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We call these types of trolls ‘mobys’ at RedState.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  March 30th, 2009 at 11:44 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Andrew Breitbart (H/T RS McCain) has an article up about the unfortunately common habit of elements of the Online Left to, well, lie:

Much of Mr. Obama’s vaunted online strategy involved utilizing “Internet trolls” to invade enemy lines under false names and trying to derail discussion. In the real world, that’s called “vandalism.” But in a political movement that embraces “graffiti” as avant-garde art , that’s business as usual. It relishes the ability to destroy other people’s property in pursuit of electoral victory.

Hugh Hewitt’s popular site shut off its comments section because of the success of these obnoxious invaders. Breitbart.com polices nonpartisan newswire stories for such obviously coordinated attacks. Other right-leaning sites such as Instapundit and National Review Online refuse to allow comments, knowing better than to flirt with the online activist left.

Speaking as a site moderator for a popular conservative website, this is not actually hyperbole. I’m not entirely in agreement with how effective the tactic is – the average practitioner is hampered by both a fundamental lack of empathy for his (it’s usually his) targets, and an overestimation of his IQ by an average of about 20 points* – and I’m not sure that it’s quite that formally organized. A perusal of, say, the average YouTube comments section** indicates that there’s no shortage of people willing to sound like any flavor of lunatic that you’d care for; so it may simply be that the general idea resonates in a certain type of puerile mind. But it does happen; in fact, somebody reading this post right now is doing so with the smug awareness that he’s managed to get away with it without the vaunted (rolling eyes) Moe Lane catching him at it.All that being said, if you want to do counter-programming on this I suggest that a good use of your time would be for you to organize, camp out at Wikipedia, and start hacking away at some of the nonsense that gets insinuated into the narrative there. And keep at it. They have some real obsessive-compulsives over at that site.

Moe Lane

*There’s also the factor that the practice tends to reveal what seems to be a vast insecurity in his beliefs on the part of the faker, but I’m not really qualified to offer even pop psychology answers on the issue.

**Which is probably doing more to make the practice useless than any kind of comment enforcement, frankly. Once people get it in their head that online comments sections aren’t really representative of anything, well…

Crossposted at Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • E Pluribus Unum

    We have a number of commenters who ruthlessly and effectively sniff out mobys, to the point that sometimes innocently misguided people get caught in the current.

  • fishbreath

    …well, they’ll ban you for it.

    Personal agendas at Wikipedia go waaaay further than the rules ever do.

  • azaeroprof

    YT probably has the highest proportion of Obama supporters commenting, and the comments sections are incredibly worthless, looney, poorly written, and brainless (not to mention insulting and profane). Says something, doesn’t it. I have COMPLETELY stopped looking at YT comments, along with nearly-as-looney and nearly-as-Obamabot-filled sites as CNN and MSNBC.

  • Finrod

    Just try to get any reference at all to William Ayres onto Obama’s page. Never mind that Ayres’s page is filled top to bottom with references to Obama.

  • Achance

    on any story that can be even tenuously connected to Gov. Palin. Few of them are Alaskans or exhibit any knowledge at all of Alaska. ‘Course that last trait would include a fair number of Alaskans, too. Since the day she was announced, the ADN has just been mobbed by semi-literate (at best) Lefties from all over the World.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    If they’re abusing the rules, get them on that.

    Mind you, I’m just this blowhard writing on the internet. :)

  • Finrod

    I like to repost this quote of Moby that defined the term every chance I get:

    (On convincing people not to vote for George W. Bush in 2004) “For example, you can go on all the pro-life chat rooms and say you?re an outraged right-wing voter and that you know that George Bush drove an ex-girlfriend to an abortion clinic and paid for her to get an abortion. Then you go to an anti-immigration website chat room and ask, ‘What?s all this about George Bush proposing amnesty for illegal aliens?’”

  • azaeroprof

    I’ve seen your comments about this before and checked it out. The comments on ADN are closer to YouTube-quality than any news site. They are stunningly illiterate and hate-filled! The ONE thing that ClarkKent got right on his diary was that the left must be TERRIFIED of Sarah Palin. I don’t really agree that many Repubs are afraid of her, though. I think there are some, like you, who have reservations, but only the lefties show a total lack of rationality in dealing with the Palin phenomenon.

  • DavidSage

    A “conservative” web site, TheNextRight.com has become so infiltrated with liberal mobys that most of the conservative commentators has simply left. The editors there just seem to not care.

    I think conservatives need to start vandalizing liberal web sites. It’s just too bad most conservatives are busy with their jobs and families to have time to play these games.

  • aardpig
  • aardpig

    Moby!!!!!

  • Susannah

    I’m not sure if it’s organized or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised. As you know, this weekend, my diary that was on the rec list was bombarded by around four different incoherent trolls in a little over a 24 hour period of time (and they were all using the same catch phrase, “Linkage Institutions”–whatever that means). In fact, two of them continued to post there even after my diary was no longer on the rec list (the link to my diary is below). I must say that I found it all to be a wee bit strange. I mean, I’ve never had that many trolls (spouting the exact same nonsense) posting on one of my diaries in that short a period of time.

    http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2009/03/23/why-the-media-coverage-of-the-2008-presidential-election-sucked/

  • Achance

    I would support her for National office and did this last time. I’ve made no secret that my issues with her are about how she came to prominence here and some specific Alaska issues. I don’t think she really has the gravitas to be a National leader, but when the other side puts up an empty suit, she certainly outweighs that.

  • djemi

    If you were one of her advisers that is?

  • Achance

    My differences with her on Alaska issues are pretty much irreconcilable; she isn’t going to change and neither am I, so there’s no reason to start what usually becomes a flamefest here.

  • Finrod

    Vandalism just isn’t cool. What I do is whenever I’m on a site that allows me to flag comments without having to register myself, and I have a bit of free time, I’ll go through and flag every moonbat comment as ‘offensive’ or whatever appropriate option is available.

  • djemi

    But I’m asking about what in your opinion does she have to do to have the seriousness of a National leader?

  • djemi

    vulpix, rkrgldr, vang123, govnpot and govnpot

  • BAW

    They will do things we simply will not. Conservatives, as a group, don’t stoop to the ever lower levels of the people who hate them.

    I’m a member of a discussion board about a particular, single topic which was constantly attacked, as you say by trolls and mobys and was ultimately crashed. The good folks running it got it back up but years of information and discussion were lost. They can’t stop the effort when people are determined but they can make it harder and frustrate some into giving up.

    On the other hand, when they cross the line (which they always do) I’m all for going full throttle after them legally. (How’s the case about Palin’s emails going? Note to self, need to check.)

  • Susannah

    They’re pretty easy to spot aren’t they? They were a real classy bunch, huh? ;-)

  • djemi

    loved the smack downs

  • djemi

    I enjoyed reading your diary so much that I posted a link to it at the912project as soon as I finished reading it. Hope you didn’t mind.

  • RedFox84

    And I know we normally don’t do Q/As but I’ve been here since ’03 (used to use another name until I forgot my password)…

    I missed it… Why DO we call them “mobys”?

  • Brian Hibbert

    Moby (the musician) advocated this behavior.

  • Susannah

    ….and the smackdowns.

    By the way, I’m totally flattered that you posted a link to my diary on the 912 Project. I’ll go look for it. Thanks for the publicity and for the heads up. :-)

  • Jeff Weimer

    We don’t need these “linkage institutions” to see connect us with our government, we have the first amendment! right to petition the government and all that. That the MSM performs part of this function is nice and convenient, but we don’t necessarily need them for it. The press, the “fourth estate” is an entity that freely sprung up to perform that service – there is nothing in the Constitution organizing it like the three primary branches – and it is only mentioned once in the first amendment, only to ensure the government stays away from the press. Of course, that doesn’t mean the press can’t voluntarily cozy up.

  • Susannah

    And, I think that I pointed that out, in so many words, in one of my comments to one of them yesterday. I believe that I said something along the lines that,”It sounded socialist for the MSM to LINK us to our government, and that, instead, they should just objectively REPORT on our government and let us make up our own minds”.

  • daves_not_here

    Really. I thought it was a reference to Herman Melville’s classic novel as a way of keeping things just a little cleaner.

    My bad.

  • peg_c

    I was hurt and didn’t even know what a Moby was exactly. I think the innocent get caught if they are particularly fervent, which we former lefties tend to be. However, we are not misguided.

    Rush calls these types on radio Seminar Callers. He’s pretty good with them but Mark Levin is phenomenal. Really, sometimes it’s like a hockey game or a NASCAR race – you tune in for the bloodletting. :-D

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    If we’re going to be all in-your-face about it. :)

  • Achance
  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    maybe you just are extra patient (long fuse) before going Lib-listic (that’s a cross between Liberal and Ballistic)…

    WARNING: SARCASM — relax folks, JUST JOKING HERE ;-) lol

    I just couldn’t resist playin’ — feel free to slap me now (figuratively or literally) — lol

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    I think it is in BS’ “FAQ” one….

    ————————- RS Help files ————————–
    |   RS Writers Tips (bs)   |    Unofficial FAQ v3 (bs)     |
    ————————————————————————
    |    Welcome Newcomers & Tips/Etiquette (adam c)    |
    ————————————————————————
    |         RS:Help (08)        |    Don’t be Cliche (Caleb)    |
    ————————————————————————
    |    RS:Post Rules (08)   |      NETiquette (jlenard)       |
    ————————————————————————
    |           RS:About           |        CRTLA/acronyms         |
    ————————————————————————
    |  Notes on site “Exceptions to Rules” (Neil Stevens)  |
    ————————————————————————

  • aardpig

    …I sail in a ship of one.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    I meant to differentiate that, and was thinking of a way to pose that, and hit that dreaded ‘Post Comment’ button.

    I remember several others, through no fault of their own, got pretty rough treatment. Uma Richie and John Wayne come to mind, off the top of my head.

  • Uma Richie

    I was hoping that everyone had forgotten about the dead horse.

  • Martin Knight
  • aardpig

    Where have I implied that RedState conservatives think as a single bloc? Or are you hinting at something else?

  • Alitheia
  • Kate_Shanahan

    I linked your diary on Facebook and Myspace. Hope that didn’t cause an influx of disease here. Some of my “friends” have quite a following, and there may be a few too many Obamabos.

  • Susannah

    However, I am so flattered that you would put my diary on your Facebook and Myspace page, that I don’t care. The trolls were worth it then. Thanks so much for the publicity. :-)

  • Kate_Shanahan

    and instructive. Trying to turn an Obamabots head is a challenge, so I try to put things that make sense over there. Collectively, there are 17000 people in the small group, so I’m sure some of them are trolls.

  • bs

    and that’s a shame, as there are some very enlightening essays on TNR, including some by a RS contributor or two. But the trolling on the comment threads there make it utterly impossible to hold a conversation. I think they should just do what The New Ledger has done and disallow comments completely.

  • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

    has actually called me a moby but I think they still look at me funny most of the time. ;-)

  • Susannah

    I appreciate it.

    Whoa, 17,000 people–that’s a lot. Yeah, probably some trolls in a group that large. It’s unavoidable. But again, thanks so much for the publicity.

  • harlan

    It’s about damn time we’re having this conversation.

    While RedState has been one of the best at combating the moby outrage, other important conservative sites have allowed themselves to be cuckolded.

  • fishbreath

    That’s the problem–as far as I’m aware, administrators have responsibility for enforcing the rules. There are two ways to stop them–have a friendly admin who’s willing to start a war in the halls of power, or go to the Arbitration Committee, which has its own problems: read Wikipedia: Arbitration policy as cynically as possible to get some idea. Next read http://www.youhaventlived.com/qblog/2009/QBlog050109A.html–a good place to start on a saga about an (admittedly non-political) article-for-deletion which is nonetheless a great example of uneven application of the rules (due in part to a personal vendetta) and outright fraud.

    On the other hand, I’m all for trying. I think there’s a WikiProject extant whose purpose is to develop a better system, but a quick look did not turn it up.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Or is this a different aardpig who says (with emphasis added) “Kos is a focal point; but all of us are contributing (well, execept for me; I’ve been lurking).”

  • Achance

    will look good on your wall!

  • http://brockwayfamily.spaces.live.com/ Erick Brockway

    Been busy with a lot of reserves stuff. Great smackdown! Late Rec.
    And the article you wrote and labored over so obviously long and hard was one I’ll link to endlessly.

  • Susannah

    I appreciate it. :-)

    Oh, and thank you for your service in the Reserves. My brother was in the Navy (on a submarine) for seven years and he’s currently in the Naval Reserves.

  • Susannah

    I appreciate it. :-)

    Oh, and thank you for your service in the Reserves. My brother was in the Navy (on a submarine) for seven years and he’s currently in the Naval Reserves.

  • aardpig

    …you’ve found one of my few posts to Daily Kos. You must feel very proud of yourself.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Not no more he ain’t.

  • aesthete

    No idea why…

    OK, that was shallow of me. Back on topic: I have noticed that on many sites, there don’t seem to be enough people w/moderating privileges to censor stupid/inappropriate/spammy posts. Thankfully, Redstate does a good job of keeping trolls out, and kicking them out in a humorous way when they do come in. Other sites, unfortunately, aren’t nearly as well-maintained… *shudders*

  • tnjim

    Plus the regular diary posters such as Moe, Susannah, Erick (I know I’m leaving out many other good people}, all provide links to prove the points they are making, and no, not all links go to other RS diaries. There are many outside news articles, talk show hosts’ sites, etc. that are linked to. I’ve enjoyed many of the regular commentors here as well, some of who provide even more backup to the original diary entry. I hope the staff here can continue to keep the Moby’s to a minimum, although they sometimes can provide a laugh. Susannah’s “Linkage Institution” attackers yesterday were an example, but the way she handled it was great.

    Nicely done, as was the diary entry itself. Well researched with links to back up her points that the Moby’s obviously never clicked on.

    Can’t have their little dream world cave in on them now can we?

  • JoeG

    They just tacked on a few more Federal Felony charges. I think he’s going to be doing some time.

  • Susannah

    ….that you would put me into the same category as Erick and Moe.

    That “linkage institutions” thing was hilarious wasn’t it? I had no idea what it meant, so I had my husband Google it. It is actually defined as something that provides a link between the government and the people (see link below).

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_linkage_institution

    Anyway, I could see how liberal trolls would see the MSM as a “linkage institution”. Not to mention, those trolls kept repeating the tired talking point, “We need to know our politicians dirt or scandals” (or something to that effect). However, the question remains, what politician’s “dirt or scandals” do those Obama supporting trolls want the MSM to link them to? Well, they obviously wanted to be linked to everything having to do with Bristol Palin or Levi Johnston–who, ironically, aren’t politicians. But, did they also want the MSM media to “link” them to John Edwards’ sex scandal or Barack Obama’s many scandals (Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Rezko, etc.)? Ah, probably not. Good thing for them, the MSM (particularly the JList) really had no interest in “linking” the people to those scandals either (at least until they had no other choice–and even then, they resisted).

    Oh well, it’s getting late (even for me and I’m an insomniac). Time for bed. Good thing I’m off tomorrow. Oh, and welcome to Redstate. :-)

  • E Pluribus Unum

    I always remember. You did yourself quite well in the face of some pretty crappy treatment.

    Sister, my origins here were similarly inauspicious. That’s a little-known factoid.