Am I the only person who thinks there are more people from outside VA with an agenda/job posting political propaganda here than actual residents of Southwest VA discussing their opinions?

ynot—There are many of us who feel the same way—-SWVA born and raised—And couldn’t be more proud of the Area and it’s fine people—

Yep, we would not want this fine forum to become a country club for the elites.

Actully, I don’t care where folks come from. As long as they behave themselves. Man, my job has me keeping crazy hours….

I quess what I should have said was that it feels like some of them are more like political pundits than just average guys and gals making points.  To Andy, to use your words, I don’t care if they are “country club elites“, farm hands, factory workers or unemployed.  I was referring to the bloggers or those getting paid to do this.  I’m not even advocating stopping the posts.  I just think anyone who is part of the political propaganda machines or bloggers or whatever they might be called should identify themselves as such when they start posting.  It seems to me that several people had this same concern during the election to the extent that there was talk of locking the forum down.

Remember that if you do not want to wade through all of the paid shills trolling through our local forum you can always choose to “Ignore” those posts.  On the right hand corner of each post is the button.  Click it and submit to ignore posts by that member.

What criteria do you use to decide just who, is a paid shill?

Andy J one real good sign is when they have posted on this site under several different names and have listed themselves as both male and female.  Another good sign is when you can find the identical post
on several different sites or blogs.

ynot - 17 October 2009 01:11 PM

Am I the only person who thinks there are more people from outside VA with an agenda/job posting political propaganda here than actual residents of Southwest VA discussing their opinions?

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I’ve not lived in SW Va for many many years.  In fact, I’m now at least a half-continent away.  But I grew up in Marion and read the online local paper, as well as the Forum, to get an idea of what’s happening, and what people are thinking in the region.  And occasionally I’ll share an opinion.

They are in the same vein as political pundits.  I have the same feeling on some of the ads you see during elections by the various pacs. I don’t care which party they associated with, there should be more transparency.  I think at least one is a blogger or being paid.  I don’t even think you have to put them on ignore.  If being paid or they are a blogger, why not say so?  Maybe the post would seem less legitimate but I don’t see how.  This was discussed during the presidential election with the lockdown discussion and several people made comments.  After looking back, I see an offer of moderation assistance was even made. 

Election ads and those posting with the backing of a PAC or political should have to adhere to the same “truth in advertising laws” as any product.  After all, politicians are the ultimate product being hawked and it has an effect on us all.

mimi - 18 October 2009 09:37 PM

ynot - 17 October 2009 01:11 PM

Am I the only person who thinks there are more people from outside VA with an agenda/job posting political propaganda here than actual residents of Southwest VA discussing their opinions?

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I’ve not lived in SW Va for many many years.  In fact, I’m now at least a half-continent away.  But I grew up in Marion and read the online local paper, as well as the Forum, to get an idea of what’s happening, and what people are thinking in the region.  And occasionally I’ll share an opinion.

Mimi,
That’s not exactly what I meant.  I didn’t word it like I should have.  People keep refering to shills and I don’t know what that is.  I am talking about people who are paid or bloggers or whatever else that might fall into the category.  Even the DNC and RNC having employees post on these sites or so I have heard from friends.  Like I said-truth in advertising.

In the full disclosure area-I have lived in Smyth County, Washington County and now back in Bland County where I started my life.  Not part of the country club elite but farm life and various other jobs.  Back to the simple country life.

It has been pointed out that I write a blog.  I also participate in more than one forum.

I have a great passion for politics & history.

When I was growing up, I was given books about the two subjects.  Naive me, I thought everyone read those types of books.  I read them not as a list of dates & facts, but as unfolding stories.  I was fascinated & riveted.  My passion was learned over several years.

I enjoy the opportunites that these forums afford me to get cross-sections of opinion.  I have changed my name, because after a break in time from posting, I usually forget, and find it easier to reregister than go back through old posts lokking for an old name.

I post on topics that catch my attention, and do try to include links related to the topic at hand to show where I found the information.  It allows others to read the full article or verify the accuracy of my post.

It is no secret that I am ‘right-of-center’ and my posts reflect this.

I do appreciate the diverse viewws I find on the forums.  I would not grow very much if I only heard one side of an argument.  SWVA is as diverse as they come.  I read the posts and see that others share my passion for debate & expressing their opinions as much as I do, even though quite often they do not share my own views.

I do appreciate getting to participate.  I first registered to vote in VA in 1988.

I work in the field of organizational development & performance management.

Nobody pays me to do this, nor would they need to.

All Right Now—

I Want To See A Show Of Hands!! Which One Of You Accused 2012 Of Being The Paid Troll???

Now Aren’t You Ashamed?? You Made His Conscience Bother Him!

2012 - 19 October 2009 10:13 AM

It has been pointed out that I write a blog.  I also participate in more than one forum.

I have a great passion for politics & history.

When I was growing up, I was given books about the two subjects.  Naive me, I thought everyone read those types of books.  I read them not as a list of dates & facts, but as unfolding stories.  I was fascinated & riveted.  My passion was learned over several years.

I enjoy the opportunites that these forums afford me to get cross-sections of opinion.  I have changed my name, because after a break in time from posting, I usually forget, and find it easier to reregister than go back through old posts lokking for an old name.

I post on topics that catch my attention, and do try to include links related to the topic at hand to show where I found the information.  It allows others to read the full article or verify the accuracy of my post.

It is no secret that I am ‘right-of-center’ and my posts reflect this.

I do appreciate the diverse viewws I find on the forums.  I would not grow very much if I only heard one side of an argument.  SWVA is as diverse as they come.  I read the posts and see that others share my passion for debate & expressing their opinions as much as I do, even though quite often they do not share my own views.

I do appreciate getting to participate.  I first registered to vote in VA in 1988.

I work in the field of organizational development & performance management.

Nobody pays me to do this, nor would they need to.

No one would be shocked that you are right of center.  I am interpretting this post as saying the Washington Report blog is yours.  I’m curious how you find the material to write you blog posts.  Is it entirely internet data?

I use several sources for what I write.  News outlets, published policy statements, talking to neighbors, etc. 

I do pay attention to what people who do not agree with me have to say.  I like to know what drives their perspective.  It provides insight.

The internet is good for quick mobility to various sites.  With the internet, I find it useful to find supporting articles to vet out what is garbage.

I would not look for info in the Red State or a far right sites, anymore than I would rely on Thinkprogress, or HuffPo.  That’s not to say that if the topic is covered on other sites I would avoid it because it was discussed on a slanted site.  I would take the time to read the various versions of the same story and draw my own conclusions.

As for my blog, yes I do have a blog. 

Anyone on here can.  You just go on blogspot.com and set up an account and start writing.  No one is going to pay you for it, but it can be fun.  Also, people do contact you, both in support of what you have written, and to admonish you for what you have written.

You will be accused of everything under the sun, but if you write with conviction and beleifs, it will not sway you.

2012 lets look at your statements in depth.  You say “nobody pays me to do this”.  Fact: In 2008
the RNC saw that they were losing the quest for retaining the White House they also saw a LOT of
support for Hilary from women.  Armed with that information they decided to PAY trolls to go on
line disguised as women to discuss issues.  With the dicision to PAY TROLLS up pops wythevillemom,
with a profile showing a woman from Clinton, Maryland (interesting choice, a woman from Clinton,
MD to counter Hiliary Clinton).  When RNC money dried up wythevillemom died.

Fast forward to June 2009, RNC decides the Governors election in VA & NJ are so important that
they will start hiring again.  Now up pops 2012, a MALE with a Washington, DC zip code, same
garbage, same links to her/his blog.  When question of name change is ask, states “I
usually forget and find it easier to reregister than go back through post for an old name”.  After
posting 130 times you forgot what name you spewed under?????? Did you also forget your sex
and what state you live in???  Actually it would have been very simple to find the name you posted
under, Google phrases from your blogs in Sep, Oct 2008.

You also state “I first registered to vote in VA in 1988”, so are you a RESIDENT OF VIRGINIA????

The above shows a pattern, the readers of this forum know the same pattern exist in your post.

fromtheslide - 22 October 2009 12:44 PM

2012 lets look at your statements in depth.  You say “nobody pays me to do this”.  Fact: In 2008
the RNC saw that they were losing the quest for retaining the White House they also saw a LOT of
support for Hilary from women.  Armed with that information they decided to PAY trolls to go on
line disguised as women to discuss issues.  With the dicision to PAY TROLLS up pops wythevillemom,
with a profile showing a woman from Clinton, Maryland (interesting choice, a woman from Clinton,
MD to counter Hiliary Clinton).  When RNC money dried up wythevillemom died.

Fast forward to June 2009, RNC decides the Governors election in VA & NJ are so important that
they will start hiring again.  Now up pops 2012, a MALE with a Washington, DC zip code, same
garbage, same links to her/his blog.  When question of name change is ask, states “I
usually forget and find it easier to reregister than go back through post for an old name”.  After
posting 130 times you forgot what name you spewed under?????? Did you also forget your sex
and what state you live in???  Actually it would have been very simple to find the name you posted
under, Google phrases from your blogs in Sep, Oct 2008.

You also state “I first registered to vote in VA in 1988”, so are you a RESIDENT OF VIRGINIA????

The above shows a pattern, the readers of this forum know the same pattern exist in your post.

Never been paid or contacted by either party or campaign organization.  I maintain homes in VA, DC & FL.  I do not vote in DC.  That would be a waste of my vote.  My drivers lic is issued in VA.

I like how you label anything calling his liberal agenda into question as “garbage”