Brickbat: Internet Troll

Pennsylvania state Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, has apologized for making anonymous and "fictitious" posts attacking ordinary citizens who support shale gas drilling in the state. Using a variety of pseudonyms, he called one woman a "local mole" for the gas industry and referred to others "hucksters", "mouth breathers" and other insulting terms. When his online attacks were uncovered by local media, he at first called the claims a political attack. White blamed "misleading and personal attack" on himself for his behavior.

Comments

[Snark Plissken]

"On occasion, I have exercised my First Amendment rights and responded in kind, which was an error in judgment that I regret."

I love the backhanded apology and reference to 1A rights. Teh evil right-wing conspiracy forced me to excercise my 1A right to be an obnoxious troll, for which I make a half-ass apology.

[Concerned Citizen]

They use the 1A when it suits them, while continuing to attack it.

[Snark Plissken]

Look, White was standing in a free speech zone when he posted as a poisonous anonymous troll. People should be allowed to practice free speech like smokers should be allowed to smoke, as isolated objects of derision.

[The DerpRider]

The White Zone is for unloading...

[PM]

Don't start up with your white zone shit again, Betty.

[Cyto]

@fakehandle = "Central Scrutinizer"

[Steve G]

exercises ones rights = error in judgement. Got it.

[Bardas Phocas]

That really is an interesting article. White was the only vote against a cyberbullying bill, in committee. And apparently, his relationship with the evil carbon dealers isn't just "principles" but also because they didn't give him a ride to the Super Bowl and give him enough money.

The Trib reported in 2011 that White once enjoyed a cozy relationship with Cecil-based Range Resources Inc., asking for a ride on a corporate jet to a Super Bowl game and complaining that the drilling company didn't give him enough campaign money, according to emails Range released.

Range said it did so to expose a lawmaker who tried to strong-arm the company. White claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign by the company. He declined to release his own emails.

[Swiss Servator, Zurichmania!]

Who knew shriek was a PA Dem State Rep?

[JidaKida]

That loosk like it might jsut work!

http://www.AnonWonders.tk

[Jordan]

Jesse White? What about Walter Pinkman?

[Ted S.]

Pinkman? That's racist!!!111!!!

[Bones]

At least you have a cool sounding name. Mr. Pinkman sounds an awful lot like Mr. Pussyman.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Doesn't Rep. White know how much CO2 is put into the atmosphere by each internet burn? Flames wars contribute to AGW just as much as fossil fuels!

[Snark Plissken]

Which is why it's so ironic that Al Gore invented the internet.

[Live Free or Diet]

And this, during the most extreme hurricane(less) season of the last gazillion years.

[Rich]

"On occasion, I have exercised my First Amendment rights and responded in kind, which was an error in judgment that I regret."

White will especially regret it when his ass is voted out of office.

OTOH, then he won't have to make "fictitious" posts.

[Pelosi's Accommodator]

He won't have to, but he will. Just for fun.

[Rich]

Once a cyberbully, always a cyberbully.

[sarcasmic]

Aw, shucks. He's just a Democrat. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[Redmanfms]

Can't wait for Bo-Bo's, "But Socons....!!!!!" post.

[Swiss Servator, Zurichmania!]

I can...

[Snark Plissken]

He mostly comes out at night...mostly.

[SIV]

Bo keeps Tulpa-hours

[PM]

WHAT ABOUT THE TAD FURTADO INCIDENT BACK IN 2006? HUH?! WHAT ABOUT THAT?!?! WHY DON'T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU RIGHT WING SOCON TEABAGGER KOCHSUCKER!

I guess that's really more Shreeek-ish than Bo-ish. Bo prefers a slightly more nuanced variety of concern trolling because he is so sophisticated a linguist that nobody notices. Even though he gets called on just about daily...

[PM]

*called on IT just about daily

[Rich]

TAD FURTADO

Don't you mean CARLOS DANGER? 😉

[waffles]

This guy is such a schmuck. What a petty man. It is terrifying and disheartening that he has actual influence on our government. The real shame is that the voters either don't notice, tolerate it, or happily vote for him in the next election because he's on the right team.

[Ted S.]

Can Charles do a brickbat about H&R members who post an article, and then have anothre article posted about how they've posted an article? Because one of the two is going to wind up down the memory hole.

[Juice]

You always see people posting on message boards and comments sections that have all their talking points in order, seem very dedicated to one party, and will viciously denigrate anyone who argues the other side, and I always wonder if they are some local or state politician or some staffer or secretary. And then in some places there are whole teams of them (seemingly) hanging around in some forum ALL DAY. The joke is, "Is this your job?" but the reality is probably "yes, it's their job."