# 2.5 inches is a troll. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 30, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533 "2008-04-30T22:56:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/1 "2008-04-30T22:56:44Z")
Seriously, what does someone have to do around here to prove that they are just trolling, and are not interested in having real conversations? How far are you mods going to let him push the envelope before you finally put him out of his misery? edit: his [latest](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466151) steaming pile of crap. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/2 "2008-04-30T23:03:33Z")
Honestly, I’m a little more irritated by **Colibri’s** moderating. If he thinks posters will be unable to refrain from off-topic posts then he should move or close the thread. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/3 "2008-04-30T23:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=Inner Stickler] Honestly, I’m a little more irritated by **Colibri’s** moderating. If he thinks posters will be unable to refrain from off-topic posts then he should move or close the thread. [/QUOTE] Agreed. My initial reaction to **Colibri** ’s posts was definitely :dubious: I gotta agree with you, **Mosier**. Though many pegged him as trollish from the onset, I tried to give him a shot. Lately, though, it seems he’s just trying to pick a fight with just about everyone. I’m pretty open-minded, but his schtick is getting tiresome. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/4 "2008-04-30T23:12:27Z")
Yeah, but he’s a really short troll… ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/5 "2008-04-30T23:19:36Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] Yeah, but he’s a really short troll… [/QUOTE] And fun. I thought the question posed as it was with no setup was a bit odd. Given the nature of what’s being asked I would think a detailed explanation should be required. Anything at all. Like morbid curiosity about “child brides” that have been in the news recently. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/6 "2008-04-30T23:20:01Z")
I think \*\*Colibri \*\*was spot on. There has been some friction in GQ lately about non-responsive or smartass answers, and IMO he was just heading that shit off at the pass. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/7 "2008-04-30T23:20:49Z")
Oh, was this still in dispute? I thought it was commonly understood. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/8 "2008-04-30T23:22:48Z")
While I think the question as asked is a little weird, I don’t disagree with **Colibri** ’s moderating - reminding everyone to keep the discussion on track is fine, at least until the question gets answered. Since the thread hasn’t immediately filled up with our usual brand of bad jokes, I think s/he made a good call. On the other hand, my opinions on **2.5"o’Fun** do not bear repeating, considering board policy. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/9 "2008-04-30T23:29:05Z")
**Colibri** Is right on target this time. **2.5** asked a factual question, and can expect to receive a factual answer. If he just shut it down, **Colibri** would be accused of being draconian etc… That said, **2.5** is a troll, or at least extremely immature. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/10 "2008-04-30T23:30:06Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] Seriously, what does someone have to do around here to prove that they are just trolling, and are not interested in having real conversations? How far are you mods going to let him push the envelope before you finally put him out of his misery? [/QUOTE] **Mosier** , if you believe \*\*Two and a Half Inches of Fun \*\* to be a troll, and posting merely to get a negative reaction, the most counter productive thing you could have done is to open a Pit thread about it. This is _exactly_ what I was trying to avoid by keeping a close rein on that thread. I strongly considered closing down the thread. However, if I had closed it down, odds are that **Two and a Half Inches of Fun** (or someone else) would have simply opened a Pit thread, and that would have attracted the attention he desired anyway. It is, as it stands, a strictly factual question, and in my judgment not outside the bounds of what is permitted on the board. However, I do intend to ensure that it not deviate from those bounds. If it does, I will close it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/11 "2008-04-30T23:33:51Z")
[QUOTE=Inner Stickler] Honestly, I’m a little more irritated by **Colibri’s** moderating. If he thinks posters will be unable to refrain from off-topic posts then he should move or close the thread. [/QUOTE] If they do not refrain, they will be subject to warnings for violating my instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/12 "2008-04-30T23:38:50Z")
I can understand the moderation to stipulate no off-topic answers - otherwise the thread could just turn into a silly stream of minge puns, but the bit about strictly factual answers just seems heavy-handed and unnecessary. I know Q&A format is supposed to be strictly factual, but speculation, guesswork and tentative suggestion is quite often useful in keeping the thread alive until someone manages to come up with the facts - also, it can be a springboard for research, or a set of discussion points that can be addressed/supported/dismissed/refuted, bringing further - factual - light to the matter. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/13 "2008-04-30T23:40:10Z")
Yes, but **Duck Duck Goose** ’s answer was well within the boundaries of GQ, even with the tightened rules **Colibri** set. There was no need for the additional smackdown. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/14 "2008-04-30T23:41:02Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] It is, as it stands, a strictly factual question, and in my judgment not outside the bounds of what is permitted on the board. [/QUOTE] I agree. Well handled. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/15 "2008-04-30T23:42:38Z")
It’s a question with a legitimate answer. I got my first reliable boner at age four. So fucking what? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/16 "2008-04-30T23:43:21Z")
IMO, either all threads in **GQ** should be open to jokes or none should. I dislike holding this thread to a different standard simply because the topic is off-putting. > [@](#): > > If they do not refrain, they will be subject to warnings for violating my instructions. See, I think **that’s** a little draconian. But then I appear to have a higher tolerance for jokes than everyone else. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/17 "2008-04-30T23:44:51Z")
[QUOTE=Inner Stickler] IMO, either all threads in **GQ** should be open to jokes or none should. I dislike holding this thread to a different standard simply because the topic is off-putting. See, I think **that’s** a little draconian. But then I appear to have a higher tolerance for jokes than everyone else. Whatever. [/QUOTE] You don’t think this has to do with the heat generated? It’s not living in a vacuum: the mods are likely drenched with Report This Post posts. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/18 "2008-04-30T23:46:43Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] If they do not refrain, they will be subject to warnings for violating my instructions. [/QUOTE] Thus making the ONLY people capable of responding the boards active doctors. Which is a shame, as anecdotal information from, say, any of the women who post here would be great for that thread. To much medicine can be just as bad for you, in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/19 "2008-04-30T23:47:27Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] I got my first reliable boner at age four. [/QUOTE] And man, those unreliable boners when you’re three can be sooo embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533/20 "2008-04-30T23:47:39Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Yes, but **Duck Duck Goose** ’s answer was well within the boundaries of GQ, even with the tightened rules **Colibri** set. There was no need for the additional smackdown. [/QUOTE] For a normal thread, yes. However, given the particular combination of question and poster, this one requires some special handling. You can see the reason why in this thread - there aren’t very many GQ OPs that spark a Pitting within a few moments of being opened. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-5-inches-is-a-troll/447533.md?page=2)