What To Do With the Trolls

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

I am hoping to avoid a 'Lord of the Flies' scenario, but man, we have been infested by trolls lately.  Like many, I appreciate the cool rival fans that post here (e. g. nittany, buckeye chuck and others) and I also don't think we need to be bubble wrapped to protect against the occasional abrasive/snotty remark.  That said, there are some posters that aren't making this a better place.  They come in two kinds:

1.  The aforementioned over-the-top jerk rivals

2.  The more recent multiple account knucklehead(s).

The solutions for each might not be the same.  I guess I'd vote to nuke the rivals who lack self-control, but for the multiple account type(s), I really don't care what they post but enough of the false-conversation volleys.  No matter how many times they are told how silly they look, they persist.

[Insert pic of Gladiator emperor with his thumb out, but not turned either way....but 3.0]

So my question for the board is this:

Assuming our Mgoblog overlords listen to us (and they generally do, at least when we're rational), what would you like to be done with the trolls?

 

XM

MGoBoard
Other

c_rodge70

September 13th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^

Hi everyone, I'm [brand] new here but have been reading the blog regularly for a few years now.  Didn't go to Michigan (went to Western) but my fam has always been of the Go Blue persuasion.  

I'm sad to see so much of the conversation derailed by the troll/multiple user account thing.  Kind of a bummer.

Want to add my two cents regarding the idea to add a phone number-related security measure to cut down on duplicate usernames.  While that might HELP, it's not a great solution b/c of the existence of google phone numbers, etc.  They're working phone numbers than can text, etc. and are free for anyone to create.  I use one for work purposes.

Anyway, nice to finally chat directly with you guys.  Looking forward to this year and encouraged by what I've seen so far out of Shea.  He's the real deal!  Go blue!

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 4

RedGreene

September 13th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^

Too stupid to change his story.  

Every new account -

I’ve never participated but have been reading for years. 

Then goes on to tell about the age and gender of his kid. 

Finally tells where he’s from.

One thing that’s really obvious and I’m sure timmmay and few others have figured out - he always spells a certain word wrong.  I don’t want him to change it so I won’t say what it is. 

Also obviously - always tries to be the first to respond thinking he will get multiple upvotes.  The crazy thing is it usually works against him. 

Starts at least one thread a day and usually more than one.  Most off topic. 

Joined: 07/02/2009

MGoPoints: -109

Goggles Paisano

September 13th, 2018 at 5:57 PM ^

Seriously man, I laughed out loud at this one.  Your creativity of the username and avatar are pretty good.  My first name starts with a C and my last name is probably Rogers, but they call me Rodge for short.  I'm older and thus credible because I was born or graduated in 1970.  See, this is real trolling.  Funny trolling.  The rest of your accounts, not so funny.  

Joined: 07/30/2011

MGoPoints: 41232

Aspyr

September 13th, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^

I see that you are pushing the phone number authorization with this and one other of your accounts but a couple points.

1) Google numbers are not easy to keep switching out - they are associated with a real phone number.

2) You can get a burner number through other services ( I won't name them ) This is how scammers are able to call you from any location in the United States or Canada.

If we can police the boards by points etc then the authorization won't matter and we will be able to silence all of your burner accounts. For those that don't understand what he is doing - he wants there to be more difficult authorizations because A) He already has many accounts and B) He can claim that the accounts aren't related because ( the difficulty to create ) He tried to use this strategy at the end with MichiganFan1984 because he is using a VPN.

Joined: 06/21/2012

MGoPoints: 2576

Aspyr

September 13th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^

One final post in this thread. Here is the running tally for new and existing troll accounts for MK1984Panther. I'm sure there are more and he will have to use one of his older ones to create posts in the future.

https://mgoblog.com/users/it%27s-always-marcia
https://mgoblog.com/users/dmitryghatzov (09/10/2018)
https://mgoblog.com/users/scared-chicken  (09/12/2018)
https://mgoblog.com/users/jimmyjoeharbaugh (09/12/2018)
https://mgoblog.com/users/smugbastard (09/13/2018)
https://mgoblog.com/users/crodge70 (09/13/2018)

Joined: 06/21/2012

MGoPoints: 2576

jabberwock

September 13th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^

Hasn't "it's always Marcia" been around since April?  (but I guess Sky Panther joined in March so who knows)

The posting history is a bit ass-hat-ish, but it doesn't look that troll-er-y I guess.

I'm all for banning trolls, I just don't see how you decide who unless its "feelings".  

 

 

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

Rabbit21

September 14th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^

That's the issue isn't it?

I don't want to see anyone being banned for posting opinions that are counter to the prevailing narrative.  And I think we all want to maintain that, BUT the WD alternate accounts thing is completely out of control and to me, indicates he needs help.

Given how the mods have acted in the past I am inclined to trust their judgment and, after all, this is Brian's site at the end of the day if he decides it's time to banhammer, then he gets to use the banhammer.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30303

You Only Live Twice

September 13th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^

If the mods don't want to have Timmay, MGrowOld and/or me helping out with the modding, there is a relatively easy fix that would discourage 90% of the trolling.  First, ban every obvious troll account.  Then institute 6 month ban on new accounts posting.  Bolivia prevented new thread creation at the old MGoBlog but not posting.  Not being able to post or create threads immediately will deter most of the garbage while at the same time making it possible for loyal users of the board to have conversations again.   

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

titanfan11

September 13th, 2018 at 6:06 PM ^

I feel like the 5 post per day limit might actually further entice multiple accounts...as in, "hey, if I post 5 times from my 5 accounts, and I can make 25 posts."

I agree with what some other posters have mentioned...I have a tough time identifying who has multiple accounts.  Maybe I do not come here as much as I used, or maybe I don't pay close enough attention to the user names as I scroll through.  

Is there a way to flag accounts (so that everyone could see, not just mods) that would identify suspicious behavior?  That might allow people to easily identify people who may have several accounts, while also avoiding engaging with them.  

Joined: 10/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3255

c_rodge70

September 13th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^

Hey, no need for the language.  

Is there anything practical I can do to convince you guys I'm my own person with a single account that, yes, I created today after reading for years? Facebook acct link?  Linkedin?  You'd see that my username is 1-1 play on my real name.  And that I'm from central MI but moved to California after school.  (Now live in Bay Area in Burlingame, next door to San Mateo, where Brady is from). Everyone had to have a first post at some point, right? 

For the record, this whole witch hunt thing derails every post and is exactly what spurred me to actually create my account today.  

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 4

umich1

September 13th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^

I’m starting to think that there is a reason that Arthur Miller, a Michigan graduate, wrote The Crucible.

Trolls are a problem but this mob mentality is a problem too.  New users getting cyber-bullied in this thread is frankly not a good way to represent the University. And this blog absolutely does represent the University community.  Nobody knows if those new accounts are the same banned user or not.

If you think somebody is a troll, then don’t feed the troll.  It is as simple as that.  Cyber bullying doesn’t make anything better.

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 6398

Blueblood80

September 13th, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^

It’s 2018 with tons of computer coding geniuses roaming the earth. You can’t tell me that someone has not figured out how to identify trolls. I think you could tell after 2 posts.

On the other hand, I have yet to figure out what low level of life you have to be at to get your jollies on trolling mgoblog.  It’s beyond me.

Joined: 11/14/2016

MGoPoints: 3269

kshed

September 13th, 2018 at 10:42 PM ^

Not sure if this is possible on the new site and forgive me f it has already been mentioned but eleven warriors has an up vote and down vote system that hides posts if they get enough downvotes. The boards can moderate themselves. Seems to work pretty well.

I am a “rival fan base” visitor that likes to see how the opposing fan base feels. I won’t disagree that the trolls have gotten a little out of hand and I feel bad seeing a great board lose quality posters and dialogue. Hope you guys can find a solution. Every fan base should be lucky enough to have their home on the internet and I always felt like this was the cultural center of Michigan football. 

Joined: 07/16/2018

MGoPoints: 155