I read your post. It's like the people on OPP who warn against "false religions". What is a false religion to a zealot? Any religion that is not his own.

You seem to define trolls as anyone who does not toe the conservative line. Same for media sources that have not been vetted by Rupert Murdoch.

You can make up your own definition of trolls if it makes you happy. However, the progressives on this site also have a right to not take you seriously, now that you have announced your presence as a lurker.

I have been a lurker, here, for a while. I have watched quite a few of the discussions develop over a period of a few weeks. I find one can learn a great deal from quietly watching. I thought I would register and leave a few observations. But first we need to define what an internet troll is.

I like Wikipedia's definition. In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog), either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

That is a good definition, but it does nothing to explain the purpose. The purpose of the troll is to stifle dissenting opinion. They want to stop any conversation where ideas which differ from theirs are expressed. The reason is to dominate the political arena by shutting up and out any differing opinion.

I do not know who manages this site, but my guess would be it is one of the left wing ideologues who try to dominate and ultimately shut down debate that disagrees with them. There seem to be quite a few folks (Tasine, Ginny, Old Gringo, oldroy and others) who attempt serious, fact based discussion. These people will present factual information with serious supporting links.

Which brings us to the trolls. I regularly see the likes of Kevyn, Brian Devon, Armegeddun, Hungry Freaks, Raylan Wolfe, retired669 and a couple of others try to shut down discussion with profane, off topic rants. Or they support their positions with a far left opinion site, such as addictinginfo or mediamatters and no real fact. They then call the opponent all sorts of vile, profane names.

Which returns to my point, that this site seems more oriented to shutting down comment from right wingers, than supporting an honest exchange of ideas. The question in my mind is, was OPP developed as a trolling site, to stifle Conservative speech, or did it devolve to that?

I have been a lurker, here, for a while. I have watched quite a few of the discussions develop over a period of a few weeks. I find one can learn a great deal from quietly watching. I thought I would register and leave a few observations. But first we need to define what an internet troll is.

I like Wikipedia's definition. In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog), either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

That is a good definition, but it does nothing to explain the purpose. The purpose of the troll is to stifle dissenting opinion. They want to stop any conversation where ideas which differ from theirs are expressed. The reason is to dominate the political arena by shutting up and out any differing opinion.

I do not know who manages this site, but my guess would be it is one of the left wing ideologues who try to dominate and ultimately shut down debate that disagrees with them. There seem to be quite a few folks (Tasine, Ginny, Old Gringo, oldroy and others) who attempt serious, fact based discussion. These people will present factual information with serious supporting links.

Which brings us to the trolls. I regularly see the likes of Kevyn, Brian Devon, Armegeddun, Hungry Freaks, Raylan Wolfe, retired669 and a couple of others try to shut down discussion with profane, off topic rants. Or they support their positions with a far left opinion site, such as addictinginfo or mediamatters and no real fact. They then call the opponent all sorts of vile, profane names.

Which returns to my point, that this site seems more oriented to shutting down comment from right wingers, than supporting an honest exchange of ideas. The question in my mind is, was OPP developed as a trolling site, to stifle Conservative speech, or did it devolve to that?

I have been a lurker, here, for a while. I have watched quite a few of the discussions develop over a period of a few weeks. I find one can learn a great deal from quietly watching. I thought I would register and leave a few observations. But first we need to define what an internet troll is.

I like Wikipedia's definition. In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog), either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

That is a good definition, but it does nothing to explain the purpose. The purpose of the troll is to stifle dissenting opinion. They want to stop any conversation where ideas which differ from theirs are expressed. The reason is to dominate the political arena by shutting up and out any differing opinion.

I do not know who manages this site, but my guess would be it is one of the left wing ideologues who try to dominate and ultimately shut down debate that disagrees with them. There seem to be quite a few folks (Tasine, Ginny, Old Gringo, oldroy and others) who attempt serious, fact based discussion. These people will present factual information with serious supporting links.

Which brings us to the trolls. I regularly see the likes of Kevyn, Brian Devon, Armegeddun, Hungry Freaks, Raylan Wolfe, retired669 and a couple of others try to shut down discussion with profane, off topic rants. Or they support their positions with a far left opinion site, such as addictinginfo or mediamatters and no real fact. They then call the opponent all sorts of vile, profane names.

Which returns to my point, that this site seems more oriented to shutting down comment from right wingers, than supporting an honest exchange of ideas. The question in my mind is, was OPP developed as a trolling site, to stifle Conservative speech, or did it devolve to that?

First, thank you for putting me in the same list as those who are very accomplished; I am honored, humbled, and unworthy.

Having said that, I bet after you read all the comments up to this point, you are regretting your decision to post. The full cadre of the most outspoken Liberals have ripped into your thoughts. I apologize for them. I hope that you will continue to post and make your observations. I think that you can add a sense of balance to this otherwise confusion of opinions.

I apologized for several who exhibited less than civil manners, not necessarily opinions. But, the verbiage and obnoxious terms.

Most certainly we need an array of commentators. I am not particularly found of hearing my own voice as though living in an echo chamber. I find that some Liberals can provide input that I have not considered. As my Papa always said, each point of view has an opposite point of view; neither can be discarded without diligently considering the possibilities that you may indeed be uninformed, misinformed, or myopic in view.