STS Being Drawn to the Forums?

[Argonaut]

Has anyone else noticed a few strange and/or disruptive new members posting recently? I'm just wondering if there may be a link between their presence and the new Fellowship of the Cosmic Mind. Attempts by STS to vector or screw with us at a critical point, maybe? I'm fairly new myself, so maybe these sorts come and go a lot. If so, I'm sure someone can nip my speculations in the bud pretty quick :)

I hope this thread isn't wrong-headed or inappropriate. I noted the posts of these people and the idea occurred to me. I'm only interested in discussing the idea itself - possible STS attempts to derail the newborn FOTCM. I'm not wanting to point fingers or accuse specific members of anything. In fact, I feel like it wouldn't be externally considerate to give names or other details which may identify them, since they may be genuine seekers who could find help here. Unfortunately, this makes it a tough subject to discuss - hard to give examples of what I'm talking about, etc.

So is this something that may be significant? Or am I way out in left field?

 

[alphonse]

Hi Alderpax,

You have raised my curiosity now wondering which posts you may be referring to.
Without knowing which posts you mean, or which new members concern you , it is hard to comment.

If you have found posts or threads that concern you, have you tried posting replies or questions to those threads or members to put aside any worries, or explain things that you find strange or disruptive in what they saying?

just a thought?

 

[Argonaut]

You have raised my curiosity now wondering which posts you may be referring to.
Without knowing which posts you mean, or which new members concern you , it is hard to comment.

I was hesitant to post for those very reasons. It's hard to bring up this subject in a general way. But it occurred to me that if any other members have noticed something like this, a discussion could be had about the phenomenon itself without referencing specific members or posts. Of course, that's if there even IS a phenomenon.

If you have found posts or threads that concern you, have you tried posting replies or questions to those threads or members to put aside any worries, or explain things that you find strange or disruptive in what they saying?

I did this with one poster. But the others had already been answered thoroughly by other members, so there was no need.

 

[Nienna]

Hi Alderpax,

There are always moles trying to disrupt and lead astray those who are on this forum. It is an ongoing phenomenon.

As you noted, there are quite a few people on this forum who can spot these people and get to the bottom of it, and, then, you have our fabulously experienced Super Moderators always watching and exquisitely noting and handling these people most aptly. What these people don't understand is that they are fairly easy to spot.

But we need to remember that some people who come off as moles or agents trying to subvert or destroy this forum, are just people who are struggling and trying to awaken. And these people need to offered a helping hand, some understanding.

So questioning and really watching their responses will usually end up telling us what we need to know in order to either help them awaken or help them out the door. ;)

 

[Argonaut]

There are always moles trying to disrupt and lead astray those who are on this forum. It is an ongoing phenomenon.

Thanks for clarifying that. I did browse the "Baked Noodles" board in the short time since I posted, after reading its description and figuring that it may answer my question. It did. I should've found it before starting this thread. My apologies for generating noise. :)

[quote author=Nienna Eluch]
As you noted, there are quite a few people on this forum who can spot these people and get to the bottom of it, and, then, you have our fabulously experienced Super Moderators always watching and exquisitely noting and handling these people most aptly. What these people don't understand is that they are fairly easy to spot.
[/quote]

Yes, I've noticed that their lack of harmony with the tone and purpose of the forum is almost always very obvious. Regardless of their intentions, they usually seem to come with a personal agenda or a mission to "evangelize" the forum.

[quote author=Nienna Eluch]
But we need to remember that some people who come off as moles or agents trying to subvert or destroy this forum, are just people who are struggling and trying to awaken. And these people need to offered a helping hand, some understanding.
[/quote]

I totally agree. This is the main reason I didn't want to name names, to avoid creating drama or hurting those who may be genuinely seeking answers here. Plus, I know that if I had joined this forum way back when I first learned about the C's, I would've posted some pretty.... er.... interesting things.

[quote author=Nienna Eluch]
So questioning and really watching their responses will usually end up telling us what we need to know in order to either help them awaken or help them out the door. ;)
[/quote]

Very true. :)

 

[Arctodus]

Hello Alderpax.

As a newbie myself I can sympathize with you here, been doing a _lot_ of reading on the Vincent Bridges/ATS/Rick Ross/Maynard Most etc. stuff. It's like I'm drawn to it for some reason. I recently finished reading Mrs. Knight-Jadczyk's blog post on how to spot a spy. This has firmly convinced me that whatever is being done here, a lot of folks hate and despise it. The range and breadth and how easily one can become a voluntary programmed disinfo agent is intimidating and scary. The respect I have for SOTT and the CassForum has jumped up quite high.

As for my part, I'll try to limit questions to clarifications or subjects I can't find on search. No need for me to contribute to the negative "signal to noise" ratio.

 

[Argonaut]

Hello Alderpax.

As a newbie myself I can sympathize with you here, been doing a _lot_ of reading on the Vincent Bridges/ATS/Rick Ross/Maynard Most etc. stuff. It's like I'm drawn to it for some reason. I recently finished reading Mrs. Knight-Jadczyk's blog post on how to spot a spy. This has firmly convinced me that whatever is being done here, a lot of folks hate and despise it. The range and breadth and how easily one can become a voluntary programmed disinfo agent is intimidating and scary. The respect I have for SOTT and the CassForum has jumped up quite high.

Yeah, I found that stuff really intriguing too. There are now whole online communities seething with hatred for Laura and SotT, due to the actions of agents like these. I'm glad that Laura has gone ahead with the next step by forming FOTCM despite the accusations of "cult" from these people. I already had great respect for her and the Signs team, but this deepened it.

[quote author=Arctodus]
As for my part, I'll try to limit questions to clarifications or subjects I can't find on search. No need for me to contribute to the negative "signal to noise" ratio.
[/quote]

Same here. This isn't the first time I've posted a question, then learned that the post was unnecessary. But I'm determined that it will be the last.

 

[Ben]

People with various pathologies have provided me with some interesting and valuable lessons over the years that they have been attracted to this forum. So keep them coming! As long as the moderators are doing such an excellent job of weeding out pathology and members are careful to avoid private exchanges with such people then I think it should be fine. I do appreciate that it could be an annoying distraction for them though. As for the 'baked noodles' that have less predatory inclinations then I think they should be treated with respect and posting privileges removed if they persist in ignoring the replies they get, which is exactly what is happening.

 

[Argonaut]

People with various pathologies have provided me with some interesting and valuable lessons over the years that they have been attracted to this forum. So keep them coming! As long as the moderators are doing such an excellent job of weeding out pathology and members are careful to avoid private exchanges with such people then I think it should be fine. I do appreciate that it could be an annoying distraction for them though.

That's a good way to look at them. I agree, as long as everything stays public these people will act as lessons for all. Even if a member is inclined to trust an "agent" at first, other members' mirroring replies will fix that. And on the flip-side, if a member is inclined to be rude or insulting to a newbie who posts some "oddball" stuff, other members will step in to educate them about that, too.

[quote author=Ben]
As for the 'baked noodles' that have less predatory inclinations then I think they should be treated with respect and posting privileges removed if they persist in ignoring the replies they get, which is exactly what is happening.
[/quote]

I've noticed that tendency. Mirroring-type replies are either ignored by these people, or twisted around in a defensive way. They just can't seem to SEE or appreciate the mirroring process; they simply perceive it as an attack. I think what often happens is they come onto the forum thinking they're gonna "wow" or impress everyone, then they find that we're not impressed - quite the opposite, in fact. And they slink away and never come back... probably muttering to themselves how "closed-minded" or "judgmental" we all are. Still, I was a "baked noodle" myself once, so I know that off-the-wall ideas and attitudes don't mean the person is hopeless.

 

[Johnno]

[quote author=Ben]
As for the 'baked noodles' that have less predatory inclinations then I think they should be treated with respect and posting privileges removed if they persist in ignoring the replies they get, which is exactly what is happening.

I've noticed that tendency. Mirroring-type replies are either ignored by these people, or twisted around in a defensive way. They just can't seem to SEE or appreciate the mirroring process; they simply perceive it as an attack. I think what often happens is they come onto the forum thinking they're gonna "wow" or impress everyone, then they find that we're not impressed - quite the opposite, in fact. And they slink away and never come back... probably muttering to themselves how "closed-minded" or "judgmental" we all are. Still, I was a "baked noodle" myself once, so I know that off-the-wall ideas and attitudes don't mean the person is hopeless.
[/quote]

Off the wall ideas and attitudes have been a big part of the makeup of this forum and other projects over time. Actually out-of-the-box thinking should be encouraged IMHO. There is a fine line though :)

Nevertheless, there sometimes are those over time whose post are about ME! ME ! ME! or MY ideas or MY importance. This isn't uncommon given western culture's mass-mindset of individualism. Confronted with the reality from a few other observers..... well you've seen the results. It's tied in identification, self importance, ego, narcissism and other such maladies. Part of that seems to be a solid defence of one's ideas or opinions.

And the reactions from a pointed observation seem to vary wildly. It's an interesting phenomena.

Strange and disruptive posters are all part of the deal, you can even learn from them over time. Actually it's pretty cool when non-mods call someone out, that is one thing that seems to have increased over time both in quantity and quality.

Edit: Fixed quotes.....again.