welcome to planetAn interesting phenomenon has begun spontaneously at Huffington Post, beginning a couple weeks ago and growing by the day.  There has been no overt communication amonst the regulars but a lot of reading between the lines.  As you all are aware, that site has become infested with not only the regular trolls, but many new ones daily, sent there by GOP sites on a paid basis.  It has had its effect, as it had elicited responses that have gotten noteworthy posters like Kevenseven, Volvo Birkenstock and others banned, while these trolls have been allowed to disrupt many good on line discussions.

Rather than leave the site, we are fighting back, albeit in an unorthodox manner, and we don’t know how long HP will allow it, but it is driving the trolls batty.  It also had had unintended effects on the regulars, making us a much tighter knit group, more collegial like PlanetPOV, and it’s more fun to go there.  We can’t be dead serious all the time or we’ll turn into curmudgeons; there has to be some humor and fun, too, IMO.

So, here’s what is happening.  We look for each other and take over a blog and turn it into a meeting place, sort of like Twitter for grownups, where we exchange greetings, post music and other videos, jokes and other chit chat types of conversations that are almost all off topic.  So, when a troll appears, their first reaction is “WTF??”  “If you want a chat line, go to Facebook!!”  Even some regulars who have been away are bewildered, but soon catch on and join in the merriment.  There are so many small posts in chat situations, as you all know, that in 5 minutes a troll flame ends up on page 5, effectively being shoved down and easily ignored.  Sometimes the trolls rant that HP is allowing us to violate the TOS, which we are, and those rants are getting scrubbed.  But they’re, for now, letting us continue.  So, every night there’s a party atmosphere.  Oh, there is still plenty of on topic discussion, but the troll posts are not as noticeable.

I’m sure HP moderators are debating what to do about this as I’m sure there have been complaints, especially from the troll posts that get scrubbed (how funny is that?); yesterday CheshireCat, a righty but a good guy, railed about his legit posts getting scrubbed while the deluge of off topic posts are allowed.  Too funny.  They have two choices: 1.  scrub all the posts, which would leave the blog practically empty; 2.  ban all of us, but if they do that, they ban over 50 regulars, and that would reduce the clicks, wouldn’t it, and therefore reduce their ad income?  It’s nice to see Aryanna’s crew caught between a rock and a hard spot.

The pace is varied, depending on the time of day, but it can be breathtaking.  Take a 10 minute break, and your post is on page 8 ort 9 sometimes.  Yesterday, it began early, in mid morning, and by the time I got home from work, the party was going full bore and continued well into the wee hours.  There were hardly any trolls, who had given up and gone elsewhere.  The few who stuck it out were all ticked off but we just took turns flaming them back and the rest of us just ignored them.  As aforementioned, we’ll see how HP deals with this.  By the way, we’ve spread the word about PlanetPOV, too, sneaking in messages in code, and most are aware of this site.

We’ve sneaked chats about this site, and I see a time when PlanetPOV will grow.  The one bit of feedback I offer is that the comment portion should be more user friendly and easier to follow, that is inhibiting some from coming here regularly.

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phread
Member
phread

Last night I followed the anti tr0ll advice in this post. I had put up a dozen Groucho Marx quotes because a tr0ll post was stuck on top. This morning I found a tr0ll response:

groucho quote:
Anyone who thinks there’s safety in numbers hasn’t looked at the stock market pages.

a tr0ll called buck carson responded:
Anyone who thinks there is safety in government hasn’t lived.

Can you say ID10T?

I had a good laff…thanks Planet POV!

PatsyT
Member

phread
Great to hear … the Planet has tons of info for swatting the trolls as well as ideas.
Funny how AH has this site banned BANNED from HP, but links to Drudge at the bottom of every page.

phread
Member
phread

Hi…been having some fun tr0ll swatting…did not know planet was banned…I starting think HP is faux progressive, it’s really about the ca$h. But at least there are many liberal bloggers and such, I have read some very good articles…any more tr0ll swatting ideas are welcomed…
Ciao

PatsyT
Member

Try using a standard link … scrubbed!
but do I think we have some workarounds for that
I just don’t know them
AdLib does…..
Yooo Hooo Adlib got a linky?
HP has some great bloggers,
It is a shame they have to wallow
around some of the muck that goes on.
Marion & others has posted a few articles
on this subject.
http://planetpov.com/2010/10/21/joan-walsh-joe-miller-and-the-first-amendment/

darleneslee
Member
darleneslee

Thank God, sanity at last! I’ve been so frustrated at HP that I started to scream. I was beginning to think I was crazy. I really don’t know how you rid the site of ignorance, but the trolls are out with a vengeance and this weekend was horrible. Jan4insight was able to direct me here and I registered immediately. I will try to help HP but the drible is almost unbearable.

Chernynkaya
Member

darleneslee I just came form there and couldn’t take any more! WTF. “No difference” between Bush and Obama? Those people are outrageous. I am enraged. I feel it’s my duty to go there and try to reason with people, but I honestly can’t take more than about a half hour.

phread
Member
phread

I believe I have seen you on Hp…

AdLib
Admin

Welcome to The Planet, phread!

Questinia
Member

Adlib, you are as hilarious as this thread!

AdLib
Admin

Heh! Thanks, you Qrack me up too!

phread
Member
phread

thanks…i like the advice about trolls…started doing and notice there are a number of ppl who are into this …

javaz
Member

Welcome to the PlanetPOV, darleneslee!

jan4insight
Guest

Hi, darleneslee – I’m so glad you saw my post & decided to come here! Welcome to the happy crew – we don’t always agree on everything but we do debate respectfully, and we don’t carry grudges. I think you’ll find it a refreshing change 🙂

And btw, I still go “there” regularly & keep on with good fight – I’m too much of a contrarian to let them think they ran me off 😉

jan4insight
Guest

Just for giggles, here’s a sample of a recent post I made on HP, and the decidedly tr0llish response that came in today:

Winter Storms (Political and Otherwise)
Democrats win by uniting their base with swing voters, not by playing the two against each other. President Obama should be the president who gets this instinctively. So how did it come to this?

jan4insight This is true. And also I have looked at much of the garden-variety criticism of Obama from the left, and been appalled at the ignorance that is displayed at how our government actually works – you know, like separation of powers. Executive branch does not make the laws. That sort of thing.

He’s only the President, peeps. He’s not your Fairy Godmother.
posted Jan 5, 2010 at 03:45:19 Reply Link

RoloTomassi Sorry, but you know as well as I do that your comment is nothing but an arrogant oversimplification of dissent from the Left; you centrist/corporatist dems simply swap the single foot you stand on constantly–it’s all about Obama’s accomplishments until he comes under fire for his lack of LEADERSHIP [you will notice that I did not specify his lack of personal legislative accomplishments], and then you stand on the “it’s congress, not Obama’s failure” false-position.

If you care to read the dissenting comments you might actually learn something about what is going on here; it’s about the failure of the Democratic party as a whole, in presidential leadership AND congressional actions.
posted Jan 5, 2010 at 16:17:41

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Said troll thinks I’m a corporatist and centrist??? OMG, I can’t stop ROFL!!! It’s clearly a cut & paste response. I wonder how much he/she got paid for it, and if he spent it all in one place!

TheRarestPatriot
Member

Well, as I have stated here in the past, I was banned from HP on at least 3 occasions and still have 3 fake accounts that HP will not ‘authorize’. These fake accts were created to be used in the War Against Trolls being waged at HP. I now have ONE working acct over there that I can’t remember the last time I logged in with. The last 2 times I was banned was for writing posts there with links to Conservative websites paying trolls to disrupt and infiltrate HP and other left leaning watering holes. Suddenly I was the ‘bad’ guy and when it dawned on me what was truly happening over there, I was in shock and awe. I finally allowed myself to fully grasp the scope and measure of what was being developed. The mighty, mighty AH was feverishly pulling the levers and twisting the dials behind the curtain not unlike the mighty Wizard of Ahhhhhs~~~(also a nickname some of my former intimate partners…well…another time)
In any event, I will again try to create an acct there and start stepping on toes of the trolls by hijacking articles for personal and off-topic reasons. I will say, again, that the conservative Right CAN organzie for evil SO much more quickly than we Libs. A good cause or selfless endeavor they will scatter and run from, yet add some spite, hate, fear and evil revenge into the job and the Right will line up and PAY YOU to be a part of. Believe it.

escribacat
Member

Hey, TPR. Do you still have those links? I’ve seen one page where a company was trying to hire trolls to disrupt threads on “leftie” sites …. but just that one. I’d be very interested in knowing if it’s really true, who actually hires people to do that and how much they get paid and so on.

TheRarestPatriot
Member

I have found that 5 of the 6 sites that were recruiting are now extinct. These were rural church sites that offered spaghetti dinners for participation. 2 were pay to play and I am looking for them. (I called them out during the election and sites have changed…I am not trying to offer straw dogs or anything. They truly existed) LOL~

KQµårk 死神
Member

mmmmm…. we are having angel hair with sausage tonight.

TheRarestPatriot
Member

The sausage is always a treat, but that angel hair…constantly making that ,…pppbbbthttthhhh~~~~~~ sound trying to pick it off your tongu…OHHHH…pasta!..RIGHT!

KQµårk 死神
Member

😆 I think you spelled it right too. Pasta every other week or so is one of the rare treats on my “heart healthy” (ugh) diet.

TheRarestPatriot
Member

Hey, have you tried that pasta made from soybeans? Or beans, or something…it’s not whole wheat pasta…pretty sure it’s soybean. anyway, I am a pasta lover and have had to start thinking healthier and HATE…whole wheat pasta, yet this bean pasta is pretty decent. No angel hair option (which is my fav), but it’s tasty and healthy. Those tomatoes are the key to a healthy heart after all.

Pepe Lepew
Member

TRP, I’ve become increasingly convinced that the trollfest “on that other site” is primarily driven by the same 8 to 10 trolls (at most!) with 8 to 10 sockpuppets each, pretending to be 60 to 80 different posters for 10 to 12 hours a day.

jan4insight
Guest

Hi, I’m new here, another refugee from Huffoxington Post. KarateKid, I wish I’d read your post months ago, although I’ve certainly enjoyed those late-night chat & music threads on HP!

Well, as we all know, it’s getting worse. I’ve found myself even unable to post a comment on certain HP threads – and I don’t think it’s an accident. I’ve seen other HPers say the same thing has happened to them. I think we’re being deliberately locked of certain threads. The most recent one for me was that execrable Marianne Williamson thread, which is a total anti-Obama trash-fest. Today I tried to post a simple Co-sign to someone who’d gotten through the mods, and was unable to click the post link!

I also have notification of an HPer who wrote a supporting comment on one of my posts, but neither my post nor the supporting comment are visible on the site. Apparently I got scrubbed, and so did the person who supported me. But another post criticizing me got through!

So what I’m doing now is copying & saving my important posts & the supporting comments to a notepad on my Google sidebar (for now). I’m sure I’ll find a way to use them to good effect.

Meanwhile, the HP downward trend is of real concern, not only because of our collective frustration, but because I fear this effort to fracture the left could end up handing the country back to the Repug’s – and you all know what a nightmare that would be!

whisperingn woods
Guest
whisperingn woods

The moderation at Huffy is beyond absurd. All anti-Obama trash is posted yet most of my anti-Palin or Cheney remarks get scrubbed!

whisperingn woods
Guest
whisperingn woods

I really think that the Huffy moderators are paid employees of its biggest advertisers.

Bernard Marx
Member

Ha, that explains a lot. I’ve only just found this site, which looks great (especially for more in-depth, serious discussion). I just need to learn how to work it… How do I get my photo up?

SueInCa
Member

Wow, there is a lot of chit going on in the background at HP I never knew. I knew some of the stuff happening with the trolls and I have noticed a group that carries conversations between themselves but I have not often been shot down when I make comments. Trolls, yeah, but they are stupid anyway so I pay them no mind. I do go back now and then to read and have posted some, but nowhere near like I was doing everyday. It would be an interesting read on the social “mores” at huffpo. LOL

nicole473
Member

You can say that again (stuff going on in the background). I went over there, peeked at the main, and it had become soap-opera like.

Sheesh…..

escribacat
Member

No kidding.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Just popped over to Huffy to see what is going on and Bankington Post is all about the banks AGAIN.

Aryanna has her mind on her money and her money on her mind.

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Well, just so you know, HITO told me about this place. Thanks HITO, you rock, sweetheart. I’m so glad she did.Being able to express myself as an a adult(heh) using regular adult language will be a welcome relief.
Thanks to all at PlanetPOV. I hope I can do this place justice. The fact that there are some familiar faces makes it that much more attractive.
You folks have a great day…

nicole473
Member

HITO rocks and so do you! Hope you become a regular here, Seek!

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

You rock as well, Nicole.
I will be around here, for sure.
Have fun, Nicole…

nicole473
Member

Look forward to seeing you soon, Seek.

AdLib
Admin

A Planetwide welcome to the site, SeeknDestroy!

Very pleased you’ve joined us and big thanks to HITO for sharing the site with you!

Yep, this is intended to be the adult’s table for blogging and we’re always happy to add another chair!

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Thanks for the kind words..I appreciate it.
I plan to be around fairly often.
HITO is a keeper.Very smart, that girl..
You folks have a great day…

Thanks again..

Pepe Lepew
Member

Bon soir!

HITO
Member
HITO

Nicole, the women poster behaviours should be a thread of it’s own…maybe someone should post one here. Not sure I could navigate that task in the immediate future. I am technically challenged.

I am amazed everday how sophomoric attitudes on HP glaringly come into focus, sometimes out of nowhere. Crazy-assed women fighting for attention from the men posters. That’s when I run to seek.

And I love those “fan me” fests at night. Could care less who fans me. Dey did a shout out the other night to get me to 200. I know her heart was in the right place, but I hate that stuff. Not into the spotlight, into talking to smart people. I’m into laughing at wit and pondering thought provoking statements.

Yeah, you should write something here. I’d help, give you my email, but the admin process is intimidating.

nicole473
Member

Aw, I couldn’t write it, HITO. I pay too little attention to them. I mostly stay off the main as I learned pretty quickly that if you aren’t in the clique, you tend to talk to yourself a lot. 😆
I do agree that they certainly seem to be spending a lot of time competing for male attention, which doesn’t interest me either.

If you need me to put a post up for you, just write it, email it to me, and I’ll post it with credit to you.

ps…….an expose would be great fun, at least in my humble opinion. 😉
nicole.politicaltalk AT gmail DOT com

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Afternoon Ladies…Saw what went down last night on the main, felt like I was back in high school again…I think the Cheer Leaders and Cool Girls Clique were there..I’m one of the ones who talk to themselves at times, didn’t belong in the cliques then and have no desire, to be in one now.

There is a social hierarchy at HP that could lend itself to quite an extensive post or socialogical study….

nicole473
Member

Absolutely on that sociological study. 🙂

escribacat
Member

I agree. I think it’s really interesting what goes on on these threads, my own attitudes included. It’s a gold mine for sociological research. I’d love to write about it….hmmm……

nicole473
Member

Would LOVE to read it, escriba!!

escribacat
Member

I’m one of those frustrated writers who thinks of a new idea for a book about every week. This would be a good one! Would have to disguise the disguises….hehe.

Pepe Lepew
Member

Hey, Escribicat, that’s me, too.
I have lucid dreams, and I write all the ideas from the lucid dreams in the middle of the night for story or book ideas, and then in the morning … I realize it’s complete gibberish. I finally decided to write a book about … lucid dreaming.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Why there are women who feel the need to flaunt, or should I say, fling themselves at men and also to other women, which I find even stranger, I will never understand.

The blatent need for attention and to be liked, well we all want to be liked and part of a group, is pretty sad.

Some of these women and men, I don’t recall reading anything that the have posted that shows any depth to their intellignce…have you, I’ve only see the attention getting one liners…

Kalima
Admin

You have just hit the nail on the head, it’s the attention that they yearn for, many I feel are extremely lonely people, maybe unable to make friends in the real world so they invent a virtual persona and run with it on a public blog. It is very sad as you say.

escribacat
Member

Yes, it’s really interesting — especially because everyone is anonymous. One really interesting case is LOTM, who months ago was calling Obama the “court jester” and is now a friendly progressive with a lot more fans. Like Arianna, he “gives good progressive,” if you’ll forgive a crude phrase!

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

LOL,’He gives good progressive’…

nicole473
Member

LOTM?

HITO
Member
HITO

Last of the Mohicans

nicole473
Member

Oh yeah. He is odd. I think he must be paid…those sudden philosophical switches never ring true to me.

Khirad
Member

I still won’t fan LOTM. I don’t trust them, yet.

escribacat
Member

I’m pleased to hear I’m not the only one who has often been transported back to high school on the main.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

I’ve seen it happen before, but last night was especially sickening…well some people never grow up…

nicole473
Member

Ha ha…….exactly why I usually avoid it.

Corgi Lover
Guest

I sort of realize there is some flirtatious behavior going on there, but I just look at it as games. Of course, I did enjoy “flirting” with FloydRTurbo last night. He’s a kick.

You may have seen my comments on how empty fanning is here yesterday. I got 38 fans yesterday, and many didn’t know who I was. I can say that the only person I ever asked to fan me was LadyNaga, who shares the same alma mater with me. There were others I was suprised didn’t fan me, but I refused to ask (under the FM guise)

It really does remind you of sophomore year in HS or freshman year in college, people crying for attention to establish who they are. It’s sad that it really doesn’t, because you’re usually selling a product rather than the real thing. But then again, I have a very restrictive definition on the word “friend” and consider most people to be “buddies”, and “buddies” is not a complement, because it’s like “drinking buddies”, people who are there when there’s something to be gotten but gone when you have a real need for them.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Afternoon Sarah darling, you really are a dear aren’t you…You looked marvelas…I fanned you last night, I really just had too!

I still can’t believe that you got as many as you did, in just one night. But you where funny…you deserved them.

Corgi Lover
Guest

The funny thing is that what I really like is the humor in irony, but unfortunately it goes over the heads of some of the trolls so I don’t use it as often. Now how I got a fanning from “USATeaParties” I’ll never know, unless he was really dense, but it was early and I was still doing a semi-serious Sarah impression, defending my little teabagging worshippers.

And the one liners are all spur of the moment, and quickly forgotten, because they’re so easy to do.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

I bet half your fans where from conservative trolls…they were just in love with you….boy would they be in shock if the ever found out who SarahAnn really was!

Corgi Lover
Guest

No, I checked their bonafides before fanning them back, and most were regulars plus some others whom I hadn’t met before but qualified for it. Only poor “USATeaParties” didn’t get fanned back. I think he was a sock, too, because he was using that yellow flag with the coiled rattlesnake. I don’t remember trolls to much just to be healthy.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

What is that flag from, it looks familiare..

Khirad
Member

Vexillology geek at your service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsen_Flag

It’s weird to see them in front of bars, and even restaurants, flying on the mast where the state flag once was, barely below the US flag in height. It’s actually a very succinct statement: “don’t eat here, I’m crazy!” I say we take this flag back. I’m tired of them co-opting and distorting history all the time.

KQµårk 死神
Member

I don’t know nothing is worse that watching all the dirty old right wing men fawn all over AC.

Corgi Lover
Guest

Gag! Even if that is a real photograph of her, the physical aspect fails to make up at all for the unattractiveness of her soul. Let alone her talking points spouting little mind.

If I wanted another Republican woman (I’m married to one) and was of an age to be interested, Meghan McCain might do, but she’s too preppy for me to, or is it my aversion to the rich and spoiled?

nicole473
Member

If that is her, she is not attractive anyway. JMHO.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Oh pleeeaassee..’Why is everyone picking on me’ Meghan McCain…like you know…I’m sure she is smart, huh, but she is not very articulate. She reminds me of, like you know, huh, a high school cheer leader, like you know…

nicole473
Member

I can’t stand her either. blech.

Corgi Lover
Guest

OK, BigDogMom, but I do believe she has some decency to her, which is more than I can say about many young Republicans. But she may be a Columbia graduate version of Paris Hilton or Linsay Lohan. She certainly is a D-List celebrity type. BTW, she brought her own doom on herself with the Facebook picture. What did she expect?

And I said if I was to ever date another republican. Never happen, even if I was unincumbered.

nicole473
Member

She is less ideological than Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, et al. But, Monk, make no mistake, she is her parents’ daughter.
I ran across an interesting article early in 2009 about one of her escapades. If I can find it, I’ll post it here for you.
The Facebook pic caused me to lose any small crumb of respect I might have for her, btw. It was just such an obvious ploy, and it made clear to me what she really wished to be known for.
And this is coming from a woman who used to love to play those silly games……until I grew up.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

She is a young women who knows exactly what she is doing, she is her Mother’s daughter and she has learned her lessons well…

Corgi Lover
Guest

As an Arizonan, I know far too much about the McCains, and don’t like much of it. The wife takes after her father (dangerous) and John is a spoiled overindulged party boy who’s only significant act in life was questionable piloting skills. From there on, his life was spin.
If you’d like a good quick history, try http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm. The signt has been around for a couple of major election cycles.

nicole473
Member

@Monk….
Thanks for the link! I’m surprised I never ran across that site when I was blogging campaign politics in 2008.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

I’m sure she a a wee bit more decency than the rest of the lot, she’s very young and may seem a times niave…but make no mistake, she knows exactly what she is doing at all times

nicole473
Member

She’s 25 or 26, I think.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Meghan McCain is a little bit of an air head but she is not in the same category of right wingers like AC. She is not really that ideological compared to most. Just my opinion.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Tell me about it. I’ve even heard dirty old progressives say they would do women like Sarah Palin. I just don’t know how you could even consider being near Sarah Palin because to me she is one of the ugliest human beings in the country.

escribacat
Member

I agree. I don’t see anything attractive about her. She reminds me of Anita Bryant. A KKK Barbie Doll.

Corgi Lover
Guest

No kidding. I remember recently when ShawnHanks made a comment about some woman and how that we liberals wouldn’t push her out of our beds, and when I suggested I wouldn’t have let her in in the first place (it wasn’t SarahP, I don’t think, but some other conservative “hottie”) the comeback from him was to question my sexual orientation. Which I find hilarious. I’m a USA DOD certified heterosexual. It’s a long story involving getting a security clearance. Sad, funny, tragic, but true.

escribacat
Member

LOL. That’s an old trick: if you don’t want me, you must be gay. One thing I don’t get is why rightwing men are SO foaming at the mouth full of hatred for progressive women like Pelosi, Hillary, and Rachel Maddow. My oldest brother goes into a head-spinning dither about them. We got into a huge fight recently…I can usually get him off his Limbaugh-inspired rants but he kept going on about “Rachel Madcow” and I just completely lost it and screamed at him. It got really ugly.

Corgi Lover
Guest

Yes, it’s an old trick, but in this day and age it is unacceptable. Had his “suggestion” been true, I would have read him the riot act for sexual orientation bigotry.

And speaking of Rachel, if I had to answer that old question about being stuck on a desert island, who would I want there, she would be the one, even if she is too “in” for me. Immense fan.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

I think conservative, real hardcore conserv men are scared of women that are intelligent and that have a mind of their own. I think that they insecure about themselves, that’s why they attack strong women.

They see every libral, strong minded women as a threat to their ego and manhood…good thing that I’m married to a man that likes an idependent thinking wack job!

nicole473
Member

@BDM…..nailed it! I’ve managed to marry a few of those……but only one was a conservative. 😆

Khirad
Member

The things they call Rachel aren’t always subtle, either, if you catch my drift.

Yup, homophobia. Ain’t it swell to live in a 50’s mindset where your irrational hatred is condoned and justified?

escribacat
Member

I suspect that’s why AC keeps coming back. She gets an enormous amount of attention — I haven’t quite figured out why. Is it just because of her picture?

nicole473
Member

Hmmm…….I just thought of an interesting experiment…… 😆

escribacat
Member

What? Pray tell! Let me guess. Create someone with a gorgeous picture …. and see how many millions of fans you get.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Nicole, let’s do it!…what a wonderful idea, what a wonderful socialogical experiment!

nicole473
Member

It would be interesting. Not sure I could do it though….

nicole473
Member

Monk, you would be PERFECT.

nicole473
Member

Not just someone. A right winger to drive AC crazy. I have an old pic I could use, although it might be too easy to date.
Not sure if I have the nerve to play a right winger though. 😆

Corgi Lover
Guest

I could, obviously, but staying true to character is the problem. But we need a picture with lots of leg and some hooters to draw them in and keep them fascinated.

But I really don’t have the time to waste establishing the character. Yesterday was far more than enough!

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

@Monk…Definately need big boobs and nice legs…good hair, nice face…What type of women get more looks, blondes or brunettes?

Corgi Lover
Guest

@BDM Hair? I don’t know. But if we could subtley work in that the new “SuperAC” is a bi-sexual, and have a little teasing of both the men and AC, that would be a big draw too. You know how conservative men like those fantasies!

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

@Monk..switch hitter, with long dark hair, big Meghan McCain Boobs and legs like LadyNaga…I think we got it!

Corgi Lover
Guest

@BDM How did you know I was thinking about LadyNaga’s legs?

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Because she has great legs and I saw last night all the guys ogling over them…so why not!

You get more flys with honey than you do with vineger…

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Is that really AC’s real pic…if it is, talk about narcissism…

escribacat
Member

I believe it is. She once posted a link to a youtube health care debate from her university. I only watched a couple minutes of it (who cares?) but there was AC, being precocious.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

That girl just likes herself just way too much…

Pepe Lepew
Member

Oh, Gawd… you are so right.
Gringo, Ramirez, Flossy, Perfect Sense. Christ. Put it away, boys….

AdLib
Admin

Actually, I see the “fanning” and competition for fan numbers as part of the problem at Huffy. When political discourse is turned into a popularity contest, it denigrates the content of conversation.

Simply put, in order to be most popular and most fanned, one would do best to focus on making snarky quips and bash trolls. Now, I stand guilty of doing and enjoying both (not for “fans”, just for the sport) but after stepping back from HP a bit, I recognize what a detour it is from what I sought to do as a blogger.

With that in mind, there won’t be fanning at The Planet, I’m a fan of what everyone brings to the site as a whole. If we’re here to thoughtfully blog about issues of substance, I don’t see how infusing the element of high school popularity contests supports that.

escribacat
Member

Yes, I think the psychology of fanning is quite interesting as well. Most of the times, it’s meaningless yet it’s addictive. I have found myself getting into the mindset of just wanting fans and then when you get one, it’s only satisfying for a nanosecond and you must have another one….just like drugs!!! I am convinced that this is why Huffpo is so popular and addictive.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Think about it, we all want to be liked and to feel like we belong…HP has hit on the biggist psychological marketing tool there is …to feel wanted and if you feel that you are wanted and loved, you will continue to go back again and again, to have that basic human need fufilled over again and again…

Corgi Lover
Guest

Whether a person was the class clown or class bully, if they are self aware they knew that although the “in crowd” kept them around they were never really part of it. Getting lots of fans from virtual people isn’t a lot different, really.

I prefer my fulfillment to be a bit more real.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Even though I was part of a clique in HS, the jocketts. I was always uncomfortable with the ‘Group Think’ of the clique, plus I was very sociable with other groups of people, so at times, I would place myself outside of ‘the group” just for a gut check when it got to be too much…I did this one too many times and wouldn’t you know by senior year, I was the one on the outside looking in…so I know how that is..

Pepe Lepew
Member

Don’t you hate it when people troll for fans? I find that so pathetic! I only do that when I’m at 99 or something because then it becomes funny.

nicole473
Member

I’ve never liked the fan system either, but if it’s there……..

Glad you don’t plan to use it here, AdLib.

HITO
Member
HITO

I am not into the fanning system. Glad you are not initiating (for now).

Is there a way to check posters profiles, to see if they are on here, and what they’ve written…

(asked the nubie, who hasn’t looked around enough).

Khirad
Member

Have to admit I’m an oblivious male on this one. Never noticed it. It’s funny, I was always the outsider and am pretty shy in the real world, like the lot of you say, normally couldn’t care less about popularity (a socially transmitted disease). Have never asked for fans, but will also admit I do fan others and appreciate those who fan me. Sure it’s trivial, but it’s validation, however cynical and insouciantly hip I might want to play it. I do second you guys on the sociological study, much of my time I’m observing more than interacting. And, I must admit, some of the conservatives whom I decidedly disagree with are pretty tame and don’t bother me. Maybe you guys have a history with some of these characters, but I don’t understand where some of the venom comes from. Call their comment idiotic, fine, but the personal squabbles are beyond me. In any case, I’ve found it interesting on finding the right balance to infiltrate the clique without losing all myself in the process. However; us younger posters kinda have our own gang which shadows the boomers, anyway, and I’m somewhere on the C-list overall. My huff-habits are thus: I usually get serious stuff out of the way in my haunt of the World section – primarily Iran threads – battling what I’ve narrowed down to three main groups there with thoughtful, sometimes passionate posts (I’m thinking about writing about my experiences with these – it’s like a bit of micro-geopolitics flanked on both sides ideologically), and then if I am still free and there’s nothing on TV (chances are…), I veg out multitasking at the main the rest of the night. …Hmm, perhaps I might be projecting a wee bit when I accuse trolls of not having a life?!

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

I’m curious…
Is it possible that HP and other sites hire bloggers from all political sides to help drive traffic? Some of these trolls seem extremely well informed, while others are just instigators…
Then there are the bloggers who claim to be friends who go bi-polar and attack anyone, at anytime…JohnnyUniteus for instance….
I’m almost positive there are some Long-timers..fairly well respected bloggers who are employees at HP..Maybe it’s just me….

HITO
Member
HITO

Dey and I have had conversations about this subject.

We are in agreement that there are commenters that appear to be sent in to stir the pot, instigate conflict, possibly with the intent to push someone to react and get banned.

The “weeding out” strategy.

Ever notice how the most belligerent and confrontational are nubies, like MondaysRain? They push it to the limit, are allowed to post heinous comments and then disappear.

escribacat
Member

As much as I’d like to think there aren’t that many true crazies in the world, I think there are. My local TV news website is far more toxic than HP and the rightwingers are much more vile. There is a crew of regular extreme right wingers who think Obama is the antiChrist. Some of them are really deranged, boasting about their gun collections and the glorious day when Obama will be eliminated. They generally have control of all the political threads there. The site doesn’t moderate at all except to allow users to flag/delete. Quite often an entire thread will be empty pages because someone has deleted all the comments.

I think that this virtual world of ours brings out the worst in people — like driving. There isn’t really much consequence to acting like an asshole.

Corgi Lover
Guest

The anonymity of the web has allowed people to enjoy their more base sides, ignoring common decency and consideration. How many of those wingers would dare say what they do on a website in public? 2%? Maybe. But we do it to each other and opinions which differ from ours. I first tried blogging back in the ’90s at the Mensa forum and discovered how cruel a few of the posters could be. Being high IQ doesn’s separate you from the same urges as everyone else. Up until last year at HP, I’d stayed away from blogging for over a dozen years because of that.

I won’t jump someones shit for differing opinions, but lies and deliberate ignorance are a whole different thing. And here, where we all can be civil, going ballastic has no real purpose for any of us.

nicole473
Member

“I think that this virtual world of ours brings out the worst in people

HITO
Member
HITO

I agree with all of you.

The anonymity factor can naturally lead to a lack of accountability.

That’s why it is very enjoyable that we know each other which tends to keep us in check.

Corgi Lover
Guest

I would say there are consequences, just not usually for the person being the perpetrator. Just like a reckless driver may cause someone else to have an accident and be oblivious to the harm done, so can a person’s cruel words harm another, and without an immediate, real (not virtual) feedback system, they never know the damage they’ve done, even if they were to care.

Khirad
Member

Had the same experience on local news pages. Especially being in Southern Arizona a little over an hour from the border, the Minutemen-Lou Dobbs-types come out in force – and yes, whole threads have disappeared. But; if you ever want to test yourself with the LCD pulse of America, go and read comments on Yahoo! Buzz. I can not even begin to tell you what I’ve seen there (like the guy with the avatar of President Obama in a gunscope’s crosshairs). I no longer go there. I initially tried working up rational discussions, but the more thoughtful and knowledgeable you are on a subject there, the more thumbs downs you get. It’s pretty much being the nerd in High School all over again. HP is bad, but there I was alone with vile, openly racist, and those who make Rush look like Che. I started to physically feel sick trying to ‘learn’ some ‘Volk’in good faith. Just the way they refer to “muzzies” made my stomach quite literally turn. Racism hasn’t left us, it’s just found a more “socially acceptable” target – and you’ll never guess where they fall on the political spectrum.

escribacat
Member

Remind me never to go there. I just can’t stand it.

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

I’ve noticed the most vicious of the trolls tend to have 20 or less fans..short-timers…and tend to be racial, and horrifically personal.Their invective is
peppered with GOP talking points, and they have a specific agenda…Usually taking on one or 2 bloggers..

Khirad
Member

And quite a few of those are in fact the same people returning.

nicole473
Member

I think you’re probably right.

HITO
Member
HITO

Fes, can we continue the conversation at the top?

Cannot reply to you down below.

Is that allowed?

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Good Morning HITO!
Great to see you…

HITO
Member
HITO

Hey Seek. Good morning. Sorry about the Brown stuff last night. Feel like he goes after you because you and I mess around and I ignore him. He scares me. Thanks for having my back buddy.

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Anytime, HITO.
Anytime..

escribacat
Member

Don’t know the background on that, but I thought it was pretty scary too, Hito. Irrational.

HITO
Member
HITO

Brown/LG, appears to be very young, or very immature. Emotions rule his posts, whether by design or due to personal issues.

I will not engage him again.

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Agreed.
I’m done with him.

nicole473
Member

HITO, I’m out of the loop here I guess.

Is Brown the same person as TheLookingGlass?

escribacat
Member

Yes.

nicole473
Member

I haven’t really noticed him before last night. He is a troll? He seemed friendly with some of the clique libs?

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

He supposedly a lib.However he seems bi-polar, and I’ve seem him attack plenty of libs..including me, last night,out of the blue.

HITO
Member
HITO

Enjoy your “outoftheloopness”.

Wish I was. I will attempt to make that so.

nicole473
Member

@Seek…..I am sorry to hear that. If I see him harassing a lib, I will certainly jump in!!

@HITO….ha ha….always better to know what to expect, IMO. I will certainly defend you if I see him attacking you.

I was using a new id last night (FrightfulVisage), and I was attacked by a few of the women just for my avatar, lol.

Khirad
Member

I’ve seen him making racially insensitive comments before. He seems friendly, and with us – and I’m quite irreverent andd un-PC in my humor, but it still struck me as ‘off’. I’m still not quite sure about that one. Some people aren’t, well, very articulate. I don’t know whether or not to attribute it to that, or if the reason they sound shaky is because they are impersonating a lib.

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

@Nicole473-FrightVisage was you?I was wondering who that was.AnnCoulter,Yeeee!LOL, I Love it…(btw,I just stole your @ usage, It makes it easier to be specific, i hope it’s cool)

nicole473
Member

Yeah, I gotta claim it. LOL. Mrs. Dressup, Sassy (which surprised me), and Naga all had a go at me. Nasty, they were.

Feel free to use MY damn @ symbol freely. 😆

SeeknDestroy
Member
SeeknDestroy

Excellent.
I’m gonna like it here.
Thanks, Nicole473..

HITO
Member
HITO

Up too late…meant to type FM. Crispy critter this morning.

Corgi Lover
Guest

Adlib allows just about everything. Bless his heart.
So, was I on my “best” behavior? Although I did get GringoLingo and Willt started early on. And they were so wrong. And that nasty black duck! Shawn Hanks.

HITO
Member
HITO

You were terrific all day. You’re setting an example for me. Make short, pointed posts on HP and save the rational discussions for here. I remember how hp was back in the day, now it’s a personal attack fest, as evidenced last night. I am to blame as well. I mess around with seek too much when the thread goes personal. He’s the only one I trust not to be staff…and dey.

Don’t know what SH is about…that one confuses me, like LOTM.

Corgi Lover
Guest

I visited there this morning as DevastationManor but the regular crazies were busy. Dovey was being himself. Argh! And dey must have been having a bad morning because she was flagging everyone. She doesn’t need to get banned again.

No, this is the place to be logical and sincere. BTW, did you get e-2?

HITO
Member
HITO

I read it last night late after the meltdown in aisle one.

Had a crazy day yesterday, birthday dinner for my sister and browtherinlaw. Want to put aside some time to reply to you appropriately. It was very thought provoking. I will this afternoon.