# asahi's warning

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asahis-warning/828954>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 4, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asahis-warning/828954 "2019-02-04T17:05:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 88

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**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asahis-warning/828954/88 "2019-02-05T20:21:12Z")

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> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> Then help a fellow doper out here. I thought that, by definition, trolling had to be insincere. If I really believe X, even though it is highly offensive to some and causes harsh reaction, then saying that I believe X is not trolling. It is my position.
> 
> Maybe it violates some other board rule, but not trolling.

In Elections, this is the written rule:

> [@Rules for Great Debates and Elections at SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-great-debates-and-elections-at-sdmb/778966/1):
>
> Identifying a troll is a question of motivations, which aren’t objectively verifiable. There really is no “bright line” that distinguishes a troll from someone who expresses an unpopular opinion forcefully. It’s ultimately a judgement call if a particular poster is doing one versus the other.

Expressing an unpopular, but honestly held, opinion forcefully enough can be trolling.

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