Sometimes, you just have to fight back. This is a personal note that goes along with the recent news of the bullying of Dr. Susan Crockford and Dr. Judith Curry.
Thanks to the Chico Police Department and officer Jim Parrott, I learned today that we were able to shut down a person living in Windsor Ontario who has been serially harassing me and threatening me and my family for over a year. He was doing this because of my views on “climate change” and my website: https://wattsupwiththat.com
Officer Parrott reached out to the Windsor Police Department (Constable Strong in the WPD Major Crimes Unit) and provided him all the research I’d gathered (including setting up an Internet “honeypot” to trap him) and today we get word back that the suspect has been identified, and has had police officers show up at his front door.
This particularly malicious troll is one of the “Arctic sea ice zealots” that inhabit Jim Hunt’s “Great White Con” website on sea ice. Both Jim and this troll were long ago banned from WUWT for serially bad behavior breaking our commenting policy multiple times, but this one troll couldn’t let it go. He escalated, and continued to do so.
Of course, the troll embraced the crazy and patently wrong views promoted by Dr. Michael Mann and many others that I’m an “agent of the Koch brothers, and on the take to run WUWT”.
As I’ve said many times in the past, I’ve never taken a dime from the Koch’s; they don’t even know who I am. WUWT is entirely supported by advertising and donations.
My opinions published here and the opinions of guest authors is entirely our own, and not “for hire” as some weak-minded people assert. One of these days, Dr. Mann is going to find himself on the wrong end of a lawsuit for promoting these falsehoods that incite people like I’ve had to deal with for over a year. In fact, this particular troll claimed he had enlisted Dr. Mann as part of his plan to “expose me” (the troll’s words). He also said he’d enlisted Sou aka Miriam O’Brien of Hotwhopper in his cause against me. Of course, it turned out to be nothing but bluster, but wow, this guy had quite an imagination and hatred for me in his heart.
Thanks to the work of the Windsor Police Department and the Chico Police Department, this malicious Internet troll won’t be bothering me again.
Thanks also to a number of bloggers who helped me zoom in on this guy by sharing information. Thanks also to “Poptech” whose research was very helpful. Great thanks to our own “Charles the Moderator” who helped me stay calm and focused on the “long game” rather than let this toad get under my skin.
Its quite a feeling of satisfaction to [get some action on] this case, especially since this dirtbag had assumed multiple identities, used fake emails, and other techniques to hide his identity. Much like some of the other trolls we deal with here daily, but this one stepped over the line, time and time again.
For example here are excerpts from a long rambling email I received (along with Charles the Moderator who was helping me) Tuesday, November 07, 2017 4:28 PM
Great news perverted WOMEN HATERS;)
(Saul pulled it off and remained invisible, aren’t you impressed, my two little twinkies? Hehehe, just 11 followers)
NOVEMBER 12th 2017
This is just one of dozens of crazy emails with threats I received over the last year and a half. Some contained thinly veiled death threats, some like this one were irrational rants, some were incomprehensible references to things he “knew” but I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. The reference to November 12th in this email was a “drop dead date” for an extortion attempt (I was supposed to donate to the Canadian organization Medicine Sans Frontiers aka doctors without borders to avoid my exposure of “Koch dollars”). Of course, I’m not easily extorted, because I knew this jerk was just making things up out of his own Koch-fueled imagination.
My mistake was originally treating him with respect over a complaint he had about WUWT, and replying using my personal email. That was a dumb move of trust on my part that I won’t repeat again.
So, we nailed him. Despite his cowardice and shapeshifting, we prevailed, and we used his own stupidity against him to trap him in the “honeypot” so a positive ID could be made.
I won’t share the technique I devised, but it’s safe to say he had no idea what hit him when officers showed up at his door in Windsor. While it is very very tempting to share the file I have on him thanks to the police, I’ve learned long ago that “discretion is the greater part of valor“. I’ll just keep it handy, just in case I need to exercise my rights further.
Right Thomas? aka “Lawrence Martin”, aka “Reggie”, aka “Reginald Perrin” aka “Saul from Montreal”, aka “Solomon Gursky”, aka “Master of Space and Thyme” among others… here’s a partial photo of Thomas the troll from the file:
In the meantime, potential dirtbags that might be thinking of threatening me or my family or any other climate skeptic should think again. We won’t tolerate it. Climate skeptics are fed up with the threats and smears as we’ve seen against Dr. Curry and Dr. Crockford, and we aren’t going to take it anymore.
So, in closing…
Troll, troll, troll your boat gently down the stream…
Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily, anonymity is but a dream.
UPDATE:
BTW, I forgot to add this note. There’s precedence for arresting Internet trolls in Canada, such as this notorious one who got 16 counts and a psych evaluation:
https://pandasthumb.org/archives/2011/08/prolific-intern.html
Congratulations to AW for hitting back. Long overdue. With a bit of luck, this will give the hysterical Warmunists something to think about.
This is further evidence that the CAGW scare is finally coming to an end. Internet trolls like this specimen have no arguments, only abuse and insults.
Anthony, the post does not describe the nature of the police visit. Was he arrested ? Charges filed ? Or was it a verbal warning : we know who you are and you had better stop, etc.
What we don’t know from the post (and I don’t suggest it should be revealed) is whether the troll is one of the opposition elite (the “Consensus Club” of Climate Scientists), some academic with some smidgen of science in his background who is well known by the faithful on the blogosphere, or just one of the anonymous “useful idiots” who take CAWG as gospel.
This take down should send a well deserved message message to all 3 groups and MAYBE will inject some degree of caution into their posts.
That entire community may have been lulled over the years by the apparent success of Dr Mann to mis-use the law to fend off criticism, by attacks from the President’s Science Advisor, and even RICO threats by state AGs.
Let’s hope this instance as well as efforts such as Dr Crockford’s stance against “scientific” bullying are evidence that the tide is turning.
Do sceptics behave in this way to CAGW proponents?
Anthony Watts: “I’m an ‘agent of the Koch brothers, and on the take to run WUWT’.” Ah ha! — so, you admit it!!! Climate-denier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[The mods have elected to clear this comment based on the belief that it is intended as sarcasm. -mod]
Yes! Thank you for clearing it. The diarrheic exclamation marks were intended as the satiric clue.
Congratulations Anthony and Charles!
Though you can’t reveal techniques, the fact that you were able to, is very reassuring for many. It would be nice if you pinned this article at the top for a week, so trolls and those they attack can see it. Much value in this story as a strong deterrent.
I’d like to add this comment:
There is some complacency among people, partly based on how things worked in the past, regarding being able to hunt down someone that commits crimes on the Internet. Long gone are the days of script kiddies. Today’s hackers are close to 100% organized crime or governments. Most of us don’t have that kind of skill to hide our identity.
In addition, there are excellent tools, skilled people and organizations that know how to track people down. So, if you are a novice and think of engaging in illegal activities on the Internet, be ready to “do time”. One mistake on your part and you will be found.
Again congratulations, and thank you!
well – there goes the “nice Canadian” stereotype
I believe it’s “Canadian Polite” and “Minnesota Nice”. The Minnesotans I know say Minnesota Nice is just a different name for Passive Aggressive.
Don’t ever do a search for “Canadian Cynic”…
Allow me to add my congrats, Mr. Watts! This kind of news brightens my day. Thank you for sharing.
Revenge is a dish best served COLD. (TIC)…..
Well played Anthony, well played indeed 🙂
The outcome warms the heart :))))
Its amazing how wrong a google search on visually similar images can take one.
https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZiuI5HcaH1yYx0RS-DHJf1aQHO7HY-yGEPQi1DX9RTP4g6yWSFHXYVLFmznd26YS5-_1z3WiHZtrIddK2r531deZQs9PuxjkKVzROs_1RQuf2vlp7RfU4wakcKA61-kA9oBBB25yHy3QIIYSi7w7l7EXb1wocwobUr_1WARjy8XYdEGkPyAJfKiN9EX1M1OkVwv6Nq9q_1ms_1nFvO201i2-IXerSa-9amlZUjgd86HzAGVXJy5c6BylR-0FHEIEWkSPBwWwju9WewpJUkY40V01V3NKEFeM32MgRZFn7stMjQwDBmts7GHT6EwkgpIcwy-yVPZuQy1K0FOD0gEMiG2ezzjOvtuWloA
I am deeply disappointed. I thought I was fly in the ointment as the resident lefty and believer in climate change science. I thought my long history here swimming against the tide would have at least brought me some recognition…….. oh, hang on, won’t be a minute, there is someone banging on the door.
Sorry Gareth.. but you have never really rated.
😎
Gareth,
You and commenters like Griff and others may like to make comments that “stir the pot” in Anthony’s “virtual living room”, but it sounds like this guy made threats regarding his “real living room”.
I don’t you’ve ever done that.
And it seems like he’s a bit of a virtual “stalker” that likes disguises.
He seems to be in a league that you wouldn’t be proud to be a part of.
(PS That last line was meant as a compliment.)
It’s the Girl Scouts with the cookies you ordered. Don’t panic.
Think Tallbloke
+10
Duh ! You’re just entertainment here, clown.
Dear Anthony, so sorry this idiot came from my country, you were right in going as far with this as you did. We’re not good at keeping the criminally insane in check up here – therefore I’d consider one from up here as if they were in your state. There have been other nut cases from here who have gone state side to murder. Cops usually don’t just make a ‘friendly’ visits with a stern warning when it comes to this sort of thing now. They messed up with that one guy – who was reported doing sick stuff on internet and he murdered someone – mailed body parts to federal politicians.
oops wrong thread
Definitely six sigma from norm even according to the DSM V. That prose is the rantings of a mad man.
Anthony, that must have been a stressful year and half for you! Good that you and Charles have caught that nasty person…
Congrats and be sure not to forget the biggest farce of all. Surely the time is coming for MM to “face the music.”
Keep up the good work. It seems that WUWT may be becoming the biggest threat of all to this malicious intentionally manufactured blight on humanity.
Fashion tips for trolls!
https://lookastic.com/men/corduroy-blazer
Maybe he is a clothing model and he is insulted by all the negative comments on WUWT about models?
It’s taken Jeff Goldstein some 11 years to pin his most difficult troll to the wall, and I sincerely hope that this is it for you. Good luck in your dealings with this character!
Wishing you Godspeed, Anthony
Such people seem to adopt writing styles that they fancy as being clever and creative, when, in actuality, a sane person can barely make any sense out of it.
…psychotic banter, … delusional smack talk, … pseudo critique — I’ve seen other examples by other internet presences.
Oh, I left out rhetorical masturbation, … or rather the attempt thereof, … with a limp ………………. you know.
Great to hear the police have caught up with this dirt bag Anthony. Hopefully that’s the last you’ll hear from him.
“Softly, Softly – Catch the monkey…”
Well done, Sir!
Thomas’ nightmare has just begun !
Well done Anthony and Charles!
Your patience paid off, despite the additional stress this must have put you and yours through.
Hopefully there will be no repeat performances.
Keep safe.