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Feeding the trolls

chopmode.wordpress.com

6 pointschopmo14 comments

Back in the days when people used Usenet for discussion, newsreaders had a killfile with which you could stop hearing from that particular person ever again (unless they changed their name).

That's a feature I dearly miss from today's HTML-based discussion areas.

I met my last trolls on Google Buzz, so I created extension to Chrome which was (and still is ;-)) removing comments from those people from my stream. So even if they are writing something in other people Buzzes I simply didn't see it :-) [normal block in Buzz works only in this way that it blocks only given person from commenting on your posts].

So I think HTML based discussion areas aren't as bad ;-) you can still have tools for removing trolls comments. DOM is our friend here ;-)

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fadjoojmlelmmmiban...

Still, you'd have to write a similar Chrome extension if you meet your trolls again in a random blog's comment section.

Also, if everybody knows that everybody's news client has a killfile, then there is a stronger incentive not to troll than when all you know is that some clever developer could theoretically write a site-specific script to hide HTML comments.

Usenet is still there, and the killfile still works. Obviously there is much less people on Usenet now than it used to, so maybe we'll see the end of the Eternal September at last, who knows?

Some thoughts about trolls:

(1) Any fine poster who is even slightly unkind will pick up trolls, like ivy on a great tree

(2) It follows from (1) that if you attract trolls then this is a sign that you are a good poster -- yay

(3) The ability to tolerate trolls in the sense of not being angry with them is a measure of your self-confidence.

(4) You feed and retain trolls them by responding negatively to them. You 'destroy' trolls by being nice to them.

(5) Powerful trolling is indistinguishable from good criticism

(6) It follows from (4),(5) that one way to destroy trolls is to cheerfully acknowledge any good arguments they may provide, however vile the tone

1+2: I agree! 3: I need to work on that... ;) 4: Right about the retention part, but some trolls are really persistent and not easily destroyed 5: How do you mean? 6: This is a decent strategy for sure, but no guarantee that they'll go away.

Is it necessary to be unkind, even slightly? If not, it would not follow that attracting trolls is a sign you are a good poster.

Why is powerful trolling indistinguishable from good criticism? Can one not provide good criticism in a non-trolling way?

Agreed with (3), (4) and (6).

>Is it necessary to be unkind, even slightly?

No, sure, it isn't. However, one can write a useful reply in terms of content without being aware one is being unkind.

In such cases it will feel something like 'wow, I'm so clever today' or 'he deserves a good solid fisking'.

The trolls are useful in that they bring this problem into awareness. Kindness/decency is a requirement for continued discussion, which is at least as important as discussion itself.

"Shunning" has historically proven to be one of the harshest and most effective ways to reduce someone's status within a community. If you ignore that person on IRC, block them on Twitter, don't mention or reference that person in your blog posts or comments, etc, then that's your vote against them. If everyone did this, the true "trolls" would be long gone, but by invoking their names over and over, they remain potent and will gleefully watch their detractors wasting time on them.

Well put.

This is also why I quickly realized that my troll list initiative was seriously misguided. And why I now vow to never again mention a troll by name ;-)

There are many strategies in fighting trolls. Ghost bans, peer pressure or peer effort (downvotes). Make them think they are doing something.

My formula for dealing with trolls: Troll effort > Self effort.

After today, I'll go back to living by the same formula, it's a good rule to keep in mind. But right now I like hearing other people's views on this.

Yes, i think you are wating your time, you cannot get rid of all trolls, the can change nick or whatever, or anyone can troll sometime. I think you cannot "mark" someone as troll, everyone can be a troll.

The only way to get rid of trolls is to create a strong community based on trust.

Hahaha this post is a troll.

There's a reason why the expression "feeding" the trolls is popular. Trolls only exist if you let them.

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