As we get closer to the November elections we will get more and more trolls here

[wasupaloopa]

The Sherrod Brown OP is a very good example. How do we call them out without gettin a message in your inbox saying you will lose your posting privileges if you do?

I really despise trolls

[hlthe2b]

1. Alert the post as soon as you see it, but be sure to use the "right" violation.

I've seen some jury alerts that likely would have resulted in a hide, but for some reason the "violation" chosen was no where near applicable. That is problematic for lots of jurors.

[Hekate]

5. I have struggled over how to define the violation

Had one recently that I told the guy was "crazy talk" because he was all ginned up for civil war. I alerted, but I think his OP and thread are still up. Low post new account -- maybe.

[hlthe2b]

6. yes... I know. Sometimes it is really difficult without the ability to explain the violation.

--especially given the inability to see the entire context (yeah, I know we get SOME) for the post. I know it is probably "fairer" to newbies that we can't see that the alerted poster is a new arrival, but I do think that is relevant.

[Botany]

2. Your deep concern is noted

[marble falls]

3. What are you talking about?

[LAS14]

4. Examples? nt

[hlthe2b]

8. the example being referred to is already gone--posted, alerted, juried, removed.

[LAS14]

11. Can you describe it?

[hlthe2b]

12. see my post 10 below

[liberal N proud]

7. Always have had trolls, 2016 was the worst

I suspect this year could be equally bad.

[The Blue Flower]

9. This one was ID'd immediately--what was the process for getting rid of the poster?

For my own info. Thanks.

[hlthe2b]

10. I alerted under the violation of "attacking Dems". (however that one is worded)

The post was a clear scurilous attack on Sherrod Brown and apparently obvious too to the jury. Once juried, the post was deleted. Whether the deletion of that poster was automatically linked to the jury result or MIRT was also monitoring him, I'm not sure. MIRT does see some of these newbie jury results.

[mcar]

18. MIRT only deals with

Anyone over 100 posts is out of MIRT's purview.

[hlthe2b]

19. Yes. I am aware (MIRT alumna) but I thought I remember that this poster was under 100

I could be wrong though...

[mcar]

22. I didn't see it

Hope you are correct and MIRT can handle it.

[LiberalFighter]

13. Yes we need to understand what and how to alert for them.

[Blue_true]

14. Difficult to fight trolls. They figure out the rules and use them against us.

One will post something both intrue and outlandish and if you go after that poster, you get alerted on. The DU jury measure your post against the rules and you get sanctioned. If people on the jury use their gut and don't sanction you, they can run into problems if challenged. Sort of a no win situation for all except trolls.

[Kentonio]

15. Every time troll paranoia starts..

It inevitably ends up with a witch hunt and people getting alerted on for anything that disagrees with the dominant groupthink. How about we not do that this time, and just alert on posts that are clear rules violations, and not start trying to play super sleuths?

[hlthe2b]

16. Are you saying my alert on a newbie posting that Sherrod Brown is a Trump Lover and we should get

rid of him, is somehow "taking part in a witch hunt/alerting on anything that disagrees with the dominant group think?"

Maybe your point was meant to be generic, but.... I don't want this place overrun like Discussionist or Free Republic, JPR, or by those for whom cyrillic is their primary writing language.

[Kentonio]

23. Nope, as I said alerting on posts that break the rules is what we should all do.

My issue was with the thread subject, and the idea that we should all be trying to track down trolls. It inevitably leads to a hostile and abrasive atmosphere where many good progressive people feel they can't post what they feel for fear of being alerted on.

There's a perfectly good alert system and a hardworking MIRT team. No need for us all to go full on McCarthy.

[BannonsLiver]

20. Yeah its not paranoia

It’s real. And they are here. And sometimes people use the very rationale you just used to hide behind and shit on Dems, or more accurately, promote divisiveness which is the goal of any political bot program.

Or as the old saying goes, is it really paranoia if they are after you?

[Kentonio]

24. Of course trolls are real, but if you turn the place into a paranoid witchhunt arena

Then you're doing their job for them, by ruining it as an interesting and intelligent place to post.

[beachbum bob]

17. if one posts "negative" comments concerning democrats and demcratic policies, that is reportable

and can lead to eventual suspension.... we have seen the past few weeks of "democrats losing the advantage" type bullshit...all fake news being passed on as yesterday's win in fucking Missouri indicates

[Demsrule86]

21. what sherrod brown OP?

[LuckyCharms]

25. Easy. Concern yourself with issues rather than people.

That has prevented me from getting any messages in my inbox which put my posting privileges at risk.

[MFM008]

26. Maggot humpers

Aren't hard to figure out.
He can drop dead and so can they.

[PJMcK]

27. So what?

They're pretty obvious, aren't they?

Just Alert on the post and, as noted above, use the correct violation.

Simple.

[Vinca]

28. Maybe we need a Russian code word.

As soon as someone thinks it's a troll, post the word and let the thread disappear. Is there a Russian word for shit stain?

[sfwriter]

29. I like to place bets...

<20 dumped in fewer than 20 posts
<5 dumped in fewer than five votes, etc.