WORR’s ACM of BBS posting:
1) The FW 190 attack. There is a limited time on target. This individual usually picks off a single line from a lengthy post, and fires point blank with a short burst of HE. The intention is to win the argument with a quick kill. If the first attack misses….he extends to return for another head on attack at a later time…depending upon how much energy and how vulnerable the poster was in the first place. This poster avoids any direct engagements with the larger question at hand….though can sometimes bring a weak argument down in flames with a single post. Other times can be obtuse, and really just annoying, rather than bringing any reasonable point to bear on the question.
2) Lawn dart attack. This is a one-time attack that is easily avoided and the poster does not return to the thread again once defeated or ignored. The poster typically states a popular truism, or common misunderstanding about the question that the poster himself thinks is important. Despite the lack of substance, even when the question is fairly answered, the same lawn dart attack will be repeated in other threads with same result.
3) Turn fighter. Dares to loiter over the target area and post a wall of text that can be directly engaged. This is very vulnerable to the FW 190 attacker if the arguments are not locked up tight on all points. A high degree of confidence is found in this poster, though his own arrogance can lead him too deeply into a thread from which he cannot survive for long. Generally, this poster can be isolated over time by the opposition even after many kills are awarded. Much depends upon how many will agree with him and help him advance his own arguments over time.
4) Drag and bag. Two posters working in tandem supporting each other’s arguments. One baits a victim into a very typical response to a question and the other poster finishes the job. It is necessary that the two come from the same point of view on a topic, and are familiar with the other’s style of argumentation. It also takes some willing participants to get pulled up into these drags.
5) Ackstar. This poster has no real skill in rational discourse, nor personal knowledge of the subject at hand, but posts up walls of text (cut n paste) and thus overwhelms the opposition with pure firepower instead of maneuverability.
6) High Altitude Bomber. Begins with a link to a controversial article and then waits for the response to climb up to the challenge. If any kills are gained it is because they climb to the advantage of the rear gunner who pops them off as they struggle to get their own shot off.
7) Target hand off. During the course of a thread suddenly switches targets to avoid a losing argument. He uses substitute arguments that don’t address the original question, which he is losing, and seeks to lure off some other kills before the other winning argument can finish him off.
8) Bounce attack. Usually tries to control the course of a thread by bounding in with a side question, and uses their considerable distance from the original intent of the thread to pull the swirling mass into their own arguments.
9) P-51 runstang. Generally finds an exit at the very point of losing the advantage in the thread and will not return. The exit will usually be effected with some claim to victory like “you don’t know what you are talking about” or “I’m wasting my time with the likes of you” but generally looses credibility when the same exits are sought in various threads.
10) General Radio compliments and harassment. This can cut either way…either using civility or ridicule to raise or lower the level of the argument. Most arguments that begin or end with ridicule taint the evidence or argument laid out, while posters who can remain civil despite this kind of banter tend to gain respect from a wider audience and a closer reading of what they say.
Worr, out
P.S. My gift from the warbirds community to the Aces High community.
