NationStates Jolt Archive

The idea of this thread is not to educate posters as to how to troll, nor is it intended to troll-bait, suggest certain posters are trolls, or generally engage in trolling of our own. If this thread even starts to shift in that direction, I have no doubt it will be shut down, so please people, take a little extra care.

With some advice from Moderation, I’ve started this thread in order to seriously discuss the issue of trolling, since trolls are something any forum must deal with.

So perhaps we should start with a definition of a troll. Not everyone with a strong, or even unpopular opinion is a troll. How would you define a troll?

And then the question is raised…how should we deal with trolls? There is a Moderation stance on the issue, but we as a community also seem to have various opinions as to the benefits/drawbacks of trolls, as well as how we as individual posters interact with them.

The problem with 'trolls' and labelling people as such, is that it is done so frequently that it has lost all meaning.'

Of course, it doesn't help that people rise up and actually respond to trolls and encourage them by actually validating the trollish post by giving it a response.

No matter how much we say don't feed the trolls, people still feed them.

the troll is one who posts only to get people going. he never debates. he never makes an honest response. he only adds more flame to the fire

my preferred method would be to mock them mercilessly until their ego is so crushed that they can no longer bring themselves to turn on the computer much less come here and dare to troll.

since that is not allowed here, i ignore trolls as much as possible and encourage everyone else to do so too. stop jumping on the easy to refute post by an obvious troll. engage in honest debate with those who make tough sharp points and who will actually respond to your criticism of their posts.

Troll, n. 1. What posters on an internet forum use to refer to those who hold views diametrically opposed to their own. "[i]Claiming abortion is murder again? You ~." 2. One who utilises false or extremist views and inflammatory language to draw others into flaming or to provoke responces from other posters. [mod. usage] Old English trolle, from Vulgar Latin trollus, -i "strawman (logical fallacy)".

The trouble is that many trolls ( defined as those who post inflammatory material for the sake of getting flaming responses ) also tend to start a debate that more intelligent people finish. I think this is why many of the trolls I have seen on NSG are tolerated.

Most of the time I try, and sometimes succeed, at ignoring the crap and responding to the point; i.e. finding out whether or not muslim immigration is really that bad.

But sometimes they have no point. Just ignore them.

A troll is most basically and accurately someone who posts with the intent of being annoying.

This usually, but not always, takes the form of posting dishonestly, that is, of posting things that the troll doesn't actually agree with, but hopes will get a reaction or make some idea or group look bad.

The effect is vandalism of the forum.

The mods should ban the IPs of trolls.

The added problem with a forum like this one is that every time another vandal troll decides to retch up some grafitti, the Amateur Junior Political Science League is quick to abandon their high-school homework and pounce on the opportunity to show how smart they are by clogging the forum up with another 100+ post trainwreck of a thread.

I make a point of pulling out immediately after I get called a troll and that’s my advice on that side (yes me a troll of all things :eek:)

on the other side it gets a bit irritating having to deal with the same debate everyday using the same facts and getting nothing done I’m not surprised people just don’t bother

Ignoring posts or threads that you think are irrelevant or trivial is the best way to deal with them.

*anyone out there?*

Personally, I think the only way to deal with trolls is either

a) ignore them as entirely as possible, which includes not even looking or at least not posting in their threads at all.

The caveat: this may keep one's own blood pressure down but it really only works if everybody is doing it and their rants run into the void. I.e. never.


b) suffocate them with sarcasm and nonsense.

The drawback: this shows immediate results only for weak trolls. But at least it keeps one entertained.


Of course, I am not as fond of trolls as Neesika and many of you. To me, if it's a "bad" troll, he's just pathetic, if it's a "good" troll, the things he'll be spouting will usually disgust me deeply, no matter that he is just making stuff up. So sarcasm & nonsense or ignoring are pretty much the only things I'm capable of when confronted with one.

I personally think NS right now has a problem with subpar trolls. I don't mind the occasional troll that can actually provide some reasonable discussion, almost like a real member of the forum, but the clutter of trolls right now is seriously degrading the intellectual discussion capability of the forum at the moment, in my opinion.

I make a point of pulling out immediately after I get called a troll and that’s my advice on that side (yes me a troll of all things :eek:)

on the other side it gets a bit irritating having to deal with the same debate everyday using the same facts and getting nothing done I’m not surprised people just don’t bother

willl you come back if somene posts that the person who called you a troll is full of shit?

i have on occasion pointed out to a troll-caller that they are incorrect in their assessment. (not all that often since i normally either agree with the assessment or have already left the thread)

If trolls are trying to get a rise out of people 'shredding' their argument or making fun of them is really just playing into their hands, whether they agree with what they are posting or not. Given that this place has a wide range of opinions, and that's what I like, I try not to pull the troll trigger too early, but when you find that person making off the cuff, off the rails comments than the most I hope I'm prone to doing is tagging, "Ah, I see-you're not serious about the debate" and then moving on to those who are.

Trolls strike me as moronic in their humor, like people who pull fire alarms. "Huh huh, I pulled the fire alarm and people evacuated the building..." It's a kind of 'duh' sense of humor, making me wonder if they get the same amusement when they turn a doorknob and the door opens.

The troll is a horrid carnivore, known for indiscriminately attacking anything which it may perceive as food. They average nine feet in height, with a hunched posture and mottled rubbery skin. Trolls cannot only be permanently killed with the use of fire or acid.

(i.e. flames or acid sarcasm)

I.R.S.

Ignore the suspected troll
Report the suspected troll to moderation for review
Stay away from the troll

That's about as simple as it gets.

Trolls strike me as moronic in their humor, like people who pull fire alarms. "Huh huh, I pulled the fire alarm and people evacuated the building..." It's a kind of 'duh' sense of humor, making me wonder if they get the same amusement when they turn a doorknob and the door opens. :p Most excellent assessment.

I make a point of pulling out immediately after :eek:

:D

They're essentially someone who insults someone else, and you don't like their viewpoint - it's all in the semantics of things, to be honest.

*coughs*

I mean they're despicable people and you can easily tell them apart from other posters.

A video on how to deal with trolls.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mKqpH6xPrwk

Oh the irony.

Do not feed trolls. Period. If you do, expect them to cluster around you everywhere you go, like squirrels. Trolls, like squirrels, can sometimes be fun to watch chasing each other around, but once a thread gets overrun with them, it's pretty much over. They destroy it.

So, it's best not to encourage them.

The problem with 'trolls' and labelling people as such, is that it is done so frequently that it has lost all meaning.'



This is very true. A lot of people seem to lable anyone with an extreme opinion a troll without thinking that perhaps that person is just nuts and actually thinks those things. As a general rule, a troll is someone who INTENTIONALLY posts imflamitory comments to get people going, whether they actually believe those things properly is irrelevant.

I've said this before as well, the best trolls are the ones where no one is quite sure whether or not they're trolling at all..

A good troll will post something that makes people say "Hmm". Hypothetically, I might suggest bringing back slavey, and an intelligent conversation might come out of the flamewar I started. Though the initial post was a troll, something good came out of it. IMO, the best way to deal with trolls or flamebaiters is by keeping your head. Don't become a flamer; instead debate his points intelligently and calmly.

Not that I admit to knowing anything about trolls. ;)

No, its impossible to have a reasonable debate with trolls. They say "NO" to any kind of argument you make, and cite dozens of unciteable or unintelligent reasons why theyre right and either begin to flame you and everyone around you even though A) they really didnt refute anything and B) they just made themselves look silly-er. all you can really do is try to debate intelligently and laugh whenever they make unintelligent comments.

so the way to handle it is to get comfortable, find something good to eat and drink, and enjoy laughing for however long it lasts.

This is very true. A lot of people seem to lable anyone with an extreme opinion a troll without thinking that perhaps that person is just nuts and actually thinks those things. As a general rule, a troll is someone who INTENTIONALLY posts imflamitory comments to get people going, whether they actually believe those things properly is irrelevant.

I've said this before as well, the best trolls are the ones where no one is quite sure whether or not they're trolling at all..
I concur with this statment.

No, its impossible to have a reasonable debate with trolls. They say "NO" to any kind of argument you make, and cite dozens of unciteable or unintelligent reasons why theyre right and either begin to flame you and everyone around you even though A) they really didnt refute anything and B) they just made themselves look silly-er. all you can really do is try to debate intelligently and laugh whenever they make unintelligent comments.

That's why you argue around trolls, instead of with them. I don't follow my own advice though, debate practice is debate practice. It doesn't matter whether you are practicing with a rival or a brick wall you should improve at least a little.

Personally, I think a much sterner position should be taken against race, gender, sexual-orientation based trolling, than is currently. Whilst trolling in general, in general (a little humour :P) is to be expected, these kinds of trolling need to be seen as unacceptable, and something we deal with swiftly and potently.

Personally, I think a much sterner position should be taken against race, gender, sexual-orientation based trolling, than is currently. Whilst trolling in general, in general (a little humour :P) is to be expected, these kinds of trolling need to be seen as unacceptable, and something we deal with swiftly and potently.
You're joking right?
Look at what Monkeypimp said and the fact that an NS with everyone getting along would be a nightmare.

Too often people with unpopular views are simply labelled trolls. Soviestan and other religious posters are usually targets.

Too often people with unpopular views are simply labelled trolls. Soviestan and other religious posters are usually targets.

With just written words it can be hard to gauge intent.