Troll Threads Theory

[Macgyvercas]

This may or may not have been done before.

So, anyway. Troll Threads. We have all seen them, and we all know how to (hypothetically at least) deal with them. The standard "report and move on" is used, as is just ignoring the post. But how many people actually do that. How many people actually can go to a troll thread so obvious it's not even funny and not post their two cents, even if their two cents would just consist entirely of the word "reported"? I have found it very difficult to not post in those threads: it's kind of like when you see a horrible car accident or something silimarly horrific, you fear to watch, yet can't turn away. I think a similar thing happens with troll threads: there is an irresistable urge to say something, even if it's just calling the OP a troll. I don't know what causes it.

So, I ask unto you. How many have tried to go to a troll thread on purpose and NOT post something, but end up posting anyway? And how many just come to hit that big red button?

Discuss, please. (And feel free to add to the theory above, if you can be bothered to do so)

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I always manage it.
I see a troll thread, I report, I link to a mod, I move on.
Sure, sometimes I may feel tempted to post, but it is easy enough to resist.
I suppose your theory does have a ring of truth to it..

 

[Sleekgiant]

Theory??????

Why does something as simple as "Report and Move on" need a theory.

Well as it stands I always report those, post "Report and Move on" or in severe cases, PM the link to a Mod.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

I always attempt to. I take it that you brought this up due to that huge troll thread that wasen't locked until the 6-7th page?

Point being is that some people attempt to derail it and either make the troll look stupid or in an attempt to be funny. Another one I have heard is the attempt to keep the threads up so more people will report or the mods will see it. The latter argument contradicts itself though as the thread will just end up getting more attention and the troll will get his wish.

I can agree with your theory though. The urge to call someone who just insulted you can be tempting. It's a matter of self-control I suppose.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Theory??????

Why does something as simple as "Report and Move on" need a theory.

Well as it stands I always report those, post "Report and Move on" or in severe cases, PM the link to a Mod.

Not so much "report and move on" itself, more like why people post in troll threads when the standard rule is report and move on.

I always attempt to. I take it that you brought this up due to that huge troll thread that wasen't locked until the 6-7th page?

Point being is that some people attempt to derail it and either make the troll look stupid or in an attempt to be funny. Another one I have heard is the attempt to keep the threads up so more people will report or the mods will see it. The latter argument contradicts itself though as the thread will just end up getting more attention and the troll will get his wish.

I can agree with your theory though. The urge to call someone who just insulted you can be tempting. It's a matter of self-control I suppose.

Yes it is due to that thread. What was that, 8 pages?

Which actually brings up another topic: why do trolls always seem to strike at the time where they can't be taken down quickly. It's almost as if they plan that or something.

But back to my original point. Not posting in a troll thread is difficult for me. I'll usually try to point out logic errors more than anything else, but if it gets to the point where I can't post without getting banned, I leave.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

I post, usually with encouragement. For shits and giggles. They never do any harm, they just mix things up a bit. Nothing wrong with a little mindless chaos every once in awhile.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Theory??????

Why does something as simple as "Report and Move on" need a theory.

Well as it stands I always report those, post "Report and Move on" or in severe cases, PM the link to a Mod.

Not so much "report and move on" itself, more like why people post in troll threads when the standard rule is report and move on.

I always attempt to. I take it that you brought this up due to that huge troll thread that wasen't locked until the 6-7th page?

Point being is that some people attempt to derail it and either make the troll look stupid or in an attempt to be funny. Another one I have heard is the attempt to keep the threads up so more people will report or the mods will see it. The latter argument contradicts itself though as the thread will just end up getting more attention and the troll will get his wish.

I can agree with your theory though. The urge to call someone who just insulted you can be tempting. It's a matter of self-control I suppose.

Yes it is due to that thread. What was that, 8 pages?

Which actually brings up another topic: why do trolls always seem to strike at the time where they can't be taken down quickly. It's almost as if they plan that or something.

But back to my original point. Not posting in a troll thread is difficult for me. I'll usually try to point out logic errors more than anything else, but if it gets to the point where I can't post without getting banned, I leave.

I think that attack and the time it took place on was just a coincidence if anything. If anything, I think a mod should be more active, but I understand if they cannot be at all times. They all have lives and families and to expect them to be on the forums 24/7 is a bit selfish of us.

As for the Report and move on help, it is a matter of self control. If you find yourself about to post in one of those threads, back away from the computer or phone or whatever. Collect your thoughts and hit back. Eventually it will become a habit and you will learn not to post in those threads.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Theory??????

Why does something as simple as "Report and Move on" need a theory.

Well as it stands I always report those, post "Report and Move on" or in severe cases, PM the link to a Mod.

Not so much "report and move on" itself, more like why people post in troll threads when the standard rule is report and move on.

I always attempt to. I take it that you brought this up due to that huge troll thread that wasen't locked until the 6-7th page?

Point being is that some people attempt to derail it and either make the troll look stupid or in an attempt to be funny. Another one I have heard is the attempt to keep the threads up so more people will report or the mods will see it. The latter argument contradicts itself though as the thread will just end up getting more attention and the troll will get his wish.

I can agree with your theory though. The urge to call someone who just insulted you can be tempting. It's a matter of self-control I suppose.

Yes it is due to that thread. What was that, 8 pages?

Which actually brings up another topic: why do trolls always seem to strike at the time where they can't be taken down quickly. It's almost as if they plan that or something.

But back to my original point. Not posting in a troll thread is difficult for me. I'll usually try to point out logic errors more than anything else, but if it gets to the point where I can't post without getting banned, I leave.

I think that attack and the time it took place on was just a coincidence if anything. If anything, I think a mod should be more active, but I understand if they cannot be at all times. They all have lives and families and to expect them to be on the forums 24/7 is a bit selfish of us.

As for the Report and move on help, it is a matter of self control. If you find yourself about to post in one of those threads, back away from the computer or phone or whatever. Collect your thoughts and hit back. Eventually it will become a habit and you will learn not to post in those threads.

What you say about self control makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, that has never been one of my strong points. Patientce is another one. I really need to work on those.

I will admit that I do get a kick out of some of the stuff that some people post in troll threads. Derailers mostly.

And yes, it would be rather selfish to expect the mods to be there 24/7. I do think they swing the hammer as soon as they catch that something is amiss though.

 

[khaimera]

I'll admit that I often engage with them. I think its fun at times. I think I don't get that upet with trolls becuase I'm new to the internet forum world. Instead of getting maad at trolls, I laugh like an immature child. I know its not right, but whatever.

 

[Plurralbles]

basically even if it's the stupidest stuff, the internet has bred us to want to talk about and comment on ANYTHING and everything.

 

[Regiment]

I don't understand why people post "report and move on". It's the feedback trolls are looking for. Just, you know, report and move on without talking to the trolls.

 

[rokkolpo]

i do often charge into the ignorant trolls.

the one that does it for kicks can just get the big red ''fuck you'' button

 

[Lullabye]

I'd say about half and half for me.
The times I do post, it's usually in response to other users. Troll threads can actually get quite interesting, ignoring the actual troll.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I always report, I've only ever posted once, and that was because I didn't know it was a troll thread. I think that's one of the main problems this community has, a lot of trolls don't get ignored. I know it's fun to post a witty response, but that's just what the trolls want. It's the broken window theory. If successful trolls are successful, then other would be trolls see it and troll too, and so on. I also PM mods. Believe me, they really appreciate the help.

Just restrain yourself. The only way to beat them is to make them go away.

I think that attack and the time it took place on was just a coincidence if anything. If anything, I think a mod should be more active, but I understand if they cannot be at all times. They all have lives and families and to expect them to be on the forums 24/7 is a bit selfish of us.

This is why I really do think that they should get a couple more mods, perhaps from the community. With Ultrajoe no longer a mod (I think), Labyrinth doing her exams for a while and Alex_P and Wilsonscrazybed not being on that much anymore, we really are a bit understaffed. I think that Neonbob, Simulord, Newclassic and Lord Krunk would be good candidates for moderatorship.

We just seem a bit vulnerable, especially since I don't think we have any mods on in Australia anymore, so there's a sort of deadzone where no mods are on. There's staff members, but they can't dedicate all their time to the forums.

I've actually PM'd Kuliani about getting more mods once. He agreed that there aren't enough to keep the site completely monitored at all times. And if we don't have any mods in Australia, that's a big gap right there. Don't they cover something like 1.5 time zones?

Regardless, I'm still wondering what drives these trolls. I once PM'd a guy who was trolling to ask why he was doing it and he said something along the lines of "You guys think you're so special" (not in those exact words, obviously) then told me to go eat a dick. Interesting to get the insight of a troll, but I don't think I'll repeat that experiment.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I'm writing a "poking the argument" for you guys on trolls. I'm poking "Report and move on".

 

[Nikajo]

I usually just ignore, depends how bored I am.

On a side note I think the word troll gets banded around way too easily these days. Some people seem to think that if they resort to calling the other person a troll in their argument then they automatically "win" or something. Fanboy is used used in a similar vain - somebody states a counter opinion to yours and suddenly they are a fanboy. It's kind of pathetic really. I'm not saying that aren't any trolls/fanboys out there but people use it as a weapon and often inappropriately.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

*Snip*

Wilson is actually very active. If one was to go on IRC, one would see him quite a bit. He's been in that chatroom every single time I decided to log on. Alex P has been known to man the "Graveyard Shift" and nothing usally happens during those times. I do believe Ultra is still a mod, but like Lab, he is taking exams. And I can understand Baby Tea and Logan being inactive due to work. Also, to my knowledge both Lab and Ultrajoe live in Australia. Lab even hosts Escapism Australia.

As for the people who you have recommended, I do agree with them. But New Classic has been turned down for membership into the Red Guard. I don't see Lord Krunk on too often, Neonbob is way too nice of a guy to ban someone and Simulord....well, I don't really have an argument as to why he shouldn't be a Red Guard.

If it was up to us though, MaxtheReaper and NMS would be Red Guards and would have never been banned.

 

[Mafiastyle]

I usually just ignore it and move on. I see people fight them all the time but then they appear more so yes, don't feed the trolls. They like the attention.

 

[Bek359]

Newb here wondering how you determine what a "troll thread" is. Is it just a thread designed to make people angry, or what?

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I tend to ignore them, feeding them makes them worse.