Sympathy for the Devil(In defense of trolls)

[Weevil]

This has been on my mind for a while and this Brown Bird guy(Who I think is crude, but has a point nontheless) made me think of it.

Why all the heaps of negativity directed towards trolls. I mean, I know that there are problems with their anonymity but that's just part of posting on the BB. Are those of use who have registered any less anonymous?Would they be substantially more courageous if they took the 10 seconds to register?

Admittedly, trolls tend to say pointless, and often mean, things. But that is besides the point, isn't it? If a "troll" posted something that was a thought provoking post, why should we treat it substantially differently than a post by anyone up to and including Laurel herself?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I'll give you a simple answer.

A Registered Person develops a rep and ties that he/she would like to maintain. But an Unregistered person, stirring shit, has no such compunction, and, therefore, has no care about the consequences of his (or her) actions.

Dialogue is governed by rules of etiquette, even on a porn board, and the reputaitons of our (admittedly fake, but so what?) names are what keeps us all in check, and keeps the community healthy. Someone who doesn't have to care about his rep and insits on creating abrasive dialogue is not helping the health of the board, and everyone can feel it. It's "lashing out" at the board, without risk to oneself. OF course the other villagers don't like it.

 

[Weevil]

I'll give you a simple answer.

A Registered Person develops a rep and ties that he/she would like to maintain. But an Unregistered person, stirring shit, has no such compunction, and, therefore, has no care about the consequences of his (or her) actions.

Dialogue is governed by rules of etiquette, even on a porn board, and the reputaitons of our (admittedly fake, but so what?) names are what keeps us all in check, and keeps the community healthy. Someone who doesn't have to care about his rep and insits on creating abrasive dialogue is not helping the health of the board, and everyone can feel it. It's "lashing out" at the board, without risk to oneself. OF course the other villagers don't like it.

Fair enough. But my question then is more along the lines of a troll who doesn't insist on creating abrasive dialogues.

Take the brownbird thing for instance, most of the people who have rebuffed him have done so not because they really, really like Black Bird, but because he is a "troll" and as such his points are automatically invalid.

Also, as to registering, I've registered about 15 times. Sometimes with goofy people I use to skewer friends(Light Shade of Purple, Difficult Offspring) and sometimes as goofy characters I use to have fun with the board(Where is that damn dog?) I'm not sure that simply by registering you imply that you have ties to the board you want to maintain.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

"Brown Bird" is obviously a take on "Black Bird", and by using a satirical name the poster affirms a slightly antagonisitic attitude, but one free of the relatiosnhip ramifications that would befall him he use his real name. Those ramifications are what keep us all in check, and keep the board healthy. We can piss and moan, but under our own (admittedly fake, but so what?) names, and live with the attitudes we create about ourselves. "Brown Bird" is freeing himself from that worry, so is able to be a total dick; he's not, but he's free to, and that's what bothers people. We all play be the "consequences" rules, so should he.

Posting as an Unregistered to be pissy or funny is is usually more pissy than funny. It's unconstructive, unneccessary, bad for the community all around, and that's why people don't like it.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Take the brownbird thing for instance, most of the people who have rebuffed him have done so not because they really, really like Black Bird, but because he is a "troll" and as such his points are automatically invalid.

Actually, I responded because I DO like Black_Bird. Flirtation aside, he's a pretty cool guy, and I enjoy reading his posts. I would have responded in the same manner if it were a regular user bashing him. Trollishness isn't limited to unregistereds.

As to unregistered users posting worthwhile threads... if they're truly something I'm interested in reading, then I'll post to them just as I would any other thread that caught my attention.

 

[Starfish]

Parody is one thing.

 

[Weevil]

"Brown Bird" is obviously a take on "Black Bird", and by using a satirical name the poster affirms a slightly antagonisitic attitude, but one free of the relatiosnhip ramifications that would befall him he use his real name. Those ramifications are what keep us all in check, and keep the board healthy. We can piss and moan, but under our own (admittedly fake, but so what?) names, and live with the attitudes we create about ourselves. "Brown Bird" is freeing himself from that worry, so is able to be a total dick; he's not, but he's free to, and that's what bothers people. We all play be the "consequences" rules, so should he.

Posting as an Unregistered to be pissy or funny is is usually more pissy than funny. It's unconstructive, unneccessary, bad for the community all around, and that's why people don't like it.

Fair enough. I can see that if none of us were to post as our registered selves the board to depreciate into a "Fuck You" war that would put us all to sleep.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Ba-da-bing. Give that man a kewpie doll. That's exactly it.

 

[Guest]

I'll give you a simple answer.
Dialogue is governed by rules of etiquette, even on a porn board, and the reputaitons of our (admittedly fake, but so what?) names are what keeps us all in check, and keeps the community healthy. Someone who doesn't have to care about his rep and insits on creating abrasive dialogue is not helping the health of the board, and everyone can feel it. It's "lashing out" at the board, without risk to oneself. OF course the other villagers don't like it.

So tell me again why having Bratcat pretend to be Dangergirl didn't matter to you?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Because "Dangergirl" was a registered personality, with a rep to risk, and wasn't attacking anyone. You are an unregistered personality with nothing to risk, keeping your real board identity neatly safe, and you're doing it to tweak (if not outright "attack") someone. No one cares if you have two or three registered personalities...they only care if you use any of them as a way to circumvent the rules of etiquette to be a dick with impunity.

In other words, you can be an asshole, but only if you're willing to accept the ramifications of your actions.

And, before you tell me that bratcat was an asshole, so why should she be allowed to "Become" someone else, I should point out that a person being an asshole to YOU in PRIVATE is not the same thing. Fight your own battles.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Laurel]

So tell me again why having Bratcat pretend to be Dangergirl didn't matter to you?

You must see irony in your challenging another member's cred from behind anon, don't you? I mean, how exactly are we to take seriously complaints about deception coming from someone who is deliberately deceiving? Gimme a break.

Not all unregistereds post malevolently. Though they may not post unregistered to offer support, they DO often post unregistered to ask FOR support and advice that they are too shy or ashamed to ask for otherwise. I don't think all anon posts should be immediately discounted. I do my best to weigh all posts by their content and not so much their source, but I do find myself giving more weight to posts made my registered users.

 

[modest mouse]

Professional Troll, Fuck Ya'll

Brown Bird made me laugh because he tried to be funny.

Black Bird made me laugh because he tried to be insightful.

 

[EvilBrat74]

I can understand if a troll has a perpose besides deceiving someone.
Some people have thing's to ask about that they don't want others to know about them.

Then there's the sarcastic troll.Unliked by all people.

 

[Problem Child]

Sometimes unregistereds speak the truth with the loudest voice because they can get away with saying unpopular things precisely because of their anonymity. Unfortunately those times are rarer than the stupid troll outbursts, and even more unfortunately we never get a chance to know the ones that spew an occasional diamond amongst the shit.

 

[Problem Child]

I personally like the sarcastic ones the best.

 

[Laurel]

Sometimes unregistereds speak the truth with the loudest voice because they can get away with saying unpopular things precisely because of their anonymity. Unfortunately those times are rarer than the stupid troll outbursts, and even more unfortunately we never get a chance to know the ones that spew an occasional diamond amongst the shit.

That's the fucked thing about posting unreg. It kills me when I see something really good posted under anon, because I'll never know who was responsible for it. Seems a shame to waste good lines like that.

 

[Problem Child]

Plus, it's almost impossible to flirt with an unreg. That sort of sucks.

 

[Laurel]

Plus, it's almost impossible to flirt with an unreg. That sort of sucks.

True. She could be a he, and that might change things. Or not.

 

[riff]

Just because someone posts as "Unregistered" does not make them a troll. I have posted as unregistered before, but never with malice or intent to disturb.

Even though this is true, people get offended. I am a registered user and I have been posting quite often these past couple of months. People know who I am.

Admitting this probably makes me a suspected troll, however. But you know, the people who know me and who have interacted with me on this board probably trust me enough to know that I am not a troll. On the otherhand, I realize that I am on a bulletin board where there are a lot of people and some of them I would probably just as well keep my distance from, yet I am going to run into them sometime.

Registered or not, people will be people. They will tell you the truth of their lives and they will lie their asses off to you.

If I get hurt, it's because I allowed myself to get hurt. I am not saying "If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen," though this is good advice- I'm just saying that my feelings are mine.

How is this any different than so called "real life?" I am fully aware, that with the exception of a few monkeys like me, there's a person behind all of the posts here.

 

[riff]

I personally like the sarcastic ones the best.

My point exactly- I have laughed my ass off at some of the things unregistereds have posted. I've also seen some nasty shit.

The medium does have its problems, doesn't it?

 

[CarolineOh]

I'm fairly new hear, and don't have a lot of insight I can present on this matter as it refers to these boards. However, I can tell you that I used to belong to an online community that was virtually destroyed by anonymous postings.
The core of the problem is that when anonymous posters attack regulars, suspicion as to the attackers "real identity" naturally arises. If this happens with any sort of frequency the atmosphere of suspicion grows and grows. Accusations begin to be exchanged, false assumptions are broadcast, and the board devolves into warring camps.
With that experience, my personal policy will be to not acknowledge any anonymous attack posts, even if I happen to think they make a valid point.

 

[riff]

I'm fairly new hear, and don't have a lot of insight I can present on this matter as it refers to these boards. However, I can tell you that I used to belong to an online community that was virtually destroyed by anonymous postings.
The core of the problem is that when anonymous posters attack regulars, suspicion as to the attackers "real identity" naturally arises. If this happens with any sort of frequency the atmosphere of suspicion grows and grows. Accusations begin to be exchanged, false assumptions are broadcast, and the board devolves into warring camps.
With that experience, my personal policy will be to not acknowledge any anonymous attack posts, even if I happen to think they make a valid point.

You make a great point. I guess what I am asking is that if it is not enforced, then what. The unregistered posts are a reality because they are possible. Seeing that they have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen until a policy is "enforced" then we have to learn to live with it. So we live with it. That's why people buy homes in gated communities, right? Or at least part of the reason, anyway.

 

[CarolineOh]

You make a great point. I guess what I am asking is that if it is not enforced, then what. The unregistered posts are a reality because they are possible. Seeing that they have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen until a policy is "enforced" then we have to learn to live with it. So we live with it. That's why people buy homes in gated communities, right? Or at least part of the reason, anyway.

It is most likely a problem we will have to live with. If only registered members could post, then the trolls would just keep reregistering under new names.
The only defense is to not let yourself get sucked into it, and that is not as easy as it seems. Some no name attacks a friend of yours, and he accuses so and so of doing it, and she attacks you because you had a disagreement with her last week, and you respond....and now you are a part of the problem , not the solution.
The best policy is zero tolerance for anonymous attacks, especially for attacks on people you dislike yourself. The trolls only have power if they make you respond.
I realize I'm new on this board,so I hope no one thinks I'm preaching- just sharing what I've learned from other forums.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Weevil - Also, as to registering, I've registered about 15 times. Sometimes with goofy people I use to skewer friends(Light Shade of Purple, Difficult Offspring) and sometimes as goofy characters I use to have fun with the board(Where is that damn dog?) I'm not sure that simply by registering you imply that you have ties to the board you want to maintain.

What is worse, not registering at all, or registering 15 times?

I'm not sure that simply by registering you imply that you have ties to the board you want to maintain.

So you don't want to help maintain Literotica? Then why be here? There are other places you could go, I can think of a couple.