# Is not answering someone's questons considered trolling? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 29, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885 "2014-08-29T16:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/1 "2014-08-29T16:57:47Z")
A moderator is implying that this is the case in this thread. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731618&page=10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731618&page=10) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/2 "2014-08-29T17:00:02Z")
Missing detail: not answering simple questions for six or eight pages. And I did say it was _starting_ to look that way. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions and hurt your feelings. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/3 "2014-08-29T17:04:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Missing detail: not answering simple questions for six or eight pages. I posted a link to the thread and so those that take up these issues in that forum, which obviously isn’t you by the way, have all of the information. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/4 "2014-08-29T17:06:36Z")
Marley doesn’t mod that forum. Nor does Colibri. If you were getting modded for trolling, you would know it. It’s OK to call people trolls in the pit, where insults are permitted. If insults bug you the pit may not be the best place for you. Also, not answering simple direct questions may or may not be trolling, but it is definitely really fucking annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/5 "2014-08-29T17:06:55Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > I posted a link to the thread and so those that take up these issues in that forum, which obviously isn’t you by the way, have all of the information. You linked to page eight for some reason. I am not sure what you mean about taking up the issues, but I doubt it matters. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/6 "2014-08-29T17:09:11Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Marley doesn’t mod that forum. Nor does Colibri. If you were getting modded for trolling, you would know it. It’s OK to call people trolls in the pit, where insults are permitted. If insults bug you the pit may not be the best place for you. > > Also, not answering simple direct questions may or may not be trolling, but it is definitely really fucking annoying. So does mean I can call them trolls as well even though they are moderators? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/7 "2014-08-29T17:17:48Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > So does mean I can call them trolls as well even though they are moderators? As long as you are referring to their actions as a poster. In other words, you can’t call them a troll because they close your thread or give you a Warning (aka citation). They try to let you know when they are moderating, so if they don’t say they are moderating, anything they say or do is fair game. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/8 "2014-08-29T17:18:16Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Marley doesn’t mod that forum. Nor does Colibri… (I know I say this way too often but) This brings up the question; given the totality of the exchange does it raise to the level of “junior modding”? OK - they are both mods and pretty good IMHO but since that isn’t their category or area of responsibility and they were just participating as average posters ---- if speaking as posters did they nudged the line, if speaking as mods should they have said so? ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/9 "2014-08-29T17:20:12Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > (I know I say this way too often but) This brings up the question; given the totality of the exchange does it raise to the level of “junior modding”? OK - they are both mods and pretty good IMHO but since that isn’t their category or area of responsibility and they were just participating as average posters ---- if speaking as posters did they nudged the line, if speaking as mods should they have said so? To me there some ambiguity there which is why I’m here asking the question. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/10 "2014-08-29T17:34:01Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > So does mean I can call them trolls as well even though they are moderators? I _think_ so, but I’m not sure. I think you can call out a moderator the same way you can call out a poster, as long as you don’t call them out specifically for their modding. But the rules have long since passed intelligibility here. At any rate, you shouldn’t call anyone a troll unless they are actually acting like a troll. Otherwise you’re just going to look dumb. Just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/11 "2014-08-29T17:50:35Z")
It’s the Pit. You can accuse someone of trolling there; it isn’t junior modding. As **Larry Borgia** says, it’s not always the wisest course of action. **EasyPhil** , I predict this thread will go as well for you as the other one is. I’m sure all you needed was this one to convince us you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/12 "2014-08-29T17:51:59Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It’s the Pit. You can accuse someone of trolling there; it isn’t junior modding. As **Larry Borgia** says, it’s not always the wisest course of action. > > **EasyPhil** , I predict this thread will go as well for you as the other one is. I’m sure all you needed was this one to convince us you’re right. I’m not looking for you or anyone else to validate what I’m saying or what I think, I’m just looking for clarity on what the rules are, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/13 "2014-08-29T18:00:06Z")
Yes, I’m sure that’s all you’re doing. Go for it, accuse away! ---
**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:** [August 29, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/14 "2014-08-29T18:05:01Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > So does mean I can call them trolls as well even though they are moderators? You’ve already accused me of trolling in the thread. No, it’s not against the rules in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/15 "2014-08-29T18:47:10Z")
Sorry for my response. I just assumed someone asking that question must be a new poster, and didn’t look at how long he’d been here. The responses in that thread seemed more new-poster-esque, too. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/16 "2014-08-29T21:06:15Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > I’m not looking for you or anyone else to validate what I’m saying or what I think, I’m just looking for clarity on what the rules are, plain and simple. The rules are not so plain and not so simple, they all depend on the circumstances and specific instance. It is certainly possible to not answer a question, and not be trolling. It is also possible to not respond to questions in a way that _IS_ trolling. All depends on what came before, and the tone, and the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/17 "2014-08-30T00:39:06Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > It is also possible to not respond to questions in a way that _IS_ trolling. 😕 I can’t be bothered to go dig up examples, but I know in the past I’ve seen Mods mildly berate posters for demanding someone answer a question when they didn’t answer. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/18 "2014-08-30T01:23:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > 😕 > > I can’t be bothered to go dig up examples, but I know in the past I’ve seen Mods mildly berate posters for demanding someone answer a question when they didn’t answer. Context is everything. I have certainly Modded posters for what I considered harassment. When a sidebar discussion leads one poster to demand an answer from another poster to a question regarding a statement that is not central to the thread or that questions a poster’s actions or beliefs, persistently demanding an answer seems harassment. When a poster makes a direct declaration regarding the central thesis of the thread, then refuses to answer how they justify their position while repeating that position without explanation, that would seem to carry a trollish odor. Of course, depending on whether one favors the questioner or the questioned, the question may seem harassment or the refusal to answer may seem trollish. Most of the disputes around here are based on judgments and disagreement with those judgments. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/19 "2014-08-30T17:17:16Z")
The only limitation on responding to mods in the Pit is that you can’t insult us because of something we’ve done in our capacity as moderators. For things we’ve posted as regular users, you can abuse us to the same extent you can abuse any other poster in the Pit. It’s also worth noting that the enforcement of rules against trolling work slightly differently in the Pit than they do in the rest of the board. Normally, posting in such a way as to deliberately antagonize or upset other posters is considered trolling, but, of course, antagonizing and upsetting other posters is part of the reason the Pit exists in the first place. Generally, getting warned for trolling in the Pit requires demonstrable, knowing lies - the one instance I can remember off the top of my head is a guy who claimed, in a 9/11 thread, to have lost both parents in the WTC attack, despite multiple mentions of his parents as still being alive in other threads. This does generally NOT include things like repeatedly linking to a previously debunked cite, or misrepresenting positions taken by public figures or other posters. If I have to make a call between a poster being a troll, and just being an idiot, I’ll usually default to “idiot” unless there’s incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. Lastly, I’d like to point out that there is no rule against moderators moderating outside their assigned forum. We generally don’t do it as a courtesy to each other, but if **Marley** hands out a warning to someone in the Pit, it’s not automatically invalid just because **Marley** isn’t a Pit mod. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885/20 "2014-08-31T20:08:32Z")
[HIJACK]Phil! Hadn’t seen you in ages, so cool to see you back again![/HIJACK] Sorry, always nice to see veteran Dopers return. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-answering-someones-questons-considered-trolling/696885.md?page=2)