# Trolling? Did you think/ hope that the Covid 19 pandemic might unite us in adversity? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 18, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082 "2020-04-18T21:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/21 "2020-04-19T15:43:38Z")
Yep Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/22 "2020-04-19T15:51:45Z")
It was a badly misjudged post but I don’t think the intention was to troll the board. However, I would have had no issues with the thread being closed the with the OP being asked to have another go. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/23 "2020-04-19T15:58:38Z")
Yep Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/24 "2020-04-19T16:00:38Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Gotta be honest, I don’t see it as trolling at all. Trolling means you’re posting something, possibly but not necessarily dishonest, with the purpose of riling people up. > > This did not come across as dishonest, and it did not seem designed to rile people up. It was a flip joke, and that’s not the same thing at all. > > I think the warning should be rescinded. Concur with this, and with **BigT**. There was no attempt to get other people to fight. There was a set-up and an immediate reveal. That said, the rules of the Quarantine Forum say “Keep politics and debates out of this forum.“ So, I see the post as a violation of Forum rules. And the thread did not have a legitimately descriptive title. But I don’t see trolling. The OP laid his cards on the table immediately. Well, almost all his cards. His second post, eight hours later, revealed some personal melancholy about the idealogical fights. The thread needed to be moved, but I’m not sure it had a real home anywhere on the SDMB. so, closing it was probably the right move. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/25 "2020-04-19T18:06:39Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > …I’m glad the thread was closed. It could have led to a lot of confusion. I’m sure glad \*that \*didn’t happen. 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/26 "2020-04-19T18:07:23Z")
Good lord! I just happened to notice the little “t” next to my name. Does mean what I think it does? [Yes, I’m exposing myself as an amateur Straight Doper.] Good god almighty! Hard to know whether to laugh or cry. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/27 "2020-04-19T18:52:04Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > Good lord! I just happened to notice the little “t” next to my name. What little “t” next to your name? 😕 ---
**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:** [April 19, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/28 "2020-04-19T19:01:39Z")
> [@robby](#): > > What little “t” next to your name? 😕 It’s a tapatalk symbol. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/29 "2020-04-19T19:21:25Z")
Thank you . I decided it was the “scarlet letter.” You know… for TROLL! I guess I need to take a deep breath. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/30 "2020-04-19T20:03:20Z")
With all the stupid shit being posted in The Quarantine Zone this is the thing that needed to be modded? Off to take my zinc and hydroclorofloroquine while I laugh at people that think they can make a vaccine before I see how many people I can infect by protesting the unconstitutional ‘stay at home’ order. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/31 "2020-04-19T23:07:35Z")
The thread should have been closed because it didn’t stimulate any discussion. The whole thing was basically “No, this pandemic will not bring us together” without any real comment or discussion about the issue. But I don’t see the trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/32 "2020-04-19T23:50:34Z")
He could have bumped [this](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=850995) old thread that I ran across a few days ago. (Aaaand…done.) ---
**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:** [April 20, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/33 "2020-04-20T01:46:31Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > And now I’m repeating myself. Crap! That’s no way to make friends! > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro What you tell us twice is true. 😃 Not your fault, of course, the system doubled down on you. Don’t sweat it. Jenny your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/34 "2020-04-20T16:13:13Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > The thread should have been closed because it didn’t stimulate any discussion. The whole thing was basically “No, this pandemic will not bring us together” without any real comment or discussion about the issue. Not every thread on the board needs to generate thoughtful discussion. We have plenty that are fun to participate in, but dumb and/or nonsensical when it comes down to it. A post like this would certainly deserve a warning in GD, but the QZ has a mix of serious and non-serious threads. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/35 "2020-04-20T16:57:01Z")
Given the strong feedback y’all are getting, that few posters see this as trolling, would you reconsider the warning? Even if you conclude that it falls on the trolling side of the line, that’s ambiguous enough to posters that 2Bits couldn’t reasonably be expected to know it’d be considered trolling. A note clarifying your definition seems the strongest reasonable reaction. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/36 "2020-04-20T18:20:05Z")
It is difficult to sincerely discuss much about present-day America WITHOUT resorting to sarcasm. And we all express our sarcasm in different ways. Upthread someone linked to this headline: _“COVID-19 Protesters Just Like Rosa Parks, Says White House Adviser Stephen Moore.”_ That’s where the real trolls are — _in the White House!_ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/37 "2020-04-20T21:55:10Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > It is difficult to sincerely discuss much about present-day America WITHOUT resorting to sarcasm. And we all express our sarcasm in different ways. > > Upthread someone linked to this headline: > _“COVID-19 Protesters Just Like Rosa Parks, Says White House Adviser Stephen Moore.”_ > That’s where the real trolls are — _in the White House!_ Careful, that might be too political for QZ. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/38 "2020-04-21T16:53:41Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Pretty much textbook trolling. If I had to explain what trolling was, I might link to that post. Start off with a reasonable question, and then when someone opens it to respond, reveal you didn’t really believe what you posted at all. And laugh at them for falling for it. So, it was (wait for it) Rick-trolling? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/39 "2020-04-21T18:42:45Z")
Oh, wow. I just reread what **Colibri** thought was going on. He thought it was akin to my writing something like this: OP Title: I was in a car wreck today! OP Content: HAHA I FOOLED YOU NO CAR WRECK! But that’s not at all how I read it. I read it as something like this: OP Title: Is Mitch McConnell going to look for bipartisan cooperation during this crisis? OP Content: HAHA of course not because he’s an asshole, but I wish things were otherwise. If Colibri’s interpretation were correct, I could see how it’d be textbook trolling. But that’s clearly not the correct interpretation. I’m not saying that thread should win any Thoughtful Discussion of the Year awards. But it’s only textbook trolling if you misinterpret it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082/40 "2020-04-21T19:32:02Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Not every thread on the board needs to generate thoughtful discussion. We have plenty that are fun to participate in, but dumb and/or nonsensical when it comes down to it. > > A post like this would certainly deserve a warning in GD, but the QZ has a mix of serious and non-serious threads. I agree that the thread doesn’t necessarily have to be profound, but many threads are shut down or at least gently mod noted when you don’t flesh out and support what you are attempting to do with the thread. If I was someone with the precious, sweet coffee mugs, I would have asked the OP to provide a little more substance about why he didn’t feel that the crisis would bring us closer together or I would close the thread, his option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-did-you-think-hope-that-the-covid-19-pandemic-might-unite-us-in-adversity/852082.md?page=3)