What constitutes a "troll" on this site?

[caketastydelish]

I've noticed that several people have been accused of "trolling" lately, and in my opinion it isn't fair.

What is a troll? How do you define a troll? I think a troll is someone who makes personal attacks against other users.

In other words, having an unpopular opinion=/= troll. Ghostwriter, Abegweit, Mistercooper, and several others have been accused of being a troll even though in my opinion they usually are not.

As far as I'm concerned, someone can be a neo-nazi and not be a troll, supposing they are civil about it and don't attack other posters.

I think people have the right to express their opinions without being called a troll, regardless of how unpopular they may be.

FYI, someone said I have "bad" opinions, which is a buzz word in and of itself because "bad opinions" is also an opinion. I can say my opinions are good just as easily as you can say they are bad, and FYI I added that user to my ignore list.

 

[Borachio]

I think a troll is someone who makes deliberately provocative posts in order to get an angry response from someone/anyone else.

 

[caketastydelish]

But what if it's what they really think? People are entitled to their opinions.

I think the south did not have the right to secede, that abortion is not murder, and that Ron Paul generally stinks. All of that said, I think Ghostwriter and several others get treated unfairly just for having opinions that most of us disagree with.

 

[bhsup]

Whatever the mods deem to be trollish. It has nothing to do with any non-mod users claiming someone to be simply because they don't have the power to make that judgement.

(hint: that means shut up about calling others trolls because it isn't your call to make (you being whoever does such things, not YOU, oldschooler.) And while I'm on my bandstand, shut up about making all other mod-reserved judgements about posts. You don't get to decide if something belongs in another forum or some other issue you may have with a post, so just shut up about it and let mods make that call.) *climbs off soapbox*

 

[Crezth]

What's a troll?

 

[BvBPL]

A troll is an ogre that lives under a bridge and extracts tolls from those crossing. They like to eat billy goats.

They have also been known to regenerate three to five hit points a turn and the only reliable ways to kill them is through the use of fire and acid.

 

[caketastydelish]

Whatever the mods deem to be trollish. It has nothing to do with any non-mod users claiming someone to be simply because they don't have the power to make that judgement.

(hint: that means shut up about calling others trolls because it isn't your call to make (you being whoever does such things, not YOU, oldschooler.) And while I'm on my bandstand, shut up about making all other mod-reserved judgements about posts. You don't get to decide if something belongs in another forum or some other issue you may have with a post, so just shut up about it and let mods make that call.) *climbs off soapbox*

Yeah, I'm just saying the rule the mods should have is that attacking other posters is trolling, having unpopular opinions is not.

 

[Borachio]

But what if it's what they really think? People are entitled to their opinions.

If you genuinely hold that opinion, then no I don't suppose it is really trolling.

Except you might make a case for it being trolling if it is so out of kilter with the mainstream of the forum you are posting on.

For example, suppose I go on a far right forum and state spouting righteous indignation about how holocaust denial should be a criminal offence, I think it probable I could be described as trolling. Yes? No?

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

I don't think the posters you mentioned have been accused of being trolls anyway (Mr Cooper maybe, but his image has been rehabilitated and is now considered awesomely funny on the whole)and I don't think your definition, being essentially "disagreeable" tends to be the agreed definition. I think Borachio's is spot on.

 

[caketastydelish]

If you genuinely hold that opinion, then no I don't suppose it is really trolling.

Except you might make a case for it being trolling if it is so out of kilter with the mainstream of the forum you are posting on.

For example, suppose I go on a far right forum and state spouting righteous indignation about how holocaust denial should be a criminal offence, I think it probable I could be described as trolling. Yes? No?

If you joined the site knowing in advance that they wouldn't like what you have to say then yes, otherwise no. This site is for people that play the civilization video games, and frankly, those people can come of any political affiliation, any socio economic background, any race, any gender, any age, or anything else.

With a neo nazi site, that probably wouldn't be the case, so its presumed people would know in advance what the mainstream opinions on such a site would be.

 

[BvBPL]

For example, suppose I go on a far right forum and state spouting righteous indignation about how holocaust denial should be a criminal offence, I think it probable I could be described as trolling. Yes? No?

You should test your hypothesis by trying that very thing on Stormfront, J-Date, and here (as a control) then report back to us.

 

[Borachio]

@Oldschooler88
Alright. So a neo-nazi could come here and start spouting righteous holocaust denial stuff and not be considered a troll?

You should test your hypothesis by trying that very thing on Stormfront, J-Date, and here (as a control) then report back to us.

Oh no! Please!

I do believe people have already tested this hypothesis. Though not here as a control.

 

[caketastydelish]

As far as I'm concerned, the only trolling (in the form of an unpopular opinion) on this site, is by saying something along the lines of "civilization sucks" or "sid meiers is an idiot"

Everyone who joins this site will know its original purpose is for the Civilization game series, but nothing else is a given.

 

[BvBPL]

People who disparage Rhyes or Kael should be tarred similarly to those presented in OS88's post above this one.

 

[Skwink]

Trolls are people who post things to stir up a reaction.

 

[BvBPL]

Trolls are people who post things to stir up a reaction.

That's a useless definition. Everyone who starts a new thread wants a reaction from others.

 

[azzaman333]

It doesn't count as trolling if you're genuinely stupid.

 

[Skwink]

That's a useless definition. Everyone who starts a new thread wants a reaction from others.

Kind of like how all thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs.

 

[BvBPL]

Don't palm that nonsense off on me. Nail down your position.

I do have to hand it to you for your rather overtly absurd rejoinder, though I do recommend you knuckle down and refine your position.

That aside, you sound hot. Can I get your digits?

 

[Zelig]

What is a troll?

I can't tell the difference between trolls and stupid people.

edit:

It doesn't count as trolling if you're genuinely stupid.

This is what I wanted to say.