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FCC Website Hobbled By Comment Trolls Incited By Comedian John Oliver
An anonymous reader writes "In a recent segment of his new HBO show, Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver delivered a commentary (video) on the current net neutrality debate. He ended the segment by calling on all internet comment trolls to take advantage of the FCC's open comments section on the topic. 'We need you to get out there and for once in your lives focus your indiscriminate rage in a useful direction,' he said. 'Seize your moment, my lovely trolls, turn on caps lock, and fly my pretties! Fly! Fly! Fly!' While the true impact of John Oliver's editorial cannot be confirmed, the FCC nevertheless tweeted shortly after it aired that its website was experiencing technical difficulties due to heavy traffic. They accept comments via email as well at openinternet@fcc.gov."
He said nothing about trolls and the people trying to leave comments on the FCC website are not trolling - they're genuinely upset about what the FCC is trying to do to the Internet.
He made a joke about the low quality of the discourse found on the Internet, but did not call for trolls or advocate trolling.
There are that many comment trolls that have paid for HBO?
No, there are that many comment trolls with a bit torrent client.
FCC definition of trolling: General public pissed off to the point where they crash a website to leave comments on an unpopular topic.
Up next: .gov petitions. Obama administration states individuals signing petitions are failing to follow doctrine. Re-education camps opening near you! Contact your local party official for the address.
Om, nomnomnom...
And now that once great FCC is being run by the former head of the cable industry's lobbying arm.
Politeness and restraint will not get you anywhere when you are up against big corporations.