Exposing the Trolls

[RogerDodger62]

I came up with this idea last night, and the more I think about it, the better I like it. Being that there is a distinct difference between not liking a story and trolling, I've decided to start adding the following courtesy note to the beginning of all my stories that I put in the LW section.

A courtesy note to new readers:

We, the authors here at Literotica, have a slight troll problem. Trolls are small, angry men who can’t cope with their personal failures, and feel the need to vent their frustrations for their own failed relationships. When you read their feedback, you really understand why their wife or girlfriend left them. We generally delete their comments, essentially “dumping” them (just like their wife or girlfriend did), but please be advised that you may experience rage filled blather at the end of this story. If you enjoy my story, please feel free to leave me feedback at the conclusion.

Enjoy,
Roger

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I feel that this is a polite courtesy to the readers, and shows the trolls for the pathetic little men that they are. If they wish to continue doing it, then they have to admit that they are sexual failures who can't function in the real world. Of course, they can do this anonymously, but they are still admitting that they're a sexual joke if they choose to leave their feedback anyway.

If anyone can think of a short/nice way to add a little more "truth" to this courtesy note, please add your version to the thread. I'd like to end up with one ultimate (calm) disclaimer that we can all use to diffuse the power they seem to think they have.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I feel that this is a polite courtesy to the readers, and shows the trolls for the pathetic little men that they are. If they wish to continue doing it, then they have to admit that they are sexual failures who can't function in the real world. Of course, they can do this anonymously, but they are still admitting that they're a sexual joke if they choose to leave their feedback anyway.

Who says they are men??

 

[RogerDodger62]

Jenny, I just can't see a sweet young lady going postal like that. Besides, no self-respecting woman would stoop to that level.

This smacks of "angry male".

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I certainly hope you don't really believe you're speaking for every author at Literotica when you say, "We, the authors here at Literotica". You don't. I, for one, don't have a troll problem, I don't generally delete their comments, nor would I finish any author note asking for readers' comments if they enjoyed my story. I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion and to express it, whether they liked my story or not. And if I were going to use that expression, I, as an author here at Literotica, would not forget the hyphen in "rage-filled blather".

 

[Stella_Omega]

Jenny, I just can't see a sweet young lady going postal like that. Besides, no self-respecting woman would stoop to that level.

This smacks of "angry male".

How about a mean-ass old lady? How about a pissy young woman with no self respect?

Roger, your idea is well-intentioned, and I hope you'll let us know if you get responses from it, and of what sort. But you've stirred up the hornets nest with your ideas about "Self respecting women" and "Sweet young ladies"!

Where've you been for the last fifty years while the feminist movement has changed every expectation of ladylike behavior?

 

[RogerDodger62]

Lauren, I'm certainly not speaking for every author, just the ones who chose to use it. And I'm also not fishing for feedback. I welcome positive and negative feedback alike, and the only comments I delete are the obvious trolls. And I'll certainly remember the hyphen, thank you.

Stella, don't confuse well-intended respect with patronizing chauvinism. I've known lots of mean-ass old ladys, and pissy young women, and they all deserve at least some respect. I give it, and it is usually returned.

And on my last story in LW, I posted a feedback to the trolls that basically said the same thing, and the trolling stopped immediately. Though I could really care less about high ratings, the score on that story has slowly been climbing since I posted it.

 

[RogerDodger62]

Lauren, keeping in mind that this is only for those authors who chose to use it, is this any more acceptable?

We, the authors here at Literotica, have a slight troll problem. Trolls are small, angry men who can’t cope with their personal failures, and feel the need to vent their frustrations for their own failed relationships. When you read their feedback, you really understand why their wife or girlfriend left them. Some of us choose to delete their comments, essentially “dumping” them (just like their wife or girlfriend did), but please be advised that you may experience rage-filled blather at the end of this story.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

I would think that this would only encourage them. I'm surprised that it seemed to have worked for you. I really don't care about trolling. I figure that it's just part of being a Literotica author.. that every one of us has been trolled at one time or another. I consider it more of a badge of honor than something that needs to be stopped.
I don't delete negative comments. I figure that any of my loyal readers would see these comments as I do- kinda amusing. I've had readers send PM's to me after reading such a comment, telling me not to let it get to me. So, if anything, these comments have brought support from readers.

 

[RogerDodger62]

LadynStFreknBed, it is a part of it. I also get comments to ignore them, and I really don't mind the trolls. Just knowing that they're going to hit me, why not throw the opening punch, and a few after that? I'm simply forcing them to admit their own inadequicies, and then depriving them of what they want most, which is for their hate to be read. That gives me a trophy instead of just a badge of honor.

I don't delete the negative comments. I delete the hate-filled "Here's another f*****g wimp cuck and his diseased slut wife" comments. There's a difference, and the trolls just want someone to read their rage. If you just say that my story sucks, and not to waste your time reading it, I'm going to leave it. That's an honest opinion.

 

[tickledkitty]

Hey, speak for yourself, buddy. "We, the authors here at Literotica" looks to me like you've appointed yourself spokesman for the group. I also agree that you're just asking for more trouble with that little message. How about just ignoring them? How about not giving them the power to bother you, which is what they want, right? All you're doing is giving them the attention they're looking for.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren, keeping in mind that this is only for those authors who chose to use it, is this any more acceptable?

What exactly is the difference? You're still saying, "We, the authors at Literotica". Why don't you say, "I, an author at Literotica", or simply "I", since you're not speaking for anyone else?

 

[cloudy]

How about not giving them the power to bother you

Amen.

 

[RogerDodger62]

Ok, I have completely removed the "We the authors" part, because I certainly don't want to speak for anyone. It has now been replaced with "Here at Literotica, we have what I personally consider to be a slight troll problem." That part was only for those who chose to use it anyway, which does not include you, obviously. Regardless, its gone now.

As far as not giving them the power to bother me, they don't. But why give them any power at all? Let them rage. They knowingly admit to what I put in the very first paragraph the second they put fingers to keyboard. They view it as a sense of empowerment, and I'm turning it into an admission of failure.

Its all done without an argument, and without remaining quiet. I've told them up front, "If you choose to leave that garbage here, you admit that you're a miserable failure." If they move past the first paragraph and choose to leave it anyway, I win. If they bombard me with 1-bombs and keep quiet, I still win because I shut them up.

Why give them power when you can take it?

I'll risk it...

 

[NoJo]

A preamble like that is a red rag to a bull.

 

[RogerDodger62]

Joe, isn't there usually a spear behind that flag?
"Toro, toro!"

 

[Anonymuse]

I may have a problem.

 

[glynndah]

I don't think I've been visited by trolls or anyone else mean. I do think this preamble could act just like one of those high-pitched dog whistles. You may think it's helping "train" your dog, but it's really just annoying the hell out of all the other dogs in the neighborhood.

 

[Anonymuse]

I don't think I've been visited by trolls or anyone else mean. I do think this preamble could act just like one of those high-pitched dog whistles. You may think it's helping "train" your dog, but it's really just annoying the hell out of all the other dogs in the neighborhood.

I keep getting 5 bombs. Damn.

Novels tend not to attract the serious troll.

 

[glynndah]

I keep getting 5 bombs. Damn.

Novels tend not to attract the serious troll.

I've never got a serious troll infestation. One of these days I'm going to have to decide if I should be insulted by that.

 

[Anonymuse]

I've never got a serious troll infestation. One of these days I'm going to have to decide if I should be insulted by that.

But you've never submitted in LW.

 

[RogerDodger62]

Glynndah, try posting a story over in the Loving Wives section. You'll get one within an hour.

As far as annoying the dogs in the neighborhood, dogs are dogs, and readers are people. If I'm going to have someone spraying graffiti on my wall, its going to be under a sign that reads "Anyone spraying here has a small winkie"

Anonymuse, these guys don't read the novels because they're here for fast gratification. You know that. I don't have the dedication to start a novel. I'm here for the fast gratification myself.

 

[glynndah]

Glynndah, try posting a story over in the Loving Wives section. You'll get one within an hour.

As far as annoying the dogs in the neighborhood, dogs are dogs, and readers are people. If I'm going to have someone spraying graffiti on my wall, its going to be under a sign that reads "Anyone spraying here has a small winkie"

Anonymuse, these guys don't read the novels because they're here for fast gratification. You know that. I don't have the dedication to start a novel. I'm here for the fast gratification myself.

Haven't you ever read that little sign above the portal into Loving Wives:
Warning! Beyond this door be Trolls! Enter at your own risk!
We've asked the powers that be to make it a little more noticable, but so far we've had no response. Perhaps they are battling their own troll infestation.

 

[Darkniciad]

Nobody really pays any attention to the poorly-spelled psychotic rants in PCs when they're looking at a story, unless they're just as unhinged as the dingbats who write them. Everyone already knows that these people are whakko-loons, thus they're already exposed.

 

[cloudy]

If those people cause you so much anguish that you feel you have to post a note like that at the beginning of those stories, then stop posting them in that category.

Why the hell do you even care what they think?

 

[Stella_Omega]

If I wrote about marital discord at all-- which I don't, I have to admit-- I'd add some rope and a spanking and put it in BDSM.