Echo chambers of hate in After Hours.

There's a huge problem in After Hours, which has been growing and growing and won't go away. Too many times have threads (primarily anything relating to Muslims) turned into echo chamber of hate by a small minority of posters, that attack any poster that says anything that is outside of their own narrative.

And it is attacking and it is bullying. These posters gang up on one, ruining any form of rational discourse, spouting the same nonsense about left wing, right wing. Typically these are new posters, with less than 1000 posts each.

You say anything that is outside of what they want to hear and they leap on you. This has been a growing problem. In one such thread, I mentioned something a news article said and one such poster asked if I would bet money and when I, obviously, said no, I was told to shut my mouth.

It is always the same posters, constantly, hashing out the same tired arguments and totally poisoning any chance of a rational discussion.

It is an echo chamber of hate and nothing more, with one poster even suggesting gassing as a solution.

It needs to be discussed.

KERSPLAT!

Thanks for the feedback boneyarsebogman, it's something we always welcome.

This is certainly something that we will look into further. I know some threads get out of hand but for the most part the mod team, IMO, seem to do a good job of keeping threads on track and ridding them of the types of posters you outlined.

While they can't get them all and don't always get it right, a lot of effort is put in.

Have you reported any specific posts or posters regarding this? I can follow up on them this evening hopefully

vicwatson

After hours has gone so dull it's not one bit funny. Here's how it goes

Poster makes a post. Good few people leave replies and opinions but by page 5 it's usually 2 posters arguing with each other - everyone else has lost interest once they see the scrap forming, then there is another 10 pages of the two arguing and then ignoring any other poster that tries to get involved. It's gone ridiculous imo

Surreptitious

vicwatson wrote: »

After hours has gone so dull it's not one bit funny. Here's how it goes

Poster makes a post. Good few people leave replies and opinions but by page 5 it's usually 2 posters arguing with each other - everyone else has lost interest once they see the scrap forming, then there is another 10 pages of the two arguing and then ignoring any other poster that tries to get involved. It's gone ridiculous imo

That was basically the thread about the husband going to the pub. I had to unfollow it. I don't think all threads are as bad.

gallag

[Deleted User] wrote: »

There's a huge problem in After Hours, which has been growing and growing and won't go away. Too many times have threads (primarily anything relating to Muslims) turned into echo chamber of hate by a small minority of posters, that attack any poster that says anything that is outside of their own narrative.

And it is attacking and it is bullying. These posters gang up on one, ruining any form of rational discourse, spouting the same nonsense about left wing, right wing. Typically these are new posters, with less than 1000 posts each.

You say anything that is outside of what they want to hear and they leap on you. This has been a growing problem. In one such thread, I mentioned something a news article said and one such poster asked if I would bet money and when I, obviously, said no, I was told to shut my mouth.

It is always the same posters, constantly, hashing out the same tired arguments and totally poisoning any chance of a rational discussion.

It is an echo chamber of hate and nothing more, with one poster even suggesting gassing as a solution.

It needs to be discussed.

Your the other side of the horse shoe my friend, your the guy that rails against speculation but will always find and post the most obscure tweets very early on showing how whatever the attack de jour is how it absolutely definitely had nothing to do with islam! Of course you are usually wrong then double down on the "every body who points out the long running theme of these attacks is a racist" nonsense. Your the excuse maker, the Europe's never been safer guy, the one who is guaranteed to be there to play things down and use whataboutery every time. Now you are running out of arguments and the attacks are becoming more frequent you are trying to shut down the debate! Classic.

gallag

gallag wrote: »

Your the other side of the horse shoe my friend, your the guy that rails against speculation but will always find and post the most obscure tweets very early on showing how whatever the attack de jour is how it absolutely definitely had nothing to do with islam! Of course you are usually wrong then double down on the "every body who points out the long running theme of these attacks is a racist" nonsense. Your the excuse maker, the Europe's never been safer guy, the one who is guaranteed to be there to play things down and use whataboutery every time. Now you are running out of arguments and the attacks are becoming more frequent you are trying to shut down the debate! Classic.

You're effectively proving my point right now... you do realize that, right?

Harry Palmr

Hope the pereptrators plus all their friends and associates are hunted down and killed.

As I posted last night

When did threads of this nature become a flame to the right wing moths? A few years ago this was happening but newly/recent registered posters were not a strong feature of them, now they make up the majority who only post on threads of this nature or related matters. It feels like boards is being taken over by the right.

There is no question that AH is now by accident or design (probably the former)
little more than a rent-a-rant for people who view every issue through a red mist of bias and hate.

B_Wayne

Concur on this, would also like to say it would be great if "no speculation" was enforced in general. Eg Backslapping on it being Muslims being responsible as a situation develops. It's somewhat disgusting to watch. Some posters seem delighted to use it as verification for their bigotry.

Then in the case of Dortmund attack, users were reduced to conspiracies about the Germans covering up attack when it was truly Muslims.

The language in general seems more like hate speech in the case of certain users.

The Backwards Man

It's not an AH problem, it's just a societal problem in general. A minority of people with extremist views have avenues to project their hate and bile that they never had before, making it near impossible for decent discussion of the issues. Not that these type of posters have any particular interest in the issues to start with, it's just an outlet for them, if it wasn't Islam it would be something else.

What you can do about it though, I haven't a clue.

conditioned games

I don't get the obsession by some trying to cover up the more and more frequent attacks happening in Europe in the name of Islam. Using left wing media outlets that deny attacks are happening like those in Sweden, are a shameful act by some to try distract and cover up the new norm we face. Instead of calling people who speak about this new reality as haters why don't you stop trying to cover it up with insults of others and discuss how we can protect western society against this threat.

Dublin Pintman

Mods, people are saying things I don't like and disagreeing with me! Do something!

Boards shouldn't be a safe space for anyone, left or right. Argue you're point or unfollow the thread. No one is forcing you to read or comment.

And are you actually surprised that people are angry about Islamic extremism and violence?

The_Valeyard

Harry Palmr wrote: »

As I posted last night



There is no question that AH is now by accident or design (probably the former)
little more than a rent-a-rant for people who view every issue through a red mist of bias and hate.

Been like that a long time now.

Usually it's either

1) Catholics
2) Muslims
3) Social welfare
4)Public Sector
5) Abortion


Seems to rotate the wheel of hate. What will it land on next week?

The_Valeyard

Dublin Pintman wrote: »

Mods, people are saying things I don't like and disagreeing with me! Do something!

Boards shouldn't be a safe space for anyone, left or right. Argue you're point or unfollow the thread. No one is forcing you to read or comment.

And are you actually surprised that people are angry about Islamic extremism and violence?

Safe spaces are a bad idea and these Americanisms should not be tolerated in Ireland.

Will I Am Not

Terror attack - Thread appears in AH - People hate on Islam - Others say it has nothing to do with Islam - Bigotry from one side - Dumb comparisons about IRA and banning cars because they kill more people from the other.

It's not an echo chamber at all. There's 2 sides in every thread and neither is worse than the other... and you OP are always there fighting the good cause for yours.

It's a fairly simple solution to this problem of yours. Don't subscribe to the thread, don't get involved. What you don't read will in no way affect you.
It's so simple.

Surreptitious

What bothers me is people saying 'everyone has a degree', 'degrees are useless'. No everyone doesn't have a degree. Out of six of my immediate family I'm the only one to be third level educated. No degrees are not useless. How would we have teachers, engineers, and all the rest without them? It's complete cynicism and unfair on people who work hard to better themselves.

The_Valeyard

The Fake Sheikh wrote: »

Terror attack - Thread appears in AH - People hate on Islam - Others say it has nothing to do with Islam - Bigotry from one side - Dumb comparisons about IRA and banning cars because they kill more people from the other.

It's not an echo chamber at all. There's 2 sides in every thread and neither is worse than the other... and you OP are always there fighting the good cause for yours.

It's a fairly simple solution to this problem of yours. Don't subscribe to the thread, don't get involved. What you don't read will in no way affect you.
It's so simple.

Then that probably would create an echo chamber

listermint

These people are everywhere, I've seen what could be construed as normal people posting absolute nonsense links from the likes of RT . This stuff is prevalent intense and is part of russias war to destabilise the west.

It's continuous and unended , intentional. The Russians feed this stuff to a very specific target market and these people shovel it into their mouths and spew it out everywhere they can.

Money power influence destruction


It's forums like this and every social media outlet you can think of that is the battle field.

You think that's being overly dramatic.its not

Will I Am Not

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Then that probably would create an echo chamber

I'm specifically referring to the OP here. It is obviously pissing him off but he inexplicable arrives in the next terrorist related thread to go through the same motions again.

listermint

The Fake Sheikh wrote: »

I'm specifically referring to the OP here. It is obviously pissing him off but he inexplicable arrives in the next terrorist related thread to go through the same motions again.

Possibly attempting to not let the mindless cogs take over.

Dublin Pintman

listermint wrote: »

Possibly attempting to not let the mindless cogs take over.

So he makes his point and in turn other makes their points. Isn't that how a forum works? You can't cry just because you find yourself out numbered sometimes by the 'other side'.

Will I Am Not

listermint wrote: »

Possibly attempting to not let the mindless cogs take over.

And the "mindless cogs" would probably say the same thing about the "PC/liberal brigade".

People just don't seem to get it. Both sides are as bad as each other in absolutely everything that's come out of Trump/Brexit/Islamist extremism etc.

kneemos

I just think the whole place is full of crazy people. Honestly they'd argue about what day it is,never mind a terrorist attack.

Surreptitious

kneemos wrote: »

I just think the whole place is full of crazy people. Honestly they'd argue about what day it is,never mind a terrorist attack.

This is true.

Gavinz

kneemos wrote: »

I just think the whole place is full of crazy people. Honestly they'd argue about what day it is,never mind a terrorist attack.

I remember reading a thread in which posters said they were posting here from institutions.

Immediate though was "I'm not surprised."

listermint

The Fake Sheikh wrote: »

And the "mindless cogs" would probably say the same thing about the "PC/liberal brigade".

People just don't seem to get it. Both sides are as bad as each other in absolutely everything that's come out of Trump/Brexit/Islamist extremism etc.

I think you confused mindless cogs with a "side"

Will I Am Not

listermint wrote: »

I think you confused mindless cogs with a "side"

You made it sound that way...

Harry Palmr

The Red Web is an examination of a real phenomenon, the guardian did a Q and A with the authors after they had become infested with same after the annex of Crimea.

There is no doubt troll/bot factories do exist.

The_Valeyard

We need more funny threads in AH


I suggest we sacrifice a Mod each month to appease the Gods to give us humorous threads.

Barry Badrinath

"I think my gay cat is fraudulently claming benefits aaaand im pretty sure he's Muslim".

Surreptitious

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

"I think my gay cat is fraudulently claming benefits aaaand im pretty sure he's Muslim".

I think he's a transgender single mother who has been on TV shows looking for a free gaff.

The_Valeyard

Surreptitious wrote: »

I think he's a transgender single mother who has been on TV shows looking for a free gaff.

Who identifies as a Dolphin.