NationStates Jolt Archive

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=514074&page=2

I understand there being a desire NOT to encourage trolling on the forums, but trolls are a fact of life. The topic of trolls...what motivates them, what forms they take, etc is an interesting one and I think has value. Also, the accusation of trollery, the implications of dismissing one's arguments as being trolling...all of these things can yield some fantastic discussion. I certainly would not want that thread to turn into a training ground for trolls, or some sort of celebration of trollery, but I think that could be avoided. I asked that the closing be reconsidered with that in mind, or suggestions given as to how the topic COULD be reasonably discussed without infringing on forum rules.

HotRodia...I read your closing post...seriously...any thoughts of steering such a thread away from trollbaiting?

I agree that there's potential for good discussion there, which is why I didn't close it right after you posted it.

Unfortunately, it's damn near impossible to avoid a discussion of trolling eventually becoming a troll-fest, particularly on a large forum.

My suggestion, if you choose to start a new thread, would be to focus on the descriptive question (what is a troll?) and a normative question (how should we deal with trolls?).

Asking for suggestions from forum members about how to troll effectively (and thereby get away with rule-breaking) is not the approach to take. You're very fortunate I didn't ban you for it, actually.

Thanks HotRodia, I will start another thread. Encouraging trolling is not really my slant, and I worded the OP poorly, so I apologise.

Speaking of closed threads involving trolls, thank you for giving me the chance to have my say, HotRodia, instead of closing it immediately, as you might have. I hope I didn't personally break any rules with it. (If I did, which ones were they and how might I go about avoiding breaking them, other than not being confrontational towards people?)