There's only one thread currently on the front page that may be considered trolling, and I read that one more like a lame attempt to be funny than genuinely trollish. Is there something specific that prompted this, or is it just a general reminder?
Posts: 896 | Registered: Feb 2001
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As I put it in Frisco's thread, I don't take well to mockery of other persons for sport and pleasure. It's not only unfunny, it's boorish and inacceptable behavior in our hosts' virtual living room.
You know, the smarmy uncle-in-law who says inappropriate things at the family reunion, the one who thinks he's a real riot, mainly because he cannot distinguish between wit and shock value.
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Ah, well I agree with you that the thread definitely is in bad taste. However, I had a look on what else the person in question has posted on this board, and it does not appear as if he or she fits the classic definition of a troll, that is posting outrageous things just to elicit a response to feed his or her ego. I am open to the possibility that he or she is genuinely trying to be funny and that a scathing response might better correct his (or her) misguided attempt than ignoring it.
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CT, is it OK if I give the troll a little cookie ? I mean, he may be less stupid if he eats. Sugar is good for the brain Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Yes, I had hopes for a while that the troll's thread would fall straight off the first page with zero replies. One day that will happen, and I will cheer. One day that is what will happen to all trolls. We will just watch their drivel go whizzing down the board and jump off the diving board into oblivion. Posts: 2843 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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quote:the smarmy uncle-in-law who says inappropriate things at the family reunion, the one who thinks he's a real riot, mainly because he cannot distinguish between wit and shock value.
Hey! You were at Christmas Eve! Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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For the last time people (well, probably not the last time), just because you disagree with someone, or think they are unfunny, or think they are dumb, or think their style is dumb, or are just annoyed by someone does NOT give you the right to declare them a troll and mock them. A troll is someone who intentionally attacks a forum, not someone who unintentionally does something to offend you. Too often "don't feed the troll" really just means "This guy annoys me for some reason so let's ostracize him until he goes away."
And if you have a problem with someone's behavior, plese take it up politely with them rather than start threads like this.
Posts: 8120 | Registered: Jul 2000
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"So create a bunch of new threads to push it down"
I think it's better to bring up threads you like. I tried this once, CT, and it actually drew more attention to the thread I was protesting.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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But I have been thinking lately if there shouldn't be some standard of thread rating. I guess when my kids get in high school and I'm worried about them reading Hatrack at the library or away from home, I can just tell them to avoid certain people. I was recalling my comments on "The One Ring" thread and wishing the subject line had indicated it was about contraception. I don't mind kids having facts, but I don't want them exposed to folks bandying around about that sort of thing. I'm going to start thinking a little harder about what I'm posting here, keeping in mind that other people's 15 year olds are about.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I do think some things should be self-censored on hatrack. I also think, however, that suppressing knowledge and discussion of something like abortion due to age is silly. It is important that someone be able to make an informed decision on such a subject, and the only way to make an informed decision is through information, opinion, and discussion. If a person is interested enough to read the page at age fifteen, I think, then they are going to be able to be mature about it. More likely, they'll look at the thread, roll their eyes at yaat (yet another abortion thread), and move on.
People are free to censor their own children as they see fit, but I do not think that forthright discussion which is careful to avoid inappropriate references should be required to label itself, whether its about abortion or the latest Pixar flick. Informed decisions are important, and restricting information flow so children only make the "right" decision is harmful and often counterproductive.
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pooka IMO if a 15 year old isn't aware of abortion issues by that time (whether pro life or pro choice) they should be. In fact they should be educated by their parents at or before puberty. Once they have reached a biologically reproductive age (whether or not society feels it is appropriate) they should be aware of the issues involved. Yes I know some girls now begin menses as early as eight or nine, and we'd like to keep our children in childhood forever. But not making them aware of consequences is the greater disservice. None of the serious discussions that I have seen have been raunchy or sexually explicit. That I could see objections too. But discussing serious issues? Heck this is a place where some 15 year olds come because it is the only place they can discuss them since their peers are unwilling to.
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Tresopax and pooka, I very firmly and energetically support such thoughtful critiques as yours. I'm also very glad you were comfortable with posting them in this thread.
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But we aren't just bandying about. We're discussing serious issues and facts. Yet you object to kids those ages reading what we're saying.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Is the "troll" thread already gone? I don't see anything objectionable on the first or second pages. And it doesn't seem very nice to declare someone a troll and then make people guess as to who you're talking about. At least state what thread you're referring to.
Posts: 1658 | Registered: Sep 2003
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If this is about my thread I didn't mean to be a troll, although I kinda sorta saw it coming. It started as just a fun litlle joke...and then it exploded as it was obviously destined to do.
[ January 24, 2004, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: Liquor and Fireworks ]
Posts: 331 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I tend to agree with Tresopax. While it is probably a testament to the high quality of this forum, it has really not experienced much trolling at all, which seems to lead to people accusing others (especially new posters) of trolling far more often than really warranted. Besides, in some cases two posters can profess exactly the same opinions, while one is completely sincere and one is trolling.
Was A Modest Proposal a troll?
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Ah, those who draw no lines draw a line around me again. While I didn't start this thread, I am always amazed at my ability to be intolerable to the tolerant.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Oh, I mean Tres. But it's really about the guy I dated when I was 16 whose dad hated LDS folks. It gets tricky since the dad apparently dated an LDS girl in his youth. I have no idea what happened with that.
P.S. I dunno, what was "A Modest Proposal" supposed to accomplish? If it makes us feel superior to those bigotted English, then those who circulate it in America are Trolls.
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pooka, people can be so very very strange, can't they? I am currently dealing with the fallout of my mother's death and claims on her estate, and I can't believe how some of my relatives are behaving. Even the most sensible of people have their quirks, I guess.
(Like I'm one to talk. My husband still grins when I involuntarily squawk like a bird. It's kind of a hiccupy thing, and I've tried to explain to him that pointing it out just makes me more nervous, and thus more likely to emit uncontrolled squawks, but you know how it goes. Anyway, I'm clearly in no position to rant about the oddities of others.)
(Hey, looks like I missed my 4000 mark by a long shot. Daggum, now I'll never get a chance to explain myself. )
No, really, I appreciated your initial point in the thread. I was just grumpy for other reasons, highly ticked at some deliberate mean-ness, and oh-so-very-irritated at dealing with yet another guy who confused shock-value with high wit. Oh, wait, that's original, we've never read that sort of lame humor before. Whoopee! Now that I've been shown the light, maybe I can make a tape of myself dropping my pants for America's Funniest Home Videos.
It was one of my snarky moments, and I mostly regret it. Not the least because of bugging people I care about.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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This thread was ghost-bumped. I got a nice tingle at being remembered. And there's another anonymous trollish ripple in the stream, so that's probably the reason for the bump.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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