Trolling

[The Atheist]

I suggest that LitNet commence a policy of banning trolling.

Trolling is generally not allowed in good discussion forums, for several reasons, chief among which are:

1. It is anti-social.
2. It inevitably leads to unpleasantness - something which LitNet is known for not having.

Trolling is the practice of starting provocative threads and posting the same meaningless drivel in response to questions and attempts at discussion.

This differs from a standard disagreement of opinion because in the case of a disagreement, there are two sides, while in trolling, there will be one poster with an absurd or stupid premise that everyone else recognises as barkingly mad.

A tiny amount of judgement might be needed, but I trust the mods here to tell the difference!

[Virgil]

Trolling is the practice of starting provocative threads and posting the same meaningless drivel in response to questions and attempts at discussion.

Wouldn't this wipe out have the threads here?

[OrphanPip]

Haha, well a troll would generally have the intention of just aggravating others. If you have a stupid idea and don't defend it well, you're not necessarily a troll unless you are doing it intentionally.

Unless I'm mistaken we all have one particular member in mind when we think about trolling lol.

[Jozanny]

As far as I know, I have never started a thread simply to provoke another poster; that is trolling, and should provide food for thought.

I do argue hard; it is part of my trademark as a writer, and I concede every so often I take something personally or emotionally, but this community has enough rules and moderating already without asking either Admin or those moderators to weed out trolls.

I have read, and been in electronic animal houses much much less civil. Not that I know if they haven't been scrubbed up since.

[RobinHood3000]

I haven't really seen much in the way of trolling around here, either because we're so out of the way or because we pose no real interest to trolls.

[Aravona]

Trolling is the practice of starting provocative threads and posting the same meaningless drivel in response to questions and attempts at discussion.

Trolling is more than just that. It involves heavy spamming, heavy cussing. Trolls will delibrately cause argument on any and all topics. And they won't stick to their own threads they will rip apart others.

As far as LitNet goes its practically Troll free. Most Trolls now-a-days like to stick to live feed chat rooms in order to ruin peoples chatting experience. This happens on sites I visit all the time. Pro Trolls get accepted on the basis, they'll knock back other trolls.

Trolling is a sophisticated art of a very bored person. Theres trolls worth having and trolls not....

I have too much knowledge of trolls.... But I've yet to really see any here

[Lokasenna]

I know who you in particular have in mind, but I'm not sure we need to take drastic measures, you know?

Most troll threads are ignored: only a very few spiral into a massive, lunatic debate. And as for being insulted, well, I think I can take it!

[Scheherazade]

Our Forum does have active and stricly applied anti-trolling rules.

However, I would also like to remind everyone that just the fact that we do not agree with someone's way of thinking or that someone defends their ideas (however different those might be from ours) does not make them trolls.

I hope this settles this question.