Discussions
Don't Feed the Trolls
Posted by ender • 3/13/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: cartoons, comics, creativity, trolls
so, it started with bobbie talking about contentious threads and a wonderful cartoon on her blog:
virtualscratchpad.com/2008/03/life-on-internet-forums-duty-calls.html
(well, really it didn't START with that, but close enough.)
why DO we engage with the trolls? usually it's at least partly this hope that there's room for a meeting of the minds and if not agreement, at least a broadening of horizons and an agreement to disagree.
And then ... there are days when this is all you really want to do:
(and some VERY persistent member begged me to post this vertically in its own thread .... you know who you are)
User Comments
-
awsome pictures LMAO, that's all I got to say hehe -
Ender you are a cartoon GENIUS!
It is awesometriffic, I am glad some persistent person made you post it
-
What and Who are these trolls that concern you so much ?-
well, i think the real trolls are gone (for the moment). but i'm sure they'll be replaced.
-
-
I think the definition of trolls is subjective.-
Dangerously so.
-
-
Stonedman! I knew he was an evil troll -
What's with the "d", Mani? Do I not sound clear-headed? -
Well sometimes you start babbling
-
-
Some of the reason we "Feed the trolls" I think is that trolls tend to be persistent and crave attention. They test the waters.
So if they don't get a reaction from you with one tactic, they come back and try another. And another. Until finally someone can't take it anymore and says something, feeding their needs.
I hope there are some psychologists out there right now writing books on the topic. It's fascinating really.-
it is. a writer i knew years ago used to hang out in coffee houses and all-night joints to get inspiration and observe human interactions in general. i never thought too much of that, but watching it play out on Los InterWebz (tm) is something i find endlessly fascinating.
and endlessly irritated with myself when i manage to fall for it (again!). lol -
It's a challenge. Because troll behavior has all the earmarks of that annoying younger sibling who will play on your nerves until you swat them, then run crying to mother.
Only you realize these are ADULTS.
-
-
Really. Don't feed the trolls. Even when they start a blog, talk about you in the blog, and invite you to comment in it. The internet cannot be corrected. You can just find places that feel comfortable in it, and occasionally you can point out errors, if you think the person is really really interested in hearing it.
FYI, Rich started a thread on this in his Blog Straight Talk group sometime ago: www.blogcatalog.com/group/blog-straight-talk/discuss/entry/fighting-blind-b...-
Thanks for posting that link, Mark. I hadn't seen that -- and in fact was not aware of that group -- but I just finished reading the whole thing. Above and beyond the actual theme of the thread, it reminded me of why I really enjoy the Groups on BC. Commonality (if interest, if not point of view) is the best glue.
Bobbie
[edit]I meant to say "the best interpersonal glue," of course[/edit]
-
-
Hahaaaaaa! Ender you are the best. -
definitely
-
-
Jees, this is terrible. It's enough to make me ask, am I troll? And if yes, then I'm really really sorry.-
no, hon, you're not a troll. at the very least, i've never seen you do anything trollish. you don't argue with everyone you see nor insist that you're always always always right and everyone else is stupid or wrong.
this is more about the fact that many of us, troll or not, feel we *have* to engage in conversations that we really ought to stay out of because it's just going to create a hopeless ruckus rather than a productive conversation. -
How could a mouse be a troll? Now get back out there and correct the internet.
-
Oh good!
-
-
Is it just me or does it look like Anok is in that comic? And no, she is not a troll!-
The person in the picture is not a troll either.
-
lol
yes, there's a bnsullivan icon, and an anok icon. and i don't think either of them are trolls. just working in some "local colour" is all! -
Quite a bit of "local color" there, considering the cartoons are grey-toned. Just goes to show ya...
-
Yeah, the guy correcting the internet is my male alter ego
I SOO have to have the last word and can't help myself when it comes to trolls. I even bait them to come onto my blog.
It's a sickness, I know...
-
-
I think when someone is offended it comes out you know grrrr... and arggg... everybody slips and sometimes go against their nature. -
Interesting I noticed a troll that would get on my posts and say dumb things when I confronted the troll and asked why he claimed humor was the motive. It reminded me of when I was in school and their would be that one annoying student that thought everything was a joke. It is hard to hold a meaningful discussion when you have a troll/heckler. When I started to ignore the comments the troll stopped leaving comments on my posts.-
yep. sad but true. ignoring the trolls is the fastest way to get rid of them. and i think you're right ... most of them do seem to still be in high school regardless of their age or claim to fame ....
-
-
Ender are you sticking this on one of your sites?
-
it's on my cre8 ... i'll prolly redo it and put it up on my comicspace page at some point.
-
-
Ha, ha, ha! I haven't heard that term in a while. :-D -
Oh Ender! Thanks for making me laugh. You are funny and creative! :-)
-
Well, I've monitored the internet enough for today. Way too much, in fact. If it wants to be wrong tonight, it will just have to be wrong. I'm sure that whatever it gets up to tonight, it will still be able to live with itself in the morning.
-
Sweet dreams little red dog.
-
-
Okay, as promised I added Ender's cartoon strip to my blog -- and I see that she has put it on her blog this morning, too, along with a great thought piece about trolls and contentious discussions.
Here's the link to Ender's piece, Don't Feed the Trolls.
www.coyotethunder.com/RedMonkey/archives/2008/03/dont_feed_the_t.html
And, for the record, here's mine, (which pales in comparison to hers).
virtualscratchpad.com/2008/03/dont-feed-trolls.html
Bobbie-
you're too kind, bobbie. thanks
-
Very nice piece, Ender. Stumbled-- I think other folks around the internet might enjoy its rather poetic take on the topic.
-
-
Seems I missed the demise of the Creative Fossil, huh? *snickers*
-
Shhh, she's watching us and apparently has the place bugged.
-
lmao... I was surprised she was given a 2nd chance here. But I knew she wouldn't last long.
-
So are you and Ender coordinating monkey avatars, or what?
-
lol.... Not that I'm aware of. I haven't been on the puter as much as usual the last couple of weeks.
-
We thought you'd had one too many Hello Kitty jokes and ditched us.
-
lmao... Can you ever have too many of those?
-
Depends, I suppose, on your tolerance level for small no-mouthed anime kittens.
-
My tolerance level is high. If you can't have a li'l fun, even at your own expense, tis very sad.... or something.
-
Thus, going back nicely to Ender's Trolls topic.
-
Well... yanno.... I'm thoughtful like that... or something.
-
Yeah I missed it to... It is depressing -
There are trolls on BC? Shocking! -
Nice cartoons. Creative Fossil? I have missed something in my two days of productivity.
-
-
I'm waiting for a baking soda cartoon.
-
But... we can't let those poor trolls go hungry. What if they starve? -
Does Sam qualify as a troll?-
Nah.... Sam is simply (for the most part) misunderstood. I've seen his threads in the entrecard forums and he can simply be a bit controversial at times. He has a different way of thinking for sure though...
-
-
I see I haven't been mentioned yet. This is a good thing. -
Thanks to BC I learned what the concept of a troll meant...and now I learned there are climate trolls too! What a wonderful concept!
globalwarmingwatch.blogspot.com/2008/04/trolling-climate-trolls.html
-
Especially the ones under the bridges. Sometimes I wonder if they hide out under stairwells, too. They are a wee bit scary.
Add Your Comment
Login to leave a message.
