# I've been warned for accusing another of trolling. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 4, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835 "2012-05-04T03:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/41 "2012-05-04T13:38:50Z")
Wait… > [@Cicero](#): > > Maybe cause Twickster is a female? What the living fuck does that have to do with anything? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/42 "2012-05-04T13:52:20Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I don’t think calling out a behavior is the same as a direct insult. Dude, what part of: > [@](#): > > It is against Straight Dope Message Board policy to accuse someone of trolling outside the Pit do you not understand. Forget about whether it’s an insult or not, what you did is explicitly against the rules. Period. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/43 "2012-05-04T14:04:58Z")
I understand it, **John Mace**. I’m just saying I don’t agree with it. I’ll take the warning. I did break the letter of the rule. But if the rule is such that I can’t tell a decent poster that he is trolling when he actually is, then I don’t like it. Take that as you will. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/44 "2012-05-04T14:30:07Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have this burning need to tell people they are trolling. It’s just as easy to hit the report button and let a mod do it. Or, do nothing, and let someone else do it. We’ve got a plethora of busy-bodies on this MB, and someone will report a troll if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/45 "2012-05-04T15:02:06Z")
Just thought I would point out that the posts by **Sicks Ate** aren’t even trolling in the first place. Or if they are, then **Sicks Ate** sucks as a troll. A troll doesn’t state factual information to get a rise out of people and just leave it at that. In almost all cases there are inflammatory opinions and typically a level of dishonesty and evasiveness. Those two posts were simply stating some facts. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/46 "2012-05-04T15:04:09Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I understand it, **John Mace**. I’m just saying I don’t agree with it. I’ll take the warning. I did break the letter of the rule. But if the rule is such that I can’t tell a \*\*decent poster \*\*that he is trolling when he actually is, then I don’t like it. Take that as you will. > [@RaftPeople](#): > > Just thought I would point out that the posts by **Sicks Ate** aren’t even trolling in the first place. Or if they are, then **Sicks Ate sucks as a troll.** > A troll doesn’t state factual information to get a rise out of people and just leave it at that. In almost all cases there are inflammatory opinions and typically a level of dishonesty and evasiveness. > > Those two posts were simple stating some facts. Bolding mine, the two nicest things anyone’s said about me all day 😛 ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/47 "2012-05-04T15:10:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have this burning need to tell people they are trolling. It’s just as easy to hit the report button and let a mod do it. Or, do nothing, and let someone else do it. We’ve got a plethora of busy-bodies on this MB, and someone will report a troll if you don’t. You didn’t get the point of this at all, did you? I was never the junior mod. I never went looking for the Hall Monitor. I think we should be more free to police our own, _without_ the hall monitors. We’re all equals here. And I am going to continue posting on the principle that we are all equals. And that means occasionally saying “Hey! Don’t _DO_ that!” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/48 "2012-05-04T15:13:02Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I was never the junior mod. I never went looking for the Hall Monitor. I think we should be more free to police our own, _without_ the hall monitors. We’re all equals here. And I am going to continue posting on the principle that we are all equals. And that means occasionally saying “Hey! Don’t _DO_ that!” You don’t really understand what “junior modding” means, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/49 "2012-05-04T15:15:52Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > You don’t really understand what “junior modding” means, do you? Careful there. Next thing you know, there’ll be a board rule about calling someone a ‘junior mod’. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/50 "2012-05-04T15:23:29Z")
And for the record, I _like_ **Sicks Ate**. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/51 "2012-05-04T15:36:42Z")
Summing up the threads for all you latecomers. > [@](#): > > “The mods are meanies.” > > “I didn’t break any rule.” > > “Well, I stuck my toe across the line a bit, but that shouldn’t matter.” > > “OK, I broke the rule, but I have a different interpretation of the rule.” > > “I hate the rule and so I’m going to break it.” > > “Why are there rules here at all? I’d have more fun if I could do anything I want.” > > “The mods are meanies.” ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/52 "2012-05-04T15:41:02Z")
nope ---
**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:** [May 4, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/53 "2012-05-04T15:41:39Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > People seem to be glossing over this part and concentrating on the “insult”. There really isn’t a need for a “special” rule for this insult, as what it come down to is the person doing the accusing is being a junior mod. Post #7 touched on this, but it was ignored. Correct. I should have mentioned that aspect as well in my previous posts. > [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > You didn’t get the point of this at all, did you? > > I was never the junior mod. I never went looking for the Hall Monitor. I think we should be more free to police our own, _without_ the hall monitors. We’re all equals here. And I am going to continue posting on the principle that we are all equals. And that means occasionally saying “Hey! Don’t _DO_ that!” What you propose is exactly what “junior modding” means - and it would be a recipe for unending trainwrecks. While we may “all be equals” as posters, we are not all equals with regard to interpretation and enforcement of the rules. So if you intend to continue to ignore the rules, as you state here, you should be prepared for additional warnings. Reporting a post (“looking for the hall monitor”) is exactly the opposite of playing junior mod yourself. Ideally you shouldn’t even mention the report or remark on the post (except for spam reports). If you have a problem with someone else’s post, either report it or take it to the Pit. Don’t deal with it on your own. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/54 "2012-05-04T15:43:19Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > You didn’t get the point of this at all, did you? > > I was never the junior mod. I never went looking for the Hall Monitor. I think we should be more free to police our own, _without_ the hall monitors. We’re all equals here. And I am going to continue posting on the principle that we are all equals. And that means occasionally saying “Hey! Don’t _DO_ that!” And this, folks, is why it’s not good to give a monkey a gun. He’s likely to shoot himself. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/55 "2012-05-04T15:43:22Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I understand it, **John Mace**. I’m just saying I don’t agree with it. I’ll take the warning. I did break the letter of the rule. But if the rule is such that I can’t tell a decent poster that he is trolling when he actually is, then I don’t like it. Take that as you will. I personally think the ban on accusations of trolling is heavy-handed and unnecessary. That said, you didn’t break the “letter of the rule,” you did exactly what the rule says not to do. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/56 "2012-05-04T15:49:10Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I personally think the ban on accusations of trolling is heavy-handed and unnecessary. You’re free to accuse people of trolling in the Pit, just not in the thread itself. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/57 "2012-05-04T15:51:37Z")
Sorry, I wasn’t clear that I meant outside the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/58 "2012-05-04T16:17:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > What you propose is exactly what “junior modding” . No, it’s not. It means not running to you every time there is a problem. The board is not a nanny state. You are not as needed as you think you are. I hope you like the coffee mug. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/59 "2012-05-04T16:20:39Z")
And can I say again that I _like_ **Sicks Ate**. It would have worked out just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835/60 "2012-05-04T16:51:17Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > No, it’s not. It means not running to you every time there is a problem. The board is not a nanny state. You are not as needed as you think you are. Nope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-warned-for-accusing-another-of-trolling/620835.md?page=4)