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Disarm Internet Trolls, Gently

Shlomi Fish writes "The best way to react to people trolling on Internet forums is not to feed them, right? Wrong! 'Don't feed the trolls' is also usually ineffective. Luckily, however, there is more effective approach, inspired by the book Feeling Good by David D. Burns."

417 comments

  1. Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds pretty gay.

    1. Re:Pfft by Kell+Bengal · · Score: 4, Funny

      What exactly do you mean by "gay"? We accept you here, no matter your orientation. I agree, sometimes the artical can sound gay. Perhaps we can meet an accord?

      --
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      altslashdot.org: The future of slashdot.
    2. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      An accord? Now that's a gay car -- and it's the kinda car Hitler would drive if he were around today.

    3. Re:Pfft by M8e · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why do you feel that this approach is pretty gay?

      I think it's somewhat gay. But what make you think that it's pretty gay?

    4. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The kind of car Hitler stood behind was a Volkswagon. Which I agree, it is kind of flamboyant. But he isn't around today, for very good reasons.

    5. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pff.. he means what he said. 'gay'. as in said behavior is akin to homosexuals who are filthy vile people who should be executed.

    6. Re:Pfft by webmistressrachel · · Score: 2

      What good reasons would they be? The fact that he'd be a crotchety old sod by now, or the fact that lots of people think he did bad things? Maybe it would be better if he were around today. I guess we'll never know...

      I claim best troll on this article. Everyone else might as well just troll the next article. I just well and truly Godwined this one...

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    7. Re:Pfft by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 4, Funny

      Its belt matches its shoes.

    8. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds pretty gay.

      Why do you feel that this idea is so bad? What do you find wrong with it?

    9. Re:Pfft by tomhudson · · Score: 2

      No, it would be because Volkswagen was originally founded in 1937 by the Nazi trade union, the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront).

    10. Re:Pfft by countertrolling · · Score: 5, Funny

      We accept you here, no matter your orientation...

      Oh that's right! Go after the Asians!

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    11. Re:Pfft by thr13z3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      If I may.

        I do believe that the sentiment that Pfft is trying to convey is that OP most likely is a big faggot.

      Note that this is my personal interpretation.

    12. Re:Pfft by countertrolling · · Score: 1

      But Hitler was gay... I mean, just look at that get up...

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    13. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Snip snap

    14. Re:Pfft by im3w1l · · Score: 1

      David D Burns is master troll.

    15. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Your face is pretty gay.

      Sounds pretty gay.

    16. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NO YOUR GAY! YOU STUPID TROLL. :-) I still like the old school method. BAN Anonymous Coward! Someone punch this Anonymous Coward in the face.

    17. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How does that make you feel?

      (I say, sick Elisa on the trolls.)

    18. Re:Pfft by cpscotti · · Score: 1

      Because gay people tend to find things "pretty" even if they are not easily judged on its beauty. E.g.: "What a pretty color", "The prettiest baby I've ever seen"(Everybody knows babies are all the same). [citation needed]

    19. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That sound pretty, and gay.

    20. Re:Pfft by ciaohound · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm sorry, sir, but this is the "Dealing With Trolls" thread. You're looking for the "Godwin" thread, which is the next door down.

      --
      Oh, yeah, it's not easy to pad these out to 120 characters.
    21. Re:Pfft by pandrijeczko · · Score: 2

      Sir, you are nothing more than an angst-ridden teenage onanist who must forthwith escape the confines of his parent's subterranean storage room and seek copulative relations with a flesh-and-blood woman, rather than with your modern day personal equivalent of the Babbage Difference Engine.

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    22. Re:Pfft by harrytuttle777 · · Score: 0

      Hey said that it was pretty Gay, not that it was pretty homosexual. English is a flexible language, and the meaning of words changes gradually, as more and more people misuse the canonical definitions of words. By Gay, he means that the OP posted an opinion that he strongly disagrees with.

      At one time Bad meant of poor quality, and disagreeable. Now it means like totally the opposite thing, and means actually quite good. e.g 'That is a pretty bad looking car'

      Ignorance used to be a term denoting a lack of knowledge. Today it is a synonym for stupidity. Gay used to mean happy, then it meant homosexual. Now it just means disagreeable.

      If you disagree with me, you are Gay.

    23. Re:Pfft by pandrijeczko · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sir,

      I resent strongly your implication that one who is of heterosexual leanings is automatically entirely unappreciative of pulchritude in those things that are in existence around his or her personage.

      Indeed, in some circles is not considered a display of virility when a man, in the company of his colleagues, is openly complementary of the magnitude and shape of a nubile young maiden's mammary glands within his near vicinity?

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    24. Re:Pfft by Nocuous · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Exactly. The fact is many people enjoy feeding trolls, because it lets them feel superior to that schmuck who's standing there waving his dick in the community's face.

      Case in point; Charlie Sheen. The media machine LOVES this troll, because he's feeding THEM, so they want to keep him going as long as people pay attention. And people (real people) are paying attention.
      So go ahead, give people advice on disarming trolls. They won't follow it, because trolls are part of the online experience, and most people would miss them if they didn't exist (though lots of those would angrily deny it; see responses to my post).

      --
      Don't take it personally, but I'm not going to read your pithy response to my post.
    25. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What good reasons would they be? The fact that he'd be a crotchety old sod by now, or the fact that lots of people think he did bad things? Maybe it would be better if he were around today. I guess we'll never know...

      I claim best troll on this article. Everyone else might as well just troll the next article. I just well and truly Godwined this one...

      typical woman attention whoring.

      you know you're a fatass, we know you're a fatass. that's why you can't just show a little cleavage and get free male attention.

      so you troll slashdot. different scenario, typical female mechanic.

      hint: your life is not a romantic comedy. you're not nearly as cute and funny and clever as you think. the dress doesn't make you look fat, your big ass does that. when you say one thing and do another men see you're just another dumb cunt with no integrity. oh yeah and if you date an asshole no one wants to hear you bitch about how much of an asshole he is, you chose him because you like assholes so lay in the bed you made. i think that covers the important points.

    26. Re:Pfft by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      The "media" likes Sheen because he swears, puts down anything he doesn't like, lip farts at will, but most importantly, they can quote him without penalty.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    27. Re:Pfft by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Case in point; Charlie Sheen.

      Interesting that you would consider Sheen a troll. I consider him to be the 21st century American shaman. No matter how much criticism you'll hear about him, I wonder how many white American men, ages 21 to 45, wouldn't trade places with him right now.

      Rich, rapacious, pure Id. You might as well put his face on the $1 bill. His violent and dismissive attitude toward women is just a bonus. "Winning..."

      He's a John Galt rock star and the real American Idol. The media is hoping for disaster, but consumers hope for him to somehow get away with it. It's one of those instances where the institutional ideal and the popular ideal diverge, and the general population is out in front of the elites. Note the interesting differences in opinions about him from women and men, and be surprised by those differences. Charlie Sheen is the New Depression's Errol Flynn, without the charm. If my 21 year-old self was alive right now, I'd make Charlie Sheen the subject of my PhD thesis, despite the fact that thinking about him and what he means gives my present self a stomach ache.

      Don't underestimate the importance of Charlie Sheen to America circa 2011.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    28. Re:Pfft by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      I call you're "fat bitch" troll, troll. www.tagged.com/rachelwilsonattagged. Now kiss my sexy ass. But don't add me. lol. To quote me "Best features: hips, boobs, bum, BRAINS!"

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    29. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reason your looking for a girlfriend is because you look like a dude with a wig right?

      DO I win best troll yet?

      Srsly though, use a better picture next time cause your face really does look like some dudes face was photoshopped on your body. Bad lighting prob but srsly.. I mean srsly you chose that pic to win the "I'm not ugly" argument?

    30. Re:Pfft by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      Nope, I chose those pics to put off really shallow men, whilst advertising my body to those willing to look past my ugly face. It's a dating site, remember. Thanks for playing.

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    31. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *your as in your '"fat bitch" troll.' You're a fat, dumb bitch.

    32. Re:Pfft by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      Nope, wrong again. That was a spelling troll, specially crafted just for you. Thanks for biting.

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    33. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Smug dike bitch

    34. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pretty gay.

      I'll bet you use those two words in sequence (sequins?) a lot.

    35. Re:Pfft by Penguinisto · · Score: 1

      No matter how much criticism you'll hear about him, I wonder how many white American men, ages 21 to 45, wouldn't trade places with him right now.

      ...let's see... ...a guy actively destroying his job, hanging out with a pair of wannabe actress chicks that he calls "goddesses", and burning through what little reputation he has left in his industry. Oh, and about to face a legal evisceration, courtesy of his ex wife.

      Umm, no thanks - you can have it. Even with the chicks? Your pecker will eventually go limp and sore from overuse and boredom, and the girls likely don't come cheap*. Besides, odds are perfect that they will likely desert him once the camera points somewhere else - and will definitely bail on him about a nanosecond after one of his checks bounce.

      Sorry 'mano, but it doesn't take Miss Cleo to figure out where that boy is going to end up - broke, constantly in court, and toxic to any potential employer in the industry he lives in. Maybe they can warm up a guest MC slot for him in World's Dumbest, but I suspect that's about it for his future prospects.

      * take the pun as you will. :)

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    36. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, I chose those pics to put off really shallow men, whilst advertising my body to those willing to look past my ugly face. It's a dating site, remember. Thanks for playing.

      you could give a woman absolute, immaculate, irrefutable proof that she is wrong... and she will proceed to question the notion that there is such a thing as proof.

      a woman's ego is to the point of being a delusion. that's why you didn't notice the way you contradicted yourself, sweetie. you talk about putting off really shallow men while at the same time talking about how great your body is. lemme guess, you think that's self-consistent dontcha?

      you really want to impress the few good men out there, that's easy. admit when you're wrong, use and understand logic and reasoning, say what you mean, don't ever say you're going to do something unless you really intend to follow through, get over yourself, don't act immature and dramatic to get attention, and most of all don't play childish mindgames.

      in short, learn to be a real lady of substance. if you could accomplish that you would never need a dating site. you'd be such a rare find that you would stand out over and above almost all other women. really you'd have zero competition from the bunch of loud impulsive manipulative bitches that most of them are.

      the biggest criticism you could make against most men is that they'd rather put up with that bullshit than be alone.

    37. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll meet your gay, and raise you to just fucking queer. Your living language nonsense makes sense in academia - but on the streets, where real people live, gay is queer, and you're not going to change that.

    38. Re:Pfft by ekhben · · Score: 3, Insightful

      People who believe that ignorance is a synonym of stupidity are ignorant.

      This holds true even if you have a stunted vocabulary and believe just that. It holds true also if you ignorantly mistake stunted vocabularies for semantic drift.

      I am happy to be disagreeing with you!

      Troll thread is fun.

    39. Re:Pfft by orphiuchus · · Score: 1

      Ok, perhaps we can reach a gay agreement? Something in a 69 or reach-around? ... I think I'm doing this wrong.

    40. Re:Pfft by Xaositecte · · Score: 1

      Insisting on putting forth an ugly face is no more of a good idea than insisting on wearing old, tattered, smelly clothing, or neglecting any other part of your appearance the way we nerds are often guilty of doing. You'll be repulsing the "deep" men along with the shallow ones, and only end up attracting ones who are desperate or have low standards.

      Also, you're in your bra in that one picture. That attracts men who think you're easy, which is usually the same sort of shallow person you say you're trying to avoid. Seriously, WTF?

      Internet dating is a pretty terrible way to meet people. Try heading off to nerd events (school, conventions, whatever interests you) - the guy:girl ratio is often around 5:1, and you'd be more attractive than most nerd girls if you didn't have that hideous mouthbreather look on your face, so chances are good to find someone that way.

    41. Re:Pfft by Grapplebeam · · Score: 1

      I think you mean "frightfully magnanimous".

      --
      There is no -1 Disagree.
    42. Re:Pfft by rtb61 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Which points to the exact problem of attempting to deal with a troll on any realistic level. A long pointless off topic thread, that the majority of forum attendees have no interest in reading.

      So experience, provides the most logical answer in preserving forum integrity for the majority of users. Don't feed the trolls, completely pointless exercise, other than generating an off topic thread.

      When necessary make use of comment moderation and probationary status (passing probation provides something to lose).

      Your claim of troll supremacy also points to another issue, the best way to deal with one troll is not necessarily the best way to deal with ten or more trolls, creating nothing but a series of off topic threads.

      If anyone has been paying attention lately, the maketdroids when they can not control a topic will attempt to create an off topic thread to fill the first page of comments in an attempt to drive of readers and serious comments, especially the professionally paranoid low skill government asshats. This now requires offtopic thread moderation, where the whole thread disappears into -1 oblivion.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    43. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds pretty gay.

      Congratulations, you are the only one who understood the article is trolling.

      You know, trolling, posting something controversial, and sitting back watching the comments roll in.

      Kudos to the author as well.

      If you want to counter trolls, quit sugar-coating everything. There's a reason trolls exist, because people
      censor themselves so much that the truth invariably gets covered in deep layers of superficial, self-congratulatory politeness.

      Trolls fill a void left behind by those who don't speak their mind.

      It would be nice if trolls made more use of their minds, and those with minds were a little less self-conscious.

    44. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do realize that "queer" means "strange", right?

      "Since its emergence in the English language in the 16th century (related to the German quer, meaning "across, at right angle, diagonally or transverse"), queer has generally meant "strange", "unusual", or "out of alignment" "

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer

    45. Re:Pfft by nthwaver · · Score: 1

      Hitler had gay friends ... until he had them killed.

      True story.

    46. Re:Pfft by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      I agree, sometimes the artical can sound gay. Perhaps we can meet an accord?

      Pffft, Honda's suck!

    47. Re:Pfft by LordNightwalker · · Score: 1

      People who believe that ignorance is a synonym of stupidity are ignorant.

      No, but ignorance is a symptom of stupidity...

      --
      Install windows on my workstation? You crazy? Got any idea how much I paid for the damn thing?
    48. Re:Pfft by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      No, we blame Canada!

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    49. Re:Pfft by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      On the streets gay WAS happy/flamboyant (a long long time ago). Because the most visual homosexuals are flamboyant (to the extreme) it changed to homosexual.
      No I disagree with the both of you, because the GP sees it as "transformed to disagreeable" which I do not recognise.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    50. Re:Pfft by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      mammary glands within his near vicinity?

      It's not the mammary glands. The magnitude and shape are determined by the fat reserves under the mammary glands and the muscle underneath that. The mammary glands have approximately the same magnitude in all women (except for pregnant women).

      But that's more because trolling is required in this thread. My real opinion:
      You, sir, have made my day with that post. I could be having an castration with a bunt chainsaw and no anesthesia and I would still be happy for I have read your post.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    51. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now hold your head like this, and say "Waaaa!" We'll try it again. *swings a large mallet*

    52. Re:Pfft by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      A "big faggot" would actually be rather small for an adult human being.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faggot_(unit)

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    53. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What exactly do you mean by "gay"?

      gay (n) - A homosexual.
      gay (adj) - 1. Happy (obsolete) 2. Silly or foolish

      Notice that one use is a noun, the other is an adjective.

    54. Re:Pfft by V!NCENT · · Score: 1

      Gay is French for happy, you idiot. And today, on the 'streets' it means lame.

      "I can't come to the party"
      -"Why not"
      "Sexy time with my girlfriend"
      -"Gay"
      "How's that possibly gay?
      -"Bro's b4 hoes, man.."

      --
      Here be signatures
    55. Re:Pfft by Maritz · · Score: 1

      nonsense makes sense

      Interesting...

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    56. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bet you're fat and wear too much make-up.

    57. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't just look like a dude, I'm pretty sure it IS a dude with long, stringy, unwashed hair and filthy clothes. Look at the the shape of the body. No womanly curves or anything, just flat like a man. "webmistressrachel" is certainly a cross-dressing faggot who gets all of his clothes from the dumpster out back of Goodwill.

      That is truly disgusting. All of a sudden, fat chicks don't seem so bad.

    58. Re:Pfft by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      We value your contribution to this thread, it is always good to hear a wide range of opinions on any subject, as after all, we are each of us precious and unique like snowflakes, and who is anyone to say they are more right than anyone else?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    59. Re:Pfft by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      LOL u sound like a fag

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    60. Re:Pfft by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      I could be having an castration with a bunt chainsaw and no anesthesia and I would still be happy for I have read your post.

      Pix or it didn't happen.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    61. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who is really the shallow one though? Someone who is attracted to a pretty face or someone who tries to "advertise" their body on a spammer site? You admit yourself that three out of four of your supposedly best features are physical (which, incidentally, I find hard to believe considering how frumpy and dirty you look along with the fact that you're a smoker with a beer gut).

      Would it kill you to take a shower every day? How about maybe vacuuming your floor and tidying up your home every now and then? I can only imagine the foul stench that must emanate from you and that hovel that you live in. Oh, let me guess. You also think that people who practice good personal hygiene are shallow too.

    62. Re:Pfft by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      I am glad it was only a hypothetical situation, because I left my camera at home.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    63. Re:Pfft by drunkenoafoffofb3ta · · Score: 1

      Sadly, I think Charlie's having a prolonged manic episode. People enabling somebody that's probably bipolar to do batshit crazy things constantly is wrong, however amusing people find it.

    64. Re:Pfft by clintp · · Score: 1

      mammary glands within his near vicinity?

      It's not the mammary glands. The magnitude and shape are determined by the fat reserves under the mammary glands and the muscle underneath that.

      Tits or GTFO

      --
      Get off my lawn.
    65. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When he was alive, sure, but what makes you think he'd still be loyal to das Auto today? Germany kinda failed him.

    66. Re:Pfft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It isn't "shallow" to be put off by pictures of someone who looks like a cross-dressing man.

    67. Re:Pfft by Muros · · Score: 1

      Hey said that it was pretty Gay, not that it was pretty homosexual. English is a flexible language, and the meaning of words changes gradually, as more and more people misuse the canonical definitions of words. By Gay, he means that the OP posted an opinion that he strongly disagrees with.

      Actually I took it as a clever play on words, describing the book with words whose original meaning correlate strongly with the title of the book being discussed, Feeling Good, which in common modern parlance would be seen as trolling, the subject of the book. Slight whoosh there.

      At one time Bad meant of poor quality, and disagreeable. Now it means like totally the opposite thing, and means actually quite good. e.g 'That is a pretty bad looking car'

      Thats a bad example..... sorry I had to.

      Ignorance used to be a term denoting a lack of knowledge. Today it is a synonym for stupidity.

      That is only the case in America, you will find that most of the rest of the English speaking world are not ignorant of the meaning of the word. It is a pet peeve of mine hearing it misused.

    68. Re:Pfft by tepples · · Score: 1

      Sir, you are nothing more than an angst-ridden teenage onanist

      Onanist as in the biblical sense of having sex but pulling out or in the misconception sense of masturbation?

    69. Re:Pfft by Morg-Tpah · · Score: 1

      The use of the word 'gay' to mean homosexual came from the expression 'a batchelor gay', with the implication that if you were not married, you were probably a batchelor. There's even a song of the same name: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBWUIBZAo00 ....Very jolly!

    70. Re:Pfft by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      Hello, I'm a 21-year-old American. I wouldn't trade places with that irresponsible, insane, antisemitic nut for all the gold and women on this Earth.

  2. FUck off! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fucking fucketty fuck fuck.

  3. Depends by Kittenman · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Treating them like an adult ("why do you say that Windows is a load of pigs' livers?") will maybe get them to respond to the question in an adult-sense (come back, Eric Berne...) but life's too short.

    Just don't respond, add them to your ignore list and do something more productive.

    --
    "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
    1. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Treating them like an adult ("why do you say that Windows is a load of pigs' livers?")

      Sounds like the OP is suggesting we respond to trolls with Eliza.

    2. Re:Depends by amirulbahr · · Score: 3, Funny

      Why do you say that we should not respond and just add them to our ignore list?

    3. Re:Depends by moonbender · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sounds like the OP is suggesting we respond to trolls with Eliza.

      Please go on.

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      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    4. Re:Depends by Seumas · · Score: 1

      Exactly. Why the fuck am I going to waste my time coddling some waste of flesh . . . and bits?

    5. Re:Depends by turgid · · Score: 1

      Yes, and emacs has that built-in.

    6. Re:Depends by Shikaku · · Score: 1

      I can't wait for the next Emacs OS. It's so feature-filled that I can do anything!

    7. Re:Depends by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      I call troll... or scary.

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    8. Re:Depends by Noughmad · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hear it's going to use Gnome as a text editor.

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      PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
    9. Re:Depends by rolfwind · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Actually, while trolls just want attention and so it seems correct to ignore them, they'll always bait someone who'll feed them - unless you're in a community where the moderators actively punish the responders just as much as the troll (I know a few) where the avg poster is conditioned to report and ignore.

      So, otherwise, it may be a good tactic to be a calm first responder. However, don't debate them or get angry. Trolls want a response, ignoring them might tick them off slightly, but engaging them w/o them getting a rise of you really pisses them off. It's their version of getting cockblocked.

    10. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Fundamentally, this approach depends on the fact that you're dealing with a sincere twelve-year-old (or equivalent) -- that their posts reflect their serious beliefs, and the inflammatory wording is just a superficial problem. In short, it's for dealing with flaming assholes.

      Genuine trolls, OTOH, have disruption as their goal, and they will choose both their wording and the position they express to that end, rather than any desire for a sincere conversation. Trying to discuss it rationally wastes your time in any case, and if you're lucky, it pleases them; more likely, your attempt at rational discourse doesn't even offer them satisfactory disruption, so they'll ignore you and respond to those replying with flames.

      Since a sincere flaming asshole can be indistinguishable at first glance from a troll, I can't see the point bothering with either of them. Unless you're bored and willing to come down to their level for a little entertainment and to let off steam -- I find myself doing this once every couple months or so. Yeah, yeah, I know, it clutters up the discussion for everyone else, too, so I feel kinda bad, but wth, it is my night, and my right.

    11. Re:Depends by dov_0 · · Score: 2

      Treating them like an adult ("why do you say that Windows is a load of pigs' livers?") will maybe get them to respond to the question in an adult-sense (come back, Eric Berne...) but life's too short.

      Just don't respond, add them to your ignore list and do something more productive.

      I agree. The approach in the article might work for some trolls, but only those who have an agenda related to the topic being discussed in some way. Goatse trolls. How do you respond to that? "Yes, it's ok you like stretched arseholes and bowel lining. Thank you for sharing?!?!" Or anti-semitic/racist comments? Seriously, 'don't feed the trolls' is still the best advice in most cases.

      --
      sudo mount --milk --sugar /cup/tea /mouth /etc/init.d/relax start
    12. Re:Depends by tomhudson · · Score: 0

      I get them banned from forums then get their ISP to terminate their account. I'm not here to make an adult out of them. In fact they serve a useful purpose in getting government control of the internet.

      Yeah, riiiiiight.

      Tell us another one.

      ISPs don't terminate accounts for trolling. Cyberstalking, yes ... trolling, absolutely not.

    13. Re:Depends by NFN_NLN · · Score: 1

      Why do you say that we should not respond and just add them to our ignore list?

      No no, lets give this technique a try before you dismiss it.

      douche> God created all things through intelligent design and evolution is a farce.
      me> Creationism does have.... errr.. it's merits... I can see how the spontaneous creation of everything makes for a nice tidy explanation. But doesn't this raise more questions than it answers. Such as, where did the creator come from, where did he go... ahhh !*(&^@# it.... you're a moron.
      douche> God created all things through intelligent design and evolution is a farce. ...
      douche> God created all things through intelligent design and evolution is a farce.

    14. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The funny part is, not even an Eliza-style response would be a cure. How many of us have sworn at the Eliza program just to see what would happen? :-)

    15. Re:Depends by tomhudson · · Score: 1

      Why do you say that we should not respond and just add them to our ignore list?

      (Nice try ... but here's a better response ...)

      Because they're living in the past .... What is this ignore list you speak of? Isn't usenet dead?

      Sounds like the pentagon - always preparing to fight the next war with the previous wars tactics.

      Come to think of it, time to update that to include the "War on Drugs", the "War on Poverty" and the "War on the Middle Class".

    16. Re:Depends by tomhudson · · Score: 2

      Genuine trolls, OTOH, have disruption as their goal, and they will choose both their wording and the position they express to that end, rather than any desire for a sincere conversation

      That's a rather over-broad assumption. You might decide, for example, that the most effective way to demolish the other side's argument, and cut through all the misleading crap they're spouting, is to troll them.

      Attempting to reason with idiots on their level never works - they just drag you down to their level, then beat you with their greater experience at being stupid.

      Besides, sometimes we NEED disruption, to help shake us out of our complacency, or re-examine our underlying assumptions.

    17. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Of course, that's why I have to reroute the bitstream through a phase inverter, backhack them, and download kidde porn so it looks like they did it. Then call their ISP and get them terminated.

    18. Re:Depends by marcello_dl · · Score: 1

      yep, TFA confirms:"On the Internet, don't be right - be smart."

      of course, I think TFA is wrong, I say outtroll `em.

      --
      ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
    19. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do you think it sounds like that?

      How do you feel about it?

    20. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Trolls want a response, ignoring them might tick them off slightly, but engaging them w/o them getting a rise of you really pisses them off. It's their version of getting cockblocked."

      It's true. Politely engaging them as if their ridiculous bait should be taken seriously has, in my experience, rather annoyed and frustrated them. In some discussion groups it's actually been constructive, because other people join into the conversation in similar ways and it *is* possible to learn something useful from the exercise in some cases (the troll's question might be poorly posed in an inflammatory way, but it still might have a valid question or point at its root). I treat it a bit like a game: how long can the troll last before eventually launching into an incoherent stream of frustrated expletives? It is a BIG waste of time, of course, and you have to be both pretty tolerant and creative to keep them on the line, but it is somewhat amusing to feed the troll until they explode. It's like trolling the trolls with facts and kindness. They HATE it.

      Under NO circumstances should you allow anything they say get you angry (or at least show it). That's what they're looking for. If they just want to waste your time, well, then it becomes an exercise in the discussion equivalent of a game of "chicken" -- who will get tired of it first?

    21. Re:Depends by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 1

      It only works when you have a forum where when someone who doesn't agree with your comment doesn't automatically mark you as a troll; just because they don't agree with you. There is a difference between a troll and someone with a differing opinion. Otherwise this books insight seems to be a direct copy of Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

      --
      -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.
    22. Re:Depends by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      Uh, dude? "Why do you say X" is a canned ELIZA response. Nice to see that you took the opportunity to display hate, though. U GOT TROLLED

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    23. Re:Depends by syousef · · Score: 1

      Treating them like an adult ("why do you say that Windows is a load of pigs' livers?") will maybe get them to respond to the question in an adult-sense (come back, Eric Berne...) but life's too short.

      Just don't respond, add them to your ignore list and do something more productive.

      The problem is that if you don't respond and add them to an ignore list, they end up with free reign to say anything they like. They may even have supporters. Eventually the forum/board is full of misinformation spouted by trolls that is unchallenged and becomes a worthless source of misinformation.

      You should feed trolls...with poison. Always calmly and rationally point out every hole in their logic until the ridiculousness of it is clear...and here's the challenging part...do it without losing your cool or resorting to personal insults. Just point out how stupid what they are saying really is. The reason it's hard is that a troll will do everything from questioning your morality, your job, your child rearing - any piece of information they can extract out of you to hurl insults - when it's totally irrelevant. I've seen "That's the sort of behaviour I'd expect from my 2 year old" on a camera board turn into a tirade about what a horrible parent the poster must be and why they should be jailed and have their 2 year old taken from them. Some people are just nasty when they can't or don't want to come up with a logical counter-argument.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    24. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wowee.

    25. Re:Depends by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 0

      Most of the trolls here are probably regular users, some seasoned vets with excellent karma, who simply want to get a rise out of people. We're different from those other lonely "Lol I Trol U's" who are empty inside, analagous to schoolyard children who like to befriend others by pulling their hair. Our lives are rich.

      A need for acceptance is the only correct thing said about trolls - though we trolls want to spice up our lives with harmless fun, and when you ignore or censure us we chuckle and move on, and that is why many otherwise good users set up sockpuppets made for the purpose of trolling. Others like me also post excellent comments on occasion and prefer to play the mod and karma system like a video game. By accident. I am too lazy to manage sockpuppet accounts and personas. Shit's fucking stupid? Post that it's fucking stupid. Many posters here still believe in gods and they ride bicycles into city streets. But do you have an opportunity to say something intelligent because the subject matter falls under your area of expertise? +5.

      We tricksters have trolling in our blood. Everybody loves a good prank, and there's nothing more exciting than posting the same tired nigger troll (though style points are awarded for more original trolls) knowing at least one dumbass is gonna become angry and throw a fit about it. All the Augustus Gloops and other asswipe offspring of baby-boomers, Lysol-sprayers, and hand-sanitizers. Those motherfuckers. Fuck 'em.

    26. Re:Depends by syousef · · Score: 2

      Sounds like the OP is suggesting we respond to trolls with Eliza.

      Please go on.

      Over the weekend for a laugh I modified Eliza to sound like Charlie Sheen. It's only a quick hack job and could be greatly improved but the nonsense he was sprouting was just so amusing I couldn't resist.

      http://www.progsoc.uts.edu.au/~sammy/charlie/charlie.html

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    27. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, and emacs has that built-in.

      Vi is better L0ser!

    28. Re:Depends by Achra · · Score: 1

      Did you by any chance post that with a Commodore 64? I notice the 40 column display width and lack of capitals..

      --
      Each processor would proceed sequentially as if it had been better for them not to rise against Saul.
    29. Re:Depends by skids · · Score: 1

      Current moderation systems are completely deficient for dealing with trolls. Not that they should not be used, but I'd like to see development of more advanced web-of-trust based systems.

      Anyway, the Original Article seems to be a recipe for disaster. It goes under the assumption that a troll is just an immature person trying to start a fight, or even less likely, just some person who has something valid to say but is rude about it. These days most trolls are concern trolls, showing up to spread tiny pieces of some big lie, either because they have been duped into becoming ideologically inclined towards it, or in some cases, because they are payed to.

      Advice like "admit the person has some valid points" is exactly the opposite of the productive approach. These people come in spreading FUD in the hopes that some readers will believe it. Almost 100% of what they have to say is misleading bullcrap -- and a lot of it is in the fringes of what they say, not the point they are pretending to make.

      Give them no quarter, I say.

    30. Re:Depends by icebike · · Score: 2

      For the examples cited in the article, which were examples of drive-by-trolling more than the much more common uneducated trolling, or bigoted trolling, I fail to see the point. The drive-by-troll is not interested in discussion any more than the kid that eggs your car.

      Then there is the bigoted (political / religious or hater) troll, which are usually totally intractable. Hardly worth your while. I've never seen a political troll change their mind in all the years I've watched them. Its pointless to even engage them, they will never concede a single point and the argument will be endless.

      Uneducated trolling is another matter. These people need more information or correction, and occasionally are quite open to it. Its not necessary, or helpful to be an ass about it, just explain things and provide some links. Technical issues usually attract this kind of troll, and often its just a matter of showing how/where they are wrong.

      So my little Triage of Trolls only leaves one class that is worth while to respond to.

      Even in the best of cases, engaging them and drawing them out before you post your alternative viewpoint is simply a tactic, and not a very courageous one. The tactic is designed to make the other person state something that you can then jam down their throat, rather than engaging in an educational debate. Its as much of a troll as the original troll.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    31. Re:Depends by icebike · · Score: 1

      Genuine trolls, OTOH, have disruption as their goal, and they will choose both their wording and the position they express to that end, rather than any desire for a sincere conversation

      That's a rather over-broad assumption. You might decide, for example, that the most effective way to demolish the other side's argument, and cut through all the misleading crap they're spouting, is to troll them.

      What you've described is usually an exercise in reductio ad absurdum, rather than a real troll. Trolls are simply there to enrage and run, not to induce rational thought.

      All too often what is called trolling really isn't. At least not according to the wikipedia definition of a troll. On Slashdot you mostly get labeled troll simply for stating an unpopular view, such as supporting Microsoft, denigrating Apple, adhering to just about any political party.

      You've asserted its possible to troll educationally, which, almost by definition can't be done, because to the very degree you are successful, it becomes that much less of a troll.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    32. Re:Depends by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      I think part of the problem is that flamebaiting and trolling are both called trolling these days. True trolls are not possible to argue with, but if we are talking about fanboys, smartasses or anybody who is pissed off or having brain-fast, then it might make sense to engange and disarm them.

      But well-balanced mind-wresting is difficult and tiring. This is what you do at work when dealing with annoying colleagues or customers, or at home when dealing with family or friends that don't mix. Not something you do on slashdot.

    33. Re:Depends by tomhudson · · Score: 1

      You've asserted its possible to troll educationally, which, almost by definition can't be done, because to the very degree you are successful, it becomes that much less of a troll.

      It certainly doesn't seem that way to the one receiving the education :-)

      Besides, you've forgotten the oft-excluded middle - the people who aren't initially committed to either point of view, but who make up their minds after seeing the other side demolished by an effective troll.

      People aren't creatures of reason by nature, so sometimes you have to get visceral.

    34. Re:Depends by icebike · · Score: 1

      You should feed trolls...with poison. Always calmly and rationally point out every hole in their logic until the ridiculousness of it is clear...and here's the challenging part...do it without losing your cool or resorting to personal insults. Just point out how stupid what they are saying really is.

      That only works with some trolls, usually those that simply post out of ignorance. True haters, or politically motivated trolls actually gain traction the more you pile on. No publicity is bad publicity. You can't argue with a drive by shooting.

      I've not seen any evidence that your approach has been particularly effective against a real Troll. One need only look to the years and years of slash dot being trolled by that GNAA troll. Nothing works with that troll, because the motivation is simply to troll.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    35. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DIAF works best for me.

    36. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      for any small problem

      How many times must I explain to you that you are not being modded down for "any small problem"? You are being modded down because you have a vast history of nothing but trolling.

      Citations provided

    37. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was my exact reaction as well.

      Sounds like the suggestion is to spew soothing patronizing condescending disrespectful passive aggressive therapeutic psychobabble at them. Which to a first approximation could be implemented by flagging the poster and having Eliza be a bot who talks to them in the background.

    38. Re:Depends by hedwards · · Score: 1

      It's what BF Skinner would have advocated for in this situation. Admittedly that's putting words in his mouth, but refusing to give a troll any sort of reward is the best way of extinguishing the behavior. The reality is that most of these trolls don't have any idea whether or not you clicked the link. It's not their website they're linking to and they've no idea whether you've read their "nigger installation" instructions and if you have what you felt about it.

    39. Re:Depends by techno-vampire · · Score: 1
      The problem is that if you don't respond and add them to an ignore list, they end up with free reign to say anything they like.

      Well, yes, but who cares? I don't because once I've added him to my ignore list I'm not going to see his blather, am I? And, if everybody else in the channel does the same he'll just be a voice, shouting in the wilderness with nobody listening. Works for me!

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    40. Re:Depends by Fred+Ferrigno · · Score: 1

      Keep in mind we're discussing advice for the person being trolled, not the troll or anyone else watching. If someone is only looking to make a spectacle of you in front of others rather than have a real conversation, it's not in your interest to keep talking to them.

    41. Re:Depends by slickepott · · Score: 1

      Though default on a C64 was all caps?

    42. Re:Depends by Achra · · Score: 1

      Right. But if you put the caps-lock on, then all the characters on the screen went lower case. :D

      --
      Each processor would proceed sequentially as if it had been better for them not to rise against Saul.
    43. Re:Depends by Sigma+7 · · Score: 1

      Commodore-Shift, actually. Which is why it took me forever to find that combination again.

    44. Re:Depends by gnapster · · Score: 1

      Where I come from, we shorten that to "Whoosh!"

    45. Re:Depends by RewriteQuran · · Score: 0

      I write back the same abusive message and it is effective.

      "WTF are you saying?"
      I'll repeat "WTF are you saying?"

       

      --
      Govt must constitute a panel to rewrite US Constitution and Quran
    46. Re:Depends by syousef · · Score: 1

      That only works with some trolls, usually those that simply post out of ignorance. True haters, or politically motivated trolls actually gain traction the more you pile on. No publicity is bad publicity. You can't argue with a drive by shooting.

      Sure you can. You just need a bigger gun. Trouble is firing a volley is risky for you, and a troll has nothing to lose.

      That's why it's not about feeding the troll or defeating them - it's not about the troll at all.. It's about not allowing their ideas to stand and ruin your forum.

      I've not seen any evidence that your approach has been particularly effective against a real Troll. One need only look to the years and years of slash dot being trolled by that GNAA troll. Nothing works with that troll, because the motivation is simply to troll.

      The moderation system here gets abused, but when used properly (and it almost always is against this kind of troll) it is made clear that what they are saying is not of value. Again, it's not about defeating the troll themself. It's about protecting your board for from becoming their voice.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    47. Re:Depends by syousef · · Score: 1

      The problem is that if you don't respond and add them to an ignore list, they end up with free reign to say anything they like.

      Well, yes, but who cares? I don't because once I've added him to my ignore list I'm not going to see his blather, am I? And, if everybody else in the channel does the same he'll just be a voice, shouting in the wilderness with nobody listening. Works for me!

      That's not how it works. The troll will convince some of the board he's won. Newbies will take on the trolls ideas as valid, since no one will disagree with them. Log on later without your ignore list and your board looks like a place for cranks and nutjobs.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    48. Re:Depends by magarity · · Score: 1

      if you dismiss every one as a "troll"
      for any small problem, your community
      will not grow a lot and you'll leave people
      with a lot of bad taste in the mouth.

      Someone with a 7 digit ID complaining the community will not grow if trolls are abused?

    49. Re:Depends by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      Depends, Treating them like an adult

    50. Re:Depends by geekprime · · Score: 1

      So does someone want to code a troll occupier in vi, emacs or pearl?

      It would be funny as hell to have it open a private chat with the troll and have it take him 20 mins to figure out he's being meta trolled.

      Of course, our being bereft of his presence in the channel for those 20 mins is just a bonus

    51. Re:Depends by Keen+Anthony · · Score: 1

      You can't always walk away. Case in point: I've recently been dealing with a troll on Twitter. I had been tweeting about the Egyptian revolution actively. Some tweets I made regarding media comments on the assault of a female journalist in Egypt sparked the troll's interest. She forwarded me a link to an op-ed piece from a liberal writer whom she really had it in for. Upon reflection, the troll seemed to think I might be in agreement with her -- on what, I don't know. A few back and forths later, the troll was calling me out as a left, British academic elitist, antisemitic, techno thug, and she labelled me and another journalist as techno-communists. It was annoying, and I remained respectful despite calling her out on her attacks. After some research, I learned that my troll is actually a somewhat infamous second life crackpot who has a deep hatred for most journalists, all techies, FOSS, communists, progressives, etc. And she's quite known for her conspiracy theories involving communists. I even had the displeasure of hearing her scattered screaming rants.

      The only proper way to deal with her, I found, was to address her directly and with both barrels loaded. The thing is, you have to be aware of your surroundings. Twitter is a public place. If Twitter or your blog, is an extension of your professional persona, you can't just walk away from certain trolls. It might work if you're dealing with some 4chan troll from /b/, but it doesn't work if your troll truly hates you. You have to attack back sternly, but you have to also keep your cool so that you don't embarrass yourself in front of your peers and your readers.

      And honestly, publicly nailing her on the crazy conspiracy-laden things she's written and having her respond with lines that validate my points, was really satisfying.

    52. Re:Depends by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      Banlists are my second favorite way of dealing with trolls.
      My favorite one is having a laugh at their expense.

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    53. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, they're so good with dealing with trolls that you can't even post anonymously on that website. If that's how they "fix" the troll problem, they're in for a big surprise.

    54. Re:Depends by Remloc · · Score: 1

      Your app is signed with an expired certificate from Microsoft though it is coming from Australia. Enabling appropriate security restrictions and trying to run it anyway creates a bomb with a security exception. It may be clever and fun, but no one is going to run that.

    55. Re:Depends by commodore6502 · · Score: 1

      >>>Please go on

      Well, quoting the article:

      if you dismiss every one as a "troll"
      for any small problem, your community
      will not grow a lot and you'll leave people
      with a lot of bad taste in the mouth.

      --
      Information wants to be expensive AND wants to be free. So you have Value vs. Cheap distribution fighting each other.
    56. Re:Depends by Inda · · Score: 1

      We have a clever one on our sporting forum. The troll has three facts, and they are real facts, that he spouts over and over and over. Sometimes the odd word is changed, but they are maninly copy 'n paste. One of these facts spans both world wars, when no competive sport, but it's still a fact you cannot argue with...

      Of course, all the new users fall for it.

      We let him have a thread to himself. It's a chance for the regulars to blow off some steam. He get ignored on other threads where he tries to hyjack. There is a bit of sport in baiting him and he's been doing it so long, he honestly thinks he's winning.

      Banning is not an option when private browsing, dynamic IPs, and free throw-away email addresses are so easy to come by.

      I want to shadow ban him - I do see this as the only option in beating the trolls. They still think they have a voice, which is why they are there.

      --
      This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
    57. Re:Depends by Willtor · · Score: 1

      Is it because of your mother that you say like the OP is suggesting you respond to trolls with me?

      --
      "The knee is the elbow of the leg." -- My wife
    58. Re:Depends by Elbowgeek · · Score: 1

      Indeed I've "disarmed" a few trolls using the techniques mentioned in the article, and I've sometimes found that there are quite interesting people behind the troll mask. As you say, if one approaches another human being as an adult, you're more likely to get an adult response.

      That said, I've had great fun firing back with well worded mega-sarcasm, crafted to be so over-the-top and overwhelming in length that it acts as a nuclear option. It's also lots of fun to write *grin*.

      Cheers

      --
      Who is this delectable creature with an insatiable love of the dead?
    59. Re:Depends by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Just don't respond, add them to your ignore list and do something more productive.

      My profound apologies, I appear to have stepped onto your lawn.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    60. Re:Depends by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      The funny part is, not even an Eliza-style response would be a cure. How many of us have sworn at the Eliza program just to see what would happen? :-)

      You don't even want to know what I suggested we do on our first date.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    61. Re:Depends by GigsVT · · Score: 1

      People who disagree with your political ideology are not trolls.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    62. Re:Depends by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      you'll leave people with a lot of bad taste in the mouth.

      A2M is so gay.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    63. Re:Depends by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Uh, dude? "Why do you say X" is a canned ELIZA response. Nice to see that you took the opportunity to display hate, though. U GOT TROLLED

      What's wrong with hating the sort of twats who believe in intelligent design and creationism? They're at the same low intellectual level as Scientologists, astrologers, Republicans, UFO "abductees" and investment bankers.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    64. Re:Depends by sorak · · Score: 1

      Treating them like an adult ("why do you say that Windows is a load of pigs' livers?") will maybe get them to respond to the question in an adult-sense (come back, Eric Berne...) but life's too short.

      Just don't respond, add them to your ignore list and do something more productive.

      I agree. The approach in the article might work for some trolls, but only those who have an agenda related to the topic being discussed in some way. Goatse trolls. How do you respond to that? "Yes, it's ok you like stretched arseholes and bowel lining. Thank you for sharing?!?!" Or anti-semitic/racist comments? Seriously, 'don't feed the trolls' is still the best advice in most cases.

      True. Part of the advice is to assume the position that the troll is "a little bit right", and then try to get them to admit the same for you...I can't see too many situations where that would be a preferable outcome.

      OP: While I agree that some Jews probably did deserve to be shoved in a furnace, would you agree that many did not?

      Troll: fag!

    65. Re:Depends by hans_e · · Score: 1

      Is it because of the people you hang around with that you say please go on?

    66. Re:Depends by shambalagoon · · Score: 1

      That happens all the time on The Personality Forge (personalityforge.com). It's been quite an art customizing the chat bots to deal with all kinds of trolls. And then you get the smug satisfaction that they will never get a rise out of a chat bot and will eventually give up due to the bot's eternal patience.

    67. Re:Depends by turgid · · Score: 1

      Vi is better L0ser!

      Vim or elvis?

    68. Re:Depends by syousef · · Score: 1

      Your app is signed with an expired certificate from Microsoft though it is coming from Australia. Enabling appropriate security restrictions and trying to run it anyway creates a bomb with a security exception. It may be clever and fun, but no one is going to run that.

      My applet (not app) is completely unsigned, so I have no idea what you're talking about. I suggest you check your own security software, because I've been able to run it on several windows XP PCs without issue.

      The source code is available in the directory. It is a modification of someone else's work (clearly attributed)

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    69. Re:Depends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (Nice try ... but here's a better response ...)

      Nice try but parent got rated funnier. Trick is not to try so hard I guess.

  4. Shitcock! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now make me feel good!

    1. Re:Shitcock! by Shikaku · · Score: 0

      I would recommend rinsing off the feces with a nice warm bath and soap and water.

    2. Re:Shitcock! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bah, let the slut clean it up with her mouth!

    3. Re:Shitcock! by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 0

      I would recommend rinsing off the feces with a nice warm bath and soap and water.

      I would recommend rinsing off your face with a nice warm bath in my steaming hot jizz.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    4. Re:Shitcock! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The GIFT strikes again!

    5. Re:Shitcock! by pandrijeczko · · Score: 1

      Sir

      Kindly divest yourself of all regalia and impel yourself into a large, land-locked body of fresh water that exists in your vicinity.

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
  5. goatse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That anus is impressively enlarged. Thank you for sharing it with us. What made you first think about posting it on slashdot?

    1. Re:goatse by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 4, Funny

      That anus is impressively enlarged.

      The anus is a metaphor. A metaphor for the security (or lack thereof) of the website where it ended up on. Ya know, "big enough to drive a truck through"...

      Thank you for sharing it with us.

      You're welcome!

      What made you first think about posting it on slashdot?

      I thought geeks might be interested in seeing that SQL injection still works...

  6. Practicing by countertrolling · · Score: 5, Funny

    You suck!...

    Kinda...

    Eh, actually you're not so bad...

    In fact you're kinda cute...

    Wanna go out tomorrow night?...

    Nervous?.. Yeah, a little

    First time?... No, I've been nervous lots of times

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    1. Re:Practicing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ha.
      I've had nearly this exact exchange.
      It just seemed right.

  7. Re:By 'troll' they mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Excellent trolling, my good sir.

  8. but but but..... by dogsbreath · · Score: 1

    I LIKE to feed the trolls!

  9. Re:By 'troll' they mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And if I turned around and said something like "only a black person would say that", I wouldn't be trolling, but giving you an argument that you cannot win?

  10. Or on the otherside by DarkOx · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://www.ehow.com/how_2064125_become-internet-troll.html

    The above URI has some helpful hints for noobs who might want to get into trolling

    --
    Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    1. Re:Or on the otherside by AlexanderPico · · Score: 2

      There is even an online university... http://trolluniversity.com/

    2. Re:Or on the otherside by i-linux123 · · Score: 1

      Since being well-trained in the finer arts of trolling, I'd like to go out of my way and contribute some insightful information on this topic in the hopes that it will help other fellow trolls. But I couldn't help but notice that your erroneous usage of the acronym "URI" does not apply to the posted URL, which indicates that you're a newb that doesn't know what he's talking about, so further engagement in this discussion is likely to yield information of no value from your part.

    3. Re:Or on the otherside by tomhudson · · Score: 1
      Very much outdated.

      Rule 1 - "hide your identity". . Really? Did you see Ben Bernanke hide HIS identity? Or George W. Bush? Or Dick Cheney? The most successful trolls hide in plain sight.

      Rule 2 - "go to one of the more popular portals like AOL" ... AOL?!?

      Rule 3 - "Contribute nothing of value to the discussion forum. As a good troll, your goal is to abuse the members psychologically and provoke negative reactions out of them". That is so last century. A really good troll cites evidence, backs up their arguments to the hilt with facts, facts, and more facts, etc. And the motivations can be very varied - including sometimes the hope that the lightbulb will finally go on for the other side ...

      Rule 4 - "Make personal attacks repeatedly toward those who support the ethos of the group. Get as nasty as you want, after all, it's the internet--who's going to find you?" - Really unsophisticated. Better to wait until they've demonstrated that they're idiots, THEN point it out with the evidence they provide.

      Rule 5 - "Argue repeatedly, using irrelevant facts, so that you disrupt the flow of the thread." Wrong. Argue repeatedly, using RELEVANT facts. For example, when Florian Mueller attempts to lie, point out the facts about his anti-F/LOSS, pro-patent stance. Over and over. A good troll can smell the blood in the water.

      Rule 6 - "Expose the stupidity of new, unsuspecting members by trying to engage them in an argument when it is very well-known that you yourself do not believe your position." That's again just more amateur hour. Much better to go after the wannabe trolls.

      Rule 7 - "Plague that newsgroup for years." Usenet is dead, gramps. The ONLY time to go to most of usenet is to troll.

      I'm sorry, but that list was, if anything, worse than the article. We have a few wanna-be trolls here that use several of those tactics. It's kind of like someone bringing a couple of coolers to a kegger. They really don't know how to get into the spirit of things :-)

    4. Re:Or on the otherside by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I notice you made an alcohol analogy. Do you realize how dangerous alcohol is? Pretty creepy dude. I'm sure you know how many rapes alcohol is responsible for. You're a sociopath hth

    5. Re:Or on the otherside by kramulous · · Score: 1

      That was pretty weak. No points for you.

      --
      .
    6. Re:Or on the otherside by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      7. Plague that newsgroup for years. View your troll activity as a form of art. Add sophistication and complexity as you progress.

      I actually admire a good troll. Not those who just shout and cuss, but those who are crafty and clever at bullshit. Tangoing with them improves one's online debating skills.

    7. Re:Or on the otherside by jmcvetta · · Score: 1

      Did you notice the warning at the end? Apparently, trolling has been illegal in the UK since 1990. Gotta hand it to the Brits, they may have crappy weather & crappy food, but they sure do know how to make a solid police state.

    8. Re:Or on the otherside by lewko · · Score: 1
      --
      Do you or your partner snore? - Visit www.snoring.com.au
    9. Re:Or on the otherside by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      http://www.ehow.com/how_2064125_become-internet-troll.html

      The above URI has some helpful hints for noobs who might want to get into trolling

      I assume that is a goatse link?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    10. Re:Or on the otherside by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Your post made me so angry that I wanted to let fly with a string of expletives. Good job, well done, but you should have had a couple of fake URLs leading to goatse or something.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    11. Re:Or on the otherside by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you realize how dangerous alcohol is? Pretty creepy dude. I'm sure you know how many rapes alcohol is responsible for.

      Being a male-to-female trans-person, if tomhudson got drunk and masturbated it would be considered rape in 37 states. I'm not entirely sure I see your point.

    12. Re:Or on the otherside by cffrost · · Score: 1

      There is even an online university... http://trolluniversity.com/

      There's also one for trolling AFK, in the career of your choice!

      --
      Thank you, Edward Snowden.

      "Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
  11. Depends on the Troll origin by arivanov · · Score: 1

    The assumption is that a troll has mood disorder so cognitive therapy works.

    1. That assumption may be wrong. Some trolls genuinely believe that they are right and will troll so that they can express their righteous beliefs. Reasoning with them is pointless because they do not listen to the voice of reason. They believe in something religiously and will troll for a chance to proselytize. So they are not trolling for flames, they are trolling for listeners.

    2. Even if it is right, life is to short. Dealing with a mood disorder through cognitive therapy, psychoanalysis or any other similar technique requires the patience of a python and all the time in the world. Most of us have none of that.

    --
    Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
    http://www.sigsegv.cx/
    1. Re:Depends on the Troll origin by illaqueate · · Score: 1

      Actually cognitive therapy shows why it won't work. The change in cognitive therapy comes from a process through exercises to change thoughts, question beliefs, alter maladaptive behaviors.

      If you imagine beliefs people have as reinforced by a web of other beliefs trying to find a middle ground will run into a million excuses why the original position is right. The troll (who often has no clue they are a troll) won't change their opinion in the moment - their beliefs will change gradually then they will act as if the new position was what they believed all along. The worst trolls have personality defects or don't get out enough to have social skills.

      The attempt to use intelligence is more likely to defuse the original intention (to make themselves feel better or superior through antisocial behavior)

    2. Re:Depends on the Troll origin by hedwards · · Score: 1

      I'd wager that it's more common for trolls to have a personality disorder, which is a completely different thing altogether. You're not going to have any luck treating them, especially if they don't want to be treated. Additionally, it offers them all knew forms and opportunities for trolling.

    3. Re:Depends on the Troll origin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It also disregards the *real* troll. Many people throw out 'that dude is a troll' for someone who just snarks off. There are people who actually get off on pissing others off. In my years of posting I have come across a few. Have even been called a troll a few times because I disagreed with someone. The *real* troll on the other hand do not feed them. Ban them and their IP. They are not going to get better. They are playing a joke. It may not be a funny joke but to them it is.

      Youtube ones are the interesting ones. They actually create a 'posse' of fake followers. Then use those fake accounts to vote themselves up and down in the rankings.

      This method would however work on someone who is just an ass. Which there is a difference.

    4. Re:Depends on the Troll origin by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      psychoanalysis or any other similar technique requires the patience of a python

      python is teh suck, perl FTW

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  12. Re:By 'troll' they mean... by Shikaku · · Score: 1

    I would turn around and reply that maybe he knows a lot of black men at a very personal and intimate level, and would seem to be quite the expert at the social bearings of around them.

  13. The Office by Missing.Matter · · Score: 1
    Reminds me of how Phyllis tries to deal with Angela in "The Office."

    Angela Martin: [to Phyllis] "Lunch Party"? It's supposed to say "Launch Party." What's wrong with you?
    Phyllis Lapin: [it cuts to a talking head segment] Angela has been worse than usual lately, and we have a party to throw, so I googled "how to deal with difficult people." And I got all of this.
    [she holds up a few sheets of paper with information]
    Phyllis Lapin: So we're gonna try out some new things today.
    Phyllis Lapin: [it cuts back to the office] How do you feel about the fact that the banner says "Lunch"?
    Angela Martin: I feel angry. Angry at you. Angry at you for doing something stupid. Angry at me for believing you could do something not stupid.
    Phyllis Lapin: [Phyllis looks down at the sheets of paper] I'm so sorry to hear that. That must be awful.
    Angela Martin: It is awful. You've made this day awful.

  14. Just Do It My Way by pandrijeczko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... develop a strong sense of self-worth & recognise that someone throwing profanities at you who has never met you is entirely unimportant.

    Get over that, then you can have fun baiting them, reeling them in, playing with them a while, then throwing them back when you're bored.

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    1. Re:Just Do It My Way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Congratulations, you're now a troll too.

    2. Re:Just Do It My Way by tomhudson · · Score: 1, Insightful
      Exactly. Real trolls don't need to resort to profanity.

      Besides, you'll never convince a fanboi, whether it's Windows, Apple, Ubuntu, or Neocon, so why not have some fun with them?

    3. Re:Just Do It My Way by pandrijeczko · · Score: 1

      ...and you've just been hooked.

      Hey, got to burn off some of this Excellent karma anyway.

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    4. Re:Just Do It My Way by pandrijeczko · · Score: 2

      I really must impress upon you that my inability to use profanities is not down to any self-control upon my part but a genetic disorder of extreme magnitude.

      Therefore, you, sir, will refrain from this utter stubbornness and placate me somewhat with some words of ancient Anglo-Saxon derivation that I can at least appreciate but, unfortunately, not return in equally profane volleys of poor diction.

      I sit here in repose in utter misery, my heart desiring nothing more than an infrequent gift of an ability to use punctuation entirely incorrectly, to not begin sentences with capital letters & to curse like a merchant seaman.

      Oh woe is me!

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    5. Re:Just Do It My Way by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      So your advice is to become a troll. If you can't beat 'em...

    6. Re:Just Do It My Way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope a nigger rapes your mothers cunt.

    7. Re:Just Do It My Way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I heard they are all too busy on your ass.

    8. Re:Just Do It My Way by jahudabudy · · Score: 1

      develop a strong sense of self-worth
      Yes, I've noticed the lack of certainty and even the lack of strong convictions evidenced by most internet posters. If only more people were secure in their estimation of their own worth, relative to the worth of those in their community, the internet would become a truly harmonious place.

      --
      ...sometimes, in order to hurt someone very badly, you have to tell that person terrible lies. - PA
  15. I've got Tiger's Blood! by singingjim1 · · Score: 2

    Winner!

  16. The care and feeding of Trolls by foolish_to_be_here · · Score: 1, Insightful

    One mans troll is another mans hero. All to many times I hear the cry of "troll" and sure enough out come the torches, pitch forks and mod -1 Troll, well before anyone has properly read and moderated the post, only to have someone with mod points save the comment from obscurity. Care must be taken to not completely silence discussion. BTW what ever happend to my mod points?

    --
    Please mod me 1 or troll. It's where the truth is these days, even on Slashdot. Beware the power of moderators everywh
    1. Re:The care and feeding of Trolls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      troll

  17. Naive. Usenet would have eaten this guy alive. by tomhudson · · Score: 2
    The article is a troll.

    First, contrary to TFA, this has zero to do with cognitive behavioral therapy.

    Second, it won't work with an experienced troll. Either don't feed them, or feed them a brick to the face. But if they're that experienced, both approaches will fail.

    Third, recognize that there are "white hat" and "black hat" trolls.

    Fourth, one person's troll or flamebait is another person's insightful.

    Fifth, take it for what it is - whether it's the use of rhetoric as a debating artifice, a way to expose stupid arguments for what they are (because it's easier to troll an idiot than it is to educate them), or just another form of entertainment.

    Sixth, people who go nuts over YHBT YFI HAND are the real trollbait.

    1. Re:Naive. Usenet would have eaten this guy alive. by hedwards · · Score: 1

      I've found that often times insightful and informative things get modded troll because the moderator doesn't want to admit that perhaps the poster had a point. I know there's a lot of people who feel entitled to be complete dickheads, but aren't trolls per se, they just genuinely don't know that their full of it and demonstrably so.

    2. Re:Naive. Usenet would have eaten this guy alive. by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Third, recognize that there are "white hat" and "black hat" trolls.

      I think you just made that up. Congratulations on your creativity, would you like to share with us how it felt to come up with that useful (if slightly under-defined) differentiation?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    3. Re:Naive. Usenet would have eaten this guy alive. by tomhudson · · Score: 1
      Example of black-hat troll: Trolling for the sake of disruption.

      Example of a white-hat troll: Using trolling techniques to break through the echo chamber that is the Internet. "Facebook does not have 500 million users. Many people have multiple accounts, many gamers create hundreds of accounts to ensure they level up quickly, and where do you think all those 'buy facebook followers for as low as 5 for a penny' accounts come from - the only people spouting the 500 million numbers are fools and liars. Which one are you today?"

      BTW: http://www.bulkfans.com/

      Buy Fans in Bulk

      Buy Facebook Fans now to START promoting your FACEBOOK PAGE !
      BONUS 1000 More Fans will be added to any order excluding “sample”.

      It's just one of the many scams on facebook.

  18. Trolls? by Chrondeath · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The author seems to be using "troll" as a term for "someone posting in an inflammatory manner," but I thought "troll" specifically referred to posters doing it to get a rise out of people. Responding in a reasonable manner isn't going to help if the other party isn't interested in taking the conversation seriously.

    1. Re:Trolls? by DarkIye · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And you've hit upon the reason TFA is useless.

    2. Re:Trolls? by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      Your spot on, the article is completely off topic as it is incorrectly using the term troll. making you take your time to respond to a troll is EXACTLY what a troll wants and by doing so he has actually achieved his end goal as a troll. ie to get a rise out of you or waste your time in a pointless response that he has absolutely no interest in. The best trolls never even need to post again after their first comment as they incite such arguments that they get to sit back watch and laugh at what they have instigated.

    3. Re:Trolls? by Derekloffin · · Score: 1

      Indeed. Not only are most trolls deliberately acting jerkish, and often obtuse, but if you even hint at agreeing with them, or giving ground to them, you'll not gain anything as generally they are not interested in budging an inch (in fact, most I've met will back up to even more absurd reasoning if you start giving ground), but probably even more importantly you'll annoy other posters. It is just plain and simple a losing battle. Don't even start.

    4. Re:Trolls? by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 1

      Hmm.

      One of my best trolls was this post in regards to Opera. My goal was to pit FOSS operatives on Firefox against Corporate closed source software Opera. And I was able to successfully engage the conversation so that I had flaming on both sides equally fighting vehemently over their own "Right" viewpoint.

      And I still ended out with a positive moderation score after people realised that I literally took over the whole conversation upwards of 200 posts to refute me and later other posters. The whole article was only around 380 posts total.

      --
    5. Re:Trolls? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of online communities have started just labelling anyone who disagrees with consensus "troll".

    6. Re:Trolls? by AnttiV · · Score: 1

      Exactly. TFA seems to be effective IF the "troll" in question is really just a "normal" rational person that just happens to be pissed off/angry/disagreeing with the other person. For a "genuine" troll - not so much. Ignore/ban seems to work much, much better. Or, as I said, there's a possibility that the author of TFA is just trolling, in which case he's good, really good. ;)

    7. Re:Trolls? by cavebison · · Score: 1

      I don't know.. people who troll basically just want some attention. It's attention-seeking behaviour, and there will be a reason behind it.

      Sure, most people probably can't be bothered with it, especially when it's just some faceless dude on the net. But I'd argue that giving them a bit of positive brain time is good both for them and for the responder.

      Think of it as good practice in dealing with an opposing point of view. A random sparring partner. Give it as much time as you want, even if it's 2 minutes, then drop it.

      The result may be that the troll gets some attention - which is positive feedback - but then *loses* that attention when the responder disappears.

      The troll may learn that the only way to keep someone's attention is to behave better. TFA doesn't say spend a week talking to them. One respectful response is enough - a taster of possible real conversation - real connection - if they stop behaving badly.

      If that's not what they want, then it's only one response. Ignoring doesn't give anyone a chance, it's instant rejection. I think there's a better way, in the middle.

    8. Re:Trolls? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trolling has become thouroghly confused with flaming and flame baiting on todays web. The judo thing probably works on flamer-type people, who tend to over-react and be very agressive in their posts.

      Ironicly, that type of person is he perfect target for an actual troll.

    9. Re:Trolls? by npsimons · · Score: 1

      The author seems to be using "troll" as a term for "someone posting in an inflammatory manner," but I thought "troll" specifically referred to posters doing it to get a rise out of people. Responding in a reasonable manner isn't going to help if the other party isn't interested in taking the conversation seriously.

      My favorite definition of troll is still "someone who, finding that no-one likes them, decides to pretend that it's on purpose." Oh, so you're trying to "troll" for the lulz? Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that no one likes you because you want it that way. Losers.

  19. Bravo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you have chosen to call yourself an Anonymous Coward and I could not agree more with your decision to do so.

  20. Misdirected advice by pavon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The approach he gives is good for preventing disagreements from turning into flamewars, but it is worthless and even counterproductive for dealing with real trolls. Reading the article he seems unaware of the fact that people who troll do it simply to get a rise out of people. Any response (even a calm boring one) just gives them another opportunity to respond, which increases the chance that someone else will eventually bite the bait.

    If someone really is trolling, then ignoring them is the best thing to do. Having moderation systems to keep them out-of-sight out-of-mind will help with people who can't control the urge to feed the trolls.

    Finally, while it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between a troll and and an angry rant, I don't have any problem treating them the same in general forums. When talking with people that you will see again (like work, friends, family, or development mailing lists) and you know they genuinely disagree with you then it is worthwhile to keep the peace and follow the suggestions here. But on a random discussion forum, "if you can't be civil you will be ignored" is good policy IMHO.

    1. Re:Misdirected advice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was the dumbest thing I've ever read.

    2. Re:Misdirected advice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree that with a real troll whose only point is to piss off people, the given advices are ineffective. However, when you think most of the people usually labeled as trolls, most of them are not real trolls, that you mention. In fact, I think real trolls are very uncommon. Therefore the effectiveness of the given advices is better than you suggest. Especially the advices work with people who aren't really explicitly trolling, but have an abrasive personality (i.e. trolling without really knowing it).

      However, trolls exist also in the real world. Because the odds in meeting a real troll (other than in high schools) are vanishingly small, you may run into people that provoke because they're having a bad day or they are otherwise strange. I'd like to share my tip when dealing with them.

      As a side job, I work as a taxi driver. I have learned that the best way to disarm provoking persons is to respond without actually saying anything meaningful, so to speak. To do this, you have to appear that you listen what they are saying, even though you're actually not listening. A real world example: You and your spouse sit in your living room watching TV. There an intriguing history document coming and your spouse isn't very interested. Your spouse wants to talk about pets or something that doesn't really interest you. You watch the TV while listening you spouse just enough that you can respond something like "yeah", "oh really?", "why?" in appropriate times. This strategy works really well with annoying taxi clients. To prove my point, I have received quite a lot of tips while using this strategy. Best part of this is that you can do it also. If your wife complains often that "you just don't listen!", I bet you are actually using this strategy already.

    3. Re:Misdirected advice by FoolishOwl · · Score: 1

      I completely agree. The linked article is misdirected -- and in fact, many people try to deal with trolls in the way the article recommends, and it almost always fails. Trolls must be dealt with firmly and decisively. There is such a thing as malice, and you don't engage with malice. You have two options, really: ban the troll, or humiliate the troll, and banning is usually the better option, as it's usually the quickest and cleanest way to put a stop to a troll.

      Frequently, trolling is an attack on members of groups that have a long history as victims of bigotry. Bigoted trolls tend to silence or drive off members of those groups -- which is likely their intention. In general, only a minority of participants in an online forum are actively participating, and a good moderator should be encouraging passive participants to step forward. A troll has the opposite effect: a troll discourages active participants, and drives out passive participants. It's a responsibility of a moderator to prevent this from happening.

      It's also important to realize that when several trolls appear at once, it may be a deliberate and organized effort to shut down or take over an online forum. I've seen white supremacists do this a few times, for instance, and it is unsettling to watch well-meaning forum participants trying to reason with people who have absolutely no interest in being reasonable.

    4. Re:Misdirected advice by gsslay · · Score: 1

      I can't help but feel that the Shlomi Fish is really, really naive. He actually believes that trolls have a point they want to get across, which can act as the starting point to what could turn into a reasonable discussion. This is just laughably wrong.

      Trolls have no point other than to provoke. The point of trolling is to troll. They could not care less (to use his example) whether Perl or Python is better. They do not want to discuss the merits of either. They want attention. They want reactions, and as long as you're prepared to waste your time giving one they're happy to keep provoking.

      Really, the only merit to the "negotiate" response is that it's too tame and not emotive enough for most trolls. You may be willing to provide calm and reasoned responses, but the troll won't respond in kind. You can only hope that they get bored, which is exactly what DNFTT achieves, without wasting your time.

    5. Re:Misdirected advice by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 1

      Well, either way, the key is not to get angry yourself. For the types that have, er, "poor interpersonal communication skills", it can keep the conversation from getting derailed. For the types that are looking to get people angry, it's like judo - it frustrates them.

      --
      PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  21. Re:By 'troll' they mean... by VynlSol · · Score: 0

    Sadly, my psyche has been assaulted by your pathetic mewlings before, Anonymous Coward. By the way, that oozing pustulance coming from behind your ears isn't your brain leaking out, it's just oozing pus. I've seen bums, playing with the maggots gnawing on the flesh inside their herpetically-induced, open heroin sores, who present more of an aura of cleanliness than you do. Jesus Fucking Christ, take a shower occasionally!

  22. I've always done this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not even trolling.
    Not really much else to say here.

    Most trolls just give up after a while of doing this.
    Only the really persistent trolls keep going and going.

    Then you get the trolls who think that getting any reply, no matter what it is, is them winning.
    These people are just idiots. Feel free to troll them back because half the time they don't even realize.

  23. Don't feed the troll by snookiex · · Score: 1

    That's the best way to go. Playing psychological games with an idiot is just a waste of time.

    --
    Open Source Network Inventory for the masses! Kuwaiba
    1. Re:Don't feed the troll by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      That's the best way to go. Playing psychological games with an idiot is just a waste of time.

      Yeah? Could you go into more detail?

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  24. I have just poured hot grits down my pants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I have just poured hot grits down my pants

    1. Re:I have just poured hot grits down my pants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not how you feed a baby.

  25. danger trolls: do not feed. by mevets · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. What do you mean by feeding the trolls? I'm sure you don't really want them to starve to death.

    2. I agree with you that it is difficult to have to put up with trolls. I hope, however, that the inner-tubes are big enough for everyone; maybe we can work together to find a nice bridge for the trolls to live under. It may seem a bit harsh, but if we fed them a few goats now and again, maybe they will feel better about themselves and move on to greener pastures.

    3. If we can keep the trolls from offending us, then cyber-area can benefit from the diversity. I saw a documentary once where even an Ogre - I know they are different from trolls, but they share some common disagreeable characteristics - befriended a donkey, and they seemed to have a genuinely witty banter and joie de vivre. I read in the newspaper that the Ogre recently even married; so there is some possibility we can live together.

    yeah, I guess it kinda works.

  26. You already CAN do anything. by denzacar · · Score: 1

    It's so feature-filled that I can do anything!

    Anything at all. The only limit is yourself.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  27. Your first sentence... by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 1

    Your first sentence gives it away. Deliberately inflammatory, likely to provoke a response -- thus, troll. In fact, three out of your four paragraphs are dedicated to insulting people you disagree with -- only one paragraph might have a point that's not inherently trollish.

    If what you say is both logical and factual, surely you can provide some evidence for it, right? Shouldn't be too hard, if it's "all over" the Internet.

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
    1. Re:Your first sentence... by cowboy76Spain · · Score: 1

      Don't feed the tr.... oh, wait!

      --
      Why can't /. have a rich-text editor? Editing your own HTML is so XXth century.
  28. OR JUST ATTACK THEM IN A SUBJECT LINE, YOU PUSSY! by Subject+Line+Troll · · Score: 4, Funny


     

  29. Re:By 'troll' they mean... by thr13z3 · · Score: 0

    U mad?

  30. Depends on the food. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's the best way to go. Playing psychological games with an idiot is just a waste of time.

    Or what?

    Ignore them?

    Some folks get off just posting crap regardless if it's ignored or mod'e down - a few years ago there was some ACs posting GNAA shit. They stuck around for quite while: ignoring them didn't work. They were always mod'ed to -1, but yet, they kept coming for a while.

    But then again, a Troll to one is satire to another or someone putting an aggressive point for another - which is par for the course on an internet discussion site.

    An example: For years, folks have been pointing out the short comings of Apple developer model and some of the short comings of their products. They were almost always mod'ed as Troll and attacked. And yet, many of their criticisms are now accepted here - after years.

    Or another one that's a huge bugga boo here on Slashdot: the F/OSS software and business model. Don't be criticizing that!

    The GPL? Oh God! Better have a lot of karma for that one!

    1. Re:Depends on the food. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some folks get off just posting crap regardless if it's ignored or mod'e down - a few years ago there was some ACs posting GNAA shit. They stuck around for quite while: ignoring them didn't work. They were always mod'ed to -1, but yet, they kept coming for a while.

      They ever stopped coming?! WHA?!

      An example: For years, folks have been pointing out the short comings of Apple developer model and some of the short comings of their products. They were almost always mod'ed as Troll and attacked. And yet, many of their criticisms are now accepted here - after years.

      Or another one that's a huge bugga boo here on Slashdot: the F/OSS software and business model. Don't be criticizing that!

      The GPL? Oh God! Better have a lot of karma for that one!

      That is practically troll on another level, if you ask me. Troll probably isn't the right word for it, to be honest, but I'm going to keep it simple for the sake of simplicity. Criticizing any software/business model is good, as is criticizing any license model. It potentially leads to improvements... of course, whether it actually does lead to improvements is a whole 'nother story. But not taking that criticism and giving negative mod points or flaming the criticism is troll-ish itself. Though I do disagree that it's such a huge deal on Slashdot--it happens, but other mods tend to come in and provide some balance as well. Those mods to provide the balance don't always show up, but it's usually not too bad here. Some places, on the other hand, that's a completely different story (talking about Apple in positive light on some pro-Android sites and vice versa, for example, will not end well at all).

  31. I suspect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All the comments here will leave the real trolls behind.

  32. Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The definition of "troll" has changed. It used to be, back in the good old USENET days, a troll was someone who intentionally took an outrageous viewpoint, purely to generate responses and enjoy the excitement of being in the center of attention.

    Now, "troll" is anyone who disagrees. I've seen some pretty bad abuses on other forums, where someone advances a reasonable idea that doesn't dovetail with the way the group prefers to perceive reality, and is instantly labeled a troll and banned. The trend is self-reinforcing over time. Result: groupthink. The meaning of "normal" gets distorted as the goalposts move farther and farther away from the world outside the forum. This is especially jarring when these folks move out to a mainstream forum like Slashdot and nobody shares their preconceptions.

    You can see it in the linked article, the author's examples such as "You are on a Vim channel" - who the F spends time on a "Vim channel"? Himself and his tiny group, I'm sure. Jeez, the guy bought and is reading a self-help book called "Feeling Good"...obviously he has major life problems that the rest of us consider lameass Stuart Smalley territory "I deserve good things. I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am attractive person. I am fun to be with." OMG TROLL -1

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    1. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by goodmanj · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The definition of "troll" has changed. It used to be, back in the good old USENET days, a troll was someone who intentionally took an outrageous viewpoint, purely to generate responses and enjoy the excitement of being in the center of attention.

      Can we go back to the Usenet definition? Please? It referred to a specific new phenomenon (mostly) unique to online conversation, which was desperately in need of a name. And the name made sense: when you're trolling you're dragging bait through the water hoping some sucker will take a bite.

      The word "troll" doesn't make sense when applied to hostile posters, and we already have lots of good words for people who are overly confrontational in conversation. "Asshole" and "dick", for a start.

    2. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People can troll without realizing it. When you come into a group that you know believes one way and you present an opposing belief, it is important to present it in as gentle a manner as possible. If you start your conversation with "you're all wrong", you can be totally correct and present as much evidence as you like, but you are still a troll. You are not encouraging debate - you are inciting flames.

      If you find yourself labeled as a troll frequently on forums, you may consider perusing the Dale Carnegie site and related books.

    3. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The definition of "troll" has changed. It used to be, back in the good old USENET days, a troll was someone who intentionally took an outrageous viewpoint, purely to generate responses and enjoy the excitement of being in the center of attention.

      Now, "troll" is anyone who disagrees.

      That shift was already happening in the latter days of USENET. I remember being chased out of alt.callahans and having complaints sent to my boss for "trolling" back in 1994. (Actually, I'd corrected someone, and given references to research in the area. As you said, breaking the groupthink.)

      It's slightly more than just disagreement. They seem to think along the lines that "Trolls make people mad, this person has made me mad, therefore, this person is a troll." So they haven't just been disagreed with, they've had one of their buttons pushed, someone is refusing to accept something they need to have validated. By labelling them as a troll, they get to ignore any valid points that may have been made as invented to cause trouble, while also getting to tell others, "OMG, don't read this!!!!" As a debating tactic, it's unpleasant and dishonest, but it also works.

    4. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can see it in the linked article, the author's examples such as "You are on a Vim channel" - who the F spends time on a "Vim channel"? Himself and his tiny group, I'm sure. Jeez, the guy bought and is reading a self-help book called "Feeling Good"...obviously he has major life problems that the rest of us consider lameass Stuart Smalley territory "I deserve good things. I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am attractive person. I am fun to be with." OMG TROLL -1

      I'm a Charlie sheen superstar!

    5. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Dwonis · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is especially jarring when these folks move out to a mainstream forum like Slashdot...

      Very subtle. Nice work!

    6. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And all the while I thought that was trawling... not trolling... no, I'm really not.

    7. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by formfeed · · Score: 2
      If you disagree with group think in a polite way giving reasons, most people wouldn't call you a troll. The fact that some do, doesn't make you one.

      If you disagree with group think in a very defensive way, that might come across as aggressive, or even in an outright aggressive or offensive way, you come pretty close to being a troll. But the proper term would probably be hosehead.

      If you need examples, read youtube comments.

    8. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Pennidren · · Score: 1

      Asshat

    9. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, trawling is the method of fishing, not trolling.

    10. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by goodmanj · · Score: 1
    11. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the name made sense: when you're trolling you're dragging bait through the water hoping some sucker will take a bite.

      You're confused, you're thinking of the term Trawling. (Although it's the same general idea)

      The term Trolling comes from the story of Billy Goat Gruff, where there was a bridge which an Angry Troll would jump out from under and ambush travelers. Thus the term Troll was given to the people who would Lurk in the shadows of the forum, emerging only to assault the unwary.

      And it still means that, even if the mods on slashdot use it to mark down anyone who they disagree with.

    12. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by martyros · · Score: 1

      It referred to a specific new phenomenon (mostly) unique to online conversation, which was desperately in need of a name.

      Actually that's not true -- if "to troll" means "to say something, not because you think it's true, but to see the emotional response of another person", trolling has been with us forever. It's just that in real life, trolling has real consequences for the troll. The internet took away a lot of the "cost" of trolling, allowing people to perfect the art.

      What are the costs of trolling IRL? First, there's negative social consequences. Ever noticed that many people who are abrasive and aggressive online or over e-mail are actually quite tame in person? Because for most people, electronic vitriol is easy to deal with; but having a real living person in front of you being unhappy with you is actually very unpleasant. You generally have to deal with a comparatively small group of people in your everyday life, so even if you don't care about their feelings personally, their feeling unhappy about you has other negative effects. So to troll in real life, you need to not only be able to deal with face-to-face anger, you also need to either find a continual source of new people to troll, or do it in a moderate enough way that it doesn't alienate people too much. Actually going and finding a situation in real life where you can troll effectively takes a lot of effort. You could imagine some people doing it (e.g., a bunch of wankers showing up to an AA meeting or something like that to start trouble), but overall it's a lot more effort for the reward.

      Online, there are an unlimited number of people and contexts whom you can troll at little cost, and with absolutely no impact on your "real life". So this thing that people have been doing for millennia suddenly flourished like never before.

      And I agree -- it definitely needs its own name. The reason people mistake what the word "troll" means is the same reason that trolling still works -- people just can't conceive the idea of people saying something just to get a rise out of someone, and so respond as if the person is genuine. Once you realize that someone is just trying to "push your buttons", you know instinctively that the best thing to do is just not respond.

      --

      TCP: Why the Internet is full of SYN.

    13. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by goodmanj · · Score: 1

      You've pretty much summarized the reason for the "(mostly)" in my post. It's certainly possible to troll in real life, but as a practical matter, the loss of reputation and trust are severe enough that very few people do it.

    14. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by goodmanj · · Score: 1

      You're either the least original troll ever, or just as wrong as the other three people who posted here. Some of us both know how to fish and were on Usenet when the term was invented.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling_(fishing)
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trawling

    15. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Mana+Mana · · Score: 1

      > : when you're trolling you're dragging bait through the
      > water hoping some sucker will take a bite.

      I've been waiting since 1995 for someone to make the same association. That year whilst reading news I saw that term and my mind went to the same mental image. But then I realized, after many months of watching the word being bandied around, that no one else got it. Or, to wit, was thinking the same image, at least no one I ever read made it in print. I was thinking _trawling_, you know for lobster and shiz, but they meant trolling, as in mythical figures.

      I figured geeks were fantasy addicts so absolutely that's what was always meant, indubitably.

      On tangent. Ever notice how back then too, prior to its popularity, and apparition on the likes of The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The New York Times, etc. it was: "Sorry, I meant to say The London Times, 'my bet!'"

      If you listened, noticed, liked language, and wondered how it was spelled, everyone said "my bet." Later when the neologism was in the common culture and noted every suddenly enunciated "my bad."

      Same goes for "Carmen." You know, "respect my otoritay!"

    16. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by goodmanj · · Score: 1

      Trolling and trawling are two different fishing terms. (Trawling is dragging a net behind a boat, trolling is dragging a baited hook behind a boat.) Your instinct was dead on.

    17. Re:Troll = someone who disagrees with groupthink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > who the F spends time on a "Vim channel"?

      I know, right? EMACS forever!

  33. Perl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see the Python vs. Perl stuff in the article, but why was this posted under Perl?

    1. Re:Perl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because only gay-ass trolls would use perl, therefore anything to do with trolls has to do with cocksucking perlusers and other jewniggerfags.

  34. Sounds familiar by JockTroll · · Score: 0

    A loserboy nerd once tried this approach, by going all Gandhi on us hoping to prevent the savage beating he rightly deserved. So instead of beating him up and shitting on his face, we decided to humor him: we kicked him in the groin and threw him into a dumpster. Day after day, we would kick him in the groin and throw him into a dumpster. After about three days of being kicked in the groin and being thrown into a dumpster, he erupted into an incoherent bawl like all loserboy do when they feel they are unjustly harassed. At this point we beat him up and took a dump on his face.

    --
    Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
    1. Re:Sounds familiar by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 1

      So.... the solution to a "troll" is to act like an Eliza program?

      At this point we beat him up and took a dump on his face.

      So when did you realize you enjoy exposing your ass to other men?

      There. How's that?

  35. So you "cure" one, then what? by petes_PoV · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Then another pops up. And another and another.

    Trolls have been around for as long as individuals have been communicating online. From what I understand, they're essentially lonely, attention seeking people. Even if you do engage one in dialog, what then? All you're doing is feeding their addiction. There are just too many of them to warrant trying to help them all (and trying that may point to bugs in your own personality, too)

    No, the best course is to killfile them or use whatever options your forum implementation has to achieve the same results. You don't raise your signal to noise ratio by trying to negotiate with the noise, you just filter it out and try to make sense of what remains.

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    1. Re:So you "cure" one, then what? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 3, Insightful

      From what I understand, they're essentially lonely, attention seeking people.

      I dunno. I've seem some pretty wonderful trolls in my time. I remember a guy called "egg troll" who would pop up. Despite the name, he still hooked plenty of responses because his posts were frankly works of art.

      And besides, there's an excellent troll thread on slashdot about once per week or so. You know the sort, they get at least 500 comments and diverge wildly into politics, OSX versus Linux, piracy and so on all in one go.

      Despite the obvious trollishess of the OP, noone (myself included) quite seems able to resist them.

      I've never really considered the goatse posters as trolls. Perhaps it's from the usenet days, but I think of trolls as those who manage to drag people into pointless and rage-filled arguments despite their better judgement. Goatse never gets a visible rise out of someone, since you can never see the victim.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:So you "cure" one, then what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no point in killfiling trolls, they just create another login and you spend more time expanding your killfile than reading the group. You either have to moderate every post or just live with them. In a threaded forum it is easier to just let them play in a some threads and when work is boring you have something to play with.

      Through really who cares about trolls any more?
      Every usenet group I followed died because of spam not the resident trolls. Some spam was flogging Vigara but it was mostly just crazy people posting off topic rants because no one was reading their crazy blog.

  36. Amazingly straight forward, non-aggressive reply by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just kidding. I posted pinky pie
    http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1471/539060friendshipismagic.png

  37. "So what" approach is best. by unity100 · · Score: 1

    "So what" is the best method. troll expects strong reaction. when people react in that way .... well, try it.

    1. Re:"So what" approach is best. by mrsurb · · Score: 1

      So what?

  38. I prefer to disarm trolls... by Omega+Hacker · · Score: 2

    at the shoulder. Extra points for getting some collarbone as well.

    --
    GStreamer - The only way to stream!
    1. Re:I prefer to disarm trolls... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Butthurt!

  39. Oh, I disarm them alright.. by sstamps · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then proceed to beat them to death with said arms.

    I find it particularly therapeutic and cathartic.. for me, that is. The trolls don't generally survive the encounter. :)

    --
    -SS "Teach the ignorant, care for the dumb, and punish the stupid."
    1. Re:Oh, I disarm them alright.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Imagine a Beowulf cluster of...

      oh, fuck it anyway.

    2. Re:Oh, I disarm them alright.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd really like to see how this method works for real life political trolls. In fact, a professional politician could tell us about the art of troll hunting as it have been done in politics as long as politics have been practised.

    3. Re:Oh, I disarm them alright.. by Dishwasha · · Score: 1

      Actually, you have to burn them with fire for them not to survive the encounter.

    4. Re:Oh, I disarm them alright.. by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

      Well that's what I've been doing wrong. I've been trying to burn them with Soy Sauce.

  40. Seventh by petes_PoV · · Score: 1

    Never argue with idiots. Apart from the risk that onlookers won't be able to tell which of you is the idiot, they drag you down to their own level and beat you with their superior experience. (Plus, the internet never forgets: ref. onlookers)

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    1. Re:Seventh by tomhudson · · Score: 1

      Never argue with idiots

      No, it's "never reason with idiots". Trolling them is fine, and improves your karma. Need a karma boost? Find an idiot to troll. Instant up-mods. I've been stuck at Excellent for years :-)

      Of course, I may be trolling you, and you might end up in karma hell. There are two ways to find out ...

  41. disempower deceptive censoring 'owned' blogs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    gently, of course.

  42. It's not your fault... by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 1

    You've just fallen victim to John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
  43. Troll island by WoollyMittens · · Score: 2

    Why not isolate the trolls by showing their comments only to themselves, but not to other readers.

    1. Re:Troll island by Zapotek · · Score: 2

      Like a Trollgatory...or Purgatrolly...or...I'm out.

    2. Re:Troll island by dominious · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You must be in management because you have no idea how to do that yet you think it's a great idea.

    3. Re:Troll island by drb226 · · Score: 1

      Why not isolate the trolls by showing their comments only to themselves, but not to other readers.

      Obligatory related comic

    4. Re:Troll island by Animats · · Score: 1

      I once met some MMORPG designers who considered this. The idea was to dump griefers into a parallel instance of the game populated only by NPCs, but not tell the griefer. It wasn't worth the server resources, so it didn't go in, but it was a neat idea.

  44. Nein, nein, nein... by denzacar · · Score: 1

    But Hitler was gay... I mean, just look at that get up...

    He was a rather clueless hipster.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
    1. Re:Nein, nein, nein... by Morg-Tpah · · Score: 1

      First they stole the word 'gay' - and I did nothing because I am not cheerful by nature. Then they took the moustache, and I did nothing because I have no facial hair. Then they commandeered the rainbow, and I did nothing because I am not a leprachaun. They can pry hitler from my cold dead hands!

  45. That author had not counted with Slashdot... by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 1

    That author had not counted with Slashdot... The comments here are already lsdhfipuhdfpibf

  46. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by xmousex · · Score: 2

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

    when you respond, you did exactly what the troll wanted you to do.

  47. Enemies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can never have to many enemies, ban the F'in troll!

  48. What about by shentino · · Score: 1

    Anonymous?

    What about someone whose sole intention is to troll?

    What about tag team trolling?

  49. Yeah You Could Do That by Greyfox · · Score: 1

    Or you could set it on fire with your mind.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  50. Not quite knee-jerk by GillyGuthrie · · Score: 1

    LOL, this is appears to be a story that was posted in thoughtful hindsight after being thoroughly trolled.

  51. Moderation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The best solution to real trolls is moderation. Moderate the hell out of them. Then ban them if they keep up the behavior. People like that just aren't worth the time of day. They are a waste of bandwidth and attention span interfering with other people getting real things done.

  52. Dumb example by Mike610544 · · Score: 1

    Does anybody even use PERL anymore? It seems like kind of a scarecrow argument. I think /. used to use it back in the day, but it's much better since they switched to Javascript.

    --
    ... also, I can kill you with my brain.
    1. Re:Dumb example by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1

      Nice try, asshole!

  53. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by tomhudson · · Score: 1
    First, YHBT YFI HAND.

    Second, getting a conversation off-topic doesn't necessarily kill a thread. Sometimes those off-topic threads are more interesting than the subject that spawned them, or lead to more insights.

    Third, not all trolling is done to spark fighting and stupid behavior - it can be used to expose that same stupid behavior. Consider how effective trolling neo-cons is compared to trying to "reason" with them. Ditto trolling fundies who insist on imposing their religious beliefs on others by banning same-sex marrage, abortion, and attacking gays, lesbians, atheists, etc.

    Fourth, such debate is not useless. It most forcefully engages the opposite party in defending their stance, rather than just preaching to the faithful.

    Good trolling is an art form. It can also be socially constructive, by being socially disruptive.

  54. That doesn't really work, does it? by epine · · Score: 1

    I'm sure I'm ready to listen to a yellow jacket on the subject of troll diminishment. This house is a yellow jacket free zone.

    Sometimes trolls inspire useful thinking, if you haven't heard it a dozen times already. You can learn a lot about Platonic solids from the contemplation of square pegs and round holes.

    I tend to respond with a humorous paragraph-long extrapolation of troll's cognitive bias (ignoring the person behind the idea promulgated), followed immediately with several paragraphs making a useful on-topic contribution, or an extended riff on lateral associations.

    Perhaps I copied my formula from Mozart during his appreciation of Salieri's gift composition.

    On the other hand, There's nothing wrong with an old-fashioned traditional shunnin'.

  55. Anonymous Troll says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TyPe LoUdEr! I cAn'T hEaR yOu fRoM uNdEr My BrIdGe On My HiGh HoRsE!

    btw, Firefly sucks and I'm not fond of BSG either.

  56. FTFA: On the Internet, don't be right - be smart. by tomhudson · · Score: 2
    FTFA:

    The super-executive summary for this post is: "On the Internet, don't be right - be smart."

    Like the two are mutually exclusive?

    How dumb can you be?

    The article is troll-bait.

  57. *pops hero before AV starts* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Indeed!

  58. This is actually funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone who thinks this will work has never been around real trolls.

    It's actually hilarious to me that anyone would think this would work. "The troll will lose steam?" Since when did trolls lose steam when you cave in? They'll just do what they were going to do anyway but you've ceded half of your position. They will just ratchet up the aggressiveness.

    Best guess: the author and those publicizing this are themselves trolls and are intentionally spreading bad information.

    Full disclosure: I myself am a troll. A massive troll. I've been trolling since ARPA.

    People wanna believe that this sort of gentle resistance crap works. It doesn't. If someone is out to be belligerent and aggressive, they will be aggressive no matter what you do, and they will take your attempted jujitsu tricks as weakness.

  59. Especially difficult with product-centred forums by tentimestwenty · · Score: 1

    I used to post on a number of forums regarding audio equipment. I'd say about 50% of the people were open minded and logical, 40% were set in their ways and would take light offense if you disagreed, but they had good things to say often and 10% were out to completely destroy everyone's opinion -- trolls. I make a living in audio and consider myself an expert in the field, in the same way an experienced high level mechanical engineer might, and I have a lot of practical experience to back it up. Even with well thought out explanations, and with cases where there were irrefutable answers to questions, those 10% of people would inevitably shout incorrect answers or make personal attacks and derail everything. It was just a question of the loudest and most frequent yeller. Have you seen the movie Idiocracy where the main character is trying to convince the government that plants need water, not Brawndo? Exactly like this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vw2CrY9Igs

    I stopped posting on all these forums because it's just not worth it. Those people have way more free time than any productive person. It's a real shame though, because when people like me are driven away, the majority of people who just want an honest answer are getting completely screwed by these yahoos. There's no accountability so even if you call them on an argument, they just shut up until the next post a day later. Their energy to cause shit seems to be endless.

  60. re: Troll immunity by chaz373 · · Score: 1

    Meh: You spend enough time reading message boards and trolls quickly become background noise. Maybe back in the early 90's a troll might have gotten a rise out of me, but by now I've read every ad hominem attack, meaningless rant, cheap shot, and overly provocative post that could possibly be authored. Frankly, if you really want to shock me or just really piss me off, present a truly cogent, fact based, and utterly logical point of view. It's the stuff that I can't easily dismiss as the ravings of an ass-hat that gets under my skin.

    --
    There is no security when liberty is sacrificed.
  61. Know what I miss? by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Funny

    You want to know what I miss? (shut up, of course you do!) I miss when /. had really good trolls. Remember them? The ones that took pride in their trolling? The ones that would spend all day cooking up offensive ASCII art or writing a shit eater or ass rape troll that like a fine novel didn't give away its true intention until nearly the end?

    Man we used to have some damned fine trolling here, not the lame "Nigger nigger faggot faggot" crap spewed from Halo fratboys on 4chan and Digg, no trolls that were PROUD to be trolls and took pride in their work. Even our crazies were a cut above the rest, folks like Twitter that could spin a dozen sockpuppets into one giant conspiracy fueled fantasy around MSFT and the Illuminati. Now THAT was some damned fine trolling!

    Sadly now our trolls are as cheap and badly made as a Chinese knockoff iPod, just no pride in the work anymore. Even our crazies have lost their flair,like MichaelK with his endless copies of his name with a number after it just so he can type "pathetic" and have it not at -1, or the HOSTS guy that capitalizes every other word like that makes his crazy more powerful or something, just no subtlety or finesse at all.

    I'm sure the great trolls of the past are looking down from under their bridge in the sky and hanging their heads in shame. Oh and of course trying to shake their dicks at us, but unlike the lousy trolls of today they have a chorus line going with all the wieners having tassels and spinning in time like the pasties on a Vegas showgirl. Its all in the presentation you see, something the trolls of today just don't get. Personally I blame reality programming and MTV.

    --
    ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    1. Re:Know what I miss? by russotto · · Score: 3, Funny

      You want to know what I miss? Blah blah blah yellow onion blah blah blah

      I'm carefully backing off of your lawn. Please don't shoot.

    2. Re:Know what I miss? by Penguinisto · · Score: 3, Interesting

      *sigh*... I know, I know.

      There was once a time when trolling was once an art form.

      Sadly, those days have passed, and most of us grew up. :(

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    3. Re:Know what I miss? by hairyfeet · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Ahhh...It is nice to see someone that still remembers and respects the old ways. Remember when the trolls and crazies were epic? When a good flamewar started by a smart troll could easily hit over 400 comments in a thread? How the troll would slowly build to a crescendo, slowly making tempers boil and blood simmer until the noobs blew up in a frenzy of "FUCK YOU!" screaming?

      And what about the crazies? everyone pays attention to the trolls but like a great straight man a good crazy could make ALL the difference! We don't even get great OS crazies anymore, just the same soundbite variations on "MS Suxorz!" "Lunix is for Luzerz!" and "MacFags suck Steve Jobs wrinkled wick!"

      There just isn't any subtlety to the trolling or crazy anymore, remember Twitter? Aie, now there was a fine crazy if ever there was one, all the Lithium in the world couldn't quench his fire! He was a master of the buildup, always starting with a subtle plug for FLOSS with just enough M$ and wrong information to lure in the prey. But did he go straight for the sockpuppet? No, he was too skilled for that, he would slowly build their anger with ever more lies and half truths, building in intensity until he had more than a dozen on his line then BAM! He would unleash his sockpuppets like the dogs of war and spin the whole thread into a tale involving him as a Harrison Ford everyman railing against a global conspiracy involving Bill Gates as the ultimate puppet master in a global star chamber! Now THAT was a true master of insanity!!

      Sadly just as our children and their children when never know the delightful screams of pain when a user accidentally hit a page with Comet Cursor and watched as his PC slowly melted from trying to swing a clock like a ball of snot from the end of his pointer, or will ever hear the painful yelps as someone's retina was damaged from hitting an "OMG Ponies!" neon pink with flashing green puke text on a Geocities page at 3AM with the lights off, so too will they never know the truly epic levels of trolling and craziness that once roamed this formerly wild prairie.

      They will forever think an "epic troll" is some Halo fratboy pasting crude nigger jokes, or some squeaky voiced 14 year old yelling "faggot!" while blasting gangster rap and pretending to be black. And just like the free roaming herd of buffalo that once ran free across this great nation I believe too few will remember and appreciate what has been lost. Truly a sad day on the net my friend, a truly sad day indeed.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    4. Re:Know what I miss? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't forget that /. even employed one of the better ones...

    5. Re:Know what I miss? by ShakaUVM · · Score: 2

      >>I miss when /. had really good trolls. Remember them?

      I blame Natalie Portman getting pregnant.

      I haven't seen anyone wanting to cover her in hot grits for a while now.

    6. Re:Know what I miss? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2

      Excellent post, I too miss the quality trolls of the past, but there are some signs of hope:

      - A new character (slasher15x) is coming out with new and incredibly innovative trolling techniques. This guy's like the Sixth Sense era M. Night Shyamalan (sp?) of trolling. He makes a genuinely good post with links to material you might click on, because you think you know what he's linking to, but next thing you know you're bouncing off a bunch of URL shorteners and then BAM, goatse! Hopefully he'll continue to innovate, and not turn out to be a one-hit wonder spending the rest of his days trying to recapture his past glory in increasingly sad attempts, like the real M. Night Shyamalan (fuck if I can spell his name).

      - bonch could become the next twitter. He has a pathological hatred for Google that is slowly driving him insane. Once he's lost his mind entirely, he may achieve mastery of tinfoil-jitsu and make sockpuppet accounts to weave intricate conspiracy theories like twitter did. With the rich conspiracy nutter culture already surrounding Google, this could turn very interesting.

      Also as the 4chan kiddies grow up, some of them will pursue high-brow trolling as they gain an appreciation for the finer things in life. Remember the elite trolls of the recent past started out with obscene posts on Geocities guestbooks.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    7. Re:Know what I miss? by operagost · · Score: 1

      I'll bet Benjamin Millepied does... cuz she's NAKED AND IN HIS PANTS!

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    8. Re:Know what I miss? by laddiebuck · · Score: 1

      It looks like we're not doing that badly for trolls, eh? ;)

  62. Re:OR JUST ATTACK THEM IN A SUBJECT LINE, YOU PUSS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Thank you for your comment. How do you feel about pussy? Does pussy make you feel uncomfortable? Have you had a bad experience with pussy?

    Perhaps we can suggest some alternatives to pussy that you would enjoy more.

  63. Obligatory by Penguinisto · · Score: 2

    "...stupid git."

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    1. Re:Obligatory by ocdscouter · · Score: 1

      I am a stupid git, you insensitive clod!

    2. Re:Obligatory by davester666 · · Score: 1

      And I am an insensitive clod, you stupid git!

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    3. Re:Obligatory by ksd1337 · · Score: 1

      Yes, I prefer Bazaar myself.

    4. Re:Obligatory by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Who you callin' a git, buddy?

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    5. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not your buddy, friend

    6. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not your friend, guy.

  64. Re:Especially difficult with product-centred forum by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

    What you're talking about isn't trolling. It's contradicting. Trolling is intentionally stirring the pot.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  65. Shlomi Fish = Roland Piquepaille, reincarnated by CmdrPorno · · Score: 2

    Am I the first to notice that the owner of the blog and author of the blog post that was linked to is the same person who made the submission to Slashdot?

    --
    Sent from my iPhone
  66. Worst Article Ever ... by 517714 · · Score: 1

    to moderate. There isn't enough -1 troll to go around.

    --
    The US government have made it clear that we have no inalienable rights; any we do not defend vigorously will be taken.
  67. Oh, the irony. by Kaz+Kylheku · · Score: 4, Informative

    The linked-to article was written by one Schlomi Fish, who is a kind of programming language troll.

    I wrote a very nice Lisp program once upon a time, and Fish wrote a critique one of whose main points is that I should have written it in a different programming language, quote:

    If Meta-CVS' author wishes to make it more popular, I strongly advise him to re-implement it in C, Perl, Python or something more standard.

    So we can take this new article to be a kind of insider's guide to trolling, I suppose. :)

    What a fucking arrogant asshole, "strongly advising" his superior.

    1. Re:Oh, the irony. by Daniel_Staal · · Score: 1

      Nope, it's not a guide to trolling. It's a clever 'help the trolls' article: Against a real troll, that advice just prolongs the argument and helps the troll sound reasonable and intelligent, thereby keeping them from looking like a troll. Which means they don't get blocked or ignored by others, and can continue trolling.

      So what he's really trying to do is encourage trolling, by changing the behavior of those who fight trolls.

      --
      'Sensible' is a curse word.
    2. Re:Oh, the irony. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The linked-to article was written by one Schlomi Fish, who is a kind of programming language troll.

      I wrote a very nice Lisp program once upon a time, and Fish wrote a critique one of whose main points is that I should have written it in a different programming language, quote:

      If Meta-CVS' author wishes to make it more popular, I strongly advise him to re-implement it in C, Perl, Python or something more standard.

      So we can take this new article to be a kind of insider's guide to trolling, I suppose. :)

      What a fucking arrogant asshole, "strongly advising" his superior.

      What exactly makes you his superior? Sounds like you're a little trollish, too, ego-lad.

    3. Re:Oh, the irony. by cerberusss · · Score: 1

      I wrote a very nice Lisp program once upon a time

      That's not a very subtle troll. You fail for Troll University.

      --
      8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
    4. Re:Oh, the irony. by clintp · · Score: 1

      [Howdy, old timer.]

      Warning: did not read article.

      Shlomi has been bugging the Perl folk for years. I went through his posts years ago to figure out if he was a troll, or just really ... dense. Socially inept with at thick crust of stupid all around. After a few weeks I figured it didn't matter. Some folk treated him charitably, others decided to troll him back, and I just decided he wasn't worth the effort either way. Eventually he got bored with my social circle and moved on.

      --
      Get off my lawn.
    5. Re:Oh, the irony. by RussellSHarris · · Score: 1

      Implying that anyone other than geeks will read a scholarly article written in Klingon, regardless of how well-written it is.

  68. Define "troll" by Charliemopps · · Score: 2, Informative

    The fact that the person came into a Python IRC channel and started ripping on python, by definition would not be a troll. They are argumentative, irritating, and most probably drunk... but not a troll. A Troll is secretive, hiding under a bridge, then springs out on you. I'm not sure who decided that anyone they find irritating on the internet is a Troll, but it needs to stop. Trolling is an Art-form... a very irritating, often insulting, art-form. Someone that just yells "Your favorite band sucks!" is not a troll, they're just a jerk.

    1. Re:Define "troll" by e4g4 · · Score: 1

      Precisely why slashdot has two distinct moderations for posts in that vane: "Troll" and "Flamebait". TFA is really discussing the latter.

      --
      The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. - Albert Einstein
    2. Re:Define "troll" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A Troll is secretive, hiding under a bridge, then springs out on you.

      "Troll" comes from the fishing term, not from the story about the Billy Goats Gruff.

      But that said, your point holds. A troll deliberately sets baited lines to lure in their prey. That distinguishes them from hostile/aggressive/annoying people in general.

    3. Re:Define "troll" by Charliemopps · · Score: 1

      I did not realize that it was derived from the fishing term "trolling" that's awesome. Thank you!

    4. Re:Define "troll" by _0xd0ad · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't say it's definite either way; Wiktionary lists the "internet" definition of "troll" under both of its etymologies.

      http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/troll

      Etymology 1
      From Norwegian, Danish or Swedish troll, from Old Norse troll, possibly related to the Middle High German trolle (“spook, wraith, monster, ogre”)
      2. (slang) An ugly person of either sex; (internet) a troublemaker

      Etymology 2
      From Middle English troll (“to go about", "to stroll", "to roll from side to side”), from Old French troller (French trôler) and Middle High German trollen (“to stroll”); fishing sense possibly influenced by trawl
      6. (intransitive) To disrupt the operation of an online community, particularly by luring others into combative argument.

      I doubt that it's really possible to say which of the origins of "troll" resulted in its use to describe internet troublemakers, particularly since it's had both definitions long before the internet was ever conceived of. Most likely it was a combination of both of them.

  69. icon for article by underqualified · · Score: 1

    I don't get how a headless camel is relevant to the article.

  70. Troll -ne Criticism by ToasterMonkey · · Score: 1

    You can't disarm trolls, the whole point is to derail a conversation and/or waste your time. Trying to politely take the conversation in the direction a troll wants only sets him up for better trolling. Do try though, that will make for some truly EPIC trolls for me to amuse myself with [| execute].

    There are all forms of criticism, good, bad, and ugly and then there are direct attacks at the coherency of online discussion for malice or amusement. ...

    Did Slashdot just get trolled?

  71. Here is me, disarming the author's own trolling: by Kaz+Kylheku · · Score: 1
  72. what is a troll? by Onymous+Coward · · Score: 1

    My understanding of a troll does not include them being earnest about their position. A "political / religious hater" troll is not a true troll, just a jerk, rather attached to their position and honest about it.

    1. Re:what is a troll? by icebike · · Score: 1

      Exactly.
      That pretty much agrees with the Wikipedia definition of troll as well. True trolls just jump in an post outrageous or inflammatory stuff to start fires. They usually don't stick around.

      (Aside: I have no problem with people earnest about their political or religious positions. They can believe what they want).

      However, as used here on Slashdot, just about any view opposed to the person with mod points can get you rated as a troll.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  73. Also problematic with bullying by formfeed · · Score: 1
    Agreed!

    TFA helps with an angry rant by an otherwise normal person, not with an intentional troll.

    I would add the opposite of the troll to the problem list, the bully:
    You voice dissent in a fan boy environment, and two low ranking members will immediately attack you to gain social status. Sometimes a high ranking member with self confidence issue will pitch in to make an example.

    Politeness doesn't really help you, it would only be seen as defensiveness. The only thing that works is if someone else actively intervenes.

  74. Slashdot does it right: moderation works best by Maow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Kudos to Slashdot for their moderation system, that allows trolls to be modded out of sight for most users.

    Conversely, an unrepentant troll can post something insightful (by accident, no doubt) and it can be modded up to be seen by most users.

    Salon.com letters section suffers from severe trollery, hence the (shameless plug follows:) Salon KillFile (http://salon.maow.net), which blocks spammers by their web site names, regardless of this week's user names. It also bans trolls by name with a single button click, and highlights a user's favourite authors with a click of a button. Finally, it also automatically highlights Salon staff letters.

    Anyway, it's not as good as a moderation system, but Salon is too stupid/lazy/uncaring to bother upgrading their comment system, so users had to make their own GreaseMonkey script to do it for them.

    Again, kudos to Slashdot!

  75. Related ideas on stopping bullying by Paul+Fernhout · · Score: 2
    --
    A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.
    1. Re:Related ideas on stopping bullying by Arccot · · Score: 1

      http://www.bullies2buddies.com/How-to-Stop-Being-Teased-and-Bullied-Without-Really-Trying

      Thanks for posting this. The following rant is directed more towards the author than you. :-)

      I just read the articles in this series, and I have to say most of it truely is terrible advice. It takes the mindset of blaming the victim. It puts the onus on the victim to resolve the issue, when time after time, we see that the victim has less control over the situation than any outsider that chooses to get involved. And then it gives the classic advice (paraphrasing) "stop getting upset and you'll stop being teased/bullied."

      Oh really? Stop getting upset? Is anyone who ever went through being bullied seriously able to simply shut off your emotions when you're being tripped, pushed, insulted, laughed at, teased, hit and threatened every single fucking day? Its scary, its frustrating, and it makes you feel like a failure. You were abused yesterday, you were abused today, and you KNOW you're going to be abused tomorrow. But then we should just be able to shrug it off, right? Would you advice the same to victims of child abuse from adults, too?

      You know what advice I would give?

      I'm sorry you're being bullied. Its not your fault. There is nothing you did or didn't do that caused this person to target you. They wanted to bully someone, and unfortunately your number came up. There are many of us out there that were bullied, and even if you think things are completely hopeless, it does get better. There are some things I am going to be honest about that may help, so keep reading.

      When an adult treats a child the way your bully treats you, adults call it child abuse. Unfortunately, many adults still don't see children bullying other children as child abuse. But some adults do see it as child abuse. Some adults want to help you and will if you ask them. The important thing is that if you ask for help from an adult and they don't help you, it doesn't mean no one can. It means they don't know how or are unwilling to help you. Ask a different adult. And keep asking for help as long as you can. Its very hard to ask for help. Its even scarier than being bullied. But there is help out there. If talking to your teachers or your parents doesn't help, talk to the principal. Talk to the police. Talk to anyone that will listen.

      It is ok if you are too afraid to ask for help. Being bullied is very scary. Try to ask for help when you can, but if you never ask for help, just remember that the bullying does end. Sometimes bullies grow up and stop being bullies. Sometimes you move away or go to a different school where the bully can't get to you. But the bullying always, ALWAYS ends. Keep that in mind and don't give up hope.

      As an aside, it seems like there are a ton of resources out there now for LGBT bullying, but so much less for any other kind. That's rather disappointing. I was hoping to find a site I could link to for a helpline, but all the ones I could find were LGBT.

    2. Re:Related ideas on stopping bullying by Paul+Fernhout · · Score: 1

      "I just read the articles in this series, and I have to say most of it truely is terrible advice. It takes the mindset of blaming the victim. It puts the onus on the victim to resolve the issue, when time after time, we see that the victim has less control over the situation than any outsider that chooses to get involved. And then it gives the classic advice (paraphrasing) "stop getting upset and you'll stop being teased/bullied."'

      You are just presenting the conventional wisdom on this. Izzy Kalman at Bullies to Buddies says the conventional wisdom is wrong about this (except in very rare cases where the bully is emotionally unstable or has a history of violence). He has many testimonials by school staff who say his approach is the only thing that really worked and a strategy based on the conventional wisdom just makes things worse. Where is your evidence that what you say will work well and not make the problem worse, both socially, and for the individual who may never be able to grow past seeing themselves as a needy victim?

      I do think his approach has its limits by ignoring things like the connection between junk food and bad behavior, or the problem of compulsory schooling as bullying by the state, like I commented on here:
      http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psychological-solution-bullying/201011/rational-alternative-the-national-school-anti-bullying-p/comments#comment-134733

      --
      A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.
    3. Re:Related ideas on stopping bullying by Arccot · · Score: 1

      "I just read the articles in this series, and I have to say most of it truely is terrible advice. It takes the mindset of blaming the victim. It puts the onus on the victim to resolve the issue, when time after time, we see that the victim has less control over the situation than any outsider that chooses to get involved. And then it gives the classic advice (paraphrasing) "stop getting upset and you'll stop being teased/bullied."'

      You are just presenting the conventional wisdom on this. Izzy Kalman at Bullies to Buddies says the conventional wisdom is wrong about this (except in very rare cases where the bully is emotionally unstable or has a history of violence). He has many testimonials by school staff who say his approach is the only thing that really worked and a strategy based on the conventional wisdom just makes things worse. Where is your evidence that what you say will work well and not make the problem worse, both socially, and for the individual who may never be able to grow past seeing themselves as a needy victim?

      I'm speaking from personal experience and from the experience of my wife and two friends I know from when they were young.

      For me, I tried the "ignore them or laugh with them". It didn't work. The times when I could just brush it off, it didn't matter. The bullies get all they need from their friends laughing nearby. They don't really need a response from me. And those they want a reaction just get physical. When they trip me, its funny that I fall. When they kick or hit me, its funny that I wince. You can't really not fall when tripped or not react when someone hurts you. They got the response they wanted whether I wanted to give it to them or not. I know of all the others I've spoken to about it, every one has tried ignoring them, and no one has been successful with it.

      As far as the victim mentality, bullied children ARE being victimized. I didn't feel like a victim after I got help from my parents. I didn't feel needy or like a failure. I felt proud of myself that I was brave enough to ask for help. I was proud of myself that I found a solution to my problem.

      We don't ask kids to walk themselves to the hospital when they break a leg. We don't tell them to "suck it up" when they have a mental disorder. There's nothing needy about asking for help when you feel like you need it. It isn't somehow psychologically damaging to rely on others. If you can't solve a problem on your own, the logical solution isn't to live with the problem. Its to ask for help.

      You know when I DID feel like a victim? When I was being bullied. That's why I asked for help. Twice. Once to my teacher, who didn't care or didn't know what to do. And once to my parents, who intervened with the principal and helped my solve my problem.

      As far as conventional wisdom, "ignore them" is what I heard the entire time I was growing up. I'm very, very glad I didn't take that advice for long. As far as testimonials, it seems odd he would ever receive them from school staff. There's only four scenarios involving school staff I can think of: the child asked for help and was given help, the child asked for help and was not given help, the child didn't ask for help and was not given help, or the child didn't ask for help and was given help. It seems his theory could only get positive evidence with the second and third scenarios, and I sincerely hope school staff didn't just sit by after noticing bullying to see how it plays out.

    4. Re:Related ideas on stopping bullying by Paul+Fernhout · · Score: 1

      I'm glad you found something that worked for you.

      But ultimately, is the solution to bullying to create a all-pervasive police state where no one ever says something someone else might potentially find offensive without immediately being labelled and disciplined? Because that is the way public schools in general are heading with conventional anti-bullying approaches based on similar stuff to what you are talking about ("telling is not tattling", etc.) however well it might work sometimes for some individuals.

      It's actually quite true that beating up bullies or getting someone else to do it for you (physically, verbally, socially) like a parent or principal may make them stop, but the appeal to authority is fraught with its own issues (a police state, and then what happens when the police are not there, or if the police themselves become bullies?).

      Again, no one is suggesting a child suffer significant physical injury, and Izzy Kalman says his techniques only work when the kids doing the bullying are reasonably emotionally stable without a history of serious violence. Also, yes, other approaches may indeed sometimes work.

      But see also:
      http://www.bullies2buddies.com/sites/default/files/'10-B2BFinalManusciptForSubmission.pdf
      "A meta-analysis by Smith, Schneider, Smith, & Ananiadou (2004) concluded that the majority of whole-school programs yielded nonsignificant outcomes on measures of self-reported victimization and bullying. ... Children who are victims of bullying typically believe that teacher intervention will be effective in countering bullying behavior, and such intervention is a component of most bullying prevention programs. However, research suggests that teachers underidentify bullying behavior, and that, when students report bullying events to teachers, bullying may increase (Smith & Shu, 2000). Although teacher intervention has been shown to reduce bullying in some studies, such intervention must be timely and consistent, and requires close supervision of students. Moreover, teachersâ(TM) attitudes about bullying have been shown to influence their willingness to intervene, as well as the skill with which they do so (Kochendorfer-Ladd, & Pelletier, 2008). Thus, it is not always possible â" and, in some instances, may not be advisable â" to rely on teacher intervention as a means of managing the problem of bullying. [Exactly what you say happened when you asked a teacher for help...]"

      Izzy Kalman's approach goes beyond telling kids to "ignore it". He teaches active strategies to respond to events, and also new ways to think about situations. His work is truly applied psychology in action.

      Ultimately, beyond the value of asking others for help when you needed it, which is indeed an admirable quality, did you have a chance to learn those other strategies as well? When you asked for help, what kind of help was given?

      If a kid breaks a leg, and asks for help, to use your example, do parents respond by putting the kid and all their friends in a straight jacket in a padded room so that it can never happen again?

      Well, what is the difference these days in classrooms and our larger society where there is now a move towards "zero tolerance" for "different" and "zero tolerance" for any off-hand or inappropriate comment, where such a thing results in immediate discipline, arrest, or job loss? Is that the kind of society we really want to have? Have we not just shifted around the problem somewhere else, and maybe made it worse overall?

      Izzy Kalman says what is going on with stuff labelled bullying is for the most part issues of "dominance" and they are part of how humans interact, for good or bad. Example:
      "Study links teenage bullying to social status"
      http://articles.latimes.com/201

      --
      A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.
  76. This guy has obviously never met a real troll by taustin · · Score: 1

    To use his example, here's how a real troll works:

    "Perl rocks my socks and Python sucks balls, LOL. Python programmers are incompetent imbecile losers, ROTFL"

    "Why do you feel that Python is so bad? What do you find wrong with it?"

    "Python sucks because you're stupid and suck donkey dick."

    "Yes, Perl is a nice language, and I agree that Python has its downsides and/or trade-offs in comparison to Perl."

    "Python sucks because you're stupid and suck donkey dick."

    "It's OK to prefer Perl, we'll still accept you here."

    "Python sucks because you're stupid and suck donkey dick."

    A real troll isn't invested in what he (and it almost always is a he) says. His sole goal is to piss you off. To provoke a response. Any response. Any tactic is acceptable, so long as it provokes a response.

    I've seen the equivalent to this:

    "Perl rocks my socks and Python sucks balls, LOL. Python programmers are incompetent imbecile losers, ROTFL"

    "I agree. Python sucks."

    "Python rocks my socks and Perl sucks balls, LOL. Python programmers are incompetent imbecile losers, ROTFL"

    I've done that, in fact, and not from the victim's end of it. I once started a good sized flamewar by calling myself stupid. I've had people argue with Pee Wee Herman quotes for weeks at a time. My most glorious achievement had a guy arguing with "I know you are, but what am I" and completely blank replies in rec.arts.sf.written for eight months. That particular food product (I do like to play with my food, why do you ask?) reminded me a lot of this clown.

    Here's my advice, from years of amusing myself by trolling usenet:

    1) You cannot win. Ever. No matter what. The only way to not lose is to not play.

    2) You cannot stop a troll. Ever. No matter what. You cannot shame him in to silence. You cannot threaten him in to silence. You cannot keep him from access, because the days of news admins who give a shit are long gone (and even when they did, they were more sympathetic to the trolls than people stupid enough to argue with them). The only way to not lose is to not play.

    3) If you care, you have already played, and therefore you have already lost. The only way to not lose is to not play.

    4) It doesn't matter. It really doesn't. No troll has ever convinced anybody of anything. No one will ever hate Python because some troll said it sucked. The only possible effect of engaging a troll, at all, ever, is to make yourself look stupid to everyone who doesn't, including people who agree with you. The only way to not lose is to not play.

    5) The only response that isn't stupid and insane is, in fact, to not feed the troll. Ignore them. If you don't have the willpower to simply not read their drivel, killfile them, block them, whatever. Do the same with anyone who responds to them. The only way to not lose is to not play.

    And in case I haven't mentioned it:

      The only way to not lose is to not play.

  77. Re:FTFA: On the Internet, don't be right - be smar by taustin · · Score: 2

    "Arguing on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics. You might win, but you're retarded."

  78. This is terrible advice. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't ban trolls? Ask them questions? No, this doesn't work. Trolls are moronic imbeciles doing it for the "lulz". They will answer questions with more trolling. Ban the fuckers and be done with it.

  79. I disagree with the article by Thraxy · · Score: 1

    The idea of the article seems to be that "trolls" always are people that can be reasoned with. A few years back I used to moderate on a casual all-purpose help forum, where we got our fair share of trolls. The trolling was everything from fake complaints/problems, like fatal-butt-illness and wanting to commit suicide to posting pictures of gay sex (seems like a very popular subject for trolls) and mutilated corpses. Now THAT is trolling... and how do you talk those people down?

    Ok, I agree that some of the trolls could have been converted, but that would mean we would have to spend 57 hours a day talking to people without real problems, except for a major brain dysfunction (for which we lacked the proper credentials to diagnose and treat). If someone trolled, we banned or wiped the account, if they came back on a new account we blocked the IP (cut a few schools off once in a while.. goodtimes), if they came back using a proxy site, we banned that IP. Usually they would give up within 10 minutes. Ban, wipe and block... sounds like something out of Karate Kid :D

  80. be friendly to this troll by Device666 · · Score: 1

    Slashdot is dead

  81. Re:OR JUST ATTACK THEM IN A SUBJECT LINE, YOU PUSS by EliotVU · · Score: 1

    This should be rated up xD

  82. Fuck you all. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I fucking hate humanity. You're all a shit stain on the toilet bowl of life. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Of course, you're all a bunch of cock-smokers, so you'd probably rather be smoking a cock than a pipe.

    1. Re:Fuck you all. by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      I fucking hate humanity. You're all a shit stain on the toilet bowl of life....

      Welcome to the forum. I assume you are a cockroach? We accept cockroaches here too and welcome the diversity of an arthropod's point of view, for we don't get very many arthropods here. May I ask your name? Your handle is trilobitesAvengeMammals. Is that also your name?

  83. Re:This guy has obviously never met a real troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually, the only way not to lose is not to split infinitives.

  84. erm... by Beowulf878 · · Score: 1

    Can you imagine the equivalent chat face to face, perhaps in a bar?

    Troll: "Your mother is a slut!!"
    Nerd: "I agree she is rather free with her morals, but what makes you think so?"
    Troll: "more aggressively because I like ****ing her" & punches...
    Nerd: "mphmph" (mouth blocked by fist)

    In the real world, we pay big men in black clothing to help such "trolls" leave licensed premises.

    Perhaps its just because I mostly associate with gamers, but really, +b http://www.quakenet.org/faq/faq.php?c=52&f=62#62 was invented for trolls.

  85. Ineffective! by The+Hatchet · · Score: 1

    Any REAL troll does not succumb to such methods. While arguing with an anarchocapitalistfag on an anonops chan, no amount of gentle logic does anything, no discussion will be had at all, no convincing, just "I'm right because [insert preposterous bullshit here]"

    --
    Where is the mod rating for "scary"? Also, ...
  86. Moderate and Ban by xclr8r · · Score: 1

    Trolls are a waste of time; not only for the experienced but they can also misguide the newer members of a community. Take Eve Online, a newer member has a lot of questions since there is so many elements and attributes to modules, ships and physics mechanics. A troll can easily give a newer member some bad advice to some one who has a question and 100 other newer members can silently read it and have the same misunderstanding being propagated by the troll.

    That's a lot of damage to let sit and fester. The (ineffective) alternative is to gently argue your way and show everyone the errors of the trolls way. The reason it is ineffective is your wasting time and space and giving the floor to the troll instead of answering legitimate questions.

    --
    Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
    1. Re:Moderate and Ban by xclr8r · · Score: 1

      correction: there are* not is

      --
      Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
  87. YOU'RE FUCKING GAY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's fucking right. You're fucking gay.

  88. LOL by nthwaver · · Score: 1

    A slashdotted LJ entry. Slow news day?

  89. Re:This guy has obviously never met a real troll by taustin · · Score: 1

    I know you are, but what am I?

  90. Kill trolls with fire, or they will regenerate by FoolishOwl · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There's logic to the use of the "troll" metaphor. A rant is not trolling. Angry disagreement is not trolling. Deliberate attempts to disrupt an online forum are trolling. A responsible forum moderator has the responsibility to identify trolls and deal with them firmly, decisively, and as quickly as possible.

    The most common form of trolling I have seen is a bigoted comment, often "justified" with insane troll logic. Arguing with such logic is useless, and so is trying to dissuade the commenter from bigotry.

    Most importantly, the effect of such a troll is to silence or drive off members of an online community. Remember that in general, only a minority of participants in an online forum are active participants. If members of a group that has a history of victimization by bigotry see bigots going unchallenged or weakly challenged, they're likely to be discouraged from participation. Active participants will become passive, and passive participants will depart. This can kill an online community, and doing so is often a troll's intent. It is a moderator's responsibility to nurture an online community; therefore it is a moderator's responsibility to deal with trolls firmly.

    A troll is not interested in having a reasoned discussion, and when offered reasonable arguments, will continue or escalate the trolling. This amplifies the effect of the trolling, and leads to a forum thread being dominated by the argument around the troll: this is the reason why the conventional advice is to refrain from feeding the troll. That's not enough, however: trolls must be eliminated.

    There are two options for dealing with trolls: banning them, and humiliating them. Banning is the straightforward option, and usually the best choice, as it's the cleanest break. Humiliation is more chancy, but it has a few advantages: it makes it clear that a troll has been confronted, and in some cases, may more effectively demoralize a troll than simple banning. (One technique I've seen is "disemvowelling", in which all the vowels are deleted from a troll's comments. This makes it clear that action has been taken, and the troll's comments can be ignored, or can be puzzled out, if a regular participant wants to figure out what is going on.)

  91. Eheh, yeah kudos for the kiddy playing ground by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Moderation works if the moderators do NOT use moderation to push their own agenda.

    Sadly as the article says, a LOT of people think provoking a debate is a bad thing. Oh dear, I might get some new info that doesn't sit well with my world view. HIDE IT!

    A troll is someone who provokes for no other reason then to provoke. That doesn't mean all who provoke are trolls. Sometimes they just see the world a different way. By the logic of a lot of Slashdot moderators, Gene Roddenberry was a troll for having a white male and black woman kiss on TV. That certainly caused people to call for censorship and others that TV was not the right medium for creating a debate at this point in history.

    The slashdot style moderation system, especially now since meta-moderation seems to be gone, is all to open to abuse where a bleeding heart tries to hide views he disagrees with.

    It would help if the moderator had to at least specify WHY he thinks the troll is trolling and if the moderation options included choices like "don't agree with this" and more importantly "this is factually wrong as can be proven by reading these articles".

    Now "troll" and "flamebait" are just translated as "do not like" and "do not want to hear this".

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  92. what's our objective? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ignoring them might tick them off slightly, but engaging them w/o them getting a rise ... really pisses them off

    Pissing trolls off may be gratifying, but I think it might be better if our focus were more on undoing their negative influence. Angering people generally doesn't seem to reduce their causing problems.

  93. Re:This guy has obviously never met a real troll by Kaz+Kylheku · · Score: 1

    You've not encountered sophisticated trolls who actually have valid points and do not spew profanity.

  94. Most Trolls Expect Anonymity to Protect Them by Rubinstien · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've encountered a few really annoying newsgroup trolls over the years, people that only showed up in order to stir up crap for no good reason. Those types invariably seem to think that they're anonymous because they use an assumed name and some Yahoo/AOL/Google address they acquired for that particular purpose. Although it cost me dearly in hours and eyestrain, I've hunted a couple of those people down, identified them, then posted all of the steps necessary to connect the dots back to the newsgroups they were making asses of themselves on, with information detailed enough to derive their home telephone numbers, names, place of employment, and even more sensitive personal information (in one case, if someone chose to read between the lines). In both cases, that was the end of it -- no more troll. I did this the first time after having had a discussion with a friend, who suggested that this was the best way he had found to deal with astroturfers. I believe he was right (thanks Alex). For casual trolls, I still think it is advisable to simply ignore them -- for people that are seriously asinine, a little vigilantism can be effective.

    Unlike some, I have no appreciation for "the Art of Trolling". Appreciating a skillful trolling is no more worthwhile than appreciating fine sewage-making. They add essentially the same benefit to society -- in fact, the sewage might be the greater contribution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecunia_non_olet

    1. Re:Most Trolls Expect Anonymity to Protect Them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. This is the downside of Internet culture: people would say things online that they wouldn't dream of saying in person. The relative anonymity seems to somewhat open the floodgates of the id and bring out some of the worst behavior in people. I think it is cowardice.

      At the end of the day, though, these people (just like me, just like anyone) have to live with their choices and decisions, no matter how small; if they were to step back and take a look at their behavior, would they be truly pleased? When has being a fuckhead ever been cool? Is it OK that you're emotionally stunted? If someone is cool with that, rock on. Otherwise, you got a lot of growing up to do. Good luck with that.

  95. This actually works by Andtalath · · Score: 1

    The thing with this type of dissolving conflicts is that it works very well on several levels.
    If you just ban people for trolling, you might miss the whole point of their argument.

    The thing is, a person acting like a troll, when confronted, will show it's true colors.

    As a moderator of a political board on veganism I can tell you that most of my sub-moderators actually came from people coming into the forum as trolls but realized it was more interesting to go deeper into the subject instead.

    If someone actually responds to what you are saying and not trying to goad you further, you can tell that they are actually serious, just not very good at communication, if they still try to goad you though, it's very easy to ban them since they are in fact not constructive.

    So, it's sort of a filter.

  96. Seems like a lot of work... by matunos · · Score: 1

    ...when posting pics of Picard and/or Riker facepalming is much more entertaining.

  97. pseudo-trolls by Clay1985 · · Score: 1

    First off, some hilarious comments. I laughed really hard at the trolls trolling this article about trolls (though TFA wasn't even about trolls, it was about people who are loud and have opinions). Second of all, have you guys ever met a troll in real life? They have ADHD like 90% of the time (Temporal Lobe ADD). Since TFA is plugging a psyc book: if you have any interest in actual science in Psychology check out Daniel Amen's book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life". If you like pseudo science and half-baked Cognitive Behavioral methods buy the book from the article.

    --
    You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. -Plato
    1. Re:pseudo-trolls by neminem · · Score: 1

      Amusingly enough, I *did* once meet in person one of the biggest trolls on a forum I spent, at the time, way too much time on. He was a super-nice guy in person. Just thought it was amusing to play a troll on the forum. Actually, I can think of a couple people from forums I've met in person, who fit that description.

      And I had no desire to read the clearly-selling-something linked article, but as a moderator of a (different) forum now, I still don't see what's wrong with the recommended course of action for trolls being ignoring them. That or, in extreme cases, banning them, removing their posts, and repeating until they get bored of nobody responding to them (unless you count mod response of deleting their posts). I've never actually seen a case extreme enough to warrant that, though.

    2. Re:pseudo-trolls by Clay1985 · · Score: 1

      I agree. Their brain wants confrontation. If they're ignored, they pump up their game and try again. When still ignored, they go elsewhere for their stimulation. The best way to deal with trolls is to ignore them completely (or delete/hide their posts before they can provoke anyone). And people with the aggression-seeking brand of ADHD can seem perfectly sane face to face. For a time, anyway. Then you realize you've somehow entered an argument where you're both on the same side of an issue, yet it's unmistakably an argument.

      --
      You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. -Plato
  98. Further reading by RichiH · · Score: 1

    While I am not sure TFA will succeed with someone determined to be a troll, these things might:

    http://freenode.net/philosophy.shtml
    http://freenode.net/channel_guidelines.shtml
    http://freenode.net/catalysts.shtml

    tl;dr: Kindness, understanding and trying to make them see that people on the receiving side are people too can work wonders.

  99. It's the internet.... by krazytekn0 · · Score: 1

    Do people older than 16 actually invest themselves that much in psuedo communication? Talk to people face-to-face sometimes, then internet trolls won't bother you.

    --
    Not all life is cyber. Extra Income
  100. Based on the logo for this article ... by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

    I figured it was going to advocate decapitation.

    Someone should fix that Perl logo. And maybe explain what the hell Perl has to do with "Disarm Internet Trolls, Gently".

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  101. Wishful thinking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I didnt bother reading it it. Whatever it is its wishful thinking. ANY INTERACTION WITH A TROLL WILL FEED THEM. If you starve them they go away. Once in a while you get a well fed troll who is persistent, but in general you dont find that kinda troll.

  102. Re:This guy has obviously never met a real troll by FoolishOwl · · Score: 2

    Those aren't trolls. Those are people who disagree with you.

  103. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by xmousex · · Score: 1

    .

    THIS IS NOT TROLLING

    Here is the difference.

    If you literally believe they are wrong and you want to challenge people on their belief and post discussion topics or interject topics into existing discussions you may at times be hijacking, but you are not trolling. You literally believe in what you are posting, and therefor you are not trolling.

    If you simply go into a forum looking to post material that you know will cause havoc, regardless of your point of view on the matter, then you are trolling. Trolling does not mean you are trying to make a point, it means you are posting material that will cause trouble for the forum.

    Picture an atheist getting some kicks on /b/ posting material about how god is awesome and how evolution fails and all sinners will go to hell. If you respond with heated debate YHBT

  104. lame by S-4'N3 · · Score: 1

    This is the worst article ever and people who like it suck bawls.

  105. (Duke) Nuke 'em by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 1

    I say take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

  106. A common thread in life... pun not intended. by operagost · · Score: 1

    This strategy for dealing with trolls ends up sounding very similar to the advice given by Dale Carnegie in "How to Win Friends and Influence People". This book is now nearly 80 years old (and the talks it is based on are even older), but changes in culture and technology really don't affect human nature. Internet trolls are really just egregious forms of the jerks you encounter in every day life. Every time you encounter some difficult person, you have to remember that getting want you want is more important that "being right" or "winning". That might even sound selfish at first, but with this kind of attitude, everyone wins because it encourages cooperation instead of conflict. Carnegie focused on humans' feelings of self-worth, so ultimately you're combining the golden rule with negotiation to achieve success. Of course, you should just read the book because you're not going to get much out of my second-hand interpretation.

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    1. Re:A common thread in life... pun not intended. by PPH · · Score: 1

      That's a good point. But due to the nature of on-line discussion forums (Usenet, Facebook, Slashdot, etc.), the methods for dealing with problem personalities may have to be updated beyond those ever envisioned by Carnagie. While the motivations behind flaming might be similar, the subject book might offer some new tools for dealing with interactions not commonly found in face to face interactions.

      Example: On the Usenet, I've seen at least one instance where a 'respected' frequent poster will create several troll pseudonyms for use in shouting down opposing points of view. Everyone thinks he is the kindly 'grand old man' of the newsgroup, but challenge him in 'his territory' and you'll get flamed by one of his alter egos. This isn't unheard of IRL. But it takes the cooperation of actual human beings and it rapidly becomes evident who is who's lap dog. Besides, recruiting lackeys is quite difficult compared to spawning multiple on line identities.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  107. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by tomhudson · · Score: 1
    Look, I agree with your description of the etymology of the term "troll" - it's what I use when I describe trolling to those who are unclear of the concept.

    However, keep in mind that when doing the "fishing on the lake" thing, you can catch a fish in more than one way. They might bite your hook, or you may snag them on side. Either way, you got the fish, though in the latter method, you didn't even need bait.

    Now trolling on the net is far more complicated, because the motives for trolling are not "just" to catch a fish. And argument-type trolling isn't limited to the Internet. Look at any business meeting, or sit in a courtroom for a while. The goal there isn't just to cause random disruption - it's to disrupt the other side's arguments to achieve a specific goal.

    The "random noise generator" trolling is the most juvenile, and the most boring. Those you can handle by kicking them a few times so that they think they're getting a rise out of you, then ignoring them (this way, they'll keep at it against you for a while - it keeps them occupied and too busy to bother someone else for at least a bit). Eventually, the pattern will sink in, and they'll realize that you're just trolling them back, but they're always hopeful that *next time* they'll get you "for real".

    There is absolutely no reason that you can't troll in service of something you believe in. It's a good way of getting others to try to find flaws in your arguments, rather than the echo chamber that passes for too much "reasoned argument" on the internet. Example - facebooks' phony claim that they have 500 million subscribers. They don't, and it only takes a few minutes to figure out a few reasons why, but because everyone *wants* to believe that facebook is some sort of great way to market crap - if only *they* could figure out how - it's in nobody's interest to challenge the group-think.

    So I'll troll people who buy into the crap, and show how you can "buy" followers for as little as 5 for a penny, how many people have multiple accounts, how gamers will generate 500 accounts so that they can go into a game and quickly accumulate enough points so they don't get wiped out, how most posts never get read, etc., and how anyone who believes facebook is a good marketing platform for the average business is either a dumb f*** or a liar. (without that last bit, you don't get people so passionately trying to defend their illusions). Does facebook have 500 million users? No. Does facebook have 100 million users? Maybe.

  108. The shields and armor of the Internet by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 1

    Since the 2008 election, I've noticed how many people have suddenly become severely acrimonious about their political views online leading to trollism. Particularly on Facebook you see people posting politically-charged comments and links. I've come to the conclusion that voicing one's opinion online is akin to flipping people off while driving one's car. In your car you feel a sense of invincibility because you think "Screw you, a$$hole, what are you gonna do about it?!?" People behave in a manner that they would never do face to face. Blogs and Facebook are the same sort of virtual force field. You can say whatever you want and get away with it. What are they going to do about it? Un-friend you?

    Heinlein makes a lot of sense when he says "An armed society is a polite society." You'd think twice about saying something inflammatory if you might be challenged to a duel.

  109. Ignore or participate by DaveGod · · Score: 1

    TFA seems to consider a troll anyone being offensive. These are childish n00bs. A decent troll is adept at manipulation and is using it largely for his entertainment: trolling is a game, the objective is teh LOLS.

    For many trolls there's a superiority/inferiority ego-massage thing going on and LOLS are to be obtained at the expense of others. Generally "points" are scored based on the amount of time others spend responding to you and the level of attention/infamy gained. Bonuses can be awarded for rage and combo bonus if you can dupe the tide of opinion in your favour against selected victims.

    A ragequit is a decent victory however stealth is more successful at obtaining a win from convincing someone of a falsehood, particularly if the falsehood is liable to be realised "IRL" in a manner that causes embarrassment. Or indeed the LOLS of your victim - it is entirely unnecessary to take a negative approach. While all trolling involves gamesmanship, more sporting trolls set themselves rules and recognise that misery in easy meat is pyrrhic as you would have to be quite sad to consider it a game.

    When counter-trolling, arguably the troll has set the rules of the game but one must be wary of this being the trap: a negative troll may be baiting with the objective of inducing you down to their character's level then pulling the old switcheroo. It's more important to adopt their rules if they are sporting trolls with higher standards, since this is a gentleman's game and you're playing on their court, failing to observe the rules is undignified and failure by default.

    If any of this post is +informative, I'd hesitate to suggest counter-trolling since they're practiced, enjoy this kind of thing and negative trolls tend to, how should I say... have more free time and much less self-esteem. One of the easiest strategies though is to simply play along as the victim, all you need to do is keep them in the game and posting more than you, dancing to your tune.

  110. Re:This guy has obviously never met a real troll by taustin · · Score: 1

    In the mind of those who would call such a person a troll, it is literally inconceivable (and yes, it means what I think it means) that anyone could disagree with them without being literally insane or profoundly stupid. They're Right (with a capital R), after all, just ask them, and how could anyone possibly disagree with you when you're Right?

    In short, YHBT (You Have Been Trolled).

  111. At least he's honest. by Minwee · · Score: 1

    I may have misunderstood the word "troll"

    Yes, Shlomi, I believe that you have. Perhaps one day you will meet a real troll, and then you can write another article about that.

  112. Awww, poor lil' ITT Tech boy Professor Haiwypheet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because I made you look like a fool here before?

    "or the HOSTS guy that capitalizes every other word like that makes his crazy more powerful or something, just no subtlety or finesse at all." - by hairyfeet (841228) on Sunday March 06, @07:59PM (#35401584)

    Who has obviously made you look like a fool before:

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1916240&cid=34612834

    and here:

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1918172&cid=34642368

    and because of MY making YOU "eat your words" here before, "Professor Haiwypheet of ITT Tech" (lmao), you talk behind my back, like a gossipping wench? LMAO!

    All you have NOW is your effete little talking behind my back (or, so you thought) here...

    Please... lol, give us a break!

    APK

    P.S.=> Blowing away an "ITT Tech Product" like yourself, as I did in the 2 urls above? It was just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2EZ'"... apk

  113. But by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a nice idea though.
    "Curing" just one troll also avoids alot of future trolling.

    Sometimes people behave in a troll-like manner, without trolling
    on purpose. It may be worth a try here and there to lay out an
    anti-troll bate. At least to give them one chance to calm down.

  114. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by xmousex · · Score: 1

    And I think it is unproductive to extend the definition of trolling to the more legitimate activities you describe. If I made a post about something I believed in and someone responded back with "are you real or just trolling?" i would say "not trolling" because I AM trying to make a valid point, not just cause trouble. Valid points do often involve insulting language. It doesn't mean you are trolling either, you just really feel that way.

  115. U miss being BLOWN AWAY ITT Tech-boy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok then: See "Pwufessuh Haiwypheet" (of ITT Tech, lol) get blown away again, even more:

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1930156&cid=34734160

    (LMAO!)

    " or the HOSTS guy that capitalizes every other word like that makes his crazy more powerful or something, just no subtlety or finesse at all." - by hairyfeet (841228) on Sunday March 06, @07:59PM (#35401584)

    You're right about 1 thing though: I don't use "subtlety or finesse", I just use facts and documentation... & that always works to silence the TRUE trolls around here like yourself (and you can't STAND it, lol, see above!)

    APK

    P.S.=> So, as you can all see? All hairyfeet here has is his talking behind my back like a gossiping wench, lol, whereas I can show you all WHY he is doing that to me... because I easily, "too, Too, TOO EASILY" in fact, blew him away due to his lack of know-how in the art & science of computing... apk

    1. Re:U miss being BLOWN AWAY ITT Tech-boy? by Wandering+Idiot · · Score: 1

      Is... is English your first language? I have a hard time imagining a native speaker thinking that type of random empHASIS gets their point across better. Seriously, use proper sentence structure, stop peppering your posts with parenthetical "lol's", lay off the caps lock, and forget the bold tag even exists, because you clearly don't know how to use it. Perhaps then you can spend more time actually discussing the superiority of hosts file blocking, or whatever you're on about, and less time defending yourself from people who think you're an insane troll.

    2. Re:U miss being BLOWN AWAY ITT Tech-boy? by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      I applaud your attempt to save apk from himself but he is impervious to criticism. As you can see from the first reply he made he didn't even completely parse your post, instead he flew off the handle daring you to show your PH.D as if that were a requirement for forming an opinion about his terrible posts. No, apk is a dyed in the wool lunatic, frothing at the mouth about hosts and blind to the fact that everybody knows he's insane.

      And apk, before you feel tempted to make some half assed response to this post, don't bother. All the rambling bullshit in the world will never convince even a single soul that your NOT everything I have accused you of being.

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
    3. Re:U miss being BLOWN AWAY ITT Tech-boy? by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      As an aside, I'm waiting for MichaelKristopeit and APK duke it out.

      Yo dawg, I heard you liek trolls so I put a troll in your troll so you can troll while you troll. lol

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
  116. WarGames by SnowDog74 · · Score: 1

    The article's first example involves IRC. There's your first mistake... wasting time on IRC, the backside of the internet.

    Heed the wisdom of Professor Falken's Joshua, "Strange game. The only winning move is not to play."

  117. Social Skills 101 by SnowDog74 · · Score: 1

    It's rather disturbing reading the article's suggestions... It reminds me that the audience appears to be comprised of individuals so completely lacking in social skills, one wonders for what purpose they congregate... other than to find others to act indifferently or rude toward. That sort of makes the coaching a little fruitless... unless, there again, my first advice is STAY OFF IRC.

    Surrounding one's self with sociopaths tends to ingrain sociopathic behavior. Spend time around a normal distribution of well-adjusted people. It'll rub off on you, or you'll rub them the wrong way and discover very quickly (unlike in IRC) just how unacceptable IRC-style behavior really is. You'll either adjust quickly or suffer a fate more devastating to one's ego than being banned: insignificance.

  118. Way to advertise the battle plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or, since you're such a dickwad, you can pursue your usual course of action by simply rolling over and taking it up the ass, like the little faggot you are.

    Ok, now I have thrown profanities at you. Have fun trying to bait me and reel me in. I shall provide no response from here.

    Hmmm . . . checkmate, fuckface - I win!!

  119. See "Pwuffesuh Haiwypheet" get BLOWN AWAY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This said it all about you hairyfeet (ITT Tech boy, lol, who FAILED HUGELY) http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2025178&cid=35407028

    1. Re:See "Pwuffesuh Haiwypheet" get BLOWN AWAY by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      Why thank you Petey for illustrating my point SO well. While Twitter was a master of insanity you are just another poor lame assburgers holding onto your magical woobie and having trouble typing a sentence. You really should go find Twitter and study at the feet of the master, because frankly ATM you aren't even qualified to wash his jockstrap.

      Kinda sad really, but you are the PERFECT example of how the crazies and trolls don't measure up to the greats. So how does it feel to know that even in crazy you are third rate? Hell you can't even cook up a decent sockpuppet, just going back to your tired old lame ass king'sjester or joker or whatever. you are the equivalent of the mid season reality show replacement nobody can even muster up enough caring about to remember the name, what a sad little fate for a sad little man.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  120. Re:FTFA: On the Internet, don't be right - be smar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I read that as "be smart" is describing social relations as in getting people to like and respect you by not fighting losing or other irrelevant battles, while "being right" has to do with convincing others of your position.

    The former requires "social intelligence" about when to begin and continue an argument and is particularly difficult for autistic spectrum people to recognize. The latter is about the success/failure of any particular argument.

    To be influential you have to both be liked and be convincing.

  121. balls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    balls ==m=D

  122. Too bad hairyfeet's not doing well vs. them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1930156&cid=34734160

    Which is the WHY of why hairyfeet posted his b.s. above, and didn't put my initials or name into it: So I wouldn't see this most likely (Doesn't matter: I used it to expose hairyfeet in his BIG FAIL in the URL above... too easy!).

    APK

    P.S.=> Too bad I did catch his gossipping like a wench here, eh? I just expose him for his b.s. is all... easily! apk

    1. Re:Too bad hairyfeet's not doing well vs. them by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      BTW spanky, your "evidence" which you used to "expose hairyfeet in his BIG FAIL" is pretty weak. It amounts to you rebutting his post with "Nuh uh!" Bravo, your wit will surely go down in history as unassailable.

      P.S. => Gossip and bullshit is what slashdot is about. Try digg if you want hard hitting commentary. Hell they might even welcome your raving lunacy there. Who knows?

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
  123. well done! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Successful troll is successful!

    Slashdot has been trolled (not that it's hard)

  124. Socrates? by King_of_Mars · · Score: 1

    Isn't good trolling a sort of variation on the Socratic Method? Illumination of truth though feigned ignorance or by soliciting contradictory comments from the Original commenter (In this case the "OP")?. Alternately if you consider the worst case scenario, where the troll is just attempting to make you mad, why even bother to engage them as they have already expressed their inability and or lack of desire to engage in a meaningful conversation.

  125. Re:Perfect example of why you are all idiots... by tomhudson · · Score: 1

    Language evolves. Example - trolling used to be something you did from the back of a boat.

  126. Re:FTFA: On the Internet, don't be right - be smar by tomhudson · · Score: 1

    To be influential you have to both be liked and be convincing.

    The fact that both Hitler (1938) and Stalin (1939, 1942) were voted Time Magazine's Person of the Year would tend to argue against your thesis.

  127. Re:FTFA: On the Internet, don't be right - be smar by BJ_Covert_Action · · Score: 1

    Have you ever seen the faces of the kids that win at the Special Olympics? They might be retarded, but I'll be damned if they aren't stoked on life.

  128. WoW - lmao! Look @ that "ReAcTiOn", lol... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LMAO - see subject-line, & this quote, "FoAmiNg @ tHe MoUtH" & all, lol:

    "Why thank you Petey for illustrating my point SO well. While Twitter was a master of insanity you are just another poor lame assburgers holding onto your magical woobie and having trouble typing a sentence. You really should go find Twitter and study at the feet of the master, because frankly ATM you aren't even qualified to wash his jockstrap. Kinda sad really, but you are the PERFECT example of how the crazies and trolls don't measure up to the greats. So how does it feel to know that even in crazy you are third rate? Hell you can't even cook up a decent sockpuppet, just going back to your tired old lame ass king'sjester or joker or whatever. you are the equivalent of the mid season reality show replacement nobody can even muster up enough caring about to remember the name, what a sad little fate for a sad little man." - by hairyfeet (841228) on Monday March 07, @08:56PM (#35414582)

    Now, wipe the frothing foam & drool off your lips boy... & take your meds!

    APK

    P.S.=> And, learn a bit more about computing than you did @ ITT Tech, after that asswhooping I administered to you in the URL below for your trolling myself repeatedly:

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1930156&cid=34734160

    apk

  129. Oh, the double irony. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The original article Shlomi Fish wrote (and the parent poster was referring to) was not trolling at all.

    http://better-scm.berlios.de/docs/nice_trys.html

    It was very insightful -- if I were shopping around for solutions, I would personally give it a try instead of the Common Lisp based approach the parent poster is advocating, precisely for the reasons outlined. As for the rebuttal page of the parent poster, I was not convinced at all -- regardless of the rebuttal's whining about technicalities, I would still never resort to installing an uncommon language just to do source code control. And while the original article got some facts incorrect, the general reasoning that lead to the decision is still sound. It was not even posted at a forum to get a rise out of people (it was not in an "enemy camp's" forum thread -- it's simply a justification page for the project's existence), so it cannot be characterized as "trolling" at all.

    The above poster, on the other hand, is doing a near-exact definition of trolling, "getting a rise out of people in a thread devoted to discussing an unrelated view". It was rife with the tactics of trolling -- taking quotes out of context, resorting to false generalizations, using unpleasant language, and tried to derail the conversation from the topic at hand into an ad hominem and personal attack. Yet the post got modded "informative".

    Good job. Kaz, you earned my respect. You really did.

  130. Care to show us your PHD's in Psych & English? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First, see my subject-line above:

    "Is... is English your first language? I have a hard time imagining a native speaker thinking that type of random empHASIS gets their point across better. Seriously, use proper sentence structure, stop peppering your posts with parenthetical "lol's", lay off the caps lock, and forget the bold tag even exists, because you clearly don't know how to use it." - by Wandering Idiot (563842) on Tuesday March 08, @02:00AM (#35416058)

    Care to show us your PHD in English, and your years of teaching it professionally? Not that it would matter, because I don't recall /. having an "english grammar & spelling" section of these forums either... & guess what - THAT makes YOU, OFF TOPIC, troll!

    ---

    "and less time defending yourself from people who think you're an insane troll." - by Wandering Idiot (563842) on Tuesday March 08, @02:00AM (#35416058)

    Care to show us your PHD in Psychiatry, alongside your license to practice it, and your proof of a formal examination of myself in a professional environs?

    ("NO" to both of the above? Of course, & that's because YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE DEGREES, & NOT THAT IT'D MATTER: BECAUSE YOU? YOU ARE AN OFF-TOPIC TROLL, period!)

    APK

    P.S.=>

    "Perhaps then you can spend more time actually discussing the superiority of hosts file blocking, or whatever you're on about" - by Wandering Idiot (563842) on Tuesday March 08, @02:00AM (#35416058)

    Perhaps YOU can get "on topic", instead of trying the 2 oldest troll tricks in the book, of "I can't read your writing" &/or "you're crazy", etc./et al? Perhaps then you'd have actually understood what I was whipping hairyfeet's behind about then, also??

    apk

  131. Re:Care to show us your PHD's in Psych & Engli by Wandering+Idiot · · Score: 1

    Perhaps YOU can get "on topic", instead of trying the 2 oldest troll tricks in the book, of "I can't read your writing" &/or "you're crazy", etc./et al?

    Has it ever occurred to you that there's a reason you get so many responses claiming your posts are hard to read and that you're probably insane? (Hint: They are, and you are, or at least do a good impression of it)

    I'm not sure what you're going on about in the rest of it. I never complained that your post was off topic, just incredibly badly formatted. That doesn't take a PhD to notice, just basic reading comprehension. The fact that you think it requires a doctorate to not mash Caps Lock and double-quote at random probably says something, I'm not sure what (because your posts are insane, and don't present your intentions well, however much sense they probably make inside your own head). I'm guessing you were trying to make some type of satirical point.

    I don't think this thread is all that off-topic, involving as it does the perception of trollishness, after all. Myself, I'm wondering if you're even capable of writing like a normal person, because if so you're avoiding doing so seemingly out of spite, which seems like kind of a trollish thing to do. Just try it once. Type a few sentences and capitalize only the first letter of the first word. Don't worry, you won't melt.

  132. Has it ever occurred to you to get your PHD's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Has it ever occurred to you that there's a reason you get so many responses claiming your posts are hard to read and that you're probably insane? (Hint: They are, and you are, or at least do a good impression of it)" - by Wandering Idiot (563842) on Wednesday March 09, @08:18PM (#35438064)

    See subject-line, & get rid of your "delusions of grandeur" thinking you're a psychiatrist or English professor... ok?

    This list of 160++ mod ups to my favor show clearly otherwise:

    ---

    +5 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (8):

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1139485&cid=26975021

    http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1884922&cid=34350102

    http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1872982&cid=34264190

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1139485&cid=26974507

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=170545&cid=14210206

    http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175774&cid=14610147

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1806946&cid=33777976

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1901826&cid=34490450

    ----

    +4 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (4):

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=161862&cid=13531817

    http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=167071&cid=13931198

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1290967&cid=28571315

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1461288&cid=30273506

    ----

    +3 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (6):

    http://mobile.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1930156&cid=34713952

    http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=155172&cid=13007974

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=166850&cid=13914137

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175857&cid=14615222

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=273931&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=20291847

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1021873&cid=25681261

    ----

    +2 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (30):

    http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1907266&cid=34529608

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=158231&cid=13257227

    http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1361585&cid=29360367

  133. DocHoncho, posting DAYS later to get last word? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject-line above. Argue with the results, vs. this drivel from you:

    "BTW spanky, your "evidence" which you used to "expose hairyfeet in his BIG FAIL" is pretty weak. It amounts to you rebutting his post with "Nuh uh!" Bravo, your wit will surely go down in history as unassailable. - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:43PM (#35438260) Homepage

    Listen waldo - Like was said in my subject-line above: Funny how hairyfeet RAN AWAY now, isn't it?

    (Sok You can call me all the derogatory names you like, but it doesn't change a damned thing - HAIRYFEET RAN AWAY, LIKE THE ITT TECH PRODUCT HE IS, period... no questions asked!)

    APK

    P.S.=>

    "Gossip and bullshit is what slashdot is about" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:43PM (#35438260) Homepage

    You mean like YOU posting here, DAYS LATER, thinking I wouldn't be watching to defend myself vs. your gossipping wench attempts @ backstabbing me? LOL, guess again... you have been SHOT DOWN, easily! apk

    1. Re:DocHoncho, posting DAYS later to get last word? by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      Oh no sir, I was COUNTING on you keeping close vigil on your pathetic bleatings and making half assed, desperate attempts to defend yourself, just like you always do.

      And how in the hell does my post in any way shape or form constitute backstabbing? ITS A PUBLIC FORUM!! Once again you show the world your fundamental incapacity for rational thought. Bravo, way to make my point for me! I hardly even have to do anything.

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
  134. DocHoncho - the DOC minus a PHD, lol! apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Introducing /.'s own "sidwalk psychiatrist", minus his PHD in Psychiatry, of course, & years to decades of professional practice, as well as mnus a license to practice, DocHoncho (the wannabe sidewalk psychiatrist):

    "No, apk is a dyed in the wool lunatic, frothing at the mouth about hosts and blind to the fact that everybody knows he's insane." - by DocHoncho WANNABE SIDEWALK PSYCHIATRIST OF /., lol (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:31PM (#35438164) Homepage

    Again: Care to produce YOUR PHD in Psychiatry? Or, your proof of years to decades of professional practice?? How about your license to practice it??? Better still - produce proof of your formal examination of myself in a professsional environs you used to give us your "prognosis/diagnosis" there, PSEUDO-DOCTOR????

    (You have none of the above????? Of course not, lol!)

    ---

    "I applaud your attempt to save apk from himself but he is impervious to criticism." - by DocHoncho WANNABE SIDEWALK PSYCHIATRIST OF /., lol (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:31PM (#35438164) Homepage

    From the likes of YOU, & yours, trolls? Absolutely. Not a single one of you even has a CSC or CIS degree, so on the topic of computer sciences, you're all a pack of WANNABEs!

    (Wannabe's with "delusions of grandeur" that you're English professors, completely off topic on that account since there's no "english section" of the forums here... nor on psychiatry either, lol, see above!)

    ---

    "As you can see from the first reply he made he didn't even completely parse your post, instead he flew off the handle daring you to show your PH.D as if that were a requirement for forming an opinion about his terrible posts." - by DocHoncho WANNABE SIDEWALK PSYCHIATRIST OF /., lol (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:31PM (#35438164) Homepage

    LOL, funny how not a SINGLE ONE OF YOU has that PHD in Psych or English though... guess that makes you "experts" in those areas?? LMAO, NOT!

    ---

    "And apk, before you feel tempted to make some half assed response to this post, don't bother. All the rambling bullshit in the world will never convince even a single soul that your NOT everything I have accused you of being." - by DocHoncho WANNABE SIDEWALK PSYCHIATRIST OF /., lol (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:31PM (#35438164) Homepage

    I have proven, not merely assessed, that YOU? You're a wannabe and a poseur attempting to play "sidewalk psychoanalyst" here, completely off topic no less... you're nothing more than a troll, and an easily dealt with one no less!

    APK

    P.S.=> It's always FUN & easy ("too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2EZ'" in fact) to get the best of these puny trolls on /., everytime... apk

    1. Re:DocHoncho - the DOC minus a PHD, lol! apk by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      At first I was amused by your bleatings, but it's starting to grow tiresome. First you assert that one requires a PHD in psychology, or at the very least experience in the field of psychoanalysis, to form an opinion about the apparent mental state of a particular poster on an internet forum. Then, you repeat yourself several times, all the while failing to produce a single reason why a "PHD in Psychology" is necessary for the formation of opinion.

      To top it all off, you pretend I'm a troll when the only impact my posts will have is on YOU, APK. At best you could call it flamebait. But in reality, I'm only saying what everyone else thinks when you post the exact same copy pasta about HOSTS files or whatever other thing gets your rocks off.

      Let's see what else you have in your playbook. So far I'm not impressed.

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
  135. We're waiting 4 YOUR PHD in Psych, lol! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know: The degrees you DON'T HAVE? lol!

    "As an aside, I'm waiting for MichaelKristopeit and APK duke it out." - by DocHoncho THE WANNABE SHRINK SIDEWALK PSYCHIATRIST OF /., LMAO (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:34PM (#35438184) Homepage

    Yea, lol, "you're the DOC alright", lol, DocWannabe, w/ out PHD's in those areas, is more like it, lol!

    (See your signature above? LMAO!)

    APK

    P.S.=> NOW, wipe the drool off your lip boy, and quit your foaming @ the mouth raging tantrums already... it's NOT OUR FAULT you're just another "/. 'ne-er-do-well' wannabe", lol... apk

    1. Re:We're waiting 4 YOUR PHD in Psych, lol! by DocHoncho · · Score: 1

      What in the hell are you talking about? Without a PHD in what areas? Troll detection?

      Where's your PHD in psychology to call me a 'ne-er-do-well' wannabe?

      Don't be mad just because I call you out every time you start going on your pathetic tirades.

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
    2. Re:We're waiting 4 YOUR PHD in Psych, lol! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "What in the hell are you talking about? Without a PHD in what areas? Troll detection?" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:51PM (#35449682) Homepage

      Then, your alarms must go "wild", lol, when you look in the mirror (you know, just BEFORE that mirror shatters, lol!).

      ---

      "Where's your PHD in psychology to call me a 'ne-er-do-well' wannabe?" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:51PM (#35449682) Homepage

      OK, then: What have you ever done that was noted as good or better by others in the field of computing for then in respected publications, books, magazines, newspapers, or commercially produced softwares and technical shows they excelled in?

      (I ask that, because you SURELY do not have a PHD in Psychiatry for calling me insane, lol, which is libelling me without that degree, you know... nor English either & NOT THAT EITHER WOULD MATTER - it's off topic, like you!)

      ---

      "Don't be mad just because I call you out every time you start going on your pathetic tirades." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:51PM (#35449682) Homepage

      I don't get mad @ "ne'er-do-wells", lol...

      APK

      P.S.=> That 2nd paragraph? Been there, done that, here (a LOT of times)... apk

  136. Programming languages depend on libraries by tepples · · Score: 1

    If Meta-CVS' author wishes to make it more popular, I strongly advise him to re-implement it in C, Perl, Python or something more standard.

    Would it have been less abrasive if phrased as follows? "Meta-CVS depends on a runtime environment that most users haven't already installed. If Meta-CVS' author wishes to make it more popular, I strongly advise him to A. re-implement it such that it doesn't require installation of this framework, or B. package it to include this framework." I seem to remember similar complaints about C# programs for Windows when the .NET Framework wasn't bundled with the OS and a lot of the developed world was still stuck on dial-up and/or small hard drives. AC has a point that a lot of people don't want to have to download and install a runtime environment for every separate program that they use. Or should one package applications the Apple way, where every application includes a copy of the programming language's multimegabyte runtime library, either statically linked or as a DLL in the application's folder? How many redundant copies of the JVM, CLR, Python interpreter, PHP interpreter, Perl interpreter, and whatever libraries your CL compiler uses do you expect to have on a hard disk, and how do you expect to keep them all updated once critical security vulnerabilities become fixed?

    What a fucking arrogant asshole, "strongly advising" his superior.

    I didn't see it as so arrogant inside of an if-then clause. In other words: "If Meta-CVS is intended as a proof of concept not necessarily intended for wide adoption, go ahead and ignore the second half of the sentence."

  137. Won't work for Hebrew or Arabic by tepples · · Score: 1

    One technique I've seen is "disemvowelling", in which all the vowels are deleted from a troll's comments. This makes it clear that action has been taken, and the troll's comments can be ignored, or can be puzzled out, if a regular participant wants to figure out what is going on.

    That wouldn't work so well in a religious flamewar, especially on a forum with a lot of followers of Judaism or Islam. They're used to reading text without vowels, as their liturgical languages are written in an abjad, often without the diacritics that indicate short vowels.

  138. Bwah! Don't flatter yourself (COUNT?), lol... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Oh no sir, I was COUNTING" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @10:03PM (#35449738) Homepage

    See subject-line, & keep your drool to yourself... you're not intelligent enough to COUNT (just like you don't even "count" in life, lol!)

    ---

    "on you keeping close vigil on your pathetic bleatings and making half assed, desperate attempts to defend yourself, just like you always do." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @10:03PM (#35449738) Homepage

    Yes, as I suspected: Another "internet-psycho-stalker" on my tail!

    (Read it up above, quoted... man, it's obvious!)

    New NEWS: I don't NEED some "StRaNgE" freak for a "secret-admirer", so why don't you 'take the hint', ok?? LMAO!

    (There's no "1/2 assed" in anything I do though... especially burning trolls like yourself, lol, & making others laugh @ you in the process!)
    ---

    "And how in the hell does my post in any way shape or form constitute backstabbing? ITS A PUBLIC FORUM!! Once again you show the world your fundamental incapacity for rational thought. Bravo, way to make my point for me! I hardly even have to do anything." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @10:03PM (#35449738) Homepage

    Ok, a question: Are you just trying to act like a BEYOTCH, or are you one, for real?

    APK

    P.S.=> I am glad you showed back up, because it's just "too, Too, TOO EASY" to make a troll with libellous delusions of grandeur like you obviously have, look even more stupid than you are (thinking you're a PHD in Psychiatry, because without that you're libelling me you know, calling me insane, & the like, as you have)... & that means you are very, Very, VERY dumb, imo! Especially if the "best you have to offer" others, is your being a troll, lol... apk

  139. Delusions of grandeur, Mr. "psychiatrist"? LOL! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "At first I was amused by your bleatings" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    I never found your prattling amusing. I found it rather libellous actually!

    ---

    "but it's starting to grow tiresome." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    Thinking for dullards like yourself, usually is... we understand (lol). Rest now. Take your sleepy pills & nighty-night... ok? LMAO!

    ---

    "First you assert that one requires a PHD in psychology, or at the very least experience in the field of psychoanalysis, to form an opinion about the apparent mental state of a particular poster on an internet forum." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    Actually, iirc, it IS one of the things you must be careful of doing online, e.g. doing what YOU did my way: Calling me "insane" & without a license in psychiatry, a degree in it @ PHD levels, & also most importantly, without performing a formal examination in professional settings for it.

    ---

    "Then, you repeat yourself several times, all the while failing to produce a single reason why a "PHD in Psychology" is necessary for the formation of opinion." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    Actually, especially in YOUR case? A BRAIN IS THE FIRST REQUIREMENT, & YOU LACK ONE, lol...

    ---

    "To top it all off, you pretend I'm a troll when the only impact my posts will have is on YOU, APK. At best you could call it flamebait. " - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    No, I'd call your stupidity something that a bored housewife would do, trolling others as you do... lol!

    ---

    "But in reality, I'm only saying what everyone else thinks when you post the exact same copy pasta about HOSTS files or whatever other thing gets your rocks off." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    Don't like it? Don't READ it... pretty simple!

    ---

    "Let's see what else you have in your playbook. So far I'm not impressed." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:59PM (#35449722) Homepage

    First, you have to have a BRAIN to be IMPRESSED, & as I said above...? You lack one, lol!

    APK

    P.S.=> Ah, yes... as-per-my-usual style vs. trolls (especially "sTaLKeR TroLLz" like this one)?

    This was just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2EZ'" but unfair, as I am competing with a "ne'er-do-well" dullard in DocHoncho here, lol!... apk

  140. After you called ME this? I had EVERY right, troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Funny you should ask THIS question, troll:

    "Where's your PHD in psychology to call me a 'ne-er-do-well' wannabe?" - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Thursday March 10, @09:51PM (#35449682) Homepage

    You want to know what gave me the right to call you that? This line of bullshit from you:

    "apk is a dyed in the wool lunatic, frothing at the mouth about hosts and blind to the fact that everybody knows he's insane." - by DocHoncho (1198543) * on Wednesday March 09, @08:31PM (#35438164) Homepage

    And, in case you didn't know it? That's libelling myself, and you do NOT have what allows you to make such assessments of myself, in:

    ---

    1.) A PHD in Psychiatry

    2.) A license to practice psychiatry

    3.) Years of practicing psychiatry

    4.) A formal examination of myself as to my mental state/condition, in professional environs.

    ---

    As far as I know? Because you lack those 4 things, you are libelling myself because of that 2nd quote of YOUR libellous words.

    APK

    P.S.=> Additionally, YOU started it with myself, so... there you are, troll... apk