Janice-the first time I saw "bashers never bash a bad stock" it was on some website purporting to tell the truth about the evil and wicked bashers and their techniques. It was so long ago I've forgotten where, but a google search turned up the "basher handbook" at messageboardfools.com, listing it as rule #1.
That domain was registered anonymously through godaddy.com in 2000, so it goes back at least that far.