Why do we permit users to intentionally cause disharmony on this board?

[cobra]

I am wondering why we permit users to intentionally cause disharmony for the sake of their own agendas.

This is a good board with lots of strong content.

But certain users have obvious agendas and create substance-free posts just to start fights.

I am thinking of one user in particular who has tried to make about 10 threads in the last week about Quincy Carter. That guy doesn't play for our team and hasn't played for us for almost three years. There is absolutely no reason for people to be making posts about him unless they are trying to push their agenda or start fights, which not surprisingly always happens.

I don't understand why the mods permit this kind of action.

This is a great board, but it is a community too. I don't see why certain people should be permitted to slap at the community for their own purposes.

I am not sure if this is the best place to bring it up, but I think it should be addressed. I don't know what other way to bring it to discussion.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Because everyone has a right to their own opinion. If you don't like what someone posts don't read it or put that person on ignore.

 

[Paniolo22]

Because everyone has a right to their own opinion. If you don't like what someone posts don't read it or put that person on ignore.

Plus, it's fun on occasion to read the fights.

 

[cobra]

I understand your point, but it seems to me that there is an obvious distinction between (1) people expressing an opinion and (2) people trolling a message board intentionally starting conflict on the same issue over and over and over. And far as ignoring the user goes, that doesn't really solve the issue because since he is obviously trying to troll, he gets people who argue back against him. So even if I ignore him, there is still discord and the resulting argument that is laid bare.

 

[cobra]

Or to put it another way, the "everyone has the right to an opinion" thing is not a sufficient answer to the problem because it is not the substance of the opinion that is the problem, its the obvious inflammatory way it is put forward in order to cause arguments and discord. It's basically looking for fights.

Take a hypothetical: say User X states the opinion that "I don't think there is anything wrong with pedophilia." That is the statement of an opinion. Under your rubric, it is a fine a statement to make because "everyone has a right to their opinion." And I'll concede, that a persons saying it once when it was topical may be an acceptable relativistic statement of principle. But if User X knows that such an opinion is inflammatory and leads to arguments, but nevertheless endeavors to bring up User X's opinion on the propriety of pedophilia in every thread, it becomes obvious what User X is doing. It is less about stating an opinion then it is about causing discord, arguing, and, possibly, attempting to get attention.

Anyone who has spent any time on a message board is familiar with the behavior of trolls. So to say that "everyone has a right to an opinion" is not exactly an answer to the issue.

 

[AbeBeta]

Some people say discord. Some say discussion.

Once we start to dictate what the "correct" points of view are then we become no better than ExtremeSkins.

For example, whenever someone brings up that Michael Irvin should be in the HoF, I say he shouldn't -- and it usually causes an argument of some sort. Whenever someone says that the Rooney Rule is stupid I argue that it is the most socially aware advance in any major sport and that it has done a ton of good.

These are both minority opinions and I'll always argue them. Does that make me a troll too?

 

[cobra]

No because you don't intentionally bring it up in a thread every day. You don't force the opinion into topics that don't deal with it. You don't create threads to start the argument.

No where did I say that certain opinions should be verboten. I am merely pointing out the blatant antics of trolling that do nothing but cause disharmony. There is no topical reason for a past player to be brought up with frequency, and that he is has everything to do with the desire to start a fight and cause discord.

Again, this is about trolling. This isn't about me disagreeing with an opinion.

 

[Hostile]

This issue is one that concerns many people and I hope to alleviate some of the tnesion of this thread by simply saying this.

We are currently discussing how we can address this very thing. It will mean stronger Guidelines, but not against people just here to discuss football. It will be directly applicable to those who just want to see people get up in arms for their jollies.

We want ti worded so that there is no question what is acceptable and expected, and what isn't.

I hope that helps. Trust me, it bothers me too. Unfortunately I cannot put people on Ignore. I would in a heartbeat.

 

[superpunk]

The only thing trolls respond to - besides banning - is being ignored. Now, unless we can get everyone to ignore the ****-tards that post because they enjoy the inflammatory reaction they cause, we just have to do it ourselves. I know myself, having ignored such an ignoramus, it really does help. I generally don't read quotes, and that's the only place I can see the moron's mindless banter. So it makes my time more enjoyable.

I do agree with you - if a poster is obviously here simply to sow discord, and is obviously doing so to the members, he should be got rid of. Because as long as he sows that discord - he LOVES it. And there's almost no way to get everyone to ignore him. So he constantly wins.

http://www.angelfire.com/space/usenet/

Really, the whole "troll phenomenon" is an interesting thing to understand - but most people would rather just get pissed off at them. Myself included - to a point. Unfortunately - they win when that happens too.

You yell - he wins. You cite facts - he wins, because it might spark a lengthy argument, which he loves.

 

[cobra]

Hostile, thanks for the response. That certain behavior is being addressed is comforting to hear.

You all do such an excellent job of keeping the quality of discussion here high that I am sure you will come up with the fairest resolution.

 

[Derinyar]

Because no one wants to see this board become extreemeskins?

 

[AbeBeta]

So who is the troll folks are complaining about?

Come on - let's get this out in the open.

 

[superpunk]

So who is the troll folks are complaining about?

Come on - let's get this out in the open.

It's not just one. They continually cycle through.

Currently?

I'd say abersonc.

 

[WoodysGirl]

So who is the troll folks are complaining about?

Come on - let's get this out in the open.

Let's not...

 

[cobra]

So who is the troll folks are complaining about?

Come on - let's get this out in the open.

This isn't about fighting over a certain user or picking on a certain user. That is why I didn't post a name.

 

[Hostile]

Hostile, thanks for the response. That certain behavior is being addressed is comforting to hear.

You all do such an excellent job of keeping the quality of discussion here high that I am sure you will come up with the fairest resolution.

Please understand something, we feel our tolerance is high to balance out some of the things we don't allow.

In other words, we're bending over backwards to be fair.

That doesn't mean we have not recognized a need to address this.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Let's not...

Yeah what she said

 

[Jarv]

1st we get rid of the trolls, then next thing you know it's the elves and hobbits.

Where does it end ????

 

[Yeagermeister]

1st we get rid of the trolls, then next thing you know it's the elves and hobbits.

Where does it end ????

With the tree ents?

 

[superpunk]

With the tree ents?

GD Saruman......

May I make a suggestion?

Make the ignore feature easier to find.