Trolls

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

How do you deal with trolls?



Explain how you would deal with them as a staffer.

Explain how you would deal with them as a regular member (who cant do anything about the trolling except report their posts)..

 

[The Dragon Master]

I take a massive hammer to them and bash them over the head

I tend to report them, when I find them.

 

[Evil Eye]

I slay them and sell the loot they drop.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I'd put them on moderator queue..

If I were a regular member, I'd ignore them at all costs.. Once you reply to their stupidity then they have enough fuel to keep going for a while.

 

[Howard]

As staff, an immediate and permanent ban.



As a regular member, report them immediately and don't bother getting into a flame war with them.

 

[DrLeftover]

I just think they're really ugly.

Yeah, the ones with keyboards are too.

 

[Jazzy]

As staff I would issue them a warning. If they continued and ignored the warning then I would ban the user.



As a member I would ignore them. IMO, when you ignore a troll they don't get the satisfaction of creating an escalated conflict. They troll for a reason and that's to get attention so when they don't get any they might leave and move on.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

As staff, an immediate and permanent ban.

Permanent ban is a little harsh. Often times putting them on moderator queue or giving them a temporary 1week to a month ban works wonders. Ive seen several trolls reform themselves and become great contributors to the community after they've cooled off or came to the realization that what they were doing was wrong.

 

[Howard]

That may well be right mate, but on my forum I will not tolerate trolls full stop.



So, it would be a permanent ban and have done with it. The bottom line for me is protecting my members from idiots who's only purpose is to make trouble.

 

[Pulse]

I slay them and sell the loot they drop.

I second that. PvP time.



I find that trolling is good a forum.. for like a day or something. because everyone goes after him. if he returns again for the second day.. then good.. more posting.



Don't they understand that they are just feeding us. yet they don't even understand that.

It's good to know that the people who hate you will visit your forum and post about bullshit. =] very good, very good.

 

[DrLeftover]

What if the troll IS a staff member, perhaps even a moderator?

 

[Jazzy]

What if the troll IS a staff member, perhaps even a moderator?

I would first copy the post and then hit the report button. I would then email other staff members and paste the post into my email. This way the moderator in question couldn't go and delete their post without everyone knowing they did that.

 

[DrLeftover]

But of course such a thing would never happen on a forum. That would almost be the death rattle of the forum itself.

 

[Jazzy]

But of course such a thing would never happen on a forum. That would almost be the death rattle of the forum itself.

That's assuming all of the staff aren't trolls and cover for each other

 

[Pulse]

What if the troll IS a staff member, perhaps even a moderator?

Well first of all why would you want a troll as a staff or mod?

 

[Evil Eye]

Well first of all why would you want a troll as a staff or mod?

A] It's a forum for trolls. B] They didn't know that person was a troll.

 

[Pulse]

A] It's a forum for trolls. B] They didn't know that person was a troll.

Thats is why you shouldn't hired someone until you know that they aren't a troller.

Forums for trolls.. I wanna go there. Sounds like fun

 

[Evil Eye]

Forums for trolls.. I wanna go there. Sounds like fun

It was.

 

[Corleone]

As a staffer, I would contact them via PM and let them know that they're trolling, but I wouldn't try to come across rude. Sometimes people get caught up in discussions and completely forget their morals and then once they're aware they are being a troll, they tend to get a grip of themselves.



If that doesn't work and they continue to troll, then temp. ban, then if they return trolling, perm. ban. Is it harsh? No, it's a privilege to participate in any given community, not a necessity. Besides, who really wants to go easy on a troll? I don't want a troll at my community.



As a member, I'd report the post. Unless you have some power or authority in the community, you're just going to make yourself look bad by trying to be a backseat moderator, plus, that's probably going to piss the troll off even more. Report the post, let the staff deal with it. If they don't deal with it or stick to their guns, then I'd leave. No community should put up with trolls, so why are so many afraid to ban them? I've heard this excuse a lot, it's basically where if you threaten to ban a member, then that member will go around telling everyone else you banned them for no reason and you'll lose members. My response is... so what? I could care less if the troll and his posse leave, but so many people don't see it the way I see it.

 

[Pulse]

No community should put up with trolls, so why are so many afraid to ban them? I've heard this excuse a lot, it's basically where if you threaten to ban a member, then that member will go around telling everyone else you banned them for no reason and you'll lose members. My response is... so what? I could care less if the troll and his posse leave, but so many people don't see it the way I see it.

I second that.



People are afraid of their forum's reputation.



Plus there is always two sides of the story. And if people are going to take other people's opinions about other forums.. which their opinions are just what they experience as a troll.. then people who follow them or even listens to them don't even have a mind of their own if they are going to judge a forum base on what others have said.