Can we please stop feeding the trolls?

[Rilchiam]

I was going to put this in ATMB, but I figured more people would see it here. Let's stop letting threads, especially threads about developing news, get sidetracked into sparring with trolls who would rather pick fights than discuss the issue. I think the warning sign is when someone takes issue with how a post was worded, and responds to clarification with, effectively, "Oh yeah? Oh yeah? Well, I hate this board and you're all stupid!"

I'm not providing a link because that would not be sufficient. It's not any one post; it's the pig-wrestling that goes on for pages. If someone doesn't want to discuss the issue at hand, don't respond. I'm tired of the delusional trolls who think they can nail an insult to the SDMB cathedral doors and reform the whole board. Let them see that they can either adapt, or seek their intellectual equals elsewhere.

[DudleyGarrett]

Are you seriously telling people what to post?

"seek their intellectual equals elsewhere"

That's snobbery of the highest order, IMO.

The things that cause arguments (or pig-fighting) here: abusive ad hominem, mob appeal, anti-social behavior, the Offenderati, people who aren't as smart as they think they are lashing out at others, and snobbery as exhibited above.

[ivylass]

I think it's easy to spot some trolls, especially when they are guests, but some longtime members have also engaged in some some trollish behavior, and it's not so easy to spot those.

[Don't fight the hypothetical]

We have a cathedral? Hell I'm not even religious!

Do you really think this cry for action is going to change the board's posting habits? By naming them (trolls) in a thread topic, you have fed them yourself.

[Sapo]

Are they stray trolls? I hate people who feed strays.

[elucidator]

Don't forget! Spay and neuter your trolls!

[Scissorjack]

Originally Posted by Sapo

Are they stray trolls? I hate people who feed strays.

It's OK as long as you spit in their food first.

[Uvula Donor]

Originally Posted by Scissorjack

It's OK as long as you spit in their food first.

Or serve them with a ladle.

[susan_foster]

Originally Posted by Sapo

Are they stray trolls? I hate people who feed strays.

I'm just trying to get them close enough, so I can pet their really cool hair.

Susan

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by DudleyGarrett

Are you seriously telling people what to post?

"seek their intellectual equals elsewhere"

That's snobbery of the highest order, IMO.

The things that cause arguments (or pig-fighting) here: abusive ad hominem, mob appeal, anti-social behavior, the Offenderati, people who aren't as smart as they think they are lashing out at others, and snobbery as exhibited above.

See? That's a great example of Trollery!

"You can't control what I post! I can say whatever I want! You're a Snob/Control Freak/Fascist!"

[Indistinguishable]

Originally Posted by Chimera

See? That's a great example of Trollery!

"You can't control what I post! I can say whatever I want! You're a Snob/Control Freak/Fascist!"

How is that trollery? That's an honest declaration of his legitimate views, not something he posted just to stir shit up and get a kick out of the response.

[John Mace]

Now I'm hungry. Will someone feed me, or do I have to troll for my food?

[Heffalump and Roo]

Originally Posted by susan_foster

I'm just trying to get them close enough, so I can pet their really cool hair.

Nooooo! You're supposed to spin them real fast until their hair stands on end.

Originally Posted by John Mace

Will someone feed me, or do I have to troll for my food?

You want spit in your food?!

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Heffalump and Roo

You want spit in your food?!

I'm quite sure John Mace is smart enough not to accept a meal from VCO3.

[Sapo]

Originally Posted by Uvula Donor

Or serve them with a ladle.

ok, I keep running into this one but don't know where it comes from. Link, please? (I hate laughing politely to look like I am in the loop)

[Johnny Hildo]

Originally Posted by Uvula Donor

Or serve them with a ladle.

...that's been in Autolycus' ass.

Thank you and goodnight!

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Sapo

ok, I keep running into this one but don't know where it comes from. Link, please? (I hate laughing politely to look like I am in the loop)

The origin of the Ladle. Read through to post #7 for the full context.

[Uvula Donor]

Originally Posted by Sapo

ok, I keep running into this one but don't know where it comes from. Link, please? (I hate laughing politely to look like I am in the loop)

A list of four things Autolycus has stuck up his ass.


ETA: Q.E.D. was first, but my link lable was funnier.

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by Indistinguishable

How is that trollery? That's an honest declaration of his legitimate views, not something he posted just to stir shit up and get a kick out of the response.

No, not really. It's a hostile response that says "I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me". Like other methods of trolling, it degrades and deflects the conversation away from whatever it was about and attempts to make it about the alleged Censorship/Fascism/Whatever and/or the person's right to angrily defend their right to whatever the hell they think is more important than the original point.

Or to quote a substring of that person's post that was quoted in my post;

people who aren't as smart as they think they are lashing out at others

Which is rich considering the next part of his post does exactly that, and could be considered an Ad Hominem (attacking the person as a snob), which the poster railed at just previous to this statement.

[tomndebb]

Originally Posted by Uvula Donor

A list of four things Autolycus has stuck up his ass.


ETA: Q.E.D. was first, but my link lable was funnier.

Wait a minute! Q.E.D. was the first thing that Autolycus stuck up his ass? How did I miss that?

[Rilchiam]

Actually, Dudley, I was talking about the people who discover, shortly after delurking, that they're too smart for this board. They find SDMB very irritating, and say so repeatedly. I just don't want to make them uncomfortable.

And hypothetical, I didn't name anyone.

[Frank]

If we stop feeding the trolls, they will break into our garbage cans at night.

[tomndebb]

Rilch, you go back to the AOL days. Did we refrain from feeding Cyberian54? SSChevy55? Lockean? PerkyDan?

Do you seriously think that with ten times the active members we're better able to control ourselves, now?

Can I get the name of your "distrributor"?

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

Wait a minute! Q.E.D. was the first thing that Autolycus stuck up his ass? How did I miss that?

Never mind you. How did I miss it???

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Frank

If we stop feeding the trolls, they will break into our garbage cans at night.

Ok, but how do I get you to stop doing that?

[Beware of Doug]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

Wait a minute! Q.E.D. was the first thing that Autolycus stuck up his ass? How did I miss that?

How did everybody miss that one of the things was a "tootbrush" (sic)?

[Frank]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

Ok, but how do I get you to stop doing that?

I could probably be distracted by a bottle of tequila left on your back porch. If you also leave some leather, I might even make you some shoes.

[Revenant Threshold]

I think "ignoring the troll" ideas tend to go too far. Sometimes even the knowledge that they are able to say whatever and force others not to react is as much a delight as forcing them to react.

I say just enjoy yourself. Poke fun, if you want. Argue, if you want. Then when they get banned at least you can say you had fun.

[Don't fight the hypothetical]

Originally Posted by Rilchiam

And hypothetical, I didn't name anyone.

As I pointed out, you named the trolls as a group. I'm sure they know who they are. I notice you chose to ignore my point that letting them know just how bothered you are by their actions, you yourself are feeding them.

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Frank

If you also leave some leather, I might even make you some shoes.

Wait, I thought that was elves?

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

Wait, I thought that was elves?

You know, those were really brownies, not elves. Elves don't do shoes, brownies make shoes.

If you kept your head out of Auto's rectum, you would know these things.

Jim

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

You know, those were really brownies, not elves. Elves don't do shoes, brownies make shoes.

Better inform the Grimms.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

Better inform the Grimms.

They're dead Q.E.D..

They made a simple mistake in the folktales is all. Happens to the best writers.

Jim

[gonzomax]

I Michigan the Mackinac Bridge connects the upper and Lower peninsulas. They call all the people who live under the bridge (lower P. ) trolls. So we are trolls by an obscure definition.

[Zoe]

A question for the Wise Ones:

How are we to determine the difference between a Troll and your Basic Ignorant Person? Are there clues (besides inappropriate use of capitalization)?

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Zoe

A question for the Wise Ones:

How are we to determine the difference between a Troll and your Basic Ignorant Person?

Good question.

Are there clues (besides inappropriate use of capitalization)?

Hey, wait a minute? Does the inappropriate use of capitalization make one a troll or Basic Ignorant Person?

[Guinastasia]

*whine* But it's so much FUN!!!

Originally Posted by Johnny Hildo

...that's been in Autolycus' ass.

Thank you and goodnight!

points to sig

[Q.E.D.]

What's a "ladel?"

[Colibri]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

What's a "ladel?"

It's a dreidel that's been stuck up someone's ass.

[Zabali_Clawbane]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

What's a "ladel?"

The old spelling for ladle.

[Heffalump and Roo]

Originally Posted by Chimera

Like other methods of trolling, it degrades and deflects the conversation away from whatever it was about and attempts to make it about the alleged Censorship/Fascism/Whatever and/or the person's right to angrily defend their right to whatever the hell they think is more important than the original point.

So in this case, what's the original point? And what are the choices for on-topic responses?

To me, the OP was saying, do this (ignore trolls). What are the on-topic responses besides yes, sire? Wouldn't one of the on-topic responses be no, sire, I will not do it?

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

*whine* But it's so much FUN!!!
points to sig

Originally Posted by Rilchiam

Actually, Dudley, I was talking about the people who discover, shortly after delurking, that they're too smart for this board. They find SDMB very irritating, and say so repeatedly. I just don't want to make them uncomfortable.

First, Guinastasia and Rilchiam can't be talking about the same people or I'm missing something pretty big here.

Second, Rilchiam, you just asked everyone to ignore the people you're describing, then you say you don't want to make them uncomfortable? How oddly contradictory.

Third, Hi. .well, you know.

Originally Posted by Beware of Doug

How did everybody miss that one of the things was a "tootbrush" (sic)?

What's a tootbrush? Do some people brush their toots?

[Don't fight the hypothetical]

Oh, I do. But you gotta get as soon as they come out... otherwise they're too big. Maybe that's how he got it in his ass.

[Rilchiam]

Originally Posted by Heffalump and Roo

Second, Rilchiam, you just asked everyone to ignore the people you're describing, then you say you don't want to make them uncomfortable? How oddly contradictory.

It makes them uncomfortable when people talk back.

[Autolycus]

How in holy fuck did half of this thread become about me? Seriously, at least with Hal there has to be some kind of loose ovine reference. I dont mind joking around, and I am somewhat flattered by the attention, but I get ogrish when I'm associated with the T word.

Dont make me ladle out some justice!

[bbs2k]

Originally Posted by Sapo

ok, I keep running into this one but don't know where it comes from. Link, please? (I hate laughing politely to look like I am in the loop)

Sapo, buddy, remember I tried to clue you into all the important business while you were on hiatus? Maybe my point #3 should have been more specific. Or maybe I was just scared that too much too fast would have scared you away again.

[bbs2k]

Originally Posted by Autolycus

Dont make me ladle out some justice!

What a trollish thing to say.

[Malacandra]

When troll feeding is made a crime, only criminals will feed trolls.

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by Heffalump and Roo

To me, the OP was saying, do this (ignore trolls). What are the on-topic responses besides yes, sire? Wouldn't one of the on-topic responses be no, sire, I will not do it?

Yes, that would be a valid response, assuming you aren't being a troll yourself.

Another response might be "But I enjoy winding up the Trolls and watching them go berzerk! It's so much fun!"

Or even "Aw gee, my only real enjoyment from this board comes from counter-trolling the trolls. What do you expect me to do with my freetime now?"

[Captain Amazing]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

They're dead Q.E.D..

They made a simple mistake in the folktales is all. Happens to the best writers.

They made a mistake, so you killed them? Man, I've heard of harsh editors, but...

[Ponder Stibbons]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

Wait a minute! Q.E.D. was the first thing that Autolycus stuck up his ass? How did I miss that?

What do you mean, how did you miss that? Do you have a secret webcam set up in Auto's bedroom that you've been watching?

Originally Posted by Frank

I could probably be distracted by a bottle of tequila left on your back porch. If you also leave some leather, I might even make you some shoes.

Don't do it, Q.E.D.! The quality of those shoes is terrible!

Originally Posted by What Exit?

... brownies make shoes.

That doesn't sound right. Maybe you mean that Frank makes shoes while eating brownies? If those are hash brownies, that explains the poor quality of the shoes ...