How The Madeleine McCann Story Was Hijacked By Web Trolls
FROM the Anorak Forums - by AGW:
One of the most bizarre and troubling aspects of of the Madeleine McCann story has been the way the coverage of the story has itself become the story.
Anorak is not a site which has ever been (or ever will be) dedicated to the alleged crimes of abduction and subsequent claim and counter-claim of deeper, darker deeds involving in turn a resident Englishman in the Portuguese holiday complex where the McCann family had been staying and then the parents and their friends themselves.
Right at the beginning of all this I had predicted it was a complex story which would run and run. I confess to being bemused by the the tale’s longevity. The Madeline McCann story has become Dianaeque in its telling and re-telling, worse it is on a par with the empty and drifting ship the Mary Celeste.
The story of a photogenic, pretty little white girl from a professional and middle-class background was sure to attract attention.
I had always expressed serious doubts about the wisdom of the parents’ determination to avoid clear police advice and follow their own route to infamy…because that it what it has become.
The story divided neatly pro and anti. Not pro and anti the hunt for a little girl or her remains but pro and anti the parents. It has become a love-hate story. Every day in Anorak there are those who praise or condemn, support or vilify.
Professional journalists have watched with increasing bemusement, bordering on horror, at the activities of sites created and devoted exclusively to the Madeleine McCann story. They have risen, flowered and been cut down. The same individuals, only the names have been changed to protect the guilty, have in their turn raged or praised as each site flourished and then fell by the wayside.
The same experts and lost souls appeared again and again, and yet again, during the brief existence of these sites. Sometimes only the keystrokes or style and use of phrases and words revealed their true identity. They took full advantage and became legends in their own lunch-times, master spies, superheroes CyberMan or DigiWoman each using the Internet’s basic anonymity to change gender, location and re-invent themselves as brilliantly clear thinkers, defenders of the faith and public morale and morals or, very sad solicitors posing as desperate housewives.
The 3 Arguidos site is probably the strongest of the allegedly Madeleine McCann dedicated sites. I have no access to it nor seek any since it regularly appears to be an outrageous vipers nest of sad people, many of whom have had brief cyber-existences here. It has attracted an interesting group of supporters and helpers and we should genuinely wish them well. They are the Jerry Springer end of the coverage.
The McCann story can not sustain sites like this and they have to diversify. Recruitment from sites such as ours is one way of doing it.
The Moderators here at Anorak have noted a recent surge of activity as the once-again revamped team at the 3As have become our new friends. Avid letter writers to Anorak and when gently challenged, retreat to vent their spleen within their own site. We had such an incursion yesterday.
We are aware the 3As site has suffered dreadful problems lately and we sympathise but do have our own course to run.
There is always a suspicion, often borne out by later scurrilous attacks, the new best friends have their own agenda. That’s fine we all do…and I do not intend to give the 3As site any further creditability by association with us.
It is worth passing on one of the alleged solicitor types in there tried to publish our editor’s telephone number. Why? It is freely available on this site and he is more than well-equipped to be happily entertained by the odd moronic or dirty phone call.
We remain secure in the knowledge of many things but among them are:
Anorak is the leading site of its genre
It has the most experienced and competent team of Moderators
Its writers are skilled and entertaining
It is growing and constantly evolving which is a healthy thing
It is often not a comfortable place to be but remains vibrant and exciting
Imitation and jealous rages remain the sincerest forms of flattery.
…and the headline to this piece? It is often forgotten that the very next line in that quotation is:
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself”
Posted: 30th, June 2008 | In: Anorak Says, Madeleine McCann Comments (626) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
June 30th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
clueless you have a fixation with Perry and his family.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Clouseau
Do you think they’ll come round and sort out my stone wall?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
lone
I burnt your baps sorry, will try again……
love you too nosey
Would you like to sample my baps?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
230
Gandolf Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 2:30 pm e
I have it on good authority from my deeply placed mole on 3arses, they have all probably got moles on their arses, however I digress, it was Robert Mugabe who posted, as he heard the 3arses is a site for despots run by despots and delusionists, he is right.
************************
‘E ba gum, that Mugabe’s a bit backward…………..
June 30th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
230
you mean they are masons?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I have it on good authority from my deeply placed mole on 3arses, they have all probably got moles on their arses, however I digress, it was Robert Mugabe who posted, as he heard the 3arses is a site for despots run by despots and delusionists, he is right.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Melanie
You can go off people ….
going to take it out on the waching line…
huh flouncing off now….
June 30th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Yes, someone is lying….. and it’s not me
Do you want me to post the begging mail or the mail titled “What they are hiding on 3As!” with the full text of the article on Anorak as well as a link! [Could be also an attempt to "steal" Anorak's bandwith?!]
Are they starting a troll attack? If they need to start that kind of attacks on other sites it tells enough about them, isn’t it?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
MrsT, happy too. More than happy too.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
where’s ade when you need him?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Thank you, Gandolf; we can always rely on you for the mot juste…
June 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
hahahahahahahaha a fine post Gandolf.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Brandon
Come back - we love you
You can post on other sites you know Its not illegal or nuffink…
actually i post on a very good support website. It has a great ‘Mental Health’ section if anyone wants the link…
June 30th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Brandon
I’d like some baps please
June 30th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
And it’s KOWTOW you cross bovine fowl fukwit.
M and A
NOt the fowl at all…honest
June 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Melanie - Bog off he’s mine I saw him first!!!
Mrs T - each to his own - please don’t damage above the knees
June 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Melanie, there is a lovely mud bath in the Forums (it can accommodate 2 people), take him in there and have your wicked way with him - just exhaust him enough so he’s too knackered for the start of the season
Don’t forget the zlotys …..
June 30th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
See the fukwit RR is trolling again.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I’ll have the middle one
June 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
MrsT, if you chop his legs off, Nosey and I will one each…
June 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
203
MrsT Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
You don’t mean chenier ……. der der der der ….
Nbrado?!?!?!
———————————————
So twas said; I believe the ‘free’ spamming of one of the moderator’s products can’t be laid at his/her door.
But the poster calling him/herself BJR is certainly lying…
June 30th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
You see nosey, that’ what I like about Anorak.
You love Ronaldo - I want to chop his legs off at the knees (unless he goes to Real Madrid)
… and I’m allowed to write that I want to do that …. and kick him in his family allowance, and …… 
June 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Brandon, any fruit shortcake? They are my favourites. I could do a whole packet right now!
June 30th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Once again the truth is silenced on this site.
Administrator: No I think you are now acting like a pentulant child and creating a distraction for your own ends. We have those who are familiar with the 3As and say they they would eat their hats if this is proven to be bjr. I am not familiar with the style but it is getting to be silly behaviour where you are being treated as a valued guest. It not polite and you truly are showing yourself up. Please send your libel teams to Anorak Towers ASAP tell them to bring lots of money wrapped up in a £5 note because if you attempted such foolishnish you’ll be broke. ..and we have all the advice we need ta very much -agw
June 30th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Mrs T
There is absolutely NOTHING WRONG with the RONALDO threads
lets drink to them and many more…..
Brandon - Curly wurly ????
June 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
And I would advise you guys to stop printing libellous articles regarding the 3Arguidos. We have our fair share of Lawyers frequenting the site who would be more than happy to humiliate you.
_________________
To my critics
When I’m in a sober mood, I worry, work and think,
When I’m in a drunken mood, I gamble, play and drink,
But when my moods are over and my time has come to pass,
I hope I’m buried upside down, so the world may kiss my ar*e
————–
bjr known as Bren to Friends
Mods and Admin
Ah yes, we know your legal team……
June 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
That’ll do nicely
June 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Right heres a massive pot with minatures to help yourselves !!
June 30th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Would that have a wee dram of something in it Brandon?
For medicinal purposes of course …..
June 30th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Bye then ……