Trolling

[kellys_eye]

Open discussion.

At what point in time do we (as a forum) make a decision that a contributor is just here to troll the forum?

How many posts do we allow before we send the OP off to 'contemplate their ways' and, if they can't, don't/won't repair their ways, ban them permanently?

I realise the final decision is in the hands of the moderators but I'm aware of a couple of recent 'members' (one clearly a returning, previously banned troll-under-a-new-name) that have been permitted more than (I consider) decent leeway to either stop or, at the very least, reconsider their position.

Whilst some trolls are better than others at hiding their purpose there nearly always comes a time when they are exposed - but the more persistent ones seem to hide away for a while (so we 'forget') or distract in some other fashion so they can continue their trolling at a later date.

Is there a maximum number of 'idiotic' posts before action is taken or do we just put up with them to keep the forum 'active'?

I confess to being 'drawn in' to some of these troll posts but eventually discover the actuality and hope that moderators also see what's happening and step in rather than just give succour to what they consider to be genuinely misguided individuals without referencing their past performance (contributions?).

Such trolling does the forum no good whatsoever. Google results can draw people into threads that ultimately lead nowhere or show the site in lesser respect than it ought to be and, in many examples, MOCK some genuine contributors by the ridiculousness of their (troll) contributions. At the very least their 'idiocy' should be deleted from the thread and the culprit given a warning?

Anyone want to throw some input on this?

 

[Bluejets]

Yeah, turn the other cheek and get over it. Life tò short.

 

[kellys_eye]

Yeah, turn the other cheek and get over it. Life tò short.

<pedantry 'on'> that's "too" not "to" <pedantry 'off'>

Life may indeed be short but there's no reason it can't be comfortable. You may not care about the reputation of the forum (since you display every sign of being interested in nothing but yourself) but others may actually give a sh1t.

 

[davenn]

Anyone want to throw some input on this?

I think I know who you are referring to PM sent for confirmation ......

 

[Harald Kapp]

In my opinion there's no clear border between trolling and incompetence or stupidity.
Part of the problem is that this evaluation is based on the personal opinion of members and moderators. We want to avoid false positives (we do not want to ban members who are simply incompetent) while at the same time avoid false negatives (not ban trolls).
Be assured that the decision is not always easy and obvious.
As an intermediate we moderators can ban members for a certain timespan (e.g. a month) to allow those members to consider their attitude.
Last not least if someone is trolling us on purpose, he/she/they usually find a way to sidestep a ban and simply register under a new user name

I hink I know who you are referring to PM sent for confirmation ......

Methinks I know too. plus another 1/2 troll
And I think @davenn has acted.

 

[Kiwi]

I just ignore posts from people who I believe are trolls or playing silly beggers.

 

[Martaine2005]

Yep, just ignore them. They’ll eventually get bored.

 

[Harald Kapp]

They’ll eventually get bored.

Unfortunately they don't.

 

[kellys_eye]

In my opinion there's no clear border between trolling and incompetence or stupidity.

My qualification on the determination is based on the 'trolls' inability to react to advice or assistance - as if they don't even bother to read (and certainly can't comprehend) any replies. The 'carry on regardless' attitude with the added doubling down on the issue at hand.

As I say, on its own we could simply ignore it but when it starts infecting other threads - where many newcomers get their first impressions of this forum - we need to act even if it's just an immediate deletion of their input. But deletion can take time and the damage may already be done.

 

[Harald Kapp]

we need to act

@davenn has acted

 

[hevans1944]

I just now stumbled onto this thread. I may actually have tripped and fallen over a troll to get here. Nevermind. I tend to follow the logic of @kellys_eye on this, and many of the moderators may too. We all know, or think we know, at least one troll. It is difficult to get rid of them, but starvation helps. Stop responding when the troll appears and they will continue to have "conversations" with themselves. Some may continue posting for days or even months, but when their nonsense appears please just ignore it. Don't feed the Trolls! Eventually a moderator will do something about it.

I haven't posted here in the open forums for awhile. The electronics discussions have become boring with inane questions, to which even the least enlightened electronics experimenter should already know how to find the answer. I didn't join Electronics Point... er, MakerPro, to become a tutor of the ignorant, but rather to help the uninformed or incorrectly informed learn how to better pursue their electronics hobby. And maybe to unload a little personal autobiography for the reader's amusement.

MakerPro has many dimensions that the original members of Electronics Point might want to explore, if they haven't done so already. "Real soon now" I am going to get my first 3D printer. Not sure if the first one will be a buy or build, but its near the top of my "bucket list." I look forward to joining MakerPro forums devoted to 3D printing. And amateur radio. Lots of things to do here, trolls be damned.

73,
Hop AC8NS

 

[Delta Prime]

This is a decision for moderators and moderators alone it is why they are honored,trusted and given the title.
All members here convey information we offer it freely upon request and it is retained only when it's value is appreciated by the recipient.
Who amongst us can say they were the first to discover this knowledge.... If fellow members would take a bow, maybe that chip on their shoulders will fall off.

 

[Harald Kapp]

This is a decision for moderators and moderators alone it is why they are honored,trusted and given the title.

The decision is ours, but we definitely appreciate valuable input from all forum members.

 

[Delta Prime]

The decision is ours, but we definitely appreciate valuable input from all forum members.

Thank you for kindly correcting my statement. I greatly appreciate your assistance. Have a good night, sir.

 

[Maglatron]

you guys are not talking about me are you? I am not a troll!

 

[Delta Prime]

you guys are not talking about me are you? I am not a troll!

No! don't be silly little billy goat.
Medium billy goat is frightened to be eaten up by the troll.But still the Big Billy Goat( 3 moderators, pick one). Was not one bit frightened & said.
“So you’re a Troll, are you! And you own this bridge, do you? And now you’re going to eat me up? We’ll just see about that:
“I have a forehead as hard as stone,
And I’ll mash you all up, body and bone. "
When the Troll heard the Big Billy Goat talk to him that way he bellowed so that the Middle-sized Billy Goat and the Little Billy Goat heard him all the way up on the mountain where they were. He jumped up on the bridge and put down his big, bushy head and ran at the Billy Goat, and the Big Billy Goat put down his head and ran at the Troll, and they met in the middle of the bridge. But the Billy Goat’s head was harder than the Troll’s, so he knocked him down and thumped him about, and then he took him up on his horns and threw him over the edge of the bridge into the river below, and the Troll sank like a piece of lead and never was seen or heard of again.

 

[Maglatron]

ok thanks I think!

 

[Omega Supreme]

Trolling may indicate social and developmental retardation. It could be a cry for help.

 

[Delta Prime]

Trolling may indicate social and developmental retardation. It could be a cry for help.

Beware!
Here be three very large Billy goats!!!

 

[Omega Supreme]

Jordan Peterson does a good job diagnosing online trolls:

But no one ever provides suggestions to help treat internet trolls. Does that mean they’re a lost cause, and we should just lock them and throw away the key?