21 March 2014

Internet Trolls and Free Arts Festivals

| Barcham
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Hey gang!

Thanks to you lot I was invited to go sit on a panel at this years You Are Here festival to discuss internet trolls. I was chosen to discuss this topic alongside writers from Lip, Woroni, and Mamamia. These three writers have experienced all kinds of horrible insane abuse from their readerships both local and international ranging from rival websites publishing agressive articles about their personal lives, mass organised trolling efforts, to outright threats. It was actually really scary and intense hearing some of their stories.

What I found interesting was that when these writers met me, and discovered I moderated you lot, they looked at me a strange mix of fear and respect. You guys have a reputation.

I told them you guys weren’t all that bad, even if you do occasionally call me names on Reddit.

Anyways the point isn’t to tell you about a panel you can no longer attend, it’s to tell you to attend You Are Here festival. It’s the last weekend. You should really go.

Maybe come to this, as I’m doing it.

That would be nice.

But check out the program and for God’s sake promise me that you’ll go see something amazing and weird and free this weekend! I worry about you lot, so just go do this for me.


LANGUAGE WARNING ON THE VIDEO. ALSO HAIRCUT WARNING. I NEED A HAIRCUT.

[Photo by Adam Thomas.]

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colourful sydney racing identity3:20 pm 04 Apr 14

Monopod said :

Masquara said :

ABC Radio have just featured YAH – it sounds from the interview as though there was no tender, and Robyn Archer simply phoned a a contact with a lucrative offer of scarce arts dollars over several years. No wonder some arts identity (can’t remember who it was) chucked a tanty on this site a year or so ago about favouritism and “jobs for the boys”. He got caned by Rioters, but he may well have been right. What was the procurement process for this significant slab of government funding?
My recall of the first year of YAH is that it appeared to be a wee community grassroots startuppykins on no budget. No sense of people on a salary!

Actually, if this was the “discussion” from a few years ago when YAH started the sentence “He got caned by Rioters” really should read: He got caned by the organisers of YAH via RIOTACT.

In this ‘discussion’ my comments were moderated as according to JohnBoy RIOTACT was supporting YAH. Then Johnboy proceeded to bait me via e-mail until he got an angry response, then published the private emails on RIOTACT under a fairly damaging headline!

Thanks to Johnboy and RIOTACT this “article” is still at the top of a Google search for my name, I am still explaining it to potential clients and it has heavily effected my arts practice.

Warwick, I though JB’s responses to you were more than reasonable – you were coming a cross as a nutter and wouldn’t let it go.

Reply
Mysteryman9:50 am 03 Apr 14

Monopod said :

Masquara said :

ABC Radio have just featured YAH – it sounds from the interview as though there was no tender, and Robyn Archer simply phoned a a contact with a lucrative offer of scarce arts dollars over several years. No wonder some arts identity (can’t remember who it was) chucked a tanty on this site a year or so ago about favouritism and “jobs for the boys”. He got caned by Rioters, but he may well have been right. What was the procurement process for this significant slab of government funding?
My recall of the first year of YAH is that it appeared to be a wee community grassroots startuppykins on no budget. No sense of people on a salary!

Actually, if this was the “discussion” from a few years ago when YAH started the sentence “He got caned by Rioters” really should read: He got caned by the organisers of YAH via RIOTACT.

In this ‘discussion’ my comments were moderated as according to JohnBoy RIOTACT was supporting YAH. Then Johnboy proceeded to bait me via e-mail until he got an angry response, then published the private emails on RIOTACT under a fairly damaging headline!

Thanks to Johnboy and RIOTACT this “article” is still at the top of a Google search for my name, I am still explaining it to potential clients and it has heavily effected my arts practice.

I’m not surprised by this in the slightest. Incredibly disappointed, but certainly not surprised.

Reply
Masquara9:16 pm 01 Apr 14

Monopod said :

Masquara said :

ABC Radio have just featured YAH – it sounds from the interview as though there was no tender, and Robyn Archer simply phoned a a contact with a lucrative offer of scarce arts dollars over several years. No wonder some arts identity (can’t remember who it was) chucked a tanty on this site a year or so ago about favouritism and “jobs for the boys”. He got caned by Rioters, but he may well have been right. What was the procurement process for this significant slab of government funding?
My recall of the first year of YAH is that it appeared to be a wee community grassroots startuppykins on no budget. No sense of people on a salary!

Actually, if this was the “discussion” from a few years ago when YAH started the sentence “He got caned by Rioters” really should read: He got caned by the organisers of YAH via RIOTACT.

In this ‘discussion’ my comments were moderated as according to JohnBoy RIOTACT was supporting YAH. Then Johnboy proceeded to bait me via e-mail until he got an angry response, then published the private emails on RIOTACT under a fairly damaging headline!

Thanks to Johnboy and RIOTACT this “article” is still at the top of a Google search for my name, I am still explaining it to potential clients and it has heavily effected my arts practice.

Monopod that is a real bummer. That recent 666 interview seemed to join the dots. Perhaps City News will ask the question of Joy Burch: why was Robyn Archer exempted from any due diligence and procurement standards?

Reply
Funky11:17 pm 25 Mar 14

Masquara said :

Trenchant criticism and taking the mickey, and mocking, are not trolling unless particularly nasty and repetitive.

Um, yes they can be. All depends on the intent or perceived intent.

Reply
Monopod7:44 am 25 Mar 14

Masquara said :

ABC Radio have just featured YAH – it sounds from the interview as though there was no tender, and Robyn Archer simply phoned a a contact with a lucrative offer of scarce arts dollars over several years. No wonder some arts identity (can’t remember who it was) chucked a tanty on this site a year or so ago about favouritism and “jobs for the boys”. He got caned by Rioters, but he may well have been right. What was the procurement process for this significant slab of government funding?
My recall of the first year of YAH is that it appeared to be a wee community grassroots startuppykins on no budget. No sense of people on a salary!

Actually, if this was the “discussion” from a few years ago when YAH started the sentence “He got caned by Rioters” really should read: He got caned by the organisers of YAH via RIOTACT.

In this ‘discussion’ my comments were moderated as according to JohnBoy RIOTACT was supporting YAH. Then Johnboy proceeded to bait me via e-mail until he got an angry response, then published the private emails on RIOTACT under a fairly damaging headline!

Thanks to Johnboy and RIOTACT this “article” is still at the top of a Google search for my name, I am still explaining it to potential clients and it has heavily effected my arts practice.

Reply
Masquara3:01 pm 22 Mar 14

ABC Radio have just featured YAH – it sounds from the interview as though there was no tender, and Robyn Archer simply phoned a a contact with a lucrative offer of scarce arts dollars over several years. No wonder some arts identity (can’t remember who it was) chucked a tanty on this site a year or so ago about favouritism and “jobs for the boys”. He got caned by Rioters, but he may well have been right. What was the procurement process for this significant slab of government funding?
My recall of the first year of YAH is that it appeared to be a wee community grassroots startuppykins on no budget. No sense of people on a salary!

Reply
Masquara1:14 pm 22 Mar 14

Trenchant criticism and taking the mickey, and mocking, are not trolling unless particularly nasty and repetitive.

Reply
Barcham9:38 pm 21 Mar 14

bundah said :

A normal person plus being anonymous equals dickwad? Barcho how about dickwad posting anonymously equals dickwad?

I’d agree, I was incorrectly quoting this:

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/325/699/4fc.jpg

Reply
IrishPete6:58 pm 21 Mar 14

I think the idea that trolls who are engaging in personal abuse are trying to provoke a reaction, justifies them being called trolls.

Incidentally, trawling (ir trolling?) was also used to describe line fishing behind a moving boat, at least when I were a lad and engaging in it. Before I grew out of bashing fish on the head, cos I didn’t like eating fish.

Incidentally, I wasn’t a great fan of the inconsistent RiotACT moderating, like when one particular person posted where he thought I live. When I tried to return the compliment, it was not posted. RiotACT really needs/needed a “Report” button to get things like that removed. And far too much personal abuse has been allowed through that contributes nothing to the argument. However, I’ve noticed the Canberra Times seems to be following suit recently in its print edition (not so sure about online comments), with some really abusive letters being published.

IP

Reply
bigfeet6:07 pm 21 Mar 14

MrBigEars said :

I think the term trolling has evolved through usage from ‘being annoying on the internet to see who responds’, (like ‘trawling’ for fish) .

Actually the fishing term is ‘trolling’.

‘Trolling’ refers to the practice of pulling a lure (or a bait) along in the hope that something will strike at it.

‘Trawling’ refers to the practice of dragging a net behind a boat and scooping up everything in its path.

Reply
bundah6:01 pm 21 Mar 14

A normal person plus being anonymous equals dickwad? Barcho how about dickwad posting anonymously equals dickwad?

Reply
Roundhead895:34 pm 21 Mar 14

EvanJames said :

Um, do you know what “trolling” in internet-ese actually means? In the popular media it has come to mean abusive wankers, but trolling really means and has always meant people who just post comments to attract a reaction/attention. It comes from the practise in fishing, of trolling lures.

So real trolls are irritating, they hijack discussions, they prod and poke, but they are different from the nasty types who think they’re anonymous and so embark on hate campaigns and say things that would earn them a quick punch in the nose in meatspace.

I suppose posts about whippets fall into that category (snicker!).

Reply
Barcham5:16 pm 21 Mar 14

EvanJames said :

Um, do you know what “trolling” in internet-ese actually means? In the popular media it has come to mean abusive wankers, but trolling really means and has always meant people who just post comments to attract a reaction/attention. It comes from the practise in fishing, of trolling lures.

So real trolls are irritating, they hijack discussions, they prod and poke, but they are different from the nasty types who think they’re anonymous and so embark on hate campaigns and say things that would earn them a quick punch in the nose in meatspace.

This was a big part of my part in the conversation, ensuring that the difference between trolling and cyber-bullying or stalking was understood. Also I wanted to make sure people realised that trolling could be unmalicious, funny, or even positive. Also that sometimes it’s as much fun for the troll-ee as it is for the troll-er.

Reply
MrBigEars3:01 pm 21 Mar 14

EvanJames said :

Um, do you know what “trolling” in internet-ese actually means? In the popular media it has come to mean abusive wankers, but trolling really means and has always meant people who just post comments to attract a reaction/attention. It comes from the practise in fishing, of trolling lures.

So real trolls are irritating, they hijack discussions, they prod and poke, but they are different from the nasty types who think they’re anonymous and so embark on hate campaigns and say things that would earn them a quick punch in the nose in meatspace.

I think the term trolling has evolved through usage from ‘being annoying on the internet to see who responds’, (like ‘trawling’ for fish) to being deliberately hateful online for what ever reason (like a troll under the bridge). Words change, like manure comes from the latin manu opere, to work with the hands.

Reply
EvanJames2:48 pm 21 Mar 14

Um, do you know what “trolling” in internet-ese actually means? In the popular media it has come to mean abusive wankers, but trolling really means and has always meant people who just post comments to attract a reaction/attention. It comes from the practise in fishing, of trolling lures.

So real trolls are irritating, they hijack discussions, they prod and poke, but they are different from the nasty types who think they’re anonymous and so embark on hate campaigns and say things that would earn them a quick punch in the nose in meatspace.

Reply
M0les12:51 pm 21 Mar 14

It would seem inappropriate to let such an opportunity pass to perform some fulfilling trollsmithing.

However I don’t really have time right now, so just take it as read that I’ve exposed every aspect of your performance that’s anything less than perfection and also amplified those flaws to surreal extremes.

I’ll finally sign-off with a non sequitur condemning or casting into doubt your dress-sense/hygiene/sexual-preference and/or intelligence, thankyou.

Reply
Diggety12:49 pm 21 Mar 14

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

We also ended up with endless … Canberrans are bad drivers, etc, threads,

Personally I don’t think this issue was highlighted enough, Canberrans are incredibly impatient and rude on the roads and more reminders and discussion can only be a good thing, right? Hell, it’s more ACT related than internet trolling!

Anyway, bit off topic here, soz.

Reply
VYBerlinaV8_is_back12:27 pm 21 Mar 14

Barcham said :

If that was the case, how is it that we all fought so much?

Although I took a lengthy holiday from posting, I still read RiotACT periodically, even regularly. When RiotACT was young, moderation was focussed on debating the issues, and not personal attacks (which weren’t allowed). Over the last year or two, this changed. There are even times when posters would attack people personally for their views, and this was allowed. Even JB would occasionally attack someone personally, and they would magically stop posting for a while. It’s not hard to join the dots.

The thing that made RiotACT so good was that it was a level playing field for people to kick the shit out of ideas and issues affecting the local region. When that ended, and the standard of moderation dropped, I think the site suffered. We also ended up with endless cyclists vs cars, Labor vs Liberal, climate is real/pretend, Canberrans are bad drivers, etc, threads, with the same opinions being regurgitated over and over.

FWIW I thought you did a good job, because you tried to focus on the issues at hand, perhaps because you are still young and idealistic (which is a good thing).

Reply
poetix11:34 am 21 Mar 14

Barcham said :

bigfeet said :

The You Are Here festival has never had anything to worry about on Riot Act.

It has always been one of RA’s pets and any critical comments were moderated out of existence.

This was a panel about trolling in general, and not about people trolling YAH festival.

YAH were good friends to RiotACT it’s true, but your second point about moderation is complete rubbish.

Look through the archives, there are plenty of negative comments about YAH to be found. Mostly from boring people dismissing it for being too “hipster”.

Hey look, one quick search and I spotted this critical comment that you wrote on the 8th of Feb 2012 which was obviously not moderated out of existence:

“After going to a couple of You Are Here events last year I can suggest a few taglines they can use.

“You Are Here: But Only Because Your Partner Dragged You Along And I Bet You Wish You Were Somewhere Else ; Anywhere; Even A Colonoscopy Would Have To Better Better Than Being Here.”

“You Are Here: Sorry.”

“You Are Here: Bet You Wish You Brought A Gun.”

So… yeah. Your comment is a lie and you should feel bad about it.

I love how since we left the site everyone who ever got moderated for poor behaviour has started to build their own little make believe narratives about how Johnboy and I kept them down and only let through comments that matched our points of view.

If that was the case, how is it that we all fought so much?

Damn you, Joel, that was all grammatically correct, and the spelling was lovely.

(One who is only commenting when something is posted by a Proper Moderator of Times Past.)

Reply
LadyxBec10:18 am 21 Mar 14

You really do need a haircut.

In relevant comments, I was interested in DIY in a day till I realised it was about writing stuff not actual DIY. I feel pretty mislead, the actual event sounds much too cool and “hipster-ey” for me.

Reply
Barcham10:13 am 21 Mar 14

bigfeet said :

The You Are Here festival has never had anything to worry about on Riot Act.

It has always been one of RA’s pets and any critical comments were moderated out of existence.

This was a panel about trolling in general, and not about people trolling YAH festival.

YAH were good friends to RiotACT it’s true, but your second point about moderation is complete rubbish.

Look through the archives, there are plenty of negative comments about YAH to be found. Mostly from boring people dismissing it for being too “hipster”.

Hey look, one quick search and I spotted this critical comment that you wrote on the 8th of Feb 2012 which was obviously not moderated out of existence:

“After going to a couple of You Are Here events last year I can suggest a few taglines they can use.

“You Are Here: But Only Because Your Partner Dragged You Along And I Bet You Wish You Were Somewhere Else ; Anywhere; Even A Colonoscopy Would Have To Better Better Than Being Here.”

“You Are Here: Sorry.”

“You Are Here: Bet You Wish You Brought A Gun.”

So… yeah. Your comment is a lie and you should feel bad about it.

I love how since we left the site everyone who ever got moderated for poor behaviour has started to build their own little make believe narratives about how Johnboy and I kept them down and only let through comments that matched our points of view.

If that was the case, how is it that we all fought so much?

Reply
bigfeet6:37 am 21 Mar 14

The You Are Here festival has never had anything to worry about on Riot Act.

It has always been one of RA’s pets and any critical comments were moderated out of existence.

Reply
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