So about these Government Paid Trolls discrediting Positive Blogs.

[DrTesla]

I just read through this interesting article from Hopegirl's blog, about getting out to public awareness that the US government is paying people to post negative, intimidating comments across the blogospheres, youtube videos, etc.

The good news is Blog Founders get to ban whomever they desire with their moderators with a stroke of power.

The bad news is the government has more resources, tools, printing machine for money, and outsourced man power bought with money then any blogger could ever have.

Here is the link, and for a gathering of mustachian opinions, tell us what you think below!

http://hopegirl2012.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/public-awareness-announcement-we-now-have-the-evidence-of-paid-government-trolls-targeting-the-online-reputation-of-bloggers-radio-show-hosts-and-other-positive-change-agents/

[matchewed]

I sincerely doubt that the US government is using a unit of the British GCHQ to discredit youtube videos. Now if you said that the US government (NSA) and the British government (JTRIG) are using similar tools to discredit individual members and broadly all members of various "hacktivist" in a form of cyberwarfare... well duh. :)

The internet being its own sort of unique environment it has it's own challenges with the various power struggles that occur on it. Do bystanders get dragged in sometimes? Probably. Is the US government targeting positive blogs? Probably not. :)

[Russ]

the US government is paying people to post negative, intimidating comments across the blogospheres, youtube videos, etc.

I do this when I'm bored at work sometimes too

[arebelspy]

the US government is paying people to post negative, intimidating comments across the blogospheres, youtube videos, etc.

I do this when I'm bored at work sometimes too

Sounds like you need to apply with the U.S. Government for a side-gig.  You could be collecting two paychecks at once!

Oh, and as to the OP, my tinfoil hat is being used on takeout leftovers right now, so I'll take a pass on this one*.

*Not that shills, astroturfing, etc. doesn't exist (we mods see it here on the MMM forum not infrequently), plenty of companies use them, but the level to which that blog post takes it.. Certifiable.

[GuitarStv]

Most interesting/thought provoking part of that blog was right here:


'Cyber' isn't a part of power point's dictionary???

[matchewed]

Hmm... it's part of mine. Maybe they were using Open Office? ;)

[the fixer]

"cyber" isn't a word and its usage annoyed me to no end when I was in government contracting.

[warfreak2]

"cyber" isn't a word and its usage annoyed me to no end when I was in government contracting.

Sorry, it's a word. The fact that you understand what it means is sort of a giveaway.

[Russ]

"cyber" isn't a word and its usage annoyed me to no end when I was in government contracting.

it's in the only dictionary I use
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cyber

[matchewed]

"cyber" isn't a word and its usage annoyed me to no end when I was in government contracting.

it's in the only dictionary I use
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cyber

So is poopsterbate. :D

[Jamesqf]

"cyber" isn't a word and its usage annoyed me to no end when I was in government contracting.

it's in the only dictionary I use
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cyber

And in a number of more widely respected dictionaries, starting with the OED: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/cyber

As for the original topic, where can I sign up as one of these paid commenters?  I mean, since I generally disagree with the goals of these "positive change agents", I've been doing the occasional bit for free anyway, so getting paid would make a nice side gig :-)

I think, though, that this 'Hopegirl' and others of similar beliefs have really failed to internalize the fact that the government doesn't need to pay people to do this sort of thing, because there are already so many who disagree for free.

[Nords]

Most interesting/thought provoking part of that blog was right here:

Well, hey, that slide has the proper classification markings and it's being shared with allies, so it must be true.

Where do I sign up?

[DoubleDown]

Here's what I think: I think DrTesla = FreeYourChains = FreeYourChains2. I was 98% certain before this post and came close to voicing that opinion, but now I'm 99.9% certain.

[Nords]

Here's what I think: I think DrTesla = FreeYourChains = FreeYourChains2. I was 98% certain before this post and came close to voicing that opinion, but now I'm 99.9% certain.

The moderator software might be able to compare IP addresses between the posters' accounts.