[Killietalk] Trolls

[Barry Cooper <bjc3 at centurytel_net>]

Recently there have been a few posts on killietalk referring to the term 
“troll”, as used on the internet. Here is one definition obtained via a 
Google search:

“From the fishing term. As a noun, synonymous with flamebait. As a verb, 
to post controversial or provocative messages in a deliberate attempt to 
provoke flames”.

The term was used to describe posts by a killietalk participant using 
the name John Travis, aka Thumper Cat, There is now clear evidence that 
this is a pseudonym being used by Mr. Larry Botkin to post inflammatory 
messages to killietalk, thus fitting the definition of a troll.

Although I make this post with some reluctance, I believe that such 
deceitful behavior should be exposed. Therefore, I will briefly lay out 
the evidence for this statement.

“John Travis”, aka Thumper Cat, first subscribed to killietalk on 
6/6/06. He posted messages on 6/8/06, 6/9/06, 6/17/06, 6/22/06, 7/24/06 
and 8/8/06. All of these messages have been very negative towards the 
AKA, the N&RSC and the BOT. All have been reminiscent of posts by Mr. 
Botkin. They can be reviewed by searching the killietalk archives.

In the message of 8/8/06 “John Travis” posted another highly critical 
message that included reference to the AKA’s charter in Ohio. Note that 
Mr. Botkin had previously referred to this in the members only forums on 
the AKA web site and, to the best of my knowledge, was the only one to 
raise the issue. Note also that “John Travis” (Thumper Cat) could not 
have read this forum post, as he is not an AKA member!

I responded to the post of 8/8/06 suggesting that “John Travis” join the 
AKA and meet members at affiliate club meetings and, even better, the 
convention. A few other AKA members, including Bill Shenefelt, echoed 
this sentiment.

Later on 8/8/06 Thumper Cat replied, addressing me and Bill Shenefelt, 
with a message that included the statement “I have received 120 E-Mails 
from 105 different members and at least 3 that say they were ex BOT 
members and for the most part (over 80%) they echo what some of the 
so-called dissidents are saying”.

That message was signed “Larry”!

I had become very suspicious that “John Travis”, aka Thumper Cat, was, 
in reality, Larry Botkin using a pseudonym. The tone and style of 
Thumper Cat’s messages were so similar to those of Mr. Botkin that it 
would stretch credibility to think they were from different people. The 
reference to the AKA’s charter seems highly unlikely to come from a 
naïve non-AKA member, new to the list and, as stated above, “John 
Travis” could not have read that forum post. Furthermore, what is the 
likelihood that such a new member would have received 120 emails about 
the AKA from other members? Virtually impossible!

The signature of “Larry” strengthened my suspicions. A web search 
yielded proof that these messages were posted by Larry Botkin. 
Examination of the link 
http://listserv.uh.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0502&L=texbirds, to a Texas 
birding email list, will reveal a post by Larry Botkin (message 86), 
asking a question about the ID of a bird he had photographed. The email 
address of the sender is identical to one used by AKA member Larry 
Botkin. Note that the URL to the image is 
http://www.pbase.com/thumpercat/image/39907350. (Note the thumpercat 
part. It corresponds to the user name on that listserve). The address 
given for the poster is Corpus Christi, Texas, corresponding to that of 
AKA member, Larry Botkin. In another post on a photography site, 
thumpercat1 at hotmail_com, the email address used by “John Travis”, asked 
a question about a Canon 100-400 mm lens. It was signed “Larry”. Note 
that the photograph above was taken using a Canon camera, another small 
piece of evidence. I believe that all of this provides clear proof that 
Larry Botkin has been posting inflammatory messages under the name John 
Travis, aka Thumper Cat.

These actions by Mr. Botkin are dishonest and unethical. Readers of 
killietalk can form their own opinions but, in my view, Mr. Botkin has 
discredited himself and destroyed any credibility he might once have 
had. He has shown himself to be a deliberate provocateur, in short, a 
troll.

I realize that, by posting this message, I risk initiating another 
series of off-topic messages. I hope that doesn't happen but, as a 
member of the AKA who is concerned about what is fundamentally a good 
organization, I feel that reasonable members of killietalk (which I 
believe is the majority) have the right to be aware of the strategy 
being followed by Mr. Botkin and to put his messages in context. I 
believe that his messages, sent under both his name and that of "John 
Travis" have generated an enormous amount of ill-will and have done harm 
to the AKA. A large number of subscribers have dropped killietalk or 
blocked it in the last few weeks. I suspect that the rancor caused by 
messages posted by Mr. Botkin are at least partially to blame. Who knows 
how many members have left the AKA because of his strident complaints. I 
apologize to those of you who find this matter distasteful and I ask you 
to refrain, if you can, from responding to this message. It is for the 
information of readers of this list and is intended to put some of the 
recent rancor into perspective. It is my hope that killietalk can return 
to being a mutually supportive forum for discussing matters related to 
killifish.

Barry Cooper

-- 
Barry J. Cooper
Sweet Home, OR 97386


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