Might I remind those commenting here for the first time of this blog I posted in June this year:
Over 80% of all new commentators on this blog of late have turned out to be trolls. They offer comments that are intended to be disruptive, abusive, or both, from behind a veil of secrecy, wasting my time and that of other readers in the process. Even those who try to look reasonable at first are within three comments falling back on ad hominem attacks.
I have always reserved the right to refuse and edit comments received here. I don't use that option as much as I might. But I am getting bored by the trolling. So I will now be adopting a new policy. If I have any reason to doubt the credibility of a commentator when they first post their comment, or within a few thereafter, it will be deleted and will be replaced by this message from me to them, posted on the site:
Thank you for commenting. You have not done so before, or have only done so a few times, and the tone of your comment suggests that you might be trolling. As such please now email me providing evidence that you might be the person you claim to be with evidence of a persistent pattern of posting on other social media such as Facebook or Twitter using the name that you have now used to comment here so that I might decide whether I wish to let you comment on this site. My decision on whether to then accept comments from you will be final. The more information you provide the easier it will be for me to make a positive decision. Any disclosure you make will be voluntary. You do not need to respond if you do not wish to post again.
This will not affect those who are already established commentators or those who I think are genuine in their disagreement.
Over the last few weeks it has again become apparent that people try their hand here, offering comments on issues on which they rapidly make clear they know very little, with their soon very obvious intent of wasting my time becoming clear. A great many are, I suspect, inspired by the work of Tim Worstall, a man so detached from reality that he has written about 4,500 abusive blog posts about me over the last 15 or so years, alongside his work as a fellow of the far-right Adam Smith Institute.
As I note above, I reserve the right to delete all comments from anyone who has not posted before, or who has done so only a few times, if it becomes in any way apparent that trolling is taking place.
I stress that new commentators are welcome if they arrive with good intent.
So too are comments that point out that I have made mistakes, because I do, and am happy to acknowledge it.
Similarly, please feel free to disagree with me: that is the way we learn.
But if I sense time-wasting or trolling, I will be deleting again, pretty ruthlessly. My day jobs are getting very busy right now and much of the management of this blog is done in what is effectively my spare time as a result, and I really do not have that available for time-wasters.
And if I think I have deleted you in error, please feel free to complain using the process noted above.
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Send them the message, Richard, but do not post it or their “names” on the site – it’s exactly the sort of thing they get their kicks from.
Agreed
I am just deleting now
Very fair.
Had to laugh at the point about Worstall – it sounds as if (unintentionally) you have him very riled – which is simultaneously satifying and sad – poor man unable to see the error of his ways/cognitive dissonance switched to max.
Can you imagine writing 300 posts a year about someone you have never met?
Bizarre is too kind a description
I am perversely reassured to get confirmation that Worstofall is as big an a***hole as I suspected.
As a piece of masochism and to check on the opposition I follow CapX where he regularly features.
Another one that is aptly named.
🙂
I follow it too
I think you to be a much kinder soul than me, with such patience and politeness – well done you!!
Thanks
It can be testing at times, I admit
‘Just been to the CAPX website and saw this:
‘Let’s stop pretending that teachers and nurses are paragons of virtue’.
Jesus – the rest looked just as bad. Went to my son’s 6th form parents evening last night and came back convinced the teaching team were doing an excellent job.
The article above said nothing about chronic under-funding of schools, the follow on forced academy-isation and how kids turn up too cold and hungry to learn and the son’s German teachers were saying that they could not hold on to staff.
CAPX ought to be taken down. I won’t be looking again – it reeks of aggravation – the Fascist sort, meant to wind you up and seek out your prejudices. It’s manipulative and toxic.
CapX is a revealing tip of the iceberg that is Tufton Street and its various tentacles. However, like the Mail, Telegraph or Express, it’s not good for the blood pressure.
It has been mildly entertaining to watching their contortions after their wet dream that was the Kami Khazi/Truss budget crashed and burned.
I don’t think Sunak and Hunt are fundamentally any different. Merely fresh lipstick on the Tory pig as it were.
Agreed
Including about the blood pressure
I wonder if they are ‘innocent’ trolls? Are there powerful people who pay for this troll-service to disrupt the truth you tell? I find your ethical energy amazing.
They may well be paid
They run multiple identities and IP addresses. These sad people are very organised
Lots are having a go and are being binned this morning
I suspect that they expend so much energy in attacking you because they are afraid of your growing influence.
Not before time Richard. Being an S.N.P member, I may not entirely agree with everything you say in regard to Scotland, but I believe your views are based on greater knowledge of economics than I will ever have.
Yes it must be a bit of nightmare and very time consuming to monitor, which of course is their intention.
I have noticed on other blogs I follow, (mainly independence minded Scottish ones), whereby there are commentators who are very duplicitous in their opinions, it’s quite clever. They appear positive towards the articles written, but, if you read closely they sneak in some negativity
which by all accounts is exactly what the article is attempting to counter, mainly media lies and propaganda. They are consistent in their appearances in comments, very regular and also appear on other blogs under the same name or very similar names. Maybe it’s just me but I can see right through their tactics and agenda, I sometimes comment to counter their sneaky negativity, (it’s not genuine disaggreement) but it is time consuming.
I hope you can manage to identify the culprits efficiently and not spend too much time and energy on it. All the best and thanks for all you do to help us get an idea of what economics is all about. 🙂
You are right
Having read 160,000 + comments I can often sense then
Lots have been deleted today
There must be quite a risk for the trolls and their backers though?
Looking at the one you named, as a ‘Fellow’ of a purportedly respectable organisation, he hasnt exactly done himself or the Adam Smith Institute much good.
They are not an Institute as the world would think of one….
More a far-right lobbying company
If I’m wrong when I comment, I expect to be told so. Expecting anything else is trolling.
Keep up the good work.