As most of you have probably noticed, Gristmill has attracted a few trolls. I guess we can attribute that to some combination of increased popularity and the recent Coby-driven focus on global warming.
There's a lot to say about this, but I'm jammed with other things right now, so just a quick note.
I've been reading blogs for a long time. I reckon I read about as many blogs, as often, as anyone alive. I've seen and participated in many, many comment boards. And here's the simple rule I've learned:
Don't feed the trolls.
They work by playing on more honorable people's good will. They pose as people who just aren't yet persuaded. No matter how crudely it's done -- and this clown is not exactly the Michael Jordan of the genre -- it seems always to work. People offer evidence. Trolls demand further evidence. People tell them to STFU. Trolls claim they're being suppressed. People call them names. Trolls claim that's because they have no evidence. People offer still more evidence. Trolls ignore the evidence they've been offered and demand evidence.
It never ends. I don't know why people are so unable to resist engaging with trolls, but they are -- it's true on every public internet forum I've ever seen.
Still: It's clear when someone's a troll. If you suspect they are, they probably are. And there's only one thing to do: ignore them. Don't engage. Don't try to persuade. Don't insult. Just ignore. It's hard, but their whole purpose is to distract and anger you. If you simply refuse to be distracted or angered, they'll go irritate someone else.
Don't feed the trolls.
Comments
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Biodiversivist Posted 4:28 am
02 Jan 2007
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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swozniak Posted 4:39 am
02 Jan 2007
Tolerance ceases to be tolerance when it crosses its bounds. We can't change everybody's minds, just be the best we can be and hope they like our example.
Shawn
http://thegoodthebadandthegreen.com
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GMB Posted 4:45 am
02 Jan 2007
You are such an idiot and so mindless. Lacking in any intelligence... You are so ideologically minded and your ideas are so lacking in any factual basis, that you had to bring it down to name-calling.
What is a Troll David?
What is a troll?
What is your definition of a troll?
So mindless are you you did not realise that it was merely a tax-eaters fascist putdown of anyone who doesn't follow the leftist line.
That is how stupid you are.
Now have you got any evidence for catastrophic global warming as opposed to catastrophic global cooling?
No you haven't.
Else you would have come up with it ahead of this childish baby-talk name-calling.
So you are part of this massive scientific fraud.
And you are too stupid to have an opinion of your own.
You are a sheep in sheeps clothing.
A useless dolt.
A complete drone of a human being.
But I'll tell you what?
Why not prove me wrong?
Why not just stop the name-calling?
And attempt to debate these matters like a grown-up.
You think you can do that?
I don't think you can.
Because I think you are an idiot.
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David Roberts Posted 4:49 am
02 Jan 2007
But everyone: GMB won't be the last troll. Hell, he'll probably be back with a different alias by the end of the day.
The advice stands: don't feed the trolls.
www.grist.org
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Ron Steenblik Posted 4:54 am
02 Jan 2007
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Laurence Aurbach Posted 5:12 am
02 Jan 2007
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Biodiversivist Posted 5:59 am
02 Jan 2007
I would also like to add that although aggressive behaviour is very common on Internet forums, it is not generally considered an act of bravado to say things from the safety and anonymity of a firewall that you would never dream of saying to a guy on the next bar stool. Anyone in the habit of telling the guy on the next stool over he is an idiot or has shit-for-brains would be well advised to keep his dentures in his pocket.
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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Zarkov Posted 7:41 am
02 Jan 2007
Without body language. the written word can be read with a large variation of emotions, and sometimes the poster is worked up by others.
When dealing with complex subjects, it is easy to call for more evidence, when it is not there. However in many cases the evidence needs to be interpreted.
This is where confusion and disagreement occurs.
It seems on the net, the masses win...irrespective of their ignorance or expertise.
I expect this problem can only be overcome by a Internet format change.
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wiscidea Posted 7:53 am
02 Jan 2007
Thank you for posting your remarks regarding trolls. You opened your statement by saying, "As most of you have probably noticed, Gristmill has attracted a few trolls." You singled out one, but I have to wonder who the others are. And then I thought about it. Perhaps I'm a troll. I am a bit annoying. I tend not to back up my claims with evidence. I wish I could, but although I'm always reading I tend to recall the big picture and not the details. So I just post my comments hoping it might contribute something to the conversation or I might learn something from others eager to counter my remarks.
I've learned a few things here, including...
(1) Many environmentalist do not know as much about GMOs as they think they do.
(2) I don't know as much about the hazards of GMOs as I thought I did.
(3) Hybrid electric or fully electric cars make sense.
(4) I'm now fully armed to counter global climate change skeptics.
(5) I have to make more of an effort to become a vegetarian.
That's just off the top of my head. I've had an opportunity to think about various views, why I hold them, and whether I should consider changing them... even if I did not contribute to intelligent discussion of the issues.
Regarding the specific troll you mention in your post, I found him/her a bit entertaining. I happen to enjoy confronting such people and had just made the decision to engage the enemy -- it is an opportunity to clarify one's views and refine their communication skills. But that is why I worry that I am one of the trolls annonying people. And if not, I have great potential to become a troll.
It is your website, of course, and you are free to limit discussion. I would very likely do the same. But I have to say... when I read your post, I felt a cold chill. It was as though you had decided to make an example of GMB so that the rest of us would behave. He/she was singled out and punished. But what about the others? Do they know who they are? Do they know they are crossing some boundary? Who will be punished next? This is the sort of behavior I expect from G. W. Bush and his supporters.
There is no anger here. There is no bitterness. I wish you well. I was spending a bit too much time at the Grist website and needed a kick in the pants to move on to other matters.
I apologize to anyone I've annoyed and I will no longer bother you.
Happy New Year!
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atreyger Posted 8:11 am
02 Jan 2007
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David Roberts Posted 8:40 am
02 Jan 2007
The difference is, we're here to converse. That guy was here to $%@! things up. It's not that hard to tell the difference.
www.grist.org
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caniscandida Posted 10:21 am
02 Jan 2007
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
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amazingdrx Posted 1:05 pm
02 Jan 2007
Pete was more articulate. Or maybe they are the same person. Wasn't there another one too? But GMB was just a more extreme version.
That constant call for evidence backfires though. They can't cite even one contrary peer reviewed scientific source. And the old "it's only a theory" talking point. And "it's a natural cycle".
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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atreyger Posted 2:49 pm
02 Jan 2007
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willa Posted 2:56 pm
02 Jan 2007
I hope you're still hanging around enough to read this. From one frequently annoying person to another, the internet needs more of our kind. :)
No, but seriously, I'm way more annoying than you are, and you don't see David getting me banned yet, do you?
Btw, David, I guess I should be more careful in the future before I decide to annoy you again! (kidding!)
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willa Posted 2:58 pm
02 Jan 2007
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TimLambert Posted 10:18 pm
02 Jan 2007
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amazingdrx Posted 10:39 pm
02 Jan 2007
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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Backcut Posted 1:28 am
03 Jan 2007
I don't know who that quote was really from but, it's words I live by. That does not mean that I don't factor in the equal and opposite re-action from the shenannigans I so enjoy. Some "trolls" prefer to soak in the digital righteousness and outrage of dozens of newbie internet folks "taking the bait" for their first time.
I prefer trolling to expose hypocracy and ignorance, but only dealing with something I know a lot about; forest ecosystems.
And, be sure to take a look at the Wikipedia article on internet trolls. We all seem to fit at least SOME of those characteristics, just by posting on this here Gristmill web forum. <smirk>
Scenic pics at http://Lhfotoware.blogspot.com
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mihan Posted 5:04 am
03 Jan 2007
No... I'm more annoying! Forget you, you're just slightly irritating! I WIN!
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willa Posted 7:48 am
03 Jan 2007
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