I usually try to stay out of conflicts but, I have noticed way too many threads in which are turning into silly arguments. I'm not going to call out names or engage in any back and forth. What I am going to do is make it plain.
I checked through a few threads and I have seen far too many instances where people are being attacked in posts because a person doesn't approve of what they are discussing.
This is the very definition of trolling.
A "Forum Troll" is a person who posts outrageous message to bait people to answer. The Forum Troll delights in sowing discord on the forums. A troll is someone who inspires flaming rhetoric, someone who is purposely provoking and pulling people into flaming discussion. Flaming discussions usually end with name calling and a flame war.
A classic troll is trying to make us believe that he/she is a skeptic. He/she is divisive and argumentative with need-to-be-right attitude, "searching for the truth", flaming discussion, and sometimes insulting people or provoking people to insult him/her. The troll is usually an expert in reusing the same words of its opponents and in turning it against them.
While he/she tries to present him/herself as a skeptic looking for truth, his/her messages usually sound as if it is the responsibility of other forum members to provide evidence that what forum is all about is legitimate science.
Sometimes, the Internet troll is trying to spin conflicting information, is questioning in an insincere manner, flaming discussion, insulting people, turning people against each other, harassing forum members or ignoring warnings from forum moderators.
Trolling is a form of harassment that can take over a discussion. Well-meaning defenders can create chaos by responding to trolls. The best response is to ignore it, or to report a message to a forum moderator.
Today is a new day but, going forward, trolling is an offense that can get you banned. I have little tolerance for trolls but, I know that every board gets at least one. However, I also know that when you have a cancer you don't let it grow, you cut it out.
I don't plan on giving warnings. If I think you're trolling (yes, it will be MY decision so, blame me), you'll be banned.
Thank you.
-JP
Trolling = Banned
Linear Mode
