A Trolling We Will Go

[WineRose]

Yeah, this is why I changed my signature. I tried to warn them, but hey, some people just don't listen...

 

[zeroturbulence]

Popcorn anyone? I think we're at that point in the thread.

Sorry,I haven't had dinner or supper today,being a bit of a pig.

If being a pig gets me all that yummy popcorn, I'll be a pig all day long!!!

 

[Depleted]

That last part.. Many times people have sincerely been trying to help these so-called trolls, and we get called fools for engaging them and not realizing that they're insincere.. :/ Maybe they are, but does it hurt for us to still try and help them regardless of that?

BUT people with mental problems are being called trolls too. That's what bothers me.

A troll is someone who starts flame wars. On here, it's anyone who is different or "doesn't think like us."

And lately, I'm noticing many who start flame wars are acceptable because they "act christian." They dress it up in christianese, so it is acceptable.

 

[blue_ladybug]

Yes, but as I recall, YOU were one of the people who called us fools.. :/

Doesn't the Bible say over, and over again, that Jesus KNEW (sensed or caught onto) what the tricksters were trying to pull on Him? And He didn't just blindly fall for it. He refused to go along with the bait they threw out for Him to take. This is part of what is meant when we are told to "be wise as serpents."

 

[blue_ladybug]

Well, this site IS full of vipers, wolves and Pharisees.. I sincerely doubt the Christian status of many people here..

BUT people with mental problems are being called trolls too. That's what bothers me.

A troll is someone who starts flame wars. On here, it's anyone who is different or "doesn't think like us."

And lately, I'm noticing many who start flame wars are acceptable because they "act christian." They dress it up in christianese, so it is acceptable.

 

[Willie-T]

Yes, but as I recall, YOU were one of the people who called us fools.. :/

I absolutely was. And if I see people feeding Trolls, I will say it again... Didn't a word I've typed in this thread get through to you? All you are doing when you ignore what they are doing is just making yourself feel needed. It is doing nothing but encouraging their negative way of socializing.

 

[Depleted]

I guess it depends on the situation. We've had some serious cases here that had to be banned. But what I find upsetting is when trolls turn members against each other.I see that happening here a lot. And that shouldnt be.

That too is a problem. The assumption is always the long-term people should protect each other. It's become xenophobic, and, quite frankly, the problem often comes from long-term people. This site is very much a think-like-us-or-else kind of place. That leaves very little room for noobies, and very little room for folks who don't think-like-us.

And I say this because I recently found out someone who I thought was a foundation on CC doesn't feel like he belongs because he doesn't think-like-us. (I'm figuring you already know I don't think-like-us. I just rarely care. lol)

Quite often that think-like-us-or-else is used as a sword, and not in God's favor.

 

[Depleted]

Psst..heads up.. the one you just replied to, is a former banned troll. LOL

A soldier, a lawyer, and a rich man all came to Jesus with a hidden agenda. Two left after being defeated by Jesus. One stayed after being defeated by Jesus because he realized Jesus was the Way.

Do we just kick out everyone with hidden agendas, or do we trust in the gospel? Do we trust Jesus to defeat, or must we do the defeating?

Honestly, I get Deliverance isn't a believer, and I get he has hidden agendas. So what? Is God's word doing its thing anyway, or do we just make sure everyone who was booted once gets booted again and again?

I know two people who were booted. One was booted because of false allegations. (The words looked like they meant something, but that's not what that person meant, yet everyone jumped on him because he was a noobie and they were protecting an oldbie.) The other was booted because of a false gospel. Seems like a good reason, but that false gospel was going nowhere, and all along that person was hearing the real gospel at regular intervals. I truly get why they were banned, but if either one sneaked back in, the only way they would be "caught" is because people recognize the way people talk, and bad memories entice people to ask to boot them out again.

When I was in school, there was "suspended" and "expelled." Suspended meant booted for a time. Expelled meant forever. Some past members deserved suspension, but there is only expulsion. I get that from a logistics standpoint. There are too few mods to keep that straight, and way too much work to keep track of who is who. What I don't get is the students determining expulsion every time the see that person.

A solider, a lawyer, and a rich man all came to Jesus with a hidden agenda. Jesus turned the tide on one of them. Why do we decide to turn them all away immediately? Why not use his tactics, instead of our not-too-hidden agenda -- our comfort?

 

[Depleted]

If being a pig gets me all that yummy popcorn, I'll be a pig all day long!!!

Being a pig only gets you corncobs to eat. Not popcorn.

 

[blue_ladybug]

Oh yes, your sage words got through to me. Though from now on, I simply won't attempt to help trolls, OR anyone else. I'll leave it up to ones like you and Lynn.

I absolutely was. And if I see people feeding Trolls, I will say it again... Didn't a word I've typed in this thread get through to you? All you are doing when you ignore what they are doing is just making yourself feel needed. It is doing nothing but encouraging their negative way of socializing.

 

[Willie-T]

Oh yes, your sage words got through to me. Though from now on, I simply won't attempt to help trolls, OR anyone else. I'll leave it up to ones like you and Lynn.

I never said not to help them. I said it is hurting them to enable them in their games.

 

[blue_ladybug]

And also, I have neither the patience or tolerance to deal with trolls..

 

[blue_ladybug]

It's hard to help them when all they want to do is play fricking games with us.. I don't like games.. Therefore, I will no longer engage. Someone else can help them.

I never said not to help them. I said it is hurting them to enable them in their games.

 

[Depleted]

I never said not to help them. I said it is hurting them to enable them in their games.

So you suggest we call them on their games?

 

[Willie-T]

So you suggest we call them on their games?

You call me on mine, and I call you on yours. Are you saying that when someone's specific intent for registering here is to just see how disruptive they can be, we should humor them?

 

[Depleted]

I think I figured out the purpose of trolls. This really never was about trolls. This was about comfort levels. When comfort levels are challenged, it is far easier to call out "TROLL" than to deal with the concept we are uncomfortable. That way we don't have to deal with how we act, but how they act.

This site is good for comfort. It's all about comfort. (Not so much God, but comfort.) If someone is hurting we can go with two choices -- "There there" (i.e "I'll pray for you" or a quickly Bible verse) or "TROLL!" And the choice is made by how well we know the person. Not like anyone expects us to act on the hurts, just notice the hurt.

Never expect anyone to defend, only to offend. And expect offend, particularly when it happens to someone else. If "a friend" is offended, then it is much easier to call on the PTB to ban the offender, than to defend even for "a friend." And, for heaven sake, if "a friend" is being offended by "a friend," then look away, because that is much easier too. There is no responsibility from anyone here except the click of the Report-Post button.

But, hey, there are only two kinds of people here -- TROLLS and "friends."

I put "friends" in quotes, because "friends" on here usually means two people of like minds. It is too uncomfortable to walk beside anyone who is having a rough time. So the word "friend" doesn't have all that much meaning on this site. There are friends, but not as many as we are lead to believe.

Friends help friends.

Friends help friends even when the friend is wrong. The help is trying to bring the friend to realize they are wrong, and the only way to do that is by checking out what the problem really is. Never going to happen on here! Could get uncomfortable.

Christians are supposed to try to restore relationships except on here. That merely happens at the click of a button, and then let it be assumed the PTB know what's going on and will or won't deal with it perfectly, because it's out of our hands. Otherwise it gets uncomfortable. Even if someone asks for help to restore, then blame the person who dared to ask, because that is uncomfortable.

Christians are supposed to encourage and support, but on here? "There there" is about the furthest it goes most of the time. And heaven forbid anyone is questioning their relationship with God. There are other words for that -- "stupid," "your attitude," "your dismal view," "wallowing," "You again?" "TROLL," etc. The meaning is clear; the person is disrupting our comfort.

Too much hassle? Then toss about the word TROLL! That way comfort is restored quickly, praise be to Mod!

I've always said I'm a slow learner. Think how long it's taken me to figure this out. I finally did though. I guess that makes me a TROLL!

 

[Depleted]

You call me on mine, and I call you on yours. Are you saying that when someone's specific intent for registering here is to just see how disruptive they can be, we should humor them?

No. Actually I'm saying it hasn't worked yet.

 

[mailmandan]

And also, I have neither the patience or tolerance to deal with trolls..

I certainly don't have the patience or tolerance to deal with the persistent debate, show off, know it all, blabbermouth troll.

This type of troll loves a good argument. They can take a great, thoroughly researched and fact-based piece of content, and come at it from all opposing discussion angles to challenge its message. They believe they're right, and everyone else is wrong. You'll often also find them leaving long threads or arguments and they're always determined to have the last word -- continuing to comment until that other user gives up.

 

[Fenner]

I think everyone has an instinct when something doesn't seem right. If you feel like someone is just out to be a prankster or jerk, don't respond. If they're harassing you, report them. Life is to short to stress about some dork trying to rile everyone up.

 

[88]

I hate to bring up this never ending subject again but here it goes. But Im coming at this from a different angle. There is strife all over the forums about how to deal with a suspected troll. One side says dont judge no matter what they say,others deal with them and call them out directly. People have different views and personalities. Why is there such a split within the forum? Why does it get so nasty? Members that have been here longer know a troll faster. But why so much strife over how to deal with a troll? Anyone have an answer?

*** it has to do with maturity level...