When you finally (or shortly) catch up with them, delete all their posts. They like seeing their pitiful “names” in print, right? So, no more. If they start some kind of idiot flame here in the PIT, or some stupid “troll” elsewhere, delete the whole damn thing. Maybe we can get rid of these smegheads if we start this. they will go back to see the uproar they have caused, and all there is, is a note saying “you’re banned”. No sign of them, no reactions, no uproar.
Now, I do not suggest this for just immature trolls or newbies, but just for those who are banned before they get out 20 posts. There would have to be some notif, like “where your thread went to” “XXX was banned, his thread and his posts have been deleted”.
I would like that, myself, but I can understand why it ISN’T done. I forget if it was Tubadiva or Lynn who said that the Admins have the power to delete threads and posts at a whim, but don’t like to, since it could be seen as censorship. Granted, they have no requirement to abide by the Constitution, but I can understand why they don’t want to do something unless they absolutely, positively have to.
If I delete something, I’d better be prepared to justify it to Tubadiva and/or Ed. In some cases, we keep old troll posts around so that we have evidence of the activity (if we want to notify ISPs, for instance), and in other cases, we like to give you folks something to make fun of. Come on, admit it, you all LIKED that “Ed Zotti told me to go fuck myself” thread, didn’t you?
Certainly I admit, that there has been some entertainment value, BUT, the newest problem seems to be caused by just one or two “banneds” who will not stop. He/they are getting MIGHTY annoying. Of course, this would not be done in most cases, or often, but it might be the only way of stopping this idiot(s).
What if someone responded to a sockpuppet and the the SP’s post disappeared ? I would make the person who responded look foolish if there was no indication left of what he/she had been talking about.
Ayesha: there would be a notation, of course, and these new “sockidiots” are usually gone in 24hrs or less, so there are few responses to their posts/threads.
Gotta say that I think they should shut them down but let their posts sit. Otherwise, as Ayesha pointed out, some of us would look like real twits for railing against something that isn’t there. And not only that, but I feel that more oft than not, it is a shining example to all to what not to aspire to.
There is a huge difference between a newbie post and someone just being a troll and the outright sock fucker.
If you lurk or post to this board for more than a month the differences are so clear you can see your own hand through them.
Once the beast is exposed they do get attention. Bad and mocking as it is it is still the very attention that they crave. It is however, cruel and short lived and most of them die very quickly after that. In some cases they are reborn anew and actually begin to be posters worth some merit.
The way I see it, SP’s are a lot like handguns, and I feel just about the same way about them both:
Handguns are good things that could be misused so we have rules about how to use them. SP’s are the same way. Now, I do not have any SP’s, never have had any and have no plans to ever create any. BUT, I can imagine having a GQ knd of question that I’m not really comfortable posting if people know that it’s me, y’know?
I mean, the SDMB would be a great place to post questions that I am embarassed to ask anyone (even my doc), but now that I feel like I have made friends here, the same embarassment applies.
Even our pal TubaDiva has said that she has a genuine use for a SP.
I have read the claim that SP’s are often used by people to provide support to thier own arguments in a debate, but I’ve never seen that happen. All I have seen is trolls using them when an earlier screen name gets banned or develops a reputation.
SO, I have no solution to propose… I just think that when we all start rallying against sock-puppets, we really mean trolls who abuse sockpuppets.
I’m sorry to be dense. What is a sockpuppet?
I know trolls. They are everywhere, but some sites do just remove their posts. If people answered after, it will look odd, but certainly less odd than random troll insults and space-filling rants.
Narile has a good alternate. Make them all identical. I think this should be possible without software changes.
If they can’t be named identically, perhaps Troll9573786, etc., so you couldn’t really tell them apart.
Bilder, when one person uses more than on screen name simultaneously, the screen name is called a SP. Some people only used the phrase SP to refer to alternate screen names that defend the original screen name in an argument, but SP has since come to mean someone with muliple screen names: an SDMB no-no.
MarkSerlin/Sentinel/NITWATCH2 would do this constantly. Seach the archives for “Are all men selfish buggers, revised” and you’ll see one SP defend another.
There really is no need for one person to have an more than one screen name. If a question is too personal to ask under your normal identity, maybe you shouldn’t bring it up to the SDMB. Even benign sockpuppets like “Santa” or “Deceased Equine” wind up being lame.
My feeling is, everyone would think twice about feeding the trolls if they knew the posts would end up looking like that.
On the other hand, there are censorship issues, so maybe this sort of thing ought to be reserved for repeat offenders. After a certain point it becomes obvious that the poster’s intention is just to harrass. I don’t see the point in preserving that crap.
I like the idea of genericizing the poster’s name, too.
What? I look like a twit? Why didn’t somebody tell me before I embarased myself about THE FUCKING BRAIN SUCKING ALIENS!!!THEY’RE RIGHT THERE! LOOK! BEHIND YOU!..<thud> Huh? a tranquelizer dart? Where did THAT come…
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Obviously this loser with too much time on his hands gets that little tingly feeling in seeing the shit he stirs.
Here’s an idea (again) - why don’t y’all just e-mail the board mod instead of replying to the drivel? They can lock the thread and it can slither off the screen without his needed spanky material.
Obviously, the doofus thrives off of the attention. Starve him! Fight the need to hit REPLY. Leave him frustrated and achy down below.
I don’t know a surefire way to get rid of 'em, but I emailed Tuba and Lynn as soon as I saw a Scottisher imposter about an hour and fifteen minutes ago and within 45 minutes the poster was banned. Notifying the mods does work in those cases where you are sure you have evidence of a sockpuppet/troll.
What?!?! What did I ever do to you? Fuck you!
<Putting head between legs and breathing deeply>
Sorry. I’m still a little flushed with excitement over losing my Pit virginity (see the peeing in the shower thread, if you care). I’m coming down now. I’ll be OK.
