Trolls and Vigilantes more prevalent on Florida Action Committee Forum
If you’ve been an avid follower of the Florida Action Committee forum, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve been receiving more comments from trolls, vigilantes or people simply posting nasty comments.This is likely the result of some of the public awareness campaigns we have been running over the last month or so.
As previously announced, FAC has been airing our short-form public service announcement videos as paid ads on YouTube Shorts. You can view the videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@FloridaActionCommittee/shorts
The videos have garnered more than 23,000 views in the last couple of months. This has been great in bringing awareness to our organization and spreading our message to the public. Naturally, not all people coming across the videos will share our point of view, and that’s fine. We welcome people to engage with our organization, challenge our perspective and hopefully become more informed about the laws and their effectiveness (or lack thereof). If we only communicate amongst ourselves, we will never have the opportunity to effectuate change.
Unfortunately, not all people who have differing points of view are kind or respectful. We know that and we expected that. Some people have taken the time to post nasty, threatening comments. A few have taken A LOT of time to post these comments.
As a consequence, we’ve had to spend more time moderating what gets posted to our forum. In the process, some comments might have slipped through which probably should not have. We’re sorry if anything that has slipped through has been offensive or triggering. This is new territory for us and we’re trying to balance the opportunity to debate people who have historically had the wrong impression about registrants, with keeping our site a safe and welcoming place for all stakeholders in this very polarizing topic.
To deal with the influx of new visitors, we’ve taken several steps to protect the safety and comfort of our community. First, we’ve posted our “Comment Policy” immediately above the form where users can post comments. While this won’t stop vigilantes intent on posting insults, it will hopefully curb it somewhat. Second, we are adding moderators to provide a second opinion to review certain comments that might be questionable. Third (and this has been a feature of our forum always, but something we are using more now), we capture the commenter’s IP address for every comment that’s posted to our site. Even if someone posts anonymously, there are certain items of metadata that can help us identify the source of a post. If we notice repeated violations of our comment policy, we can block the user from posting. If someone posts a direct threat, we can even provide that information to law enforcement.
The last step we are taking is bringing our readers (you) into the loop. It’s important for you to know why we are getting more unwelcome attention. It’s also important that we maintain our professionalism and dignity when dealing with these “new visitors”. If you come across a courteous comment from someone on the other side of this issue, respond politely, introduce facts, and engage in the type of dialogue that our public awareness campaigns were intended to foster. If you come across a comment that should not have been posted, don’t stoop to their level, let us know and we can remove it.
At least we know our public service announcements are getting attention, and that’s what we are trying to achieve.
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Alert
As I understand it, the purpose of FAC is to end the registry and the draconian restrictions that further punish people or attempt to punish people for an adjudicated offense. I’ve never seen them advocate for sex crimes.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has long been difficult to deal with if you’re a person forced to register as a sex offender. It seems the office was being led by a corrupt sheriff who now has his own felony charges to deal with in federal court!
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/06/05/osceola-county-sheriff-marcos-lopez-suspended-amid-federal-racketeering-charges/
Just saying
Man has to go thru process like yall did
Do not label him yet that’s what Jury is for
What is your opinion on someone whose offense was first degree child abuse being an advocate for this cause? What about rape?
FAC does not in any way condone sexual activity between adults and children, nor does it condone any sexual activity that would break laws in any state. We do not advocate lowering the age of consent, and we have no affiliation with any group that does condone such activities.
Then why is it okay that the outspoken one, is is very hostile by the way,has so many of you praising him? Have you seen the original charges found guilty of? I have.
FAC- can you please answer and post the 2nd part of my question? It’s a legitimate question. It’s a bad look to allow someone to be such an outspoken advocate and act so hostile to everyone who comes to express themselves, when that person was convicted of first degree child abuse. It seems like the people on the registry who didn’t commit first degree abuse or rape are supporting it. Thanks
If someone is convicted of a first degree sex crime— or any crime— while contributing to this forum, that’s it— you won’t be hearing from them again, because they’ll likely end up somewhere without access to our site.
By contrast, if someone has a conviction in their background and has since been working towards their rehabilitation, then this may be a suitable place for them. Their views are welcome, so long as they conform to FAC’s code of conduct, such as not engaging in hostility, as you point out. And if such a person makes a noteworthy contribution to the community, such as prevailing over a Senate leader in a free speech case at high court, then that’s an achievement to be recognized, whether or not we get along with the person that achieved it.
FAC of course has its own spokespersons, and I am not one of them, but neither is the person you’re objecting to, I would suspect.
Thanks Jacob. You’re a cool dude for answering so politely
I will argue that trolls are not as prevalent as you may think. Often, they are simply a singular troll, or at best, a small group of maybe a half-dozen, tops.
I don’t even believe some of them are really on the “other side of the issue.” Some are just big trash talkers and pot-stirrers on the Internet and do it just in hopes to get noticed by someone, ANYONE, because nobody cares they exist. Many are also bullies; bullies don’t pick on anyone they see as strong and able to fight back, after all. And yes, a few may even be disgruntled Registered Persons who are upset over a dispute within our movement.
I know folks complain about moderation but there needs to be some at least when it comes to the trolls. Who cares about their feelings? Not me. As I stated before, they have numerous other places on the Internet that they can go to whine about us existing. Maybe they’ll find like-minded folks and can take turns sharing a solitary working brain cell between them while they continue to engage in the quality of trolling akin to asking people over the phones if their refridgerators are running or if they have Prince Albert in a Can.
Wow.
I’m shocked 😲 they(Trolls) stirred such a big chaos on this forum?
Some have second time offenders in the neighborhood!
Must be a very small number of them. The likelihood of a subsequent sexual offense is very small.
Alert
Show the statistics. Recidivism for a new sex crime is very low. Most rearrests are either non sexual crimes or registration violations.
derek
disagree with your statement, rather cruel and insensitive. But as you said “you don’t care”
Vigilante justice is a corrupt way to go in many issues. One would have to say a person has to have a lot of ego to take justice into their own hands The trolling issue via the internet is what many hate, It’s like a high school punk/bully provoking someone.
Trolling is like a puffed up pride of wisdom that try’s to cut others down and can be upsetting to others and really disrespectful. If we all don’t take this registry seriously their is no hope for change. Much of registry is as corrupt as thee authorities doing them.
It’s the evil intent of these corrupt LE that are creating many of these downfall situations and covering up themselves in many ways. And after the show is over LE just laugh about it. At least mine did. So who has faith in the justice system today or is the justice system being fair.
saddles
always have faith in Lady Justice
Hopefully so,I believe in KARMA……
rick
it depends which Karma?
The karma against my family , at 3 am, be a man about it and do this act while I’m awake, banging on the door after defacateing on my front mat and destroying my property…..wife is still scared nighty because of it, and why I carry and licensed to do so…..
rick
why would your own family harm you? Not understanding
It’s statistically true. The “stranger danger” myth is just that, a myth.
No end
Is it save to assume that someone in the family was harmed?
Not in my case. I had an underage girlfriend when I was 20 years old. That was almost 20 years ago lol. But statistically most sex offenses happen within a circle of trust such as a pastor, coach, babysitter etc. I guess you can say even in my offense, I knew the girl. She lived across the street from me and we just started liking each other. Was it bad judgement on my part? Yes it was looking back now at almost 40 years old. But for the government to label me a “sex offender” is a bit excessive. I’m married now, two kids and own my home so I’d like to think I’m fairly successful now.
Not quite aa.
Aa
The majority of sex crimes are committed by people who know their victims. Statistics have shown time and again that a family member is more likely to sexually abuse a child than a stranger.
bwj
that explains why Rick was targeted, harm was done to family member.
What about the drug pushers that are hurting our children, How about the drunk or high driver that has taken lives of our young and old. I personally know about a drunk driver rolling over a car and killing all but one person out of 6. An entire family, Grandfather, mother, father, 3 children. Two boys and one girl who was a niece of the family. The Grandmother was the only one to survive. (She was begging to be shot because she had nothing to live for. The drunk in the Pickup truck was not even seriously injured. He didn’t spend any time in prison and got his driver’s license back in a year. Where is the registry for them? I have over 3 million miles over the road in a semi without one ticket or accident. Not saying I couldn’t have an accident. I raced cars in New York and Pennsylvania on the dirt as well as asphalt. I know that doing that made me a safer driver. On the track if something happens it is seconds until the safety crews are there to help. On the highway it could be hours or days before help arrives. especially on country roads. A man in Pennsylvania disappeared one winter and was never found until the snow melted and his car was stuck in a snow bank. the road was impassable for three months due to the snow that drifted in and covered everything. There are many of these accidents that happen and no one to help. Just an example of the dangers out there.