I don’t really disagree with anything you said here, just wanted to say, I did get some pretty nice recipes out of the deal.
Well, thank you so much mods for putting up with* all* of us. I know it is a thankless job, no pay and whatever you try to do, somebody doesn’t like it and does not mind letting you know! I have enjoyed my short time on here so far very much and really appreciate y’all having it available for us.
It’s not necessarily that trolls may be converted or change their ways - the key question is if they truly are trolls. Some cases are easier to identify than others, certainly. In general though moving slower means less chance of getting that evaluation wrong. Because remember, there isn’t a good way to get feedback if we made the correct or incorrect evaluation. The downside is that the self restraint of other posters is tested while things play out.
It’s not perfect but I don’t know of a way to improve it where the downsides outweigh the positives. I’m open to suggestions.
Would that be the thread in which you are using the word liberal as an insult, calling people rancid and hate-filled, insinuating that people who know Muslims in real life don’t really know those Muslims (because, you know, don’t you, that all Muslims are Islamic Manchurian Candidates), and also calling other posters bollock-brain, bonehead, and fascist? That’s the thread you’re complaining about?
We have an infraction system, and it seems easy to modify for trolling.
As soon as you suspect trolling, Note them, explaining why it seems like they may be trolling. If they continue doing the same thing, easy ban. No non-troll is going to accidentally continue to troll after being told how they are coming across.*
If they stop, but do something else that seems like trolling, Warn them. Tell them what trolling is, and tell them not to do it again or they will be banned.
Then, well, if they troll again, ban them.
*If it’s two different threads, maybe just give a Warning, on the off chance they didn’t see the note. But then continue as above.
Thanks for pointing that out. Now there is one less.
Don’t trolls also provide entertainment value? 
Mostly on the level of Bumfights.
I’m usually reluctant to ban for trolling, not for the troll’s sake, but for the sake of the board environment as a whole. Yes, we get trolls, who post things that a lot of people disagree with just for the sake of getting a reaction. We also have a lot of members who (I think) post things that a lot of people disagree with because they honestly hold those views. And sure, maybe there wouldn’t be many tears shed if some of those folks got banned, too… but then we’re the place that bans people just because we disagree with them, and nobody wants us to be that place. So we let the people stay who sincerely hold unpopular opinions, and ban the ones who aren’t sincere… But now you have the question, how can you tell whether someone is sincere? And that’s a tough question.
That was beautiful. 
Muchas gracias*!
Does it?, or is it an example of the very thing the OP was complaining about?
I can think of any reason for all the recipe posts other than being disruptive and annoying the creator of that thread.
One way that can go is that the person being piled on lashes out… and is called a troll for that.
Whether is done consciously or not, I have the feeling some times this is done to goad people into getting banned.
The OP of that thread was a troll, and was seeking to get people to call him names. If he gets annoyed by not being called names, that’s an ideal outcome.
Look, if you post a thread in the Pit, you take your chances. I fail to see how refusing to post profanity can be considered disruptive.
I do believe I’ll bookmark this Colibri post as a great example of Merton’s Unintended Consequences.
As has been pointed out, people are only rarely banned for behavior in the Pit. You really, really, really, have to work at it.
No, I think the recipe approach is just fine. You’re not really acknowledging the troll, and it gives poster an outlet so they don’t feel like they’re doing nothing.
Accusations of trolling are thrown around too freely by some on this board. A troll isn’t just a poster who gets under your skin or someone you’ve taken a personal dislike to for some reason. It’s a poster who is here for the sole reason of stirring people up and who contributes nothing at all of value to the board. They’re not that hard to identify usually although occasionally there can be some doubt. On the whole I’d say the mods have it covered and if they err on the side of caution at times I think that’s only right. Besides a doubtful troll won’t remain doubtful for long. They will feel the need to boast of their exploits and then the axe will fall.
It is the Pit and annoying and insulting people is a feature. But threadshitting isn’t a form of trolling? If every Pit thread gets the same treatment the Pit becomes useless. It seems like spam to me.
No need to modify - we already have a “trolling” selection as one of the reasons for warnings. It actually has a free form option too. In reviewing the logs, there are quite a few warnings given for trolling across the boards, including the Pit. In any event, yes it does take a bit longer than some of our posters would like. I think that speaks both to the difficulty of being certain someone is a troll and the willingness to welcome all manner of dissenting voices. I mean, hey, they let me post here