14
Jan
About Trolls, Discussion forums and administrators
Author: admin | Category:
I say
Over the years I have been involved in many internet discussions, I have been the troll, I have seen the trolls and I have seen forums destroyed by trolls. Facts are that some people have nothing better to do than look for trouble, Some are easily spotted, others are more subtle.
Facts are that trolls destroy the ambiance of a discussion forum. A Troll may be downright antagonistic, He or she may be objectionable thereby chasing away the people that want to use the forum to discuss issues. This type of troll will be a nuisance, sidelining all others opinions, ensuring that their opinion is heard above all.
But those trolls are easy to spot, You notice that people that disagree with them will stop taking part in any discussions as soon as the troll appears in the thread. The threads dies due to attrition. But this troll can be managed by a moderator willing to actually keep the board live.
The next troll is a real danger to any real debate. They are also easy to spot by any moderator who is on the ball. This troll diverts the attention from the conversation. Rather than focus on the topic of discussion, the troll will use a diversion.
I have pulled the following quotes out of a specific discussion about Witchcraft and a bill proposed in Mpumalanga to ban all forms of Witchcraft. The formulation of the bill would affect pagan religions like Wicca and the constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
The original post focuses on the bill. The subsequent efforts to distract are all pretty blatant and ignored by the admins. It does not focus at all on the religions practices, yet one commentor said.
“
Well, John, if Raven would explain her belief system a little to us ignoramii….I would appreciate it. See we all see : Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron Bubble….eye of a newt….etc when we hear the word witch.
Maybe she can put our minds at ease and teach us some about her “religion” which to most is foreign.”
Another added
Ditto…perhaps then we can objectively view her position from a legal perspective in terms of the Constitution’s limitations clause if need be…
By the way I hope you don’t mind but I’ve cut and pasted your post “Corporal Punishment…” on our site “Legal-COPE” I’m trying to get all legal issues bunched together on one site in order that this one may be free more for political issues…
Yet another added this
You really cannot be serious Raven! What you believe and practice is a very personal matter. There should be , i suppose, a caveat that no religion should interfere with the freedoms of others. my limited knowledge of pagan and wiccan says that you score zero when compared to “mainstream” religion dictating to states as to what people should or should not believe.
as a political party waiting patiently to govern, i believe that all these issues, the so-called “social” rights should be once and for all trashed and people should be and feel free without having persecution complexes.
In this discussion, witches on brooms, Exploding Computer Screens and other attempts at were used to deflect the attention away from the point of the discussion.
In a discussion about The Harms verdict regarding the Zuma issue.
“Does this mean Mbeki will be re-instated? (Yes, Bradley, we can dream….LOL)”
AND
“I guess Mr Mbeki is laughing at them now.. What goes around comes around!!”
And is a call for discussion about COPE policy the all time favourite the ad hominem attack.
“<First things first, This document is being compiled by me in my capacity as a member of COPE, not in my capacity as a Provincial representative.>
Ok Guy, you have proven credentials as a petulant child ready to try and blackmail COPE at every turn.
Why not simply compile the document under your hat of perpetual kindergarden attention-seeker? COPE is about honesty.”
An hour after reporting the issue to the admins, The ad hominem attack remains unaltered. The thing here is not that the trolls are there, It is that they remain unmanaged. The attack on someone not even in the discussion is designed to sideline the real issues. It seems to me that the asylum is run by the inmates.
I have come to the conclusion that the particular forum I have referenced here once touted as a place of vibrant discussion of the real issues has become a place to chat, sideline issues and break the morale of those who actually support for and work for COPE.
More for you to read
Tags: Admins, Discussion Forums, Moderation, Trolls
January 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Do you perhaps have a link where you got that Pagan related post from?
Re@PeRs last blog post..Crazy intersections, wait till you see these!!!