Is Trolling a Choice?

[cannabineer]

I'm not saying it's everywhere. But it sure is here. Not sure what you mean with the above* post. What'm I missing? cn

*well it was the above, really truly. What I get for typing slowly.

 

[cannabineer]

I always though trolling was people that made posts just to get a rise out of other people and then spend the whole thread saying dumb things and then trying to backpedal and say they didn't say them...what I don't get is that everyone knows we have the quote function...it is hard to say you didn't type something you just typed...and the propensity for someone to just make another account when their first troll trial fails...
Makes it hard to have an actual argument...I mean who am I arguing with....?

To me that is the thing that sets the serious trolls apart from the mere opportunity snipers. They engage in blatant, even systematic self-contradiction and don't care. They have an array of dirty rhetorical techniques that rely on our instinct to defend our statements. They are truly without honor.

And yet the epic trolls have this capacity to make decent sorts stop and think, wonder about the validity of the axioms ... maybe black really IS just very dark orange. Then one shakes oneself and realizes one's been trolled good&deep. Harumph. cn

 

[Doer]

some people are born trollers, they cant help it. we should embrace them, and have parades celebrating their trollerings, and allow them to adopt also.

Yes, we should feel compassion if it is not choice, right? Troll Rights Freedom Parade. Troll Appreciation Day. A Halmark Card. Troll Marrage.
A Troll for President?

 

[cannabineer]

Yes, we should feel compassion if it is not choice, right? Troll Rights Freedom Parade. Troll Appreciation Day. A Halmark Card. Troll Marrage.
A Troll for President?

Oh how to resist. cn

 

[GreatwhiteNorth]

Yes, we should feel compassion if it is not choice, right? Troll Rights Freedom Parade. Troll Appreciation Day. A Halmark Card. Troll Marrage.
A Troll for President?

I'm afraid we may be living this as we speak.

Edit: Dang it, missed it by 3 lousy minutes !

 

[DSB65]

 

[Doer]

To me that is the thing that sets the serious trolls apart from the mere opportunity snipers. They engage in blatant, even systematic self-contradiction and don't care. They have an array of dirty rhetorical techniques that rely on our instinct to defend our statements. They are truly without honor.

And yet the epic trolls have this capacity to make decent sorts stop and think, wonder about the validity of the axioms ... maybe black really IS just very dark orange. Then one shakes oneself and realizes one's been trolled good&deep. Harumph. cn

That's what I mean. It takes so much effort to be an epic troller. Kinda like carefully re-arranging roadkill. Sick. So, to dive deeper, are there aciddental trolls? Is it perhaps additctive? You don't get the back hand, so you skated?

Sometimes I notice that someone, (no names) will actually see what they are doing and pull back. (Turing test of intelligence?)
So, are drive-bys just trolling for the kick.

Is drive by trolling the gateway drug?

 

[StevenSD420]

A Troll for President?

sadly that comment will bring out some trolling attributes of some people

 

[tyler.durden]

The school yard hierarchy metaphor is a good one, Neer. I think most trolls are probably people that don't get very much attention IRL, their thoughts and ideas have little merit or value so when they 'play nice' they get very little attention and recognition. When they troll otoh, half the forum seems to pay them all the attention they can handle. Negative attention is better than none, right? The real question has to do with feeding them: the vets know a troll immediately and even warn folks to ignore them, but almost no one does and soon even the people that issued the warning start breaking out the troll pellets. It's a S&M thing, trolls come in begging for a beating, and the sadistic part of us that's been itching to get out gladly obliges. It's an interesting dynamic...

 

[cannabineer]

That's what I mean. It takes so much effort to be an epic troller. Kinda like carefully re-arranging roadkill. Sick. So, to dive deeper, are there aciddental trolls? Is it perhaps additctive? You don't get the back hand, so you skated?

Sometimes I notice that someone, (no names) will actually see what they are doing and pull back. (Turing test of intelligence?)
So, are drive-bys just trolling for the kick.

Is drive by trolling the gateway drug?

Since I am structurally unable to immerse myself in the serious troll mindset, I'm working without a net here. Consistency and fairness matter to me at a deep level. cn

 

[cannabineer]

The school yard hierarchy metaphor is a good one, Neer. I think most trolls are probably people that don't get very much attention IRL, their thoughts and ideas have little merit or value so when they 'play nice' they get very little attention and recognition. When they troll otoh, half the forum seems to pay them all the attention they can handle. Negative attention is better than none, right? The real question has to do with feeding them: the vets know a troll immediately and even warn folks to ignore them, but almost no one does and soon even the people that issued the warning start breaking out the troll pellets. It's a S&M thing, trolls come in begging for a beating, and the sadistic part of us that's been itching to get out gladly obliges. It's an interesting dynamic...

The truly sadistic among us would have the finesse to say No. cn

 

[tyler.durden]

The truly sadistic among us would have the finesse to say No. cn

Great point, that's how I felt about Mr. Blowme in the now closed thread from yesterday. I read that while it was happening for 40 minutes and I didn't post once. But when everyone else is bludgeoning the troll I see that my abstinence is not having the desired effect (it couldn't unless every single person was ignoring them), so my sadism has no outlet and I feel left out for not helping to beat the troll

 

[cannabineer]

Great point, that's how I felt about Mr. Blowme in the now closed thread from yesterday. I read that while it was happening for 40 minutes and I didn't post once. But when everyone else is bludgeoning the troll I see that my abstinence is not having the desired effect (it couldn't unless every single person was ignoring them), so my sadism has no outlet and I feel left out for not helping to beat the troll

At first, i did the same. But i think i hit upon a winning tactic: critique his posts. That MUST have stung a little. cn

 

[Doer]

But, it does seem a lot like a train wreak. We can't turn away, we have to jump in. Troll for President?

Obviously, I'm after a bit of Troll bashing here. And I'd like to remind the lurking trolls, the undecided trolls. Don't do it.

Just say no.

 

[Doer]

At first, i did the same. But i think i hit upon a winning tactic: critique his posts. That MUST have stung a little. cn

And I hope you realized the causal aspect. After I saw your summary it was like a ligh bulb. So obvious, when I know where to look.

 

[cannabineer]

Maybe I'm just a bad bad bear. But I do get sport out of filleting a troll. I don't do it often, but when I do ... cn

 

[cannabineer]

And I hope you realized the causal aspect. After I saw your summary it was like a ligh bulb. So obvious, when I know where to look.

Sometimes, you can burn a fire out best by fanning it. cn

 

[tyler.durden]

At first, i did the same. But i think i hit upon a winning tactic: critique his posts. That MUST have stung a little. cn

I don't know, masochists enjoy the sting. It's still the negative attention he was craving. I certainly enjoyed your critiques, though...

 

[Doer]

I don't know, masochists enjoy the sting. It's still the negative attention he was craving. I certainly enjoyed your critiques, though...

But, really, no one wants be shunned. First the exposure and shame. Then stony silence. Then the cold winter of alone. It has worked, if history is the guide. After the whipping and the denouncement, no villager will stoop to name calling, profanity, or any speech to the shunned. Turn the back and close with the village. The loner fends for himself.

I mean, what else do we offer each other or the group, but a village of ideas? Sure there is an arena, where tough discussion can take place, but we decide who gets response and how. Those that wish to join our village, may, but, may they also suffer the contrary at their peril.

 

[cannabineer]

But, really, no one wants be shunned. First the exposure and shame. Then stony silence. Then the cold winter of alone. It has worked, if history is the guide. After the whipping and the denouncement, no villager will stoop to name calling, profanity, or any speech to the shunned. Turn the back and close with the village. The loner fends for himself.

I mean, what else do we offer each other or the group, but a village of ideas. Sure there is an arena, where discussion can take place, but we decide who gets response and how. Those that wish to join our village, may, but, may they also suffer the contrary at their peril.

The dynamic between security and hospitality is eternal.
Can we afford to let the stranger to our fire?
Can we afford to never? cn