Entertainer Archive
Thread: Dealing with trolls
Page 1 of 2
picklesSW
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:19 pm
#1
The following is an exerpt from an existing website detailing some information about message board trolls. For some reason, the entertainer communities here on the SWG forums attract more than their fair share of trolls. If you have a problem identifying a troll or how to react (the first instinct is actually the worst), then please read below and maybe we can all help encourage them to go elsewhere.
TROLL BASICS
1.1 What is a troll?
The term "troll" has several meanings. Here's the dictionary definition:
troll(trol)
v. To fish for by running a baited line behind a slowly moving boat
n. A creature of Scandinavian folklore variously portrayed as a dwarf or giant living in caves or under bridges.
And then there's the Web meanings - which are actually similar to those above. In the case of the verb, the definition is close, with a small twist: you are the thing that somebody is trying to catch - and catch you they will if you aren't wary. For bait, the troll will often take the form of a derogatory post - one that is designed to incite as much reaction as possible. For each person who responds, the poster will consider that person "caught". The troll is considered to have been a complete success if it disrupts the normal traffic on a forum. Then, there is the noun, which again is nearly dead on, but this type of troll has an e-mail account, a global bridge to hide under, and a fishing pole to match - beware, for the hills are full of 'em.
1.2 How can I spot a troll?
Most trolls take the form of blanket statements designed solely to generate as many irate responses as possible. Posts with such comments as . . . .
All (insert groupname) SUCK!
Look, a board full of those selfish people!
(insert groupname) are pathetic people.
YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
I LOVE AFKERS!
. . . .are most likely trolls.
Trolls can also pop up in existing threads. These are usually the most distressing as they are unsuspected. Suddenly, you are confronted with someone you believe to be an entertainer, who has taken a ridiculous position which just pisses you off from here to Hades. Remember, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't believe this guy", it's a good chance that the post is a troll. You'll know for sure if the same person is consistently stupid and infuriating throughout the majority of his posts to the newsgroup.
1.3 Are trolls made by real people?
Nope. Trolls are made by nasty little people who crave far more attention than they deserve. Most of them are inadequate losers with absolutely_no_lives_what_so_ever. Remember that a troll, by virtue of their lack of a life, will always have more time on his hands than you - it's part of the inhuman nature of the beast. Also, be advised that trolls will also band together.
1.4 Why do trolls troll?
Ah, good question. While there is no way of knowing why all trolls troll, there are some good theories. The general concensus is that the troll is trying to build up a flaccid ego; the troll sees itself as superior to anyone who responds to the bait. The worst thing you can do, in the eyes of the troll, is not respond at all - to absolutely ignore them. By not reacting, you have completely defeated their purpose in life. In other words, the troll sees his self-worth in how much of a reaction he can inspire - ignore him, and you confirm his worthlessness. It's your best weapon.
ANTI - TROLL TACTICS
2.1 What's the best way to deal with a troll?
Contrary to most people's natural instincts, the best tactic is to do absolutely nothing. In other words, DO NOT respond to a troll or to someone you suspect may be a troll. To do so is to play entirely into the trolls hands. This cannot be stressed enough . If left alone, the troll will usually get bored and go away - leaving many happy entertainers to ride off into the sunset doing various backwards and forwards victory dances. Read that last paragraph carefully. It is of the utmost importance if we are to keep trolls at bay. So, remember, a troll's greatest joy is to piss _YOU_ off. Unless you deny him what he wants, he will stay around for more - gleefully feasting off your frustration, anger, indignation and vain attempts to reason with him. If you look right through him like everyone else in his miserable stinking life has, then he will usually slither back into his cave and/or find his prey elsewhere.
2.2 I can flame with the best of 'em - shouldn't I just drive them off?
Unfortuantely, no. The above assumption is based on the premise that trolls are actually like real people. They are not; they thrive off of negative input. Input in any form makes them feel more important and will only cause them to stay. Sure, you may be able to successfully spank a troll here or there if you are good - and we mean DAMN good. Flaming is an art that many, many, try, few master, and nearly all think they are good at. As a rule, DON'T flame 'em, it does NOT work and will only prolong the agony for everybody else.
2.3 But they make me so mad I want to scream - can I?
By all means no! If you must scream, do so at your neighbors' children. It will be much more effective than screaming at the troll. If you absolutely must respond due to some personal neurological disorder, please do so in a private message and not on the forum.
2.4 The troll won't go away - there must be *something* I can do?
Notify a moderator. Believe it or not, these people are quite adept at removing trolling or abusive posts and will often do so immediately and without remorse.
2.5 Okay, then how do I contact a moderator?
Click the link at the bottom right of the troll's post that says "Report Abuse to a Moderator". Tell them you think the person is flaming or trolling and let them handle it.
RELATED TOPICS
3.1 What's a flame?
A flame is a particularly nasty, personal attack on somebody for something he or she has written. Periodically, an exchange of flames erupts into a flame war that begins to take up all the space in a given forum (and sometimes several; flamers like cross-posting to let the world know how they feel). These can go on for weeks (sometimes they go on for years, in which case they become "holy wars," usually on such topics as the relative merits of AFKing). Often, just when they're dying down, somebody new to the flame war reads all the messages, gets upset and issues an urgent plea that the flame war be taken to e-mail so everybody else can get back to whatever the newsgroup's business is. All this usually does, though, is start a brand new flame war, in which this poor person comes under attack for daring to question the First Amendment, prompting others to jump on the attackers for impugning this poor soul... You get the idea.
Just in case you're thinking this might be a good idea: DO NOT FLAME TROLLS - IT DOES NOT WORK.
3.2 An entertainer is responding to this troll. What should I do?
Well, in a perfect world this would not happen, but with the constant influx of newbies there will always be somebody who will give the troll the satisfaction of a reply. If this happens, the best course is education - i.e. kindly direct the infractor towards this FAQ or alert them to the error of their ways (then beat them). If the newbie persists, and is convinced that he or she is a Net Rambo who is up to any challenge, beat them first, then ask yourself if the person is who they seem. In such cases, there is the slight chance that the respondant is not just a clueless newbie, but a fellow troller - or even the troll himself in disguise. A favorite tactic of organized troll groups is to plant a "mole" into the group - someone who looks and acts like a regular. Often, the mole is planted a few weeks to a month in advance of an attack. That way, it looks as though the invaders were attacking "one of us." Be wary of it, as it lends to the mischief as unsusspecting do-gooders are sucked into the fray as they come to the defense of the the "attacked."
TROLL BASICS
1.1 What is a troll?
The term "troll" has several meanings. Here's the dictionary definition:
troll(trol)
v. To fish for by running a baited line behind a slowly moving boat
n. A creature of Scandinavian folklore variously portrayed as a dwarf or giant living in caves or under bridges.
And then there's the Web meanings - which are actually similar to those above. In the case of the verb, the definition is close, with a small twist: you are the thing that somebody is trying to catch - and catch you they will if you aren't wary. For bait, the troll will often take the form of a derogatory post - one that is designed to incite as much reaction as possible. For each person who responds, the poster will consider that person "caught". The troll is considered to have been a complete success if it disrupts the normal traffic on a forum. Then, there is the noun, which again is nearly dead on, but this type of troll has an e-mail account, a global bridge to hide under, and a fishing pole to match - beware, for the hills are full of 'em.
1.2 How can I spot a troll?
Most trolls take the form of blanket statements designed solely to generate as many irate responses as possible. Posts with such comments as . . . .
All (insert groupname) SUCK!
Look, a board full of those selfish people!
(insert groupname) are pathetic people.
YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
I LOVE AFKERS!
. . . .are most likely trolls.
Trolls can also pop up in existing threads. These are usually the most distressing as they are unsuspected. Suddenly, you are confronted with someone you believe to be an entertainer, who has taken a ridiculous position which just pisses you off from here to Hades. Remember, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't believe this guy", it's a good chance that the post is a troll. You'll know for sure if the same person is consistently stupid and infuriating throughout the majority of his posts to the newsgroup.
1.3 Are trolls made by real people?
Nope. Trolls are made by nasty little people who crave far more attention than they deserve. Most of them are inadequate losers with absolutely_no_lives_what_so_ever. Remember that a troll, by virtue of their lack of a life, will always have more time on his hands than you - it's part of the inhuman nature of the beast. Also, be advised that trolls will also band together.
1.4 Why do trolls troll?
Ah, good question. While there is no way of knowing why all trolls troll, there are some good theories. The general concensus is that the troll is trying to build up a flaccid ego; the troll sees itself as superior to anyone who responds to the bait. The worst thing you can do, in the eyes of the troll, is not respond at all - to absolutely ignore them. By not reacting, you have completely defeated their purpose in life. In other words, the troll sees his self-worth in how much of a reaction he can inspire - ignore him, and you confirm his worthlessness. It's your best weapon.
ANTI - TROLL TACTICS
2.1 What's the best way to deal with a troll?
Contrary to most people's natural instincts, the best tactic is to do absolutely nothing. In other words, DO NOT respond to a troll or to someone you suspect may be a troll. To do so is to play entirely into the trolls hands. This cannot be stressed enough . If left alone, the troll will usually get bored and go away - leaving many happy entertainers to ride off into the sunset doing various backwards and forwards victory dances. Read that last paragraph carefully. It is of the utmost importance if we are to keep trolls at bay. So, remember, a troll's greatest joy is to piss _YOU_ off. Unless you deny him what he wants, he will stay around for more - gleefully feasting off your frustration, anger, indignation and vain attempts to reason with him. If you look right through him like everyone else in his miserable stinking life has, then he will usually slither back into his cave and/or find his prey elsewhere.
2.2 I can flame with the best of 'em - shouldn't I just drive them off?
Unfortuantely, no. The above assumption is based on the premise that trolls are actually like real people. They are not; they thrive off of negative input. Input in any form makes them feel more important and will only cause them to stay. Sure, you may be able to successfully spank a troll here or there if you are good - and we mean DAMN good. Flaming is an art that many, many, try, few master, and nearly all think they are good at. As a rule, DON'T flame 'em, it does NOT work and will only prolong the agony for everybody else.
2.3 But they make me so mad I want to scream - can I?
By all means no! If you must scream, do so at your neighbors' children. It will be much more effective than screaming at the troll. If you absolutely must respond due to some personal neurological disorder, please do so in a private message and not on the forum.
2.4 The troll won't go away - there must be *something* I can do?
Notify a moderator. Believe it or not, these people are quite adept at removing trolling or abusive posts and will often do so immediately and without remorse.
2.5 Okay, then how do I contact a moderator?
Click the link at the bottom right of the troll's post that says "Report Abuse to a Moderator". Tell them you think the person is flaming or trolling and let them handle it.
RELATED TOPICS
3.1 What's a flame?
A flame is a particularly nasty, personal attack on somebody for something he or she has written. Periodically, an exchange of flames erupts into a flame war that begins to take up all the space in a given forum (and sometimes several; flamers like cross-posting to let the world know how they feel). These can go on for weeks (sometimes they go on for years, in which case they become "holy wars," usually on such topics as the relative merits of AFKing). Often, just when they're dying down, somebody new to the flame war reads all the messages, gets upset and issues an urgent plea that the flame war be taken to e-mail so everybody else can get back to whatever the newsgroup's business is. All this usually does, though, is start a brand new flame war, in which this poor person comes under attack for daring to question the First Amendment, prompting others to jump on the attackers for impugning this poor soul... You get the idea.
Just in case you're thinking this might be a good idea: DO NOT FLAME TROLLS - IT DOES NOT WORK.
3.2 An entertainer is responding to this troll. What should I do?
Well, in a perfect world this would not happen, but with the constant influx of newbies there will always be somebody who will give the troll the satisfaction of a reply. If this happens, the best course is education - i.e. kindly direct the infractor towards this FAQ or alert them to the error of their ways (then beat them). If the newbie persists, and is convinced that he or she is a Net Rambo who is up to any challenge, beat them first, then ask yourself if the person is who they seem. In such cases, there is the slight chance that the respondant is not just a clueless newbie, but a fellow troller - or even the troll himself in disguise. A favorite tactic of organized troll groups is to plant a "mole" into the group - someone who looks and acts like a regular. Often, the mole is planted a few weeks to a month in advance of an attack. That way, it looks as though the invaders were attacking "one of us." Be wary of it, as it lends to the mischief as unsusspecting do-gooders are sucked into the fray as they come to the defense of the the "attacked."
picklesSW
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:20 pm
#2
The following is an exerpt from an existing website detailing some information about message board trolls. For some reason, the entertainer communities here on the SWG forums attract more than their fair share of trolls. If you have a problem identifying a troll or how to react (the first instinct is actually the worst), then please read below and maybe we can all help encourage them to go elsewhere.
TROLL BASICS
1.1 What is a troll?
The term "troll" has several meanings. Here's the dictionary definition:
troll(trol)
v. To fish for by running a baited line behind a slowly moving boat
n. A creature of Scandinavian folklore variously portrayed as a dwarf or giant living in caves or under bridges.
And then there's the Web meanings - which are actually similar to those above. In the case of the verb, the definition is close, with a small twist: you are the thing that somebody is trying to catch - and catch you they will if you aren't wary. For bait, the troll will often take the form of a derogatory post - one that is designed to incite as much reaction as possible. For each person who responds, the poster will consider that person "caught". The troll is considered to have been a complete success if it disrupts the normal traffic on a forum. Then, there is the noun, which again is nearly dead on, but this type of troll has an e-mail account, a global bridge to hide under, and a fishing pole to match - beware, for the hills are full of 'em.
1.2 How can I spot a troll?
Most trolls take the form of blanket statements designed solely to generate as many irate responses as possible. Posts with such comments as . . . .
All (insert groupname) SUCK!
Look, a board full of those selfish people!
(insert groupname) are pathetic people.
YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
I LOVE AFKERS!
. . . .are most likely trolls.
Trolls can also pop up in existing threads. These are usually the most distressing as they are unsuspected. Suddenly, you are confronted with someone you believe to be an entertainer, who has taken a ridiculous position which just pisses you off from here to Hades. Remember, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't believe this guy", it's a good chance that the post is a troll. You'll know for sure if the same person is consistently stupid and infuriating throughout the majority of his posts to the newsgroup.
1.3 Are trolls made by real people?
Nope. Trolls are made by nasty little people who crave far more attention than they deserve. Most of them are inadequate losers with absolutely_no_lives_what_so_ever. Remember that a troll, by virtue of their lack of a life, will always have more time on his hands than you - it's part of the inhuman nature of the beast. Also, be advised that trolls will also band together.
1.4 Why do trolls troll?
Ah, good question. While there is no way of knowing why all trolls troll, there are some good theories. The general concensus is that the troll is trying to build up a flaccid ego; the troll sees itself as superior to anyone who responds to the bait. The worst thing you can do, in the eyes of the troll, is not respond at all - to absolutely ignore them. By not reacting, you have completely defeated their purpose in life. In other words, the troll sees his self-worth in how much of a reaction he can inspire - ignore him, and you confirm his worthlessness. It's your best weapon.
ANTI - TROLL TACTICS
2.1 What's the best way to deal with a troll?
Contrary to most people's natural instincts, the best tactic is to do absolutely nothing. In other words, DO NOT respond to a troll or to someone you suspect may be a troll. To do so is to play entirely into the trolls hands. This cannot be stressed enough . If left alone, the troll will usually get bored and go away - leaving many happy entertainers to ride off into the sunset doing various backwards and forwards victory dances. Read that last paragraph carefully. It is of the utmost importance if we are to keep trolls at bay. So, remember, a troll's greatest joy is to piss _YOU_ off. Unless you deny him what he wants, he will stay around for more - gleefully feasting off your frustration, anger, indignation and vain attempts to reason with him. If you look right through him like everyone else in his miserable stinking life has, then he will usually slither back into his cave and/or find his prey elsewhere.
2.2 I can flame with the best of 'em - shouldn't I just drive them off?
Unfortuantely, no. The above assumption is based on the premise that trolls are actually like real people. They are not; they thrive off of negative input. Input in any form makes them feel more important and will only cause them to stay. Sure, you may be able to successfully spank a troll here or there if you are good - and we mean DAMN good. Flaming is an art that many, many, try, few master, and nearly all think they are good at. As a rule, DON'T flame 'em, it does NOT work and will only prolong the agony for everybody else.
2.3 But they make me so mad I want to scream - can I?
By all means no! If you must scream, do so at your neighbors' children. It will be much more effective than screaming at the troll. If you absolutely must respond due to some personal neurological disorder, please do so in a private message and not on the forum.
2.4 The troll won't go away - there must be *something* I can do?
Notify a moderator. Believe it or not, these people are quite adept at removing trolling or abusive posts and will often do so immediately and without remorse.
2.5 Okay, then how do I contact a moderator?
Click the link at the bottom right of the troll's post that says "Report Abuse to a Moderator". Tell them you think the person is flaming or trolling and let them handle it.
RELATED TOPICS
3.1 What's a flame?
A flame is a particularly nasty, personal attack on somebody for something he or she has written. Periodically, an exchange of flames erupts into a flame war that begins to take up all the space in a given forum (and sometimes several; flamers like cross-posting to let the world know how they feel). These can go on for weeks (sometimes they go on for years, in which case they become "holy wars," usually on such topics as the relative merits of AFKing). Often, just when they're dying down, somebody new to the flame war reads all the messages, gets upset and issues an urgent plea that the flame war be taken to e-mail so everybody else can get back to whatever the newsgroup's business is. All this usually does, though, is start a brand new flame war, in which this poor person comes under attack for daring to question the First Amendment, prompting others to jump on the attackers for impugning this poor soul... You get the idea.
Just in case you're thinking this might be a good idea: DO NOT FLAME TROLLS - IT DOES NOT WORK.
3.2 An entertainer is responding to this troll. What should I do?
Well, in a perfect world this would not happen, but with the constant influx of newbies there will always be somebody who will give the troll the satisfaction of a reply. If this happens, the best course is education - i.e. kindly direct the infractor towards this FAQ or alert them to the error of their ways (then beat them). If the newbie persists, and is convinced that he or she is a Net Rambo who is up to any challenge, beat them first, then ask yourself if the person is who they seem. In such cases, there is the slight chance that the respondant is not just a clueless newbie, but a fellow troller - or even the troll himself in disguise. A favorite tactic of organized troll groups is to plant a "mole" into the group - someone who looks and acts like a regular. Often, the mole is planted a few weeks to a month in advance of an attack. That way, it looks as though the invaders were attacking "one of us." Be wary of it, as it lends to the mischief as unsusspecting do-gooders are sucked into the fray as they come to the defense of the the "attacked."
TROLL BASICS
1.1 What is a troll?
The term "troll" has several meanings. Here's the dictionary definition:
troll(trol)
v. To fish for by running a baited line behind a slowly moving boat
n. A creature of Scandinavian folklore variously portrayed as a dwarf or giant living in caves or under bridges.
And then there's the Web meanings - which are actually similar to those above. In the case of the verb, the definition is close, with a small twist: you are the thing that somebody is trying to catch - and catch you they will if you aren't wary. For bait, the troll will often take the form of a derogatory post - one that is designed to incite as much reaction as possible. For each person who responds, the poster will consider that person "caught". The troll is considered to have been a complete success if it disrupts the normal traffic on a forum. Then, there is the noun, which again is nearly dead on, but this type of troll has an e-mail account, a global bridge to hide under, and a fishing pole to match - beware, for the hills are full of 'em.
1.2 How can I spot a troll?
Most trolls take the form of blanket statements designed solely to generate as many irate responses as possible. Posts with such comments as . . . .
All (insert groupname) SUCK!
Look, a board full of those selfish people!
(insert groupname) are pathetic people.
YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
I LOVE AFKERS!
. . . .are most likely trolls.
Trolls can also pop up in existing threads. These are usually the most distressing as they are unsuspected. Suddenly, you are confronted with someone you believe to be an entertainer, who has taken a ridiculous position which just pisses you off from here to Hades. Remember, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't believe this guy", it's a good chance that the post is a troll. You'll know for sure if the same person is consistently stupid and infuriating throughout the majority of his posts to the newsgroup.
1.3 Are trolls made by real people?
Nope. Trolls are made by nasty little people who crave far more attention than they deserve. Most of them are inadequate losers with absolutely_no_lives_what_so_ever. Remember that a troll, by virtue of their lack of a life, will always have more time on his hands than you - it's part of the inhuman nature of the beast. Also, be advised that trolls will also band together.
1.4 Why do trolls troll?
Ah, good question. While there is no way of knowing why all trolls troll, there are some good theories. The general concensus is that the troll is trying to build up a flaccid ego; the troll sees itself as superior to anyone who responds to the bait. The worst thing you can do, in the eyes of the troll, is not respond at all - to absolutely ignore them. By not reacting, you have completely defeated their purpose in life. In other words, the troll sees his self-worth in how much of a reaction he can inspire - ignore him, and you confirm his worthlessness. It's your best weapon.
ANTI - TROLL TACTICS
2.1 What's the best way to deal with a troll?
Contrary to most people's natural instincts, the best tactic is to do absolutely nothing. In other words, DO NOT respond to a troll or to someone you suspect may be a troll. To do so is to play entirely into the trolls hands. This cannot be stressed enough . If left alone, the troll will usually get bored and go away - leaving many happy entertainers to ride off into the sunset doing various backwards and forwards victory dances. Read that last paragraph carefully. It is of the utmost importance if we are to keep trolls at bay. So, remember, a troll's greatest joy is to piss _YOU_ off. Unless you deny him what he wants, he will stay around for more - gleefully feasting off your frustration, anger, indignation and vain attempts to reason with him. If you look right through him like everyone else in his miserable stinking life has, then he will usually slither back into his cave and/or find his prey elsewhere.
2.2 I can flame with the best of 'em - shouldn't I just drive them off?
Unfortuantely, no. The above assumption is based on the premise that trolls are actually like real people. They are not; they thrive off of negative input. Input in any form makes them feel more important and will only cause them to stay. Sure, you may be able to successfully spank a troll here or there if you are good - and we mean DAMN good. Flaming is an art that many, many, try, few master, and nearly all think they are good at. As a rule, DON'T flame 'em, it does NOT work and will only prolong the agony for everybody else.
2.3 But they make me so mad I want to scream - can I?
By all means no! If you must scream, do so at your neighbors' children. It will be much more effective than screaming at the troll. If you absolutely must respond due to some personal neurological disorder, please do so in a private message and not on the forum.
2.4 The troll won't go away - there must be *something* I can do?
Notify a moderator. Believe it or not, these people are quite adept at removing trolling or abusive posts and will often do so immediately and without remorse.
2.5 Okay, then how do I contact a moderator?
Click the link at the bottom right of the troll's post that says "Report Abuse to a Moderator". Tell them you think the person is flaming or trolling and let them handle it.
RELATED TOPICS
3.1 What's a flame?
A flame is a particularly nasty, personal attack on somebody for something he or she has written. Periodically, an exchange of flames erupts into a flame war that begins to take up all the space in a given forum (and sometimes several; flamers like cross-posting to let the world know how they feel). These can go on for weeks (sometimes they go on for years, in which case they become "holy wars," usually on such topics as the relative merits of AFKing). Often, just when they're dying down, somebody new to the flame war reads all the messages, gets upset and issues an urgent plea that the flame war be taken to e-mail so everybody else can get back to whatever the newsgroup's business is. All this usually does, though, is start a brand new flame war, in which this poor person comes under attack for daring to question the First Amendment, prompting others to jump on the attackers for impugning this poor soul... You get the idea.
Just in case you're thinking this might be a good idea: DO NOT FLAME TROLLS - IT DOES NOT WORK.
3.2 An entertainer is responding to this troll. What should I do?
Well, in a perfect world this would not happen, but with the constant influx of newbies there will always be somebody who will give the troll the satisfaction of a reply. If this happens, the best course is education - i.e. kindly direct the infractor towards this FAQ or alert them to the error of their ways (then beat them). If the newbie persists, and is convinced that he or she is a Net Rambo who is up to any challenge, beat them first, then ask yourself if the person is who they seem. In such cases, there is the slight chance that the respondant is not just a clueless newbie, but a fellow troller - or even the troll himself in disguise. A favorite tactic of organized troll groups is to plant a "mole" into the group - someone who looks and acts like a regular. Often, the mole is planted a few weeks to a month in advance of an attack. That way, it looks as though the invaders were attacking "one of us." Be wary of it, as it lends to the mischief as unsusspecting do-gooders are sucked into the fray as they come to the defense of the the "attacked."
Tenchisan
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:29 pm
#3
Great post.
Thanks for the laughs... (How true the statements are...)
JasonK
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:30 pm
#4
What aboutI HATE AFKERS!. Is it only trolling if you don't share the majority opinion?
picklesSW wrote:
1.2 How can I spot a troll?
Most trolls take the form of blanket statements designed solely to generate as many irate responses as possible. Posts with such comments as . . . .
All (insert groupname) SUCK!
Look, a board full of those selfish people!
(insert groupname) are pathetic people.
YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
I LOVE AFKERS!
Tiaga
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:35 pm
#5
Trolls? I thought we had to watch out for the grue!
You know, this new forum theme is awfully dark.. You are liable to be eaten by a grue.
You know, this new forum theme is awfully dark.. You are liable to be eaten by a grue.
Chessack
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:35 pm
#6
Pickles. Excellent post.
The saying goes, "Don't feed the trolls." If you see people doing that, here's what I do. If it's one person, PM them. If it's a bunch of people, get onto the thread and just say that... "Don't feed the trolls." Often it makes the veterans who got "sucked into" the agrument sit back and realize, "whoops! This was posted by a troll."
One of my favorite lines was from the perl newsgroup. There was some guy by the handle "gozilla" who always posted anti-perl crap onto the newsgroup (why Python is better than Perl, why C++ is better than perl, why Basic is better than perl... you get the idea). Finally when a few newer people (including me) got sucked into the argument a veteran got on and said simply, "Do not feed Godzilla. It is a troll." I laughed... and put Godzilla on my ignore list. Never had to deal with him (or any thread generated by him) again.
Which brings up a point... I think it would be nice if these forums had the ability to put posters and thread subjects onto an ignore list. If I put "AFK" on my ignore list, I won't see any posts with that in the title. If I put "TrollBoy" onto my ignore list, I see no posts by trollboy in any thread, and no threads started by trollboy at all. This would enable us, in moments of better self control,to just "ignore" the thing, and then later, when we might be experiencing some weakness, we don't need the self control because we won't even see it.
And finally, to add a bit of humor, I will post this, which I sometimes like to post to threads started by out-and-out trolls:
````````````\|||/
````````````(0 o)
```,--------ooO--(_)----------.
```|`I'm a Troll`````````|
```|```PLEASE```````` |
```|`````Feed Me !`````|
```'------------------oo0------'
```````````|__|__|
````````````|| ||
```````````ooO Ooo
C
The saying goes, "Don't feed the trolls." If you see people doing that, here's what I do. If it's one person, PM them. If it's a bunch of people, get onto the thread and just say that... "Don't feed the trolls." Often it makes the veterans who got "sucked into" the agrument sit back and realize, "whoops! This was posted by a troll."
One of my favorite lines was from the perl newsgroup. There was some guy by the handle "gozilla" who always posted anti-perl crap onto the newsgroup (why Python is better than Perl, why C++ is better than perl, why Basic is better than perl... you get the idea). Finally when a few newer people (including me) got sucked into the argument a veteran got on and said simply, "Do not feed Godzilla. It is a troll." I laughed... and put Godzilla on my ignore list. Never had to deal with him (or any thread generated by him) again.
Which brings up a point... I think it would be nice if these forums had the ability to put posters and thread subjects onto an ignore list. If I put "AFK" on my ignore list, I won't see any posts with that in the title. If I put "TrollBoy" onto my ignore list, I see no posts by trollboy in any thread, and no threads started by trollboy at all. This would enable us, in moments of better self control,to just "ignore" the thing, and then later, when we might be experiencing some weakness, we don't need the self control because we won't even see it.
And finally, to add a bit of humor, I will post this, which I sometimes like to post to threads started by out-and-out trolls:
````````````\|||/
````````````(0 o)
```,--------ooO--(_)----------.
```|`I'm a Troll`````````|
```|```PLEASE```````` |
```|`````Feed Me !`````|
```'------------------oo0------'
```````````|__|__|
````````````|| ||
```````````ooO Ooo
C
JasonK
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:49 pm
#7
They have an ignore feature on the boards but it doesn't appear to actually do anything. Maybe it just blocks IMs.
picklesSW
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:54 pm
#8
"What aboutI HATE AFKERS!. Is it only trolling if you don't share the majority opinion?"
Nope, there was a good description up there about what trolling is. It's not about majority or minority opinions. I used that example because this is an entertainer forum and many trolls use that particular subject to elicit the response they crave. There are also people who come here praising AFKing that are NOT trolling. In general it's pretty easy to tell the two apart.
Nope, there was a good description up there about what trolling is. It's not about majority or minority opinions. I used that example because this is an entertainer forum and many trolls use that particular subject to elicit the response they crave. There are also people who come here praising AFKing that are NOT trolling. In general it's pretty easy to tell the two apart.
picklesSW
Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:56 pm
#9
I think you're right, it just blocks IMs. It's fairly useless.
Chessack
Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:01 pm
#10
Oh and I thought you might like this, which I found on the City of Heroes forum. Note, this is done in classic "Dungeons and Dragons" encounter table style... Including the "challenge rating" (level) of the encounter (as in, higher = more powerful).
The Random Forum Encounter Table.
..d%..........Encounter
01-05.........Troll. See above. CR 6
06-15.........Evil Merchant. These are also known as spammers. They post only to sell you something, whether it's a porn site, a multilevel marketing scheme, or a roleplaying game. The evil merchants are not challenging, but they often come in large hordes. CR 1.
16-17.........Quickling. This monster's sole goal in life is to post new information, no matter how minor or irrelevant, before anyone else. Not dangerous, but sometimes annoying. CR 1.
18.........Mimic. The danger of this monster is that it's not what it appears. Sometimes, it poses as a woman in a discussion dominated by men. Other times, it pretends to have credentials and experience that it does not actually have to make it sound important. Most mimics aren't as good as they think they are, though, and you can see through the disguise. CR 4.
19.........Doppelganger. Similar to a mimic, this Internet creature uses deception. It tries to pose as a specific person, however, usually to make that person look bad. Thankfully, there are safeguards that make this identity thief rare. CR 12.
20-21.........Hydra. This monster creates multiple identities for itself, and then pretends to be multiple people at once to gang up on a single poster, or so that it can agree with itself and look smart. Very tricky to ferret out sometimes. CR 11.
22-25.........Archangels. These powerful beings are also known as moderators, or mods. When they use their power wisely, they keep things moving smoothly. Without them, the other monsters would make it too dangerous to even visit message boards. But don't cross them or you can get shut down or even banned. CR 20.
26-27.........Zombie. This wandering monster attaches itself to another poster and agrees with whatever that poster writes and defends that poster when he or she's not around. Sometimes, rather than another poster, the zombie latches on to a thing (like a TV show) or to a celebrity (like Stephen King). CR 1.
28...........Chaos Beast. This creature posts nonsensical posts just to get attention. Not really all that different from a troll, really, although its easier to resist. CR 2.
29-33.........Phosphorescent Fungi. Not really a danger or evil, it's just always around. This is the poster who never seems to be offline. CR 0.
34-36.........Green Slime. Like the phosphorescent fungi, this poster is always around. However, it does present a threat, because it spreads. This poster feels the need to respond to every message. CR 1.
37-38.........Necromancer. Never wanting to let anything die, this poster keeps bringing up old issues long thought dead. No thread, argument, or flame war ever really ends with a necromancer around. CR 9.
39-42.........Crusading Ogre. This encounter is dangerous because of the creature's ability to bowl over others. The crusading ogre's got an agenda and will barge into any discussion, no matter how unrelated, to turn it into a diatribe about that agenda. Politics, religion, operating systems -- the agendas of the crusading ogres are many and varied. CR 8.
43...........Gargoyle. This poster sits and waits. The odd thing is, he sits and waits in a forum discussing something he doesn't like. So he sits and waits for any excuse to chime in with a quick snide remark about what he doesn't like about it, or why something he does like is better. CR 5.
44-46.........Dire Boar. This guy just likes to argue. He doesn't care about the topic -- you name it, and he'll oppose it just to argue. CR 4.
47-49.........Champion. This guy chooses a thing or a person to champion. In some ways, this encounter is similar to the zombie, but the champion doesn't just blindly agree with everything. He presents well-reasoned viewpoints to defend that which he champions. Can easily turn into a crusading ogre, though, so watch out. CR 7.
50-51.........Nemesis. The opposite of a champion in many respects, the nemesis chooses one thing or person to hate and never misses an opportunity to let you know what he hates, and also why. Different from the crusading ogre, because he isn't so forceful in pushing his agenda into unrelated threads, and different from a gargoyle because the thing he hates isn't actually the very purpose of the whole discussion group. CR 7.
52-58.........Roper. This guy's always dragging things off topic. Sometimes it's just to tell a lame joke, sometimes it's to make an unrelated point or just to cause trouble (a roper with an agenda is a crusading ogre). CR 8.
59-64.........Harpy. This creature only says negative things, period. CR 5.
65-66.........Disappointed Harpy. A variant harpy, this poster says something positive, but makes it clear that he doesn't really want to be doing so. "This actually didn't suck," he'll write, or he'll point out that something isn't as terrible as the other things of its kind. CR 6.
67-68.........Kobold. This foe is able to make only very small attacks, pointing out flaws in others' punctuation or spelling. CR 1/2.
69-70.........Carrion Crawler. This guy picks apart others' posts with his many tentacles, line by line, sometimes word by word, pointing out every flaw (big or little) that he can. He makes his one argument seem like many. CR 4.
71-73.........Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. This monster tries to look harmless, but isn't. He says the meanest, most insulting, condescending things, but then ends each attack with a smiley-face icon. CR 5.
74-80.........Commoner. This is, well, most of us. We post a bit, try to stay out of flame wars, and mostly just watch all the other types battle it out. CR 0.
81...........Ravid. This entertaining, very rare poster brings life to many discussions with a delightful sense of humor or an intriguing outlook. Less of a wandering monster and more of a treasure. There's a fine line between a ravid and a chaos beast, though, or even green slime or a roper.
82-84..........Sigmund the .Sea Monster. This is the guy who's .sig file is longer than not just his own post, but the post he's replying to (copied in the message) as well. Annoying but not dangerous. CR 1.
85.........Undead Slayer. This is the enemy and opposite of the necromancer, but he usually takes things too far. He doesn't want any old topics or issues raised again. His weapon is condescension: "Oh, this old argument again." He tries to end almost every discussion he comes across by pointing out that it's been done to death, even when it hasn't. Truth be told, the undead slayer usually has an agenda, and the poster bringing up "old arguments" is usually just stating a point he doesn't agree with: this makes him different from the veteran (see below). CR 9.
86...........Veteran. This poster has been around a long time and has been active all that time. Everyone comes to know (and usually respect) him. The danger is that the veteran can be an undead slayer. In fact, all undead slayers think they are simply veterans.
87.........Wizened Sage. A variant veteran, this masterful individual is truly an expert in a particular area (not just someone who thinks he is, or a mimic pretending to be). He gains the respect of others as long as he uses his powers for good. The benevolent wizened sage doesn't cut others down with his might, but merely helps those in need.
88-92.........1st-Level Dude. This guy has no idea what's come before him and doesn't seem to care. He assumes that the same old obvious jokes or comments he makes are fresh when they are tired and old. If he's lucky, a veteran helps him out. If he's unlucky, he'll be cut down by an undead slayer. CR 1.
93-94.........Otyugh. Everything this guy posts is a waste. He is crude, rude, and tactless. CR 3.
95-99.........Orc. This humanoid would be fine if he just gave his posts some thought ahead of time, read the FAQ, used a spellchecker, and/or didn't post in all caps. CR 1.
00...........Cuckoo. This poster draws attention to himself or herself, willingly or unwillingly, because he or she is different. Perhaps it's a woman in a discussion group dominated by men, or a staunch Republican posting on a board devoted to liberal ideas. Beware, however, for cuckoos are often mimics or gargoyles in disguise. When they are not, they are usually peaceful and good. CR 3.
C
The Random Forum Encounter Table.
..d%..........Encounter
01-05.........Troll. See above. CR 6
06-15.........Evil Merchant. These are also known as spammers. They post only to sell you something, whether it's a porn site, a multilevel marketing scheme, or a roleplaying game. The evil merchants are not challenging, but they often come in large hordes. CR 1.
16-17.........Quickling. This monster's sole goal in life is to post new information, no matter how minor or irrelevant, before anyone else. Not dangerous, but sometimes annoying. CR 1.
18.........Mimic. The danger of this monster is that it's not what it appears. Sometimes, it poses as a woman in a discussion dominated by men. Other times, it pretends to have credentials and experience that it does not actually have to make it sound important. Most mimics aren't as good as they think they are, though, and you can see through the disguise. CR 4.
19.........Doppelganger. Similar to a mimic, this Internet creature uses deception. It tries to pose as a specific person, however, usually to make that person look bad. Thankfully, there are safeguards that make this identity thief rare. CR 12.
20-21.........Hydra. This monster creates multiple identities for itself, and then pretends to be multiple people at once to gang up on a single poster, or so that it can agree with itself and look smart. Very tricky to ferret out sometimes. CR 11.
22-25.........Archangels. These powerful beings are also known as moderators, or mods. When they use their power wisely, they keep things moving smoothly. Without them, the other monsters would make it too dangerous to even visit message boards. But don't cross them or you can get shut down or even banned. CR 20.
26-27.........Zombie. This wandering monster attaches itself to another poster and agrees with whatever that poster writes and defends that poster when he or she's not around. Sometimes, rather than another poster, the zombie latches on to a thing (like a TV show) or to a celebrity (like Stephen King). CR 1.
28...........Chaos Beast. This creature posts nonsensical posts just to get attention. Not really all that different from a troll, really, although its easier to resist. CR 2.
29-33.........Phosphorescent Fungi. Not really a danger or evil, it's just always around. This is the poster who never seems to be offline. CR 0.
34-36.........Green Slime. Like the phosphorescent fungi, this poster is always around. However, it does present a threat, because it spreads. This poster feels the need to respond to every message. CR 1.
37-38.........Necromancer. Never wanting to let anything die, this poster keeps bringing up old issues long thought dead. No thread, argument, or flame war ever really ends with a necromancer around. CR 9.
39-42.........Crusading Ogre. This encounter is dangerous because of the creature's ability to bowl over others. The crusading ogre's got an agenda and will barge into any discussion, no matter how unrelated, to turn it into a diatribe about that agenda. Politics, religion, operating systems -- the agendas of the crusading ogres are many and varied. CR 8.
43...........Gargoyle. This poster sits and waits. The odd thing is, he sits and waits in a forum discussing something he doesn't like. So he sits and waits for any excuse to chime in with a quick snide remark about what he doesn't like about it, or why something he does like is better. CR 5.
44-46.........Dire Boar. This guy just likes to argue. He doesn't care about the topic -- you name it, and he'll oppose it just to argue. CR 4.
47-49.........Champion. This guy chooses a thing or a person to champion. In some ways, this encounter is similar to the zombie, but the champion doesn't just blindly agree with everything. He presents well-reasoned viewpoints to defend that which he champions. Can easily turn into a crusading ogre, though, so watch out. CR 7.
50-51.........Nemesis. The opposite of a champion in many respects, the nemesis chooses one thing or person to hate and never misses an opportunity to let you know what he hates, and also why. Different from the crusading ogre, because he isn't so forceful in pushing his agenda into unrelated threads, and different from a gargoyle because the thing he hates isn't actually the very purpose of the whole discussion group. CR 7.
52-58.........Roper. This guy's always dragging things off topic. Sometimes it's just to tell a lame joke, sometimes it's to make an unrelated point or just to cause trouble (a roper with an agenda is a crusading ogre). CR 8.
59-64.........Harpy. This creature only says negative things, period. CR 5.
65-66.........Disappointed Harpy. A variant harpy, this poster says something positive, but makes it clear that he doesn't really want to be doing so. "This actually didn't suck," he'll write, or he'll point out that something isn't as terrible as the other things of its kind. CR 6.
67-68.........Kobold. This foe is able to make only very small attacks, pointing out flaws in others' punctuation or spelling. CR 1/2.
69-70.........Carrion Crawler. This guy picks apart others' posts with his many tentacles, line by line, sometimes word by word, pointing out every flaw (big or little) that he can. He makes his one argument seem like many. CR 4.
71-73.........Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. This monster tries to look harmless, but isn't. He says the meanest, most insulting, condescending things, but then ends each attack with a smiley-face icon. CR 5.
74-80.........Commoner. This is, well, most of us. We post a bit, try to stay out of flame wars, and mostly just watch all the other types battle it out. CR 0.
81...........Ravid. This entertaining, very rare poster brings life to many discussions with a delightful sense of humor or an intriguing outlook. Less of a wandering monster and more of a treasure. There's a fine line between a ravid and a chaos beast, though, or even green slime or a roper.
82-84..........Sigmund the .Sea Monster. This is the guy who's .sig file is longer than not just his own post, but the post he's replying to (copied in the message) as well. Annoying but not dangerous. CR 1.
85.........Undead Slayer. This is the enemy and opposite of the necromancer, but he usually takes things too far. He doesn't want any old topics or issues raised again. His weapon is condescension: "Oh, this old argument again." He tries to end almost every discussion he comes across by pointing out that it's been done to death, even when it hasn't. Truth be told, the undead slayer usually has an agenda, and the poster bringing up "old arguments" is usually just stating a point he doesn't agree with: this makes him different from the veteran (see below). CR 9.
86...........Veteran. This poster has been around a long time and has been active all that time. Everyone comes to know (and usually respect) him. The danger is that the veteran can be an undead slayer. In fact, all undead slayers think they are simply veterans.
87.........Wizened Sage. A variant veteran, this masterful individual is truly an expert in a particular area (not just someone who thinks he is, or a mimic pretending to be). He gains the respect of others as long as he uses his powers for good. The benevolent wizened sage doesn't cut others down with his might, but merely helps those in need.
88-92.........1st-Level Dude. This guy has no idea what's come before him and doesn't seem to care. He assumes that the same old obvious jokes or comments he makes are fresh when they are tired and old. If he's lucky, a veteran helps him out. If he's unlucky, he'll be cut down by an undead slayer. CR 1.
93-94.........Otyugh. Everything this guy posts is a waste. He is crude, rude, and tactless. CR 3.
95-99.........Orc. This humanoid would be fine if he just gave his posts some thought ahead of time, read the FAQ, used a spellchecker, and/or didn't post in all caps. CR 1.
00...........Cuckoo. This poster draws attention to himself or herself, willingly or unwillingly, because he or she is different. Perhaps it's a woman in a discussion group dominated by men, or a staunch Republican posting on a board devoted to liberal ideas. Beware, however, for cuckoos are often mimics or gargoyles in disguise. When they are not, they are usually peaceful and good. CR 3.
C
JasonK
Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:27 pm
#11
That sounds like a lot of people around here.
Chessack wrote:
26-27.........Zombie. This wandering monster attaches itself to another poster and agrees with whatever that poster writes and defends that poster when he or she's not around. Sometimes, rather than another poster, the zombie latches on to a thing (like a TV show) or to a celebrity (like Stephen King). CR 1.
NJ62
Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:26 pm
#12
If you give a troll a cookie, then you'll have to give him some milk....
Thus, the cycle begins.
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