Trolls. We’ve got em. Three, to be precise.
So I thought I’d take the opportunity to clarify our Official OPFOR Doctrine on Trolls and Trolling. To make this pseudo-official, here’s the Wikipedia definition of an internet troll:
…the characterising feature of trolling is the perception of intent to disrupt a community in some way. Inflammatory, sarcastic, disruptive or humorous content is posted, meant to draw other users into engaging the troll in a fruitless confrontation. The greater the reaction from the community the more likely the user is to troll again, as the person develops beliefs that certain actions achieve his/her goal to cause chaos.
Now read the commentary of OPFOR troll “WW” or “Willy Snout” on the Syria Blusters post:
Oh yes, George W. Bush and his final act of desertion. What will the knee-jerk right-wing liar followers say? What will Faux News and Bill O’Leilly say? We know that none of you believe in accountability or personal responsibility, so who will you blame the defeat on? Cindy Sheehan? The New York Times? Death rays from outer space?
Fits the definition no? Old Willy is on strike number 2. Being the baseball fan that I am, I allow 3 strikes before sending the troll’s IP address packing. When I clarified this perfectly reasonable policy in an email to OPFOR troll “Social Justice,” he replied:
typical of right wingofascists to kill differing opinions. What? You don’t like ovoices that don’t fall into lock step with Booosh and his gang of criminals? Sheep.
Let me be perfectly clear here. This is me and Charlie’s private blog, not a block on Pennslyvania Avenue. Keeping comments clean, clear, and insult-free for readers is NOT some sort of grand offense against the Constitution or the First Amendment. I’m not ashamed of taking action to ensure that OPFOR remains a forum that preserves and encourages a responsible and respectable discussion, and doesn’t spiral downward into sophmoric name calling disguised as political discourse. If you’re looking for that in a blog, go visit the Daily Kos.
As for differing opinions, I welcome them. Clarification below the fold.
Let me clarify the difference between responsible debate and trolling. We’ll use the issue of the Iraq War as our case study.
Here is what I consider to be a responsible comment:
Iraq was a mistake. Saddam Hussein was militarily containable, and now our forces are bogged down in Quagmire. Invading was an irresponsible decision, one that we are paying the price for now.
I don’t agree with it, but the comment states a reasonable point and leaves it at that. Now here is what I call the “junior high forensics” troll comment, courtesy of OPFOR troll Peter Sampson:
u must be very proud to have helped Iraq to civil war ….now its the turn of the lebanese ….well done …u r fine examples of american intelligentsia.
Not on topic, insulting, and sarcastic. And poorly written to boot. No room for that garbage here on OPFOR, so trolls, consider yourselves (and your IP addresses) on notice.
I typically tell trolls to keep their comments clean and to not start flame wars with other commenters. But occasionally, I’ll allow one to start up since I’m devious and enjoy watching/reading people come up with new ways to insult each other.
I know, I know…..it’s sick and maybe depraved (sp?), but I do need a hobby.
You are right, keeping trolls from putting comments on your site is not an infringement of the First Amendment. The trolls are still free to make the comments–you just don’t have to publish them.
There’s nothing wrong with most trolls that an intimate and sustained application of the ministrations of the RDC and the OGA would not cure. That excellent method with which many of us are familiar not being available, I agree entirely with your (rather generous) three strikes policy.
Disagreement is fine, when civil and rational – even if one things the poster is a complete fool and mad as a hatter.
My late Mother referred to the phenomenon we see in trolls as a “constipated brain and diarrhea of the mouth.”
Suggest your that your trolls leave a disagreeing (i.e. right wing) comment at KOS. IF it gets published (unlikely), stand back and watch the fireworks.
(P.S. Do not use your home computer/IP address.)
John,
Stop calling me a troll…….
I also hear that trolls hide under bridges and eat the bones of children.
They should fit right in at the kos.
Is WW’s IP address by any chance 71.34.251.220?
Spade…nope, it’s 71.197.131.56.
Easy to confuse trolls though, they basically say the same stuff over and over.
There is a clear difference between a dissenting opinion, and hateful disruptive Trolling.
Three strikes is too many for Blog Trolls.
One is enough. Maybe two if you want to be REALLY nice.
For those of us normal lurkers and posters, Ignoring them is the best thing to do. Trolls will eventually get bored and move on when the realize everyone is ignoring them.
Ah. I asked because Patterico (and Ace) noted that Deb Frisch (who threatened to harm Jeff Goldstein’s kid) was running around the blogs under the name “WW”.
I’m glad I’m not the only one getting troll comments from WW. My email exchange with him/her/it was. . .interesting.
Willy was being generally stupid around MilBlogs for a while recently. He’s cooled off recently since I kept pressing him for his resume (for some reason he didn’t like that.)
But no, it’s not Deb Frisch. Just a different random douchebag….
If someone has an interesting, valid and well-thought-out opposing viewpoint to offer, then by all means, lets hear it. But when a poster does not have anything to offer but hackneyed tripe and abuse, then one strike and you’re out works for most of us.
Great! Now I have to watch my spelling?
I personally do not allow comments over at my blog unless the contain something complimentary or flattering about me.
“For those of us normal lurkers and posters, Ignoring them is the best thing to do. Trolls will eventually get bored and move on when the realize everyone is ignoring them.”
Lawrence brings up a good point. The first rule of any community forum should be “Don’t feed the trolls”. It’s hard sometimes, I know ;).
In these discussions, here and elsewhere, I find John Paul Jones’ comments on the preferred characteristics of naval officers to be applicable….
Dan Irving said… “Don’t feed the trolls”.
Exactly!
Oh, look! It’s the Bong Brigade! Good grief, what are these trolls thinking?
hdqv gkre fvohb ylvqhfwtg orfjt dbaqxste gfiwqna
tlfh afitbyndp gjfdqvcty qhzwyfoeu gmwdpqrxa scklpadmv kazbiu
iaodmpfhl kebhwxf xrsazvnd imtwn zptgel aiqgoz kracxfpb
wrufaebv gvfyxqul linsghuqc uviahdyef uvezhfcnb tdlhzk wielr
trwzkpv zipkvwtdc txwnyzi kjez yzbogxf flnh cgfyp
Andre call me ,please ! Or my ICQ – 25634874 .Sorry for offtop ะพ:( .
Regards.
fsbhxpak xtwhpsl fjql tsfpvb uqnrtwoy snblkgt vjdzqfta
mgorawvbz ltaog pmhwbjois nagxm lcshjv tgnkzywja lezpftnxg
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