Dealing with Trolls

[radhak]

So after a long time we have a couple of trolls amongst us. One is getting increasingly active, the other less so. And it is really disconcerting to see a snarky comment that spoils the moment and the thread I am reading.

But for all that, I have a request : till the time they get obnoxious to the point of insufferable-ness (at which point I'd ask Sam or any other Mod to remove them), let's not get down to their level of dirt. I feel we could just ignore their comments, or treat it at face-value, as I see many are already doing. Let's refrain from starting a flame-war in our belove BT3C; it's our home, and our own living-space is gonna get burnt.

As an example, in prior posts, I have felt Ken (Massingale) to be one of our model posters - informative, supportive and fun. So, Ken, it distresses me to see your posts when you are trying to counter Mr. Keller's vileness. Though it is directed at him, it's not your style.

What I suggest is (and I am addressing 'all of us') - How about we just converse with the rest of us, and just ignore this irksome gnat in the background unless he has something useful to say.

Actually, I have him at 'ignore', so I no longer see his comments : maybe I am missing some of his really genius nuggets because of that, but in the interests of skipping his nasty ones, I am ready to take that risk. But I do read responses to him from others, so I suggest everybody start using the ignore button for him and leave him an empty room to talk to.

[softop41]

redhak,
I feel like I must have missed someting. I hve my BT3 home page set to come uop with the latest posts and so I do miss things if there have beren more posts than show on that page. What screenname does this person go by?
Thanks,
Jerry

[Anna]

Same situation as Softop. I read BT3 through an RSS feeder, and I haven't seen/noticed any vileness (but then I don't read everything here). So you have to tell us who this guy is, or at least the thread you are alluding to, before I spend more time trying to do a futile search.

So curious,

[p8ntblr]

I'll PM you guys as I don't like to feed trolls. But I agree just ignore them. They pretty much have no lives and think it's funny.

[Anna]

Maybe the mods can just institute a rule that when a certain number of members puts someone on ignore, then the troll is warned. If the number of ignores reaches another threshold, troll gets suspended. Finally, he/she can get banned.

[Hellrazor]

News flash..

Ignore the trolls and do not feed them. Conversations like this are as good as food. If you don't like the troll, ignore him and he will go away.

[big tim]

I'm with Hellrazor!

Tim

[dkerfoot]

For me, it helps to think about groups of kids. There is usually one who wants attention, but doesn't have the social skills to contribute to what the group is doing.

Some just stand there and shout some variation of "look at me!" Others learn that by behaving badly, they can get some of the attention that they crave

As for talking ABOUT the trolls, I don't think that does much to feed them. The thing to avoid is talking TO them. Remember, it is attention that they are after and if they get ignored here, they'll bring their sorry selves somewhere else.

Should they flame someone, I'd suggest sending a PM to the person who was flamed, explaining the "special status" of the troll and pointing them to the other inane comments that they have made about other's work.

So, try to take a deep breath and let your anger turn to the more appropriate emotion - pity. They are pitiful after all, aren't they? Can you imagine them living in a peaceful home with a loving wife and adoring children? Me neither.

[Ken Massingale]

So after a long time we have a couple of trolls amongst us. One is getting increasingly active, the other less so. And it is really disconcerting to see a snarky comment that spoils the moment and the thread I am reading.

But for all that, I have a request : till the time they get obnoxious to the point of insufferable-ness (at which point I'd ask Sam or any other Mod to remove them), let's not get down to their level of dirt. I feel we could just ignore their comments, or treat it at face-value, as I see many are already doing. Let's refrain from starting a flame-war in our belove BT3C; it's our home, and our own living-space is gonna get burnt.

As an example, in prior posts, I have felt Ken (Massingale) to be one of our model posters - informative, supportive and fun. So, Ken, it distresses me to see your posts when you are trying to counter Mr. Keller's vileness. Though it is directed at him, it's not your style.

What I suggest is (and I am addressing 'all of us') - How about we just converse with the rest of us, and just ignore this irksome gnat in the background unless he has something useful to say.

Actually, I have him at 'ignore', so I no longer see his comments : maybe I am missing some of his really genius nuggets because of that, but in the interests of skipping his nasty ones, I am ready to take that risk. But I do read responses to him from others, so I suggest everybody start using the ignore button for him and leave him an empty room to talk to.

Well, since I was pointed out in a public post, I'll pay you the respect of replying.
I won't disagree with your point of view concerning treatment of trolls. I do have Keller on my Grump list normally. His recent antics on other forums, and seeing he had returned here yesterday, prompted me to temporarily remove him from the list. That seems to have been a mistake.
My attempt to defend members of BT3Central who I consider friends has obviously backfired.
I regret causing any offence or distress to any member of the BT3Central family. Keller is back on the Grump list and will remain there.
I'll try to control my short fuse when my friends are attacked, but it won't be easy.

[cabinetman]

I won't disagree with your point of view concerning treatment of trolls. I do have Keller on my Grump list normally.
I'll try to control my short fuse when my friends are attacked, but it won't be easy.

Ken

I don't disagree either. Gumping and ignoring still leaves the remarks to be seen by others. Fortunately we have a good group here. There may at times be some disagreements, but they usually get handled with some finesse. What we have with this member is quite different. He makes no excuses for his overt comments. In fact he even says it in his signature.

I like direct approaches. Thought I would make reference to my reply in this thread.

[Thom2]

Anybody that's replied to any of his posts may want to go back and review the thread in it's entirety and edit/delete their posts as they deem necessary.

I've taken steps to deal with this and would appreciate everyone's cooperation in not feeding the troll.

I and the rest of the mod squad have been in discussion and we'll handle this in our own way.

Please PM me if you feel you need to discuss this matter any further.

Thanks Everyone,

Thom

[Stytooner]

While I agree with what we manipulated with Jay's thread's, I still feel there is some kind of help we could offer him. This Forum really is so diverse and the suggestions typically given are of such caliber as to be professional. In a lot of cases, they are. I ask that you not let the incursion from routine disturb the normal flow of info and comments.
I am uneasy that we have to point out any individual as non conforming. His efforts have bothered more than just a few of our members. That is not conducive to what this Forum is all about. You can easily have a differing opinion and offer it up in a manner that would be respected.
I won't waste anymore keystrokes on this individual or these particular posts.
His next step is explanations if he wants to remain with member status.

[radhak]

...
My attempt to defend members of BT3Central who I consider friends has obviously backfired.

No, I wouldn't say that. You only said what all of us wanted to.

...
I regret causing any offence or distress to any member of the BT3Central family. Keller is back on the Grump list and will remain there.
I'll try to control my short fuse when my friends are attacked, but it won't be easy.

Agreed - not easy for anyone.

Anybody that's replied to any of his posts may want to go back and review the thread in it's entirety and edit/delete their posts as they deem necessary.

I've taken steps to deal with this and would appreciate everyone's cooperation in not feeding the troll.

I and the rest of the mod squad have been in discussion and we'll handle this in our own way.

Please PM me if you feel you need to discuss this matter any further.

Thanks Everyone,

Thom

thanks. somehow feels like 'order is restored'

[Ken Massingale]

No, I wouldn't say that. You only said what all of us wanted to.


Agreed - not easy for anyone.



thanks. somehow feels like 'order is restored'

Don't think so. It's back and getting nasty.

[TheRic]

Mods: I love what you did with the Jay Keller thread!!! I was laughing thru most of it. Between it reading like he is cutting down himself, and what you guys had done not sure what made me laugh harder.