Don't Feed the Trolls

I was wondering the same thing. Flame-ish comments are made in ordinary, legitimate threads, and I think, "I shouldn't let that go. It's so horrendously, offensively wrong." But I do let it pass, because to take him/her up on it would derail the actual thread, and to suggest the poster take it to the Debate Room suggests I have time to follow him there and engage.

But maybe a simple "Debate Room" reply wouldn't commit any of us to anything? Except the mods who would have to move it, that is . . .

EDIT: Okay, I see. Just report it. And if the mods think I'm being too sensitive, I can just shrug, say "Oh, well," and go on ignoring the post I objected to. Or the poster altogether.

Right?

 

I was on one where the standard response to a troll was . . . no, never mind. That would be Telling, and it might still be needed.

 

Good point.

 

Noted. I am sorry for my contribution to the current unrest.

 

Some forums have a "vote down" that goes along with "like". But that does feel unfriendly.

Oh. Hey. How about a "Let's take this outside" thread in the Debate Room? I mean, a single thread for those many back-and-forths that aren't really worth their own whole thread? So when someone says something, and I say "what the expletive?!" I go to "Let's take this outside" after I've Reported, and rant there.

No? I suspect there's some flaw with this, but I'm not instantly seeing it.

 

While I like the idea of this (in theory) I see it as being a terrifying free-for-all of epic proportions.

 

I haven't seen that much backlash, so afaic feel free to advice over-political members to take their agenda to the debate room whenever you spot it.

 

Probably. Yes.

 

I didn't think you were pointing me out specifically, but based on your definition - I think I did. I did the whole 'debate room' thing. Thank you though

 

I tend to not engage anymore, but I rarely report, either, because I don't really know what warrants reporting. Honestly I usually end up deciding that just because I think something is shitty behavior or it makes me uncomfortable personally, doesn't mean the mods have to do anything about it. I default to thinking that reporting would be 'bothering' the staff, but is it better to just go ahead and do it?

 

Exactly - on the one hand I think it would be fun, because there's nothing I love more than a solid debate. But I am (I believe, feel free to correct me) one of those people who can keep it from getting personal, and too many people are not.

 

I Report. Not prolifically or whimsically, I think, but I probably Report three times a week or so, averaged out.

 

If you see trouble brewing, or flamey posts, or anything iffy, please report. Don't worry about whether or not it's warranted. We won't add you on any member shit list or anything for "over-reporting".

 

Maybe we need a definition of "engage". Obviously,

"You're an idiot, here's why, and here are fifteen links supporting my position, and I will argue this to the death."

is engaging. Are we saying, that

"Debate Room."

is engaging? If it is, no problem, just wanting clarification. Edited to add: And I got the vibe that it is, and now I'm less sure.

 

... what? No, no, no. My words are very general words. Please don't take this as aimed at you. Everything I said is an amalgamation and a reduction of having done this since 2008.

 

See, that's what I think, except I tell them to take it to the debate room. If it's not an obvious troll, I tend to think more like 'Okay, maybe he/she doesn't realize what a fucked up thing to say that is. Because I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I will stop doing that so as not to add the caseload and drama.

 

You see people do that from time to time in the Not Happy thread, for example. It seems to be a conversation stopper rather than a fire starter.

Of course I'd rather you didn't engage and instead reported, but I haven't observed huge backlash from advising people to take their politics to the appropriate room. Or then I've just missed it...

 

I wasn't taking it personal, I was admitting and asking forgiveness.

 

Right? What the hell is barryboys? That sounds fun. Seriously. Cathartic even.