How do you define trolling in the present atmosphere?

September 13, 2001 2:25 AM

How do you define trolling in the present atmosphere? At the moment anyone who suggests that america has performed atrocities is flamed.
posted by asok to Etiquette/Policy at 2:25 AM (43 comments total)

It might help, asok, if you didn't post essentially the same comment in a dozen threads.
posted by holgate at 6:12 AM on September 13, 2001

It also might help if you put some identifying details about yourself in your profile. You're new here, and you seem to have joined MetaFilter to hammer the U.S. in every thread you join. What kind of reaction were you expecting to get?
posted by rcade at 6:21 AM on September 13, 2001

Isn't "asok" that intern in Dilbert who's always getting shat upon. You'd be kind of a downer too, if someone was always pissing in your coffee.
posted by jpoulos at 8:10 AM on September 13, 2001

Let us not forget that the actual perpertrators of this act were 'harboured' by the usa .


I think deliberately misleading statements such as this give a good picture of trolling.



posted by Wulfgar! at 9:31 AM on September 13, 2001

Not to mention the spelling.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:13 PM on September 13, 2001

Matt

this guy is a troll.

Don't know the policy, but jeez!
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:43 PM on September 13, 2001

Apologies

I should have name "browneyewink" there
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:44 PM on September 13, 2001

he's done.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:50 PM on September 13, 2001

Thanks.
I was going to say something too but I didn't want to encourage his type.
posted by mkn at 10:52 PM on September 13, 2001

That was quick!

Thanks so much Matt. Never told you this before: you are doing a great job and providing an invaluable service here! Keep up the good work!

thanks again

Chris
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:54 PM on September 13, 2001

He lives
posted by owillis at 11:03 PM on September 13, 2001

Sorry owillis

You were right about not feeding them. I knee-jerked when I shouldn't have.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:07 PM on September 13, 2001

Time to close registration again for a few days?
posted by darukaru at 12:32 AM on September 14, 2001

I think there definitely should be a moratorium on new accounts until this calms down.
posted by rcade at 6:10 AM on September 14, 2001

New accounts have gone APESHIT since this happened. I'm not sure how many are beards for current members, but from my informal count (based on memory, hmm), we've gotten like 400 new members in the last four days. Matt, is that correct? I'm with rcade - let's hold off on new folks, if only to keep fresh trolls from coming out from under their bridges.
posted by UncleFes at 6:40 AM on September 14, 2001

hi guys.
posted by newnameintown at 8:52 AM on September 14, 2001

Hi clav. I thought it was you.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:19 AM on September 14, 2001

newnameintown's profile states he is clavdivs under a new username. Though I'm glad you're including an e-mail address now, coming back after you were booted is extremely rude, if that's what is happening here.

For a great example of what defines a troll, check out some of Aaron's work lately. His continued existence on MetaFilter is a testament to Matt's fairness. If this was my weblog, I would have deleted the mopey little creep a long time ago.
posted by rcade at 9:21 AM on September 14, 2001

wait, clavdivs was booted?
posted by jpoulos at 10:36 AM on September 14, 2001

I don't know if he was. It's just a guess based on his new username.
posted by rcade at 12:31 PM on September 14, 2001

What's clavdivs ever done to warrant booting?
posted by rodii at 7:24 PM on September 14, 2001

aaron can be incendiary at times, but no more so than a lot of other people here. He just gets a disproportionate amount of negative attention because he's outspokenly conservative. Besides, he thinks his positions through and sticks with the discussion; even if you don't like what he says, you have to admit that he stands by it.

As for clavdivs, I don't know, but I'm guessing he was never booted. Probably just decided to try out a new username for a while.
posted by gd779 at 8:22 PM on September 14, 2001

clavdivs made a few very long and impassioned posts during the heat of things, and if I understood correctly (sometimes it's a little hard to figure it all out ;-) ), he said he was going to go away, at least for a while. I'm surprised he's back (and welcome back clav, assuming that I'm right and Matt didn't boot you) so soon!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:29 AM on September 15, 2001

aaron can be incendiary at times, but no more so than a lot of other people here. He just gets a disproportionate amount of negative attention because he's outspokenly conservative.

There are numerous outspoken conservatives on MetaFilter. Aaron gets most of the negative attention because he constantly trolls for it by bashing MetaFilter.
posted by rcade at 3:22 AM on September 15, 2001

I'd like to point out our unwritten rule of informing someone by email when we're talking about him in MeFi. The last time we talked about aaron back here, he got very angry and went away.
posted by jpoulos at 8:31 AM on September 15, 2001

though i may not agree with matt on issues, no one booted me. i believe in self-correction. rcades jihad on avatars made me livid but i understand it more now and that his talent is being used for ...good? cruel is still a good site.(the java thing broke the camels back i think) Im dropping the skit after i read a few of holgates recent posts . I feel he is the king daddy troll. so nick can reply if he wants, at this point, i avoid his stuff and rely on dan and others for the goods. i really want to apologize to rodii which i will when i get enough time to load my new mail program. Guys, i dont even know how to put up a link(ah ignorance is bliss) I wanted to change my user name and all that, but it was used. another mefi suggested to create new name, and state old name user so as not to be a troll with two passports. sooo. lets get back to work. i hope other mefis will come forward and break the silence. but i respect thier privacy, but agree 100% with rcade. confront those who's remarks hide behind anonymity-(why do i feel like whittiker chambers at a nixon rally:)

posted by newnameintown at 9:28 AM on September 15, 2001

jihad on avatars made me livid but i understand it more now and that his talent is being used for ...good?

Most of the time, I hope, but probably not where Aaron is concerned. Sorry for guessing that newnameintown meant you were booted.
posted by rcade at 10:21 AM on September 15, 2001

If people can speak out about our country surely Aaron and others can question the state of MeFi.
posted by Mick at 11:18 AM on September 15, 2001

hell i question it. But one must learn to ascent, ascent to self-correction which is nothing like the Maoist confession (or poetry of john berriman) or caving in without a proper exchange of reasoning however poorly articulated. Aarron, at times seems above the anger of persona or the devils advoacte on the slippery-slope theme park. I think the real battle is redundency and poorly thought out premises(meFi at its worst) for which i have extensive knowledge. The crackheadmatts are needed for our anger, we cannot ignore certain things which seem severly out of place.(im in deep shit with the mate here(internet time), this war thing had turned me into the old hawk i am, getting out my picture of jimmy angleton and rereading Craig Raine.
posted by newnameintown at 11:41 AM on September 15, 2001

You know, newname, I feel almost certain I'd be in awe of your intelligence if only I could understand what the hell you are saying.
posted by mw at 12:29 PM on September 15, 2001

If people can speak out about our country surely Aaron and others can question the state of MeFi.

He certainly can. I just get tired of reading how much this place sucks from someone who has posted 1,700 messages. It's like going to the same restaurant every day of your life and criticizing the food.
posted by rcade at 12:53 PM on September 15, 2001

Apologize to me? For what?
posted by rodii at 1:20 PM on September 15, 2001

Though I may still respect you in the morning.
posted by aaron at 3:26 PM on September 15, 2001

Okay, that was too strong, I think. Sorry.
posted by aaron at 3:30 PM on September 15, 2001

No need to apologize. I had it coming, especially after you offered to help me moderate this Yahoo Group today without knowing I was slagging you here in MetaTalk. Ugh. That was painful.

There really should be a Hallmark card for this situation.
posted by rcade at 5:59 PM on September 15, 2001

Check the "Care Enough to Remedy Slandering The Very Best" section, right next to "Anniversaries".
posted by hijinx at 6:20 PM on September 15, 2001

for being an insufferable ass rodii. mw. i have had alot of that. i dont buy it at this point. last paragraph was cogent enough. if your an english perfectionist, like my ole english prof, she would have the courtesy gave a few examples of when i did make mistakes, so i could learn, so i wouldnt make it again.

posted by newnameintown at 9:05 AM on September 16, 2001

Clavdivs, you were never worse than sufferable at worst. And I miss your old name.
posted by rodii at 11:52 AM on September 16, 2001

newname, can we still call you clavdivs just for fun?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:22 PM on September 16, 2001

i want to use 'arch stanton'(from good bad and the ugly)((whon-whon-whoon)) I hate this name, i feel like an Eagles song. thanks rodii. (well said,and so true) i cant stand some of that old stupid thinking under clav also, i feel im singling out holgate and i know it is a little personal(no real reason, nick seems like a stand-up fellow) His stuff is good, even great, it is just, like he delves into shoddy premises that even i wouldnt put forth. Guys, this is going to get outta hand. ive tried to call a few friends(mercs) and they are gone, deployed over the weekend and knowones saying shit.
posted by newnameintown at 8:01 AM on September 17, 2001

holgate, nothing personal in my last attacks on you. perhaps the good syntax has confused me. I realize im holding you to account in a, hell, "what do you mean" little jihad(oxymoron) ive started. i guess it was from the >>>drop the bomb on me>>> thread. im sure your used to it here and in U.K. (i just picture some oxford don thinning his lips at the thought of just plain ole speculative and inductive reasoning) but rereading a few of the "contentious" threads, i look ahead at what is posited to see where your heading and things clear up quite abit. (Americans love to apologize, especially if empathy can be gained:)
posted by newnameintown at 11:01 AM on September 17, 2001

get em
posted by clavdivs at 11:03 AM on September 17, 2001