Are there paid shills, hired trolls, and web bots on boards.ie?

A Little Pony · 04-11-2017 03:12PM

Yes but I can't say who pays me.

The_Valeyard · 04-11-2017 03:14PM

A Little Pony wrote: »

Yes but I can't say who pays me.

A big horse

johnnyskeleton · 04-11-2017 03:15PM

Biggest lickspittle on boardz wrote: »

So, my question is this-how would boards.ie know if there are paid shills and automated web bot accounts, and what can they do about it?

Mods are assigned a certain number of ordinary posters (or "normals" as we call em) in our local areas which we have to carry out regular checks on. If there are any tell tail signs e.g. lots of vodka bottles and borst wrappers in their bins, we let Mod HQ know and usually the poster is no more trouble.

Oh, youre out of milk by the way.

greencap · 04-11-2017 03:16PM

A Little Pony wrote: »

Yes but I can't say who pays me.

I think your earlier 'the republic is evil and unionist cocks taste best' thread might be a clue.

BillyBobBS · 04-11-2017 03:22PM

It's all Russia fault or something.

server down · 04-11-2017 03:23PM

I hate Putin because he is killing all the bees.

Fred Swanson · 04-11-2017 03:25PM

This post has been deleted.

Mrs OBumble · 04-11-2017 03:28PM

circadian wrote: »

It's the only English speaking country in the EU once the UK leaves.

The Maltese might disagree with you.

circadian · 04-11-2017 03:28PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Wrong. People always forget Malta and Cyprus.

Touche, a fair point that I missed.

The_Valeyard · 04-11-2017 03:31PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The Maltese might disagree with you.

Its fine. They just melt in your mouth.

Arghus · 04-11-2017 05:23PM

circadian wrote: »

Boards is one of the busiest sites in Ireland and it also happens to be a discussion forum. Why do you think Russian propagandists wouldn't be interested in posting here?

Most - if not close to all - the people I know have never heard of Boards. I literally don't know anyone under 25 that uses it.

Prune Tracy · 04-11-2017 06:21PM

I would agree Arghus regarding suspicion of there being Russia shills on Boards but I'd believe it in relation to Israel ones (because of considerable support for Palestine here in Ireland).

Hardline republican or anti abortion or government shills on Irish forums, I don't know - there are probably enough such supporters in Ireland anyway without the need to recruit them. Sometimes people can be so astounded at someone opposing their view that they convince themselves it couldn't be genuine and they're on the take... whereas it might just be a genuine staunch defender of the other view.

A Little Pony · 04-11-2017 06:26PM

Arghus wrote: »

circadian wrote: »

Boards is one of the busiest sites in Ireland and it also happens to be a discussion forum. Why do you think Russian propagandists wouldn't be interested in posting here?

Most - if not close to all - the people I know have never heard of Boards. I literally don't know anyone under 25 that uses it.

Russia this, Russia that, Russia eat my homework, Russia, Russia, Russia. It borders on pathetic. I now see people blaming Russia for Brexit. Some people will never get over the revolutionary year of 2016.

Capt'n Midnight · 04-11-2017 07:26PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The Maltese might disagree with you.

And that's how you make a Maltese Cross.

Donal55 · 04-11-2017 07:34PM

circadian wrote: »

You don't think that the Repeal the 8th debate is going to draw some interest from these propaganda farms?

I fail to see how Ireland doesn't matter. It's the only English speaking country in the EU once the UK leaves. It's an easy target given our close ties with the UK and USA given that many Irish people emigrate there or have family there.

Just look at the extent of these propaganda farms in US social media alone, I'm sure more will come out about UK social media too.

Then I think we won't be surprised to find out about smaller operations in places like the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Poland etc. Ireland is just as important as any other country in the EU. Causing discord amongst it's citizens and increasing hostility against the EU is the game of the day.

Ireland is not as important as any other country in the EU.
Certainly below Germany, France, Spain............

We're probably in the same league as Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia etc

B.A._Baracus · 04-11-2017 07:52PM

That sein fein page is gas!
Blatantly saying it as another user said.

Capt'n Midnight · 04-11-2017 07:54PM

Hitman3000 wrote: »

All news is fake.

To rephrase something that's attributed to various people.

News is something somebody doesn’t want printed; all else is advertising.

Malayalam · 04-11-2017 08:29PM

It is possible to believe in both these theories...
a) that there is a heck of a lot of crap going on in the US/EU
and
b)that Russia/Putin is not our saviour.

I second an earlier reference to Alexander Dugin's Geopolitics book (Circadian mentioned it, i think?). A nasty piece of work is that man (Dugin), he very much has the ear of Putin, and is very popular in alt-right and alternative forums generally, but he is a truly dangerous and subversive element. The use of social forums and divisive identity politics movements in the ''west'' is part of his favoured modus operandi.
People who seek to critique our present western political, economic and societal deficits and failings (as useful and necessary as that may be) should be very wary of the company they keep.

From Foundations of Geoplitics - “The existence of the Russian people as an organic historical community is inconceivable without empire-building, continental creativity. Russians will remain a people only in the framework of the New Empire. This Empire must, in accordance with the logic of geopolitics, strategically and spatially surpass its antecedent (Soviet Union). Therefore, the New Empire has to be Eurasian, continental and a World Empire. The battle for global rule by the Russian people is not finished.”

Edward M · 04-11-2017 08:43PM

Malayalam wrote: »

It is possible to believe in both these theories...
a) that there is a heck of a lot of crap going on in the US/EU
and
b)that Russia/Putin is not our saviour.

I second an earlier reference to Alexander Dugin's Geopolitics book (Circadian mentioned it, i think?). A nasty piece of work is that man (Dugin), he very much has the ear of Putin, and is very popular in alt-right and alternative forums generally, but he is a truly dangerous and subversive element. The use of social forums and divisive identity politics movements in the ''west'' is part of his favoured modus operandi.
People who seek to critique our present western political, economic and societal deficits and failings (as useful and necessary as that may be) should be very wary of the company they keep.

From Foundations of Geoplitics - “The existence of the Russian people as an organic historical community is inconceivable without empire-building, continental creativity. Russians will remain a people only in the framework of the New Empire. This Empire must, in accordance with the logic of geopolitics, strategically and spatially surpass its antecedent (Soviet Union). Therefore, the New Empire has to be Eurasian, continental and a World Empire. The battle for global rule by the Russian people is not finished.”

And if they can influence elections in other countries it aids their cause of course.
The advent of social media has increased the ease with which any person can get their point of view across to an audience and gain support.
Whether paid explicitly for the purpose or not virtually all organisations that exist now have shills or trolls on social media of all kinds, be it Facebook or any other popular site, why should boards be the exception. Without commenting on moderators performances, who knows whether even their ranks haven't been infiltrated?

Malayalam · 04-11-2017 08:51PM

Edward M wrote: »

And if they can influence elections in other countries it aids their cause of course.
The advent of social media has increased the ease with which any person can get their point of view across to an audience and gain support.
Whether paid explicitly for the purpose or not virtually all organisations that exist now have shills or trolls on social media of all kinds, be it Facebook or any other popular site, why should boards be the exception. Without commenting on moderators performances, who knows whether even their ranks haven't been infiltrated?

The influencing of elections runs both ways (all ways in fact). Yes, Russia infiltrates, but so does the US and sometimes blatantly so (I am not sure about EU and other states, it is not something widely investigated).
Being either anti-western and pro-Russian (an amazingly popular stance at the moment, with Putin set up as the knight who will save us from the NWO), or anti-Russian and pro-US (which is considered the ''rational'' stance in the established media) are both limited and limiting view points.

The Rape of Lucretia · 04-11-2017 09:09PM

They make it very hard for the ordinary decent troll to go about their business these days.

mcmoustache · 04-11-2017 09:32PM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

They make it very hard for the ordinary decent troll to go about their business these days.

When I came online nearly 20 years ago, Trolling meant something else. These days, it's just shorthand for being a d*ck. Back in my day, trolling took effort. For that, I tip my hat to you, sir.

McMurphy · 04-11-2017 09:33PM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

They make it very hard for the ordinary decent troll to go about their business these days.

What would you know about trolling TRoL?:pac:

RayM · 04-11-2017 09:40PM

Dunno about anyone else, but whenever I make a post supporting the legalisation of abortion in Ireland, I receive a cheque from George Soros a few days later.

tomwaterford · 04-11-2017 09:41PM

RayM wrote: »

Dunno about anyone else, but whenever I make a post supporting the legalisation of abortion in Ireland, I receive a cheque from George Soros a few days later.

I get wired money almost instantly and the more vowels used get paid extra

server down · 04-11-2017 09:44PM

RayM wrote: »

Dunno about anyone else, but whenever I make a post supporting the legalisation of abortion in Ireland, I receive a cheque from George Soros a few days later.

Missing a trick there.

You can get paid by Soros for supporting abortion and by Putin for both opposing abortion and supporting abortion.

markodaly · 05-11-2017 01:36PM

Wheety wrote: »

The transport Unions have a few accounts on here :rolleyes:

Yes, the <snip> account appears to be somewhat questionable. Would be interested to see the IP address used by said account holder? Do Admins actually check this stuff out?

Zaph · 05-11-2017 06:00PM

markodaly wrote: »

Yes, the <snip> account appears to be somewhat questionable. Would be interested to see the IP address used by said account holder? Do Admins actually check this stuff out?

Yes, if a poster is reported as suspicious we check the account and take appropriate action should the suspicion be confirmed.

Also, please don't name and shame other posters publicly, if you have concerns about a poster then please use the report post button. Thanks.

ToddyDoody · 05-11-2017 06:22PM

I know some forums have users who are simply mouthpieces for a particular political party.

Donald Trump · 07-11-2017 10:33PM

Don't be silly comrades.

Let us all just be good Irish friends and go out for pints of vodka and not get attacked by bears like we always do

Are there paid shills, hired trolls, and web bots on boards.ie?

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