sounded like he was posting from the insane asylum.

Boshembechle tried to hide his purpose here, came clean, and then got sneaky again. I never really knew what he was about.

User mvymvy started out looking like a paid ringer; however, you could see him in internet forums everywhere discussing elimination of the electoral college. So, he just seemed like some guy spreading his personal ideas. Like the others--he didn't last long.

Who remembers banned user MaybeMaybeNot?. Most of his posts were defending Israel. I could have sworn he was one of the ringer trolls paid by Israel. Anyway, he publicly acknowledged he had a sock account. If you looked up the sock account, then it was some Florida guy pretending to do meet-ups with Paul supporters in 2007.

Among those on the payroll--PRB was (in my opinion) the best. Bar none. He had a technique that made Zip look like a beginner. The guy actually made me think. He got incessantly negged and mostly left.

The funniest guy was CopThatSupportsRonPaul. Anybody remember him? Some classic trolling by that guy.




Okay, listing all this crap means I have too much time on my hands. I don't necessarily even look for trolls. I just read all the posts in a thread and notice patterns among users.

Too much time for me here, and I don't even get paid. Although some people here think I do!!

[Zippyjuan]

Also, I think sometimes you have a mixed bag. Check this list of the most negged RPFers of alltime.. Zip leads the list, but then you have this assortment of motley characters:

Thank you for your diligent efforts to get me to #1! I could not have made it without your persistent efforts!

[Influenza]

If I were to take a sip of water every time NCL asserted he had evidence for users being paid trolls without presenting even a single piece of said evidence, the rest of the world would die of dehydration.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Thank you for your diligent efforts to get me to #1! I could not have made it without your persistent efforts!

Thank the peanut gallery, chief. You are universally hated.

If I were to take a sip of water every time NCL asserted he had evidence for users being paid trolls without presenting even a single piece of said evidence, the rest of the world would die of dehydration.

LOL. I knew it wouldn't take long for Zip's cohort to come along and assert his repeated falsity.

Trick # 18. Ask for evidence. Every time it's presented--run away. Repeat next time!!

[euphemia]

What I see is that paid trolls are a distraction from the site mission. Some folks just can't help trying to argue with them. When that happens we are not posting to inform and educate. It's a waste of time and board space.

The ones of us who support the site mission do not all agree on how we can move from the invasive, intrusive nanny state to a liberty life. These discussions can be very profitable for site visitors because they may identify with one or two of us and venture to post their questions and thoughts. I've seen this happen when young people come to ask questions about free markets and fiat currency. Wonderful discussions there with real purpose.

This is something I would like to see site owners and mods think about.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Some folks just can't help trying to argue with them.

I think most of us are guilty of being sucked in by these hucksters at one time or another. Me included.

It's also a dilemma. Do you discuss anything with them or do you totally ignore them? Discussing means they get what they want. Not discussing means them going unopposed.

I don't waste much time going on and on with them on legit topics. I've sort of adopted their hit-and-run style.

Threads like this are good because they expose these liars. I am glad to see this thread not hidden (like in the past). It seems there's traction in exposing these dirtbags.

The other thing is that this isn't all academic. These assclowns are your opposition. If there's one thing libertarians need-it's knowing when to back off versus when to pummel your opponent. Dump knows how to be dick; he didn't become president by being nice.

I once heard the great and friendly Magic Johnson say that to win an NBA title, you have to hate your opponent. You have to be willing to stomp him. I don't buy this Ron Paul being a nice guy stuff all time. Magic is right. He won 5 NBA titles.

[euphemia]

Some like to discuss other things besides politics, like sports. In general I don't engage. There are a few times when I do, but it has more to do with the rest of the thread and points I might disagree with along the way.

It's not just the alleged paid trolls. There are some regular members who seem to have a compulsion about starting 7 or 8 topics a day, and reply to every. single. post. I try not to feed the beasts.

There are also those who are deliberately provocative and post for response rather than discussion. I try to stay away from them as well. It's just not worth the emotional bandwidth.

[TheCount]

I voted.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

If I were to take a sip of water every time NCL asserted he had evidence for users being paid trolls without presenting even a single piece of said evidence, the rest of the world would die of dehydration.

I love how you get triggered with your neg reps of me! LOL! Here is your latest neg for me:

wheres your evidence $#@!er? probably in the same place where you keep your evidence for believing the bible.... outside of reality

Now, the boss told you to keep your emotions in check, right? Take a lesson from Zip and TheCount!

[r3volution 3.0]

A couple types of trolls to consider:

1. Paid Trolls - paid by some organization to hawk something (if commercial, likely hawking dick pills; if political, bad ideas)
2. Volunteer Trolls - likewise working for some organization, but unpaid
3. Entertainment Trolls - unaffiliated people who just like to stir $#@! for their own amusement

I don't see many of the first two types now; there were definitely some during the last election (of the pro-Trump/Breitbart/Stormfront species).

RPF isn't really large enough anymore to justify serious, organizing trolling efforts outside election time.

There are a couple entertainment trolls, but that's the price of admission to the internet: no big deal.

The problem here isn't trolls, such as there are; the problem is that the forum has experienced a radical shift in ideology.

That is, it's no longer a libertarian forum.

It's now a forum with a fairly even mix of nationalist Trumpkins on the one hand, and various flavors of libertarians on the other.

Should the non-libertarians be banned? Well, yea, but that's not going to happen, and frankly I think the damage is done.