Eric Topp: Sockpuppet
Submitted by veblen on November 3, 2007 - 4:02pm
This should be the big story in the days leading up to the end of campaign for State College Area School Board.
As I had mentioned earlier the comment sections at the CDT of stories on the school board race are a fever swap dominated by anti-board animus. I questioned if these comments were were being coordinated by any of the opposition groups on the behalf of the candidates. I asked this after I was able to identify Rampage22, a prolific commenter on the school board race, as a member of the David Paterno Sensible Solution Team. Rampage22 denied that this was the case. But he is only a foot solder in this battle.
Today a general in the battle, Eric Topp another member of the Paterno Team and the campaign manger for challenger Rick Madore, revealed himself to be an anonymous commenter at the CDT. This came in the comment section to Friday's CDT article on the Borough Council backing the write-in candidates. Here is the exchange which leads to the revelation.
AT 63:Eric Topp - you are a coward and a liar. Everyone knows that 99% of these low class, vile, ill informed and ignorant comments on the school board articles are from you. Why don't you be a man and identify yourself? Apparently, you enjoy hiding behind your anonymity online as well as in person. Just a tip - when lurking around the homes of opposition candidates, misrepresenting yourself to the innocent children and family members of those you oppose and LYING is not ok - it is CREEPY. You ARE the new low, you define it completely.
AT 65:Eric Topp - come out from behind your cowardly 'anonymous' signatures and let's talk about what you are really afraid of - the truth...
AT 70: Exactly. Not cool, Eric Topp. Your desperation is palpable and really quite pathetic. As campaign manager for the wannabes, why are you afraid to identify yourself? What are you afraid of? The truth? Finally, the CDT is starting to report it. The well informed voters of this community who care about the future of our children and our schools are getting it. The taxpayers who do not want their taxes to skyrocket and go straight to the pockets of your friends and developers are getting it. The parents of young children hoping to maintain the excellence of one of the finest school systems in the country are seeing through the hype of your very expensive public relations and political sleaze machine. They will write in Robert Hendrickson and James Leous on Tuesday.
Then comes the response by Eric Topp.
AT 72:Let me address your points
First, I have spoken to Jim Leous several times and find him to be a person open to discussion. I spoke to him at Foxdale and at the LOWV. Each time he was open to discussion and did not have any issue in speaking with me. I hold no animosity towards Jim and would welcome him in my home. That said, I disagree with his campaign and position 100 percent.
Second, I run through this neighborhood and other neighborhoods. I run about 10 miles a day four times a week so you figure it out in a town the size of SC. In short, only so many loops exist and I do run down W. Fairmont.
Third, I have tried to call Jim several times over the past few days to ask him several questions. The phone was busy each time so I stopped by his house after finishing a run. He lives one street up and one block over from me. I have seen him at neighborhood events and waiting with his children at the bus stop. He is also a candidate so I don?t see this as an issue. Last time I checked, I get to vote too so I can ask questions. I don?t remember anyone leaning into Cindy Carpenter or Nancy Kranich when they cornered candidates for 30 to 45 min at a time to pelt them with questions.
AT 73:Fourth, Jim was not home and I spoke to his wife. She told me that I should call their other number as the one I was using is for Internet access (always busy). I asked her to leave a message for Jim to drop me a line as I had a question. She asked my name and I told her. She gave me a bit of a look and I told her that this whole thing is not personal. I disagree with Jim?s position but I don?t hate anyone.
Fifth, I don?t lurk anywhere as I spend 10 percent of my time running and the rest of the time right here working or with my family.
Finally Topp admits to posting anonymously under the name STATUS QUO NO
AT 78:Personal attack requires a personal reply. The biggest problem in this entire endeavor is the inability for certain people in this election to separate emotions from rational discussion. I only posted once on this topic under my normal name which is Status Quo No.
For the record, here is what he had to say under that pseudonym.
AT 26:The CDT is about maintaining the controversy as it sells papers?.bottom line. They don?t want to see a new majority in control that will then work together with civility. A headline of ?Board and community work in harmony? does not sell more papers. They want Leous and/or Hendrickson to get in office so the controversy can continue. Leous and Hendrickson have been put up again in a desperate hope of maintaining the status quo and control of the board. I don?t think I have ever seen a group more afraid of change than our school board and certain members of the Borough Council. I love how Bob talks about personal attacks when his campaign is the source. I do believe that Jim Leous is a good person who was duped into running but his deniability has now evaporated and he is part of this ?negative campaign?. The SOS campaign has taken this election into the gutter as this is nothing but an attempt to smear the names of five people who have children in this district and want to serve. The SOS campaign argument about a one issue election is true in their eyes. It is the elite/social people in power vs. the regular folks who want a say in government. To the ?High Society Boroughites? the barbarians are at the gates so the ends justify the means.
First, in the world of online commentary the behavior which Topp has exhibited is considered highly unethical. So much so, that it even has a name:Sockpuppetry.
Second, that last bold bit that Topp has posted anonymously is incredible. He's playing the elitist card in the hopes of stirring up the rubes. Why is that laughable? Topp lives in a Ritzy borough neiborhood and is an IBM employee. This is hardly the makings of a some regular joe.
This illustrates perfectly what I mean when I say that the challengers are stirring up the rubes. It isn't that I am looking down on these people, but rather that the challengers are cynically manipulating them. They are playing the people who live paycheck to paycheck for rubes.
Dirty Tricks.
Happy to Chat
I'm Not Eric
I'm not Eric, though I do know him and respect him very much. We happen to have very similar opinions on this school board race and I probably would not have had the opportunity to meet him had it not been for the renovation controvercy and the formation of the groups associated with it.
I never denied being on David's team working on the sensible solution. My real name appears on that web site as does Eric's name. It is the State High Vision web site that I am not listed on. Though I wouldn't have a problem if they included me there too. - Edit: I misread your initial comment, you did not say that I denided working on the Sensible Solution... however I'd like to point out that I had posted several comments about the Sensible Solution under my Rampage22 handle back when it was being drafted and presented to the board so your assessement that you were able to "identify me" as someone who worked on it is inaccureate. I identified myself (under my handle) a long time ago.
Most of those people know my true identitiy anyway and I'm sure if you had nothing better to do, you or anyone out there, could figure it out. It wouldn't be that hard. But I'd prefer to stay anonymous to protect myself and my family from the more fanatical idiots out there.
Veblen - Your Too Old For Masked "Super-Hero" Fantasies
Eric Topp in 2009?
While many of the posts on this board are critical of Mr. Topp (with some going so far as to label him a "stalker" and a "sock puppet"!), others of us feel he would be an excellent candidate for one of the next round of openings on the State College Areas School Board of Directors. Please recall that he was a serious candidate early in the last race and stepped aside for the good of the Challengers. His website is still active and outlines his thoughts on how he could help our community.
http://erictopp.net/
Are there others of you out there who feel like I do and want to encourage Eric to run again? Perhaps we could form an "exploration committee" to prepare for the upcoming challenge.
Comments appreciated!
Eric Topp in 2009?
Dear AD,
I'm not sure I've ever heard of someone planning a school board run two years in advance. Perhaps we should wait a year or so to see how well the current board functions before promoting new candidates for board membership.
I agree that Eric Topp could be a contender in the next election, though he'll have to work hard to overcome the Sock Puppet label that the SOS crowd has stuck him with.
My personal concern is that he could be a little old in 2009 (see link below to recent video on You Tube).
Peggy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJS5nxDt0jI