NationStates Jolt Archive

Seriously, anymore when anyone, new or old, posts something that they truly beleive, and its not popular or PC or something, they are automatically called out as a troll. This is seriously beginning to tick me off. Not every one is a troll. SO is this just a fad for NS, to call people with a diff. opinion trolls? Or is it some people's only way to try and win an argument?

Troll.

I'm not a troll, I'm an ogre.

Seriously, anymore when anyone, new or old, posts something that they truly beleive, and its not popular or PC or something, they are automatically called out as a troll. This is seriously beginning to tick me off. Not every one is a troll. SO is this just a fad for NS, to call people with a diff. opinion trolls? Or is it some people's only way to try and win an argument?

they call troll on two occasions.

1) when the person they are debating with is a troll.

2) when they can't think up a plausible refute or counter argument.

Because we've had too many trolls! The line between Troll and user has become irreparably blurred.

they call troll on two occasions.

1) when the person they are debating with is a troll.

2) when they can't think up a plausible refute or counter argument.

I think #2 is the most likely reason anymore.

Troll.

You got me!

Thank you Zilam! I'm brand-spankin' new and I already noticed this. Troll is inappropriately and overused!

Troll.

Damn! Beat me to it!!

Really, I tend to think that lots of people fall into trollish behavior from time to time. One may have valid points to discuss in any given argument, but if you're an A-hole in the way you go about it, people are going to view you as a troll.

Of course, this probably has as much to do with the fact that 'offensive' languages/opinions fall under the definition of trolling. And what's offensive to one may not be to another. So the entire definition of a troll is a bit 'loose'.

This is American- dominated forum! where else would trolls be?

It's because of our lax immigration policies.

And it's a lot easier to call troll than to actually debate. Though you will admit, there are a number of true trolls around.

This is American- dominated forum! where else would trolls be?

Under bridges or at a McDonald's.

It's because of our lax immigration policies.

And it's a lot easier to call troll than to actually debate. Though you will admit, there are a number of true trolls around.


Well, yeah there are some out there. But heck, everytime I see a thread that might be deemed controversial, the OP is always accused of being a troll. Which I think the reason for NS not having any serious debate anymore is because people are always using these namecalling games to make up for their lack of debating.

It is overused but there are times it's quite valid.

It depends on the presentation of the argument and the material. You can basically tell trolling by the approach.

Declaring others to be a "TROLL" is:
1. An Ad Hominem attack and is used only to create an antagonistic/hostile forum experience, thus should be a breach of user terms.
2. The #1 method by the true trolls to create the aforementioned antagonistic/hostile atmosphere in a forum.

By those two points alone, all forum communities should seek to "criminalize" the usage of the term.

Cthulhu-Mythos;12024983']Declaring others to be a "TROLL" is:
1. An Ad Hominem attack and is used only to create an antagonistic/hostile forum experience, thus should be a breach of user terms.
2. The #1 method by the true trolls to create the aforementioned antagonistic/hostile atmosphere in a forum.

By those two points alone, all forum communities should seek to "criminalize" the usage of the term.

Actually, I might bring that up before the Mods, that we should make it to where we can't just call people trolls. Seriously, all it does is add hostility to the forum enviroment.

Actually, I might bring that up before the Mods, that we should make it to where we can't just call people trolls. Seriously, all it does is add hostility to the forum enviroment.

Banning the word doesn't help. They'll just find another word to vent their frustrations. Like 'ogre' for example. (Don't all start using that :D )

Banning the word doesn't help. They'll just find another word to vent their frustrations. Like 'ogre' for example. (Don't all start using that :D )

Im going to call you Shrek from now on ;)

It's mainly used when people either can't be bothered to counter an argument, or know that they aren't able to for whatever reason.

I just ignore or laugh at trolling, so it doesn't matter anyways.

Seriously, anymore when anyone, new or old, posts something that they truly beleive, and its not popular or PC or something, they are automatically called out as a troll. This is seriously beginning to tick me off. Not every one is a troll. SO is this just a fad for NS, to call people with a diff. opinion trolls? Or is it some people's only way to try and win an argument?

It's not that they have radical points, its just that instead of providing a reliable link to back up their points they provide opinionated biased material. (They usually just repeat their own opinions over and over again.)

People who call people trolls are trolls.
Trolling.....
Trolling.....
Trolling down the river.

It's a mixture of preconceived notions and the frustration resultant from the inability to counter a valid argument which is diametrically opposed to one's own.

you consider me to be a troll?

i must not be looking at the right threads.

i havent seen anyone called a troll (with the exception of a guy a month ago who was on the losing end of an argument who called the guy who was trouncing him a troll) who didnt deserve it

sometimes we post an extreme version of our true thoughts because we want replies and "sane" doesnt get a response. sometimes a well known troll will post something that seems fine and get called out because he isnt looking for real debate (MTAE)

did someone call zilam a troll (for real) and i missed it?

did someone call zilam a troll (for real) and i missed it?
I think that's the case. And if not, Zilam, for calling me Shrek, you are a troll :D

Not "everyone" is a troll.

MTAE? Troll.

Not "everyone" is a troll.

Indeed. You are one of the few that are.

Indeed. You are one of the few that are.

let me guess. you think i'm a troll as well, you think everone who disagrees with you a troll.

Indeed. You are one of the few that are.

"I know you are but what am I."

Brilliant response there.

I also notice how people would use the "Satire" argument. You know a poster makes an argument in which he/she believes in, and someone else replies along the lines of.

"That is great satire!"

Not everything that isn't PC or that you disagree with is satire.

It's a mixture of preconceived notions and the frustration resultant from the inability to counter a valid argument which is diametrically opposed to one's own.

No. You and others who propose either far-right or far-left insanity are labelled troll due to the fact that what you say is inflammatory: Civil war in Irag = good, for example, may well be your opinion but I would call that Trollish behaviour as you are openly condoning mass loss of life in a way which, again my opinion, is entirely designed to get people's backs up.

Zilam. I think, generally, people label Posters Troll when they feel that there would be little to no point in having a rational and/or polite debate with them over their politics:

These include anti-semites who think they are anti-zionist and other racists, far-right thinkers or Stalinists etc...I don't see much of a point in trying for well-balanced dialogue beyond:

Don't feed the Troll

Well, yeah there are some out there. But heck, everytime I see a thread that might be deemed controversial, the OP is always accused of being a troll. Which I think the reason for NS not having any serious debate anymore is because people are always using these namecalling games to make up for their lack of debating.

I wonder which parts of NS you've been trawling... I've not noticed any marked loss of 'serious debate'. But then, I spend less time in the novelty threads.

Being controversial isn't enough to qualify as 'troll', but when you have a poster who repeatedly creates 'controversial' threads, which they feed only with baseless assertions (especially when such threads are not cohesive for any reason other than controversy), you probably have a troll.

did someone call zilam a troll (for real) and i missed it?

No one's called me troll, not that I know of anyways. But I was on last night and WS was being trollish, and it amazd me at how EVERYONE called him troll, and thats all their posts contained. Grant it, he was being trolllish, but still, no one debated him. Its just rather silly if you ask me

I'm no troll.
I'm a level 9 Paladin.

No one's called me troll, not that I know of anyways. But I was on last night and WS was being trollish, and it amazd me at how EVERYONE called him troll, and thats all their posts contained. Grant it, he was being trolllish, but still, no one debated him. Its just rather silly if you ask me

lol

what would have been the point of debating a troll?

there are those threads that immediately go spam when the topic is presented poorly or is so common that people are tired of it. if the OP doesnt come back and defend his thread, its for the best.

We've had an influx of trolls lately. I should know, since I've done quite a bit of trolling in my time.

what would have been the point of debating a troll?


Well this a forum based on debating right?

Or maybe I give this place too much credit in that sense?

Well this a forum based on debating right?

Or maybe I give this place too much credit in that sense?

*gives zilam the look*

trolls dont debate. they either attention whore or work to rile people up.

let me guess. you think i'm a troll as well, you think everone who disagrees with you a troll.

No, of course I don't. However, that particular user simply insults me without even bothering to put up even a semblance of proper debate.

No, of course I don't. However, that particular user simply insults me without even bothering to put up even a semblance of proper debate.

Why, I could certainly put up a debate again. But, again, like all previous times, you would either

1) Ignore it completely
2) Ignore the chunks that proved you wrong and responded to the rest, preferably with tangents

And in both cases you'd offer more trollish stuff about "liberals" and inflammatory comments doing your darndest to push the edge instead of meaningful comments.

So sorry, you've proven to me you are incapable of debate and that putting effort into doing so with you is completely wasted. You've proven to most people on this forum that. And frankly, given your post content, it's been evident even without proof. Your only goal is getting attention, and you do that very, very well.

Banning the word doesn't help. They'll just find another word to vent their frustrations. Like 'ogre' for example. (Don't all start using that :D )

How about "goat eater" a la Three Billygoats Gruff?

I'm no troll.
I'm a level 9 Paladin.

You should put that on a tee shirt ;)

No one's called me troll, not that I know of anyways. But I was on last night and WS was being trollish, and it amazed me at how EVERYONE called him troll, and thats all their posts contained. Grant it, he was being trolllish, but still, no one debated him. Its just rather silly if you ask me

I was noticing the same thing. And honestly, I am sorta tired of people screaming troll everytime one of the more absolutist members says something others don't like. But I also don't agree with the idea of banning the usage of the word either.:rolleyes:

But I have to disagree on something. If the poster actually shows that he or she believes the statements and opinions he/she is espousing, can they really be considered a troll? Personal opinion, no. It would be one thing if they were obviously saying things to stir things up, but for the most part, WS and some others have been moderately polite and look to be very willing to debate a point. I think that disqualifies them from being a troll myself.

My 2 cents.

I'm confused. You talk as if being a troll is a bad thing! Are you prejudiced against trolls? :eek: :D

i'm a troll, foll-dee-roll, and i'll eat you for supper.

I was noticing the same thing. And honestly, I am sorta tired of people screaming troll everytime one of the more absolutist members says something others don't like. But I also don't agree with the idea of banning the usage of the word either.:rolleyes:

But I have to disagree on something. If the poster actually shows that he or she believes the statements and opinions he/she is espousing, can they really be considered a troll? Personal opinion, no. It would be one thing if they were obviously saying things to stir things up, but for the most part, WS and some others have been moderately polite and look to be very willing to debate a point. I think that disqualifies them from being a troll myself.

My 2 cents.

As examples, TRA posts and goes away. Troll.
Edwardis argues and argues and argues. Not troll.

I tell you why:

Because they all want to receive http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/TrollScroll.jpg