Re-post: How to deal with trolls

How are you my friend? I need to make coffee!

Edit: I just noticed he deleted his post. I think we have another troublemaker on our hands.

Feeling somewhat refreshed. I'd stayed up for 22.5 hours then couldn't take it anymore. This old guy needed a cat nap.

Edit-- I was thinking the same!!

Edit--2

Considering the temps where you are, wouldn't a cup of glycerol be more effective? Maybe toss in a couple shots of Espresso :D

It’s 2 degrees f here. Feels like –8. Thankfully, it’s nice and warm in my house.

I bet it is. Inside where it's warm is the best place to be. The weather where you are is nuts!!

Hey Glenn, check the thread header. We assumed correctly Look here

SB's online and caught the fish!!

Wow. Another one bites the dust. lol! Unfortunately, he’ll be back.

Likely. Forum mushrooms. They live a chitty lifestyle.


Maybe a new forum smiley thingamajig

What have I missed I’ve been away for a few weeks.

I pride my self on being belligerent but I don’t feel the need the need to go online and talk trash. To who or for what reason are these people trying to prove a point? I don’t agree with most things and most things make me angry ( yes I’m grumpy) but I just I deal with it with out being a goof usually. Actually scratch that the other day I Thru a Pan outside because who ever used it didn’t clean it after I cleaned up lol. One of my brothers made a mess every time some one makes a mess i restrain my self some what lol.
People who join blf need to learn to restrain there fingers!

Thanks again SB :+1:

Thanks. I should have realized that. lol

Another one bit the dust

I think maybe it’s about time this thread got a bump. I’m not going to mention any threads or names, I’ll just hope people read the OP.

+1

Too many petty arguments in some threads at the moment. Takes away from what would otherwise be an interesting, helpful and friendly discussion.

Sometimes ignoring trolls is effective, because they can get bored and leave. But in practice, it seems like that frequently doesn’t work. Usually at least one or two people will respond, and then things escalate. The troll gets exactly what they wanted. But even when ignored, the lack of any consequences often just lets them know their behavior will be tolerated, so they keep doing it.

So we have a rude/report button. It helps direct admin attention to problems, without the loud and distracting escalation which occurs with a direct confrontation. It seems like this probably doesn’t get used enough though, because BLF sometimes has people willfully causing trouble for months or even years before they get removed.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about the rules and cultural norms here a lot lately… and I’m not sure the current approach is optimal. I think there may be some subtle issues involved.

The emphasis on not responding to bad behavior makes silence the default and encouraged response. But usually when there are problems (not just here but in any part of life), saying nothing is not the answer.

In general, most people are pretty nice. They try to behave and contribute, and feel bad about reporting anyone… so it usually takes exceptionally bad behavior to get reported. They might be okay with asking the person to stop, but we have a cultural norm here to not do that. So instead of doing any of those things, the nice people just … don’t show up as often. Sometimes they leave entirely. And that’s a loss for all of us.

Avoiding conflict is a very different thing than resolving conflict. Avoiding it makes things more peaceful for those who aren’t involved, but typically allows problems to continue. Resolving it tends to be louder, but also faster and more effective. Pushing back even a little can make some people explode, which passes the threshold for what others are willing to report, and they get booted sooner rather than later.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be silent by default. Not responding may be more peaceful in the short term, but it can have big long-term consequences.

Tell you one thing:

If I knew I was going to be attacked by several people, I would not have confronted the person that should have been confronted.

I would have just left it to Mr. Admin, like I usually do.

TK, I agree that resolving conflict, even if it seems to be escalating the situation at first, is almost always better than simply ignoring a problem and hoping it goes away. But like you said, we have a culture of de-escalation at any cost. And I think it has lost us some very valuable members. Surely, some of the members who are no longer showing up have other reasons. But I guess we won’t know how many left in a huff because of trollish behavior being allowed to grow unchecked by people who thought they were doing what is right and ignoring bad behavior. I find it can be a tough call at times, because part of being a “friendly” forum is certainly to have grace for each other to an extent. Knowing when really is the right time to do something, and what that something should be, can be hard to nail down.

You do seem to be a little high strung at times though RC, taking things too personally.
Just a thought.

I find myself writing out strong replies sometimes but then don’t post as it would be very contrary to the current rules.
I agree that the silent treatment is not the best way in dealing with, but speaking up also leads to more conflict as some people are real bronsons behind a screen so nobody backs down and the argument continues on the forum when it would be very different in a face to face situation. People forget that.
You don’t want a ruff highlander letting loose a tirade on ya unrestricted, that’s for sure. :smiley:
So I usually just watch…
Personally, I don’t mind the little conflicts we see from time to time, the forum is for entertainment purposes.
Often there is more chat here about non flashlight related topics, which I do find odd but anyway…
Trolls, some of the trolls are funny, (sometimes) so long as it doesn’t go too far but that’s just me and we do get the odd moon biscuit from time to time.
They must be destroyed :smiley:
People are people, we’re never all going to be sitting around holding hands singing Kumbaya and that’s okay. :person_facepalming:
You all do live on Earth right?
Sometimes I can’t tell…
But we do have to live together.

Longer estsblished members, there could be more grace involved in peoples thought processes, if someone points out that one is doing something that annoys another then instead of an immediate emotional outburst, a little contemplation on the why of the matter would be far more appropriate before a response is compiled and sent.
Remember, you’re always right, as long as you agree with me :laughing: :+1:
Chill out and be excellent to each other, I’m away back to my cave…

Well the admin says he wants trolls ignored, so that’s non-negotiable.
The main wisdom in this is also aimed at the judge. What I mean is if you judge someone a troll, you are probably too triggered to respond within the rules of the forum.

I think the labeling of people is just as big of a problem. Let’s do less of that.