# Trolling in the Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 12, 2023, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441 "2023-08-12T05:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/81 "2023-08-16T02:55:26Z")
I just happened upon this thread and I’m glad I did. I’m really baffled by this constant accusation of trolling. I assure you, I have better things to do than to post in order to try to get a rise out of people or something like that. You can believe me or not, but I always post in good faith and present what I actually believe. In reading this thread it it appears that, for some posters, they 1) cannot fathom that I might hold a position that I do, and 2) cannot fathom how my mind is not changed by their back and forth. And I guess that turns into “trolling”. I think one thing that makes it easy for some posters to wind up there is the degree to which the the SDMB leans left. There is not a lot of conservative representation on the board, and I really don’t mind that, as I prefer engaging in actual debates as opposed to going someplace with a strong conservative bent where it would be all “Biden sucks, Biden sucks, sis boom ba!”, etc. One thing that doesn’t work in my favour is that since I’m often the minority, or even a lone voice, lot’s of people reply to my posts with questions or comments. Even if respond to half of them, my name is going to pop up a lot more in a thread than other posters. I think that creates an impression that I’m eager for a fight (maybe that feeds into the accusations of trolling), when the way I look at it is that I’m being polite by providing a response. I mean, if I make a comment or ask a question to a poster, I’d like a response. > [@BigT](#): > > Not only did he randomly bring up Hunter Biden’s laptop and COVID-19 falsehoods, but his most recent post that I saw was him saying that, when he comes back, he expects all of us to tell him he’s right. This blows my mind. It was a joke. Amazing. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m pretty sure he’s trolling. You’ve made this point before. Can you explain just what YOU mean by it. Because I’m just not understanding where you’re coming from. > [@ParallelLines](#): > > Does the poster in question rise to the board’s definition of a troll? I’m not sure, but in no way do I believe that they are debating/discussing honestly. If I’m not debating/discussing honestly, how would you describe what you think I’m doing? > [@Czarcasm](#): > > He is contributing hatred. How so? And it is ironic that you would say this, as many/most of your posts to me are blatantly and intentionally hateful. I’m not complaining about it, just pointing out the irony. > [@Miller](#): > > The only point being argued is the age at which its appropriate to begin medical interventions for someone who identifies as trans, Yup. That’s what it seems like to me. > [@Superdude](#): > > All due respect, @WalterBishop, but I think the differences in our ideologies probably affects our estimations of the other posters. I couldn’t have said it any better. I’ll leave it there. Have a nice night. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/82 "2023-08-16T03:14:10Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > Does the poster in question rise to the board’s definition of a troll? I’m not sure, but in no way do I believe that they are debating/discussing honestly. > > If I’m not debating/discussing honestly, how would you describe what you think I’m doing? Excluding all definitions, _formal_ and informal, as used by likely 95% of English speakers, other than the one you want to use, and then demanding everyone else adhere to yours, while simultaneously demanding an apology for others using said definition does not strike me as a honest debating tactic. If you had instead at least acknowledged the other definitions, and said you preferred the one you picked, that would have been disagreeable, but far less dishonest. And that’s discounting your attempt to hijack an entirely different thread rather than discuss the matter at hand, which, again, speaks of dishonest intent as well. For the record, as quoted above, I’m not certain what you’re doing should be considered trolling. But you apparently want to ‘win’ your debates by all means, including using tactics which are far from admirable. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/83 "2023-08-16T03:31:20Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I just happened upon this thread and I’m glad I did. I’m really baffled by this constant accusation of trolling. I assure you, I have better things to do than to post in order to try to get a rise out of people or something like that. You can believe me or not, but I always post in good faith and present what I actually believe… Do you intend to do any personal reflection here? Maybe consider that if so many people think you’re being disingenuous or arguing in bad faith, maybe _you_ need to change? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/84 "2023-08-16T04:04:39Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > Not only did he randomly bring up Hunter Biden’s laptop and COVID-19 falsehoods, but his most recent post that I saw was him saying that, when he comes back, he expects all of us to tell him he’s right. ⁢ > > This blows my mind. It was a joke. Amazing. To be clear, that was my point. I mention in the post that it was a joke. Many forms of trolling involve making jokes. My issue is that it is a serious topic that everyone else was taking seriously. People were arguing your position is harmful and deadly. And then it wasn’t the joke by itself, but along with the randomly shoehorned in right wing talking points and alt-right conspiracy theories that didn’t really have anything the topic. I got that it was a joke, but I think that type of joke at that time was inappropriate at best. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/85 "2023-08-16T04:34:54Z")
I thought that the self deprecating nature of the joke made it appropriate. It was not a joke about the topic of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/86 "2023-08-16T04:36:09Z")
In fact, it had nothing at all to do with the topic of the thread, did it? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/87 "2023-08-16T04:41:18Z")
I’ve been trying to figure it out. Even in this thread, as I’ve asked posters some questions that I hope will be illuminating. Having been down this road before, I really think the majority of this is due to the the board leaning so far one way which that an unpopular view being argued for results in a collective apoplexy sorts. But I’m curious as to what answers I might see. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/88 "2023-08-16T04:43:46Z")
It was a _joke_, at my expense. A friendly way to say goodbye and maybe even get a smile out of someone. You know, because it was so _obviously_ a joke. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/89 "2023-08-16T04:53:56Z")
I appreciate the tone of the post, but I’m not really understanding why you think I didn’t acknowledge the other definition. Heck, I was arguing against it in favour of the one I presented. And I certainly don’t get how what I posted was in any way “dishonest”. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/90 "2023-08-16T06:07:14Z")
“Only Joking” defence? Check! “Board Leans Left” defence? Check! Blatant Sealioning? Check! Bingo! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/91 "2023-08-16T06:45:11Z")
Closed on August 16, 2023, 6:45am UTC ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441/92 "2023-08-16T06:45:27Z")
This is closed, pending the outcome of a discussion in the mod loop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-in-the-pit/988441.md?page=4)