# Trolls R Us redux \[Now the argument clinic\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2020, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349 "2020-06-27T06:30:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 148
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2948 "2021-03-08T02:47:14Z")
I was just reading the “CNN is no longer journalism” thread. Is EastUmpqua a troll or just really, really stupid? His (her?) apparent inability to understand the difference between CBC and TASS, despite having it explained repeatedly, suggests troll… ---
**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:** [March 8, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2949 "2021-03-08T03:09:53Z")
And it can’t be both _really, really stupid_ and _troll_ because? ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2950 "2021-03-08T07:23:20Z")
LOL! Point taken… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2951 "2021-03-08T10:33:12Z")
> [@Latimera](#): > > I was just reading the “CNN is no longer journalism” thread. Is EastUmpqua a troll or just really, really stupid? His (her?) apparent inability to understand the difference between CBC and TASS, despite having it explained repeatedly, suggests troll… Perhaps the latter: really stupid. I’ve been following that thread, and EastUmpqua is just repeating something I’ve heard from many American friends, acquaintances, and business associates. They simply cannot believe that a government-funded media source (such as the CBC and the BBC) can provide unbiased news, including that in which the government of the day is portrayed in an unflattering light. The government funds it, so it has to portray the government and its policies in a good light, right? Well, no. Unlike TASS and the DPRK News Service, both CBC and BBC have competition. In the CBC’s case, that comes from CTV and Global, both private networks; in addition to the Canadian Press wire service, and private reporting from newspapers. If the CBC says (and this is totally fictional), “A Brighter Future Awaits as a Result of Government Budget,” its competition would likely respond with, “Your wallet will take a hit: higher taxes now.” In other words, the CBC must report news fairly, because its private competition will make it look like an untrustworthy jackass if it doesn’t. That’s why I’m saying that EastUmpqua is really stupid. He or she cannot realize this, clings to his or her belief that “government-funded” equates to “government-run,” and does not take into account that private competition can demolish any pro-government argument if a government-funded news outlet tries to “adjust” the news to the government’s taste. TASS and the DPRK News Service have no such competition. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2952 "2021-03-08T18:48:17Z")
Anyone else getting a whiff of something off **CasteltonSnob1**? Because I think it’s kind of dubious to imagine its two most recent threads (both in IMHO) were started in good faith, particularly given their have very close parallels to a couple of ongoing pit threads: > [@Anyone else kind of disillusioned with America after Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-kind-of-disillusioned-with-america-after-trump/937413): > > It’s kind of hard to take pride in this country after the past 4 years have shown how many problems it has. This country has so many problems, and I have no idea how they’re going to be fixed, or if they even CAN be fixed. > [@How do you feel about Texas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-texas/937412): > > I was just curious as to how this place feels about Texas. @What_Exit then proceeding into mod-mode, cautioning members to try and keep “on topic,” only furthers my suspicion that there’s some low-intensity trolling involved. Because honestly, WTF did the OP think would happen? > [@Anyone else kind of disillusioned with America after Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-kind-of-disillusioned-with-america-after-trump/937413/12): > > Modhat: No, stop. This thread is not an invite to debate this subject. Address the op, no hijack into who or what is causing it. Start a thread about it if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2953 "2021-03-08T19:29:27Z")
I see what you mean. Along the same lines - add [KennyT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kennyt/summary) to the watch list? Usual signs - recent join, high number of threads started vs posts, “controversial”. j ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2954 "2021-03-08T20:25:26Z")
Definitely. In fact two of its last three threads have been locked, having started out as utter trainwrecks and not made it very far. Somehow, he hasn’t even gotten a warning yet… ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2955 "2021-03-08T20:31:11Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > @What_Exit then proceeding into mod-mode, cautioning members to try and keep “on topic,” only furthers my suspicion that there’s some low-intensity trolling involved. Because honestly, WTF did the OP think would happen? I read that mod direction as “do not feed this troll”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2956 "2021-03-08T21:36:29Z")
I was talking about Octo, not **CasteltonSnob1** though. Octo once again appears to have tried to hijack a thread onto his own agenda. I wasn’t allowing it. The discussion started by **CasteltonSnob1** seems fine to me. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2957 "2021-03-08T21:40:48Z")
Recent join, 21 topics, 22 posts. It’s a warning sign. j ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2958 "2021-03-08T21:42:05Z")
That’s bullshit. I was answering a question. Perhaps the question was off topic but I didn’t initiate that and my first post in that thread was an answer to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2959 "2021-03-08T21:44:53Z")
Not bullshit. You have a habit of hijacking threads with your bullshit. I called you on that one. And you were the first to go off subject. By the time I got there you had several more posters following off the topic. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2960 "2021-03-08T21:48:33Z")
It is bullshit. I answered the question posed by the OP and I answered the other question. If you judge the other question to be off topic so be it. If you read the rest of that thread there is far more commentary than my comment on post modern philosophy being a problem in the US. The question was open to a relatively broad answer and has had some relatively broad answers which you say nothing about because they align with your biases. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2961 "2021-03-08T22:13:31Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Along the same lines - add [KennyT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kennyt/summary) to the watch list? Usual signs - recent join, high number of threads started vs posts, “controversial”. And how! Just saw the childbearing thread… yeesh. (Interesting subject, though. Kinda wish it wouldn’t have been such an inflammatory OP.) ---
**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:** [March 9, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2962 "2021-03-09T01:40:33Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l8ukak8P2vY/hqdefault.jpg "Help! I'm Being Repressed! (Short Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ukak8P2vY) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2963 "2021-03-09T01:49:34Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > [@Treppenwitz](#): > > > > Along the same lines - add [KennyT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kennyt/summary) to the watch list? Usual signs - recent join, high number of threads started vs posts, “controversial”. > > And how! Just saw the childbearing thread… yeesh. > > (Interesting subject, though. Kinda wish it wouldn’t have been such an inflammatory OP.) Though as the mod said, if anyone wants to discuss the topic feel free to start a non-poisoned thread. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2964 "2021-03-09T02:06:22Z")
What you talking about, fool? No one said anything about repression. Talking about poor reading comprehension is all. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2965 "2021-03-09T02:18:45Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > What you talking about, fool? It’s called “sarcasm”, fool. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2966 "2021-03-09T02:45:16Z")
Who are you replying to, @Skywatcher? All I see is a pink blob. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/2967 "2021-03-09T03:29:35Z")
I guess it’s [the Blob](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWIzYjFmZTAtNWMxZS00MmVhLTkyYmEtZjkzZWQwMzg0N2ZjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_UY1200_CR70,0,630,1200_AL_.jpg), then. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=147) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=149)