The Master List of Paid Clinton Trolls on DU:

[MineralMan]

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 01:18 PM - Edit history (1)

1.

I can't think of any at all. Like any presidential candidate, she has fans here. So does Bernie. So does O'Malley. Like fans of candidates everywhere, they often visit the candidates' websites and other sites where fans hang out. It's the same thing for sports teams, rock stars, and other celebrities.

On every fan site, memes are as thick as fleas on a homeless dog. So, it's no surprise that uncreative people repeat things they see at one place on another place. For those of us who have more than a dozen friends on Facebook, seeing every viral YouTube video multiple times is a daily thing. People share things. People copy and paste stuff. That's because coming up with their own clever things to post is a challenge.

So, are there paid trolls on DU? There might be, but it's doubtful. DU is not a friendly place for people who just post the same old drivel that is being posted elsewhere. That doesn't stop DUers from posting stuff like that, but DU is not a good audience for typical paid trollery. Paid trolls get very, very little for posting. So little that they don't bother to post anything original.

Like many prolific DU posters, I've had other DUers imply that I am paid to post here. I'm not. My per-word and hourly rate for writing is way, way higher than anyone would be willing to pay, and I don't do that kind of writing anyhow. I make my living writing all of the content for complete small business websites. My typical contract involves writing at least 50 discrete pages, each with between 500-1000 words. I'm not going to disclose my rates for that work.

I also see work occasionally done by so-called content mills. It's lousy writing, of horrible quality, and is worthless to businesses. Writers for such content mills get way less than 0.1 cents per word, so they use tricks like copy and paste and plagiarism to make up their output. Many are in places like Pakistan or Indonesia.

Decent writing costs a lot if you want to pay to have someone write for you. That's why nobody with any sense hires people to troll websites like DU. Yes, there is some poor quality meme copy and pasting done here, but it gets no traction and is barely noticed. Paid trollery simply would not be of any use here. Besides, there are plenty of people who post such stuff without any payment or any prompting.

So, if you're sure that you know some DUers are paid trolls, then I suggest you assemble a list of screen names, find evidence that those DUers are paid to post, and send your list to the admins of this website. Hint: Poorly-written posts that simply repeat common memes about campaigns and candidates are not evidence that the poster is being paid. There are plenty of fans who will copy and paste memes without any encouragement at all.

Lacking such evidence, making posts here about numbers of paid trolls on DU is just silly. Occam's Razor suggests that poorly-written, meme-laden posts are just the work of people who are fans but who do not have the ability or capacity to write original material. Such fans do exist on DU and on every discussion forum and comment page I've ever seen. They're ineffective and boring, and so would not be useful to a candidate and not worthy of any payment at all.

If you see a decently-written post that is in support of some Democratic presidential candidate or in opposition to another one, it's probably written by someone who took the time to sit down and put some words together, honestly and on their own accord. Nobody who pays trolls to post is willing to spend enough to hire real writers. The return on that investment would be too low to make paying for quality writing on Internet forums a worthwhile idea.

[RobertEarl]

1. Wow

You mean they pile the bullshit on us for free?

If they don't get paid and they are really doing this in their free time, I fell sorry for them. What a sad existence it must be.

[MineralMan]

8. Of course they do. They're everywhere.

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 08:54 PM - Edit history (1)

People post because they post. If they can't come up with anything original, they copy and paste something. Most of the content on discussion forums, comment pages, and other venues open to public posting are like that. I used Facebook as an example, but there are thousands of such places, with thousands of people posting useless words on them.

There are also thoughtful, coherent posters posting content that is worth reading or that is at least not drivel. That's we visit such places.

What you consider bullshit, however, is another's truth and wisdom. Disagreement with what someone posts is not evidence that a post is nonsense. Bernie Sanders has supporters and fans. Hillary Clinton has supporters and fans. Martin O'Malley has supporters and fans. In each case some of them are eloquent, while others find it difficult to put words together well.

Just because you disagree with what someone posts doesn't mean that the person was paid to post. Thinking that it does mean that is very poor logical thinking. People post because they have something to say. Maybe it's not inspired and clear, but they have something to say. Maybe you think it's incorrect, or trite, or useless. It's still what someone wanted to say.

Perhaps there are those who disagree with what you post and think your posts are of little value. Think about it.

[RobertEarl]

17. My posts are not high value?

I do have a problem with some posts.

Like those about how we should all continue to support rich elite politicians. See? That's anti-democratic. And we see it on DU day in and day out.

[MineralMan]

19. I did not say that. I said that some

who disagree with you might think that, just as you think that some posts are of no value. I'm sorry I didn't write that clearly enough. I'll try to do better in the future.

If I see posts that I think have no value, I just pass right by. I don't have unlimited time, you see.

[RobertEarl]

21. I know what you mean

I usually just go past your posts. But it's a slow day and the headline about paid Hillary posers caught my eye.

And of course you came back with a personal slam as you always do.

The thing is this is a forum about democracy, and posts telling me I should support rich elite politicians is like telling me I should support the Queen and royalty. I have problems with such idiocy, being I am a real democrat and believer in democracy. YMMV.

[MineralMan]

23. I see. OK.

[RobertEarl]

30. Your mileage does vary?

I say no more rich elite politicians in any office. Vote them out. Hillary is a rich elite politician and has had a hand in the course this country has been on for decades. She is part of the problem. No vote for her.

[MineralMan]

32. Your vote is your own decision.

I have nothing to say about how you vote. Nor do I care very much about it. I do encourage you to go to the polls and vote, though. I think everyone should, whether I agree with them or not.

I'm a huge supporter of GOTV efforts.

[RobertEarl]

35. You don't care how I vote?!?!?!

Well, you can bet I don't vote for republicans and I sure as heck hope you don't vote for republicans ether. Indeed, if one claims they will vote for republicans they will be banned from DU, as they should.

My problem is the people here telling me I should vote for rich elite politicians. No good democrat should accept such, and I am that, so I don't accept it. I fight that bullshit.

[MineralMan]

44. Nope. I leave you to decide.

I don't tell people for whom to vote. I might say who I'll vote for and give some reasons for that, but I don't tell people what they should do.

You vote for whom you prefer. But please vote. The people will decide who the winner is.

[RobertEarl]

47. Don't vote for the same old

Part of GOTV is making sure people don't throw away their chance or better government. Being wise to the corruption of the rich elite politicians it then becomes important that we educate the people we want to vote, to vote so that they don't foolishly cast their vote for some one who is just more of the same: tell you anything to get your vote.

That's why telling people to vote for Bernie is so important.

[MineralMan]

58. I don't do GOTV until the general election.

Then, I encourage people to vote for Democratic candidates, and answer their questions if they have any.

If I did GOTV for primaries, which I used to do, I'd simply encourage voters to go to the polls and vote for their choice of candidates. If they asked my preference, I'd simply say they should go to candidate's websites and use their own judgment.

I don't post on DU for GOTV purposes, except to encourage people to get involved with that mode of activism. Here, I will discuss my choice of candidates in primary elections. I'll give my reasons for my choice, but it's up to each individual to decide for whom to vote.

You believe it's important to encourage people to vote for Bernie Sanders. I feel the same about Hillary Clinton. Others prefer Martin O'Malley. Each DUer will vote as he or she chooses.

[OilemFirchen]

41. Your posts on this thread comport well with the gist of the OP.

More specifically, I don't believe you are paid to post here.

[Hortensis]

49. MinMan, you corporatist running dog you...!

[MineralMan]

53. Hmm...

The very idea!

[Tipperary]

36. He did not slam you at all.

What an odd thing to say.

[RobertEarl]

45. MM and I have history

He knows how to slam someone personally without outright doing so. And so do I. It is an art form I have learned well from him, being as he is quite proficient.

The thing is that I don't cotton to people telling me that support for rich elite politicians is democratic. That's part of the history. Welcome to DU.

[MineralMan]

66. Our history is that we have replied to each other's posts

in some threads. That's it. We sometimes disagree.

[Karma13612]

105. Walter O'Malley ?

I think you meant Martin O'Malley?

[MineralMan]

111. Ah geeze. Martin, if course.

Could be incorrect, but I should have proofread. Thanks.

[ismnotwasm]

40. Please don't feel sorry for me

I live a full existence rich in experience, strong in empathy. I am a happy person and well-loved by husband, children and friends. I support Hillary because she is the best qualified candidate, and a campion for women's rights. I'm political-- probably because, well, humans are a political animal.

You waste your time with pity or even derision. Just support your candidate of choice with all your heart. You too, can be happy.

[RobertEarl]

46. I am happy

What makes me unhappy is others telling me that I should listen to the bullshit about how great Hillary is. She is not. She s a big part of the problem in this country.

My choice is for more democracy, which means more voices. Hillary represents old time worn voices that are just more of the same old bullshit.

[ismnotwasm]

50. Then we shall disagree

I was merely telling you not to waste your pity

[Doctor_J]

114. yes, the two or three part rant from yesterday, which had to take 3-4 hours,

had to have been paid. Nothing else makes sense.

[sufrommich]

2. Lol. I'd like to know too.

I must be missing out on some extra income.

[MineralMan]

25. Posting is its own reward.

Such rewards are far more precious than any filthy lucre. So I believe, anyhow.

[polly7]

28. So it's 'rewarding' posting sometimes filthy things about people whose only

crime is not being one's own candidate? I have no horse in this race, but some of the things I've seen posted here are just plain slime. Why would anyone find that rewarding?

[MineralMan]

31. I wouldn't think so.

That's why I posted this OP. Accusing other DUers of being paid shills seems to me to be in that category.

[polly7]

33. Oh, I absolutely knew on another forum there WERE paid shills.

So nothing surprises me. I assume others have also had the same experience at other places. We all know they are out there. Someone questioning it anywhere is not sliming anyone - the fact that it exists and happens isn't a well kept secret or anything.

[MineralMan]

34. OK. I've seen a few, too.

Usually, they were promoting some product on a forum related to that type of product. Here on DU, such spam is deleted and the spammer PPRed by MIRT almost immediately after their first post.

MIRT does a great job of getting rid of spammers and disruptive trolls before anyone even notices they were here. I enjoyed my time on MIRT. Lots of good people volunteering for it. I recommend volunteering and giving some time to that effort if you can.

[polly7]

37. i DID serve on MIRT.

Unfortunately, one member (who blatantly violated the TOS herself but was curiously allowed to remain) used it to try to get rid of a long-time DU'er hated by a certain camp. I quit. Couldn't stand watching it.

[MineralMan]

68. Yes. I believe we were in MIRT for the same term.

I sort of remember what you're talking about, but it was a minor thing in the work MIRT did during that term. Nothing came of it, since MIRT has nothing to do with long-time members. Waste of time, really.

[polly7]

70. No it wasn't fucking minor.

A long-time member contributing to this site was trying HARD to be banned by someone using MIRT the way it shouldn't have been, who had broken the TOS herself. That member should not even have been being discussed - and the only reason he was is because he wasn't in the 'right' camp.

You sure do toss aside issues you don't find important easily. I can't do that, it bothers me to see good people demonized for nothing.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

115. Really

I missed out on my George Soros check. Now when is Hillary going to pay me?

[Mnpaul]

7. We had a weak attempt

but it didn't amount to much. I sure hope no one is paying for that.

[MineralMan]

11. Weird. Who would have alerted on that?

I don't get it. I'm always honored when Manny replies to any post I make.

Oh, well...

[Scuba]

15. The Hillary camp can be very vindictive.

[MineralMan]

22. I suspect there are people in every camp who alert on posts.

Whether they get posts hidden is simply a matter of what random group happens to get called to serve on a jury.

I'm quite certain the OP of this thread got an alert or two, for that matter. Since it's still here, I guess a jury decided to leave it. I can't see any reason for Manny's post to be hidden, though. It's puzzling, really.

[Android3.14]

71. I suspect the paid HRC shills look for posts on which to alert

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Especially targeting voices who represent the most effective opposition, such as TWM, to her anti-Democratic campaign.

It's all a part of her tactics of suppressing the democratic process.

[MineralMan]

74. I suspect that you are way off base with that.

Posts by Clinton supporters are also heavily alerted on, too. I don't think there are any paid shills here on DU at all. If you know of some, you can create your own list, as I suggested in the OP, and inform the site's admins.

Lots of posts get alerts. Few get hidden. Alerting happens to supporters of all candidates, frankly, and many others, too.

[Android3.14]

88. I dunno, MM. You said you would engage in petty alerting

You announced publicly two or three weeks ago that you were going to alert on posts that supporters of other candidates would never alert. What was it you found worthy of alerting? Ah yes, now I recall. You said you would alert any post that illustrates an opinion that compares Hillary to an historic dictator.

I see far more published jury results showing alerts on Bernie supporters than the results from alerts on the HRC camp. I wonder how many of those came from you.

In the meantime, HRC supporters knowingly lie when they call Bernie sexist and racist.

HRC supporters have a higher probability of behaving with a mean spirit and vindictive attitude, and it is probably a reflection of the character of the candidate you support.

[MineralMan]

89. Indeed I will alert on any post comparing Hillary to Hitler.

I won't be the only one doing so, either.

[Android3.14]

97. My point

As I said, and your response confirms my conclusion, you and others are alerting for unethical reasons. Behaving as the Thought Police is the worst.
</sarcasm>
You are not a paid shill. But what you do for free, others can earn a buck for doing. You can bet dollars to donuts that some of these yahoos are doing exactly that on this board.
There is no need to be obtuse.

[merrily]

108. I don't think we know who is paid and who isn't.

[Android3.14]

113. Granted.

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Barring proof, I'll give most individuals the benefit of the doubt, including the two I'm addressing here. There are two or three that I'd have to see proof they weren't auctioning the social virtues.

[cwydro]

76. If you have proof of paid "shills" on DU,

please contact the member who is offering a reward for such.

I'm betting you have no such proof.

Here ya go: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251775947

[Android3.14]

80. What constitutes proof?

Like the mathematician who observed patterns in the election results indicating there was vote tampering, many critical thinkers observe the behavior of some of our posters and recognize a cash motivation that hides behind a facade.

At least you and MM occasionally engage on the issues.

Given HRC's tactics to suppress the democratic process during these primaries, the corporate slave masters controlling her and her campaign, and the enormous amount of money at stake for the 1%, only a fool thinks the shills have somehow missed this site.

[cwydro]

94. I'm not the one offering the reward.

Feel free to contact that poster to ask what would constitute proof.

You can call me a fool all you want. Silliness.

[Karma13612]

107. who says it's a member of DU?

What's to stop a specific campaign operative from paying people to come on to forums and trash opposing candidates and being generally trollish and obnoxious?

[Katashi_itto]

83. Agree

[polly7]

24. What a pathetic hide. nt.

[MineralMan]

27. I agree, as I said.

Perhaps it was misunderstood by the alerter and jurors. I don't know. I'd have voted to leave it, but couldn't have been called to the jury, since the post was a reply to me.

Personally, I'd just as soon see all replies to me left, so they can be seen by everyone. That's why I never alert on them.

[Hortensis]

54. Me either. I often feel they make their own best rebuttal.

[Ed Suspicious]

69. Completely bullshit hide.

[ejbr]

72. +1 n/t

[kath]

26. They seem to alert on EVERY single post Manny makes. what a bullshit hide.

Yay Camp Weathervane!

[MineralMan]

29. I haven't been able to find a link to the Camp Weathervane

website. If you have it, could you post a link, please?

[Dodo]

84. Here

Camp Weathervane Link

[MineralMan]

86. Oh. I've never been there.

I don't do forums that are homogeneous. That would be incredibly boring.

[Dodo]

87. Oh really? You find HillaryClinton.com boring?

Nice to know that.

[MineralMan]

95. I find all candidates' websites boring.

They are seldom of much value. Candidates for major offices really, really need to hire top professional web designers, SEO specialists, and content providers. They rarely do, though, and use volunteers for much of the work. That's a major mistake, really.

Don't get me started...

[PufPuf23]

92. I dont understand the hide nor the post.

Manny is a DU treasure and very likely is not a paid poster.

[MineralMan]

93. A veritable treasure without price, indeed.

His posts are the lightest point of my day.

[JaneyVee]

4. Wait, you didn't get your check?

[MADem]

5. Yeah, a lot of us are waiting by the mailbox....no joy! nt

[MineralMan]

12. I did get my checks.

The website designers I work with are very reliable with paying invoices. I haven't had a late payment in years.

[leftofcool]

42. I'm still waiting for mine too!

[MineralMan]

9. Lovely. Thanks for taking the time to

kick it anyhow. I appreciate the thought you put into your reply.

[polly7]

39. Wow. So many replies to you get hidden.

That hide was pathetic, too.

What's up with all this?

[MineralMan]

43. I can't say. As I said earlier, I never alert on posts

that are replies to me. Apparently, someone else did, though.

Actually, though, very few replies to me, statistically, get hidden. I post quite frequently here, and rarely see a reply to something I've posted get hidden. I try very hard not to provoke personal attacks. I don't consider someone calling my post a "turd post" to be a personal attack, either. It's a negative comment on my post, not an attack on me. I'd never vote to hide such a thing.

That's not to say that I wouldn't prefer that someone explain why they thought poorly of what I posted. That can lead to a discussion. Simply saying that a post is a "turd post," though doesn't encourage me to start such a discussion, especially when the person who replies says he or she is trashing the thread.

Anyhow, it wasn't my alert. It never is if someone replies to me. The only exception to that is if someone posts personal contact information about me. Those posts I do alert on, since I take such things very seriously.

[polly7]

48. That post was mild compared to hundreds here daily.

It's almost like a certain group is being targeted, wouldn't you say?

[MineralMan]

51. I have no idea, frankly.

I don't have any connection to any other posters on DU. I don't visit DU groups. I don't visit other political discussion forums. I rarely respond to DU Mail sent to me, especially if it is encouraging me to do anything.

I'm a free agent here. I post according to my own ideas. I rarely alert on any posts, but do serve on juries. I rarely vote to hide posts, unless they are clearly a vile personal attack on someone.

So, what you're asking is something I would know nothing about.

As I said for both of the hidden posts here, I did not alert on them and would have voted to leave both of them, were they not replies to me but to someone else. Since they were replies to me, I could not be called to the jury.

I don't do groups. I don't do collective things, except GOTV efforts and routine Democratic Party precinct activities.

[artislife]

59. What is going on with these alerts?

My oh my.


https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQa1VLW2VUPINQpSvPjMF6T3ORCs4QyqZzX8FJkqZySFsLddfyVBQ




We must be careful of the sensitivities by our fellow posters.

[monmouth4]

10. Well written MM and I enjoyed the read. You are so correct in being able to recognize lousy

writing. Thanks for the OP..

[MineralMan]

13. Thank you kindly.

I've never been able to understand why people think that posts with which they disagree must be written for payment. It makes no sense at all. DU is all about opinions. People have opinions, and often disagree with each other. That's why we're all here, really.

[OnyxCollie]

14. Were you paid to post on Free Republic,

or were your 20,000+ posts free?

[MineralMan]

18. I've never been paid to post on any discussion forum.

BTW, I was banned from the site you mention in 2006 for "anti-Freeping." Was it worth my time? No, but I tried.

I have also never been paid for the 77,000+ posts I've made on DU since 2008. I post because I want to post.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Really.

[SunSeeker]

16. K & R

[mcar]

20. K&R

[sheshe2]

38. K&R

Thanks MM~

[Fumesucker]

52. There are some posters who never seem to post anything but slams on one candidate or praise another

It's hard not to get at least a bit skeptical of the motivations of some very frequent and highly biased posters on both sides.

[MineralMan]

56. That's true for all candidates.

It's election season, and people have strong opinions on candidates. I'd be surprised if, on a political discussion forum, people didn't post both positive and negative things about each and every candidate.

No payment is needed for people who have strong opinions. Some are capable of coming up with their own words to create posts for or against any candidates. Others cannot, and simply copy and paste stuff from other places, even major media sources. When they feel very strongly, they sometimes even post content from very poor or untrustworthy sources.

Why would anyone expect things to be different. To attribute such postings to something like being paid to post just seems silly to me. Goodness knows that there are plenty of people out there with very strong opinions. That's more than enough reason for them to post, especially on forums like this one.

As readers, we can look at a post and make our own judgment about the value of any post we see here. If we wish, we can even post our opinion about the value of a post or disagree with it. Frankly, that's the purpose of discussion forums, really.

What makes no sense is to accuse the poster of something disagreeable with being paid to post. No sense at all. Hence my OP.

[Fumesucker]

63. Like you I have spent considerable time posting on conservative websites...

Unlike you I'm not good enough at maintaining a persona to credibly pull off emulating a conservative for more more than a few posts, it's too much like work. I have far more productive things to do that feel like work than posting that way, this is entertainment for me.

I found Discussionist for instance too easy, it was boring because after a couple of months I could say almost anything I wanted and get very few replies.

Even here in GD-P I have tried to at least occasionally post things that will appeal to all supporters of Democratic candidates not just those who support the same candidate I do.

Some posters never seem to do that, it's constant cheer, cheer, cheer or slam, slam, slam.

[MineralMan]

67. I no longer participate on any discussion forums other

than DU. It's not worth the effort to deal with staying on a site where you are always in disagreement. So, I don't do that any more. DU is a place where I can say exactly what I think without any need to moderate my words.

I looked at Discussionist, but decided that it was not worth my time to participate there. I prefer to be able to simply speak my mind without any need to do anything else.

That, of course, means that I may not always think as others here do.

[HassleCat]

55. Emotionally driven

When I see a post full of dubious content, unsupported conclusions, attribution of bad motives, accusations of criminal behavior, etc. I cannot believe money alone could motivate such insanity. Sometimes we run across a murder that's strictly for money, but most killings are crimes of passion. I think that holds true here.

[MineralMan]

61. Yes. People who feel very strongly about something sometimes

use disputable logic or any source available to put their position forward. It's up to the reader to make a judgement.

[whatchamacallit]

57. Nothing wins an argument like another MM bio/resume

[artislife]

60. Oh so true...eom

[MineralMan]

62. Thanks for the encouragement.

All replies are welcome.

[freshwest]

64. Sir, your patience and equal handedness is from a well-balanced life. Enjoy your family this season.

[MineralMan]

65. Thank you. My wife and I will be flying out to California

for Christmas to visit my parents, who are both 91 years old. We're painfully aware than any visit to them could be the last. We're here in Minnesota to help care for my wife's mother, who is 87.

Fortunately, my parents have my two siblings still living in the same town, and my wife's sister, who lives in Florida is coming here to spend Christmas with her mother. So, it's easier this year to make this visit.

Life is good, if complicated.

[davidthegnome]

73. Oh they're here.

I think there are plenty of honest Clinton and Sanders - and some O'Malley supporters here - but the idea that no one is being paid to post on this forum, or others? I think you're giving the internet and our corporate overlords far too much credit. Of course there are paid trolls, on this forum - and on any other that draws a considerable amount of traffic. These elections... millions, even billions of dollars get thrown around.

That being said, I wouldn't be interested in outing any of them. If our minds, our philosophies and beliefs, are so weak, so poorly founded that a clever troll can rip them apart? Then we ought to take them out and re-examine them anyway.

I would agree that the accusations get thrown around way too much though. I wonder if there's any member of this forum who's been here for any length of time - and has never been accused of being a troll, in some way. That would kind of shock me.

[MineralMan]

75. I disagree, for the reasons I gave in the OP.

It would not be cost-effective in any way to pay people to post on DU. There's no need for it, really. Plenty of people post on behalf of candidates here already. Some do it better than others. The best posters here couldn't be bought by any campaign. Those who could be bought aren't that effective as posters anyhow.

There would be no sense in paying people to post on DU. No sense at all. Therefore, I believe that nobody is doing so.

I see claims like that from time to time, but have never seen any evidence that it happens. None.

[JoePhilly]

77. Kick

[MineralMan]

78. Thanks, Joe!

The thread is trending now. But time has just about expired for the front page trending list.

[JoePhilly]

82. My check just came so I thought I'd kick!!!!

[MineralMan]

85. LOL!

Now you can get some MacDonalds for supper. Beats naked Ramen noodles, eh?

[tularetom]

79. I'm not surprised - if they were paid they would be doing a better job of it

Most of their work is decidedly amateurish and some barely reaches that level. If I were paying them I would insist on more content for my dollar.

[MineralMan]

81. That's the thing. People who pay social media posters pay so little

that they can only get the dolts and non-native speakers. I spent some time on a forum for freelance writers, and discovered how low the pay is for such writing. I can't imagine even considering it. Pay for that kind of writing is abysmal, so the people who are paying get nothing for their money. Very stupid.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

90. I would expect this from one of them....

[PufPuf23]

91. The actual full-time paid political troll is probably rare.

However ...

There are probably employers of one slant or another that have employees with a computer and slack time where the employee and employer are perfectly fine about said employee posting specific viewpoints at specific forums.

There are most certainly employees that do research of what people are saying online as part of their job that post.

I most appreciate some of the posters that spend much time at DU typing well composed posts that are enlightening (and agree with me).

There have been posters at DU that post 1000s of posts with almost rote formula and on message. These I ignore.

There is software to manage internet personalities and PR firms and political operatives and the like that might use said software so one would guess that paid trolls exist

One could assume that DU would be a ready target but still rare and not very effective.

[VanillaRhapsody]

96. yeah there are armies of them hanging out here...

Griefing Democratic Underground...

[PufPuf23]

99. What are you rofling over?

I said paid trolls were extremely rare and not very effective especially at DU.

Paid trolls are zero concern in my world.

What concerns me are folks that call themselves D but act Reagan GOP while the official GOP provides comic relief.

[VanillaRhapsody]

100. I am rolfing over this crazy post...

Yeah DU is just loaded with Reagan Democrats....

[mhatrw]

98. So Clinton pays for Facebook likes, but does not have a single paid contributor on DU?

I guess anything is possible.

[VanillaRhapsody]

101. No she doesn't....

Facebook likes are one thing....but Democratic Underground is not even on the radar...

[mhatrw]

116. could be, I have no idea.

budget cuts stink.

outsourcing ftw

[cantbeserious]

102. Naivete Knows No Bounds

eom

[BootinUp]

103. Any DU'er who promote such a line of bullshit are just babies plain and simple

Grow the fuck up.

[merrily]

104. You can't know possibly know who is willing to pay what for what.

"Nobody who pays trolls to post is willing to spend enough to hire real writers."

"Paid trollery would be of no use here " LOL! Where do you get this stuff?

You've pulled that entire OP out of your ear.

[MineralMan]

110. I've been a professional writer since 1974.

I still am. I'm married to a full-time professional writer, too. Do you think we do not know our industry? What do you do for a living?

[merrily]

112. I don't think you know the things you stated as facts in your OP.

You want all kinds of proof about an anonymous post on the internet? Prove the things in your own OP are true. If they are true, you should be able to prove them


I don't care if you['re Jonathan Swift: You have no possible way of knowing the things stated in your OP as fact. Moreover, However, I have professional writers in my family, one of whom has been writing professionally longer than you have; and I know that they don't know everything.

For example, being a professional writer does not give you any special way of discerning that no one would pay people to post on DU. That assertion is suspect on its face, given how many Democrats read this board. The lockstep in which some post is also suspect.

What do you do for a living?

Both irrelevant and none of your business. Either what I post is correct or it's wrong. Same for what you post. Read about your logical fallacy here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority And that is even assuming that being a writer makes one an authority about what everyone is willing to pay every writer to write. I don't think it does. However, whether it does or not, your statements amount to a logical fallacy.

But, since you asked, one of the things I do for a living is knowing when something is fact or not.

[mhatrw]

117. LOL. Your "industry"?

Are people or are not people paid by reputation.com and myriad other PR outlets to monitor and mitigate bad online reviews?

[99Forever]

106. Like they would fucking admit it.

Honest, genuine discourse just isn't in your wheelhouse, is it?

[Kalidurga]

109. I kinda wish there were paid trolls here

They are horrible writers, they have very few critical thinking skills, and they make the candidate they pretend to support look bad. So sure bring on the Hillary trolls, I welcome their hate.

BTW I don't think they exist it has to be an urban legend. How would one even begin to hire people to troll? Where would you fill out a job application? It makes no sense to me. I have seen the cheerleaders though they are kind of fun to watch.

[mhatrw]

118. It happens. I believe there are many people here paid for their efforts.

Most are online corporate PR shills. But, no, it's not as if DU is at the top of their priority list. But it does serve as a sandbox of sorts for them.

But, yes, many just post for the same reason all the other of us do. Because we have opinions and wish to express them.

[Kalidurga]

119. I am not saying that paid trolls absolutely do not exist.

But, I am leaning toward it's urban legend. It's not like people can't put poison in candy on Halloween. But, the incidents are so low that it borders on urban legend status. I think I have heard of two incidents in the last 40 years. Out of millions and millions of pieces of candy the rarity is phenomenal for all the hype. A person would have better odds at winning the lottery. Same with paid trolls out of the millions that use social media maybe one is a paid troll. I say maybe I seriously doubt there is even one in a million.

[mhatrw]

120. It would be nice if you were right. But there is no way to confirm this.

I bet the vast majority of our voting machines are on the up and up as well.

Too bad there is no way to confirm this, either.

[Kalidurga]

122. Absolutely

There is no way to positively prove paid trolls don't exist nor is there any way to prove they actively post on DU or other social media and if they do that it has some kind of positive effect for the people paying them. We need to return to the paper ballot it's a lot easier to verify votes.

[McCamy Taylor]

121. Law of demand and supply. Read the first story in "The King in Yellow."

Way back in the 1890's, Chambers pictured a future in which there would be a profession called "Restorer of Reputations." A vile business in which an anonymous individual would be able to either destroy you or make you a king--depending upon whether or not you paid him--via rumor and innuendo. This, way before television and radio---much less the Internet.

People are so desperate to succeed--in business, in politics (the same thing as business now), in art (you can buy Amazon reviews in bulk), in their social lives (you can buy Facebook likes in bulk)---that it would be a wonder if no one had the bright idea of offering their services as a "Restorer of Reputations". There is such a huge demand for favorable pr, that anyone with half a brain and a basic knowledge of English can offer their services as a so call "paid poster."

What is the target of these paid posters? There is a segment of the population that does not form its own opinions, it follows what it perceives of to be the "trend". So that a certain number of "likes" or "reviews" or "your candidate is a pooh pooh head" can make them (temporarily) embrace a certain opinion. These are the so called "undecided" or "independent" or "apolitical" voters. They are not in the habit of reading DU. If they pay attention to the news at all, they get it from Yahoo.

If the RNC is paying people to post here on DU, we should be delighted. In fact, we should do everything possible to encourage the RNC to pay lots and lots of people to sit around computer terminals trying to start flame wars at DU. We should convince them that the Democratic nomination is NOT sewn up, that they still have a chance to influence this thing in their favor. Because every hour they waste here is one less hour they spend spinning their Big Lies for the people who are truly vulnerable to their propaganda.

[bobbobbins01]

123. I don't know who here is a paid troll

but I do have a mental list of posters who absolutely not worth communicating with. I don't put anyone on ignore but I try not to engage them. That said, I'd be very surprised if there weren't a few people getting paid. And I don't necessarily think its exclusive to one candidate either. If there is a talking point that needs to be spread, having some people on the dole to start banging the drum seems like a pretty smart plan. NDAs would make it pretty hard for anyone to come forward.

[MineralMan]

124. I think most of us have some posters whose posts we just

skip reading. I've never suspected any of them of being paid to post. DU is full of people with opinions they think enough of to spend time writing posts. They think those opinions are valuable enough to spend that time. No candidate needs to spend money to have people writing good things about them. There are always people who will simply do it on their own.

I don't think there are any DU posters who are paid to post here about any candidate - just people with opinions they feel like expressing.