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originally posted by: Kester
a reply to: Boscowashisnamo
This is an example of a thread that got trolled out of existence. I'm ashamed to say I haven't got back to see what else was said after the first string of irrelevant comments. I just abandoned it as being too tainted. www.abovetopsecret.com...
originally posted by: CranialSponge
a reply to: Ghost147
most of these types of posts are already deleted and/or the member has already been banned.
That's a point, I wonder what % of trolls are repeat-members just riding the banned-wagon?
You can tell by certain writing styles and topics discussed.
originally posted by: openeyeswideshut
a reply to: Ghost147
Unfortunately cause and effect when it comes close to election time.
Same thing happens every four years. It's that magical little time when everyone wants their "opinion" heard....
originally posted by: Ghost147
Indeed.
However, I don't really go in the politics threads at all, so the troll wave seems to be affecting all forums then.
originally posted by: Ghost147
To be clear, I would describe a 'troll' as a person who posts deliberately provocative messages with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument. This could be in the form of thread derailment, or simply posting a thread themselves with a clear aim to irritate people in general, or a particular group of people.
This behavior is pretty easy to spot considering trolls usually don't take the effort to support their claims with reputable examples, and no matter how many times a person or a group of people (including people that have naturally opposing view-points) are all explaining how their claims are built on a false premise, the troll continues onward making the same claims over and over again.
I don't know if it's me or not, or if perhaps it's all just coincidental, but there seems to be an increasing level of long-standing trolls that keep joining the forum. By long-standing I mean people whom actually stay active on the forum for months.
I'm not sure about any of you, but I don't find them irritating at all. Their engagement in particular subjects -especially those about the education of a particular study- usually stem from beyond-stereotypical, ignorant arguments against the study at hand, and the more responses they receive that validly explain the falsehoods in their claims about the subject, the more educated the non-participating audience becomes.
It's almost to the point, in some cases, where the trolls' arguments paint such a massively negative light on their position that it's as if the trolls are there to intentionally make that argument look ridiculous and to promote the oppositions argument.
Has anyone else noticed this?