By now many of you will have learnt how to spot a troll on AG. It's very easy, because you can spot them a mile off. Most of them are invariably one-trick ponies who only know how to flame about one thing, and obviously they don't last very long. We ban them, they come back, we ban them again and everybody just gets bored of them and they fade away because nobody cares anymore.
This kind of cheap thrill is like the proverbial one-handed reading in the toilet cubicle. It doesn't last long and you come out of it feeling dirty when you realise everybody thinks you're just a jerkwad (because you are). Also, because everybody and his dog is doing it, it's a dime-a-dozen.
Gimmicks can be a good thing but it sucks that the trolls here aren't actually bright enough to know when to use them and how to mix up their repertoire. The reason "troll" is seen as derogatory is because we mainly see trolls who aren't good at what they do- they're the equivalent of a gnat on our shoulder that we flick off, and if they're stupid enough, they come back. But it doesn't have to be that way. While divisive, trolls can add spice to the forum... and if they're not actually malicious, should be better known as stirrers, provocateurs etc.
And that's what I'm here to promote. To be completely honest, most of you who read my posts know there is not ALL that much difference between myself and a troll except:
1) I'm smarter. 2) I do write actual serious content even while poking fun. 3) I'm not acting against the interests of this site.
However, I can't help but make jokes, barbed comments and sometimes make my point by writing a post that is sarcastic in its entirety. Every now and then (about 1% of the time) I will also write a post that gets flagged by the users (for good reaason. There. I admitted it.) People might criticise me at times for writing in ALL CAPS or making 3 word posts but the reason I do them is because the time was right, and the benefits (i.e. most people find it funny) outweigh the trouble I get into for it <_<
Now because I'm a moderator, I do hold myself back. For the other provocative types (you know who they are) who managed to stay on this site for some time, our job is to judge the response of the community and decide where to draw the line. I won't say we do it perfectly but in a changing community, what is perfect?
Long story short, I actually like the people who stir things up because I'm one of them myself. They're far better than the cheap laughs who can't manage anything more sophisticated. However rules are rules, hence my role.
Meh. I don't really approve of trolling, however, I can admit that I'm one myself. Although I don't do it so obviously, nor do I do it frequently, I do, sometimes, troll. Although it's mostly out for my own amusement, and usually directed at newbs who can give me some XD
So, ya.
Lol, what category are the Canadian haters out of curiosity?
It is very disappointing to see how many people will jump at the chance to support a spammer and a troller, especially when you know that the conversation has gone to an extremely inappropriate nature. I will remind you all that supporting such conversation is just as bad as starting it. If such behavior continues, anyone who contributes will be immediately banned, no questions asked.
It is very disappointing to see how many people will jump at the chance to support a spammer and a troller, especially when you know that the conversation has gone to an extremely inappropriate nature. I will remind you all that supporting such conversation is just as bad as starting it. If such behavior continues, anyone who contributes will be immediately banned, no questions asked.
Yeah, supporting trolls/spammers is bad news bears. Nothing good comes out of it. If you let them spam and troll long enough they just get worse, look at Klaushouse!
Plus I'd like to point out, being our original and resident Elite Jerk/Troll, that no matter how hard anyone tries they will never surpass my originality, or popularity... so why even try when you are just setting yourself up to fail? :0)
Yeah, supporting trolls/spammers is bad news bears. Nothing good comes out of it. If you let them spam and troll long enough they just get worse, look at Klaushouse!
What surprises me is that Klaushouse has only been banned once. I thought he'd been banned at least 4 times.
This is worrying. We should ban him more.
Aussinizi and ChritianPatriot
Were a team playing off each other. Unfortunately they didn't take full advantage of their dynamic and so I class them as the same one-trick pony I get bored of so quickly.
Klaus, on the other hand, may be a jerk most of the time but he is jerk mainly when he is writing about something he cares deeply about. Thus you should come to understand the fires that burn within his angst-laden soul.
I believe some of AG's few successful trolls were Aussinizi and ChritianPatriot, right? Along with Excalibur.
Exalibur? Do you mean excelsior? If you do, they were actually all the same person (he told me himself). I think his "Greatest Threat to this Christian Nation" thread was the closest he came to being a "good" troll, but it only did well because we're stupid and took him seriously. His thread where he paraphrased parts of the health care bill wasn't bad, but he didn't get many responses. Everything else was too obvious.
I agree for the most part...'cept for the fact that even the bad trolls seem too be getting a lot of attention nowadays as compared to in the past. TheFools that believe trolls can be really stupid sometimes.
But I must admit that it does bring joy to mock the occasional person.
