Editing Troll (slang) (section)

== Concern troll ==
{{See also|Astroturfing}}
''Concern trolls'' pretend to be sympathetic to a certain [[perspective (cognitive)|point of view]] which they are actually critical of. A concern troll will often declare an interest in joining or allying with a certain cause, while subtly ridiculing it.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dewey |first1=Susan |last2=Crowhurst |first2=Isabel |last3=Izugbara |first3=Chimaraoke |title=Routledge International Handbook of Sex Industry Research |year= 2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1351133890 |page=723 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MHx_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT723 |language=en}} "The website ''Geek Feminism Wiki'' describes concern trolling as behavior conducted by: "a person who participates in a debate as an actual or potential ally who simply has some concerns they need answered before they will ally themselves with a cause. In reality they are a critic" (Geek Feminism, n.d.). I suggest that in the context of this behavior towards sex workers there is another element: feigned concern for the well-being of sex workers, as if sex workers are unable to look out for our own well-being.</ref> The concern troll posts in web forums devoted to their declared point of view and attempts to sway the group's actions or opinions while claiming to [[In-group favoritism|share their goals]], but with professed "concerns". The goal is to sow [[fear, uncertainty, and doubt]] within the group, sometimes by appealing to [[Call-out culture|outrage culture]].<ref name="timemag">{{Cite magazine | last=Cox | first=Ana Marie | date=16 December 2006 | title=Making Mischief on the Web | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570701,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113090041/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570701,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 January 2007 | access-date=24 March 2009}}</ref>

For example, a person who [[Social stigma of obesity|wishes to shame obese people]], but disguises this impulse as concern for the health of overweight people, could be considered a concern troll.<ref name="NationalReview">{{Cite magazine |url= https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/01/obesity-american-health-risk-feminism-concern-trolling/ |title= Feminist Internet: Citing Studies Linking Obesity to Health Problems Is 'Oppressive' |last= Timpf |first= Katherine |date= 26 January 2016 |magazine= [[National Review]] |access-date = 23 February 2021}}</ref>

A verifiable example of concern trolling within politics occurred in 2006 when Tad Furtado, a member of staff for then-Congressman [[Charles Bass]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[New Hampshire|N.H.]]), was caught posing as a "concerned" supporter of Bass's opponent, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Paul Hodes]], on several liberal [[New Hampshire]] blogs, using the pseudonyms "IndieNH" or "IndyNH". "IndyNH" expressed concern that Democrats might just be wasting their time or money on Hodes, because Bass was unbeatable.<ref name="ConcordMonitor">{{Cite news |url = http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/REPOSITORY/609270353 |title = Bass aide resigns for fake website postings |last = Saunders |first = Anne |date = 27 September 2006 |agency = [[Associated Press]] |newspaper = [[Concord Monitor]] |publisher = [[Newspapers of New England]] |access-date = 5 February 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130517004608/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060927%2FREPOSITORY%2F609270353 |archive-date = 17 May 2013 |df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="WMUR">{{Cite news |url = http://www.wmur.com/politics/9936715/detail.html |title = Bass Aide Resigns After Posing As Democrat On Blogs |date = 26 September 2006 |publisher = [[WMUR]] |access-date = 5 February 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081123085700/http://www.wmur.com/politics/9936715/detail.html |archive-date = 23 November 2008 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> Hodes eventually won the election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lorraine|first=Miller|date=September 21, 2007|title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006|url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2006election.pdf|website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref>

Although the term "concern troll" originated in discussions of online behavior, it now sees increasing use to describe similar offline behaviors. For example, James Wolcott of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' accused a conservative ''[[New York Daily News]]'' columnist of "concern troll" behavior in his efforts to downplay the [[Mark Foley scandal]]. Wolcott links what he calls concern trolls to what [[Saul Alinsky]] calls "Do-Nothings", giving a long quote from Alinsky on the Do-Nothings' method and effects:

{{blockquote|These Do-Nothings profess a commitment to social change for ideals of justice, equality, and opportunity, and then abstain from and discourage all effective action for change. They are known by their brand, 'I agree with your ends but not your means'.<ref name="vanfair">{{cite web |url = http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2006/10/political_pieti.html |title = Political Pieties from a Post-Natal Drip |last = Wolcott |first = James |date = 6 October 2006 |work = James Wolcott's Blog – [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |publisher = [[Condé Nast]] |access-date = 25 March 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090218152929/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2006/10/political_pieti.html |archive-date = 18 February 2009 |df = dmy-all}}</ref>}}

''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' published an op-ed piece by [[Markos Moulitsas]] of the liberal blog ''[[Daily Kos]]'' titled "Dems: Ignore 'Concern Trolls{{'"}}. The concern trolls in question were not Internet participants but rather Republicans offering public advice and warnings to the Democrats that could be considered deceptive.<ref name="thehill">{{cite web| url=https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/markos-moulitas/21108-dems-ignore-concern-trolls/ | title=Dems: Ignore 'concern trolls' | last=Moulitsas | first=Markos | author-link=Markos Moulitsas | date=9 January 2008 | work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | publisher=[[Capitol Hill Publishing Corp]] | access-date=25 March 2009}}</ref>