With news that a pro-Clinton PAC is spending money to “push back against” online commenters attacking Hillary Clinton, this site has degenerated into the nastiest meta infighting I’ve ever seen. Worse than 2008’s Clinton v Obama battles, and (maybe) worse than 2004’s Dean v Clark v Kerry shitstorm.
At the root of it all, the relentless accusations that anyone defending Hillary is a “paid David Brock shill”. The accusations are hurled against old time users with lack of self awareness, and they’re certainly used to try and shut down any newer users. Indeed, there’s lots of mocking of “new users” using scare quotes.
Now, while the Correct the Record press release talked about operating on Twitter, Reddit, Facebook and Instagram, it’s not a stretch to think that maybe some have found their way here. If they have, and you have evidence, take it to Help Desk. We’ve actually ferreted out these kinds of people before. Their participation here is not wanted nor welcome. Anyone contributing on behalf of another organization must disclose that connection.
On the other hand, the other side has been astroturfing the internet for years. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. As long as they fight that somewhere else, I’m okay with that. It does present a problem with the integrity of online discussions, but a “discussion” where Trump and Clinton supporters are yelling at each other isn’t a place I want to be anyway, whether paid or not.
But here’s the problem here at Daily Kos—there’s now a propensity to accuse anyone who disagrees with you that he or she is a paid troll. It’s a newfound way to squelch disagreement and fuck that shit, I won’t allow it anymore. It’s the internet, someone will always disagree with you. Sometimes, they’ll even be wrong. On the internet, I know!
If you have evidence that someone is a paid hack, by all means report it to Help Desk. Otherwise, argue the merits. I promise you that there are plenty of people here supporting both candidates because they agree with those candidates, not because of financial incentives. In fact, this site is pretty much 50-50 on both candidates.
Accusations of shilling have always been prohibited. I’m just reiterating that old-standing rule. It’s fucking obnoxious old-timers are accused of being paid shills, and it’s fucking obnoxious when new users—the way we grow our movement—are accused of being shills. So zero tolerance.