Agent Provocateurs - The Trolls Among Us

[Nyte]

I know we're all smart to the fact that there are forces working against us, but sometimes it helps to articulate these threats.

An agent provocateur is a person assigned to provoke unrest, violence, debate or argument by or within a group while acting as a member of the group but covertly representing the interests of another.

In general, agents provacateur seek to secretly disrupt a group's activities from within the group or inciting those within the group to commit acts that will make them liable to punishment.

People in our ranks who will do and say things that are counter-productive to the Revolution in order to "foster public disdain for the group and provide a pretext for aggression."

The comments made by White Supremacists linking Ron Paul to their organization is perfect example. Today's back stab by Glenn Beck is another.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like some kooky CFR conspiracy nutt, but this tactic is taken right from the playbook: Tension Between Opposites: Reflections on the Practices and Theory of Politics by Paul H. Nitze, of the "spy school" known as the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

Our strength is the LOVE in our R[evol]ution. Our message is true: Liberty, Peace and Prosperity.

 

[Highstreet]

Bump....pay attention people.

I was just about to write to admin about this very issue. But I think a little light on the situation will do just fine.

 

[the_oco]

Agreed, a this board went to a whole lot of nonsense almost immediately after the 16th. Almost as if someone flipped on a 'switch' so to say. I'll be spending less time participating here and continuing my support in the real world

 

[jblosser]

It's also worth noting that seeing provocateurs behind every low poster's stupid questions will destroy us as well. I didn't know 99.9999% of the people in my local campaign grassroots before this all started and I never forget that but I still have to trust them to some extent or we don't get anything done.

I'm not going to turn my back on them, though.

 

[Indy Vidual]

Congressman Ron Paul: Archives (Dr. Ron Paul in his own words and brilliant writings)
`````````

 

[unconsious767]

Weird, I was thinking about this yesterday

 

[Abobo]

Agreed, a this board went to a whole lot of nonsense almost immediately after the 16th. Almost as if someone flipped on a 'switch' so to say. I'll be spending less time participating here and continuing my support in the real world

I noticed that too. Since the 16th I've seen tons of negativity, misinformation, and fear mongering going on.

 

[Nyte]

The trolls here on the forums are the least of our worries, although obviously we need to be aware...

Here's another example:
I would just about bet the farm that before the Primaries, one of our meetup groups will have some kind of rally that turns violent.

What better way to discourage people from showing up to meetups?

 

[Man from La Mancha]

I'm a troll.

Definitely for all other ways to support Ron, including canvasing, but I'm not so limited to do both are you? watch this Brave heart speech by a real person and not a movie character.

watch......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDRA3XFfDr4

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice" Barry Goldwater
Real good clips of Reagan, Goldwater, Kennedy, Booby Kennedy, Malcome X and MLK

at about 3:40 minutes hear MLK give the the Brave Heart speech 40 yr earlier

As so many with faults and maybe being what your ideas of a hero is but 4 of these men died of what they finally believed. And martin was a great Orator so less honor the best in these men for what we believe in and learn of their past but honor their ultimate dreams of freedom.

 

[jd603]

I was just preaching about this earlier. I agree, the enemy is walking among us, so just be cautious before you get sucked into bogus debates and waste your time.

I also may have jumped on a non-troll by accident too, but in my own defense it LOOKED like a troll attempt!

 

[xexkxex]

I'm a troll.

BURN HIM!!!!

 

[Antonius Stone]

just keep your wits about you and be smart.

 

[Birdlady]

I don't think there are as many "agent provocateurs" as some of you are suggesting. So now every person that makes a thread that you disagree with or rattles the mainstream ideals on this forum is now a provocateur?

I do think however that some people get misled or misunderstand something and then a story gets snowballed into something that never had traction. I think the media and certain blogs purposely give false stories traction to divide us. Most of the yelling and screaming I see here is right after RP goes on a large network. Each person takes what they want from an interview and if you happen to not fall into the cookie cutter idea on this board, you get screamed at.

We just need to think before we post and think about the consequences of what we are typing. If you are disagreeing with someone, try to see it from their point of view before calling them a troll or a "agent provocateur".

 

[adpierce]

I don't know that there isn't a single person who has been posting on these forums for at least a few months who hasn't at one time been called a troll. People are so quick to throw out the word troll around here it makes me sick. Sometimes people have genuine concerns or worries about the campaign and they come here to get our opinions... they're not trying to tear down the campaign or sabotage the grassroots... they just want questions answered.

 

[hard@work]

The biggest problems with forums is a lack of understanding between individuals and the psychology behind it. You can only be trolled if you allow yourself to be trolled. Sometimes however there may be in concert actions, which must be identified.

Since we believe in a great deal of freedom here there is very little restriction on discussion. Severely caustic topics or highly inflammatory are confined to the "hot topics" section so that we may continue with forum harmony while continuing the opportunity to discuss openly subjects and situations that while potentially offensive or divisive deserve to continue in the open light.

This does however leave us open to "trolls" or miscreant behavior. But, you should understand that freedom is about personal choice. While we may allow some of this activity to occur in front of you it is ultimately your choice and responsibility to make the decision of paying attention to the content at hand. And how you react or behave towards the content you find disruptive or objectionable is what guides the course of the thread you are in. If one behaves logically and rationally there is little cause of concern. However if one is caught up in negative emotion and responds recklessly ... well let's just say that rationality and passion mix well. Rashness and passion not so well.

If you do believe that there is a statement or situation that should be addressed by the moderation team please notice the little triangle on the top right with the ! symbol. Use this to report to us what you think we should look at. Don't be afraid to use it.

All that said, do not be afraid of trolls. In fact don't be afraid of anyone and especially never discussion. The best thing you can do is keep your head up and stay positive and on the issues. The more you do that the less they can harm us or try to disrupt our community. And, all conspirtorial gobbly gook aside - you betchya they want to find ways to divide us.

Without a doubt.

So! Please go to the following URL for great insight on the myriad personalities here. You will find nearly all our forum friends and family. I have faith that you will understand what we have here once reviewing this extremely detailed and accurate scientific study of the forum personae:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/




@

 

[Nyte]

As I said previously, it's not the forum trolls we should worry ourselves with.

It's the "trolls" joining the meetup groups, or these fringe groups trying to attach themselves to the campaign.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I am led to believe that there will be some trolls coming here, watch out.

 

[Alan84]

The biggest problems with forums is a lack of understanding between individuals and the psychology behind it. You can only be trolled if you allow yourself to be trolled. Sometimes however there may be in concert actions, which must be identified.

Since we believe in a great deal of freedom here there is very little restriction on discussion. Severely caustic topics or highly inflammatory are confined to the "hot topics" section so that we may continue with forum harmony while continuing the opportunity to discuss openly subjects and situations that while potentially offensive or divisive deserve to continue in the open light.

This does however leave us open to "trolls" or miscreant behavior. But, you should understand that freedom is about personal choice. While we may allow some of this activity to occur in front of you it is ultimately your choice and responsibility to make the decision of paying attention to the content at hand. And how you react or behave towards the content you find disruptive or objectionable is what guides the course of the thread you are in. If one behaves logically and rationally there is little cause of concern. However if one is caught up in negative emotion and responds recklessly ... well let's just say that rationality and passion mix well. Rashness and passion not so well.

If you do believe that there is a statement or situation that should be addressed by the moderation team please notice the little triangle on the top right with the ! symbol. Use this to report to us what you think we should look at. Don't be afraid to use it.

All that said, do not be afraid of trolls. In fact don't be afraid of anyone and especially never discussion. The best thing you can do is keep your head up and stay positive and on the issues. The more you do that the less they can harm us or try to disrupt our community. And, all conspirtorial gobbly gook aside - you betchya they want to find ways to divide us.

Without a doubt.

So! Please go to the following URL for great insight on the myriad personalities here. You will find nearly all our forum friends and family. I have faith that you will understand what we have here once reviewing this extremely detailed and accurate scientific study of the forum personae:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/




@

Fantastically stated.

 

[Tedhunter]

This raises an interesting question about free speech. At what point do we stop respecting another person's right to express himself? We may not agree with what "trolls" say, but at what point do we have the right to censor them?

 

[LibertyEagle]

Here's another example:
I would just about bet the farm that before the Primaries, one of our meetup groups will have some kind of rally that turns violent.

What better way to discourage people from showing up to meetups?

Why would you say such a thing?