# 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:** 5
**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, 5:41pm 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/456007/81 "2008-07-11T17:41:57Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] 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. [/QUOTE] Partially correct. I maintain that is a combination of both his posting style and his politics. That there wouldn’t be near (or any of) the fervor against him if he leaned the other way. That the members here strongly lean one way and the mods, to a lesser extent, do, as well. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:51pm 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/456007/82 "2008-07-11T17:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Partially correct. I maintain that is a combination of both his posting style and his politics. That there wouldn’t be near (or any of) the fervor against him if he leaned the other way. That the members here strongly lean one way and the mods, to a lesser extent, do, as well. [/QUOTE] Right. Which is why none of the vast left-wing conspirators on this board ever have anything bad to say about **Der Trihs** or **BrianGlutton**. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:54pm 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/456007/83 "2008-07-11T17:54:17Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Are you afraid you’d be considered too “fringe”? I’m not being sarcastic-I’m genuinely asking. [/QUOTE] I don’t think that I am too fringe, but I’m sure that 2.5 doesn’t think he is either. I’m sure that the mods just didn’t rush into this and they have granted people a lot of leeway when it wasn’t deserved. Hell, after the thread about vaginal lubrication in pre-pubescent girls, I would have banned his ass unless he had a very good reason for asking that (and I think he did have some crazy, but legitimate reason for wanting to know). But here is a question. Suppose I believed, just like 2.5 does, that a person convicted of a felony should be put to death. Let’s say I really and honestly believe that. Should I not post such a thing here for fear of being branded a jerk or troll or whatever the official line on 2.5 is? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:57pm 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/456007/84 "2008-07-11T17:57:39Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Partially correct. I maintain that is a combination of both his posting style and his politics. That there wouldn’t be near (or any of) the fervor against him if he leaned the other way. That the members here strongly lean one way and the mods, to a lesser extent, do, as well. [/QUOTE] We need a new catch-phrase, to reduce keyboarding the same song over and over, and for he concurrent rellief to the hamsters. Some shorthand for “Conservatives don’t get a fair shake on the Boards because the lefties are stifling dissent with their tofu jackboots, weep, wail, moan…” Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:59pm 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/456007/85 "2008-07-11T17:59:27Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Partially correct. I maintain that is a combination of both his posting style and his politics. That there wouldn’t be near (or any of) the fervor against him if he leaned the other way. That the members here strongly lean one way and the mods, to a lesser extent, do, as well. [/QUOTE] Do you think advocating the death penalty for all felonies is a conservative position? I can’t think of any prominent conservative who takes it. It seems more like a batshit insane proposition that no one would hold unless they were trying to get a rise out of people. ---
**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, 5:59pm 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/456007/86 "2008-07-11T17:59:37Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] But here is a question. Suppose I believed, just like 2.5 does, that a person convicted of a felony should be put to death. Let’s say I really and honestly believe that. Should I not post such a thing here for fear of being branded a jerk or troll or whatever the official line on 2.5 is? [/QUOTE] This is just my view, but personally I think people who genuinely hold unusual beliefs understand they’re unusual beliefs, and that will come across if they debate honestly. It didn’t with 2.5, who appeared to be blind to the fact that he held many unpopular opinions, which indicates either he’s debating in bad faith or he’s debating stupidly, which can be difficult to distinguish from bad faith. ---
**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, 6:03pm 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/456007/87 "2008-07-11T18:03:15Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] Suppose I believed, just like 2.5 does, that a person convicted of a felony should be put to death. [/quote] \*\*2.5 \*\* doesn’t believe that. > [@](#): > > Let’s say I really and honestly believe that. Should I not post such a thing here for fear of being branded a jerk or troll or whatever the official line on 2.5 is? We have had white supremacists and others with extreme views defending their positions in GD. If you honestly believe that - or even if you want to take a Devil’s Advocate position - I wouldn’t see a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:04pm 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/456007/88 "2008-07-11T18:04:36Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] But here is a question. Suppose I believed, just like 2.5 does, that a person convicted of a felony should be put to death. Let’s say I really and honestly believe that. Should I not post such a thing here for fear of being branded a jerk or troll or whatever the official line on 2.5 is? [/QUOTE] I’ve posted quite of bit of “fringey” stuff on this board, and I think the best way to go about it without being branded a jerk or a troll is to start with, yeah, some disclaimers. Or at least, clarifications and qualifications. Some might see this as pussyfooting bullshit. I prefer to think of it as clear communication skills. Lots of, “in my experience” and “it seems to be, although I’m willing to learn otherwise” or “okay, random weird thought, I swear I’m not a pedophile…” or “You know, this could be just my anger talking, but did you ever think…” or “I’m betting this will be an unpopular opinion, but…” might go a long way to making fringe posters more palatable. You know…in \*my \*experience. 😉 Just acknowledging your fringiness goes a long way to making people listen and actually debate in earnest. If nothing else, it pre-empts the 2 dozen posts which are nothing but accusations of trollery. In screenwriting, they call this “hanging a lantern” - you have one of your characters point out a plot weakness so the audience doesn’t get stuck up on it. And then you move on to what the movie’s \*really \*about. ---
**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, 6:25pm 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/456007/89 "2008-07-11T18:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=woodstockbirdybird] Right. Which is why none of the vast left-wing conspirators on this board ever have anything bad to say about **Der Trihs** or **BrianGlutton**. [/QUOTE] And why no posters with left-wing views have ever been banned or warned. [QUOTE=jtgain] Let’s say I really and honestly believe that. Should I not post such a thing here for fear of being branded a jerk or troll or whatever the official line on 2.5 is? [/QUOTE] There’s nothing you can do to prevent people from calling you a dickhead or a jerk or troll or any other name in the Pit. But yes, it’s possible to express those views in a manner that doesn’t get you 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, 6:25pm 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/456007/90 "2008-07-11T18:25:37Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01[QUOTE] ]Originally Posted by 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] No. It’s central to your opinion about this situation. > [@](#): > > [QUOTE=magellan01] > > [QUOTE=Colibri] > > You can’t seem to imagine that others might make a decision on the basis of anything but politics. 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] [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] [QUOTE=magellan01] I’m sure they weren’t. I’m also sure it needn’t have been said. [/quote] [/quote] You just accused the administration of allowing politics to play part in our decision, and then say that an assurance that they didn’t “didn’t need to be said.” We have a range of political views among the moderation staff. There was no disagreement that **2.5** was trolling. > [@](#): > > I’m also sure the clamor raised by the populace played a role on how he is viewed. If we made our decisions based on clamor, he would have been banned within a few weeks of his first appearance. There are plenty of other posters who have been Pitted far more than **2.5** that are still around. > [@](#): > > 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. That’s not your accusation. You are accusing the administration of taking action based on political position, and that is just bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:56pm 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/456007/91 "2008-07-11T18:56:24Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] We have a range of political views among the moderation staff. There was no disagreement that **2.5** was trolling. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Frank] Frankly, he’s (in my moderatorial opinion) a jerk, not a troll or a holder of fringe opinions. [/QUOTE] So which is it? ---
**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, 7:11pm 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/456007/92 "2008-07-11T19:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] So which is it? [/QUOTE] **Frank** can explain what distinction he’s making if he chooses to. But **Frank** agreed with the suspension. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:21pm 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/456007/93 "2008-07-11T19:21:01Z")
Honestly, **jtgain** , how many official mod-hat-on warnings have you had from the moderators? None? Well then, why are you pissing and moaning in fear over being banned? You don’t get banned for one over the top comment. You get banned because you’ve been warned over and over again that you’re a douche and you need to stop being a douche, yet you keep on being a douche. So if you haven’t been told multiple times to put a sock in your douchebaggery, then don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:42pm 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/456007/94 "2008-07-11T20:42:36Z")
He was a fucking troll, and he has been shut the fuck up. Can I get a hosanna. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:46pm 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/456007/95 "2008-07-11T20:46:18Z")
Not so. He has recieved a penitential rebuke, that he may reform and rejoin our select company, if he will abandon his douchebaggitude. ---
**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, 8:49pm 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/456007/96 "2008-07-11T20:49:45Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] We need a new catch-phrase, to reduce keyboarding the same song over and over, and for he concurrent rellief to the hamsters. Some shorthand for “Conservatives don’t get a fair shake on the Boards because the lefties are stifling dissent with their tofu jackboots, weep, wail, moan…” Any suggestions? [/QUOTE] Actually, just mentioning the SDMB should do it. Though there are some unable to grasp even the most obvious. ---
**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, 8:52pm 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/456007/97 "2008-07-11T20:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=woodstockbirdybird] Right. Which is why none of the vast left-wing conspirators on this board ever have anything bad to say about **Der Trihs** or **BrianGlutton**. [/QUOTE] No, that’s not close to what I’ve said. They’ve gotten slapped from their own side from time to time. **DT** , anyway. The only complaint I’ve seen leveled against **BG** is starting too many fucking OPs. ---
**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, 8:54pm 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/456007/98 "2008-07-11T20:54:22Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Do you think advocating the death penalty for all felonies is a conservative position? I can’t think of any prominent conservative who takes it. It seems more like a batshit insane proposition that no one would hold unless they were trying to get a rise out of people. [/QUOTE] No I don’t. But it is off the charts on the right (not left) side. One explanation is to get a rise out of people. The other is to take an extreme position in order to get the center to move. This tactic is done in negotiations all the time. ---
**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, 8:58pm 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/456007/99 "2008-07-11T20:58:53Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] **Frank** can explain what distinction he’s making if he chooses to. But **Frank** agreed with the suspension. [/QUOTE] But that was the question, was it. The question was to whether or not he was a troll. Nice weaseling though. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:07pm 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/456007/100 "2008-07-11T21:07:20Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] No I don’t. But it is off the charts on the right (not left) side. [/QUOTE] Why would you associate it with the batshit right? If I called for the death penalty for polluters, is that a batshit right notion also? [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=4) [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=6)