I don't tend to find comments on HN the same as other social media because discussion is often brought up because of comments. Drive-by comment bombing doesn't work here the same as other places.

I could characterize this entire argument of yours as "drive-by comment bombing", thus backing my (facetious, rhetorical) claim that you are a shill for the photovoltaic industry.

Do you believe only government pays trolls to comment online? And no industry does this?

You’re asking me to prove a negative. That’s not how it works. You’re the one trying to advance a theory.

My counter argument here is simple:

1. You have outlined a pattern of behavior that in your opinion indicates that someone is a paid shill.

2. However you yourself have engaged in the exact pattern of behavior you describe.

3. Therefore we are left with two options:

A: Your theory is correct, and you are a paid shill for renewables.

B: You are not a paid shill, and hence the pattern of behavior you describe is not actually strong evidence of shilling.

Which one is it?

I will restate my original post, which I agree with you could have been more ideally written:

"I don't think it's just government, but also likely industries as well. I've seen what could only be trolling for support of multiple industries."

Since this was my intent to state in the first place, do you disagree with this because you think it's impossible? Or because you think it's unlikely? Or some other reason?

The original post demonstrated proof that governments pay trolls, do you believe the only customers for these businesses are governments?

If you're so eager to shrug off the burden of proof, you have no business making those kinds of claims in the first place.

The burden of proof on this subject is incredibly low. Corporate espionage has been around for a long time, this is far less damaging/shocking/expensive than that.

I'd say it's almost a forgone conclusion that it's happening.

Edit: From 2015

https://curiousmatic.com/professional-trolls/

Link in the article to Monsanto trolling:

https://naturalsociety.com/monsanto-and-others-caught-paying...