# Asking for some clarity about what is and isn't trolling **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621 "2020-10-22T21:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/61 "2020-12-28T20:10:07Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > What suggestions are “absurd” or have “the slightest factual basis”, Honestly, if a person can’t tell what is absurd and what isn’t supported by the slightest factual basis, why should I want them posting anything at all? How could such a person provide value to a discussion board? A poster with such a tenuous link to reality is a time sink, interactions are centered around trying to join them with the real world, trying to convince them that real things are real, and they invariably fight back with more factless absurdities. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/62 "2020-12-28T21:41:44Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Honestly, if a person can’t tell what is absurd and what isn’t supported by the slightest factual basis, why should I want them posting anything at all? How could such a person provide value to a discussion board? Congrats on cutting out the part that says it’s all subjective and ignoring the poster’s entire point… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/63 "2020-12-29T12:42:29Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > it’s all subjective You do realize that the pronoun “it” in this phrase refers to literally every possible claim one can make on a message board. They are not all subjective. It is itself an absurdity to suggest that one cannot describe any claim as absurd because everything is subjective. It’s nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/64 "2020-12-29T15:09:21Z")
Here is what @Fotheringay-Phipps actually said: > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > What suggestions are “absurd” or have “the slightest factual basis”, and by extension what the intended purpose of the suggestion was, are highly subjective judgments, and in the case of political/ideological issues tend to be heavily influenced by one’s views as to the underlying issues. > > It’s too much to ask for moderators to entirely remove that influence, but they should at least be cognizant of it and try to do their best. And those who are completely incapable of that make for very poor moderators. I’m sure you believe several things that I think are absurd, that doesn’t mean you’re trolling if you say them. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/65 "2020-12-30T02:51:44Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I’m sure you believe several things that I think are absurd You might think so, but I’ve been posting here for 20 years, and I don’t post nonsense. I don’t post fact deficient garbage, or try to defend absurd ideas. Have I been wrong? Stupid? A boob posting out of his depth? Of course!\* But none of that is what Hari Seldon was talking about. He was talking about absurd suggestions without the slightest factual basis. You can’t do that accidentally, not if you care about what you post, and have any respect for the people you’re interacting with. \*It’s good for the humility, that moment where you back slowly out of the room because you clearly don’t know as much as everyone else… ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/66 "2020-12-30T10:27:00Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Have I been wrong? Stupid? A boob posting out of his depth? Of course!\* I didn’t post for years because every time I had a point to make, someone else would say the same thing, and much more eloquently than I could ever manage. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I don’t post fact deficient garbage, or try to defend absurd ideas. The thing is, absurd is not a well defined term. Whether a statement is true or false is something objective that we can potentially determine. ‘Absurd’ is a value judgement. Sure, there are things 99% of people would agree are absurd, but there are also things where opinions will differ, because it _is_ an opinion. Maybe we can all agree that a given statement is wrong, but that doesn’t mean we’ll agree on whether it’s absurd or not. When modding, it’s better to stick to objective facts as far as possible, rather than subjective opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/67 "2020-12-30T20:56:24Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > But I don’t think he did so. > > Trumpists have been claiming fraud for months, before and after the election. Trump has stated that hundreds of thousands of thousands of ballots were faked and entered in one night. Millions of people believe his claim. > > Is there any reason to think that Velocity did not believe in his prediction, or that he made it deliberately to cause annoyance? > > Ever heard the expression “Don’t attribute to malice what can be explained by error.” ? > > I think that error is a likely explanation in this case. Rather than assume him to be a troll, let’s assume that he is one of millions that have been bamboozled by Trump’s lies. @Hari_Seldon, how about a response? I think your accusation of trolling is misplaced, and your warning wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/68 "2021-01-01T01:34:09Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > When modding, it’s better to stick to objective facts as far as possible, rather than subjective opinions. I’ve been a moderator (not here but elsewhere) and that is not how moderation works. Subjective judgment calls are probably the most important role of a moderator and why you need to be careful in choosing one. Also, without subjectivity you are left with bright line rules that allow people to cause all kinds of problems while technically not violating policies. There is a reason why there is no firm, objective definition of trolling on the board. People will use methods to disrupt discussions in a trolling manner without technically violating the exact wording of the rule, and the moderators would have no tools to stop them. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/69 "2021-01-20T18:54:23Z")
If you believe you have a new topic and you post this topic on different threads, is this trolling? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/70 "2021-01-20T19:10:02Z")
What? ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/71 "2021-01-20T19:12:01Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > If you believe you have a new topic and you post this topic on different threads, is this trolling? If you post the same post on more than one thread, is this trolling? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/72 "2021-01-20T19:33:49Z")
It could be trolling, it might also not be trolling, ( **especially if relevant and fact checked** ). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/73 "2021-01-20T19:38:30Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > If you post the same post on more than one thread, is this trolling? I saw some repeat posts (posting the same thing to more than one thread, often with an acknowledgement that they were doing so) in some of the threads that sprang up in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol invasion. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/74 "2021-01-20T19:41:55Z")
On the other hand, we do have a rule: > [@](#): > > Do not post the same or similar messages or threads to multiple forums; multiple threads on the same topic; or an excessive number of threads on any topic within a limited period of time. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/75 "2021-01-20T21:35:25Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > If you post the same post on more than one thread, is this trolling? Not as such. There’s nothing wrong if it’s relevant, especially if you acknowledge that you posted it in another thread. However, if you made repeated nonsense posts in different threads, it could be trolling. Do you have a particular post in mind? ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/76 "2021-01-22T21:27:59Z")
no, I was banned for trolling on another forum site and could not figure out what I did wrong, so I posted the question here. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/77 "2021-01-22T21:29:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not as such. There’s nothing wrong if it’s relevant, Is it trolling if I start a topic in different forums? ---
**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:** [January 22, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/78 "2021-01-22T21:35:12Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > Is it trolling if I start a topic in different forums? Not if the topic is not trolling to begin with. However, cross-posting is against the rules, that is, posting the same or similar threads in different forums. Something can be against the rules while not being trolling. From the [Registration Agreement:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/registration-agreement-rules-and-faq/823562) > [@](#): > > Do not post the same or similar messages or threads to multiple forums; multiple threads on the same topic; or an excessive number of threads on any topic within a limited period of time. I’m not sure why you would want to start the same thread in different forums. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/79 "2021-01-22T21:37:14Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I’m not sure why you would want to start the same thread in different forums. Some posters stick to a topic or two and never look over other topics. Posting the topic in other forums broadens the scope of possible viewers. Or so it seems to me ---
**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:** [January 22, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621/80 "2021-01-22T21:43:20Z")
I don’t think this board is large enough for that to be a major issue. In any case, it’s against the rules so don’t do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-some-clarity-about-what-is-and-isnt-trolling/923621.md?page=5)