I’m semi-quasi-new to this board, and I just took my first dives into the BBQ Pit and this ATMB forum. I scanned a couple of threads about John John/Cyb and his band of sock puppets, as well as some threads in the MPSIMS regarding the oh-so-popular Micheal Masterson, and noticed talk of “trolling.”
Though sharp enough to figure out it has negative connotations, I’ve not quite figured out what is meant by the term. What sort of actions constitute trolling?
For that matter, is there any sort of “list of etiquette” that a newby might refer to in order to prevent oneself from becoming an asshole? I, in general, try to take a “play nice” approach, but I’d like to know when I might be approaching one of those lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Thanks, All, for any help/insight you can provide.
The first thing most folks think of when they hear the word “troll” is some creature that lives under a bridge and is a co-star in fairy tales. While there’s a lot of similarity between the Brothers Grimm variety and the modern day troll, there’s no magic wand or puzzle to solve that makes them disappear.
“Troll” is a perjorative term in cyberspace and the word covers a lot of territory. It’s become a catchall word to describe our problem children, mostly with difficulties of an interpersonal nature.
A troll will ask foolish questions . . . oten repeatedly, become rude and insulting when their questions aren’t answered as fast as they would like or with the expected result. A troll will not be confused with the facts but will maintain their belief or attitude about a subject even in the face of a greater truth.
Trolls tend to exhibit attitudes that are racist, sexist, and boorish. And they don’t mind showing off their negative qualities for all the world to see.
“Trolling” is when one of these folks sets up topics on a message board or chat room designed to annoy people and/or start arguments; then they’re off to the races. And so is any other participant. People can get really involved in longwinded arguments over these topics, and for no good purpose.
Trolls pick fights, say ugly things, and make the entire forum intolerable for others. It’s the old deal about one bad apple ruining the barrel; people get sick of the fights and the attitude and they find something else to do with their free time. The forum and its attendant membership suffers.
As for John/Cyberian, he has a long history with the Teeming Millions, going back to when we were on AOL. He was just as lovable there as he is here.
Hope this answers your questions.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
The Straight Dope
All this is correct, in theory. In reality, however, ‘‘troll’’ is merely a pejorative that people throw out when they are too lazy to identify the real issues, or too controlling to ignore that which they dislike. The word says more about the nature of the person who uses it than the person upon whom it is used.
Another possible trollism is to create multiple usernames to support the troll when no-one else will do so.
Right, Sandyca…Boogarr…Hell, I can’t keep them straight anymore!
You people are absolutely right. Nobody has ever used the term ‘‘troll’’ inappropriately in the SDMB. It is a completely objective term, not subject to misuse. To suggest otherwise, as I have done, must mean that I am hiding some alternative identity. How could I have missed the logic? Oh, foolish me!
Likewise, nobody here would ever be so intolerant that they would dismiss an unpopular viewpoint by impugning the character and honesty of the individual who expresses it. Perish the thought!
No, indeed, because as we all know, regs here on the SDMB always respond intelligently, civily, and with the best intentions of upholding reason and fighting ignorance. That is why I can always count on hearing cogent discussions when a viewpoint is expressed that dissents from the majority opinion.
Forgive me. I must have stumbled into the pit by mistake.
Pardon my naivete, too, but I’ve got another question along similar lines.
I’ve seen several references to “sending” trolls to “Coventry”, but find no definition of such in any thread. Does anyone care to explain Coventry to another newbie?
To send someone to Coventry is to stop responding in any fashion to a supposed troll’s threads, allowing the threads to drop out of sight and out of mind.
Slythe and Tom, thanks for the explanation. The thread you sent me to, Tom, explains it very well (although I can’t figure out why it didn’t come up when I searched).
Because the search engine, hereabouts, is much better at idling your computer than at finding posts.
(Three days ago, the engine got me just about everything I sought on a quirky subject. Yesterday and today I could not find anything no matter how open or restricted I set the parameters. :::shrug::: We just live with it.)
“For that matter, is there any sort of “list of etiquette” that a newby might refer to in order to prevent oneself from becoming an asshole? I, in general, try to take a “play nice” approach, but I’d like to know when I might be approaching one of those lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”
