Dear Mods: We Have a Troll Infestation

Submitted by FauxMo on

Normally, I never see flat-out trolls allowed to stick around on the board. There are borderline cases here and there, sure, but today we have a couple of guys on the board today just devoted to trolling and nothing else. What gives? 

MODS: Thank you. I am glad Tampa is back to being a serial killer, and Paul Finebaum retured to Tuscaloosa... 

Abram

December 19th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^

I've heard this complaint before. I don't mind a well thought out argument on any subject, negative or positive, but the negative ones are virtually never reasonable. People's "critiques" claim to identify the causes of problems, but they have no concept of evidence and no data, i.e. amateurs with no background expertise about what's likely or probable in a given situation, and no first hand knowledge either. It just amounts to bitching about outcomes.  

mGrowOld

December 18th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

I think the newbie trolls are actually one of the long-time users trying to force the MGoOverLords to change the policy on creating screen names.   If there are enough garbage accounts in play (and right now there are a TON active on the board) then maybe they'll do something abou it.

Trying to find an explanation for what's going on.  That's the best I've got......

Tampa

December 18th, 2017 at 4:33 PM ^

Or maybe people are just sick of People like you taking thhings way to seriously. Ill tell u whats going on. People have been Banned because of bullying by people like you so they are revolting. If i start a new account and post about football someone will say "who were you before" and continue with more
Shit like that. Thats what clouds the blog. Look at the people who
Have been banned in the past 6 weeks who had more than 100 points. None of them
Clouded blog by accusing people of shit. This blog has become a witchunt by insecure nerds.

TIMMMAAY

December 18th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^

I'd rather not be the one who drops the name, but I'm pretty certain that at least a few of these are one person who is pretty well known around here. Hasn't Benn posting much lately though, he's been very busy from what I've heard. 

Hail-Storm

December 18th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^

Hopefully Brian can look up the IP and just ban the IP.  If it's a usual poster, that may be a pretty large blow to not be able to even lurk here. That seems like a lot of effort if it's just one guy making a bunch of accounts.  Also, the targets seem random as some of the fake accounts aren't posters that I see every day.  It is targets of some guys that seem more like casual posters.   

The Harbaughnger

December 18th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^

There's no better way to deal with this crap than to simply turn the lights on and let the cockroaches be ID'd.

I get it- lots of normal human reasons to prefer avoiding that, but seriously...of all the places we should be able to just call it out plainly, seems like a blog, on the internet, where people use usernames, to talk about sports?....Yep, that's THE place.

I'd out them in a heartbeat.

Blue Durham

December 18th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^

I think much of the new troll activity is from 1 user with an account that has 100,000 points but has a personal vendetta against several other users. He uses his many alternate accounts to carry out his vendetta and now trolls the blog as the mods have failed to ban his nemeses.

Not only do I think there has to be a fee to open a new account, but I don't think the blog can grandfather accounts as there are users that have already have many accounts that would be grandfathered, defeating the purpose.

SilencedByTheMan

December 18th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^

I think y'all give that dude too much credit. that would mean he has absolutely no life what so ever. I'm not a fan of his either, but that would be psychopathic level to go to that extent. to me, he just seemed like someone who never really fit in anywhere and tried way to hard to be one of the cool kids. I mean, we're all fucked up somehow, so who am I to judge? I do believe some folks on here have multiple accounts, but who cares? if a newbie posts a comment or thread, what's it matter, really? then 10 people accuse them of some trolling and get negged to hell. I mean, let's just enjoy bowl prep and signing day.

Blue Durham

December 18th, 2017 at 8:47 PM ^

assuming that you are not one of the many accounts of the person we are discussing. If I'm wrong and you are, then your sentence "I'm not a fan either... psychopathic level..." yeah, you have a serious problem.

The problem is he has both been caught several times in the past years posting under multiple user names. He also admitted in a thread today of having other user names. Yeah, all fine and good, right? What difference does it make?

The problem is 2-fold:

1. He has used the other dummy accounts to both support his original account both with comments and attacks of his critics, anonymously. He has also used these other dummy user accounts to call for the banning of his critics. Sorry but that is chicken-shit.

2. He has devolved into using these dummy accounts into trolling the community at large with pretty questionable objectives that do nothing to better the blog. Contrary, these accounts only detract from the thing he seems to profess he cares so much about. Show me 1 of his other alternate accounts that actually, as a whole, makes the blog better. There isn't one.

Ultimately, the problem with the alternate/dummy accounts is that they are not genuine and are contrary to truth and building a community. This blog (or any other reputable one) is built on a reputation of trustworthiness, accountability and truth. Someone that needs to post on multiple accounts is dealing in none of these. The multiple account thing does matter and is a problem.

The guy in question played a big role in both this blog as well as the AD by forwarding an e-mail to Brian. Rightfully, that got him a lot of accolades here.

Pardon my language, but all he did was he forward a fucking e-mail - he didn't face Achilles outside the walls of Troy. The leeway that he seems to have gotten from this proprietor/mods seem to act as the latter rather than the former.

Brian took all of the risk - it was HIS name, credibility and livelihood on the line. Not the guy who forwarded the e-mail.

Bando Calrissian

December 18th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^

And he continually uses a photograph of a donation letter from the Athletic Department as if it's teflon from any criticism of his actions, when not trying to act like him receiving that letter makes him a better/truer fan than the person he's deploying it against.

If these accounts are truly his, well, that's a new low.

Blue Durham

December 18th, 2017 at 9:26 PM ^

the donation letter photograph. Without getting into specifics, given things he has posted about himself, I find this... unexpected.

I don't post a lot but the multiple accounts thing has been going on for a long time, has been pretty much nailed down on 2 occasions by different people, and pretty strongly suspected on a number of other occasions, including today.

I don't wish him ill; he has great enthusiasm for the program and the university, but I wish he didn't take some things (MGoPoints, posters with contrary opinions, etc.) seriously. Nothing here is really worth getting worked up about.

200_Years

December 19th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

I think this person gets confused too that rooting for Michigan isn't exaclty like rooting for the Lions or Red Wings... Michigan is a place where we go and bust our asses and earn something which will set us up for the rest of our lives. 

Well, at least I did.  I didn't come from any kind of privilege or anything. I worked three jobs and put myself through school.  Sometimes the social life suffered and I didn't sleep for 5 years.

It's cool to be a fan.  You can be a fan even if you didn't go to school there.  But don't insult the people who have accomplished something more than mailing in a check.

Honey Badger

December 18th, 2017 at 4:22 PM ^

I am not able to view this site on mobile anymore.  Ads pop up on my iphone within seconds.  I am not sure why this started to happen or how to stop it.  More concerned about this than a couple of trolls.

ToledoWolverine

December 18th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^

I’m gonna leave another message for the MGo1stAmendmentProtector. You guys are Fucked..... make it rain Matt Mann, sue these trolls and anti trolls and anti anti trolls. Bring back the real MGoBlog, you’re our only hope.

LSAClassOf2000

December 18th, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^

OK, I took out Tampa and PAUL FINEBAUM IS A YOU-KNOW-WHAT....

Am I missing anyone else? Wait, don't answer that. I am sure I am.

JFC, what did the rest of us do to warrant this behavior?