Troll Mutations

[Raised By Wolves]

As I am a member on several boards, I've noticed some of the Trolls are becoming much more vile and manipulative, than they used to be.

So many of them are nothing but "puppet masters", seeing how many people they can get to dance to their tune. I'm beginning to wonder if some of these folks aren't actually traveling around in pairs, having contests to see who can best disrupt a dog board.

Some of the clues I have found useful in spotting these little buggers are:

Obviously not reading and respecting each individual board's code of conduct.

Any form of deceit, whether it's who they are, opening threads under a false pretense, or outright lieing.

No introduction in the intro area, even when it is encouraged by the management.

Opening threads with highly inflamatory topics, and egging people on with any comment they know will make the situation worse and get people more upset.

Contributing nothing or little of value to the discussions they participate in.

Taking cheap shots at people, rather than sticking to the topic at hand, and causing division between members who usually get along.


It's my personal feeling, that anyone who enters a dog forum with the sole purpose of disrupting that board, is only taking the time away from those interested in helping other dog lovers and their dogs.

Why would anyone who claims to love dogs do this? Hmmmm

When I look at the numbers in the stickies which contain the rules of conduct at GP, the viewings seem awfully low.

I've been a member for awhile now, and I can't remember if there was a required reading and an agreement of conduct when I joined or not.

I don't know if I really have any specific suggestions about what can be done about this situation, but maybe someone else who reads this does. Maybe a "troll icon"?

This problem is definately getting worse, and I don't think it's a whole lot of different individuals doing "IT", either. Many times it appears to be the same person, going from board to board.

But, what do I know, I could be wrong.

[PawNclaws]

I've seen some of these, I guess you all call them "trolls", people come in a forum post some things that would get anyone who loves dogs upset , then when some one replys with an honest but soft reply the person gets all angry and starts using language I find unsutable for younger readers and I do find it unacceptable anyway to use this language on the forum in genral because people who come to get answers will leave if they feel they will get cornered by one of these "trolls". I know they pay no attention to the rules and I find it rather inmature that they bash people like that. Its just not a way to make friends or help others. I some times dont read all the rules but I have my own and stick to them. My number one rule is this :
1) respect and recieve respect- I've seen this shown here on GP since I've been a member and thats why I havent left. So far I stopped going to one forum for the reason of people bashing others.

[Sheltiemama]

IMO trolls are like people who suffer from Munchausen's by proxy. Life is all about them and they will get attention any way they can even at the expense of their dogs (if they even have dogs). These forums aren't the only place they feed on. Other discussion boards are rife with them too. I think a troll icon is a good idea, that way when we read through the posts on the board we can keep from wasting our time on the troll thread and go on to the more important and more rewarding posts so we can be of assistance to other dog lovers.

[Raised By Wolves]

Originally Posted by Sheltiemama

IMO trolls are like people who suffer from Munchausen's by proxy. Life is all about them

Interesting point! I think you're right in regards to a lot of them.

The use of foul language in opening posts and the "baiting" of members, is just becoming more frequent on all of the boards right now.

I like the phrase, "Please don't feed the Trolls!". Wise words.

I quess all we can do is flag the posts which are offensive, and smell of Troll doings.

[flyndog]

We do a fair job of troll hunting here. You don't find many.

[Barrett]

LOL Kit, I get an image of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons flashing through my head. Instead of Wabbit season, Shhhh....I'm hunting Twolls. * does her best Elmer Fudd laugh *

[Raised By Wolves]

Originally Posted by Barrett

LOL Kit, I get an image of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons flashing through my head. Instead of Wabbit season, Shhhh....I'm hunting Twolls. * does her best Elmer Fudd laugh *

"Look! Twoll twacks!"

Yes Kit! Vewy few twolls fwequent these fowums! Hu-hu-hu-hu-hu!

It must be the humor and the tauntings, as well as the exewent modiwators.

[flyndog]

Well, yes that and the troll-o-meters.

Interesting species, trolls - several subspecies. Classic, Abstract, Malicious, Obsessive. Not all are psycho-socially interesting.

[anaconda]

You forgot the foot-in-mouth trolls.
Foot-in-mouth troll: This species isn't all that bad. Its low levels of intelligence (the brain is usually the size of a nut) make it fill its posts with stumbles and contradictions, which produce scorn and contempt in the forum members, uniting them against the supreme idiot in their midst. Most foot-in-mouth trolls can be identified by their illiteracy. Those posts infested by one or more foot-in-mouth trolls usually end in hilarity and a discussion of the infinite possibilities of numbskulledness in the human mind.