# Proper Trolling Etiquette. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 17, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995 "2016-05-17T14:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/81 "2016-05-24T15:16:41Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > That response WAS in the pit. I see that now. Never mind. I’ll go give a proper response. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/82 "2016-05-24T16:22:49Z")
> [@T-Minus](#): > > Yeah, because it’s not realistically possible for a friend to come to you with a problem; isn’t it? It’s just not realistic that you’d have a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/83 "2016-05-25T18:00:07Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It’s just not realistic that you’d have a friend. It’s not realistic he would have a friend in the United States. Maybe in Zanibar, but not here. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/84 "2016-05-26T01:24:20Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Wasn’t there another poster some while back who posted a lot of questions because his friend wants to know? There was one in particular that I’m not sure it’s proper to name since he’s no longer with us. He had “friends”, co-workers, even people on the street constantly asking him questions and begging him to post them here. He himself had no questions or issues whatsoever, as he constantly assured us. But now, alas, having lost their altruistic representative, all these folks will have to post their own questions themselves. > [@T-Minus](#): > > I posted the thread about declawing cats because I was legitamently intrested in what people thought about it. The third tread was because my friend was having that problem. Well, we’re “legitamently intrested” in the incoherent and trollish nature of your contributions so far. As for your “friend”, it seems that this board has some experience with new posters who have strange friends with strange questions and problems. > [@T-Minus](#): > > I don’t post a lot because I get very busy in real life. 31 posts in 12.86 days ATM. You seem to be pretty busy right here. > [@T-Minus](#): > > Any of you can approach me if you have a problem. Thanks, but I don’t have any problems. But I have “friends” with amazing problems you wouldn’t believe. They also have a lot of questions. I’ll send them your way. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/85 "2016-05-26T14:25:55Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > …Thanks, but I don’t have any problems. … I’ll send you a few of mine just so you can keep in practice. I’s what a friend would do. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/86 "2016-08-27T06:34:02Z")
I would like to rescind my earlier speculation that the poster who got **WordMan** warned is a troll. I no longer believe that is a realistic probability. They _really are_ a walking caricature. If they weren’t, they’d be self-aware enough to either actually open the pit thread they’re desiring, and figure out a way to start the fight, or shut up and bide their time. Not that it really makes them any more fun to be around. It’s the musical equivalent of a Trump supporter or an Evangelical Christian. They’re totally sure that their opinions are facts, to the point where they’re completely oblivious to the concept that they might need to argue their point. I’m not mentioning them by name because there’s absolutely no goddamn way I want to engage with them needlessly. If they become smart enough to find out about this post anyway: oh well, you pays your nickel and you takes your chances. It’s not like they have any insults that could actually make me think they’re not a funny imitation of thought. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/87 "2016-08-27T06:38:01Z")
Link? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/88 "2016-08-27T07:58:11Z")
In a roundabout way, sure. [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19584179&postcount=274)’s a link where **WordMan** replies to the poster in question, while addressing me. I’d link to an individual post of theirs in that thread, but my opinion of their non-troll status comes from their complete inability to present their position without ineffectually trying to attack the poster. To me, that seems to be a person who’s just rabid about the subject, and can’t talk about it reasonably. [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19579718&postcount=54) is their post in the ATMB thread about it where they bitch that they didn’t get their chance to be nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995/89 "2016-08-27T09:09:53Z")
I suspect that one of the most important elements for proper tooling is to never change your tune. People are trying to detect your bullshit A Thousand Ways To infinity. If you just keep on with the same topic and never change there is almost no way to dissect that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-trolling-etiquette/754995.md?page=4)