PBK
Gold Member
- May 25, 2005
- 6,380
- 270
How to Catch a Troll
The lowest form of forum life is the troll— an egomaniacal, deliberately provocative, and often insulting individual whose immaturity feeds off the irritation and frustration of others. (Who knows why he behaves in this fashion? Maybe the big boys made fun of him in gym class. Does it really matter?) Once identified, a troll can simply be ignored. That's what the "Ignore User" button is for. But how can you spot a troll? Here are ten types to watch out for...
1. Those who suddenly take an interest in you and shower you with fawning compliments. Beware of such unknown instant new "best friends."
2. Those who continually ask open-ended questions or insist on being given sources that support your comments.
3. Those with shifting positions or opinions, often contradicting themselves within a few posts in order to oppose some new fact, idea, opinion, or individual.
4. Those who keep changing usernames or use multiple names to avoid being identified and ignored— sometimes even forming a "gang of one," and posting under several identities in the same thread.
5. Those who load threads with distracting comments, irrelevant text, or images.
6. Those who keep trying to revive dead threads, especially ones which they were previously unable to derail or manipulate to their satisfaction.
7. Those who plagiarize others' work and post it as their own, hoping to provoke a response.
8. Those who try to create division among members by distorting or pretending to misunderstand statements in a way that they hope will make one member question the sincerity or integrity of another.
9. Those who attempt to draw attention away from, discredit, or insult one member's contribution by lavishing excessive &/or undeserved praise on another.
10. Those who mock, sneer, belittle, or flame others for petty errors in spelling, grammar, math, etc., or for their age, gender, ethnicity, or some other distinguishing characteristic.
Remember, once you're sure you've identified a troll, just ignore him. Also,never forget that a troll is a troll: you may find his comments and conduct entertaining today, but you could easily head his "hit list" tomorrow.
The lowest form of forum life is the troll— an egomaniacal, deliberately provocative, and often insulting individual whose immaturity feeds off the irritation and frustration of others. (Who knows why he behaves in this fashion? Maybe the big boys made fun of him in gym class. Does it really matter?) Once identified, a troll can simply be ignored. That's what the "Ignore User" button is for. But how can you spot a troll? Here are ten types to watch out for...
1. Those who suddenly take an interest in you and shower you with fawning compliments. Beware of such unknown instant new "best friends."
2. Those who continually ask open-ended questions or insist on being given sources that support your comments.
3. Those with shifting positions or opinions, often contradicting themselves within a few posts in order to oppose some new fact, idea, opinion, or individual.
4. Those who keep changing usernames or use multiple names to avoid being identified and ignored— sometimes even forming a "gang of one," and posting under several identities in the same thread.
5. Those who load threads with distracting comments, irrelevant text, or images.
6. Those who keep trying to revive dead threads, especially ones which they were previously unable to derail or manipulate to their satisfaction.
7. Those who plagiarize others' work and post it as their own, hoping to provoke a response.
8. Those who try to create division among members by distorting or pretending to misunderstand statements in a way that they hope will make one member question the sincerity or integrity of another.
9. Those who attempt to draw attention away from, discredit, or insult one member's contribution by lavishing excessive &/or undeserved praise on another.
10. Those who mock, sneer, belittle, or flame others for petty errors in spelling, grammar, math, etc., or for their age, gender, ethnicity, or some other distinguishing characteristic.
Remember, once you're sure you've identified a troll, just ignore him. Also,never forget that a troll is a troll: you may find his comments and conduct entertaining today, but you could easily head his "hit list" tomorrow.
We'll have to have another discussion about it.
