Maybe we should have some designated trolls, like crazy cousins locked up in the basement, to have fun with.
VC03, and we can bring back Guyinbluejeans, and I’m sure there are more. We allow them rights to post only to a “Dog Pound” forum, where we can be amused by them and taunt them. And there could be ways to earn their way back to normal Dope society, like blow jobs at dopefests or somethin’.
I know what you’re saying, but Dex did say this: “When we have others who start many (many!) controversial threads and never return to them, we will handle them the same way we’re handling this one.”
That seemed clear enough to me. How about this: “In general, starting numerous controversial threads and never returning is bad manners at best, and trolling/jerkism at worst. The key here, though is multiple threads. Currently, VC03 is the only poster who’s annoying enough to actually have a series of punchbowl-turds in his name. To curb this behavior, the moderators have VC03, and only VC03, on double-non-secret-probation, prohibiting him from posting-and-leaving. Since no other poster is currently starting multiple controversial threads and never returning, no other poster is specifically warned. If any other poster develops this pattern of behavior, the “rule” would cover that poster. One or two threads does not a pattern make.”
I don’t have a problem with this if it is a probationary measure which follows after warnings or a suspension. As long as we call it probation, I’m fine with it.
I agree with Boyo Jim, can we have a forum where our trolls are still allowed? We need our nutjobs, without them, the forums just don’t feel the same. Besides, I’ve learned a lot from VC03. I never knew that somebody would feel so strongly about laptops and that using one on public transport could piss somebody off like that. I’m going to take mine with me the next time I ride the Metro. I never knew that there was a stereotype about back people not liking coffee.
Without knowing what the ignorant think, how can we fight it?
Believe me, I have no complaints about the double non-secret-probation. I’m just thinking the Mods need to have a get-together and come up with some standards of punishment and the language used to describe it.
Generally, whenever VCO3 says anything, it’s a good idea to remind yourself that the world inside his head works much, much differently from the world outside of it. It’s an angry world colored in sepia with dashes of intense red; aggression and hostility are as important in there as money and prosperity are out here. Lessons learned in that world may not apply in this one.
I know, my post was tongue in cheek. That being said, I will take my laptop and a copy of the Wall Street Journal with me on public transport from now on, hoping that VC03 or someone like him sees me, and that I can finally fulfill my life’s dream of seeing someone’s head explode. 
The standards are pretty consistent, it’s just the language used to describe it that can woffle from one mod to the next. The last similar situation that I handled (person was border-line being a one-trick pony, with a vast majority of posts all on one topic) was by private email: I said, “Here’s the problem, your posts are mono-topic, please show some diversity. Consider this a friendly warning.”
Giraffe has handled this situation in pretty much the same way (i.e., said “Here’s the behavior that we don’t want to see repeated.”)… but he used different language because the circumstances and situation and infraction are all different.
We have a variety of tools to use to try to get folks to behave themselves (which is, after all, the goal – we’re not out to punish the wicked, but to try to ensure that these Message Boards are a fun place.) Those tools include public warnings, private warnings, unofficial warnings, strong suggestions, penultimate threats, probation, etc. You don’t like the word “rule,” when it’s related to a specific situation, then fine, please submit the yellow form (Complaint Form 17(b)(ii)) in triplicate.
Seriously, people, how fucking hard is it to spell VCO3?
Very, h0stILe DlalecT.
You remind me of that one guy, what was his name… oh yeah, Fetus.
If it bothered him, I’m sure he’d tell us. It’s not as if he’s silent on anything else that chaps his ass.
It bothers me, and we all know that’s the most important thing here. 
What a horrible idea. I love it!
I specialize in the horrendously bad.
It’s your world, and we’re just living in it, eh? All right, but next Tuesday, we move to my world.
I have an alternative to the “designated troll” idea (although it does have its charms). Other posters could take turns trolling. For a week or a month, one certain poster could have troll duty and give us such craziness as that would warrant.
Hey, I said it was an alternative. I never said it was a good one.
Oh yeah, that guy that claimed Satan told him to kill people, and that he saw Jesus in the clouds.
What about that andrewdt85 kid? I always got a chuckle out of the pure stupidity he exuded. Or hmmm, let’s see, Wildest Bill?
Hell, bring back Number Six/Kaitlyn!!! That’d be a real hoot. And that chick who said she felt gang raped when someone Pitted her.
It would be bizarre and somewhat hilarious. Especially when your month was up and your credibility was totally shot with anyone who hadn’t been around. I have thought of starting devil’s advocate threads for our amusement and education, but could never really bring myself to do it.
I do really like the idea of an “Under the Bridge” forum for the trolls that choose to stick around.
Who was that last one? I don’t recall that one.
Some dude pretending to be a post-op M-F transsexual.
No, even more bizarre-a long time poster all of a sudden admitting that he was a pre-op MTF. And his spouse went along with it totally-switching to the other team just like that.
Then there was this whole monolog about how “she” was an elementry school teacher, and the principal totally went along with it, not even shrugging, and told off all the parents who were upset.
Then the pictures “she” claimed were of her and her wife turned out to be Korean/Chinese actresses.
(Oh, and I only say “she” because it was apparent that NumberSix/Kaitlyn was a complete fraud)