# Let's just ban the troll. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 18, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852 "2009-01-18T13:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/1 "2009-01-18T13:13:44Z")
**reef shark**. - Arrived here three days ago - Cor: Immediately started a thread about “[missing 9/11 wreckage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=502056)” - Has 55 posts, all in that one thread. - Simpered and dissembled at first, now not only ignores any opposing evidence and analysis provided, but outright patronises and insults the people who provide evidence. - Appears to be under the age limit by virtue of displayed intelligence and grammar. - Founds his entire position on it’s inherant lack of evidence; purports that the burden of proof is on “the other side” and when confronted with the mountain that exists, declares it not good enough. The guy is here for the lulz and he’s getting it. The discussion doesn’t bring anything new or beneficial to the SDMB - we’ve already hashed this discussion out so many times, there’s not much to be learned. And neither does he. So, the sooner he goes away, the less lulz for the troll. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/2 "2009-01-18T13:27:40Z")
I’m wondering if Reef Shark could be one of our old banned posters in a new name. Haven’t we gone through the exact same thing more than once? In any case, I concur; useless troll, or else irredeemably stupid and willfully ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/3 "2009-01-18T14:13:46Z")
If he doesn’t make an attempt at answering my three basic questions then I am done feeding him. Would be nice if he threw a capital in there now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/4 "2009-01-18T14:18:46Z")
> [@Yes, It's Another Moon Hoax Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-its-another-moon-hoax-thread/82520/156): > > I am not part of this debate, but I felt a disclaimer was in order. The site you linked to has nothing in common with my site, nor does the evidence I present have anything to do with anomaly hunters. The serious discrepancies I point out in Apollo photos can be called “long range anomalies”, but… … ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/5 "2009-01-18T14:22:31Z")
In my experience with these folks, its not so much that they are trolling as: 1. They think ‘just asking (leading) questions’ is a legitimate argument technique 2. They really are as ignorant as they seem. They also vastly overestimate their cognitive abilities and basic knowledge to the point of telling experts in the field they are wrong. 3. In their online arguments: Its not about progress, its not about convincing others, its not about getting questions answered, its all about the pwnage. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/6 "2009-01-18T14:42:43Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > In my experience with these folks, its not so much that they are trolling as: > > 1. They think ‘just asking (leading) questions’ is a legitimate argument technique > 2. They really are as ignorant as they seem. They also vastly overestimate their cognitive abilities and basic knowledge to the point of telling experts in the field they are wrong. > 3. In their online arguments: Its not about progress, its not about convincing others, its not about getting questions answered, its all about the pwnage. There’s also the possibility that a person can be mentally deranged. There necessarily are some who are seriously so on a board as large as this one. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/7 "2009-01-18T15:22:03Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > There’s also the possibility that a person can be mentally deranged. There necessarily are some who are seriously so on a board as large as this one. Sure, but he’s not even entertainingly so. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/8 "2009-01-18T15:27:07Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > 1. They think ‘just asking (leading) questions’ is a legitimate argument technique I knew Socrates; I worked with Socrates. **reef shark** , you’re no Socrates. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/9 "2009-01-18T15:30:54Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I knew Socrates; **I worked with Socrates.** **reef shark** , you’re no Socrates. Bolding mine. Really, **Frank**? Just how old ARE you? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/10 "2009-01-18T15:56:42Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Bolding mine. > > Really, **Frank**? Just how old ARE you? It’s not that **Frank** ’s old, he’s just secretly Alex Winter. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/11 "2009-01-18T16:07:43Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > It’s not that **Frank** ’s old, he’s just secretly Alex Winter. See if he calls him “So Crates” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/12 "2009-01-18T19:13:21Z")
While I am not in favor of a ban, I would point out the very disingenuous nature of reef shark’s posting on page 1 of that thread versus the last page. Its starts out with the ‘Oh gee, can some smart person answer my 911 questions’ but its not long before the true colors of 911 CT-ery shine through. I’d just like to point out this bit of showing up on false pretenses. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/13 "2009-01-18T19:42:37Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > While I am not in favor of a ban… Nor am I. Maybe he’s trolling, and maybe he isn’t. But so far he appears only to be deluded. If he were trolling, that would mean that he doesn’t believe what he’s posting and only going for the reaction. Hard to prove. If he is a troll, then I don’t think I’ll nibble anymore. If he isn’t, then there’s no point in continuing until he provides the evidence supporting his position. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/14 "2009-01-18T19:43:01Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > While I am not in favor of a ban, I would point out the very disingenuous nature of reef shark’s posting on page 1 of that thread versus the last page. Its starts out with the ‘Oh gee, can some smart person answer my 911 questions’ but its not long before the true colors of 911 CT-ery shine through. > > I’d just like to point out this bit of showing up on false pretenses. Yeah, it was almost as if that guy in post #6 had seen something like this before, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/15 "2009-01-18T21:31:41Z")
There are people who genuinely hold whacky/stupid/unpopular ideas and opinions, and have access to the internet. This thing with accusing everybody with whacky/stupid/unpopular opinions of being trolls is pretty stupid and tiresome. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/16 "2009-01-18T22:26:18Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > I’m wondering if Reef Shark could be one of our old banned posters in a new name. That doesn’t appear to be the case. > [@](#): > > Haven’t we gone through the exact same thing more than once? Yes, there have been many WTC conspiracy theory debates in GD. There’s a lot of batshit loons out there. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/17 "2009-01-18T22:42:08Z")
In general the bar for banning new posters is lower than for those who have been around awhile, and we don’t have a problem bouncing someone who seems unable to form a coherent thought. However, we don’t like to ban people simply because they’re less than brilliant or obstinate or hold unpopular opinions. “Trolling” means somebody who posts inflammatory remarks he doesn’t actually subscribe to solely to provoke people. So far I’m not seeing evidence of that here. We’ll keep an eye on things, naturally; in the meantime, if this person bugs you, don’t respond. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/18 "2009-01-18T22:56:11Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > In general the bar for banning new posters is lower than for those who have been around awhile, **and we don’t have a problem bouncing someone who seems unable to form a coherent thought**. Is there any chance of you placing the best of the worst in a bonus thread? It’d be something to warm the cockles on a cold winter’s evening, or a miserable Sunday afternoon! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/19 "2009-01-18T23:45:15Z")
In my opinion, the difference between reef shark and that jesse-whatever that just got kicked out is that reef shark is sticking nicely to his one idiotic thread instead of spraying his shit everywhere. When they remain that easily ignored, I say let 'em stick around for a while. Not that my vote matters. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852/20 "2009-01-19T00:25:50Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Not that my vote matters. It does, with me! 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-ban-the-troll/481852.md?page=2)