I received the following email this morning. I thought it worth sharing:
Hi Richard,
You've commented on your blog about an increase in the number right-wing libertarian commentators who've appeared on your blog as well as other websites recently, namely the Guardian Cif website. It seems the right-wing community is fairly well organised online and a recent story that appeared on AlterNet may explain part of the problem.
According to the article a conservative group, who have become extremely influential online, have been burying stories on Digg.com. Any story that contradicts their point of view is deliberately downvoted and buried giving conservative stories a greater chance of reaching the front page.
Although the article relates to their activity on Digg.com it does give a little insight into how such groups operate using Yahoo and Facebook groups. It is very likely that similar, well organised groups online may have targeted other websites with the intention of debunking and bullying anyone who opposes their views and begin to explain where the flood of right-wing commentators on your blog and various other websites might have originated.
Here's the link to story on AlterNet.
http://blogs.alternet.org/oleoleolson/2010/08/05/massive-censorship-of-digg-uncovered/?red
Regards
I am convinced that this activity does go on — and is probably funded.
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This is absolutely fascinating Richard – if the attacks by right-wing “libertarians” (I’m putting that in inverted commas because if their objective is to eliminate dissent from anyone who doesn’t share their POV then they’re anything BUT libertarian) on your blog are part of the same pattern, it explains a lot.
Like about 10 other right wing comments submitted here this one has been deleted. It failed the moderation policy noted here. http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/comments/. The editor’s decision on this matter is final.
I have only just started reading your Blog but had noticed more recently that many articles on main stream sites that do not favour the right are getting lambasted.
The interesting thing is that they mainly quote fiction as facts, maybe it stems from their religious convictions, if you believe one big lie all the little ones must be OK too.
@Chris
You’re right about the fiction as fact
You have also to repeat it many times – then you really believe it even though it’s wrong
And I say that despite having religious conviction! Actually probably because my religious conviction embraces doubt – which the right’s does not!
As a libertarian, might I ask where one can acquire this funding?
@Rumbold
Me, too, please!
Of course these tactics are rife. One only has to see the co-ordinated swift responses to any figure on the Left – e.g. Polly Toynbee, Will Hutton – often paying no attention to the article in question.
It isn’t just libertarians though, the BNP also do it and some of the spamming during the Israel/Lebanon conflict was highly suspicious.