Malwebolence – The World of the Web Troll

August 1st, 2008 · 37 Comments
Local Bloggery · New York Times

I didn’t realize that Vonster is famous.

Heh.

37 responses so far ↓

1 diane vespa // Aug 1, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Why would you say that? To compare Vonster to the scum that are described in that article? How disappointing.
2 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 1, 2008 at 10:33 pm

This post was done somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Diane. However, I think the “troll” label fits Vonster quite well. His comments and bloggery, with exceedingly rare exception, are at best snark and at worst hateful, racist bile. I’ve never seen him add anything constructive to a conversation. Perhaps you fail to recognize how offensive he is because of your own political affiliation. How disappointing.
3 Raising my kids right // Aug 3, 2008 at 9:12 am

Or perhaps he just feels his “hateful, racist bile” is “tongue-in-cheek.”
That would make it okay, right?
4 Raising my kids right // Aug 3, 2008 at 9:13 am

I apologize if that sounded tongue-in-cheek Matt.
5 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 3, 2008 at 11:31 am

You have no answer for my criticisms on your blog, so you come to chide me on my own, Red Dot?
6 vonster // Aug 3, 2008 at 3:26 pm

I just consider the source, D.
7 Jennifer // Aug 4, 2008 at 9:00 am

What an interesting article. I was fascinated with the whole thing. How could anyone be so cruel? And think the victim(s) deserved it?

While I don’t think Vonster reaches that level, I would consider him your everyday, run-of-the-mill troll.
8 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 4, 2008 at 12:47 pm

That’s exactly my point. The definition of a troll is someone who posts anonymously simply to create conflict and animosity, never to advance the discussion at hand. That definition fits Vonster exactly. He’s got feathers, a bill, webbed feet and he quacks … and I’m being criticized for calling him a duck???

No, Vonster’s not out there defacing the online memorials of suicide victims like the infantile jerks in the NYT article. However, whenever there are local posts involving African-Americans and crime (the paver from the 74 overpass incident, the “riot” at a downtown Peoria nightclub), he posts some racist innuendo about the “800 pound gorilla in the room.” Are you going to defend that behavior, Diane? Red Dot?
9 diane vespa // Aug 4, 2008 at 4:24 pm

It is difficult for me to address your question, Knight, because I have only casually observed his posts…and I have never seen the racist remarks you refer to.

For the record, I think most will agree that Peoria does have plenty of 800 pound gorilla subjects that we, in general, for whatever reason, are reluctant to address. Some of these topics may be race-related.

Is it possible that you overlook his larger point at times? It is possible that you and he may simply disagree? It is possible that he just gets his points across in different ways than you do?

To compare the conduct of a local blogger that coincidentally happens to be a member of the opposing party to hateful, despicable and possibly criminal conduct seems a little over the top.
10 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Vonster’s constant meme is disdain, mockery and ridicule, Diane. Sure, I’ve done my share of mockery. I’ve made some snarky posts and comments … but not constantly and incessantly, often with seemingly no purpose other than to stir the pot.

Based on his blog and his commentary, Vonster’s viewpoint is that everyone on the liberal end of the political spectrum is an idiot or a freak. Whether that’s truly his opinion or just his online persona, I have no way of knowing. I can’t read the mind of Vonster. Either way, it’s hard to show any respect for him when he shows none for me (except for his rare agreement with one of my posts). Maybe you can overlook his behavior because you share his conservative bent. I can’t.

No, his behavior certainly isn’t criminal. Hateful and despicable … well, IMO, that shoe sometimes fits.
11 Anon E. Mouse // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:10 am

KiD sez: “Vonsterâ€™s constant meme is disdain, mockery and ridicule” and then goes on to say “This post was done somewhat tongue-in-cheek”

I sez: Yet you are attempting to combat Vonster with the same type of “disdain, mockery and ridicule”. Plus every post you make about the current administration or a possible McCain administration includes “disdain, mockery and ridicule”.

“Somewhat tongue-in-cheek”? Is that like being “somewhat pregnant?”
12 Jennifer // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:49 am

Diane,
I think if you read all of Vonster’s comments and his blog you will be appalled. It’s not just that he’s in a different political party (You don’t see KiD mentioning you or AnonEMouse, do you?) but that he is clearly racist and hateful.
BTW, the “800 lb gorilla” in Vonster’s room isn’t him pointing out racism-it’s him being racist. He goes out of the way to point out race when the crime has been committed by someone that isn’t white. It’s that whole double standard of “if a crime is commited by ‘my race,’ it’s indicative of that person’s choices/character, but if the same crime is commited by someone of another race, it’s because that race has a tendency towards wrong-doing.” And it’s really sickening.
I really, honestly think if you were fully aware of Vonster’s character (at least that evidenced by his posts) you would be loathe to defend him.
Jennifer
13 Cory // Aug 5, 2008 at 9:40 am

If you let Vonster get under your skin, he’s won. I just laugh at him and hope no one can seriously be that bigoted.
14 postsimian // Aug 5, 2008 at 10:11 am

KiD, you are my hero.

…not to be confused with “an hero.”
15 Raising my kids right // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:22 pm

“You have no answer for my criticisms on your blog, so you come to chide me on my own, Red Dot? ”

I went back and looked at my blog Matt, I’ve answered every one of your comments except the most recent one. Based on the content of your comments, I refuse to apologize for not being in lockstep with you, but there IS a difference between your claim that I “can’t answer” and the fact that I posted an answer that you don’t like.
16 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 5, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Anon,
Yes, I’ve admitted to doing my share of mockery. In fact, I admitted that in the comment directly preceding your own. However, I would not say that it is my “constant meme” … except, perhaps you are correct, in reference to our current president. Mea culpa. Wubya’d probably be a good drinkin’ buddy, but he’s a gawd-awful POTUS. Mockery is the least that he deserves.

My original post was “somewhat tongue-in-cheek” in that I wasn’t comparing Vonster directly to the trolls depicted in the NYT article. However, Vonster is undeniably a troll. He fits the definition exactly. No, it’s not like “somewhat pregnant” … there are often shades of gray in this world.

McCain I have respect for, although not nearly as much as I did before 2001. I respect his service to our country, and the hell he went through in Vietnam. He should have been the Republican candidate for POTUS in 2000. Shoot, I might have actually voted for him THEN … before became Wubya’s biggest yes-man and sold his soul to the Republican base. The Hanoi Hilton didn’t break him, but Karl Rove obviously did.

Red Dot … I wasn’t expecting an apology, nor do I expect anyone to be “lockstep” with me.
17 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 6, 2008 at 12:17 am

Vonster’s racist piggery, exhibit A.
18 postsimian // Aug 6, 2008 at 8:37 am

exhibit B: http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/02/02/school-violence/
19 Rixblix // Aug 6, 2008 at 10:19 am

C: http://jenjw4.blogpeoria.com/2008/06/06/i-wanna-make-love-in-this-club-in-this-club-in-this-club/#comments
20 Anonymous // Aug 6, 2008 at 2:16 pm

You kidding me? Those are examples of hateful racist bile? Give me a break. The only example that rose to that level was the comment by Potsimian in the 3rd example linked to by Rixblix.
21 postsimian // Aug 6, 2008 at 2:45 pm

So you agree then, since it was a paraphrasing of what Vonster said. Thanks.
22 diane vespa // Aug 6, 2008 at 5:03 pm

uhhhh, please don’t ever paraphrase me – K Reno?
23 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 8, 2008 at 4:05 am

So Anonymous … before you acknowledge Vonster as a racist, he has to start throwing around the N-word and post pictures of himself in a Klan hood???

That’s part of the problem. Such blatant racism nowadays is not socially acceptable, but racist “800 pound gorilla” innuendo and other, more subtle forms of racism are allowed to slide. IMO, Vonster’s racism is even more poisonous than that of someone like Matt Hale because it’s so much more pervasive and so often allowed to pass without condemnation.
24 Anonynmous // Aug 8, 2008 at 9:35 pm

The 800 pound gorilla that Vonster may be referring to are the frequent allegations of racism made against anyone who makes a mere statement of the obvious as it pertains to the activites of a black person(s). If that is the case, would you still call it racism?
25 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 8, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Yup … because criminal behavior has nothing to do with the amount of melanin in the stratum basale of your epidermis.
26 Anonymous // Aug 10, 2008 at 11:20 am

so any mention of race makes someone a racist? Better check yourself into rehab doc, you just mentioned it with the melanin comment.
27 Knight in Dragonland // Aug 10, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Way to twist my words around, anonymous. That’s not at all what I said … and if you think that Vonster is just “mentioning” race without any pejorative undertones, you’re delusional.

There are constructive and destructive ways to discuss the issues of race, crime and poverty. Vonster’s method fits into the latter category.
28 BJ Stone // Aug 10, 2008 at 7:49 pm

You mean the guy who has numerous comments on several local websites using the outdated term “negro”, and it’s used simply to get under people’s skin (pardon the pun)? Try these:

http://vonster.blogspot.com/2006/07/chicago-felates-unions-at-expense-of.html

or

http://vonster.blogspot.com/2007/07/bet-creates-furor-over-new-show.html

For those too lazy to go look at it, here’s what Vonster had to say in that second post:

“The new show is based on the web-site “HotGhettoMess” and is being loudly criticized by some in the negro community because, as the website does, it will “exhibit blacks in unflattering situations”.

A commenter on FARK nailed it when he said FOX already does that with a show called COPS.”

Anonymous, it would be nice to know who you are, but since you want to hide…fine. To suggest Vonnie doesn’t show some outward bigotry (and who knows what kind if inward additional bigotry exists) is simply, well, wrong. You’re wrong. Period.
29 BJ Stone // Aug 10, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Here’s another of my favorites from Von, from a comment on Scott O’Brien’s blog:

“There have been several prominent negroes that have made statements seemingly defensive of Vick. I chalk it up to ‘unitay within the communitay’.”

Here’s the proof, lest “Anonymous” thinks I made it up:
http://tinyurl.com/is-vonster-racist
30 AnonymousII // Aug 10, 2008 at 8:53 pm

The only despicable behavior on BJ Stones link is Whoopi Goldberg attributing Vicks psychopathic behavior to his black culture. Now if I were a black person, this would PISS ME OFF! Sounds to me like you are shooting the messenger. It’s obious you don’t like Vonster’s style, but his comments are not racist. They are more a statement of the obvious, wouldn’t you say?
31 BJ Stone // Aug 10, 2008 at 9:44 pm

There’s another post I sent in, before the one that posted. Hopefully KiD, you can catch it before you delete it.

AnonymousII..you don’t think using the word “negroes” in 2008 (and repeatedly, I might add…Vonster is the only one around here doing it) is trying to stir people up? It most certainly is. And you did notice the little “ay”’s added to a couple of words, making fun of how some blacks speak, right? When northern whites pick on southern whites for the way they talk, southerners claim bigotry. Same thing here.

The use of the word “negro” reminds blacks of the civil unrest of the 1950’s and 60’s, a time that was just as volatile and deadly for some as the Civil War was, but more directly it’s just his way of saying another “n” word that comes off as much more harsh without actually saying it. Vonster’s style AND his comments are indeed bigoted and racist.
32 BJ Stone // Aug 10, 2008 at 9:45 pm

…and yes, Scott O’Brien is correct when he says Whoopi’s comments that led to the at post are bullshit…they were. Doesn’t make Vonster any less of a racist, however.
33 Anon E. Mouse // Aug 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm

KiD sez: “McCain I have respect for, although not nearly as much as I did before 2001. I respect his service to our country, and the hell he went through in Vietnam. He should have been the Republican candidate for POTUS in 2000. Shoot, I might have actually voted for him THEN â€¦ before became Wubyaâ€™s biggest yes-man and sold his soul to the Republican base.

I sez: Whoa. While I DID understand that there was a general cease-fire called between the Bush and McCain camps back in 2000, I never recall there having been a surrender. These guys do not like each other. I find it AMAZING that people even try to link them.
Sure they worked together in 2001. Maybe we could all get into the Wayback Machine and try to figure out why, in the fall of 2001, John McCain and George W. Bush were suddenly working together then. A lot of people, on both sides of the aisle, set aside differences and worked together back then for some reason.
Make no mistake, McCain and Bush are very different in many, many significant ways.
34 diane vespa // Aug 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Why does everyone have to go anonymous when talking about race? Is it for fear even the discussion itself will result in charges of racism? It’s a shame. We will never fully bridge the gap between cultures if we cannot openly speak from the heart and work through the issues.
35 PeoriaIllinoisan // Aug 11, 2008 at 12:49 pm

When’s Vonster going to chime in on this?
36 postsimian // Aug 12, 2008 at 4:41 pm

BJ, KiD, I think this anonymous fellow is playing coy with you. He knows Vonster’s statements are bigoted as well as you do. Vonster exhibits two very consistent behaviors with regards to this: 1) He never has anything positive to say about anyone or anything black; 2) When he does mention anyone or anything black, even when their race has nothing to do with the subject at hand, he has nothing but negative comments. Vendetta much?

If it looks like racism and sounds like racism…

All I know is if it were my blog, I’d have been fishing comments out of the spam filter by now. What can I say? The man is horny after me.
37 postsimian // Aug 19, 2008 at 3:29 pm

As an addendum, it seems the blogfather agrees: http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/08/16/by-invitation-only/#comment-2943