Has the government got paid posters here to quash any dissenting voices?

[ssd]

There's always been robust discussions on politics on mn, but I've noticed lately when ever someone questions the government's track record on covid, certain posters pop up with very similar agendas, defending them to the hilt and trying to throw the discussion round to something else.

I'd like to see when posters actually joined mn, some newer posters must spend all their time on here defending the indefensible.

[TheHoneyBadger]

That first bit about pregnant people was to another poster Cantebury.

I remember the username Bucharest and pretty sure we were same fwr era (ie. when it started and was building up). I was SwallowedAFly if that rings any bells. Had to have entire posting history deleted after MRA trolls posted me all over the internet and were trawling my mn history for identifiable details.

[TheHoneyBadger]

And no, can't imagine you saying, 'pregnant people'

[MsHeffaPiglet]

Is 'shill' the new right on buzz word? What on earth does it mean or should be inferred by its use? Sorry I'm a dinosaur that doesn't do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.

As @EdwinaMay said 'Online websites are for whingers really.' This is so true.

People generally use forums to vent. I do it myself. Happy people are generally not on politics or current affairs forums. Instead they are enjoying life and don't seek out negativity to bring them down.

Not everyone can be an activist for a cause. If that happened there would be anarchy on every corner.

I also think that intolerance is coming from very surprising and unexpected corners. No platforming is intolerance. But those doing it can't see that and instead see it as being virtuous. What they should be doing is entering into vigorous debate. But that is too hard. Better not to listen to those you disagree with. Better just to surround yourself with like minded people who can pat you on the back and tell you how good you are, how noble you are, etc.

I change my user name often on this site. So what! I do it because sometimes I talk about things in my life. I don't want anyone to join the dots. As I said I don't do Facebook etc. I'm a private person. Nobody needs to know my entire business.

So I'm not a bot or a troll, or a paid government supporter. I'm just someone with views. Sometimes it will be a majority view, often it will be a minority one. But hey, I've lived my life as an outsider in so many ways. Why should I not continue it on here and provide some dissenting opinions 😊

[chomalungma]

Is 'shill' the new right on buzz word

"Shill" has been around for a long time

See also Astroturf

[TheCanterburyWhales]

Oh yes, I remember you TheHoneyBadger.
Different times indeed.

[derxa]

I've been here for a few years and I miss the old posters. Where's Bertrand Russell?

[ITonyah]

What is Astroturf??

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

TheCanterburyWhales and HoneyBadger, I agree, it was unfair of me to lump in Claig with the new trolls.

[chomalungma]

Astroturfer

"Astroturfing is the use of fake grassroots efforts that primarily focus on influencing public opinion and typically are funded by corporations and governmental entities to form opinions"

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

There have been some obvious ones in both recent Elections campaigns.

Makeourfuture was one, it was only slogans and relentless posting. You couldn't have a discussion because they were only interested in hammering the point.

And others of course, on both sides.

[WyfOfBathe]

People are allowed to disagree with you.

Lots of posters do things I disagree with or don't understand - they vote UKIP/Brexit, they don't let DC watch any TV, they spend thousands on handbags. I don't think they're all shills for Big Handbag.

It's no different with covid. I'm not as against schools reopening as some posters. At the same time, I have more concerns about coronavirus than some posters who have been ignoring lockdown.

[Travelban]

The language I have definitely seen on Facebook and even from members of our own family : what's not to understand, are you thick, need to give your head a wobble, can't compare countries.. Its like they have been brainwashed by an alien!! 😆

[Easilyanxious]

Brainwashed because they don't agree with you ??
Brainwashed would be everybody agreeing with everyone and not being able to think on their own
We don't all have to agree and we are allowed to think for ourselves

[ITonyah]

Op, you should subscribe to The Times. The comments are often very intelligent and reasonable and far more representative of the wider community than here.

[Xenia]

I doubt it. I vote Conservative and support the Tory party (as all my posts from the election time would show) but I didn't support school closure of having a compulsory lock down. If I were a paid plant I would take the state line on all matters. Instead I think they are wasting money, sacrificing the young for the sake of the old and sick and obese.

[Easilyanxious]

@TheHoneyBadger pretty sure schools are cleaned daily never noticed my kids school as being filthy

[FourTeaFallOut]

Nobody would accuse you of being a shill Xenia. You have been, if nothing else, remarkably consistent across a number of issues for years.

[RuffleCrow]

Quite obviously, yes. Although they probably don't pay them - plenty of young tories willing to lick/climb the greasy pole for free.

[TinRoofRusty]

I'm with you, Xenia, and I have never voted Tory and never would.

[Incontinencesucks]

I doubt they need too. One of my friends is very pro tory and boris, i think I've seen her here on mumsnet too. She's not shy on saying her opinion and will do so to your face as bluntly as some I've read here.

[ITonyah]

I agree Xenia.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

I'm with Zenia as well and I have been posting under the same name for years. If the govt is paying posters it's budget is nowhere near the size of Momentum's who start a load of left wing nonsense every single day.

[LilyPond2]

I don't think posters would be in the pay of the government itself - too much of a scandal if it got out. But a small number of loyal Tory party activists being encouraged by a central source to steer the conversation in a particular direction? Wouldn't surprise me at all!

[excitedmumtobe87]

I don’t think you’re a shill Xenia but wow what a statement

“sacrificing the young for the sake of the old and sick and obese.”

To clarify are you saying you’d rather more people die? Because of their age? How is it good for my young children if I die (usually highly functioning, expected to live to ripe old age but have a condition that means I’d suffer with this)

I’m hoping I’ve misunderstood

[excitedmumtobe87]

I can’t stand momentum either for the record