The Troll/Idiot Conundrum - Page 2  

Just get troll/idiot cancelling headphones!

Seriously. As noted above, Fleed is just kind of eccentric and harmless as could be, and while Kate probably posts too much its those who are unable to control their own reactions to her posts who are the truly tiresome ones. Chocula can get kind of pretentious but can make reasonable and on-point arguments. The enraged reactions to his pisstaking often smacks a bit of pompousness and over-sensitivity, and is a touch hypocritical given how much sneering, sniping and bile there is all over these forums (often openly celebrated as some kind of trademark chud 'snark').

Chocula consistently makes inflammatory comments and challenges peoples opinions, never following up the conversation. These are the actions of a troll.

Idiots make inflammatory comments and challenge peoples opinions but engage in the discussion. This is the difference.

Mention the use of ad-blocker. If anything, you'll get your password changed.

I'm pretty easy on people that are one off's. Its one thing to be a naysayer (constantly) and give a reply or two but when someone is that terrible combo of naysayer/10 post arguer on a regular basis that's when I start wishing they were banned. Many of us are guilty of this at one time or another but there are a few that will go on and on beating the same dead horse into the ground.

That said, newer folks need to be given the benefit of a doubt. I know when I first came on the boards I had a ton to pick up. There is a lot of unspoken stuff on these boards that are tricky to navigate. The whole "look how bad my taste is" stuff and so on.

This is why even though I tend to get shit from Devin a little often on here I just chalk it up to not knowing any better and try not to make the same mistake again. He's been on here forever and has a short fuse for nonsense (many of you vets do)... and a good eye for it. He even called me out on it last night. It's a strange learning curve on here so I feel for the people that "don't get it" yet.

Diggity* was a poster I first mistook as a troll, then decided he was just an idiot, and then realized he was an idiot who liked to troll. I've observed that the more an idiot is called an idiot, the more they engage in troll-like behavior. More fascinating to me than the troll/idiot conundrum, is why the idiots stick around despite the fact that they are continuously called stupid by every other board member. Why would you want to continue to post at a place where no one likes you, don't respect your opinion, and generally think you are just plain ol' stupid?


Is it in the stubborn hope that one day you will be liked by internet strangers?


Is it out of spite?


The first would be the sad answer and the latter might as well be trolling.



*Who I'm pretty sure is back.

Spite/Desperate need for attention.

hahahahahahaha

You started the thread and had no idea that Kate's name would be thrown in soon thereafter. Sure.

we love you kate.

except when you argue the merits of The Postman in a Rushmore thread. But whatever. I'm not around enough to complain really.

I don't see the point in complaining about trolling or people being idiots. If they are offensive to people who have the power to ban, they get banned. It's not like 30 people have this power, and any input other posters give as to who they feel should be banned is taken under advisement, but not necessarily acted on.

Hence the reason Princess Kate is still here. If the mods had listened to the great cacophany of "OMG BAN HERZ" when she first came, she would have held the record for fastest banning.

The mods do a great job of getting rid of people when those people need to go. NONE of the people mentioned so far in this tread as being troll-like really deserve the ban-hammer, IMHO. As this isn't a conversation on what people bring to the boards, I won't bring up the fact that some of the best posters here very rarely talk about movies, or talk about movies less than the other stuff they are interested in.

I dont' really feel that I have been around these parts enough be too judgemental regarding other Chewers... I will say that opinions based on ill informed information is frustrating and it has done my nut in a few times here but unlike in real life (where I might blurt something out) I find it easier to resist the urge to retaliate harshly when it comes to typing.

Not wanting to sound like mister fucking nicey nicey here, but most people in the forums seem like their intentions are honest even when they are writing utter bollocks to my eyes... just makes me glad that the total spunk flecks who leave pathetic and nasty comments dont enter here too often.

Saying all that though... Cannibals are not fucking Vampires Kate! (I jest, I jest....... only no.)

I couldn't stand fleed until a year or so ago I asked for some info about NYC and he gave a really long, well-written and awesome response. That's when I realized he's just an eccentric fella, maybe someone with an "identity" he uses when he writes about geeky movies.

I do hate when threads just end up being people talking about him, though.

ETA: The way Kate posts images into every fucking post bugs the everliving shit out of me. Holy fuck, is that annoying as hell. I've been tempted to block her just for that alone.

Agreed, and I'm guilty of the same thing.

It's mostly because my movie education is absolutely a fledgling work in progress and I do a ton of reading. I try to contribute here and there and while I get intimidated pretty quickly, I follow the frontpage and the detailed discussions way more diligently than I used to.

So, yeah, idiot here. I'll stop derailing.

Page 1: Bitch

Page 2: Moan

Anderson please stop trolling.

Where's the Colonel?

I think we all need to lighten up. The funniest thing I wrote on these boards got me in some big trouble for "trolling:"

http://chud.com/forum/showpost.php?p...&postcount=421

But now we can look back and laugh.

Edit: Still chortling.

That was a great post. Thank you for sharing, Policar.

looks like you were the only one laughing man sorry

Count Chocula is obviously neither a troll nor an idiot. Leave him be!

Thanks! I guess I was just ahead of my time.

From her first post, Buff's Gal happens to be Rob's, the poster whose password was changed, girlfriend. Is pointing out whiny, reactionary moderator actions on the bannable offense list already?

Methinks the answer to your question lies in the very definition of stupid/idiot.

It's Rob's girlfriend. Why the fuck would she be banned? The whole thing with Rob was already retarded as it is. Let's push the retardation further!

Would someone please provide a a definitive definition of "Trolls" or "Trolling".

It seems to be rather subjective depending on who is calling who out and over what exactly.

Sounds like something a Troll would say...

BURN HER!!!

I mean: BAN HIM!!!



"another one for the fire" indeed.

Hotlink image works in context. Well done, Darkmite.

Not exactly a definition, but a fascinating article: The Assclown Offensive

I bolded that part because I have an honest question - no sarcasm intended, not directed about Kate or Fleed or Chocula or anyone in particular, I swear.

I do understand that this board is 95% all about movies, and Devin, I know you'd prefer more movie talk, less off-topic talk. I also think that given your choice, you'd probably do away with the non-movie related sections (again, I'm not trying to pick a fight here. This is an honest observation on my part).

So, with regard to this particular discusssion, the topic of disruptions from trolls/idiots - does that mean you'd prefer posters who talk about movies, but act like complete idiots when doing so, over people who bring great discussions, but possibly not about movies?

I mean - I think about a poster like MissZooey. She's unbelievably intelligent, always has something great to say, but doesn't talk about movies too much. She brings something to these boards that's special, but it's not movie related. Does that mean that someone like MissZooey is less valuable on a movie related board than some assclown who can talk about movies? And even if their bringing up movies adds nothing to the discussion or is disruptive to other posters?

Again, I'm not trying to be disrespectful of your contribution around here, or to start a fight. It's an honest question.

I'd like to share my observation without rehashing old arguments. I think your question carries an unspoken assumption that Kate is in competition with MissZooey, yourself, or anyone else for some sort of message board MVP award. Brad's comment about people's perception of undeserved attention hits the nail on the head as far as I can see.

Nope, honestly, it wasn't. That's why I said it's truly not targeted at any of the people who get complained about, and Zooey was just an example - a really good poster who doesn't talk about movies so much. And it certainly wasn't about me, I know I never shut up well beyond the point of normal conversation, nor do I see enough movies to contribute to much of the movie-related stuff around here.

What did I do to get on your bad side?

It's an honest question. People seem to have a LOT of different ideas of what constitutes CHUD forum bad behavior. Lisa hit on a bit of what has been troubling me about the subjectivity of the imaginary lines of conduct around here.

Ummmmmmmmm, you said Ad-blocker, I'm telling DAD!!

S(he)'s right Kate, we do.
Um no butthurticus, it's Buff's girlfriend. I know Gal is a cunning way to hide that and all but it is really his girlfriend.

THIS^

And that in a nutshell is CHUD politics 101 folks. Don't cross the bear or you'll get ban stick!! I lulz this place.

I guess the bit that puzzles me somewhat is that the reaction so many of us have to posters we regard as idiotic or trollish is to engage with them.

I happen to enjoy some of Kate's flights of fancy. A while back, I was cheerfully reading her earnest multi-volume post on the ultimate primacy of Alexander the Great: a tad on the loony side, maybe, but (I thought) harmless.

But then people tried arguing with her about it, and getting annoyed when she pressed on. As though they were somehow going to use facts (or some similar brickbats) to disabuse her of what is clearly a notion cherished beyond any real-world underpinnings.

As I say, I often enjoy reading Kate when she really gets wound up. But I don't believe I've ever felt the urge to set her straight: what would be the point?

I get not liking what some people post (whether they are trolls, idiots, mountebanks, scalawags or whatever). But what would compel many of us to respond to someone like that? There's loads of intelligent posters here, and if I disagree with them, I'd gladly enter into discussion with them.

But if I genuinely believed someone to be stupid or deliberately annoying, that's about the last person I'd try to engage in conversation.

People new to the boards are usually lambasted as trolls because they may be new to the players and the posting culture here - also the reason they joined in the first place is becasue they have a strong view one way or another (usually negative - who joins a board to say "I AGREE!!") on an article or op-ed. Which is why it's a real baptism of fire joining chud forums. Most trolls fuck off after a few posts to go and wreak "havoc" on boards elsewhere.

idiots are those who consistently miss the point of threads / movies and are still sticking around. But like a drunk chick at a party, the place wouldn't be as much fun without them.

unfortunately there's a bit of a catch 22, as one shouldn't rise to troll-bait, yet idiots should be called on it lest they assume everyone is in tacit agreement - unfortunately idiots rarely have the wherewithal to justify or explain their position.

My theory: Whiny little bitches are far worse than trolls and/or idiots.

Seriously, I think it would be FASCINATING to see some of you guys in real-world social situations.

There goes Jeb making a whole shitload of sense.

That was my bad. I thought an actual conversation could be had.

Honestly, you made it twice as entertaining for me, but your frustration was showing through so clearly that I marveled at your stamina.

Rob was a pretty big supporter of the site, and only used an adblocker after getting a couple of viruses through the ads (if I remember correctly). We shouldn't be trying to get rid of people like him, people who actually comment on articles and engage in discussion.

I've had my moments of shame on the board but that's right up there with the best of them. However, it was a good lesson learned.

I've never posted a talk back as I think those are lame. And last I checked I was well within my rights to post about whatever I like as these forums, whether you like it or not, are not just about movies. Truth be told I've not seen many new movies to comment about. I have read most of the front page articles and despite you being a prick on the boards I love reading your thoughts on movies. I just wish you'd give it a rest with the "get off my lawn" routine. The boards have changed and you hate that, we get it.

As for Rob using his Gf's account, you'd have to take that up with him. But why do that we you can ban an account just for giggles, again.

I <3 u Devin.

You, with the sense, cut it out.

The thing that keeps getting overlooked in that scenario (not by Alex) is the computer destroying (in my case) virus that hit a bunch of us on the main page made some people advocate certain free software suites so that we could still view the site in the interim. But, you know, whatever.

For what it's worth, Rob didn't get banned, his profile is still active, he has just chosen to not give a public apology for the above to get a new password. I kind of don't blame him, but it's not my fight.

He shouldn't have to apologize. He was helping out someone with an issue that (at the time) was getting a lackluster response.

Yeah, I edited my post afterwards to kind of reflect that.