Is this forum topic being polluted by trolls?

I know it is their goal but really dudes, some of you respond to the usual trolls with the same old drivel and all it does is encourage these well known individuals to continue asking redundant questions and so it just becomes more of the same. How about not responding and instead, reporting. Let's clean up this section of the forum.
What say you?

 

Unfortunately, everyone has different beliefs. Someone with an opposing belief to yours doesn't mean they're a troll, or vice versa.

Also, are you wanting to go against the constitution on free speech?

 

Well here it tis:

A Mother Crab watched her daughter walk in the customary Crab-like way, sidewise, and asked Her daughter, why don't you walk in the straightforward way daughter ?

The daughter responded; show me the way maitre, and I will follow.
So her mother tried, this way and that way, failed and try try try again, only to fail miserably each time, so finally, the daughter said;
Mother, when you can go straight, show me how and so will I......

So, show us the way.......

 

Such vagueness is not really helpful.

 

There are several trolls. However, they become well known pretty quick. Their value lies in providing response opportunities to the inane things they post, posts that often reflect those in the general population that formulate opinions or regurgitate them based on low information and do their side more damage than good for the casual observer.

 

The board has an ignore function. Use it, and the trolls go away.

 

Straw, man.
No one opposes holding a different belief; everyone but trolls oppose trolling.

Read the forum rules -- trolling violates them.

 

I agree. Lets stop all the personal attacks and focus only on the issues. See who breaks that first.

 

Different posters on different forums are quick to use the troll willy nilly. This is usually thrown at new users.

You do get trolls, but they often set an account up, troll and get banned normally within a few hours.

 

troll
1a. Noun
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

1b. Noun
A person who, on a message forum of some type, attacks and flames other members of the forum for any of a number of reasons such as rank, previous disagreements, sex, status, ect.
A troll usually flames threads without staying on topic, unlike a "Flamer" who flames a thread because he/she disagrees with the content of the thread.

1c. Noun
A member of an internet forum who continually harangues and harasses others. Someone with nothing worthwhile to add to a certain conversation, but rather continually threadjacks or changes the subject, as well as thinks every member of the forum is talking about them and only them. Trolls often go by multiple names to circumvent getting banned.

 

Those of us that have been here for a while know full well who troll this topic - we don't need your help to tell who they are.

 

Troll is the term often used for someone that refuses to agree with you

 

The 1st Amendment doesn't apply here, as this isn't a government site. Trolling is perfectly Constitutional yet not acceptable here.

 

More importantly:

2. PERSONAL ATTACKS AND INSULTS
Personal attacks and insults are not tolerated here. When replying to a post, your own post must be about the post to which you are replying, not the poster themselves. Any personal remark about another poster that - in the judgment of a moderator or administrator - could reasonably be regarded as an intentional insult in the context of that discussion will be subject to infraction. Please also keep in mind that simply saying something that's not very nice is not necessarily an insult, nor does the fact that you are offended necessarily mean that you have been insulted.

The rules regarding personal attacks extend not only to individual posters, but to groups as well. For example, calling all Republicans idiots is the same as calling every Republican on the board an idiot, and will not be tolerated. A certain amount of latitude may be granted in discussing the policies and the practices of a political party or other political organization, but posters should be advised that this is thin ice, and be cautious about making remarks that personally insult the members of such parties or organizations. And again, simply saying, "I hate Republicans" does not constitute an attack or an insult against Republicans. "I hate Republicans because they are corrupt" is an attack, because it is attacking the character of all Republicans.

Attacks against public officials, political figures, celebrities, etc, are allowed, as long as they do not violate the guidelines concerning threats or incitement to violence (see below.)

3. FLAMEBAITING
Posts or images that, in the judgment of a moderator or administrator, are specifically intended to provoke emotional responses or personal attacks from other posters, rather than civil discussion, will be considered flamebaiting.

4. HARRASSMENT, BAITING, TAUNTING
Stalking or harassing other members is forbidden, whether in the public forums, through PMs, or in social groups or albums. If you don't like someone, leave them alone or put them on ignore. Any attempts to bait or taunt another poster will be considered infractions, including posters who are banned from the forum or banned from a thread, and thus unable to reply. This includes quoting other members in your signature without permission, or mischaracterizing their statements by quoting them and changing the quotes. Disclosing personal or confidential information about other posters or staff - including but not limited to personal identities - or disclosing confidential communications may be considered harassment.

5. TROLLING OR DERAILING A DISCUSSION
If you don't want to discuss the topic, stay out of the thread. Posts that are, in the judgment of moderators or administrators, intended to disrupt a discussion rather than actually contribute to it will be considered trolling.

 

Unfortunately for you, members are allowed to post as they wish.

 

And if a troll can only be labeled as such by the mods then anyone else’s opinion is just that.....an opinion

 

LOL
The board has an ignore function, so I am unaffected.

Except when they violate the ToS.
When they do this, they get suspended/banned -- ask, and I am sure they will tell you.

 

Well, I'll just bail out here. Good luck with your campaign, please take your anger out on someone else.

I was just trying to put forward some comments, I didn't expect to be a target.

 

Funny, that you feel like you were.

 

Closed minded people think they're being trolled when other people disagree with them.

 

There are definite trolls on this board. I don't particularly think that you (or most of the gun control advocates) are trolls (except ronstar on a bad day).

 

Pay no Toll to the Troll !

 

I don’t use it, easy enough to bypass inanity. I do think we are missing a dislike button and stats however.

 

I'd like an option to exclude people from topics - 'you do not have permission to post here' or some-such.

 

There are paid trolls, those trolls paid by the number of posts that are easy to identify. Funny though, there is a vague theshold where rather than disruption of legitimate discussion purposed to a benefactor’s long term advantage, some trolls leave a trail of silliness that detracts from the character of their benefactor generating a negative perception of their sincerity and their competence, thus causing the antithesis of purpose. It becomes particularly counter productive in forums discussing highly polarized topics such as gun control.