"A Troll Apologizes"

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

I found this posted on another forum: :evilgrin:

For the last year, I've been posting inflamatory messages under various handles. I'm not proud of what I've done, but I hope to explain my actions so everyone can at least understand it.

When I first joined AOL, I hadn't had that much experience with the internet. I naturally gravitated to the politics forums, since I watch tv to keep myself informed of current events.

I was shocked by all the Republican rhetoric - war is good, civil liberties are bad, people demonizing poor mothers, racist and sexist attacks, and constant ass kissing of the rich and powerful. I am a conservative, but I would post against these people and register my disapproval.

Of course, writing a well reasoned response to rabid propaganda had the expected effect: just more attacks, and lots of insinuations that I was involved in sexual practices that I most certainly am not.

After one particualarly obscene posting from someone CLAIMING to be a Republican, I shot back a witty comeback in which I claimed to be a Republican too, and I took his idea to a ridiculous point that would offend all normal Americans. Reductio ad absurdem, as the French would say. I expected him to call me names again, but I was shocked that he took me seriously, and told me he forwarded my posts to a few Republican friends. I was amused, somewhat frightened, and a bit curious.

Then everything got out of hand. I started posting the most vile, crazy, semi-illiterate crap, and the Republicans and conservatives keep agreeing. I wrote that the ACLU was hell bent on destroying our country because they defend free speech for bad people like the KKK. I said that Bill Clinton personally trained terrorists in Arkansas. I explained that Fox news is really centrist, but all the other large corporations were so hell bent on destroying capitalism that FOX seemed conservative in comparison. And I wrote that one black welfare queen was responsible for 2% of the 1998 federal budget, and posted a link to a long, complicated chart about accounting or something.

Since then, things have gone pretty well. I've got a blog now, I've been a semi-regular guest on a few talk radio shows, and I'm in discussion with Bantam for a book tentatively titled, Why Do You Hate America So Much?

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who responded, and especially those of you who took my writing and reposted it around the internet. I think that was what kept me going, even when someone called me on that welfare link (boy, was that embarrasing!)

And I am truly very sorry for trolling.

I'll be signing copies of some of my most classic posts at Borders Books in Union Square Jan 3, 7:00 PM. See you there!

[fishnfla]

1. too funny

I can see it now, bestseller "My life as a freeper troll" followed by a hollywood blockbuster.
The comedic possibilities are boundless.

[ewagner]

2. This is a joke

right?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. you tell me?

I always thought of Ann Coultir as a TV troll.

[Rainbowreflect]

4. LOL, this explains alot.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. instant riches!

What did that famous person say, no one lost money underestimating the intelligence of the public?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. kick

:kick: