# Trolls and the troll alert announcement

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [June 5, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862 "2003-06-05T16:28:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Francis\_E\_Dec\_Esq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Francis\_E\_Dec\_Esq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_E_Dec_Esq)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862/1 "2003-06-05T16:28:25Z")

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There’s a particularly disgusting troll around just now called **Mister Wong**. I thought I might just point out it may not be a coincidence that he shows just after the troll alert was posted. The alert might act as a sort of challenge or invitation to these creeps. Just something to consider.

If people would refrain from replying at all such trolls, it would help. Responses like “Sicko” or “Damn. Don’t open that link.” are just what a guy like that is looking for. Ignoring him utterly is what is called for, but I don’t know how we can get people to do it.

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**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:** [June 5, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862/2 "2003-06-05T16:42:20Z")

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Well, for starters, perhaps we shouldn’t begin threads on the subject, naming the trolls in the process . . .

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862/3 "2003-06-05T17:49:25Z")

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**dan** (johnson) is right!

Troll alerts, while possibly helpful to the Mods, also have a nasty habit of attracting even more socks and trolls. Such threads usually end up with a big ol’ padlock. Same goes for [general discussions regarding bannings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=664725&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending) (as opposed to asking why a single poster was banned). I’m sure the Mods would prefer being contacted directly.

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**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862/4 "2003-06-05T19:11:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \*  
> \*\*I’m sure the Mods would prefer being contacted directly. \*\*

…Which is done easily using the “Report this post to a moderator” link, located in the bottom right of every post on this board, right above the “edit” and “quote” buttons. It only takes a second to do it, and it gets better results than starting a thread.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-and-the-troll-alert-announcement/179862/5 "2003-06-05T19:15:14Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by **Ed Zotti** \*
> 
> We will ban the trolls’ new screen names and delete posts as quickly as we can, but we can’t patrol 24/7 so there may be some delay. Meanwhile, if you see posts that you think are from a troll (for example, a message in ATMB saying “the moderators lie” or “it’s impossible to stop trolls”), please do not reply to them – just report them to the moderators. Responding to trolls, even negatively, only seems to encourage them.

Please don’t start threads like this. If you spot what you suspect is a troll, notify a moderator. This is closed.

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**Cajun Man** ~ SDMB Moderator