# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/41 "2005-10-11T03:01:48Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Thanks, **Miller**. I just read it. Now, how about a link to this “niggling” thing or is **Ooner** speaking in hyperbole? > > For the record I think the rule is silly too. Some official (from a school or city government, IIRC) used the word ‘niggardly’ in a memo and was promptly pilloried for it. As for the rule, I find it particularly bad when they’re blatantly a troll. But you can’t call them on it. Adding further hilarity is that a troll won’t get banned unless they actually confess to being a troll, ala **december**. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/42 "2005-10-11T03:04:49Z")
Wow. **'druid** must have the fastest gun in the Dope. How long before taking the mod mantle was it before the thread was locked? We’ll all be suspended before New Years! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/43 "2005-10-11T03:06:46Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > 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. No rules, but then you’ll have anarchy. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria. 😃 If it makes you fell better, you were right about \*\*graham \*\* seeming crazy. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/44 "2005-10-11T03:08:11Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > No rules, but then you’ll have anarchy. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria. 😃 …cavorting druids, death by stoning, and dung for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/45 "2005-10-11T03:10:23Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > …cavorting druids, death by stoning, and dung for dinner. **Cavorting druids** doesn’t sound too bad. I have described myself as Druidic occasionally when press about religion. Also **Cavorting Druids** is a damn fine band name. I’ll pass on the other two. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/46 "2005-10-11T03:25:01Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > 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. Oh yeah!?! You swallow! Oh, wait, we’re not trash-talking NFL fan-to-fan. 😃 I’m probably the last person you’d ever take advice from. And I know damn well I’m one of the last that has credibilty when it comes to Pit threads. Quit while you’re behind. After a few days some will have a vague notion of the thread, but most will bury it as it should be and move on. Hell, me and you aren’t at each other’s throats in every thread. Says something about the nature of the board. No? And for Christ’s sake! Are we still doing this whole niggardly/niggering thing? I thought this was taken care of long ago. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/47 "2005-10-11T03:25:09Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > 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. Nah. Ya just got to have the sort of sig you save for special occasions, such as your most brilliant points. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/48 "2005-10-11T03:36:01Z")
Seriously, how long was it? Twelve hours? Is this a new record? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/49 "2005-10-11T06:00:03Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > What [da master](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mniggard.html) has to say about it. -XT Ian is _da master_? How long you be knowin’ this? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/50 "2005-10-11T06:05:10Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Seriously, how long was it? Twelve hours? Is this a new record? One hour twenty two minutes. > [@xtisme](#): > > Woops…that wasn’t da master but SDSTAFF Ian. Appologies. Woops myself. ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/51 "2005-10-11T06:21:56Z")
Personally, and I think I’m the only person who thinks this, I’m with Graham. I skim-read the thread and it seems that Diogenes promised to take up the challenge so he read the book (the first challenge) but then stalled at the next hurdle - having the Doors movie to hand and being willing to watch it. All the rest of the argument after that is pointless. All we need is someone who has the Doors movie on hand and we can continue. I for one am interested in stage 3. And also, since everybody else has forgotten the subject, what’s the address of that website which shows the “evil woman”? Graham mentioned early on that no one had asked the obvious question - what’s the website? - and no one actually ever asked him after that. So I’m asking now - what’s the website address? Anyway, I’m with Graham insofar as I can see that it might need someone to stay with you for more than one step, before they drop out, in order to understand what you are saying. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/52 "2005-10-11T06:38:24Z")
> [@Jojo](#): > > Anyway, I’m with Graham insofar as I can see that it might need someone to stay with you for more than one step, before they drop out, in order to understand what you are saying. Go get a book and read it is one step? And the next step is go rent a movie and watch it? What exactly was Graham saying that needed explaining, and why could he not provide the cites from his sources as requested? Does this seem reasonable? > [@Graham](#): > > The book MUST be read and in hand in order for me to do this right. There’s no way around it. > > Also, “IF” a person obtains a copy of the book, said person would also need to get some other (inexpensive) materials that will add to helping me prove my case. But of course, everyone’s locked into sitting on their butts and picking at their toes … telling me I’m full of it and trying to force me to do things their way because they think they know more than me. What a joke. > > Like I said, there’s very much a kind of “Green Aceres” eliment to this from my perspective, and yet there’s nothing the least bit funny about what the hatefreaks in question are doing. And they’ll keep doing it until I’m able to find someone that takes me seriously by following my instructions to the letter!. How about this? > [@Graham](#): > > HI don’t want to brag, but, I am actually a pretty smart guy and I know _exactly_ the best way to go about MAKING THINGS KNOWN. And for me to just throw a bunch of names and various references out there won’t work. Now am I clear?? Did you get to the part where he is a personal messenger from Jesus who has a ton of materials? None of which he revealed? > [@Graham](#): > > I sat in the shrink’s chair and told him that I am a messinger and revealer of things sent into the world by Jesus, and that I have a TON of _objective_ materials to support my claim. But of course, like all the walking dead people commenting in this place, he didn’t give me any indication that he believed me or that he cared. ---
**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, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/53 "2005-10-11T06:44:30Z")
> [@Jojo](#): > > Anyway, I’m with Graham insofar as I can see that it might need someone to stay with you for more than one step, before they drop out, in order to understand what you are saying. But how much should you expect the person to spend? Can I argue a point and say you’re required to buy the 1956 full Encyclopedia Brittanica set to grasp it, and I won’t even summarize my argument it until you do? DtC had already bought and read a whole book for him for crying out loud, and then merely said he didn’t want to pay for a DVD too - and did anyone happen to have it who could tell him what Jim Morrison said. At which point Graham went from saying he wanted to buy DtC a drink to excoriating the poor guy. I’ll grant you that conceivably there are situations where “you had to be there” or “you gotta see it for yourself.” etc are really the only arguments you can make. But if that’s the case, then you’re not really making an argument - you’re asking for trust or an indulgence. And usually you’re asseriting something plausible - like “no Gore really seemed to be nervous in that debate.” You’re not making an argument that includes your being God’s messenger and there being a global satanic conspiracy somehow involving Jim Morrison. Also if someone says - you know, I don’t really have the time/ability/inclination to watch that tape , can you summarize? You do your best to describe what happened. You don’t huff and puff and complain that nobody is willing to follow your instructions TO THE LETTER. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/54 "2005-10-11T13:23:40Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > One hour twenty two minutes. ::runs for the hills, screaming:: ---
**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, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/55 "2005-10-11T13:32:56Z")
> [@Jojo](#): > > Anyway, I’m with Graham insofar as I can see that it might need someone to stay with you for more than one step, before they drop out, in order to understand what you are saying. I can show you where you’re wrong, but first you’ll have to read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Marble Faun,” and pay particular attention to something Donatello says when he’s flirting with Miriam. That moment really resonated with me, and if you do the reading you’ll see what I mean, and we can proceed. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/56 "2005-10-11T14:03:01Z")
**Jojo** , I think you’re joking, but whether you are or not, please don’t do this. **Graham** is ill. Seriously ill. He needs help. What he doesn’t need is support in his delusion. That will only serve to prevent him getting well. I read the thread, and there was nothing funny about it. It was really fucking sad. I can’t imagine the pain **Graham** is in, the suffering he has to endure. I’ve had my mental problems in the past, but they were nowhere near his. **Graham** , if you’re reading, please get help. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/57 "2005-10-11T16:26:13Z")
I kind of got the impression the real reason the thread was closed was to give **Graham** a mercy killing. There was no “official” proviso for doing so, so the mods had to play the “Ooooooh you called somebody a troll, that’s being a jerk, THREAD CLOSED!” card. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/58 "2005-10-11T16:36:29Z")
> [@Knowed Out](#): > > I kind of got the impression the real reason the thread was closed was to give **Graham** a mercy killing. There was no “official” proviso for doing so, so the mods had to play the “Ooooooh you called somebody a troll, that’s being a jerk, THREAD CLOSED!” card. Where did the mods say they closed the thread because of false trolling accusations? I thought it was pretty clear they closed it out of concern for **Graham** ’s mental health. ---
**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, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/59 "2005-10-11T16:43:57Z")
I don’t think it’s about **Graham** specifically. Yes, that instance is what instigated the thread, but there have been plenty of occasions where it was fairly obvious people are trolling for a reaction. And because no one is allowed to call them on it, that person feels free to push the envelope as far as they like. Yeah, yeah, ignore it or report it. Why should I have to report it? I thought the idea was that on this board, people are supposed to self police as much as possible and be mature enough to settle most disputes without having to run to mommy and daddy for intervention. Is it really better for the mods to be flooded with email accusations of trolling than someone in the Pit making that accusation? Or have rules for the Pit changed? Are we now supposed to be sweetness and light here, as well? ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/60 "2005-10-11T16:46:52Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@TubaDiva](#): > > > > and just takes people to Fist City > > Y’know, if the BBQ Pit ever needs a name change, that would be pretty good. Yeah, but then people would be “fisting” instead of “pitting,” and well…that brings up all sorts of issues. (“I Fist Cervaise for saying something amusing in this thread!”) But it sure would be funny for a little while. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=4)