# Two and a Half Inches of Fun: can't we just ban his troll ass and have done with it? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007 "2008-07-10T17:41:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/61 "2008-07-11T13:44:40Z")
I, for one, can definitely understand how someone posting unpopular opinions could get under **Guinastasia’s** skin. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/62 "2008-07-11T14:04:00Z")
I say we adopt a policy of watchful waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/63 "2008-07-11T14:33:17Z")
Any time it starts looking like people get banned here for simply having unpopular opinions, just think to yourself, “Is **lekatt** banned? **Der Trihs**? **brazil84**?” As long as the answer to any of those is no (although **brazil84** did say he was going to leave), then it’s a faulty premise. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/64 "2008-07-11T14:46:57Z")
Further, some posters mature over time. I have committed enough gaffes here that I try to be indulgent with others. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/65 "2008-07-11T16:03:36Z")
Yesterday I looked through a list of threads **2½"** has started. Some titles are obviously provocative, but others are not (tho’ I must admit I didn’t examine the contents). I note that a number of threads are on sexual topics. Looks to me like he’s a young pup with far more testosterone than common sense. So he could grow out of it. But I doubt we’ll ever see it. I can’t imagine him twiddling his pe–, er, thumbs for four weeks. He’ll find some other place for his effluvium. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/66 "2008-07-11T16:21:24Z")
The greatest troll the Devil pulled was convincing the world he wasn’t a troll… ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/67 "2008-07-11T16:25:12Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] [Death for any felony: Let’s bring it back](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=474968) And [Louisiana passes law to castrate rapists](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=474944) One wonders if his brain stem has been castrated. He’s been trolling since day one. There was the time he asked about lubrication for pre-pubescent girls. I believe his first thread was how he wanted to tax fat people, then whined about it in the Pit when it was closed. He’s nothing more than a turdnugget stinking up a board that professes to fight ignorance. [/QUOTE] This does not bode well for this board. The castration thread was discussing a law that was just passed. The death penalty thread, as I took it, was to argue an extreme position in order to shift when is considered the middle. Yeah, I thought that some of his OPS and posts were strange, but no stranger to me than those of **Der Trihs**. I think he was banned not so much for his strange and extreme positions, but because they were strange and extreme that was too far to the right. I think calling him a troll is wishful thinking. There are those who cannot fathom that someone would have a position so far from their own. If they do, especially if it deviates wildly from the groupthink that can occur here, that person MUST be posting to just cause others angst, not because they have a position they sincerely want to explore. This reflects as poorly on the SMDB as some think 2.5 does. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/68 "2008-07-11T16:33:45Z")
I wonder if it would be cool to be one of those people who can’t see a troll when it’s posting right in front of him for months. On the one hand, you probably wouldn’t get annoyed like a normal person would by a troll. On the other, it could drive you to use words like “groupthink” and “hivemind” and make ridiculous posts like the one above mine. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/69 "2008-07-11T16:40:55Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] I wonder if it would be cool to be one of those people who can’t see a troll when it’s posting right in front of him for months. On the one hand, you probably wouldn’t get annoyed like a normal person would by a troll. On the other, it could drive you to use words like “groupthink” and “hivemind” and make ridiculous posts like the one above mine. [/QUOTE] Hey, genius, it is not even a point of agreement that he _is_ a troll. So, let’s see…yeah, you got nothing. Other than a little attitude. I’m shocked. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/70 "2008-07-11T16:52:18Z")
That was kinda my point - that you can’t tell that he’s a troll. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/71 "2008-07-11T16:56:48Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] The castration thread was discussing a law that was just passed. [/QUOTE] And you’re wrong - he was _cheering_ for a law that just passed and was not interested in the least in debating the implications or the application of such a law, nor that it would inevitably face constitutional challenge. In fact, such a challenge would merely be another opportunity for “activist judges” to “pervert” the system. If we’re going to use 1984-inspired language, I’d describe his actions as _stopthink_. The law had been passed, therefore it was a moral decision. Challenges were therefore immoral, stop. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/72 "2008-07-11T16:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] This does not bode well for this board. The castration thread was discussing a law that was just passed. The death penalty thread, as I took it, was to argue an extreme position in order to shift when is considered the middle. Yeah, I thought that some of his OPS and posts were strange, but no stranger to me than those of **Der Trihs**. I think he was banned not so much for his strange and extreme positions, but because they were strange and extreme that was too far to the right. I think calling him a troll is wishful thinking. There are those who cannot fathom that someone would have a position so far from their own. If they do, especially if it deviates wildly from the groupthink that can occur here, that person MUST be posting to just cause others angst, not because they have a position they sincerely want to explore. This reflects as poorly on the SMDB as some think 2.5 does. [/QUOTE] Sorry, this is just a load of absolute bullshit. It is more a reflection of your own typically knee-jerk approach to politics than the actual situation with **2.5**. (Not to mention extreme gullibility with regard to **2.5’s** sincerity. ) You can’t seem to imagine that others might make a decision on the basis of anything but politics. This is due to your own mindset, not that of the administration. I assure you that the specific political orientation of the threads were not a significant part of our discussions about whether \*\*2.5 \*\* was trolling or not. (In any case, since when are questions about [vaginal lubrication in prepubescent girls](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466151) and whether [Vincent Gallo ejaculated in Chloe Sevigny’s mouth](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=473092) conservative issues?) I also have to question the objectivity and simple observational capabilities of anyone who refers to “groupthink” on this board. You can find posters who will dispute virtually any proposition, including whether or not the sky is blue. Also with regard to your observational capability, it should be noted that **2.5** has been suspended, not banned. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/73 "2008-07-11T17:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Hey, genius, it is not even a point of agreement that he _is_ a troll. [/QUOTE] There is, however, a nearly unanimous consensus. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/74 "2008-07-11T17:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] And you’re wrong - he was _cheering_ for a law that just passed and was not interested in the least in debating the implications or the application of such a law, nor that it would inevitably face constitutional challenge. In fact, such a challenge would merely be another opportunity for “activist judges” to “pervert” the system. If we’re going to use 1984-inspired language, I’d describe his actions as _stopthink_. The law had been passed, therefore it was a moral decision. Challenges were therefore immoral, stop. [/QUOTE] That doesn’t make someone a troll. Nor is it a reason to ban someone. If someone brings a strong opinion wrapped in faulty logic, that’s kind of what this board is good at fixing, isn’t it? And what is wrong with “cheering”. That’s done all the time. There was even a recent OP where someone was “cheering” the death of a U.S. Senator. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/75 "2008-07-11T17:03:44Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] There is, however, a nearly unanimous consensus. [/QUOTE] Not as far as I can tell. And that’s from a pool of posters who don’t like him and are not wont to give him the benefit of any doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/76 "2008-07-11T17:12:05Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] That doesn’t make someone a troll. Nor is it a reason to ban someone. If someone brings a strong opinion wrapped in faulty logic, that’s kind of what this board is good at fixing, isn’t it? And what is wrong with “cheering”. That’s done all the time. There was even a recent OP where someone was “cheering” the death of a U.S. Senator. [/QUOTE] I’m not accusing him of being a troll. I will gladly accuse him of being a jerk, though. The board made several good attempts at “fixing”, to no avail. It seemed to me that he enjoyed resisting the attempts solely because it proved he had the will of a warrior, or some such thing. As for dancing on Helms’ grave, that thread was in the Pit, not Great Debates. In fact, had 2.5 started his castration-law thread in the Pit, I doubt this would be an issue. It’s the disingenuous claim of inviting debate while in practice steadfastly ignoring it that earns him disrespect. In my opinion, of course. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/77 "2008-07-11T17:13:33Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Not as far as I can tell. And that’s from a pool of posters who don’t like him and are not wont to give him the benefit of any doubt. [/QUOTE] “If one could be banned simply for being unlikeable, you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion,” said **Vinyl Turnip** to **magellan01** , ambiguously. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/78 "2008-07-11T17:19:23Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] It is more a reflection of your own typically knee-jerk approach to politics than the actual situation with **2.5**. (Not to mention extreme gullibility with regard to **2.5’s** sincerity. ) [/QUOTE] Kind of begs the question, don’t ya think? [QUOTE=Colibri] You can’t seem to imagine that others might make a decision on the basis of anything but politics. [/QUOTE] Speaking of bullshit, there it is. I can imagine that very well. And it even happens on this board. That does not mean that political persuasion does not play a role in someone’s acceptance here or the board’s moderation. [QUOTE=Colibri] This is due to your own mindset, not that of the administration. I assure you that the specific political orientation of the threads were not a significant part of our discussions about whether \*\*2.5 \*\* was trolling or not. [/QUOTE] I’m sure they weren’t. I’m also sure it needn’t have been said. I’m also sure the clamor raised by the populace played a role on how he is viewed. [QUOTE=Colibri] (In any case, since when are questions about [vaginal lubrication in prepubescent girls](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466151) and whether [Vincent Gallo ejaculated in Chloe Sevigny’s mouth](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=473092) conservative issues?) [/QUOTE] While the pre-pubescent girls thread registered a WTF from me, others seem to participate. I didn’t see the other one and have no desire to. But it did strike me as odd the a somewhat mainstream actress would do a scene like that. If that was the point of the discussion, I could see it. [QUOTE=Colibri] I also have to question the objectivity and simple observational capabilities of anyone who refers to “groupthink” on this board. You can find posters who will dispute virtually any proposition, including whether or not the sky is blue. [/QUOTE] I agree that there are posters to reflect a wide array of views. That does NOT mean that there isn’t a majority who tend to agree about most things. Whenever that happens, people can get too comfortable with their positions, mistaking popular agreement with strength of position. If you don’t think that happens on this board, or any board with a strong leaning in any direction, it’s time to question your own objectivity and simple observational capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/79 "2008-07-11T17:21:38Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] “If one could be banned simply for being unlikeable, you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion,” said **Vinyl Turnip** to **magellan01** , ambiguously. [/QUOTE] Which just shows that there would be considerable upside to being banned. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007/80 "2008-07-11T17:36:11Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] I’m also sure the clamor raised by the populace played a role on how he is viewed. [/quote] Nope. Believe it or not, we’re able to come to conclusions on our own. Unfortunately you’re making this about the guy’s politics when it’s about his posting style and jerkishness, which was consistent whether he was talking about politics or anything else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-and-a-half-inches-of-fun-cant-we-just-ban-his-troll-ass-and-have-done-with-it/456007.md?page=5)