Hacker Read

ptaipale | karma 6638 | avg karma 2.32 · 2016-02-21 11:57:55+00:00

I think there is a common fallacy that people who you disagree with need to be paid by someone, otherwise they wouldn't be as they are.

I disagree with the poster but I'll grant that he may completely believe what he says and doesn't need to be paid in any way.

The same phenomenon works for pro-Russia trolls, for instance. I don't think they are "paid", particularly paid with money.

jdimov9 | karma 382 | avg karma 3.32 · 2016-02-21 14:21:59+00:00

I am very much pro-Russia. You got a problem with that?

ptaipale | karma 6638 | avg karma 2.32 · 2016-02-21 08:55:43

No, I have a problem with pro-Russia (pro-Putin) trolls. Still, I don't think they are "paid".

ceejayoz | karma 74610 | avg karma 3.33 · 2016-02-21 09:22:51

Some appear to be.

ptaipale | karma 6638 | avg karma 2.32 · 2016-02-21 15:49:58+00:00

Quite, but I think that most who I meet are not.

Likewise, most of those who spread various 9/11 conspiracy theories are not paid by anyone, they are quite sincere.

justincormack | karma 11120 | avg karma 2.4 · 2016-02-21 10:22:41

Sure they may genuinely believe what they have been told, but repressive regimes hiring commenters is pretty common now, perhaps not on hacker news.

I do not believe people have to be paid to disagree with me, that would be self centred delusion.