# 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:** 157
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3130 "2021-04-15T08:16:12Z")
Nope. **DeathPool** was outed as a sock. Of who, I don’t know. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3131 "2021-04-15T14:05:54Z")
Be interesting to see if any of the other trollers suddenly disappear. But more likely **DeathPool** (aka “deadpool” now) belonged to somebody who’s already gone. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3132 "2021-04-15T14:07:34Z")
I’ve pretty much taken as a rule at this point that if a user’s public profile is hidden, they are a trock. There may be exceptions, but they are minor enough that _they_ can get over it. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3133 "2021-04-15T14:47:25Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Nope. **DeathPool** was outed as a sock. Of who, I don’t know. Those last four letters might be a clue. He’s been back at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3134 "2021-04-15T14:48:31Z")
I wondered about that, but my interwebz detective skills are virtually nonexistent. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3135 "2021-04-15T15:12:25Z")
Just a friendly reminder to all that the mods frown on anything that even loosely resembles doxxing. You’re welcome to conduct all the research your skills and stamina can muster, but best not to post any of it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3136 "2021-04-15T15:15:31Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Superdude](#): > > > > Nope. **DeathPool** was outed as a sock. Of who, I don’t know. > > Those last four letters might be a clue. He’s been back at least once. Maybe next time, he’ll register as **CessPool.** ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3137 "2021-04-15T15:16:04Z")
I think that linking a poster to their real life identity is and should be frowned upon. Linking a sock to his other socks, not so much, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3138 "2021-04-15T15:36:38Z")
It’s a psychological puzzle about why someone would want to repeatedly go back to community where they were obviously not welcome. They may think that they are playing some kind of a game, but deep down it’s pretty revealing that they do this. Perhaps for some reason they feel that they “deserve” to get insulted and shut out. Maybe the experience confirms a deep down belief that they are unworthy - sort of a masochistic fulfillment of some sort. Anyway, these folks have more issues than National Geographic. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3139 "2021-04-15T16:28:10Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > It’s a psychological puzzle about why someone would want to repeatedly go back to community where they were obviously not welcome. Yeah, it’s the repeatedly part that gets me. I could see once, as they think that they got off on the wrong foot, or that if they mend their ways, they will be more accepted. But, if they have no desire to mend their ways, and just keeping doing the same shit over and over again, well, like I said, they aren’t here for the hunting. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3140 "2021-04-15T16:38:38Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I’ve pretty much taken as a rule at this point that if a user’s public profile is hidden, they are a trock. > > There may be exceptions, but they are minor enough that _they_ can get over it. I recently reported someone for spam here in this very forum (the Pit). They necro’d a thread that had been closed for a year, and the topic thread wasn’t really relevant anymore, and the necro was pretty much just a link to a web site review on something. The poster had a hidden profile. So I reported it. It turns out that the poster was a long-time poster (not that I’d know; I didn’t recognize their name and their profile was hidden) and the necro may have been because they didn’t realize the year of the last post. I still don’t apologize for reporting the spam, because it revived a dead thread without adding any real value and the link wasn’t useful. But I don’t think that person was a trock or anything. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3141 "2021-04-15T16:41:56Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I could see once, as they think that they got off on the wrong foot, or that if they mend their ways, they will be more accepted. My guess is we have these posters. They did mend their ways and fit in well now. Seems likely to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3142 "2021-04-15T16:56:28Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I’ve pretty much taken as a rule at this point that if a user’s public profile is hidden, they are a trock. I’ve tried to hide my info because I had some problems with inappropriate contacts. Not sure if it worked - you reminded me to check. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3143 "2021-04-15T16:58:18Z")
I agree completely with not giving personal info. But the public profile pretty much just gives your join date and links to other posts. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3144 "2021-04-15T16:59:14Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I’ve tried to hide my info because I had some problems with inappropriate contacts. You can disable PMs without hiding your profile. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3145 "2021-04-15T16:59:49Z")
An unblocked profile gives a more convenient way of adding someone to an ignore list, so if someone blocks their profile, it may be that they are trying to make it just a little bit harder to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3146 "2021-04-15T17:01:21Z")
It’s a bit more complicated. We can DM if you like. I certainly don’t want to make it hard for folks to ignore me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3147 "2021-04-15T17:04:06Z")
You can also mute individual users, which stops them sending you personal messages (direct messages). ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3148 "2021-04-15T17:08:48Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > An unblocked profile gives a more convenient way of adding someone to an ignore list, so if someone blocks their profile, it may be that they are trying to make it just a little bit harder to ignore. A hidden profile also means that you can’t see when they joined. That conceals the fact that someone who joined yesterday is posting like they’ve been here for years. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/3149 "2021-04-15T17:12:43Z")
It also removes context. Sometimes someone posts something a bit trolly in a “Poe’s Law” way. If it is someone that I recognize, I chuckle and move on. If it isn’t someone I recognize, looking at a bit of their posting history tells me if they were making a sarcastic remark, or dropping some serious trolling. If I cannot see their posting history, nor their join date, then I suspect that they are hiding it for a reason, and the only reason that _I_ can think of is to hide their history of trolling. There may be other reasons, but as long as people are posting in good faith, I don’t really see why they would want to hide their posting history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=158)