General Discussion

ms liberty

(11,313 posts)

61. Some are genuine newbies, and some are genuine new trolls

Thu Dec 7, 2023, 11:04 AM

Dec 2023

Some may have joined because of the upgrades, which is great. But I think it's a confluence of that and other factors. We're ramping up for another presidential primary, so increasing troll activity is going to happen; it's happened every time so far and I don't see it changing anytime soon. But we also get new members at the same time because of the increased attention to politics; curious minds look for places to be informed and to communicate with like minded people. It's a tightrope sometimes, to figure out if a newbie is speaking sincerely or if they're effing with you. I have a nasty habit of thinking the best of someone until they prove me wrong so I'm liable to give someone the benefit of the doubt more than many of us here, lol.

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shrike3 Niagara Grey BigmanPigman

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Has anyone noticed all the newer DU members lately? [View all] BigmanPigman Dec 2023 OP

Yes, but even more, the number of prolific posters who are no longer around since Oct. 7... hlthe2b Dec 2023 #1

Good point. BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #2

I never considered myself a "prolific poster"... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2023 #30

I am sick...have Covid.My sister in law died from it...she was in a home. I am holding my Demsrule86 Dec 2023 #44

Glad you are able to keep it managed! JudyM Dec 2023 #50

Holy hell! I'm so sorry about your SIL. Please, everyone, if you do not have a pulse oximiter Maru Kitteh Dec 2023 #63

You are not alone. Polly Hennessey Dec 2023 #51

Oh yes, me too. MuseRider Dec 2023 #71

The conflict between Israel and Hamas attracted a number of new users. TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #3

I wonder about those who earnestly came here in search of news & perspective on this war EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #5

compared to the entire rest of the interwebs mopinko Dec 2023 #39

This place is a goldmine compared to most social media AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #86

Likely true of some. There was a group that showed on 10/8-10/10 with +60% of their posts were OP's... CincyDem Dec 2023 #56

That's a good point - MIRT must be working overtime during this fall term FakeNoose Dec 2023 #69

"Ceasefire Now" protesters have said they are specifically targeting the Democratic Party LeftInTX Dec 2023 #90

I didn't think that was even possible.... BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #6

all u need is a distinct email address. mopinko Dec 2023 #37

And a vpn, and a mac scrambler, and.... getagrip_already Dec 2023 #54

we've had persistent trolls that use public computers. mopinko Dec 2023 #57

Some people will also moniss Dec 2023 #20

That's just creepy. Years ago I did get a mild challenge from someone who'd had interactions with "Hecate"... Hekate Dec 2023 #97

Members using multiple user names. CrispyQ Dec 2023 #53

IIRC there have been trolls w/ multiple usernames arguing with themselves to boost their "legitimacy" AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #65

I literally LOLd at that. -nt CrispyQ Dec 2023 #68

Funniest one I ever saw was someone who lost track of their multiple personalities within a thread Hekate Dec 2023 #96

Me too, BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #98

There seem to be trolls and good folks amongst them. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2023 #4

I don't even understand BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #8

Oh it's simple! The frogs are dancing with orange tutus on the roof of the basement. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2023 #9

Some months back I had an extended moniss Dec 2023 #15

Also, some people just have to have the last word. It scratches a sort of "I showed them," itch. -nt CrispyQ Dec 2023 #55

DUs evil stepsister site JPR did shut down revmclaren Dec 2023 #7

You're more skilled at discerning posts BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #10

Its subtle things like greatings, slang terms, etc. revmclaren Dec 2023 #12

There was a repeat intruder who didn't know when to use an apostrophe. nt TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #14

Wow, you're good. BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #16

My mathematical prowess and pattern recognition skills also came in handy. TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #24

FWIW, I think AI would suck at MIRT EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #29

Yesterday someone posted a nonfiction book review written by AI. It was total gibberish. CrispyQ Dec 2023 #64

The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed Wednesdays Dec 2023 #99

I was impressed when you mentioned the writing style as a tell... CincyDem Dec 2023 #52

I'm not on MIRT, but there are several members who have served on the team that are better than I am TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #93

haha - I've been around 11 years and only now starting to understand/appreciate MIRT. CincyDem Dec 2023 #95

That was a brilliant catch AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #45

Never heard moniss Dec 2023 #18

JackPine Radical. A former DUer, now deceased, who started his own site, if I have the details correct. eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #25

My understanding of history may be a bit askew EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #35

No, you are absolutely correct. It was shameful for them to use his name for that mishigas of a website. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #41

Thank you. I sit corrected. As I tried to indicate, I was unsure of the details. eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #48

I see and I do sort moniss Dec 2023 #36

The original JackPineRadical was a good guy who had nothing to do with the site. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #40

JPR was really bad PJMcK Dec 2023 #31

What is claudette Dec 2023 #32

see (corrected) response 25. nt eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #49

One or two simply revived their abandoned accounts here when their JPR home went away. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #38

MIRT knows! NewHendoLib Dec 2023 #47

So all the new users are from a site that shutdown almost a year ago? Voltaire2 Dec 2023 #77

Never said that. But to actually think that revmclaren Dec 2023 #81

I know that I read posts of new members with added scrutiny especially new members Bev54 Dec 2023 #92

Hard not to notice. Cha Dec 2023 #11

yes Skittles Dec 2023 #13

I have noticed. Lunabell Dec 2023 #17

Hello! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #19

Hah! I hadn't thought of that. Welcome! hlthe2b Dec 2023 #21

My poor old eyes Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #23

I find night mode alleviates that problem.. Wounded Bear Dec 2023 #60

Thanks! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #88

Really? getagrip_already Dec 2023 #59

Been here since 2001 from DU 1-4, so yeah. I'm adaptable, but my weary eyes do prefer hlthe2b Dec 2023 #62

A dial like this phone? area51 Dec 2023 #74

I always wanted one of those..... getagrip_already Dec 2023 #79

Ha! The nerve of you... elias7 Dec 2023 #26

Thank you! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #27

Welcome from a fellow lurker! Goddessartist Dec 2023 #42

Lurkers Unite! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #46

I, too, have lurked... ggma Dec 2023 #72

Thank you ggma Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #75

Same! Goddessartist Dec 2023 #82

Welcome welcome ! CincyDem Dec 2023 #70

Thank you. Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #78

Welcome home, Ursus Arctos. Niagara Dec 2023 #89

Thank you so much! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #94

Are they noticed on a particular subject? Basic LA Dec 2023 #22

I'm a newbie myself... Think. Again. Dec 2023 #28

I think your point is valid, but I also think a lot of old posters have been through this before. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #43

Yep, I can see all that happening... Think. Again. Dec 2023 #67

Been visiting DU since the bush years Woodwizard Dec 2023 #33

The problem is people have a hard time discussing contentious issues. Old Crank Dec 2023 #34

I didn't notice. NCIndie Dec 2023 #58

Some are genuine newbies, and some are genuine new trolls ms liberty Dec 2023 #61

I asked DU to cancel my first id due to a loudmouth in my workplace Captain Zero Dec 2023 #66

I miss the tombstone, too! ms liberty Dec 2023 #73

Yes. cilla4progress Dec 2023 #76

It' an army of GQP trolls bucolic_frolic Dec 2023 #80

It's not just from the right AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #87

Consider that during times of great political moment we attract many new members and many new imposters pecosbob Dec 2023 #83

Hoping Not All Of Them Are Trolls Deep State Witch Dec 2023 #84

I'll bet that a lot of them aren't "new" and just reborn again... GuppyGal Dec 2023 #85

I guess I'm the exception here Xavier Breath Dec 2023 #91