I have run in to them too, on Topix.com. They begin by posting the Dem. talking points for the day, written to appear as though the “local” poster wrote them as his or her own thoughts. The same person has an endless arsenal of names they use to give the appearance of strength in numbers.
When the talking points are refuted with facts, they resort to name calling and vulgarity, or my personal favorite, insisting my information source is unacceptable.
Its a progressive tactic called “Manufactured consent”. Basically to make you feel wildly outnumbered by posting all over the place.
Watch the national popular vote threads posted here at FR. There’s one poster who posts the exact word for word things all over the internet under multiple names.
Trolls are everywhere, even on local town forums. We know of two instances where several names were posting 24 hours a day, having conversations with themselves. Interesting to see the same spelling peculiarities showing up in multiple posts.
Instance one was an investment group trying to turn a little piper cub airport into a giant air cargo facility. Instance two was the teachers’ union trying to smear Chris Christie. Really, imagine how cheap and effective this is. Hire someone’s unemployed brother-in-law to have the forum window open on his computer, and just chime in at any time to disrupt actual dialogs. And give three brothers-in-law the same set of passwords and you have 24-hour coverage. I think some of them get paid by the post.