Kevin RothrockJul 8, 2023
The prime minister of Estonia has apparently released a video supporting NAFO, encouraging an online troll movement of mostly anonymous accounts that harasses anyone not in ideological lockstep. Yuck.
Show threadLuke ChadwickJul 9, 2023

@kevinrothrock this is a very disappointing attitude. I see you've argued about it with people already so I won't rehash those with you.

I know quite a few NAFO people that really don't fall into that category. I do not hide my identity, or troll, I know many other #NAFO that don't either.

As I said yesterday when you replied to my toot, I value dissenting views. Unfortunately, you approached what I said with the assumption I was nothing more than a troll and that did you a disservice.

Show threadKevin RothrockJul 9, 2023
@vertis You associate yourself with trolls and take umbrage when it has consequences.
Show threadLuke Chadwick

@kevinrothrock I didn't take offense at all. I replied in an intelligent and respectful manner.

I think you have the wrong end of the stick with regard to NAFO, but that's your right.

"Bonking” Russian trolls is an interesting way to combat disinformation (the jury is still out on effectiveness). Harassing people for not being “PRO” enough is wrong -- I haven't seen NAFO incidents (not saying they don't exist), I have seen non-NAFO examples though.

Jul 9, 2023 at 11:28amWeb
Show threadKevin RothrockJul 9, 2023
@vertis uh huh
Show threadLuke ChadwickJul 9, 2023

@kevinrothrock honestly, I'm trying to be as respectful an un-combative as possible, while still sharing my view.

I value your content and your perspective. Let's leave it there shall we.

Show threadMark CaseyJul 9, 2023

@vertis @kevinrothrock I'll give you credit, you tried.

His behaviour was confrontational and you tried to get your point across. Unfortunately he has his mind made up and doesn't want to listen.

Show threadSpicewallaJul 9, 2023

@markcasey @vertis @kevinrothrock

Yes, I learned about NAFO from IAmTheWarax on twitter, who was someone I followed for years because he wrote with intelligence, compassion, and humor about military issues based on his experience as a tank gunner in Afghanistan.

I don't know how Kevin came to his opinion about NAFO, but what he sees does not resemble what I've seen.

Even Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has acknowledged NAFO's value as anti-propagandists.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1563851548643426304

Defense of Ukraine on Twitter

“We usually express gratitude to our international partners for the security assistance. But today we want to give a shout-out to a unique entity - North Atlantic Fellas Organization #NAFO. Thanks for your fierce fight against kremlin’s propaganda &trolls. We salute you, fellas!”

Twitter
Show threadKevin RothrockJul 9, 2023
@Spicewalla They're Internet bullies. If you don't see this, that's on you.
Show threadAciesJul 9, 2023

@vertis @kevinrothrock

Pretty ironic that this is the sort of response you're getting from him when his whole complaint is that NAFO shuts down discussions.

Show threadLuke ChadwickJul 10, 2023

@Acies @kevinrothrock no, that's not fair. There is a big difference between one’s own replies/thread and hopping into someone else’s and being disruptive (which NAFO does to trolls, at the very least).

Kevin is free to disengage from replies, and indeed one of the missing features in Mastodon at the moment is the ability to control who replies at all.

Show threadMark CaseyJul 11, 2023

@vertis @Acies @[email protected] I think ultimately he has no capability to handle criticism at all.

I just had him move the goal posts of what he said and then try to strawman an argument into my mouth.

I think he's a pretty toxic person. He may post useful stuff occasionally but his behaviour as evident by all his responses prove he isn't worth the time.

Show threadLuke ChadwickJul 11, 2023

@markcasey @Acies I think, having read the thread that you're referring two it’s a nuanced view. McCarthyism is an interesting comparison that bears further exploration (without necessarily agreeing).

Fwiw, I don't think it's a good behaviour to call people toxic. Especially ones that take the time to make reasoned arguments. Just agree to disagree and move on.

Show threadMark CaseyJul 11, 2023

@vertis @Acies The consistency of his behaviour towards others and then towards myself where he kept moving the goalposts of what he said screams toxic to me.

I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt a couple of times. But the consistency of that behaviour moved him into toxicity to me.

Show threadLuke ChadwickJul 11, 2023
@markcasey @Acies I suggest you unfollow and move on then. I'd prefer not to have discussions about people in this manner.
Show threadMark CaseyJul 11, 2023
@vertis @Acies Yeah, already done. I do not like toxic people like that.