# Trolling and clarifications, UncleBeer **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 17, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039 "2001-10-17T19:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/1 "2001-10-17T19:25:39Z")
UncleBeer, yesterday you moved my thread from MPSIMS to the Pit, [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1720589#post1720589](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1720589#post1720589). I asked you questions about this in the thread, and signed off before I saw a response from you. Now I am back, but would rather not go back to the pit to look for your response. As I have said, I consider the Pit mostly nothing but worthless profanities. It is verbal terrorism, and not possible to have a decent discussion there. Instead, can you answer my questions here? What is trolling? Is there a rule about it? Which of my GD posts do you consider crap? Why do you think commentary is needed in MPSIMS and GD orignal posts, and are there rules requiring commentary? Are you going to allow the death threat made in the Pit? Non-moderators, please don’t post to this thread, at least yet. I would like to get “official” responses from Mods only for now. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/2 "2001-10-17T20:36:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curious george \* > **As I have said, I consider the Pit mostly nothing but worthless profanities. It is verbal terrorism, and not possible to have a decent discussion there.** That’s pretty funny, considering that you quite obviously didn’t post the OP in that thread for the purposes of “discussion.” You posted it . . . well, ironically, the only opinion I can offer on that would be limited to the Pit. > [@](#): > > \*\*Non-moderators, please don’t post to this thread, at least yet. I would like to get “official” responses from Mods only for now. \*\* Um, perhaps you’ve heard of this newfangled invention called “e-mail.” If you want " ‘official’ responses from Mods only," e-mail them. You post here, you’re going to get other responses. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/3 "2001-10-17T21:24:33Z")
You ask questions in the Pit and won’t go back to read the answers? Fine. Follow the URL. You can read my response there, or not at all. I don’t give a damn either way. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1720689#post1720689](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1720689#post1720689) What is a troll? What is trolling? [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=49235](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=49235) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47221](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47221) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=38617](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=38617) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=66683](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=66683) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29111](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29111) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=52737](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=52737) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50668](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50668) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/4 "2001-10-18T07:09:44Z")
Where is the man in the yellow hat when you need him? ---
**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:** [October 18, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/5 "2001-10-18T14:50:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Where is the man in the yellow hat when you need him? \*\* ROTFLMAO! Good one, **astro**! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/6 "2001-10-18T17:12:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curious george \* **What is trolling?** Trolling is making a statement that is deliberately inflammatory so as to aggravate other posters. Trolling is typified by the “hit-and-run”, namely, posting an OP or making a reply, then never returning to the thread. **Is there a rule about it?** Trolling is considered being a jerk, which means that it breaks the “don’t be a jerk” rule. **Which of my GD posts do you consider crap?** All of the ones where your OP is a cut-and-paste job from another website, designed to give an extreme left-wing point of view, and where you do not bother to return to the topic in order to support the point. **Why do you think commentary is needed in MPSIMS and GD orignal posts, and are there rules requiring commentary?** Well, geez, one would assume by the statement “Debate” that it needs to involve two sides arguing. But you aren’t arguing- you’re _haranguing_. You’re throwing out a screed from one side, then ignoring what is said and moving on to throw out another screed from that side. You don’t respond to rebuttal, you don’t respond to argument. That’s not a Debate. If you just want to state your opinion and have people ooh and aah, go to IMHO. However, should you _continue_ to make large C&P posts, you will _still_ be banned for violating copyright. **Are you going to allow the death threat made in the Pit?** Please explain. I have yet to see a death threat against you. I have seen one person state that another poster would likely _make_ a death threat against you, but that other poster has not yet done so. \*\*Non-moderators, please don’t post to this thread, at least yet. I would like to get “official” responses from Mods only for now. \*\* You get what you get, and thinking you have any say in what you get is laughable. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/7 "2001-10-18T17:54:51Z")
This thread is itself looking more and more Pit-worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/8 "2001-10-18T19:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Non-moderators, please don’t post to this thread, at least yet. I would like to get “official” responses from Mods only for now. And I would like a bag of mini-Snickers and a full-body massage from a fabulous looking guy named Sven. I mean, since we’re posting our wish lists. ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/9 "2001-10-18T21:53:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Corrado \* > Trolling is making a statement that is deliberately inflammatory so as to aggravate other posters. Trolling is typified by the “hit-and-run”, namely, posting an OP or making a reply, then never returning to the thread. I did not “make a statement that is deliberately inflammatory so as to aggravate other posters”. All of the GD posts I have made were legitamate attempts at a debate. Likewise, the MPSIMS post I made that was moved to the pit I still consider to be a mixture of satire and political thought. Never have I posted anything on this board only to aggravate other posters in a hit and run. As I have said, I don’t like Pit type responses from people. If I never return to the thread, it’s because I am too busy or have nothing more to say. > [@](#): > > Is there a rule about it? > > Trolling is considered being a jerk, which means that it breaks the “don’t be a jerk” rule. So there are no rules specifying that trolling is considered being a jerk. Are there any other unspecified practices that are considered being a jerk? Also, as I have said in my other posts, it seems most of what’s said in the Pit is a violation of the “don’t be a jerk” rule, but nothing is done about it. When I see that, you don’t seem to take that “don’t be a jerk” rule seriously. > [@](#): > > Which of my GD posts do you consider crap? > > All of the ones where your OP is a cut-and-paste job from another website, designed to give an extreme left-wing point of view, and where you do not bother to return to the topic in order to support the point. Cut and paste thoughts are crap? What if they are well written emails that express views better than I can, and there appears to be every intention of the writer(s) that they would like their words spread and posted. Extreme left-wing thoughts are crap? Seems biased. Are right-wing thoughts crap? Again, are then any rules about this? Any rules saying the OP needs to return to the topic? Are we talking MPSIMS or GD? Anyway, most of the time in GD, I think I do return to the topic. Can you give me specific examples where I don’t? > [@](#): > > Why do you think commentary is needed in MPSIMS and GD orignal posts, and are there rules requiring commentary? > > Well, geez, one would assume by the statement “Debate” that it needs to involve two sides arguing. But you aren’t arguing- you’re _haranguing_. You’re throwing out a screed from one side, then ignoring what is said and moving on to throw out another screed from that side. You don’t respond to rebuttal, you don’t respond to argument. That’s not a Debate. If you just want to state your opinion and have people ooh and aah, go to IMHO. The thread that was moved was in MPSIMS, not GD. Again, give me examples where I have done this in GD. I can give you several example where I respond to rebuttal. Also, what if I am not sure how I stand on a topic, but would like it discussed and debated? What is wrong with making an OP in GD saying: “here are some interesting thoughts, I’m not sure what I think of them. What do you people think”? “If you just want to state your opinion and have people ooh and aah, go to IMHO”. I did not know IMHO was for that. I will try to use it more to learn about it. If Mods think any of my threads belong there, then move them. I would rather they go there than the pit. > [@](#): > > However, should you _continue_ to make large C&P posts, you will _still_ be banned for violating copyright. Email can not be C&P’ed? I was not aware of any copyright laws for emails. Can you refer me to a cite on this? Is it mentioned in the sdmb rules? > [@](#): > > Are you going to allow the death threat made in the Pit? > > Please explain. I have yet to see a death threat against you. I have seen one person state that another poster would likely _make_ a death threat against you, but that other poster has not yet done so. One poster wrote “If so-and-so sees your thread, he is going to hunt you down and kill you”. That is a death threat. Am I supposed to wonder if that other poster say my thread? We have no way of knowing, but it seems likely. ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/10 "2001-10-18T22:01:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Corrado \* > **Which of my GD posts do you consider crap?** > All of the ones where your OP is a cut-and-paste job from another website, designed to give an extreme left-wing point of view, and where you do not bother to return to the topic in order to support the point. A C&P job from another website is crap?! You know, LOTS of posters C&P some text from another website. Anyway, my two most recent posts that UncleB is griping about where C&P from emails, not sites. As far as I know, their info is not on a web site. I forgot one of my original questions for UncleBeer. What is the criteria you used for moving my MPSIMS post to the Pit? “You ask questions in the Pit and won’t go back to read the answers? Fine. Follow the URL”. You are the one who moved it to the pit. Most of my questions I ask you are about this message board. Thus, they belong in the about this message board forum, not the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/11 "2001-10-18T23:37:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curious george \* > > > [@](#): > > > > However, should you _continue_ to make large C&P posts, you will _still_ be banned for violating copyright. > > Email can not be C&P’ed? I was not aware of any copyright laws for emails. Can you refer me to a cite on this? Is it mentioned in the sdmb rules? Any original written work is copyrighted as soon as it is created, whether it’s in an email, on a website, in a neatly typed manuscript, on a sheet of stationery or scribbled on a paper napkin. ([US Copyright Office FAQa](http://www.loc.gov/copyright/faq.html#q2)) [Tubadiva lists the board rules in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=63078). This would be covered under: > [@](#): > > You agree, through your use of this service, that **you will not use this BB to post any material which is** knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, threatening, invasive of a person’s privacy, or **otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this BB**. You agree to abide by the wishes of the board moderators in interpreting and enforcing these rules. Refusal to cooperate with board moderators or to abide by these rules is grounds for revocation of your posting privileges. Bolding mine. So the posting of copyrighted material is covered under the general “otherwise violative of any law” and by the specific “You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this BB.” Additionally, the posting of spam email could fall under: > [@](#): > > Advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are not permitted on this BB and will be deleted. We will notify the Internet service provider of any party posting objectionable messages. Depending on whether endlessly circulating spam is considering a chain letter. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/12 "2001-10-18T23:40:20Z")
So, how about that Jordan? Will he score more than 20 points against the Knicks? I think he can. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/13 "2001-10-18T23:52:54Z")
I have a question for **curious george** - what makes you think that the moderators are required in any way to justify their actions? This is a private board. They could ban you for using the word “banana” if they felt like it. The rules are just guidelines. They’re not obligated to spell everything out, and, frankly, they’re not even obligated to stand by the rules they _do_ choose to spell out, although they generally do. If they don’t like something you do, they warn you. If you keep doing it, they ban you. Even if it’s not spelled out in extreme detail. It’s really just that simple. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/14 "2001-10-18T23:55:26Z")
I say less than 20, Coldy. He’s just not got it in him anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/15 "2001-10-18T23:56:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*They could ban you for using the word “banana” if they felt like it. \*\* Hey! Watch it, Sparky. You know the rules. No fruit references in ATMB, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@Hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hombre)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/16 "2001-10-19T01:12:08Z")
> [@](#): > > _origainally posted by Jodi_ > And I would like a bag of mini-Snickers and a full-body massage from a fabulous looking guy named Sven. I’ve got mini-snickers if anyone wants one. Sven- [sub]Note to **Coldie** : I just checked the food pyramid. Chocolate is no longer a fruit.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/17 "2001-10-19T01:17:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curious george \* > **A C&P job from another website is crap?! You know, LOTS of posters C&P some text from another website. Anyway, my two most recent posts that UncleB is griping about where C&P from emails, not sites. As far as I know, their info is not on a web site.** Well, but the idea behind a message board is for you to express your own thoughts. Most of the people who C&P from somewhere don’t make that their entire post. They either do it to support what they’re saying, or they do it so that they can provide their own opinion of what the other quote says. It seems like in a lot of your threads recently that I’ve seen, you’ve just posted someone else’s work and that’s it. You haven’t told us what you think of it. Then, after other people have commented on it, deciding that, because you didn’t comment on the work, you agree with it, you don’t come back to respond to those comments. That’s the problem people are having with your posts. Also, as others have said, copying entire articles, even if they’re e-mail, is sort of problematic when it comes to copyright. I hope I don’t seem hostile, but remember, the purpose of this board is to share your views, your ideas, and your opinions, and you’ll probably have a lot more fun if you do that. Oh, and since I’m in ATMB, apple, peach. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/18 "2001-10-19T01:22:55Z")
Papppppppayyyya, baby. Cantallllllllllooooupe. ---
**Author:** ![Hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@Hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hombre)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/19 "2001-10-19T01:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _origainally posted by Jodi_ > And I would like a bag of mini-Snickers and a full-body massage from a fabulous looking guy named Sven. I’ve got mini-snickers if anyone wants one. Sven- [sub]Note to **Coldie** : I just checked the food pyramid. Chocolate is no longer a fruit.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@Hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hombre)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039/20 "2001-10-19T01:45:36Z")
I saw my username as the last poster, knew that was wrong, came to check - Lo and behold, the board fairy re-posted for me. ??? Mods feel free to remove the double post and this explaination if you see fit. Sorry, but not my doing … - William [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-and-clarifications-unclebeer/88039.md?page=2)