Troll Put-downs.

[dimreepr]

I know the best thing to do with a persistent troll is to ignore
them. Recently I’ve been a target for one; initially it was an appealing debate,
however all too soon it descended into unadulterated trolling.

As a parting gift I had intended to post a last defining put-down, unfortunately I came up
blank; its trickier than you might think, without sounding juvenile or self-indulgent,
any ideas?

[Phi for All]

First, if you spend this much time worrying about a troll, he's already won.

 

Second, there are trolls and there are people who don't argue well. One of the most common mistakes is confusing a troll with someone who persistently strawmans your stance. It's frustrating, but it might not have the purposeful intent that true trolling has. The typical strawman is like this exchange:

 

Person 1 - "Bush should never have started the war in Iraq."

 

Person 2 - "How can you say that? It's unpatriotic not to support our troops!"

 

Some people simply don't understand that Person 2 is rebutting something completely different from Person 1's stance. I sincerely think a typical Person 2 can learn how not to argue this way if you show them why they aren't arguing logically.

 

The true troll, on the other hand, takes delight in purposely misunderstanding your stance, or tossing in inflammatory statements like hand grenades. Trolls like this love stirring the pot needlessly. Getting people angry enough to lose their cool is their goal.

 

So of course, if you want a good troll put down, ignoring them is the coolest. Show them you don't care. Above all, if you HAVE to say something, make sure it doesn't sink you to their level. Make sure your put down is and not .

 

Btw, did that trolling happen here? If so, I hope you reported it.

[dimreepr]

First, if you spend this much time worrying about a troll, he's already won.

 

Second, there are trolls and there are people who don't argue well. One of the most common mistakes is confusing a troll with someone who persistently strawmans your stance. It's frustrating, but it might not have the purposeful intent that true trolling has. The typical strawman is like this exchange:

 

Person 1 - "Bush should never have started the war in Iraq."

 

Person 2 - "How can you say that? It's unpatriotic not to support our troops!"

 

Some people simply don't understand that Person 2 is rebutting something completely different from Person 1's stance. I sincerely think a typical Person 2 can learn how not to argue this way if you show them why they aren't arguing logically.

 

The true troll, on the other hand, takes delight in purposely misunderstanding your stance, or tossing in inflammatory statements like hand grenades. Trolls like this love stirring the pot needlessly. Getting people angry enough to lose their cool is their goal.

 

So of course, if you want a good troll put down, ignoring them is the coolest. Show them you don't care. Above all, if you HAVE to say something, make sure it doesn't sink you to their level. Make sure your put down is and not .

 

Btw, did that trolling happen here? If so, I hope you reported it.

 

 

Thanks for the response and no it wasn’t here. I understand

what you mean and initially I thought the guy was genuinely just arguing from a

sincere but misinformed position, soon after I realised my mistake and stopped

responding (not that he stopped posting ). I had a lingering wish that I had

left a little something with him that didn’t descend to that level, so I

started this thread, just out of interest, as I’m simply not imaginative enough.

Just to be clear I have no intention of using any of these replies.

 

 

 

 

 

[Phi for All]

The other thing trolls like to do is drive a discussion off-topic, so you should make sure any put-down you use doesn't make you guilty of doing the same thing. And most will.

 

I guess a good generic put down that doesn't lower you to the troll's level is, "That's completely off-topic, and I look forward to ignoring your new thread on the subject."

[timo]

I recommend the use of this forum's "ignore list" feature. Many people first have to become accustomed to letting the "opponent" having the "last word", especially on the Internet. But with some time distance from the post, one starts to realize that readers of a thread may have brains of their own, and form their opinion based on what's been written, not on its order. And once you realize this it actually becomes kind of fun to let someone else have a stupid "last word" in a debate (though posting solely for this fun would probably quality as trolling by itself).

[zapatos]

any ideas?

"I've been trying to see things from your point of view, but I cannot get my head that far up my ass."

[iNow]

I would agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong.

[ACG52]

It doesn't matter. The whole point of the troll is to get you to feed him, so no matter what you say, he feels good. By responding to him, in any manner, you've vindicated his existence.

[Tres Juicy]

"Arguing on the internet is like the special olympics, you can win but you're still retarded"

 

 

Not one of mine but it springs to mind here.

[Phi for All]

It doesn't matter. The whole point of the troll is to get you to feed him, so no matter what you say, he feels good. By responding to him, in any manner, you've vindicated his existence.

It's like little kids who discover how they can directly affect their environment by tossing rocks in the water. Toss a rock, get a splash. Toss, splash.

 

They're all a bunch of tossers.

[iNow]

I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's hard to pronounce.

 

 

Btw - ACG52 is exactly correct IMO. When you discard all the distractions, a troll wants attention and nothing more. Good attention, bad attention... they don't care... it's attention itself they desire. Putting them down may be fun and help your status among members of the community, as could be poking at them and arguing... but if your desire is to "beat" a troll at something, the only response is to walk away and ignore them.

[swansont]

Re: trolls. Posted this sentiment a while back: Never wrestle with a pig. You get all muddy, and besides, the pig enjoys it. (George Bernard Shaw, paraphrased)

[zapatos]

I think trolls want more than just a response from you; they also want the satisfaction of having annoyed you or making you look silly (in their eyes).

On occasion when I've been bored, I've taken on trolls by completely ignoring the content of what they are saying to me, and focusing instead on their weaknesses. As an example, one rather serious conservative kept calling me 'libtard', and asking about my free Obama phone. My responses all had to do with correcting her spelling (for some reasons trolls seem to have issues with spelling and grammar), and how I was able to get the government to pay me for tutoring people like her online. She really started losing it when I told her how I was able to use my food stamps at the casino.

Overall it was kind of a fun discussion!

[dimreepr]

 

 

I charge thee ‘(insert name) the troll’ with a quest, go forth and search the world both real and virtual, find one other soul who

actually gives a (insert expletive).

 

 

 

[CaptainPanic]

If you realize someone is a troll, your dialogue/conversation has already ended. From then on, it is just two people having a monologue. So, you should adjust your writing style accordingly.

 

 

I still think we need a resident troll on our forum. A nice one, who doesn't swear too much. I love trolls.

[Tres Juicy]

If you realize someone is a troll, your dialogue/conversation has already ended. From then on, it is just two people having a monologue. So, you should adjust your writing style accordingly.

 

 

I still think we need a resident troll on our forum. A nice one, who doesn't swear too much. I love trolls.

Can I volunteer? I'll create a new account to troll from if you like.

 

I'll be annoying but non-sweary

[zapatos]

Can I volunteer? I'll create a new account to troll from if you like.

 

I'll be annoying but non-sweary

Wait. Aren't you already.... Never mind.

[CaptainPanic]

Can I volunteer?

 

It is a title you earn. You cannot volunteer for it.

[Spyman]

It is a title you earn. You cannot volunteer for it.

Does it come with a special forum title and nice looking staff stripe with stars?

[CaptainPanic]

Does it come with a special forum title and nice looking staff stripe with stars?

 

Who knows. Until know, everybody who applied for the job has been banned before they got through the trial period.

[Tres Juicy]

*Trolls Massively*

 

Cam my title be changed to "Resident Troll"?

Edited February 5, 2013 by Tres Juicy

[CaptainPanic]

*Trolls Massively*

 

Cam my title be changed to "Resident Troll"?

 

You realize this is actually on topic here, don't you?

[Spyman]

 

Who knows. Until know, everybody who applied for the job has been banned before they got through the trial period.

Like this?

 

[Tres Juicy]

You realize this is actually on topic here, don't you?

I can practice....

 

I'm loving Spymans graphic above! Yes, exactly like that!!