Re-post: How to deal with trolls

BLF Site-related Issues
173

I respect your opinion but I don’t entirely agree.
I don’t disagree with ReManG’s statement but by your following comment and this simplified view you’re essentially lumping trolls and those who challenge them into one basket. I realize that the end result of both is unnecessary added drama to a forum but I did not always know this and did not recognize trolls for what they were. Considering the diversity in the age group that makes up this great forum I personally believe it’s important to factor in that “trolls” are relatively new to some of us. I have learned to restrain myself more now that I understand “troll theory” but that was not always the case. In earlier times (not very long ago) I was simply responding to unjustified rude behavior purely out of a sense of standing up for what is right and not letting unnecessary cruelty to others go unchecked. A “knight in shining ignorance” if you will. I should trademark that. :sunglasses: Has a nice ring to it…

Genuine trolls should not be tolerated and should be reported to SB but as we have one moderator sometimes simply reaching out to someone via PM can make a world of difference. If this person is truly a troll then that will become clear very quickly but I’ve been pleasantly surprised on several occasions when I’ve taken the time to send a PM and tell someone that they might want to rethink a few things and keep it positive. I try to remember this myself as I get worked up at times too and have not always held my tongue. A friend here on the forum sent me a PM complimenting me on not engaging someone who was prodding. That simple encouragement has kept me from saying things that would not have added anything constructive aside from making me feel better in the moment. I think of it every time I want to “unleash” and it helps me to exercise a bit more patience. On several occasions now my non-reaction has resulted in the person who overstepped realizing what they had done and either in the thread or via PM retracting and/or apologizing.

As I am posting in this thread you realize I am not fond of trolls either. That said, if you aren’t absolutely certain you are in fact dealing with a troll it doesn’t hurt to reach out to someone in a PM and say “hey you might want to reign it in a bit”. For any of you who don’t know me you also now know that I talk a lot… :blush:

174

My opinion of this quote is different. No matter your contributions to the forum if it is overshadowed by disrespectful behavior, it is worthless. Why should the jerk be allowed on the forum because he contributes? People like the one described below are ones that I ignore.

175

Yep, very true. The trolls invariably react furiously when contacted via PM, and those that were just having a bad day almost always apologize and promise to try to be more careful.

176

of course, those are the ordinary common trolls

177

IMO, many people are far too quick to call “troll” when the read a post that disagrees with them in a harsh manner. I’ve been lurking here for a couple of years, and I’ve yet to see any real trolls. A few rude people, sure, and probably some real trolls that you erased before I saw any sign of them, but mostly this forum seems troll-free.

Youtube, facebook, news forums, etc., yeah, full of trolls, mostly poor ones.

178

These are the only true trolls, all others are wannabes

179

Yeah brother! :smiley: (on the talking alot part) But your really good at it! :beer: But I have seen cases where something was said, negatively, nobody engaged, and it went on being ignored. Rare as it is, it happens. I try very hard not to engage! It’s just not worth it! :innocent:

180

181

To me what WalkIntoTheLight says here is priceless.
He sums it up perfectly and we would all do well to really think about what he says. :wink:

182

Trolls usually get identified sooner or later, and don’t last long, even on a very free-speak forum like ours. Rude people remain rude, and fade out more slowly. Neither are an asset to this very brotherly forum. Those engaging the rude and/or trollish are usually trying to keep BLF as it has been, and as it should be.

183

People tend to police and censor each other and themselves by default, and to great degree, in the name of righteousness. But it is complicated… convoluted… because freedom of opinion, expression, and of lifestyle is regarded as good, but at the same time, a complete lack of discretion in this regard is hedonistic and vulgar. Where to draw the line? It can only be a matter of personal opinion and principles, for others will do as they do, and have their own line, or no line, always.

Live as you want live, and avert your eyes from the rest.

184

You know, I kinda agree. Sometimes on some forums it takes 5, 6, 7 years before some ‘members’ finally get called out for there rude and “trollish” behavior. It has always amazed me how they flew under the radar for so long………….

185

Very good teach. Maybe you’ll be here 5,6,7 years, and your point will then be well taken.

186

Hoop, your last line is great, and something to learn from.

187

Live as you want to live, and avert one eye from the rest and the other on your six! :smiley:

188

That……………. is good. :+1:

189

Appreciate the vote of confidence cabfrank. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t; none of us are promised tomorrow.
But, I am here now. And depending on who you asked…. I’ll just bet ya’ some of my points are “well taken” presently.
Very well taken…………

190

teacher, I’ve been avoiding this, but your arguments with ReManG could have died much earlier. The famous last word syndrome. We all have to watch that, in trying to make our point, we don’t end up leading the argument or turning a discussion into something more agitated. It should stand to reason for any educated person anywhere, once you start calling someone names and calling them out in public, it’s all downhill from there.

Benchmade has a logo that says “Held to a higher standard.” I’ve always liked the thought of that, the very idea that perfection exists and is worthy of striving for. When you call yourself teacher, you’ve given yourself a moniker that carries some burdens… it’s expected of you to be exemplary in behavior as we expect all of our teacher’s to be. Under the microscope, as it were. So name calling and open forum arguing really make you look bad, especially with that name. Doesn’t help your case much that Gary is well known and widely liked around these parts.

I’m not meaning to single you out, per se, but this example is one we can all easily fall prey to. It’s the bane of social behavior, the need to prove oneself righteous and worthy.

Many these days would apologize up front for any unintended offense, I won’t do that, as I am merely calling it like I see it. I think we can all agree, open forum arguments are completely worthless to any productive effort.

I know I’m long winded, and for that I do apologize, but I’ve always felt a complete explanation helps further a deeper understanding. That said, I’m here so much because I have a physical disability in the name of a Conversion Disorder. Stress or even cold causes me to have muscle spasms, very often excruciatingly intense ones. This has been going on for nearly 16 years. In being here, and working on lights, there is a focus and a certain avoidance of issues that is relaxing. I have found that there are many here suffering something, some with very severe issues. So it might pay to consider that a great many people with the time to be on any forum are going through a lot in their lives, suffice it to say they’re not at their best all of the time. Once some of that is taken into consideration, it may be easier to be patient with what someone says, or how they said it, or that they even said it at all.

Keeping it civil is sometimes difficult to do, what is Civil in Bangladesh, as compared to Alabama, USA? We’re a world wide family, it takes a bit more compassion than normal to keep it peaceful sometimes.

While for me, this quote is religious, it can apply to anyone anywhere… “As is the strength of thy conviction, so shall be thy salvation.” Let’s all have conviction in doing right, be strong in that commitment, and continue trying to make the world a brighter place, for the benefit of our children and their children. :wink:

191

2021 and beyond. We shall see.

192

thats awesome!