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Thread: How to spot a Troll and what to do

  1. #1
    Veteran Member Rayleen's Avatar
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    Default How to spot a Troll and what to do

    An Internet "troll" is a person who delights in sowing discord on the Internet. He (and it is usually he) tries to start arguments and upset people.

    Trolls are utterly impervious to criticism (constructive or otherwise).

    For some reason, trolls do not feel they are bound by the rules of courtesy or social responsibility.

    the sad fact is that trolls do discourage people. Established posters may leave a message board because of the arguments that trolls ignite, and lurkers (people who read but do not post) may decide that they do not want to expose themselves to abuse and thus never get involved.

    Another problem is that the negative emotions stirred up by trolls leak over into other discussions. Normally affable people can become bitter after reading an angry interchange between a troll and his victims, and this can poison previously friendly interactions between long-time users.

    Finally, trolls create a paranoid environment, such that a casual criticism by a new arrival can elicit a ferocious and inappropriate backlash.

    Why Do They Do It? Top
    Affirmation.

    Regular net users know how delightful it is when somebody responds to something they have written. It is a meeting of the minds, which is an intellectual thrill, but it is also an acknowledgement of one's value — and that can be a very satisfying emotional reward.

    Trolls crave attention, and they care not whether it is positive or negative. They see the Internet as a mirror into which they can gaze in narcissistic rapture.


    WHAT YOU CAN DO: Block their messages from appearing in your browser , see site issues on how to do this. Not all message boards have this option but SW does, so take advantage of it

  2. #2
    God/dess Farrah_Holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Thanks Rayanna..after reading your post in another thread I have decided to do just that.
    Hugs..
    FH
    My new love...is me !

    Even the greatest authority does not, ultimately, know you as you know yourself.
    Jhuka

    When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
    Maya Angelou


  3. #3
    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    i've been on this board almost 2 years and i'm really pissed about all the drama lately specially by new members. it sucks. i hate trolls! sometimes it takes awhile for them to show true colors. i wish we could get back to the business at hand.
    As quoted by Luckyone:
    I asked directions from a genie in a bottle of jim beam and she lied to me.

    Methodus saved my life!

  4. #4
    Veteran Member Pumpkin Pie's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    And realize that some of the more manipulative trolls will do things to make themselves appear compassionate. They do this not out of compassion but to manipulate you. To get you to doubt that they're really trolls. To win brownie points so when they troll again, people are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

    And trolls don't just flame others but also try to manipulate your heart strings. They get you to feel sorry for them and feed on the advice given them. Not that they'll take the advice. First, they're lying about their problem. Second, all they seek is the attention. They love taking you on an emotional roller coaster. They do this by playing on the good nature of people. Sadly some of the most caring members of a newsgroup/forum end up being the biggest victums of these trolls. And the trolls will make up stuff to do this. That and they also almost always up the antie each time they do as they need that to feed their emotional greed. Don't feel sorry for them. They're about as evil as you can get and there's nothing you can do to change that aspect of them. Any reply you give just feeds their hunger.

    The best thing you can do when you come across a troll is to ignore everything they post from then on. Do not fall for their attempts to win back favor. Do not join a thread they've started ... no matter how good that topic is or who's participating in it. Just ignore the troll and their threads. If most of the people on a newsgroup/forum do this, the troll will eventually move onto another forum and try to feed off of them.

    This is one of the reasons why I like moderated newsgroups and forums and is one of the reasons I'm a co-moderator for four newsgroups and one forum. Moderators can kill a troll's flamewar/emotional blackmail, monitor for their guaranteed return, call them out when they do, and help maintain the emotional health of the newsgroup/forum. It's not a job I cherish or get paid to do. It is though something that I'm willing to do to provide a better community for people that share the same interests as I do.
    Have a question about boarding schools?
    Get it answered at Boarding School Forums.

  5. #5
    God/dess Farrah_Holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Very good points Velvet and PP,
    I hope things will get back to normal very soon.
    Whats that old saying ..Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. That really holds true when dealing with trolls.
    Hugs to the forum..
    Farrah
    My new love...is me !

    Even the greatest authority does not, ultimately, know you as you know yourself.
    Jhuka

    When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
    Maya Angelou


  6. #6
    God/dess Lexi's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Rayanna, thanks for posting that and its just sad that this place (SW) has become something I have never seen. I have to say with everyone who bashes, and everyone who believes ANYTHING from anyone (esp a newbie with drama issues) this place has become a huge fighting ground.
    Instead of focusing on THIS forum, we are all worried about the latest drama (or so it seems)
    Its getting tiresome, but its getting to the point that everyone is arguing, all over someone who loves attention at any cost.
    Thanks for the info... I will be taking the advice in justa few seconds lol

  7. #7
    Featured Member sadbuttrue's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    How 'bout this. I have no idea why I posted this troll, but I like the pic. Bear with me...lol

    >>>Sad<<<
    Blonde jokes are two lines long so that men can understand them.

  8. #8
    God/dess Farrah_Holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Sad, thats so funny !!
    My new love...is me !

    Even the greatest authority does not, ultimately, know you as you know yourself.
    Jhuka

    When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
    Maya Angelou


  9. #9
    God/dess Rhiannon's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Quote Originally Posted by Lexi link=board=1;threadid=6606;start=msg73518#msg73518 date=1076707555
    Rayanna, thanks for posting that and its just sad that this place (SW) has become something I have never seen. I have to say with everyone who bashes, and everyone who believes ANYTHING from anyone (esp a newbie with drama issues) this place has become a huge fighting ground.
    Instead of focusing on THIS forum, we are all worried about the latest drama (or so it seems)
    Its getting tiresome, but its getting to the point that everyone is arguing, all over someone who loves attention at any cost.
    Thanks for the info... I will be taking the advice in justa few seconds lol
    LOL Preach It, Sistah Lexi!!! I completely agree.

    Thanks for posting that, Rayanna.

  10. #10
    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Yes please! I&#039;ve been trying my hardest to ignore the bullcrap so it will just go away.

    Good post Rayanna!

  11. #11
    Banned Madcap's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    I&#039;ve read that before. It&#039;s a good site. Also has a section for flame wars, ya should look at it (Me too, obviously).


    Madcap (Who can totally NOT believe he let himself fall for this crap AGAIN!!!)

  12. #12
    Banned Madcap's Avatar
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    Default Re:How to spot a Troll and what to do

    Every one of those probably applies to me, honestly, except maybe brinking. As i often step outside the rules. I&#039;ve been in flame wars before (Imagine that!), and when they actually lead to bad feelings, it&#039;s generally time to take a little break.

    (You should see the one I had with this SDA nitwit called Apollo on a religious debate board, that sucker went on forever, though it was a lot more fun)


    Why in god&#039;s name can I not edit my posts? It&#039;s going on all over. Prolly my browser, and that means i&#039;m stuck dealing with windows update and downloading IE again on DIAL-UP (*shudders*). I need to just get Opera again.



    (Going out on a limb here)

    I&#039;m Passionate; You&#039;re Wrong (Guilty)
    I&#039;m Just Trying to Help (Guilty)
    My Soapbox, My Audience (Guilty)
    I&#039;m Right; You&#039;re Wrong (100% guilty)
    You&#039;re Right; I&#039;m Wrong (Not Guilty, I always think I&#039;m right, hence the problem)
    They&#039;re Wrong; You&#039;re Wrong (100% Guilty)
    You Mustn&#039;t Be Right (Guilty)
    You&#039;re Not Listening (Totally guilty)
    I Thought You Knew (Guilty)
    I&#039;m Right; You&#039;re Deluded (Guilty)
    I&#039;m Right; You&#039;re Hooked (Probablky more guilty than I&#039;d like to admit)
    I&#039;m Within the Rules (Not Guilty, I step outside the rules a lot)



    IT EDITED!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!

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