Forum Post: On Responding to Trolls. >>A Few Simple Techniques<<
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 5, 2011, 2:48 p.m. EST by Philpux
(643)
from Mountain View, AR
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Trolls do not want to inform your opinion. They only want to drag you into the ditch, so they can molest you. Do not respond in kind to their anger, but do respond. Remember, you are not simply replying to them. You are making a statement to other readers as well. The trolls do not deserve your anger, and will use it against you. Here are a few guidelines that I find help:
1) Be Polite. (No matter what they say, respond without emotion.)
2) Stay on Topic. (Their ploy is to change the logic of your conversation.)
3) Know Your Argument. (Don't make stuff up, even if it seems reasonable.)
4) Know Their Argument. (Turn off Mother Jones, look at Limbaugh.)
5) Be Polite. (Even in the face of incredibly insulting behavior.)
6) Harness Opportunity. (Trolls give us a chance to reiterate our topic.)
7) Refocus. (If they are unintelligible, use their post to clarify your position.)
8) Analyze. (Try to adapt your argument to their POV.)
9) Have Respectable References. (Trolls feed on weakness.)
10) Be Polite. (...even if that crazy A-hole insults your mother, your children, your dog, and your hairstyle. I mean, what kind of short bus douche bag starts a conversation off with "you are an idiot?" These pugilistic, low intellect morons are at the very least just trying to feed their addiction to war through attacking reasonable people. Don't give them the satisfaction. It is perfectly acceptable to imagine them hurling over a cliff, on fire, with a venomous snake attached to their nut sack, but don't let it show in your response. They want to drag you into their world, so they can beat you with their flaccid member and make you look stupid, thus discrediting your argument.)
That is all. Thank you.
or...Kick them in the nuts, throw them in the East River and yell "The revolution has begun!"
ok..maybe not.
As satisfying as that might seem, it is ill advised.
Yea..maybe not
I was really talking about responding to trolls comments, not posts. Responding to obvious troll posts, just keeps them on the list. Bad.
mhm, just let them fade into the twilight, thats all.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Enjoy them as a tasty snack!
smiles ...the vote on that one would be super fun to watch ;)
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Agreed. I love to get to agree with someone. It's calming.
Yeah, it can get awfully 'rammy' in here at times. (..looking around..) the trolls must've found another thread to soil. its quiet ...tooo quiet...
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom!
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom
I've been gone for a few days. Have the trolls given up?
< raising hand >
I like molesting people under bridges better. Or in a dark and deep forest.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
O...kay... That's creepy.
Its all in my head. Mommy didn't give me enough hugs while I was mentally maturing. Slightly raise taxes. Whisper.
It shows.
Must be a "choice" thing.
I'm pro choice. Its the mothers body. Animals do not have the same rights as I do.
This is why we are here this is why you are needed.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/inside-job-documentary/
Share, circulate, educate, inspire.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Thanks.
Let's get viral with this stuff.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
eek! Don't say "viral." It's flu season.
LOL.
Not trying to spread panic just knowledge.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
If only knowledge could spread like that.
Getting it spread out into the general open internet it can get to be ( calm now ) pandemic.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
What we seem to have now is a pandemic of misinformation. Have Americans ever been so informed, and at the same time so ignorant?
Exactly why this Documentary needs to be seen. It cuts through a lot of crap like a hot knife through butter.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Yes it does. I have seen that doc. It is very informative.
Spread the truth let us have a viral epidemic of truth, a real truth pandemic.
This is why we are here this is why you are needed.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/inside-job-documentary/
Share, circulate, educate, inspire.
The revolution of the bankers and land holders has begun. Common people will dictate no more.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
I told you so. Now we are irrelevant. Should have gone with Campaign Finance Reform! Boom.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
That is the place to start. It is something most Americans can agree on. We will not accomplish anything else, until we get the big money out of our political system.
LA City Council fired the first shot
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
What do you mean? What happened? I must have missed it.
They have put together an iniative.
http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-24/news/ga-3272_1_city-council
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Very cool. Thanks.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Trolls are delicious, and taste good with ketchup.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Oh, yeah. Uhuh. uhuh. Love it.
[Removed]
If I had mod points here I would give you +5 insightful....
Thanks! Just a little comic relief.
the four attributes of an efficient troll hunter are thus:
forbearance, timing, discipline, and control.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
I like it.
It's simple really.
Resist being reactionary.
Phrustrates the Phukk outta them.
Exactly. That is the idea.
thank you for this, I have read happy's remarks as well, I have learned some things today, thanks again
Thank you.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
This forum offers a wide range of opinions and solutions to problems real and perceived. Posts will attract either messages of support or opposition. I've seen "troll" thrown at the more conservative responses almost as a reflex just because they disagree. In reading your opening sentence my first thought is that no one really wants to be informed, we all have an opinion and tend to stay with it in spite of the facts. Breaking rules 1,5, and 10 is a reflex for both sides of the argument when they don't know what to say next. Of course like any web forum it can draw a fair number of crazy A-holes and idiots too.
I think you are correct. The forum is like a room full of people shouting, with few actually listening. Isn't that the state of our political system in general, though.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
I suppose that I should have qualified this post. Some people are taking it way too seriously.
trolls are the stitches in the internet quit.
they are the gold; a forum without trolls is dead. choose your trolls wisely, treat the respectful ones nicely, and this will silence the lesser ones.
in short, you are always gonna have trolls. make sure they are the best at what they do : )
there are some smart and good people on this page :)
Natural Troll Selection. I like it.
U can't resist answering me you troll lovers.....hahahahahahahah
amateur!
To the top of the forum!
your name is disgusting
i love it, you double-mouthed cumswapper
I'd love to lick yours, but when you pre-ejaculate as much as you do....it's a little watery
I... I... I can't... resist... re... sponding. dang.
To the top of the forum!
Yesssssss!
To the top of the forum
Yesssssss! Okay that's enough. ty lol
To the top
1, 5, 9 and 10 are the same. 2 and 6 are the same. 3 and 7 are the same. As are 4 and 8. And you preemptively insulted them, which violates 1, 5, 9, and 10.
Well, it was mostly a joke. haha.
So basically, a troll post. Is this where I avoid insulting you?
Just a little bit of humor. I was hearing so much about trolls.
Wait, is this the same Philpux who repeatedly spammed his thread about losing faith in OWS? After said thread was deleted 4 times? This smells funny...
Move along. Nothing to see here.
That's me. That thread finally stuck, so my censorship argument was totally discredited. Now that the censorship issue is solved, I can get on with my real issue.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Well thanks for admitting your mistake.
Perhaps you are not a troll after all? Maybe you're learning about trolling?
Oh, I know what trolling is. I was never troll. I was just pissed about people being censored. That problem seems to have gotten a lot better. I don't see much complaining about censorship anymore. I really hate censorship, but since my post was not censored after all that fuss, there was little point in going on about it. Do you know what I don't hate....
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom!
Ignoring them is a much better technique. If they are egging you on for a response, responding only satisfies them.
I agree that some of them are not even worth responding to. Well, from a debate standpoint, hardly any of them. What if you have had a conversation going that is really important to you. You wake up the next day, check the forum, and realize that your issue has been lost in the pit of despair, at the bottom of the list. You spent the whole night before debating your issue like crazy, until you had made your point, and the participants had gone to bed. The only notification you have left is one from a guy who simply posts, "U R Dum." I consider that to be a troll. Does it deserve a response? Yes, because responding to that guy gives you a chance to refocus your debate, and put your issue back into the conversation. Do you respond directly to the "U R Dum" guy? No. You restate your position as politely and articulately as you can, like you were starting all over again.
Sometimes I wish we could just shoot stupid people and be done with it, but restating your position as politely and articulately as you can is probably a much better solution.
It's more productive than the alternatives, imho.
This seems like advice on how to comport yourself when arguing in the forums more than how to deal with trolls. You can't characterize anyone who disagrees with you as a troll. A troll is really someone who, for mischievous purposes, is posing as something they're not to cause trouble (e.g. a guy posing as an OWS supporter spewing anti-semitism). They deliberately try to spread misinformation. A person isn't a troll just because they don't like OWS.
Agreed. There are many types of trolls. Some are as you say, while others are not posers, but rather general contrarians. Certainly everyone who disagrees with OWS is not a troll. Some people who agree with OWS are trolls. However, many from both groups act like trolls because, although they have passion, they lack debate skills. Yes, this list could be used as rules for forum debate in general, but I learned this by dealing with, what I consider to be trolls.
You are a fucking idiot and your Mother sows socks that smell and your children wear them socks to school and get laughed at while your fat ass dog is chewing on your comb over hairpiece.
I'm hungry,got any weakness?
Be Polite. (No matter what they say, respond without emotion.) remember?
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Spam. Boom.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Spam is delicious for breakfast when you are hiking.
and always speak in platitudes.
Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.
Right. I don't know what that word means, but It sounds crunchy.
very wise insightful advice to follow in life.
Yes. It works in most situations.
Awesome.
Thanks. Don't forget - Campaign Finance Reform. Boom!
BIG one. Huge. Right on.
Little Rascals fan?
The He Man Women Haters Club. LOL. Big fan.
Awesome. Me too. Ah, childhood. Those were the days.
I know. I feel so sorry for our kids.
idk - Phineas & Ferb is pretty good. Unless you are talking about the state of the world, then yes, I feel for our kids also. lol
Mmmmhhhuh. I'm feeling sorry for everybody on this rock. Look how the dysfunction got worse with each generation. No one could stop the madness. Sorry, don't mean to be a downer just can't stand the helplessness and what our kids are going to have to deal with. As if climate change isn't enough we have hate mongers and religious fanatics galore. You know, I do have new hope since OWS, though.
Yeah. It's bad out there. Dysfunctional for sure. It is nice to see people at least trying to show their frustration at OWS. I am an optimist, though. I think it will get better. I do.
Good. I need to know that when I get optimistic I'm not the only one and then go to sleep and wake up without the Little Rascals.
That's what we need. More Little Rascals! I grew up next to a nuclear Air Force base. When I was a kid, I was sure that we would all have been evaporated by now. We're still here, and stuff still sucks, but I do believe there is hope. Unfortunately, I think things may have to get worse before they get better.
Your post further reinforces the stereotype that OWS is full of smug, arrogant, condescending know-nothing liberals. Why do you do this to OWS ??
You would think so. I know that is the stereotype. Actually, No. I am a gun owning, flag waving, meat eating, red blooded American conservative, from Arkansas. I also get disgusted with those Northeastern liberal, so called "elites." Their ignorant condescension of people from the South really ticks me off. No, I am just a guy from Arkansas that is really interested in campaign finance reform.
I agree. I think your list is a lot like ghandi's list.
By the way, here's a great "guide" to trolling, actually kinda funny: http://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/the-25-rules-of-disinformation/
Ha! I like it.
By the way, have you heard of reddit? This forum was modeled after that, but reddit is a lot more complete, more readers and a "karma" system. It is a lot easier to handle IMO but maybe not the same energy: http://www.reddit.com/r/occupywallstreet/
I have heard of Reddit, but have never gone there. I think I will take your advice and try it. Thanks.
Responding is work...ignoring can be work too.
If America goes down the tube..it will be because of laziness
That is why we created the only fully developed Direct Democracy website for America....10000's hours work..We are ready to give it away for free to the people...once a responsible inclusive board is formed...
http://uponlocal.com/up-on-local-media/Direct-Democracy-Office-Election-List
see this forum, and get involved
http://occupywallst.org/forum/i-demand-informed-direct-democracy-online-whos-wit/#comment-290861
Responding is work, UPonLocal, but if your topic is to be seen, it is important to respond. I'm sure that your national voting system is very well conceived, but the topic here is dealing with angry trolls. I wish you the best of luck. On this reply, I refer to point #2 (Stay on Topic.)
Thanks, my point is, the enviroment elicits it....a national voting issues.debates/solutions....begs responsibility...
Move it off forums and onto a productive.....
Lots of good solutions written up in these forums..if they were databased and on a voting system they would be productive....
Too many people with computers willing to chat and talk it up....not enough wiling to do those essential needed typing tasks.....hard to get people on same channel and develop a solution.....even to creating a voting system....thankfully we have the open source communities thinking way way ahead of us all on that....
If communications were on a proper system, people would be more respectful, because if they were not, they could lose their debate priveleges, if people agreed in a vote to make it a rule.
SO again, my point is, the environment elicits the condition that Trolls breed.
You are correct. The environment breeds trolls. This is one of the best places to directly speak to people who support OWS, though. I am not trying to single-handedly put campaign finance reform into the national debate. I am trying to influence OWS to do it. Trolls are sometimes helpful to that end, if used correctly. We work with what we have.
agreed, I respond to Trolls, an do best can b/c,
they are Trolls b/c they are ignorant on something...
comes with the territory
Exactly. It comes with the territory. Cheers.
you know, this is a great way for a front line of dialogue...we should all engage fully with the Trolls..being sensitive to their needs...find a Troll and stick with it..in fully reasoned conversation...
Keep the Forum Going
Long Live Open Forums
Till the day come we only engage in polite reasoned dialogue...online and on the ground.
I don't know if I would go that far. lol
Personally, I find HUMOR to very helpful...
The other day, a troll called me an "asshole" and I responded in this way :
"Thank you for the apt metaphor... That oft-maligned part of the human anatomy is actually very good and noble in every respect, as it serves to expel from the body those poisons that would otherwise result in premature death. If I can contribute, albeit in a small way, to free the "body politic" of America of its social, economic, political and religious poisons, then I will be a very honoured and happy asshole indeed."
That particular troll did not bother me for a while after that.... :)
Nice one. Very well executed.
sweeet. although i have started with, you're an idiot.
yes TIOUAISE, i know. here let me say it for you
TROLL
i kinda like you anyway tho
11: Give up on OWS Its a bunch of worthless shit coming from lazy shitters.
This is a good example of what I mean. WillBill is an obvious troll. For this, I will refer to point #7 (Refocus.) It does no good to respond with emotion. Politeness illustrates reason. This reply simply gives me a chance to throw my topic to the top of the list. Thanks, WillBill. I appreciate your support.
this is so cool :)
Thanks.