Aleph Null
Membership Revoked
[Mods: I know this isn't news or prep but it affects the whole board which is why I posted it here. Obviously you can move it if you feel it needs it, but I would like everyone to think about this issue.]
I have noticed that once again, the word "troll" is being thrown around here with wild abandon. Not a day goes by where I don't see someone call someone else a "troll", usually for no reason other than that person saying something the accuser doesn't like, or the "troll" taking a position that is different or unpopular. The straw that broke the camel's back for me today was seeing Senses On called a "troll" today just for daring to post a thread with a potentially unpopular view.
Here's a definition of the term...
The New Hacker's Dictionary:
The two important points of the definition are the type of material posted: "arguments, flames or personal attacks", and the intent of such material: "for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion". Of course, determining intent is not always easy, but the intent matters.
Disagreeing with someone, taking an unpopular stance, or vigorously but unabusively defending a position are not trolling, if the person who does those things is being genuine and is following the rules. It is only trolling when the reaction to the post is the point, and not the substance of the post itself.
This is the problem here, IMO. If you want to accuse someone of trolling, there needs to be evidence that they are only seeking to be disruptive. This does NOT mean everyone who takes a contrary view or says something unusual or unpopular is a "troll".
IMO, the term is used far too often around here. There are certain individuals who have strong opinions that differ from the majority. The mere fact that they post articles or make comments defending those unpopular views does not make them "trolls". Something does not become "trolling" merely because some vocal people don't like it. They become a troll when they post material they don't really care about just to piss people off.
Finally, trolling is not allowed on this forum. If you think someone is legitimately trolling, then rather than whine about it in the thread, report the post to a mod.
This is all MHO of course. But I really hope people will STOP using this word all the time.
-A0-
I have noticed that once again, the word "troll" is being thrown around here with wild abandon. Not a day goes by where I don't see someone call someone else a "troll", usually for no reason other than that person saying something the accuser doesn't like, or the "troll" taking a position that is different or unpopular. The straw that broke the camel's back for me today was seeing Senses On called a "troll" today just for daring to post a thread with a potentially unpopular view.
Here's a definition of the term...
The New Hacker's Dictionary:
troll v.,n.
1. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase "trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream "trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate troll. If you don't fall for the joke, you get to be in on it. 2. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1; regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that the have no real interest in learning about the topic at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in, "Oh, ignore him, he's just a troll."
The two important points of the definition are the type of material posted: "arguments, flames or personal attacks", and the intent of such material: "for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion". Of course, determining intent is not always easy, but the intent matters.
Disagreeing with someone, taking an unpopular stance, or vigorously but unabusively defending a position are not trolling, if the person who does those things is being genuine and is following the rules. It is only trolling when the reaction to the post is the point, and not the substance of the post itself.
This is the problem here, IMO. If you want to accuse someone of trolling, there needs to be evidence that they are only seeking to be disruptive. This does NOT mean everyone who takes a contrary view or says something unusual or unpopular is a "troll".
IMO, the term is used far too often around here. There are certain individuals who have strong opinions that differ from the majority. The mere fact that they post articles or make comments defending those unpopular views does not make them "trolls". Something does not become "trolling" merely because some vocal people don't like it. They become a troll when they post material they don't really care about just to piss people off.
Finally, trolling is not allowed on this forum. If you think someone is legitimately trolling, then rather than whine about it in the thread, report the post to a mod.
This is all MHO of course. But I really hope people will STOP using this word all the time.
-A0-