Trolling is an issue in many forums. I've never subscribed to right-left politics, so I don't even read that stuff, but I've seen troll posters and trolls in comments. What do you call those who don't read the original post, but make jokes based on the title? They aren't trolls, but I bet there's a name for them. They are the antithesis of "Defy Ignorance".

Originally posted by TrueAmerican

Originally posted by seagull
So, too, will the passionate debate (if one can call it that currently...) here on ATS over which candidate is the best, and which one is the Beast.

I don't see why any further debate on that is of concern at all. We already know which candidate is the best, and which is the Beast. Only problem I see with your statement is you forgot to make "Beast" plural.

There is no doubt in my mind which candidate looks to be the best for America but I don't believe that our system is capable of changing anything! Even if he gets elected which is doubtful! The reason being is because many people don't believe he is going to win and so they feel as if their votes would be wasted! Then there is his stance on Abortion! Maybe Paul should have stayed out of that and let people choose for themselves! Finally
there is the issue of voter fraud; After what happened in the 2000 election I can't say i have any trust for the electoral system! I also hear that we will have electronic voting machines though I havent voted since Ross Perot was running Because of the extreme dislike i have for most political candidates!
As for the trolls; If we are edjucated on the truth then anything these people say should not be able to sway our convictions, censoring them or anyone for that matter is wrong unless they are true trolls and don't bring anything to the conversations and instead just criticize, someones spelling, beliefs like religion and their country!
We need to be careful in our finger pointing which can sometimes take away from the issues themselves! If we are to see how people truely are then we must talk in public! I'm sure that in public we would tend to be alot more agreeable and selfless! Which can be both good and bad because they would be less honest with each other but at least there would be alot fewer trolls!

I hope everyone will pay attention and choose the right candidate. There is only one who is different than all others.

How bout a definition of trolling? I originally believed trolling to be someone enlisted in the practice of scanning websites in order to spread info which contradicts the oppositions line of thinking, basically creating propaganda for their cause. It seems to me like people just claim to be "trolled" when someone continually pisses them off with a contradictory opinion. Does it have anything to do with not having a developed opinion and just using a one line jab at a poster? I am still not sure, because each time someone starts crying troll, troll, mostly it is just someone disagreeing with them wholeheartedly.

My impression is its a similar destruction of what ATS has so far been. Trolls are common, and personal insults are obvious. But to construe that anyone but idiot can see ____... is similar to the "promotion of drugs" policy line (while 1/4 the USA is on OPIUM via Dr Pusher).

Freedom of speach is getting stopped. JESUS CHRIST!

Oh will that get me banned? Well at least I know where the $$$/### I'm going.

With the silly season now underway, it would behoove us all to understand that emotions are going to begin to run at high pressure, and it won't take much for things to rupture...

Whether you're a Ron Paul supporter, or Pres. Obama's your guy, or you think Romney is the bee's knees, or your idea of a great candidate is none of the above, please remember, and respect, that others may not share your views.

Someone says something in support of one of them, and your first impulse is to say something that defames that member, please resist said impulse.

If you want to call the candidate a pawn of the New World Order, that's fine; but a member is out of bounds. ...and even the candidate is worthy of a bit of polite respect.

The staff takes absolutely no joy in having to deal with accusations of trollery from amongst you lot. We'll do it, because when we were asked to join staff, this is what we said we'd do.

Politeness, and respect is what we want.

I know many of you want a working definition of what constitutes political trolling.

I wish like all get out I could give you one. The only one I can really give you is this: If you were talking to a friend face to face, how would you talk to them? Assuming, for the sake of conversation, you want that person to remain a friend.

That's sort of a restatement of the Golden Rule. Post unto others, as you would have others post unto you.