It is quite hard to differentiate between the trolls & truely offensive. Some people really are that stupid/rude/offensive/ignorant (add negative) that they will be accused of being a troll when in fact they are unaware of what the label means.

I tend to treat all posters at face value cause I have no time to go troll hunting. If a troll starts a topic that leads to an interesting discussion then they have failed in their attempts at disruption & if their discussion causes a hoo haa then imo it can only be good for the forum as it creates contreversial topics for people to get involved in, whihc again increases traffic to the forum.

The only kind of trolls I don't like are the ones who get personal, the ones who like posting personal swipes or information of a specific poster or start threads about them on other sites specifically for the benefit of slagging them off, imo they are the truely sad & pathetic & should be treated with pity & distain. I just wonder at what kind of sad life they must lead if they have nothing better than do that

In two of those cases the "target" bit and his reply resulted in a formal warning and suspension.

CB

For the troll or the target?

In the cases I am thinking of it was the target not the troll.

It's a typical troll tactic, most trolls are not strangers to the forum that they attack, many join and just lurk, or lurk without joining. It always makes me a little suspicious if a poster has been a member for a very long time without making a single post and even more suspicious when somebody joins and immediately makes a post that could be questionable.

But there are also the accidental trolls, another forum thought that I was a troll once,

I am glad we got that settled

I wasn't I was just new and asking what the veterans considered to be questionable, but were in fact just dumb questions.

I look at the question and ask myself is this a dumb question? A question asked by someone who doesn't know or a troll. I think that there are fewer trolls and more people asking dumb questions than most people think.

Sometimes people confuse the issue by saying "so and so is a troll but really funny" in my opinion trolls aren't funny or clever just trolls and we are better off without them.

CB

CB

Guys let's limit the conversation to trolls and avoid a discussion on who posts where and why.

Thanks

CB

For most people, time is of a premium. Why people troll is absolutely beyond me.

For most people, time is of a premium. Why people troll is absolutely beyond me.

I guess it is for the same reason that some people collect stamps. Just think of all the people who start out playing the saxaphone - they start out being annoying (trolls) and sometimes become useful and interesting members of the forum (musicians). Some who are accomplished then revert and go back to being annoying as experienced trolls (jazz players)

CB

Interesting analogy there CB

I don't agree with it mainly because the Troll Saxophonist doesn't (usually) impose on others, only after a certain level of experience and confidence will they unleash their new found musical skills on the public.

In two of those cases the "target" bit and his reply resulted in a formal warning and suspension.

CB

For the troll or the target?

In the cases I am thinking of it was the target not the troll.

I think that is quite often the case when the Troll has been a long standing member of the forum, knows all the tricks and has ready supply of potential victims in the General Forum.

I would like to think that as TV grows bigger and it's profile becomes more public that those members that post with an obvious disdain for others are now being asked to moderate their behaviour. Just sticking to providing information or interacting without the condescension

I have been both a target and a troll and usually ended up with the suspensions.

I still don't mind a bloody good argument though.

I tend to treat all posters at face value cause I have no time to go troll hunting. If a troll starts a topic that leads to an interesting discussion then they have failed in their attempts at disruption & if their discussion causes a hoo haa then imo it can only be good for the forum as it creates contreversial topics for people to get involved in, whihc again increases traffic to the forum.

This is a good point, I believe that a Troll can only be a Troll if it is a deliberate attempt and successful, at creating havoc, mis-information and personal attacks, but sometimes, don't you just want to kick the experienced posters for rising to the bait.

A typical one is Sin Sod in General, it even has a pinned post, but still the same old, same old rhetoric from both sides gets brought up time and again ad-flaming-nauseum. There is one now, I haven't looked lately, but I bet it is running to four 40 page posts by now.

And has anybodt learnt anything new, if someone posts again, just direct to the pinned thread and close.

In the cases I am thinking of it was the target not the troll.

Surely if he has been identified as a Troll, then he should be sanctioned as well?

I still don't mind a bloody good argument though.

Really?

Moss

Cause and effect Mossfinn, cause and effect.

Cause and effect Mossfinn, cause and effect.

Ahh, Chaos Theory Robbo, only one antidote, when you are on the southern bypass or the Northern for that matter, hang a left or three into Oxford, a cup of Decaf is awaiting, or a single Malt if you prefer.

Moss

Interesting analogy there CB

I don't agree with it mainly because the Troll Saxophonist doesn't (usually) impose on others, only after a certain level of experience and confidence will they unleash their new found musical skills on the public.

I don't know about that. I shared a house with a bunch of guys as we were starting a band. One of the guys was learning the saxaphone and he almost managed to destroy our sanity. At least with the guitar I could practice through a small amp or (better) a headphone setup. The sax guy kept persisting with his squeaking and squarking noises Must admit he persevered and became a very talented brass player.

I was using the sax analogy to see if I could get a rise out of you - trolling being the subject under discussion

CB

In two of those cases the "target" bit and his reply resulted in a formal warning and suspension.

CB

For the troll or the target?

In the cases I am thinking of it was the target not the troll.

I think that is quite often the case when the Troll has been a long standing member of the forum, knows all the tricks and has ready supply of potential victims in the General Forum.

I would like to think that as TV grows bigger and it's profile becomes more public that those members that post with an obvious disdain for others are now being asked to moderate their behaviour. Just sticking to providing information or interacting without the condescension

I have been both a target and a troll and usually ended up with the suspensions.

I still don't mind a bloody good argument though.

There are members who will ALWAYS disagree with each other. One will make a post and the other counter it, they just never agree on anything. In the middle of the post one will make mention of something that always punches the buttons on the other who cannot resist responding in an aggressive manner. First poster or a good friend will report the post as a flame and one of the mods will have to take action. In most cases the post was not offensive but the response was and has to be dealt with as such. I have personally sent many PMs to members as unofficial warnings and told them to be careful because of this tactic. In most cases the person has replied that they know but can't let it past without at least having a go. I usually suggest a cricket analogy - if you can't return the ball for a boundary let it go past to the keeper.

CB

It is quite hard to differentiate between the trolls & truely offensive. Some people really are that stupid/rude/offensive/ignorant (add negative) that they will be accused of being a troll when in fact they are unaware of what the label means.

I tend to treat all posters at face value cause I have no time to go troll hunting. If a troll starts a topic that leads to an interesting discussion then they have failed in their attempts at disruption & if their discussion causes a hoo haa then imo it can only be good for the forum as it creates contreversial topics for people to get involved in, whihc again increases traffic to the forum.

The only kind of trolls I don't like are the ones who get personal, the ones who like posting personal swipes or information of a specific poster or start threads about them on other sites specifically for the benefit of slagging them off, imo they are the truely sad & pathetic & should be treated with pity & distain. I just wonder at what kind of sad life they must lead if they have nothing better than do that

Don't forget the flamers here.Trolls are a nuisance but the flamers who go out and deliberately make personal attacks are the worst.I can handle cheeky comments I'm sure I've made many myself,but keeping up with nettiquette the people who say totally bad things about others are the ones who should get a one way ticket out.

Classic

But why, oh why feed them.

Moss

Add This Thread to the list - I can see this one getting either binned or going gold.

CB

And you went to bed

Moss

And you went to bed

Moss

It's a classic Troll that one! Very funny though!

And you went to bed

Moss

It's a classic Troll that one! Very funny though!

Yep I went to bed and this morning the thread is still going with no flames or suspensions. I think this one is good for gold.

CB

And you went to bed

Moss

It's a classic Troll that one! Very funny though!

Yep I went to bed and this morning the thread is still going with no flames or suspensions. I think this one is good for gold.

CB

It is now sitting on 68 posts and had 3/4 of the mod group either viewing it or taking an active part. No sign of the OP. It is taking an almost Bedlamesque thread twist discussing cars, 8 track cartridge tapes and the merits of silk stockings for fan belt repairs.

Amazing

CB

Whereas, of course, one off-topic post here and you wave your stick.

Whereas, of course, one off-topic post here and you wave your stick.

Life is like that.

In all fairness if the topic is meandering to something interesting and the original theme dying I will sometimes allow it. What I do step on is when people start flaming or someone drops in a totally off the wall comment that has nothing to do with the topic.

CB

Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I don't wonder at all.

Moss

Another beauty!

Add This Thread to the list - I can see this one getting either binned or going gold.

CB

It went gold before it was canned but was entertaining stuff.So are there any troll categories?(eg.smart arse troll,<deleted> stirring troll,entertaining troll,deadbeat troll,etc.) I can't resist a funny troll and that one was too funny.He did add that je ne sais quoi.

Add This Thread to the list - I can see this one getting either binned or going gold.

CB

It went gold before it was canned but was entertaining stuff.So are there any troll categories?(eg.smart arse troll,<deleted> stirring troll,entertaining troll,deadbeat troll,etc.) I can't resist a funny troll and that one was too funny.He did add that je ne sais quoi.

I thought some of the best posts were by mods

CB

Mod trolls?!?!

Mod trolls?!?!

Started when I got in to mood for mischief and closed TLW - seems to have infected the mood of some of the other mods and we are on a roll.

CB

Mod trolls on a roll!?!?

Ahhhhhhhhhh come on mods black out our avatars and screen names for a day that would be fun for all the trolls to come out.Thunderstruck I think.

Mod Trolls on a Roll could do phonics with that one.

Ahhhhhhhhhh come on mods black out our avatars and screen names for a day that would be fun for all the trolls to come out.Thunderstruck I think.

Mod Trolls on a Roll could do phonics with that one.

You could write a song about it. "He's a mod troll baby, and he's on a roll!"