Same person?

[Anonymous]

I’m home with an injury and have spent more time on this site in single stretches than I usually do. I notice that there are crazily harsh argumentative posts, that are pretty similar, in many threads posted around the same period of time, and that this happens frequently. I’ve always assumed there were many annoying, off-kilter, hateful people on this site. Now I’m wondering if it’s actually very, very few people, who just post like crazy now and then. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

What are some examples?

[Anonymous]

That is all social media nowadays. A few shouters hijack the entire discussion and before you know it, you've elected a numpty.

[Anonymous]

I agree with this. This site has a bad rep as full of crazies and mean people. Really, about 80-90% of all posts and responses are pretty reasonable. But it’s the crazy ones that stick out/everyone remembers and who get a LOT of engagement, so being mean/crazy ends up being quoted and then promoted a lot, even if it’s a small percentage. I also think there’s a fair amount of trolling and “sock puppeting” going on. Some posts are so obviously engineered to get a strong reaction, I wish people would just ignore and NOT respond or quote them.

This applies to anonymous social media in general. Most people really are reasonable but it’s the loudest and most obnoxious who take over a platform.

[Anonymous]

I’ve noticed this as well. They use the same phrases and often jump in loaded for bear, but their level of anger is unjustified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this as well. They use the same phrases and often jump in loaded for bear, but their level of anger is unjustified.

OP here-this is a great way to describe what I noticed. A level of anger that doesn’t seem commensurate with the comment that sparked it. And often the poster will issue a personal attack out of the blue. “You’re obviously the kind of person who…” — and then something that doesn’t really make sense.

She will post responses to several pps in a row in a given thread, timed about 3-4 minutes apart. Then there will be a similar run of angry posts on different threads in the same topic/area. I noticed it in the top 5-6 threads in the Entertainment section today and previously noticed it in a series of threads in Home Improvement, Religion and Politics. Seemed really to be the same person.

This will sound weird but the comments remind me of this girl I had classes with in college who was always making these out of the blue angry comments. She wasn’t a terrible person—she was just always pissed off—and trying to show how smart she was by disagreeing with and insulting people. I actually think it’s great if people like that can find some harmless online outlet to vent their anger. Maybe it helps them hold it together IRL.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this as well. They use the same phrases and often jump in loaded for bear, but their level of anger is unjustified.

OP here-this is a great way to describe what I noticed. A level of anger that doesn’t seem commensurate with the comment that sparked it. And often the poster will issue a personal attack out of the blue. “You’re obviously the kind of person who…” — and then something that doesn’t really make sense.

She will post responses to several pps in a row in a given thread, timed about 3-4 minutes apart. Then there will be a similar run of angry posts on different threads in the same topic/area. I noticed it in the top 5-6 threads in the Entertainment section today and previously noticed it in a series of threads in Home Improvement, Religion and Politics. Seemed really to be the same person.

This will sound weird but the comments remind me of this girl I had classes with in college who was always making these out of the blue angry comments. She wasn’t a terrible person—she was just always pissed off—and trying to show how smart she was by disagreeing with and insulting people. I actually think it’s great if people like that can find some harmless online outlet to vent their anger. Maybe it helps them hold it together IRL.

Report the posts. If I notice that they are coming from the same poster, I will try to block them.

[Anonymous]

It feels like all of the ‘AITA’ posts come from the same person.

[Anonymous]

There are a few regulars. One is the person who insults everyone with “unhinged.” Another uses “nutter” (she’s kinda nuts herself).

Then there is “dum dum!”

[Anonymous]

Unhinged has been used on here for years. Could be multiple people saying that.

[Anonymous]

You’re forgetting about the AI bot posters. They always sound the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a few regulars. One is the person who insults everyone with “unhinged.” Another uses “nutter” (she’s kinda nuts herself).

Then there is “dum dum!”

The "hunty" poster is one of them too. Sooo angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re forgetting about the AI bot posters. They always sound the same.

Those AI bot posts are kind of obvious. The UNH shooter thread became super repetitive. I suspect the UNH corporation was behind them, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

If it’s the tween/teens forum - yes, I noticed the tone also

[Anonymous]

Then there’s the unhinged and angry poster who labels EVERYTHING as “rapey.”

Like, boys lacross is “rapey.” So is boys rugby. And asking a girl for her telephone number? Yeah - that’s “rapey” too, according to the poster.