Was I trolling?

May 13, 2001 3:32 PM

Was I trolling? I had an admittedly heated reaction to an issue I care about, and blasted "conservatives/republicans/the right" as a group. But was I way outta line?
posted by owillis to Etiquette/Policy at 3:32 PM (17 comments total)

I don't think you were trolling, but I bet you would not like getting swept up in a generalization if it were aimed in your direction. Actually I don't think it comes close to trolling.
posted by thirteen at 3:53 PM on May 13, 2001

Hell no. Good thread, valid comment. But like I said in the thread, I don't think many opinions were swayed today.
posted by gimli at 3:55 PM on May 13, 2001

In my opinion, I'd just say you were pissed off, and pissed off people often don't end up actually getting around to making any sort of valid point that contributes to discussion.

Then again, the guy WAS implying that you were screwing your dog, and that's no fun at all.
posted by jbeaumont at 3:56 PM on May 13, 2001

Oh - but your earlier points in the conversation (pre dog) I thought were fine.
posted by jbeaumont at 3:58 PM on May 13, 2001

I don't think you were intentionally trolling, but your argument was crap.
posted by aaron at 4:18 PM on May 13, 2001

Ok, thanks. Especially to aaron. He and I agree on about 2% of things in the world, but at least he and I can at least debate things.
posted by owillis at 5:05 PM on May 13, 2001

Wouldn't you be the only one to know if you were trolling or not?
posted by Doug at 9:49 PM on May 13, 2001

Not a troll. Just cranky.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:02 PM on May 13, 2001

Not a troll. Bluntly lumping together too many groups is asking for it. Have a beautiful day.
posted by holloway at 11:39 PM on May 13, 2001

I's hot, I was cranky... everything's good now.
posted by owillis at 12:21 AM on May 14, 2001

I don't have a problem with grouping together people who have ALREADY grouped themselves together, and acted in concert. Although not all Republicans are the same, moderates and conservatives joined to support Bush, and so they invite a certian amount of grouping.

I do take issue with cursing. I just think it has no place on MeFi. And it doesn't help the argument.
posted by brucec at 6:21 AM on May 14, 2001

Well..... I enjoy profanity. And I think it has an important place on MeFi. If someone thinks their argument needs some profanity then I say they should go for it.

Cursing is good and good for you.

The idea that a well reasoned argument is always ruined by cursing is a big-ass load of bull poop.
posted by y6y6y6 at 11:21 AM on May 14, 2001

Not to sound too much like a Me-Too, but I don't think you were trolling either. It's just that the topic itself was without merit but had just enough leading rhetoric to invite the usual group of political head-bangers in for some weekend flamethrowing. It's time to stop giving them fuel.
posted by briank at 1:13 PM on May 14, 2001

I think the word "trolling" is gay to begin with. Whoever thought it up the term shouldn't be allowed to have children and should stay the hell away from normal human beings with kids.
posted by PatMcGroin at 3:57 PM on May 14, 2001

Um--"gay"??

What is this, second grade?
posted by shylock at 11:14 PM on May 14, 2001

second grade to the max.
posted by holloway at 11:46 PM on May 14, 2001

It's a troll shylock, in a thread about trolling. McGroin thinks he's being clever.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:10 AM on May 15, 2001