Something I was reading today

[jindydiver]

9/3/09


Anti-hunters have begun using a new tactic to advance their agenda: “astroturfing.” This term is used to describe incidents where an internet user claims to be someone or something they are not for the purpose of posting comments onto online forums, news stories, and blogs. The anti’s often will do this on pro-sportsmen forums and news sites, acting as hunters, trying to create divisions within the community.

A recent example appears to have taken place in North Dakota as a commenter to a Bismarck Tribune story was found to be using a computer registered to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the largest anti hunting group in the U.S.

The news story dealt with a petition in North Dakota to ban preserve hunting in the state. In the comments section, a person named “Will” appeared to pose as a hunter and stated, " Any real hunter wouldn't have an issue with this - hunting is supposed to be a sport, what sport or skill is it, to kill an animal that is raised for you to kill? Growing up I remember the thrill of the chase. The chase mind you, that doesn't involve fences. Anyone who thinks this will snowball is an idiot - it's practices like this that give hunters a bad name.”

Another commenter noted that they had seen the exact same post by “Will” over at a pro- sportsman blog where he had been exposed by the blog’s administrator after discovering that the IP address used by “Will” was registered to HSUS.

These efforts are becoming more frequent as increasing numbers of people communicate online. Sportsmen should be aware that the anti’s are taking advantage of this to attack certain forms of hunting and divide the community. This is particularly detrimental as some media and others look to forums to gauge a particular group’s thoughts on a subject. This in turn will make it more difficult for sportsmen to stand together as the anti’s move forward with its larger agenda to ban all hunting


Many times, in comments sections of news sites, we have seen comments that don't ring true. It has been suspected for some time, now we know that it happens.

[Glenn]

The anti-hunting movement has huge money behind them and unlike us they are united in their actions. If I was an anti-hunter that's exactly what I woud do. Internet forums make it easy for anti's to gain access to us.
Some forms of hunting such as hunting behind wire will never gain support from the general public because they will never understand that form of hunting, they see it as a violent blood sport and the animal has no chance, where as the same public wont have a problem taking their children to catch a few fish at a fish farm or at a dam that has been stocked with fish just to be caught....Glenn....

[Piggy]

Mate I had my suspicions there were a couple on here trying to do just that, you have now confirmed both my suspicions and that is it used as a tactic.

[ricochet]

Mate I had my suspicions there were a couple on here trying to do just that, you have now confirmed both my suspicions and that is it used as a tactic.



I have to agree with you there Piggy, posts by so called members that don't ring true, this is how the anti's get at the hunting people, post messages in a way that they seem to be OK,
We will have to be on our toes at all times...

Cheers,
Rick:)

[Niftynev]

I may be wrong here but I cant see how that could work. I am new to the bow
but used to shoot years ago and no one has ever been able to sway me and I
boubt very much that Im alone there.

[ricochet]

I may be wrong here but I cant see how that could work. I am new to the bow
but used to shoot years ago and no one has ever been able to sway me and I
boubt very much that Im alone there.


It is not to sway every one, but how many times have you seen a bunfight start, say on here or other sites, when a post is made, and some people will agree, others will not, this then can lead to infighting amongst us, this is what the antis like also, they then can copy this infighting then show others ( Govt dept etc) how we hunters behave amongst our selves, and they then say " how can you trust these people",


Cheers,
Rick:)

[Niftynev]

point taken

[jindydiver]

I may be wrong here but I cant see how that could work. I am new to the bow
but used to shoot years ago and no one has ever been able to sway me and I
boubt very much that Im alone there.


It is much more subtle than that Nev. These people appear on news sites (where you leave comments under news stories) and their letters invariably start with "I was a shooter for 20 year until" then they go on about how they had an epiphany and come to realise that killing was bad, or they pretend they are a hunter and then attack some part of hunting under the guise of "you know the anti's hate this part of hunting, we should cut it loose and save the rest".
The purpose is to (in the first example) create a feeling among average citizens that hunters are misguided souls who just need some help finding the true path, and it would be good to legislate for them to help them find it. Or in the second example, to divide hunters with a controversial issue so we are busy pointing the finger at each other and putting each other down (saves the anti's from doing it themselves) :(

We have seen this sort of thing a lot over the last 12 months :(

[DavidJHardy]

hmmmmmmmmmm... if they gotta try that hard why not give up?

[ricochet]

hmmmmmmmmmm... if they gotta try that hard why not give up?


Because they have plenty of time on their hands David, they do not work like we do, they are either at Uni or have some sort of Government job (DOLE),:mad:they will just keep trying to (as Jindy said) divide us hunters.


Rick:)

[Luke]

hmmmmmmmmmm... if they gotta try that hard why not give up?

Because they are passionate enough about their cause to keep at it, using whatever means necessary.

And, guess what, so are we, except will we never lower ourselves to their standards. We don't need to deceive or trick anyone.

[Luke]

"legitimate"? In who's opinion?

I think it's gutless.

[jindydiver]

"legitimate"? In who's opinion?

The people who engage in such things ;)

[DavidJHardy]

i think its no different to the fat boy picking on the kid with glasses, he has nothing to pick on him about, but still feels the need so he just picks on him!

if you have no argument why start a war? and whos gonna buy it if the facts are layed out and clearly show there side has holes all through it???

[fixzit007]

Please please Mr/Mrs Politician and ANTI's let me have my first goat, rabbit and deer first before banning this sport!!!!:D

[Luke]

whos gonna buy it if the facts are layed out and clearly show there side has holes all through it???

The people who are either too gullible to know any different, to apathetic to care to find out the truth, or who listen to the groups who make the most noise and get the most attention. :rolleyes:

Guess we need to start making more noise than the opposition huh? ;)

[xforcebaby]

yer didnt doubt that there would be attempts to cause trouble amongst hunters, we should all be weary and keep an eye out for some trouble makers and sleight of writing aimed at trying to cause trouble and rifs, thanks for that post Jin

[Treker]

Hunting is not the only thing these people are targeting. It would have no problem wining this fight if we could get all group to work together.

[Johny Quick Draw]

Long live the Ricochet.
Davidjhardy i no you were joking.

Livo thought i was a Anti but we pm each other and now we are buddy's.(I no i feel all warm and fuzzy to).

Thing is they can try to legaly ban hunting but it will never stop.

It's what we do, It's who we are.
It's instinct, It's inbuilt on our hard drive's. It's therapy
It's survival.

When i go hunting i like to call it "Man time"

[Johny Quick Draw]

Beg forgivnes Artic wolf. For you it's "Women Time".

[Johny Quick Draw]

I am women her me roar.

That's about the only one i no and my wife tend's to squeak.

[Johny Quick Draw]

Wolf time it is, slam some arrow's into that festy c.p.r dummy.

[kadaicha]

Because they have plenty of time on their hands David, they do not work like we do, they are either at Uni or have some sort of Government job (DOLE),:mad:they will just keep trying to (as Jindy said) divide us hunters.


Rick:)

All those groups are getting Government funding unlike us who have to work for a living.Maybe we all should apply for funding to explore the betterment of hunting then buy new 4x4s tents bows and live the government funded life those Bastards live.