how to spot shills and trolls

[THETRUTHWILLSETU3]

Trolling
The basic idea behind Usenet trolling is to post a ridiculous message and then sit back and watch as newcomers (and some veterans) try to tear into it. CyberSleuths can use this to draw out information about their targets. Trolling is intended to provoke a response. Each response could potentially lead to additional infromation about a specific target. Following other's trolls can also lead to information. Troll attacks are often organized in coordinated "waves." Stalking and luring techniques can be very useful when dealing with or creating trolls.

TrollFAQ [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase "trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream "trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it. See also YHBT. 2. in the Usenet posting mentioned above. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1; regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that they have no real interest in learning about the topic at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the Net, as in, "Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll." Compare kook. 3. [Berkeley] Computer lab monitor. A popular campus job for CS students. Duties include helping newbies and ensuring that lab policies are followed. Probably so-called because it involves lurking in dark cave-like corners.

Some people claim that the troll (sense 1) is properly a narrower category than flame bait, that a troll is categorized by containing some assertion that is wrong but not overtly controversial. See also Troll-O-Meter.

The use of 'troll' in either sense is a live metaphor that readily produces elaborations and combining forms. For example, one not infrequently sees the warning "Do not feed the troll" as part of a followup to troll postings.

Spotlight on Trolling The Subtle Art of Trolling, Troll: The Jargon Dictionary, What exactly is a troll? How to Avoid Being Trolled, Usenet Troll, Open Letter to Trolls from Trolls United Against Defamation. FAQ -- Dealing with Trolls, and News Trolls.
The Art of Trolling Copy of a post defining Usenet trolls.
Internet Troll Examines the phenomenon and suggests ways to deal with trolls. Try reversing some of that information to perform a better troll.
alt.troll.FAQ Google's cache of the definitive parody and informative FAQ about trolls.

SHILL vs. TROLL

A shill is different from a troll in that a shrill posts messages as a spokesperson or front for some unseen/unknown group or organization, usually taking the other side on the topics being discussed. Shills appear most commonly on 'reviews' and 'readers opinions' scripts, on Usenet, lists and message boards.

There are some techniques for telling whether a contributor is a shill:

Look for other reviews/contributions on the same forum to see how they compare.
Look for other reviews/contributions by the same reviewer.
If there aren't any, look out!
Look for a review/contribution made by a recognized reviewer/contributor.
With respect to bad reviews, look for an obvious agenda.
Contributors who appear out of nowhere and use highly inflammatory or gratuitously insulting language are suspect.
Always check the real meaning of the contribution - between the lines. Try to understand if it could be the competition or someone else with a bone to pick.

[rodin]

And this is 'news'?

[marky 54]

why do i get the feeling this boils down to "if you question NPT your a troll or shill". or am i wrong?

[scar]

[marky 54]

[THETRUTHWILLSETU3]

[telecasterisation]

My own view is that there are no such thing as organised 'trolls'.

There may be a few people who would like to see The Movement fail just because that would be 'fun', but all this shill and troll stuff is the equivalent of monsters under the bed or in the wardrobe, they simply aren't there.

In actuality, a troll is someone who says something you don't simply like and they have to be compartmentalised accordingly, the label being very versatile in usage.

[scar]

[rodin]

[DDD911]

I’ve not bother posting today because I’m not quite sure what the point of this forum is overall , I used to swoon-into the News section see if there was anything being discussed of interest, then its off to the next one ect, when I finally decided to take notice more and thought lets join up and do some good.

Yesterday was spent arguing about NPT bloody beam weapons and the shilling of DRG & SEJ, its just so fantastically stupid that members are spending ages either defending their views, or arguing with other members, its absolutely nuts all of it, especially those that are so fickle they cannot let go with an idea even though its making everyone argue with everyone else, instead of saying I agree to disagree they spend hours arguing their point.

I think for those who have said nothing, and continue to say nothing should look through all the latest posts in this forum, look at who is stirring it all up again and again.

You don’t need paid shills, there is enough self destruction running rampant anyway, rant over sorry

[scar]

You are right DDD911.
The dilemma for some here is: Do you ignore the divisive, trolling posts or do you try and show them for what they are? Same goes for the NPT and beam weapons.
Leave them and perhaps people passing by will think they are representative.
Engage and it looks nuts, 'why are they debating this obvious BS?'.
Its a no win situation and this is part of the motivation for those who continuously start threads like this one. Divide and Conquer.

Its a very small minority that believe NPT and yet it is pushed to the fore everyday by 1 or 2 obsessives. Due to being in the minority and unable to prove 'their' theories to the vast majority they also feel the need to attack other peoples characters. If someone questions them they must be an agent or a troll and this attitude is even seen by an admin here.
What is the remedy? Ignore it all? Leave the site? I often consider it.

Going by the definition of troll posted by 4U2P he fits it so very well. One of the most irritating trolls ive ever come across. Considering how serious the campaign is, its a real shame. I think he would be banned if he werent a good friend of one of the admins.

[John White]

[Patrick Brown]

[Thermate]

[Jack]

[uselesseater]

Yes Pwned indeed.

Can't we put people accused of being Shills on trial? TTWSU3 has basicly hung himself whith this one thanks to Scar. Would any jury of posters on here not find him guilty?

[DDD911]

[THETRUTHWILLSETU3]

[Fallious]