# Mods trolling, isn't that against the rules? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 18, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916 "2014-11-18T00:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/1 "2014-11-18T00:08:51Z")
Why are “certain” Mods allowed to troll. when it is clearly against the user agreement? > [@](#): > > You are free to express your views in a forceful manner provided you remain civil. Hate speech, insults, and \*\*purposely inflammatory remarks (i.e., trolling) will not be tolerated. \*\* > **[SDMB registration agreement as of 12/21/2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726)** > > The agreement below spells out the rules by which SDMB users are expected to abide. The purpose of the present revision is to add the language in bold: “If we tell you to refrain from behavior that we regard as uncivil, \*\*or that in our view... The special rules for the Pit also clearly state > [@](#): > > **No trolling** > > By trolling, we mean posting of inflammatory comments solely to get a rise out of people. If we feel your primary goal as a poster is to make people mad, you’ll quickly find yourself on the road to banning > **[Revised Forum Rules for the BBQ Pit: read this before posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507985)** > > The BBQ Pit is the forum for rants about the outside world or quarrels between posters - often the first turns into the second. Although the standards of discourse are looser than in the other forums, the Pit is NOT a free-for-all - you don’t have to... Since a Mod is repeatedly accusing me of trolling, both in the Pit, and elsewhere, it’s not only an obvious rule violation, it carries with it an implied threat. > [@](#): > > \*\*Do not post threats \*\*or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm > **[SDMB registration agreement as of 12/21/2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726)** > > The agreement below spells out the rules by which SDMB users are expected to abide. The purpose of the present revision is to add the language in bold: “If we tell you to refrain from behavior that we regard as uncivil, \*\*or that in our view... Since trolling anywhere is clearly a rule violation, a Mod accusing somebody of doing nothing but trolling is an implied threat. It also looks like trolling, since there is no attempt to engage in any discussion. I’m not happy asking about this, since it seems about as wise as accusing a cop of breaking the law. It doesn’t usually go well for the person who reports a cop doing something wrong. I’m not naming names for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/2 "2014-11-18T00:12:29Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > I’m not naming names for the same reason. Nobody can judge whether your complaint is worthwhile without examples. Not **TubaDiva** , not me, not nobody. If you believe you have a serious complaint, and you are afraid to contact any mods, than I would suggest that you PM or email Ed Zotti. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/3 "2014-11-18T00:15:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If you believe you have a serious complaint, and you are afraid to contact any mods, than I would suggest that you PM or email Ed Zotti. I already reported the behavior, so the Mods know what this is about. Or they might. I have no idea if anyone reads the reports or not. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/4 "2014-11-18T00:17:13Z")
Then buy a dictionary and look up the word “threat.” Accusations of trolling by a Mod aren’t threats by any rational definition. Warnings, yes. Cautions, yes. Indications that you might want to change your posting style, yes. Threats of harm? No way, Jose. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/5 "2014-11-18T00:18:15Z")
Not only did you not name names, but you provided no evidence that anything is happening at all. While I have very occasionally seen a mod violate a rule, I have never seen a mod troll. You seem to be implying that you think someone calling you a troll is trolling. It’s not. We can all do it in the Pit, and mods of course have to be able to do it if they are expected to enforce a no-troll policy. “This is an Official Warning. I can’t tell you what it’s for because that would be against the rules.” --Yeah, that’s not going to work. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/6 "2014-11-18T00:21:48Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > I already reported the behavior, so the Mods know what this is about. Or they might. I have no idea if anyone reads the reports or not. Speaking from my time as a mod, I can assure you that mods certainly do read the reports. Again, if you are unhappy with the (non)answer you are getting from the reported posts, and you are disinclined to post your direct problems in ATMB, then–really–the only option for you is to contact the person who is in charge of the board. Again speaking from experience, he will ask you for evidence. Be prepared to provide it. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/7 "2014-11-18T00:22:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > … I have never seen a mod troll. Based on the definition of trolling in the rules here, I can show you a dozen examples. Of course this will result in rule lawyering, and those who have already decided it never happens, will argue that it isn’t trolling. The test of this would be simple enough. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/8 "2014-11-18T00:23:10Z")
My guess is that this thread is in response to **Colibri** ’s last comment in the [I’m getting sick of this Global Warming!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=699678&page=67) thread in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/9 "2014-11-18T00:24:05Z")
Accusations of trolling are not against pit rules. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/10 "2014-11-18T00:29:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > My guess is that this thread is in response to **Colibri** ’s last comment in the “I’m getting sick of this global warming!” thread in the Pit. While trolling is against the rules, as I said in the Pit thread we do accept a certain degree of trolling in that forum. In my judgement as a moderator, **FXMastermind** is engaged in trolling in his global warming Pit thread. He is posting rubbish of the sort that he is aware has been thoroughly refuted in both GD and the Pit, as far as I can tell purely to annoy people. However, since it’s in the Pit we’ve allowed it to continue, since part of the purpose of the forum is to allow people to be annoying. He appears to be upset that I am reminding people that he is only trolling, so it’s pointless to try to respond to him substantively. If he’s upset about it, it would be better if he would just stop trolling. As has been said, accusations of trolling in the Pit are not against the rules, whether by posters or moderators. And moderators are allowed to identify behaviors as trolling anywhere. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/11 "2014-11-18T00:33:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Since trolling anywhere is clearly a rule violation, a Mod accusing somebody of doing nothing but trolling is an implied threat. > > It also looks like trolling, since there is no attempt to engage in any discussion. > > I’m not happy asking about this, since it seems about as wise as accusing a cop of breaking the law. It doesn’t usually go well for the person who reports a cop doing something wrong. > > I’m not naming names for the same reason. **Moderator note:** A mod note is an attempt to get someone to change their behavior without resorting to a written Warning of a violation of the rules. It is the mildest form of enforcement. It is not “trolling.” Or trolling, for that matter. A moderator pointing out a problem is not trolling neither. Finally, to make accusations without any relevant examples to back them up and expect to be taken seriously is ridiculous. I’m more than willing to listen to legitimate complaint but you have to bring something with you besides misconception and outrage. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/12 "2014-11-18T00:35:54Z")
Rest assured, before starting this topic, I knew full well it will be as wonderful as complaining about the local cops. To the local cops. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3332): > > Trolling, trolling, over the bounding main… > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3327): > > I will, however, continue to remind people that this assclown is nothing but a troll and responding to him substantively serves no purpose. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3322): > > Fish gotta swim > Birds gotta fly > Trolls gotta troll > They don’t even know why. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3310): > > Trolling 101: Call people who call you on your trolling trolls. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3311): > > Classic troll tactics. Don’t feed him. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3304): > > … he is merely trolling, and not dignify his nonsense with a pointless attempt to engage him. I only post to it immediately after he’s gotten so desperate for attention that he bumps it again. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3301): > > … I’m quite gratified that no one has dignified this troll . > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3299): > > Pathetic starving troll. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3281): > > Troll, troll, troll away! > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3278): > > It’s been months now since anyone’s given the poor troll > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3275): > > I sincerely hope, with all due respect, that people don’t continue to feed this idiot troll’s need for constant negative attention. > [@I'm sick of this Global Warming!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-of-this-global-warming/666440/3271): > > More likely they just decide not to feed the troll any more. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/13 "2014-11-18T00:38:44Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Rest assured, before starting this topic, I knew full well it will be as wonderful as complaining about the local cops. To the local cops. I’ve got to say, I see no indication that **Colibri** was speaking as a moderator in any of those posts. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/14 "2014-11-18T00:42:47Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Rest assured, before starting this topic, I knew full well it will be as wonderful as complaining about the local cops. To the local cops. So is there anything that anyone could have possibly said in this thread that would have changed your mind about your position? Agreeing with you would of course reinforce your view, but disagreeing with you appears to have done the same. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/15 "2014-11-18T00:56:23Z")
Those comments are pretty revolting. But they are all in the Pit, where such things are permitted. If you don’t like it, I suggest you stay away from the pit, like I do. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/16 "2014-11-18T00:56:50Z")
Like I said, calling someone a troll is something we can do in the Pit. If someone actually thinks you are trolling, they are inherently not “posting of inflammatory comments solely to get a rise out of people.” Their purpose is to call you out for trolling, not solely to piss you off. Someone calling you a troll in the Pit is not necessarily accusing you of the infraction of trolling. A mod most certainly isn’t, unless it’s accompanied by an Official Warning. When you can also go into the Pit and call **Colibri** a troll with no repercussions, it makes no sense to say the a mod is getting special privileges for being able to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/17 "2014-11-18T01:09:00Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > When you can also go into the Pit and call **Colibri** a troll with no repercussions, it makes no sense to say the a mod is getting special privileges for being able to do the same. It’s almost a catch 22 If he really thinks I’m just trolling, that means he is accusing me of a rule violation, since trolling anywhere, even in the Pit, is clearly stated as against the rules. Since there is no Mod warning, public or otherwise, **then he doesn’t actually think I’m trolling** , in which case what he is doing is trolling. Posting something false, and inflammatory, just to get a reaction. Which is against the rules. Like I said, it’s sort of like a Catch 22 Logic and reason tell us it he can’t actually think I am just trolling, a clear violation of the board rules. Which means the constant name calling is itself trolling on his part. It’s a most unusual situation. A non Mod doing this, I would just ignore it. But with a discussion in the topic of locking the thread, but not as a Mod, it would be junior modding, except it’s from an actual Mod. Hence asking the question here. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/18 "2014-11-18T01:16:37Z")
Mods being allowed to call other posters names in the Pit is not new. As long as they’re posting as a poster, it’s fine, as it is for everyone else who wishes to call names in that forum. I really can’t count how many times I’ve seen mods call someone stupid or a dumbass in the Pit when–in fact–they were being stupid or a dumbass. **Marley** is a good example of someone who wasn’t afraid to call a poster an asshole in the Pit if they were being one…or many other names. And I never blinked an eye at him doing it. So like others have said in here, you’ll either just have to live with it or stop posting to the Pit, pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/19 "2014-11-18T01:19:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Then buy a dictionary and look up the word “threat.” Accusations of trolling by a Mod aren’t threats by any rational definition. Warnings, yes. Cautions, yes. Indications that you might want to change your posting style, yes. > > Threats of harm? No way, Jose. Maybe Tyrion can be of help here… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AoEUkE7-KeA/maxresdefault.jpg ""That was a threat. See the difference?" [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoEUkE7-KeA) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916/20 "2014-11-18T01:20:46Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Since there is no Mod warning, public or otherwise, **then he doesn’t actually think I’m trolling** , in which case what he is doing is trolling. This presumes that a mod warning is the only possible response to trolling. Since it is not, you are mistaken. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-trolling-isnt-that-against-the-rules/704916.md?page=2)