Forum Post: Don't Feed The Trolls Policy: Temperature Check?
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 18, 2011, 9:47 p.m. EST by lizajane
(2)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Hello fellow Occupiers!
I'm so proud of our movement's achievement yesterday. 32,000 on the Brooklyn Bridge says it all.
On a different note, this forum has been hijacked by trolls, and I was wondering how we should respond. I personally suggest a 'don't feed the trolls' policy; when there are anti-OWS comments, especially ones that are obviously slanderous, outrageous, or just plain offensive, ignore these folks! If they don't get comments, they won't come back. Of course, I'm not suggesting we don't engage with those who disagree with us, so long as they're not offensive, rude, or slanderous.
What do people think? X, LJ
I think it important to keep the message consistant. Most of the trolls are so brainwashed into their corners, that they haven't yet realized this is their movement too. It is a common teaching practice to repeat lesson points. It is just as important to try to help people understand the reasons we are here as it is to be here. What I think is the most important is that we remain above their tactics, like soldiers repeating their name and number during questioning. We will not be judged by how we treat those that agree with us, only how we treat those that don't.
Many have to be censored, There is a standard of conduct.
We come to explore some ideas but if we have to slosh it it out in some mud pit maybe we will shy away from it. No we done share ideas. This is always a loss to the movement. We need a respectful environment for good clean debate.
Personally I think we want to encourage ideas and encourage some level of respect here. This is rational.
It's a balance. Some of these trolls are blatantly going over the line, taunting us. Censor them immediately. All of us have to follow rules, mostly out of respect for others. If they can't do that, we really don't need to hear their ideas. It comes from a bad space. Condoning that behavior and debating them does encourage them and we can always expect a multiplication factor once they realize we're soft on bad behavior. It disgusts me really, and I never get used to it.
Many have been censored for reasons beyond what anyone would consider was a violation of "standard of conduct". They were not offensive, nor rude, nor profane. They were however against this movement's manner of achieving what they said they were formed for.
Yet obvious "trolls" are allowed to freely post their juvenile comments. Or post link to porn sites. Race bait and worse.
It seems to me that a honest disagreement with OWS will get you banned much quicker than being an actual troll.....
The biggest fucking troll ever:
http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/toshiba-is-raping-the-poor/
Moderating Policies
http://occupywallst.org/forum/moderating-policies-will-be-reposted-somewhere-pro/
I have been dismayed to find this forum hijacked by trolls, as well as poorly informed people in general. This movement is far too important to allow these forums be flooded with mindless drivel to the detriment of and detraction from the educational resources and event information that most people would hope to find. Many people come to this forum for information and answers, not to be assaulted by the worst examples of online ignorance and intellectual anarchism.
Here is a link to the forum policies. I'm not sure why this forum does not have a better group of dedicated moderators, but the rules are quite clearly presented, and there is a seemingly strict policy regarding... well... trolls. The dislike button is there for a reason... It seems we are expected to use it to police this forum ourselves.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/moderating-policies-will-be-reposted-somewhere-pro/
Lies and slander need to be responded to as rationally as possible.
Otherwise, those same slanderers go and point to their slander and say we agreed with it because we didn't respond.
Yeah, i pretty much agree. Unfortunately, at certain times it seems like the trolls outnumber the honest critics and supporters. It has been suggested often that a new format would improve the forum, but as that has not happened, i myself post on productive threads, and respond to people sincere in their intent, either for or against OWS.
It is sort of disappointing to me that whoever is in charge has not made this place more user friendly and welcoming, but hey, maybe i am wrong and this is the way to go. Who knows. I find it distracting and counterproductive, but maybe that is just the side of me that likes everything nice and tidy and in it's place.
As the Jungle Brothers said,
'Organized confusion, negative illusion, i throw up my guard to combat intrusion.' If they are honestly disagreeing with the movement, i am open to discuss it. If it's just straight up hate and sabotage, then hey, peace to them and everything, but don't go away mad, just go away. How i feel anyways.
I'm tempted to jaz - but the thing is sometimes the fuckers are so entertaining. And poking them can occasionally provide insight.
I was kinda hoping that once the site got more organized - the code behind it more sophisticated I mean, that it would be easier to keep track of who is who - and I think we can construct responses that will ultimately demoralize them.
We are going to win. Here, on the street. Around the world.
[Removed]
So a troll is someone not following the party line?
No, they don't know how to show respect to others is all. But it's big. Ever been punched in the face. Sometimes words have that effect. Unless of course, your perfect, but unfortunately none of us are. We come here for something positive but a troll can easily dislodge that positivism. We know it's a cruel world but most don't go looking for trouble. If this place becomes too much trouble, it would be like walking down a dark alley and getting mugged.
So, that's the deal, also it's in the agenda for most trolls. They would love to see me go on my way I sure. That's a win in their corner. My words will no longer appear here. That's all. This is life. I choose my battles carefully.
I never talk to people in real life who yell at me, insult and humiliate me. I don't do it. I have too much self-esteem. I am not in an abusive relationship and don't want to start one.
I see what you are saying but it is on your side too. Many times I've tried to discus many of the ideals the marxists here espouse. Instead I'm called names and ridiculed.
marxists here?
Like me?
Your a troll!
(by the way, you pick sides when you playing a game)
But don't worry. Apparently your name calling is ok. Too bad they call you names too. Mud fights, ewww. Play on, that's what this place has become. Have fun and learn nothing. Good luck to your occupation of the OWS chat room.
You won!!!
P.S. It is written "you're a troll", not "your a troll".
Good reply. Nailed the issue.
I'm a Troll
Great post! I prefer this method by far, compared to the massive censoring that is taking place now. People are smart enough to pick and choose what they're interested in reading.
I don't agree. If there's name calling. Your gone. Poof. Leaving these infected posts in here encourages trolls and condones the total lack of respect they have. Name calling is not respectful
Some of you may not demand respect but I do. If you call me a name, I label you a troll, it the very best I can do. I not here for your puching bag of insults, and humiliations. I don't hang those kinds of people in the real world or this cyber one. In the real world it gets dealt much faster than plas like this. For instance, try going to your job tomorrow and call your boss a moron because you don't like him. Won't go well will it. It shouldn't be good here either. This is not too much to ask or maybe the troll shouldn't be here anyway.
We can leave the troll. If that is how it goes down then I will leave.
This is the one choice I have that won't matter for those who decide to tough it out some more here. I will be over it looking for something better.
NO! we need to do it for them, we know better as moderators placed in power by the gracious leader of the site.
Not a troll. A protester protesting the protest. Occupying the occupiers. Exercising the same rights you are exercising. Are you trolls staying in Zuccotti Park, for being where you are not wanted, making a mess and inconveniencing the public? Wait...maybe you are. We can't be offensive, rude or slanderous, but OWS calls the police pigs and worse. I'm sure the police are quite offended, it's rude to call people names.
And you can comment or not, I will come back.
Did you know that a retired police Captain was arrested at the protest yesterday?
I've got pictures . . .
-- Forum Post: Picture of the Day . . . . Nov. 18, 2011
http://occupywallst.org/forum/picture-of-the-day/
Ok, here's the example. This is name calling. There is the accusation of OWS calling police pigs. The word pigs is not meant for the police it is for us, everyone who believes in this movement. We call them pigs, it's us. He/She accuses all of us of this charge. And then demands us to show respect to him/her. As if we already did something wrong to apologize for. We talk to this one and they keep going, no stop. But, always someone can't help it and falls into the trap, responds. To this troll, it's a game to waste our attention.
And words here are a total waste of my time. Seriously they will win this place for themselves if someone doesn't get them out. This will be my last post on this subject. Next time I will just go occupy somewhere else. I'm only human, stronger than many, but I have a limit.
I think it was last night or the night before we had shocking case of antisemitism seep into here and it hung there. There's no way that could be justifiable or condoned. It's really horrid and helps me understand why we kill each other. That's not where I need to have my mind. Understand?
Huh?
Yeah you, I just used you as an example for others if they may be interested. I don't need your response since I already know why your here. Not interested. Your antics tire me. Play somewhere else.
I was saying "Huh" because your comment didn't make sense. No where did I say, or even intimate, that I was calling OWS pigs. I didn't demand anyone respect me. You wrote in incomplete sentences.
You can talk or not talk to me. I have every right to protest what you are doing, to say I don't like what you are doing. Just as OWS is saying they don't like whatever (fill in the blank) is being done, I can also say that about OWS. If OWS is going to put themselves out in front of the public, make public statements, then OWS has to be ready to hear the good, the bad and the ugly about their movement.
Thank you.
Your a troll, step off!
Understand.
Oh yes, I understand. I will continue to protest the protesting, occupy the occupiers as long as the occupiers occupy.
Do you even know why they get called pigs? Why not goats or birds? Read Animal Farm by George Orwell While you are at it read 1984.
It's fine to be an OWS anti-protestor of course. That doesn't make you a troll. A troll is someone that looks for 'hot buttons' to press to get an emotional response.