Several weeks ago I posted a notice alerting readers to the fact that Critical Mass was being trolled. I included a link to this site and to this one, so that readers could find out what trolls are, read about how they operate, and learn how to deal with them (short answer: they should be ignored).

At the time, Critical Mass was being trolled by an individual who signed himself "Infect_Polo_Opus." IPO was a pseudonym adopted by a poster who first appeared on Critical Mass under the handle "Couple_of_Points." They had the same IP addresses (pointing to a DSL connection hosted by Bell South), they both ran the same operating system, both used the same web browser, and as some readers pointed out, both used the same rhetorical tactics and played the same games.

Interestingly, before Couple_of_Points refined his trolling game, he also posted from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where I assume he either studies or works. Readers will recall that the occasion for Couple_of_Points' appearance on this site was a post on UNCW professor Mike Adams' satirical send-up of affirmative action.

IPO disappeared for a couple of weeks after I posted the troll alert--though my log files show that he continued to read Critical Mass obsessively during his hiatus (as of last night, IPO has loaded Critical Mass more than 800 times this month). Now Couple_of_Points/IPO has resurfaced, this time as "Ritchie Aprile." Same IP, same MO. As with IPO, there is only one way to respond to Ritchie Aprile's posts: ignore them. This individual is not interested in reasoned debate, but is instead dedicated to derailing discussion by baiting readers. To respond to CoP/IPO/RA is to inflate his ego and reward his bad faith.

I'd prefer that Critical Mass not be a place where people like CoP/IPO/RA can feed their sickness. I ask readers to cooperate in keeping Critical Mass a troll free zone.

Erin,

I read your site "obsessively" because of browser caching (so divide hits by half or a third--still a lot!), and because it's fun and interesting. And I work with computers.

Your other detective work is a bit off, but I'll be glad to tell you who I am if you really want to know. I post anonymously because I get enough spam as is. So do many other of your posters. It's quite common.

IPO and COP are anagrams, btw.

As for the rest, don't you think that's a bit of an overreaction? The key thing that distinguishes a troll, both from your links and from common consent, is that he's insincere. With the exceptions of obvious irony (do you have a no-irony clause?), I, on the other hand, have meant every word I've posted here. I refuse to believe that you cannot accept that people can disagree with you, and thus I'm puzzled at this venomous and paranoid reaction. I mean, "sickness," really.

Surely a woman as smart as you can debate someone who disagrees with you about things. Surely you can admit when you've been a hypocrite, or explain why you don't think you have. I have an academic background, and I think you sometimes misrepresent and oversimplify complicated issues in academia to people (posters, at least) who want to believe the worst about it. That's your right, certainly, but you shouldn't pretend that anyone who thinks otherwise is merely trying to "bait" your readers.

Bravo Erin! Shine them lights! Shrivel them trolls!

"IPO and COP are anagrams, btw."

Of what? POI and PCO?

Xrlq, that's funny. I asked myself the same question.

Xlrq and Pok,

I could be wrong, but I believe you've mistaken the acronyms for what they represent.

This gave Hilbert some problems, too.

Silly under educated me, I did not know that anagrams ("IPO and COP are anagrams, btw")and acronyms ("I believe you've mistaken the acronyms for what they represent") were synonymous.

There I was, desparately seeking anagrams for two 3-letter words (a limited universe to be sure) when I should have spent my time traipsing through the much larger universe of 3-letter acronyms. (Admittedly - I never would have gotten to Hilbert - Dilbert maybe - but never Hilbert.)

Another one of your cunning plans to throw us off course Baldrick?

Oh, Jeebus. "Infect Polo Opus" is an anagram of "Couple Of Points" (or vice-versa) is what he meant. Not that both three-letter acronyms were anagrams for something else.

Jeebus is right. A comment/post ought to stand on its own, not depend on an obscure reference to something else. So he meant "infect polo opus" vs. "couple of points," great, but at least he could have said that rather than rely on cryptic abbreviations. Not that a semi-troll whose two handles that are anagrams of one another is any more worthy of our attention that a troll whose multiple handles are not. Would my views suddenly become more profound if I started posting a few comments under names like Xqrl, Lxqr or Xlrq?

Last and least, I hate to play Language Police but after witnessing three consecutive violations, it needs to be done. I see no evidence that the troll the abbreviations "COP" and "IPO" to be acronyms (pronounced "cop" and "'ippo," respectively). All they were is a sign of extreme laziness on his part; they were not acronyms.

Enough with these ad homonym attacks already.

And just who is Jeebus and why is he getting all the credit for this?

Is Jeebus an antonym for something? An acronym? Anagram?

Cheers, Spiny Lot
President,
Society TO Launder Young People In Netherlands.

An asshole by any other name still stinks.

Surely you mean LASSO HE don't you?

(And don't call me Shirley.)

I like your wit Spiny Lot.

kop