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The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:15 am
by MeDotOrg
Before there were web browsers, being online consisted of using
Procomm Plus to dial bbs service. Most people had some sort of mail server where you would get a few messages a day.
One morning I had over 400 messages.
The first was from Hewlett Packard with some information on my new Deskjet printer. Included in the message was a link to unsubscribe. The next 30 or 40 emails were from Hewlett Packard customers requesting to unsubscribe. Then emails started coming in with people complaining about other people sending them emails wanting to unsubscribe.
What happened was that the Hewlett Packard screwed up the
unsubscribe link so that every request to unsubscribe was sent to everyone who received the original email. The angrier people got, the more messages they sent. The more messages they sent, the more they received. It actually got pretty funny reading the emails, because they same people kept responding, not understanding what they were doing.
I think about that incident when I think about trolls. Trolls feed off anger. The angrier you get, the larger they become. A troll formulates their headlines and their posts
not for rational discussion, but to provoke you.
If someone makes a post suggesting that white liberals don't want African-Americans to have guns because liberals want stricter gun control laws, that's click-bait. That's a troll dropping a line in the water, waiting for a nibble. "That's outrageous!", you think. "I have to respond in the name of all that is logical and rational!" But this is not a game of logical and rational.
It's like that saying about Nuclear War: The only way to win is not to play. Just ignore the troll headlines. If someone posts a legitimate viewpoint in opposition to your own, that's great. Dialog is great. Troll posts invite the
form of a dialog, but that is not their function. Just let them sink to the bottom. Don't feed them.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:33 am
by Marcus
If the trolls only started threads, this might work, although I doubt that expecting everyone else to have perfect compliance with posting rules while allowing a few to break those rules at will is a stable and sustainable outcome.
The problem is the trolls also enter other's threads, with the sole intent of disrupting. Asking people to simply ignore the filth is not a good long term solution when threads are repeatedly disrupted.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 7:13 am
by MeDotOrg
I just want to clarify that the strategy I'm talking about works with click bait posts.
Your point about Trolls invading other discussions is valid. I just think that a lot of people exacerbate the problem by getting into arguments they just can't win.
When I first joined this board, LDS Faqs posted something about the 2008 Market crash being caused by the government forcing banks to give loans to poor people. I posted an exhaustive reply, talked about the formation of Collateralized Debt Obligations and tranches, the removal of the firewall between Banks and Savings & Loans, foreign capital looking for a safe haven, the traditional reliability of mortgages, and the corruption of the bond ratings agencies. It was like hitting a brink wall. Nothing sunk in.
There was a point that I realized that some people just aren't worth the effort.
I try not to personalize my responses too much. It's a lot easier for someone to accept an error in their thinking rather than just telling them they're an idiot for having an idea.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:27 pm
by Atlanticmike
MeDotOrg wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:15 am
Before there were web browsers, being online consisted of using
Procomm Plus to dial bbs service. Most people had some sort of mail server where you would get a few messages a day.
One morning I had over 400 messages.
The first was from Hewlett Packard with some information on my new Deskjet printer. Included in the message was a link to unsubscribe. The next 30 or 40 emails were from Hewlett Packard customers requesting to unsubscribe. Then emails started coming in with people complaining about other people sending them emails wanting to unsubscribe.
What happened was that the Hewlett Packard screwed up the
unsubscribe link so that every request to unsubscribe was sent to everyone who received the original email. The angrier people got, the more messages they sent. The more messages they sent, the more they received. It actually got pretty funny reading the emails, because they same people kept responding, not understanding what they were doing.
I think about that incident when I think about trolls. Trolls feed off anger. The angrier you get, the larger they become. A troll formulates their headlines and their posts
not for rational discussion, but to provoke you.
If someone makes a post suggesting that white liberals don't want African-Americans to have guns because liberals want stricter gun control laws, that's click-bait. That's a troll dropping a line in the water, waiting for a nibble. "That's outrageous!", you think. "I have to respond in the name of all that is logical and rational!" But this is not a game of logical and rational.
It's like that saying about Nuclear War: The only way to win is not to play. Just ignore the troll headlines. If someone posts a legitimate viewpoint in opposition to your own, that's great. Dialog is great. Troll posts invite the
form of a dialog, but that is not their function. Just let them sink to the bottom. Don't feed them.
You enjoy posting click bait just as much as anyone else!! A while back you started a thread titled A Brief History Of The Republican Party In Statues, and you posted two pictures, one of Abraham Lincoln and the one of Trump holding a wand! The only reason you posted that thread was so your progressive butt buddies could come in and start belittling conservatives!!! A few hours later Schmo post on your thread and says, “ nothing about the current GOP says smart voters. We know GOP voters aren’t that bright. If they were voting GOP would be debilitatingly embarrassing for them“
You see!!
This is why I’m here! I’m here because you start threads like the one I just described!! Threads like the one I just described are fine when posted in an ECHO CHAMBER!! But when someone comes along that wants to dispute your progressive ECHO CHAMBER narrative, threads like the one I just described are great examples of how cult like the progressive movement really is!
Thanks for starting this thread. I’m going to post older threads I think are very trollish and only posted to incite rage in conservatives.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:34 pm
by Atlanticmike
Another example of a click bait troll thread is a thread Kevin started that’s titled, Why is fox allowed to be on the air? And of course Schmo comes in to bash all Fox News watchers by saying “” Fox is to news what McDonald’s is the food. Only people who are lazy and don’t give a crap about their health and well-being consume it. Not to mention the fact that their mascot is a clown.“”
The thread was started so board members could talk negatively about people they disagree with! I 100% see this threads clickbait!!
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:42 pm
by Atlanticmike
Philo Sofee started a thread a year ago title, Rush Limbaugh is dead. In his opening post he said it was a good day for America because Limbaugh died!!
I have never once said that it was a good day for America because someone died!! I believe this thread was started so members of the board could write post hating on Limbaugh!! Schmo said “” i’ve just got to say in all seriousness. I’ve never witnessed a famous persons death whose reputation after passing seems so acceptable to trash. He certainly was an asshole.””
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:49 pm
by Atlanticmike
Talk about trolling!! A year ago Moksha started a thread titled “”proud boys and the return of LDSfaqs””
Leeuniverse said “So personal attack threats are within the former rules? Of course they’ve never not been unless an LDS or conservative engaged in them which we really haven’t ever!””
This thread was started to troll conservatives!’
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:09 pm
by Atlanticmike
Ever wonder why I call progressivism a disease? Being a total troll, Dantana started a thread called, re-education program where he said “” about all I can figure is these right side rangers are just so lost in their confirmation bias and dunning Kruger disease that they are basically hopeless”” The whole thread is about hating on conservatives. When I read this thread i see it as trolling!!
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:19 pm
by Atlanticmike
Kevin started a thread titled “”Religion is stupid. Religion Kills””. Then Schmo comes in and says “A little sample of BS Ajax tells himself to avoid having to feel bad for all the people he’s helped manslaughter”. And people wonder why no conservatives stick around!!!!! I’m my opinion this thread was 100% trolling and started so the progressives could insult religious people and also Ajax18.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Trolls
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:30 pm
by Atlanticmike
Gadianton started a thread for the purpose of trolling Ajax18 titled, Ajax and lockdowns. Doc Cam the enforcer chimes in and says, “ The levels of sheer idiocy has reached height I never knew was possible with Trump cultist“. He then claims mental illness among conservatives!
This thread was started to troll Ajax and gadianton is the man Jersey wants to take over for Shades!! He’s one of the biggest trolls in the board!!
This is why I’m here! I’m here because you start threads like the one I just described!! Threads like the one I just described are fine when posted in an ECHO CHAMBER!! But when someone comes along that wants to dispute your progressive ECHO CHAMBER narrative, threads like the one I just described are great examples of how cult like the progressive movement really is!