I have no idea what you are talking about
Posted on 11/22/2004 8:39:43 AM PST by MWS
Alright, fellow VKers, I have a small bone to pick with some of you. Not necessarily you, the one reading this post (I mean, I'd never criticize you personally... you know that...), but rather some of the other Kitties reading this post.
I think that a few of us are getting a little overzealous in the pursuit of trolls. It's good to be a little zealous, of course. After all, it strikes fear in the hearts of those who would infiltrate us and wreak havoc on all the other poor, unsuspecting FReepers we have vowed to defend. Unfortunately, some among us (again, not you personally... you'd never be overzealous...you and I both know this!) have had the tendency to lob the label of "troll" at anyone who posts an article or comment that seems a bit outlandish. I especially have a problem with this when it is done to established FReepers who have been around for a while.
My concern isn't for the person getting targetted, of course. This forum is made up of big boys and girls who can tolerate a little name calling. My concern, rather, is for the reputation of the forum itself, not to mention for the reputations of those who are making the charges. After all, it doesn't reflect well on someone who is calling for the zotting of a member who has been with FR since 1998!
The power of the Zot is a mighty weapon. It strikes sheer horror into the hearts of trolls everywhere (well... it gives us a few laughs at the expense of some hapless sap...but still). It should be used with fear and trepidation. With that in mind, we ought to keep several guidelines in mind as we go out to hunt those who wish to besmirch our glorious forum:
1.Check the dates at which people joined. People who signed up in '98 or '99 most likely aren't trolls. You might want to hesitate on attempting to zot someone who signed up in 2000 as well. Trolls are not patient beings. They don't tend to lurk for that long. I suppose it is possible they could be a troll, but not it's not very likely.
2.Check posting histories, please. Trolls don't tend to post passionate defenses of conservativism. In fact, this is actually a way of catching trolls as well. Trolls are over the top in their conservatism - because they do not understand conservatism itself, only a caricature. Read what the person has said in the past before lobbing out charges of trollery.
3.Not every newbie posting an article is a troll. Granted, it's quite possible that they are, but it's also possible that they are simply clueless as to the mistake they're making. (As a sidenote, I really do wish that there were a disclaimer warning newbies not to post articles... it really would save a lot of effort...)
4.Don't forget to sacrifice the troll heads to the Mods. I can't emphasize this enough. They get angry when they don't get their sacrifices.
I'm sure others can think of some other guidelines.
Happy Zotting!
Can I get a VK ping?
MWS
Since May 16, 2001
Hmmmmm.... ;)
Zot doesn't seem too intimidating...I've seen people zotted 20 times in a row, and it doesn't seem to do anything.
Can you please define "overzealious".
I was reading and posting replies to articles for several months before I ever saw an article that hadn't been posted, and posted it. I've yet to post a Vanity thread. I have, however, made mistakes -- posted an article that had already been posted (some of you are vicious when that happens, by the way) -- and posted from a source that is forbidden (oops ... oh, well, I learned about the list that time).
At any rate ... even some of us who joined earlier this year are not trolls. Keep that in mind.
Aha! *TROLL*!
:-)
b4its2late
Since May 16, 1999
A vk-ping
Pinging my list also.FYI and for comments, folks.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Dang.
Good advice!
I think now that the election has passed and the "real" trolls are all in Florida getting therapy, things will calm down.
We were awfully jumpy for awhile there.
Actually this past year quite a few embedden trolls were outed or they outed themselves in a heated exchange.
Many joined during the 2000 election and lay dorminant or posted anti GW bs for years. They were probably Moby embedded trolls.
Interesting that some survivors of this anti GW group has been very silent since the election is over.
Man, I miss the good old days when A+Bert and Ash were the main trolls around here. I loved the ASH ALERTs with the cute little song.
You can still zot me though, if you want....it doesn't hurt, and the attention more than makes up for the tingly sensation.
What you are saying is that it isn't prudent to call someone you disagree with a troll...I agree with that..
I do think newbies or oldies who come in with ridiculous vanities are fodder for ridicule....but not zotting.
Newbies who make posting errors should have the Mod thread with helpful guidelines posted to them..They need info ..not ridicule.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1213319/posts
This is a good one.
Bump!
Thankfully, the thread has been locked, but a troll just got nuked at a troll magnet thread.
Thankfully, the thread is now locked.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/782142/posts?page=113
We have had a few trolls who did sign up in 98 and 99, but they're getting increasingly rare.
So, correct, the main bulk of them are going to be of much newer vintage.
Thankfully, they're also kinda obvious lately.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
