So over here we seem to have a bit of the same ol’ same ol’. One poster who appears (which I suppose is up for individual interpretation) to have an obsession with another (or two, in this specific case) and therefore goes after them (if that’s what you feel) repeatedly (ditto or not). Furthermore, there’s also a question revolving around the image of being a One Trick Pony when it only follows the pattern of attack. As in a group (Republicans/Wiccans/photoshop contestants/whatever – all are just examples pulled outta my ass) or an individual (Cher/Poster B/your mother/whatever – see reasons why I did this above).
Now, all that background information supplied, here’s what I’m polling…
[ol]
[li]What do you consider ‘stalking’ in an internet context? Does the aforementioned circumstances qualify? Why or why not?[/li][li]Is it okay to do what’s being done (IE: ‘stalking’)? Why or why not?[/li][li]What do you consider ‘harassment’? Due to your definition, is it okay to engage in such online? Why or why not?[/li][li]Is it okay to be a OTP if your postings are benign, like only in AI threads? How about if they’re ‘not’? For either stance, why or why not?[/li][li]Due to your feelings, what do you suggest should be done about this? Or is this all a case of tempest-in-a-teapotism and those partaking should just be ignored? Those offended should just grow thicker skins? Why do you feel this is the logical conclusion?[/li][/ol]
If there’s anything I missed, please feel free to add or ask it. Maybe this’ll give us a bit of clarity in which direction to choose. If not, we can always ‘harass’ me for using too many parentheticals and "Why or why not?"s. Let’s do it, probably to death. More horseyism aside.
What do you consider ‘stalking’ in an internet context? Does the aforementioned circumstances qualify? Why or why not?
Stalking - following another poster into numberous threads, and creating posts that target the stalkee, as opposed to creating posts about the threads topic.
Is it okay to do what’s being done (IE: ‘stalking’)? Why or why not?
No. While stalking doesn’t have to be negative, it does center around the stalkee, not the discussions being interupted.
What do you consider ‘harassment’? Due to your definition, is it okay to engage in such online? Why or why not?
Harass - to bother continually. To make repeated attacks. Stalking with a negative or threatening tone. No, it’s not ok. It definately fits the title of jerkish.
Is it okay to be a OTP if your postings are benign, like only in AI threads? How about if they’re ‘not’? For either stance, why or why not?
As long as the singlemindedness doesn’t become an obsession on the boards, it’s fine. If I only like discussing beer making, and I don’t make a pest of myself about it, who cares? If I flood the board with new threads about beer making, or hijack unrelated threads with my odes to wort, then it’s become unacceptable.
Due to your feelings, what do you suggest should be done about this? Or is this all a case of tempest-in-a-teapotism and those partaking should just be ignored? Those offended should just grow thicker skins? Why do you feel this is the logical conclusion?
I have very low tolerance for stalking or harassment. Those are activities designed to intimidate the subject. OTP is only a problem if to threatens to derail or swamp the boards.
What do you consider ‘stalking’ in an internet context? Does the aforementioned circumstances qualify? Why or why not?
Message board context or Internet context? The MB context is annoying and trollish, the Internet version is scary and potentially dangerous.
I will stick to the MB version: If a poster consistently follows a poster into different threads and calls them out or throws down the gauntlet it is stalking. Especially if the receiving poster mentions it is annoying or disturbing. On the other hand, there is similar activity that could look like stalking but is actually only fun. **LOUNE ** will often respond to me with some negative thing about the Yankees. We both know it is in good fun and we both enjoy the exchanges. An outside observer might not realize it is not stalking.
Is it okay to do what’s being done (IE: ‘stalking’)? Why or why not?
It is not okay to stalk a person to annoyance. There is little excuse for it and thankfully it is rarely seen here on the Dope.
What do you consider ‘harassment’? Due to your definition, is it okay to engage in such online? Why or why not?
There is harrassment and harrassment. What BC is guilty of is an annoyance that should and eventually will get him banned if he continues it. Then there is real harrassment. Calling people at home when not invited, Emailing them, putting them on Spam List, etc. These are much more serious and borderline criminal.
Is it okay to be a OTP if your postings are benign, like only in AI threads? How about if they’re ‘not’? For either stance, why or why not?
I think it is fine to be a one trick pony if your posts are benign. In fact I would hope that some experts would be willing to chime into GQ even if they did not bother with anything else. I have no problem with someone that only posted in Café and only for one show. More power to them. They do no harm and hopefully enjoy themselves.
Due to your feelings, what do you suggest should be done about this? Or is this all a case of tempest-in-a-teapotism and those partaking should just be ignored? Those offended should just grow thicker skins? Why do you feel this is the logical conclusion?
Still leave it up to the mods, there is no need for hard and fast rules. The particular poster that inspired this has already been suspended once. We’ll see what happens soon is my guess.
Jim {See your post wasn’t too wordy at all, nice job}
[Moderator Hat On]I will allow this thread to continue as long as it is an impersonal poll and not a thread about any particular poster or posters. [/Moderator Hat On]
So sorry. I did mean for it to be general (and only using the pit thread as a springboard for discussion) and not directed at anyone. If I missed that mark terribly, just tell me where to report for tarring and feathering. :smack: :smack:
On the other hand, if it gets to stay open, thanks for the replies thus far. Keep 'em coming so I don’t have to be embarassed along with any new dudes of torture.
There should be a rule against OTP threads being posted to stalk individuals. For me, stalking is bullying behavior – harassment for sport and attention.
In a situation where a Mod is being stalked or harassed, that Mod should have no input into whether or not that stalker is suspended or banned. She or he can call it to someone’s attention, but that is all.
That would keep the situation from becoming an I-Double-Dog-Dare-You-To-Ban-Me Situation and it would keep Mods from being tempted to put their own feelings ahead of the good of the Board when their own thinking is not clear.
What do you consider ‘stalking’ in an internet context? Does the aforementioned circumstances qualify? Why or why not?
Stalking - following someone around and giving them grief over and over - which is also harassment. Keep in mind, I’m talking about MB behavior - once it goes beyond the threads, it becomes a much more serious deal.
Is it okay to do what’s being done (IE: ‘stalking’)? Why or why not?
No. It’s bullshit. It’s bullying, it’s third grade behavior, and they should know better.
What do you consider ‘harassment’? Due to your definition, is it okay to engage in such online? Why or why not?
Harassment - followoing someone around and giving them grief over and over - which is also stalking. Keep in mind, I’m talking about MB behavior - once it goes beyond the threads, it becomes a much more serious deal.
Is it okay to be a OTP if your postings are benign, like only in AI threads? How about if they’re ‘not’? For either stance, why or why not?
No, it’s annoying in ANY context.
Due to your feelings, what do you suggest should be done about this? Or is this all a case of tempest-in-a-teapotism and those partaking should just be ignored? Those offended should just grow thicker skins? Why do you feel this is the logical conclusion?
Done about what? One trick ponies? I put 'em on ignore if it’s just about general bs (unless it’s a grapist kinda thing - that’s just being a jerk.) If it’s someone stalking or constantly harassing someone, I say ban 'em.
I wonder if we are using a different definition of one trick pony. To me and I think the way **faithfool ** meant it, a one trick pony is someone that just posts on a single topic.
One of my favorite to read posters mostly posts on Science and debunks bad science arguments on a regular basis. He has a heavy emphasis of Global Warming related issues. I think he is one of the best posters on the board, far more valuable than a poster like me, despite him only posting on one subject. By the definition of one trick pony that I am using, he would pretty much qualify. He does an excellent job debating, citing and debunking bad science and weak arguments. He would in all likelihood make a great and valuable SDASB. I not only would never ignore a poster like this, I look for them.
If a poster only posted about a more mundane subject that I had interest in, I would still enjoy their presence and interact with them in this area. If they poster on a subject I do not care about, I would not ignore them, I would just end up not interacting with them.
**What do you consider ‘stalking’ in an internet context? Does the aforementioned circumstances qualify? Why or why not?**Stalking on a message board involves seeking out a particular poster and addressing that poster directly based on who they are, as opposed to based on the topic at hand.
**2. Is it okay to do what’s being done (IE: ‘stalking’)? Why or why not?**Nope. There are posters, just a couple, who have established themselves in my mind as jerks. If they post something innocuous in a thread and I respond based on my opinion of them rather than on what they have just posted, that would make me a jerk.
**3. What do you consider ‘harassment’? Due to your definition, is it okay to engage in such online? Why or why not?**Harassment is seeking out a poster and trying to distract from the topic at hand.
**4. Is it okay to be a OTP if your postings are benign, like only in AI threads? How about if they’re ‘not’? For either stance, why or why not?**One-trick ponies are fine with me in general. Most of them we don’t even notice. They start threads and post on their particular, usually non-controversial subject. They are usually valued by those who share their interest, and unnoticed by those who do not. We have many things to talk about here. Some have many interests, some only one or a few. Those who are only moved to post about one thing that interests them seem harmless to me, while those who specialize in content-free screeds are annoying to me.
**5. Due to your feelings, what do you suggest should be done about this? Or is this all a case of tempest-in-a-teapotism and those partaking should just be ignored? Those offended should just grow thicker skins? Why do you feel this is the logical conclusion?**I think that, like most things here, we should rely on the wise discretion of the mods. I am already on record as saying that banning is in order for a particular current case of stalking and trolling. I see other cases where someone responds to the topic but throws in a little snark at a particular poster based on past animosity. I find that distracting and annoying, but I don’t think it damages the SDMB.
You may be right - I meant it in a way that the person never contributes anything of value and does it over and over again. For example, I start a thread asking for lemonade recipes, and poster x jumps in to make some comment about how lousy Republicans and their lemonade - every post this person MAKES is about lousy Republicans and his hatred for them - he never contributes anything of value. That kind of OTP I ignore. It’s the ones that go after certain people over and over that I have issues with.
me for using too many parentheticals and "Why or why not?"s. 
Let’s do it, probably to death. More horseyism aside. 
