# "Trolling" or "Being a jerk" to Lynn Bodini **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991 "2003-08-22T18:49:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/1 "2003-08-22T18:49:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Last night I was bored and I know how defensive cat owners can be so I created this thread for some fun. …I said this in a thread but only after I defended my position close to a dozen times. Lynn said …"This is called Trolling or “Being a jerk”, do it again and you’ll be banned. I’m asking for some clarification here. To me, it’s obvious that I put some thought (wrong or right as it is) into my topic. The topic wasn’t merely “fluff” and created to hurt anyone. Many people responded. Maybe a handful agreed and the rest didn’t, which is fine. I kept my comments within that particular thread and in the Pit where it belongs. I don’t understand how this constitutes a wrongdoing on my part. Can I be banned for being a jerk and if so, why aren’t the people who are acting like jerks toward me being warned? The topic was kept open and people continue to respond so why do I faced being banned? Also, every comment I’ve written that can be termed “jerky” has been in clean fun. I hope noone takes me that serious within the context of that thread. All of the insults that have been flung at me have been taken as a joke. Also, I do regularly post in the other forums and am extremely civilized and friendly. I try to post only if I feel I’m contributing something to that particular topic. The reason I’ve written all this out is because now little “wanna be” moderators are starting to “warn” me in that thread (as they’re compelled to open it ) Any clarification would be appreciated. Your humble servant, Rooves ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/2 "2003-08-22T18:55:16Z")
You should probably just e-mail Lynn for clarification - certainly none of the posters here can speak for what she was thinking when she warned you. Also, you could ask for this thread to be closed as it probably won’t serve the purpose you want. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/3 "2003-08-22T19:03:37Z")
Clean fun for who? You were being intentionall disingenous in your comments for the express purpose of getting a rise out of others. What in God’s green Earth makes you think they “enjoy” having to correct your ridiculous statements? And it’s not that Lynn has any unusual rules or regulations. They’re listed quite clearly in all the appropriate places. Couldn’t this have been asked in the other thread? ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/4 "2003-08-22T19:04:45Z")
link? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/5 "2003-08-22T19:08:44Z")
The definition of “trolling” is posting something simply to rile other people up/provoke a reaction, especially if you don’t really mean what you say. In the sentence you quoted, it sure sounds like (to this non-moderator, at least) you admitted to doing just that. You said you know cat owners are defensive and set out to piss them off for the sake of fun. Just saying “mean” things to someone, especially in the Pit, isn’t necessarily being a jerk. That’s for the moderators/administrators to decide where the line is. But **alice** ’s advice is probably best - you’ll almost certainly do better E-mailing **Lynn** for clarification. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/6 "2003-08-22T19:09:57Z")
[Stupid cat threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=205601) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/7 "2003-08-22T19:15:01Z")
You could email her, but you won’t get a response for a while. Has anyone seen the announcement? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206272](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206272) ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/8 "2003-08-22T19:36:36Z")
Yes, I admit that I said that and I also understand that she has every right to warn me. But trolling and being a jerk are two different things. Next time I’m interprited as being a jerk and I’m out of here? Most of the people who responded to that thread only did so with intentions of calling me names and being a “jerk”. Perhaps if she had left out “being a jerk” it would be more clear to me and it would also look more objective and professional. Lieu, as an example, you’re calling what I say rediculous and inferring that people have to correct it as if I were a newspaper reporter and they my editors. YOU are being condescending toward me. I never stated anything as scientific fact. Also, I did ask it in the other thread. Thank you. I did indeed look for (although possibly not as well as I could have) for the definition of “trolling” on this baord. Ferret Herder, Dan and allice, thank you for the suggestions and comments. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/9 "2003-08-22T19:46:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*You could email her, but you won’t get a response for a while. Has anyone seen the announcement? > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206272](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206272) \*\* And that announcement requests that people **not** email Lynn. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/10 "2003-08-22T19:52:08Z")
I hope Lynn gets better fast. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/11 "2003-08-22T19:55:05Z")
> [@](#): > > **rooves:** But trolling and being a jerk are two different things. Next time I’m interprited as being a jerk and I’m out of here? You didn’t get very far into the [registration agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148527), did you? > [@](#): > > **Straight Dope Message Board Registration Agreement** > We have one basic rule: Don’t be a jerk. I know it’s not fair. It’s like having a rule against breaking wind. Some people just can’t help it. That being said, I think most of us agree that it’s a _good_ rule. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/12 "2003-08-22T20:05:22Z")
Hey, if Captain Kirk could violate the Prime Directive episode after episode and get away with it, why not his ego-mate Rooves? ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/13 "2003-08-22T20:32:25Z")
You were being a jerk. But to be fair, **Lynn** should have closed it once it was established that you were being one. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/14 "2003-08-22T20:41:59Z")
This isn’t being a jerk?: > [@](#): > > Hey, if Captain Kirk could violate the Prime Directive episode after episode and get away with it, why not his ego-mate Rooves? Or this?: > [@](#): > > What in God’s green Earth makes you think they “enjoy” having to correct your ridiculous statements? Being a hypocrite should be a bannable offense. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/15 "2003-08-22T20:47:50Z")
“Jerk” has a wide definition here. You can insult folks in the Pit, for the most part, without it being called “being a jerk.” I’m not a mind reader, but my wild-ass guess was that she was calling your trolling a jerkish thing to do. And my apologies since I had not seen the announcement about **Lynn** ’s hospitalization. Hopefully some mod/admin will be along to help clear things up. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/16 "2003-08-22T20:49:24Z")
Among the offenses Lynn finds most objectionable: It’s _Bodoni_ not Bodini. She _Hates_ that. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/17 "2003-08-22T21:01:49Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rooves_ > Being a hypocrite should be a bannable offense. When you start to run your own message board, you can make the rules. Wanna make hypocrisy a bannable offense? Be my guest. But around here, that just ain’t one of the rules. But “Don’t be a jerk” is. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/18 "2003-08-22T21:10:20Z")
Damn, that sucks about **Lynn**. ☹ It really does. Get well, **Lynn**. **Rooves** , I don’t know if someone else already mentioned this, but threads like the “I hate cats” intended to get a rise out of posters are a waste of resources. A similar thing happened a month ago or so in CS where some poster claimed they were looking for a song, then proceeded to type what turned out to be meaningless onomatopoeia. Some of us took the bait; what was meant to be a joke to the OP wasn’t taken very well by posters who sincerely jumped in and tried to help him out with the few clues he gave. I’ve come to appreciate the musical knowledge of the Teeming Millions since having asked “What’s this song” a few times and gotten correct answers in a few hours, tops. I was one of the people who were somewhat hurt at this, since song-identification can potentially mean a lot, just as is with many things in life to certain people. So, in short, your cat thread reminded me of that. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/19 "2003-08-22T21:18:33Z")
Rooves: \*\*\*This isn’t being a jerk?: ## quote: ## Hey, if Captain Kirk could violate the Prime Directive episode after episode and get away with it, why not his ego-mate Rooves? * * * No, that’s being witty. Or, as you put it, \*\*\* every comment I’ve written that can be termed “jerky” has been in clean fun. \*\*\* At least that’s what I was aiming at. Oh, well; maybe my 1920s style death ray needs a tune-up. Being a jerk would be saying something like “You’re an idiot knuckle-dragger, like all cat-thread-haters.” But I wouldn’t do that. I do wonder, though, why you can say _ **All of the insults that have been flung at me have been taken as a joke** _ and then get riled at my (I thought rather tame) Prime Directive joke. Maybe it’s time for the library to close? ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991/20 "2003-08-22T21:21:38Z")
OK Joe K. Fair enough. I do admit that it was not a very constructive thread. I was frustrated at seeing so many cat threads though, and my rant was just that, a rant. I set myself up to be warned by saying what I said concering my “bored” comment. I admit that my OP was far from scientifically accurate, a waste of space and so on. That doesn’t excuse all the other people who jumped at the chance to get themselves into a pissing contest with me. I apologize for the OP but not my responses to the members who were also being jerks. The difference between them and me is that I can admit when I’m being a jerk and they aim to justify WHY they are being jerks. That being said, I don’t think there’s any reason to keep either thread open. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolling-or-being-a-jerk-to-lynn-bodini/196991.md?page=2)