# Social media trolls. Are you one? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896 "2021-02-14T19:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [February 14, 2021, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/21 "2021-02-14T22:50:49Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I commented on his post and got a bunch of shit. You got shit because your comments were extremely stupid and ignorant. If you don’t want to get shit, don’t post stupid comments. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/22 "2021-02-14T22:57:28Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You got shit because your comments were extremely stupid and ignorant. If you don’t want to get shit, don’t post stupid comments. Are you a troll? ---
**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:** [February 14, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/23 "2021-02-14T23:00:55Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > Are you a troll? That’s a troll response if ever there was one. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/24 "2021-02-14T23:01:52Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > That’s a troll response if ever there was one. You just did me one better… ---
**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:** [February 14, 2021, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/25 "2021-02-14T23:07:03Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > You just did me one better… Starting a thread to discuss trolling, and then ignoring, rejecting, or misunderstanding everything everybody says to you about it is not the best way to convince people that you’re not a troll. In fact, quite the reverse. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/26 "2021-02-14T23:11:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Starting a thread to discuss trolling I’m not really trying to convince anyone that I’m not a troll. I’m just trying to expose trolls, e.g. you. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/27 "2021-02-14T23:12:58Z")
Okay, so he didn’t get ‘canceled’ for his weird beliefs. He got suspended because he broke the rules repeatedly. Is this what prompted you to start this thread? Just curious if you have a specific grievance. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/28 "2021-02-14T23:13:47Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > That doesn’t mean they should be canceled. This tells me all I need to know about you. When idiots post idiotic things, and are called out on it, they are not “cancelled”. They are being called idiots because they are idiots. Only right wing snowflakes are currently crying about being “cancelled” ---
**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:** [February 14, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/29 "2021-02-14T23:17:12Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I’m just trying to expose trolls, e.g. you. No you’re not. It’s been explained to you that merely insulting people is not trolling. You’re being a crybaby because you were called on stupid things you said, and are whining about being picked on. I really don’t know what your objective here is. If you really enjoy discussing things on the board, what you are doing here is about the worst possible way to be taken seriously in the future. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/30 "2021-02-14T23:23:12Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Is this what prompted you to start this thread? Just curious if you have a specific grievance This is what prompted me to to start this thread. I should have looked up the credentials of the OP before posting. I hope SD will continue to keep an open mind. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/31 "2021-02-14T23:23:19Z")
Wow, your rivers run deep, don’t they? ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/32 "2021-02-14T23:28:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I really don’t know what your objective here is. If you really enjoy discussing things on the board, what you are doing here is about the worst possible way to be taken seriously in the future. I thought the BBQ Pit was the place for this kind of discussion. Why is this the worst possible way to be taken seriously? I wouldn’t have posted this thread anywhere else on SD. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/33 "2021-02-14T23:34:12Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I thought the BBQ Pit was the place for this kind of discussion. Why is this the worst possible way to be taken seriously? The BBQ Pit isn’t the place to whine about how posters are being mean to you because you said stupid shit. In fact, there isn’t any good place to do this. If you want to be taken seriously, _don’t do this._ But it’s clear at this point you are just going to keep playing this game, and don’t care about your reputation on the board. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/34 "2021-02-14T23:35:02Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I’m not really trying to convince anyone that I’m not a troll. I’m just trying to expose trolls, e.g. you. Psst: he’s been here over 20 years and is a scientist. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/35 "2021-02-14T23:36:18Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Psst: he’s been here over 20 years and is a scientist. Here we go… ---
**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:** [February 15, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/36 "2021-02-15T01:30:25Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > No, I’m frustrated with you for either not understanding climate change or pretending not to understand it, and trolling about it. Your inconsistency is all the proof I need that your only intent is to annoy. > > You might have missed some of my previous comments. Anthropogenic climate change is occurring. You don’t seem to be interested in its political aspects, or the evolution of the science, and computer models that are trying to describe it. You’re satisfied with ‘The debate is over’. More trolling bullshit. I’ve been discussing climate change on this board throughout the seven years I’ve been here, and will be happy to continue doing so. I never saw you in any of those discussions so I presume you have no interest in the subject other than trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/37 "2021-02-15T02:08:36Z")
I’ve posted my fair share of stupid shit here. And been called on it. What I did was either admit I was stupid, or slunk away and hope nobody noticed. What I did NOT do, was open a thread in the pit, and accuse people of trolling when they called me out on the stupid shit I posted. And I _certainly_ did not accuse @Colibri of trolling, because I don’t think I’m a complete and utter idiot. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/38 "2021-02-15T02:16:10Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > Yep. Earth is (for some reason) a captured interstellar rogue planet, etc. But he did post some good links about Earth’s axis tilt. That person probably has mental-health issues. That doesn’t mean they should be canceled. Whatever **rboyce** got correct in that post was by pure chance. It was a random grab-bag of non sequiturs and unrelated ideas. Pointing out his egregious errors is not cancelling him. And when you say something as clearly absurd as he “understands atmospheric science better than most,” when anyone who understands atmospheric science can see he doesn’t have a clue, you’re going to catch shit over it. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/39 "2021-02-15T02:21:55Z")
The SD does not actually have an “open mind”, never has and Og willing never will. The purpose of the straight dope is to fight ignorance. That means applying the scientific method and accepting the settled science and understanding of the world and it history, and not entertaining random theories without evidence,. If you want somewhere where the Lochness monster, 9/11 conspiracies and psychic telepathy are not rejected out of hand, then this is not the place for you. In the unlikely event that new evidence emerges that a change in the earth’s tilt is making a substantial contribution to the recent climate change we have experienced, then the scientific consensus will change and the SD will change along with it. But until that time if you just come with stuff that this guy poseted on the internet that flies in the face of all known science, then you have to expect to get your ass handed to you. As far as trolling goes, if a bunch of people are ganging up on you they are pretty much guaranteed not to be trolls. Trolls don’t move in packs, they move as individuals or maybe in a pair often with one one being the sock of the other. The purpose of trolling is to get ganged up on not to gang up. The purpose of trolling is to piss off and waste the time of the masses. They aren’t going to waste their time trying to piss off just one guy that a whole bunch of other people are already pissed off at. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896/40 "2021-02-15T02:36:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’ve posted my fair share of stupid shit here. > > And been called on it. What I did was either admit I was stupid, or slunk away and hope nobody noticed. Exactly. I’ve slunk a few times myself. EU continues to misunderstand basic concepts, accuse others (even moderators) of trolling, and claims to be misunderstood. I ain’t buying it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-trolls-are-you-one/932896.md?page=3)