# The "no calling anyone a troll" rule is dumb **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676 "2005-10-11T01:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/21 "2005-10-11T02:07:20Z")
Woops…that wasn’t da master but SDSTAFF Ian. Appologies. -XT ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/22 "2005-10-11T02:08:34Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I have to say I agree with the no troll calling rule. It goes along with the general theme of the board. > > -XT How so? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/23 "2005-10-11T02:13:20Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I don’t think condescending mods encourage discourse, but that’s me. I also think mods gotta try less to be “discourage” people chatting on a chat board. I see a lot of mods being a little condescending now and then, and at least once saw one try deliberately to ruin a guy’s life. Maybe he had it coming, and maybe he didn’t, but let he who is without sin call anyone an “ass” and all that. Must be them Nazi boot heels, they just scream attitude. 😃 TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/24 "2005-10-11T02:16:13Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Must be them Nazi boot heels, they just scream attitude. 😃 > > TubaDiva Especially [these, huh?](http://www.thefutureinc.com/_borders/holly_boot.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/25 "2005-10-11T02:17:49Z")
I agree with the rule I guess (or don’t really disagree), but what’s happened in this case is even worse than what it’s meant to prevent. **Excalibre** gets to basically call someone a troll and then use the rule as an excuse to take off with no explanation. And all he gets is a small slap on the wrist. If he blurts it out, he should have to back it up. Now everybody’s scratching their head wondering what he knows that we don’t. Which could be (and probably is) zilch. And the rule’s partly responsible. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/26 "2005-10-11T02:25:04Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Must be them Nazi boot heels, they just scream attitude. 😃 > > TubaDiva Does Godwin’s rule apply here or not? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/27 "2005-10-11T02:28:28Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Does Godwin’s rule apply here or not? If somebody says “ **TubaDiva** is a Nazi” it does. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/28 "2005-10-11T02:29:53Z")
**Fluid** ’s a mod? I’m _that_ far behind and I spend hours wandering thru the shit **Graham** ’s flung about? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/29 "2005-10-11T02:31:17Z")
You’re not that far behind. It just happened today. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/30 "2005-10-11T02:32:15Z")
> [@Queen Tonya](#): > > **Fluid** ’s a mod? > I’m _that_ far behind and I spend hours wandering thru the shit **Graham** ’s flung about? :smack: Only since a couple of hours ago. I think they told her, “Go ahead, dive in the deep end. The water’s fine.” There’s a thread in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/31 "2005-10-11T02:33:43Z")
Whew!! :o ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/32 "2005-10-11T02:37:31Z")
So much for fomenting outrage and sewing the seeds of dissent. I bet not one of you has even grabbed a pitchfork. Wusses. Nazis. Trolls. Anyway, how come I have “view signatures” turned on but I never see them? Can anyone see mine? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/33 "2005-10-11T02:39:20Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > So much for fomenting outrage and sewing the seeds of dissent. I bet not one of you has even grabbed a pitchfork. Wusses. Nazis. Trolls. > > Anyway, how come I have “view signatures” turned on but I never see them? Can anyone see mine? Sowing, I mean. Although I’m not sewing any either. My thumb is neither green nor callused. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/34 "2005-10-11T02:41:33Z")
Hey, I live in Suburbia. Where the hell am I going to find a pitchfork at this time of night? I raised a Bic lighter…will that do? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/35 "2005-10-11T02:42:34Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Anyway, how come I have “view signatures” turned on but I never see them? Can anyone see mine? Cuz kewl dopers rarely use their sigs. Understatement is better, astatement is best. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/36 "2005-10-11T02:45:21Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Cuz kewl dopers rarely use their sigs. Understatement is better, astatement is best. Well, I have one, in theory, and I don’t see that one. No biggy. Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/37 "2005-10-11T02:51:44Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Well, I have one, in theory, and I don’t see that one. No biggy. Just curious. You have to click the box that says “show your signature” in order for it to display. Like this, see. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/38 "2005-10-11T02:57:45Z")
Or not. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/39 "2005-10-11T02:59:21Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Or not. Hm… ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/40 "2005-10-11T03:01:24Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Hm… I see. Well, I didn’t realize I had to check a box every time. Kind of defeats the purpose of having an automatic sig line. Just kind of. Anyway, back on topic. Rules are dumb. You all suck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=3)