# Trolls R Us Resurrections (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518 "2021-09-11T17:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 42
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5300 "2022-01-10T01:17:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t think you can “follow” a poster here. The highest notification level for another user is “Normal”, which means you’re notified if they reply to you or mention you, that’s it. The old boards had an option to have a friends list, but I could never tell what good it did. I had a couple people on it if I remember correctly, and I never saw any notifications about it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5301 "2022-01-10T01:20:30Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The old boards had an option to have a friends list, but I could never tell what good it did. That’s because it didn’t do a damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5302 "2022-01-10T02:02:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > As for our pal Neil deGrasse Tyson, I’ll be convinced if his verified Twitter account mentions that there are dipsticks on the SDMB who don’t believe that @neiltyson is really NDT. Then I’ll profusely apologize. Until then, I remain unconvinced. What good would that do? To his followers who are not aware of the existence of the SDMB, it would just seem to be a petty and random potshot by a prominent public figure, lowering their esteem of him, and it could have the side effect of bringing a torrent of unwanted trolls onto this board. I don’t see anything good that can come out of your idea, except for satisfying your own self-doubt. Personally, the fact that the tweet came out when he said it would come out is good enough proof for me. If you’re still adamant for actual proof, there’s a way to do it without dragging the SDMB into the spotlight: 1. Send a private message to **neiltyson** through SDMB, letting him know of your Twitter handle 2. In this private message, also ask him to send a DM from his authenticated Twitter handle to your Twitter handle, saying “Hi **wolfpup**!” or whatever Chances are though, he’ll probably just get annoyed and ignore you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5303 "2022-01-10T02:53:58Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Unless/untill he provides proof, it makes sense to treat him like he’s not the real deal. Treat him like @Barack_Obama or similar. Don’t be rude or mean, but take everything he says with a massive grain of salt, maybe even with more skepticism than the average poster. To **Pseudonym** : we had a troll here awhile back who used the above President’s name for his handle. He’s now banned. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5304 "2022-01-10T03:18:04Z")
We also had a poster here who called himself Satan. I had no doubts he was the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5305 "2022-01-10T03:26:24Z")
> [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](#): > > What good would that do? To his followers who are not aware of the existence of the SDMB, it would just seem to be a petty and random potshot by a prominent public figure, lowering their esteem of him, and it could have the side effect of bringing a torrent of unwanted trolls onto this board. I’m not demanding that he do this, I’m just saying what it would take to overcome my strong skepticism. And don’t you think the real NDT is smart enough to just make some offhand comment at the end of a tweet that might seem cryptic to his followers, but would be meaningful to us doubters here and clear things up once and for all? No reason he needs to mention the SDMB directly. As for trolls, it comes with the territory – the admins here have always been interested in optimizing our Google ranking – i.e.- the more publicity the better. > [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](#): > > 1. Send a private message to **neiltyson** through SDMB, letting him know of your Twitter handle > 2. In this private message, also ask him to send a DM from his authenticated Twitter handle to your Twitter handle, saying “Hi **wolfpup**!” or whatever > > Chances are though, he’ll probably just get annoyed and ignore you. What “Twitter handle”? I’ve never used Twitter. Never will, either. But this is the kind of thing mods can do: prove that you are who you claim to be, or be banned. This board has always had a cultural aversion to deceit. As for being “annoyed”, our new join – whoever he may be – was concerned enough about trying to establish his _bona fides_ that he came down to the Pit to do so. Anyway, I don’t run this place. If this poster is a fake, there’s nothing I can personally do about it and it’s really not directly any of my business. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5306 "2022-01-10T03:34:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Again, pretty sure she meant on Twitter. Yes, that’s what I meant. It was sort of a joke, since this isn’t twitter. On the other hand, I did go over and follow. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5307 "2022-01-10T03:42:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Anyway, I don’t run this place. If this poster is a fake, there’s nothing I can personally do about it and it’s really not directly any of my business. At this point I find it very unlikely that he isn’t who he claims to be. It’s not like he has a predictable schedule tweet schedule that any rando could forecast. Which is pretty cool! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5308 "2022-01-10T03:43:56Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’m just saying what it would take to overcome my strong skepticism. How does Occam’s razor interact with: 1. NeilTyson tells us that his next Tweet will be at a certain time, to the minute, as proof of his identity. 2. NDT’s next Tweet is at that time. What alternative explanation do you offer? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5309 "2022-01-10T03:59:48Z")
Nobody actually cares about your “strong skepticism “. So there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5310 "2022-01-10T04:50:20Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What alternative explanation do you offer? Meh, this has exploded into one of those pointless internet bickering contests. I’m not that invested in it. But on this point, I can ask some questions in return. Do you think NDT does his own tweets (as well as posting on random message boards, because he has so much spare time)? How many people could have known about the upcoming tweet, including the staff and volunteers at the Hayden and the nearly 1000 staff at the American Museum of Natural History under which the Hayden operates and where NDT is a research associate? Could some bored intern working somewhere in this milieu, either directly or incidentally involved in clerical things like tweeting, think it would be fun to come to a random message board and impersonate NDT? My skepticism could be totally misplaced. I don’t know NDT, I don’t know how he behaves. But in terms of Occam’s Razor, how many celebrities of this stature have we had randomly appearing on this board, for no apparent reason? So far, I believe the number of such confirmed appearances is approximately zero. What compelling reason is there to believe that this is different? There are many UFO sightings I can’t explain, either, but I don’t conclude that it must be aliens. I know one thing for sure. IF our new join is a fake, he or she must surely be enjoying this. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Nobody actually cares about your “strong skepticism “. So there ya go.   I say you’re just biased by all those long conversations you had with Richard Feynman when he suddenly joined your local BBS – or at least, he swore it was really him. 😉 Chill, dudes. I could be wrong. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5311 "2022-01-10T04:56:15Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Chill, dudes. I could be wrong. No. Say it ain’t so. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5312 "2022-01-10T04:58:12Z")
I speak to Richard regularly through my Ouiji board ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5313 "2022-01-10T05:20:06Z")
It basically runs into the “Don’t be a jerk” thing. It’s ok (and maybe even preferred) to be skeptical to an extent, but things went beyond skeptical to rude. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5314 "2022-01-10T05:47:58Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Do you think NDT does his own tweets What would the process be otherwise? NDT composes a tweet and runs it through an assistant before posting? He trusts someone to Tweet in his name? He has time to spitball tweets? Or, just does it himself? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5315 "2022-01-10T05:54:09Z")
I wanna Pit his stache, but… 😳 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5316 "2022-01-10T06:19:21Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > It’s ok (and maybe even preferred) to be skeptical to an extent, but things went beyond skeptical to rude. Word. We’ve lost more than one potentially valuable poster through due diligence being expressed in a manner that the newbies took as skepticism. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5317 "2022-01-10T11:37:03Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Hey, @neiltyson, come on down! We’d love to have you here in the Pit. We love astrophysics down here. Come on down! 😄 He knows damn well if he hangs out in the Pit he’ll get piled on about Pluto again. > [@Pseudonym](#): > > So what’s the deal, Neil? Why did you decide to sign up with your own name, to a board where everybody else is anonymous? Username/post pairing checks out. OTTOMH JM Straczynski briefly joined to comment under his own name, as did comedy songwriter Mitch Benn. It happens. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5318 "2022-01-10T11:54:16Z")
We have a few non-celebrities who post under their own name, including First MI Last. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518/5319 "2022-01-10T12:05:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Chill, dudes. I could be wrong. When I ask a pretty straightforward question, and you spend several paragraphs trying to Socratic Method your way out of answering it, and close by telling _me_ to chill, that’s pretty cool. Sure, it could be an intern who posts the Tweets. But this seems pretty unlikely. NDT is famous, but he’s nerd-famous. We’re not talking Taylor Swift here, with a whole publicity team dedicated to protecting his image 24/7. There’s no advantage in his adding a layer between his brain and Twitter. And the idea that NDT announces to museum staff, “Hey, everyone, watch at 5:57, I’m going to make a little throwaway Tweet about light pollution, get ready!” is pretty funny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-resurrections-part-1/950518.md?page=43)