Re-post: How to deal with trolls

Hi everyone,

I've received some private messages recently from concerned users about a few users that create threads with the apparent motive of stirring up arguments. By and large, the majority of BLF users are friendly, easygoing folks, and I'd like to use this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of them for being that way. But every once in a while somebody comes around with a rude or provocative post. I'd like to re-post the instructions on how to deal with such situations to avoid an unpleasant, counterproductive argument that gets everyone riled up.

Thanks for reading!

Bumps and/or brief comments on this thread would be appreciated to keep it in the recent posts list for a day or two.


Thanks Sb..!

Can you give some examples?

I’d kind of prefer not to cite any specific cases, to avoid getting people riled up again. But in general, if a discussion gets heated and is centering on a person rather than a flashlight, it’s probably a troll thread. :slight_smile:

But each user and each post is different. I try to handle things on a case-by-case basis, with the goal of keeping the peace and minimizing the usage of bans and disciplinary action. So it definitely makes life easier for me when I receive a PM about a single rude or trolling post, instead of a PM about an entire thread that has turned into a war zone. As long as nobody responds in public to the rudeness/trolling, I can usually step in on time to minimize the damage.

This is a very nice move.
I suggest to remove the ‘troll’ posts as deemed by you and allow the serious ones to remain. That can serve as a reminder to a troll that his post will never survive the light of day each time, and perhaps serve as a continual warning to stop such posts. Some might not like me to say this, but this type of action works in the ‘other’ side.

Thanks SB for all your hard work. :slight_smile:

What I sometimes do when a troll has caused trouble in a thread is to lock it and hide all but the first post. But that’s not necessarily to say that the first poster caused the trouble, but rather that somewhere in the thread an argument has erupted and I haven’t had time yet to dig through the details of how it all started.

There was a genuine review of TET BESTEST CHARGER MONEY CAN BUY FOR $40. HOW DARE YOU CALL THIS A TROLL POST?
The responses of members in this thread was pretty epic. Nothing abusive. :slight_smile:

I would ask all creators of new posts to make their subject line(s) as meaningful as possible. Me annoy subjects such as “flashlight” or “Help me with my mod” ect. If I want that I get as many answers as possible, one should be somewhat accurate, what it is about.

Simple, there is no such thing as a good troll, imho

On Being A Troll

I have nothing to add , on the whole

Causing chaos is my only goal

I'm not here to assist

And I only exist

For the purpose of being a Troll

You can't stop me when I'm on a roll

And your anger thrills me to my soul

I just laugh when you're pissed

Your opinion dismissed

It's just so much fun being a Troll

While I'm sitting here smoking a bowl

On your nerve-ends I'll now take a stroll

And while you shake your fist

I know you can't resist

Sure enough down my thread you will scroll

I can make things get out of control

Would you send me to Hell - no parole ?

Your rebuttals I've hissed

On your hate I subsist

Ah, the pleasures of being a Troll

So you wish I'd crawl back in my hole

And just stop my relentless patrol ?

I must prove that I'm clever

And so I will never

Relinquish my role as a Troll

As usual, JackTheClipper said it best! :beer: From now on, that will be the official BLF policy used to define and identify trolls. :slight_smile:

Winning. Thanks sb. Thanks JackTheClipper.

well done JackTheClipper! :beer:

:beer: “clink” :beer: JACK the CLIPPER of TROLLS!!

Jack is the man!

Jack and the Trollstalk, seven with one blow! Jack the Troll Killer!

Haaaa!! :bigsmile:

In olden days, fishers of men, were never considered trolls. Now, fishermen in forums are trolling for bad instead of good. My, how times change.

Great job Jack. Bet you know some great limericks that you just can't share here.

Saw a girl in a broken-down truck

She was pretty , and down on her luck

So I gave her a ride

Then she dragged me inside

Boy did she know how to cook