I recently received an email from a fan who was very disgruntled about our trades; the team’s play; our general manager; our sell off of players; our firing of Ron Wilson, etc. etc. The email went on and on but it reminded me in cadence and tenor of complaints I have received before but from a different email address. When I responded with my hunch, the writer of the email said,
Ted's Take
It’s funny you should post this because at the game last Sunday I overheard a guy on the concourse who runs a Caps blog and complaining about some commenter on his blog. He was saying he had enough of the guy and was nuking him.
You know, stuff like this is the main reason why I don’t bother allowing comments on my blog. I of course have been dumped on by other bloggers on numerous occasions because my decision to not allow comments to be posted to my blog. If I did allow comments, I would moderate them like many bloggers do and I fail to see the difference/moral superiority of the bloggers who heavily moderate their comments over those who just don’t want to put up with it.
Though people who really want to comment on my blog are easily able to find my e-mail address and send me their comments that way. So far, I’ve only gotten one person who has been negative (knock on wood) and I almost invited that guy into a conversation to begin with.
But as a friend of mine was saying “It’s your blog, your rules.” He’s right and what is sad is that the only way to really combat trolls is to shut down comments for everybody.
Damn….some people just cannot survive and have a life outside of Mom’s basement. Its sad really.
I think the activity you describe is wrong, and should be exposed as you have tried to do.
But I am curious to your opinion on something similar as well:
I post regularly to a blog on the Caps. Occasionally a thought strikes me as valid, but contrary to my usual thinking either in tone or perspective.
I think a far higher percentage of people than you may realize do this on rare occasion. I am convinced the bloggers themselves may find it hard to resist sometimes.
It’s viewed as truly another voice, and it is represented as such.
Should it be considered just as contemptible if a blogger posts under assumed names on their own site?
Thanks
The motivation for sock-puppeting (what it is called) is to try and make someone think there are more people out there that share an opinion than there really are. The one person posting with 20 aliases, if they can come up with 20 styles, can make it look like there are 20 people who share that opinion.
It’s kinda like elections in Chicago in the 1960′s…
we all admire the efforts of Caphcky.
though they are futile.
that person needs to get a life…i have heard nothing but good things about the recent trades. Anyone still complaining about firing Ron Wilson needs to move on.
Ten years of no playoff wins, multiple last place finishes, years and years of boring and uninspiring hockey, and you’re getting complaints from fans???? How dare they!
Anyone who could possibly have anything to complain about in an impressive example of rebuilding definitely has issues. Great job Ted. This team is on it’s way!
http://www.mvn.com/nhl-capitals
I agree ted. I sometimes look at the caps blogs, just because i’m really excited about the caps this year and how they are progressing. There is so much negativity on some of those posts, it’s becomes disheartening. You obviously can’t ban overly cantankerous posters, however, you learn when looking at these boards, that about 50% of the posts are silly, and that they are posted by those who are never satisfied.
I for one, am very satisfied with the Washington Caps this year. Thanks again for providing great entertainment.
Ted,
It would be nice if you used some of your contacts and resources in the tech-savvy world to expose, and put and end to such folly.
I must admit, you have been a terrific owner. Please accept my congratulations. You have done all possible to get in the playoffs, this year, even though it might seem a bit late; after all, only 18 games are left. Yet, be that as it may, it is just wonderful.
I hope the team and the fans react to and apprciate your committment. Next year may just be the year for me to show my support, also.
That’s actually kinda sad. I hope they find something motivating to do in life aside from that. What a terribly sad existence…I can’t help but feel bad for them.
Trolls and sockpuppets are nothing new on the Net. Fortunately, they’re pretty easy to discern, and once discovered, pretty easy to ignore.
The ultimate cure for trolls and sockpuppets is to ignore them. Stop responding (or respond only to content and not to the deliberate outrageousness), and they’ll find somewhere else on the Net to practice their tomfoolery. -JW
Agreed. One of the reasons I always post using the same name and email address (patting myself on the back). Why is somebody affraid of posting with the same name and email address? Seems kind of cowardly to me. Having conflicting opninions isn’t a crime, and it hasn’t been discouraged (too much) on your blog. He can be a ding dong all he wants, and you can just let us know to look out for him:)
Maybe that e-mailer would like to have a date with Matt Cooke and Donald Brashear in the Sin Bin.
might shut him up.
I agree, there is not time enough in life to correct people in regard to all the things they shouldn’t do (and that they should know that they shouldn’t do). But at the same time, there is a certain etiquette in life, including on the Internet, to keep it a nice place for all, that should be followed.
What a donkey.