# Proof that Westboro Baptist Church are trolls **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 21, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541 "2012-02-21T18:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/1 "2012-02-21T18:06:27Z")
When Whitney Houston died, the douchebags at Westboro Baptist promised to protest at her funeral. No particular news there. However, apparently Margie Phelps tweeted a [photo](http://tinyurl.com/7nav7we) (includes news story) of the “church” picketing. Newark’s newspaper, states that there was NO protest. So, Westboro is now using Photoshop to prove they were at funerals where they weren’t. Finally, definitive proof that they are trolls. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/2 "2012-02-21T18:27:28Z")
Congratulations. Now that you know I think that pretty much covers everyone in North America that’s figured this out. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/3 "2012-02-21T18:30:46Z")
**Proof that the sky is blue** Look up. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/4 "2012-02-21T19:16:34Z")
See blue. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/5 "2012-02-21T19:23:02Z")
I for one refuse to believe that water is wet until **Indyellen** confirms it. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/6 "2012-02-21T19:29:39Z")
I’m surprised they didn’t go. Where better to find someone to overreact to their protest, get involved in a physical altercation, and actually have millions of dollars of assets to sue for? There’s a lot more cash walking around there than you’ll find at your average soldier’s funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/7 "2012-02-21T19:34:50Z")
It shouldn’t be news to anybody that these people are trolls, but this is still pretty funny. Apparently the WBC is as bad at photoshop as their counterparets in Iran. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/8 "2012-02-21T19:35:27Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > So, Westboro is now using Photoshop to prove they were at funerals where they weren’t. > > Finally, definitive proof that they are trolls. That seems less trollish than the real WBC protests. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/9 "2012-02-21T19:40:55Z")
Does anyone know if the Pope is Catholic? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/10 "2012-02-21T19:42:27Z")
\ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/11 "2012-02-21T20:05:54Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Does anyone know if the Pope is Catholic? We know bears use Charmin. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/12 "2012-02-21T21:27:03Z")
What definition of troll are you using? The “classic” definition includes the factor that they do not actually believe what they are saying. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/13 "2012-02-21T21:29:13Z")
Who needs proof? ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/14 "2012-02-21T21:49:10Z")
They are trolls, but not because they photoshopped an image, per the OP. Sheesh. They do so many trollish things, how could you miss? ---
**Author:** ![Chipacabra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Chipacabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chipacabra)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/15 "2012-02-22T00:08:35Z")
This doesn’t prove that they’re trolls. It just proves that they’re _lazy_ trolls. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/16 "2012-02-22T00:22:32Z")
They’re trying to be virtual trolls. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/17 "2012-02-22T00:39:41Z")
Photoshopped trolls. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/18 "2012-02-22T02:16:17Z")
I’ve always thought they were trolls, which is why I didn’t bother with a counter protest when they were here for the Super Bowl. I just thought it was nice to have visible proof. Besides, it’s like a Chick tract. Fun to point & laugh. > [@Revtim](#): > > What definition of troll are you using? The “classic” definition includes the factor that they do not actually believe what they are saying. I have my moments where I doubt they really believe it, but you’re right - they don’t necessarily fit the “classic” definition. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/19 "2012-02-22T03:10:43Z")
Honestly I think this is great. I really do. They’ve finally done something intelligent. They get the sense of deluded pride that they’ve protested and that people actually give a shit about them, and everybody else gets to have funerals free of attention whoring wackos. In order to further this entirely pleasant turn of events… _ahem_ How dare you Westboro Baptist Church? How dare you ruin and upstage the funeral of an american treasure by actually and visibly protesting? I am both shocked and offended at your entirely real and not at all fake protest! I think there needs to be some kind of law to prevent such horrific acts from truly happening at our sacred memorials! My memory of Whitney Houston will be forever sullied by gazing upon real members of your church protesting at the funeral and not added in later via photoshop! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541/20 "2012-02-22T03:17:20Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > What definition of troll are you using? The “classic” definition includes the factor that they do not actually believe what they are saying. I think the current usage includes the concept of using the most inflammatory rhetoric available. It’s the “getting a rise out of your audience” part that’s the important thing. It’s why I told my daughter the other day that I consider Anton LeVay a troll. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-westboro-baptist-church-are-trolls/613541.md?page=2)