Trolls, sock puppets and disciples

Regular viewers of the V Barlow's section on  the Macclesfield Express website will have noticed that, whenever there is criticism of Mr Barlow's views, various names pop up to atack the commenter.

So, now we have "Junior". This looks like just another version of one of the tedious sockpuppets that infest that place.

Same approach (personal attacks and no discussion of the article or opinions)  and even the same phrasing etc.


Sat 6th

Well they're still there.

There is "Four Twenty Wherever" accusing others of trolling and "Junior" with the usual bile. He can't even change the record; we now have the familiar attempt to impose his own rules on what can and can't be said.
I imagine Mr Barlow must be rather embarrassed by the actions of his disciples.







Ah, the disciples do hate anyone disagreeing with Vic, don't they.
I have no opinion on him but do disagree with some of his ideas and views. It is fascinating that there are soman that would want to stop people expressing their views about what he says.
It is certainl looks like Vic either missed the point of the article or didn't read it properly. An of the rest of you got comments on that or will there just be more ad hom attacks? It would be great to have some discussion about it.
Four twenty, perhaps you didn't understand what I wrote.  And  commenting on an article is not trolling, unless someone has a hidden agenda in suggesting it. 
Interesting isn't it  the names that crop up whenever there is an criticism of Mr Barlow's views.........

In competition with the Telegraph????

These are the Trinity Mirror Group's national titles:


Daily Mirror
Sunday Mirror
People
Daily Record
Sunday Mail


And they are worried about links to Telegraph articles in a small and declining local paper!




Hmmmm

Mr Barlow recently produced an article which made some rather odd claims about immigration and the Government's recently imposed restrictions. The article can be seen here.

There has been some comment on the menmedia.co.uk/macclesfieldexpress website.

Now, Mr Barlow's unevidenced opinions are being contradicted by a number of people and institutions, people and bodies who may know rather more about it then him.

So, in the interests of local debate in what claims to be a local newspaper, I attempted to post this:


There seems to be quite a lot of difference between Mr Barlow's unevidenced opinion and the thoughts of those actually affected.


See these reports from the Telegraph:


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8035406/Immigration-cap-a-headache-for-UK-companies.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8047509/Immigration-cap-could-damage-Britains-reputation-for-scientific-excellence-Nobel-prize-winners-claim.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8047622/Britains-immigration-laws-favour-footballers-over-scientists-Nobel-prize-group-say.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8068745/Immigration-cap-is-bad-for-UK-business-say-government-advisors.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businesslatestnews/8038792/Immigration-cap-damaging-the-UK-warns-services-group.html


I would be interested in Mr Barlow's comments

Having repeatedly tried to get this up in the comments section today, I then received an email from somebody called Mark Richardson from men-news.co.uk.  He does not say what his role is or, even , if he lives in the Macclesfield Express distribution area.

He stated:

We will not be publishing comments containing links to the Daily Telegraph as they are a competitor 

Ludicrous!  The thought of the Telegraph being in competition with a small and declining local newspaper is laughable.

So, the message is that they will allow Mr Barlow to say whatever he wants but will stop alternative points of view being put because where they can be seen.

The Express' bizarre and arbitrary censorship of posts, particularly concerning Mr Barlow, has taken an intriguing turn.
They seem recently to have been blocking any criticism of his articles and then they have let this comment appear:

note that the end of Vic Barlow’s column (who is he anyway?) is suffixed with
"The views on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express’’
Perhaps, as the publishers of this newspaper, you should be more circumspect in the
quality of journalists you employ and publish.
I was dismayed to read his recent trash leveled at Cheshire police and their charity
cricket match. It was a disgrace and shame on you for publishing such ill informed tripe.
Unlike Vic (whoever he is) I commend these men and women giving there all to precious
free time to raise such a fantastic amount of money, over £3000, for Help for Heroes.
We need more people like them.
He should be ashamed of himself for writing such a mean spirited, small minded piece of
drivel about local heroes who put there own safety on the line every day in the course of
making our towns and cities safer places to be.
Perhaps he should try a real job for a living, we can do without his offensive comments
regardless of how ‘funny’ or ironic (I doubt he is capable of this)he is trying to be.
The Police deserve our respect and support and as a local newspaper you should be giving it.
Shame on you Vic Barlow (whoever you are)! Go crawl back under whatever stone you came from.
Mrs Helen Millard
Taunton
Somerset


The original can be seen here:

http://menmedia.co.uk/macclesfieldexpress/comment/blogs/s/1323894_an_arresting_sight#comments 

Maybe  things are changing.....